How Soon After Death Do You Go To Heaven? [+Sermon]

As you are reading through this article today, there is a high chance that you’ve been asked the question of “how soon after death do you go to heaven?” in some form at some point in your life.

Even though most people have mixed feelings about the afterlife, where it is placed, and what it will be like, we tend to all have the same curiosity about it especially when we’re little.

When we get older that curiosity tends to dissipate, but it doesn’t stop us from asking anyway where we will spend our eternity after our physical death here on earth.

The Bible has several passages we will look at in this post below that seem to show that after death, you immediately to heaven as a believer and here are some things we need to think about when trying to answer the question, “how soon after death do you go to heaven?”

What’s The Intermediate State?

According to the bible, the intermediate state is the existence of one’s soul after physical death here on earth between death and the universal resurrection that we will all have.

We are told in John 5:39 that there will be a universal resurrection of all the people who have ever lived here on earth since the creation of Adam and Even or the beginning of time up to the end of the millennium or 1000 years’ reign of Jesus Christ here on earth.

The above verse also states that some will be resurrected unto life while others or the majority will be resurrected unto damnation.

Now that you know what the intermediate state is, the other question you may be asking is that is the intermediate state found in the bible or biblical at all?

There are many bible verses both in the old testament and in the new testament that support the intermediate state of any soul that experiences physical death here on earth.

Soul Sleep Is A False Doctrine.

The old testament in Ecclesiastes 12:7-9 tells us that when we experience physical death here on earth our physical bodies return to the dust it came from whole our soul and spirit returns to God who assigns its eternal destiny based on how we lived our earthly lives.

So there is no soul sleep here as taught by some false teachers out there. The soul doesn’t cease to exist when we die. It just goes to a different place which is either heaven or hell as we see in the story of the rich man and poor Lazarus Jesus Christ taught in Luke 16:19-31.

In the new testament, the apostle Paul talks about the intermediate state as well in 2 Corinthians 5:8 where he says that he would prefer to be absent from the body and be present with the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven.

The fact he said that, proves the intermediate state is real and biblical and that we don’t cease to exist when we experience physical death here on earth because, unlike animals, we have a soul which is eternal.

Do Believers Go To Heaven Immediately After Death?

According to the bible, yes indeed dear reader, any believer who dies in Christ immediately goes to heaven to be with our Lord Jesus Christ for all eternity where they will be with Him in heaven forever and ever.

There are several scriptures in the new testament that support this. Some other scriptures that support the immediate translation of the believers to heaven when they die are Luke 16:19:31, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 in the new testament.

We also see in the old testament in 2 Kings 2:11 where Elijah was translated to heaven without seeing death and this would not have been possible if believers never went to heaven immediately after death but existed someplace elsewhere.

So as a believer, you don’t have to fear death at all but positively look forward to it because this present evil world isn’t your home by the way.

The new heaven and the new Jerusalem which is the permanent eternal home of all true believers God promises in Revelations 21:1-27 where there will be no more death and sorrow is what you must be looking forward to.

Heaven Is Home For True Believers.

Your home is heaven which is filled with everlasting joy, happiness peace and much more without any of the suffering that exists in this present evil world that has nothing good to offer to anyone.

If you lost a loved one who died in the Lord, you must not despair or grieve as if you’ve lost them forever as the heathens do who don’t have any hope of eternal life found in our Lord Jesus Christ.

You will meet and reunite with your loved ones who died in the Lord once again in heaven if you die in Christ Jesus as well. Won’t that be wonderful dear saint?

On the other hand, if you die without Christ, eternal punishment in hell will be your eternal destiny immediately when you die and leave your physical fleshly body behind.

Remember, there is no such thing as purgatory as the Catholic church teaches where you will be temporarily punished for your sins in hell and afterwards go to heaven.

Once you die without Christ, it’s game over for you, dear as eternal judgement, not purgatory is what you will face in hell prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthews 25:41).

Where Does Your Soul Go Before Judgment?

When you experience physical death here on earth which is merely the separation of the soul from the body, you will either go to hell or heaven.

One thing you must understand is that hell is a temporary place of punishment and torment for the wicked who died in their sins without Christ in their lives.

Where the lake of fire currently not present is a permanent place of eternal punishment for all the wicked people who have ever lived on earth since the beginning of time and the devil and his fallen angels. No one is presently in the lake of fire yet.

The antichrist and the false prophet will be the first ones to be cast into the lake of fire at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Revelations 19:20).

On the other hand, if you die as a believer in Christ who trusted and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation, you will immediately go to heaven and your soul will be there before the universal resurrection we will all experience at some point.

This is why the apostle Paul who longed to go to heaven to be with our Lord Jesus Christ said in Philippians 1:23 that to be with the Lord and absent from the body is a better thing for him.

Remember, it’s at resurrection where all true believers will be given a glorified body which will be in the likeness of Jesus Christ Himself which will be incorruptible. How amazing will that be dear saint?

What Happens Between Death And Judgement?

Between death and judgment, your soul is either in glory in heaven with God and the redeemed saints and all the ages if you died as a true Christian saved by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

While on the other hand, if you died in your sins and without Christ in your life, hell will be your eternal destiny where you will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:28).

This is why Hebrews 9:27 tells us that it’s appointed unto man to die once and thereafter judgment is what follows next.

And if you die in your sins, your judgment has already been set which is eternal punishment in hell and the lake of fire where you will finally be cast after the great white throne judgement which happens after the 1000 years right of Christ here on earth.

This is why it’s imperative that if you are not saved yet, you get saved today as you are reading this so that you can be with Christ Jesus in glory in heaven should you unexpectedly die today as you are not promised of tomorrow.

How To Qualify For Heaven.

For you to qualify and be considered as a candidate for heaven, you need salvation in your life which is only found through Jesus Christ so that you can be saved from sin and its horrific consequences.

This means that you need to repent and forsake your sins by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and saviour before it’s too late

Remember, regardless of what all the false religions of this world will try to tell you, Jesus Christ is the only one who can save you from hell and help you make it for heaven when you die.

This is why Acts 4:12 tells us that there is no other name under heaven given unto man other than Jesus Christ of which we can be saved as Christ is the only one who died and paid the penalty of our sins on the cross.

Salvation is what will help you become a new creation in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17 talks about as salvation is what brings about the new birth.

It’s this new birth in Christ Jesus that will bring about the new nature in you that will enable you to live a holy life that will enable you to make it for heaven because without holiness as Hebrews 14:14 says, no man will see the Lord.

Closing Remarks.

I hope the above post on the question of how soon after death do you go to heaven when you die has thoroughly answered your question. In closing, if you found this post useful, let me know in the comments below along with any questions you might have on what you have read. Stay blessed and don’t forget to share with others.

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