How Many Christians Believe When We DIE, Our Human Spirit Goes Instantly To HEAVEN?

[rwb]

Man, I had to tone that down a bit. Let's see if that "Soul Sleep" bucket can hold Water.

Revelation 7:13-17 (NRSV)
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?"
14 I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;
17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 6:9-11 (HCSB)
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the people slaughtered {beheaded} because of God’s word and the testimony they had.
10 They cried out with a loud voice: “Lord, the One who is holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?”
11 So a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer until ⌊the number⌋ would be completed ⌊of⌋ their fellow slaves and their brothers, who were going to be killed just as they had been.

Revelation 20:4 (NASB)
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them {Their responsible duties on earth, Mat. 28:18-20; IS FINISHED as of Rev. 4:4.} and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls {Not yet Gloried bodies.} of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

The Tribulation Saints get their glorified bodies at the End of Tribulation, while we get our glorified bodies at the Beginning of Tribulation.

By the way, that blows the false teaching of "Soul Sleep", clean out of the Water.

No problem that Buck had no bottom in it anyhow.

I forgot something. In most Human circles, the polite way to say somebody DIED, is the "Fell Asleep" expression. It is a reference to their Bodies. It is a Euphenism, for Dead.

To be a living soul means to have life in some form. Scripture is clear that the spirit in man is that which gives our mortal human body life. Without a spirit there is NO life. Scripture is also clear that humans who believe in Christ while physically alive "shall NEVER die"! Christ is not without knowing that all flesh is destined to death. Yet, we have His promise "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." (Jo 11:26) Even Jesus, being destined to death, physically died. But the spirit in Christ that gave Him physical life did not die, because the last words Christ spoke to us from His cross are these, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit". The spirit that gave the mortal body of Christ physical life returned to the Father in heaven, and His body into the grave. But to prove that He defeated death, instead of returning to the dust of the earth after three days the living spirit of Christ was returned to His human body and He physically arose from the grave. No human, not even the risen Lord can have physical life without a spirit. And together with body plus spirit mankind is a complete living soul. It's clear the spirit that gave physical life to Christ did not die with His body, because it ascended to the Father in heaven the very day He physically died. That's why Christ told the thief next to Him who believed Him "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Lu 23:43). Paradise Christ spoke of is in heaven (see 2Cor 12:4; Rev 2:7).

Before being physically seen ascending back to heaven (Acts 1), Christ, first, through His Spirit descended into the place of the grave the Old Covenant people likened to Abraham's Bosom (Lu 16:22), to preach to the spirits in prison (1Pe 3:18-19) and set the captives there free (Eph 4:8-10). This being after His resurrection we read of the graves of the saints opening and the faithful ascending to the holy city in heaven as living (spirit) souls (Mt 27:52-53). The location of the holy city since the advent of Christ is heaven (Rev 21:2; Heb 11:16; 12:22). Since heaven is now the location of the holy city, new Jerusalem, the Old Covenant faithful saints, along with whosoever believes in Christ after death ascend to heaven a spiritual body called a living (spirit) soul. For the body cannot live without a spirit, but the spirit in man that dies in faith, through Christ's Spirit in them go alive to heaven to be as are the angels of God in heaven (Mt 22:30), spiritual bodies. That's why Paul longed to be rid of his body of flesh to be with the Lord in heaven a living (spirit) soul.

 

[rwb]

Did Jesus go straight to Heaven ?
Where did he go, beforehand ?

Don't we pay for every Sin, to the last cent ?
What of people who are not deserving of Hell ? but not worthy of Heaven ?

What level in Heaven is one going too ? as are their many.

Only His spirit went to heaven! His body went into the tomb, but instead of decay the spirit that gives every human physical life returned to Christ and He arose from the tomb ALIVE!

 

[rwb]

Of course. Do you??? If so why did you omit soul? Are the souls of the saints not in Heaven?

To have a soul is to have life! When our body is made physically alive through spirit that comes from God, man is a living soul. The spirit in man can be a living soul in heaven without our physical body. But a body without the spirit is a corpse!

 

[rwb]

Not if you use the correct Definition of what Soul really is. It is the spark of life in the Human Being. Most people believe it has something to do with Human Spirit, but it is not.

Genesis 9:12 (HCSB)
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all future generations:

Psalm 74:19 (NRSV)
19 Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild animals; do not forget the life of your poor forever.

Judith 11:7 (NJB)
7 Long life to Nebuchadnezzar, king of the whole world, who has sent you to set every living soul to rights; may his power endure! Since, thanks to you, he is served not only by human beings, but because of your might the wild animals themselves, the cattle, and the birds of the air are to live in the service of Nebuchadnezzar and his whole House.

The spirit is that which gives life to man's mortal body. A living soul is what every living creature upon the earth becomes when having a body with a spirit = a living soul.

 

[rwb]

Here's something I've posted elsewhere on this topic.

First of all, what is the soul? Some equate it with the spirit, but that's not correct. Some think that God gives you a soul which is also not correct. See below repost of mine.

The bible says you become a living soul; you are not given one as some people erroneously believe. God does not hand-out souls. The bible also states that the soul is not the spirit, also as some erroneously believe, and that they can be divided.The bible says that souls came out of the loins of Jacob. The bible also says that God has a soul.


Here's what the bible says regarding the soul. (Pertinent scriptures)

Gen2:7 KJV

"7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

The interlinear Hebrew says "being" (lenepes) not soul

Exodus 1:5 KJV

"And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already."

Souls are in your loins according to this scripture. Here, the interlinear does say "soul" in Hebrew and not "being". Two different Hebrew words; napes or nepes for souls vs. lenepes

And finally, Hebrews 4:12 KJV

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

The interlinear Greek is "phyches" for soul and "pneumatos" for spirit

The soul is the living being we become, our consciousness.

The soul identifies the complete living, breathing creature. The spirit identifies how the body of every living breathing creature upon the earth becomes alive. Every living breathing creature upon the earth has both body and spirit and together are living souls. What makes mankind different from every other living breathing creature upon the earth is that mankind alone was created to be the likeness and image of God through the Holy Spirit that enters into us when we are born again or born from above. When our spirit is indwelt with the Spirit from Christ our spirit receives eternal life and that spirit can NEVER die. When the body of those possessing the Holy Spirit dies, the spirit that gives then eternal spiritual life returns to God alive a living soul.

 

[Keturah]

Genesis 2:7 - And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils THE BREATH OF LIFE; and man became a LIVING soul.

Ezekiel 18:4 - Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Matthew 10:28 - And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul & BODY in hell.

JOHN 2:19 KJV
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

Matthew 12: 40
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

1 PETER 3:19 KJV
"By which also he went and preached unto the  spirits in prison;"

Does any truly understand these three distinct parts that make up man ? Body, easy A, earth to earth. Spirit, the script in 1Peter says he preached to the spirits in prison,( was this the OT saints only bc it was before his ascension?) Soul, God states that ALL SOULS ARE HIS. Does this or anywhere in scripture say it, the soul, returns directly back to God?

Death to the soul, yes in the future judgement , I believe.

 

[rwb]

Genesis 2:7 - And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils THE BREATH OF LIFE; and man became a LIVING soul.

Ezekiel 18:4 - Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Matthew 10:28 - And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul & BODY in hell.

JOHN 2:19 KJV
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

Matthew 12: 40
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and thre e nights in the heart of the earth.

1 PETER 3:19 KJV
"By which also he went and preached unto the  spirits in prison;"

Does any truly understand these three distinct parts that make up man ? Body, easy A, earth to earth. Spirit, the script in 1Peter says he preached to the spirits in prison,( was this the OT saints only bc it was before his ascension?) Soul, God states that ALL SOULS ARE HIS. Does this or anywhere in scripture say it, the soul, returns directly back to God?

Death to the soul, yes in the future judgement , I believe.

The breath of life God breathed into man's nostrils is spirit; defined from Hebrew נְשָׁמָה nᵉshâmâh, nesh-aw-maw' that is - a puff, i.e. wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. or (concretely) an animal:—blast, (that) breath(-eth), inspiration, soul, spirit. And man became alive or a living soul. Soul defined from Hebrew נֶפֶשׁ nephesh, neh'-fesh - properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):—any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, × dead(-ly), desire, × (dis-) contented, × fish, ghost, greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, × jeopardy of) life (× in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, slay, soul, tablet, they, thing, (× she) will, × would have it.

Every living breathing creature upon the face of the earth is both physical body and spirit that comes from God, therefore 'living souls.' We only cease being physical, mortal living souls when the spirit departs our body in death, then our body without spirit is a corpse without life. But the spirit of mankind that returns to God indwelt by the Holy Spirit returns to God alive, because the life we received from Christ when we believed is eternal and can never die. In heaven, through His Spirit in us we are still a living soul, but without a physical body. In heaven we are as the angels of God, which are spirit beings because flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Believers will remain spiritual bodies in heaven until Christ comes again to re-unite our eternal spirit with resurrected immortal and incorruptible bodies.

From many passages of Scripture the spirits in heaven as living souls are not in some imagined soul-sleep. They are in fact said to be singing and praising God while there.

 

[Brakelite]

From many passages of Scripture the spirits in heaven as living souls are not in some imagined soul-sleep. They are in fact said to be singing and praising God while there

I think if you really wanted to acknowledge harmony in scripture, you will find that references to people in heaven praising God are resurrected saints. Not disembodied spirits/souls.

KJV Ecclesiastes 9:5-6
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

 

[rwb]

I think if you really wanted to acknowledge harmony in scripture, you will find that references to people in heaven praising God are resurrected saints. Not disembodied spirits/souls.

KJV Ecclesiastes 9:5-6
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

There will be only one bodily resurrection in an hour coming when the last trumpet begins to sound. Therefore, there cannot be people resurrected bodily in heaven. The physically dead know nothing, but death of the body for those who have eternal spiritual life through the Holy Spirit in them does not mean death of our spirit. Death of the body of faithful saints is to leave our dead mortal body behind and ascend to heaven through Christ's Spirit in us. Because the Spirit will be with us until our body is resurrected immortal and incorruptible, and made alive again through our living spirit/soul that returns with Christ on the last day when the seventh angel sounds that time shall be no longer.

 

[VCO]

Great observation Sheila! The question every man/woman on earth must face in this life is this, will our spirit return to God in heaven a living soul or will the spirit that gives mankind physical life return to God in heaven without life? Only the spirit God gives to man indwelt with the Holy Spirit from Christ will leave our body after death and ascend alive to God in heaven a living (spirit) soul. Because when the Spirit of Christ is in us, we have His promise not to leave us until our body too is resurrected immortal and incorruptible and once again alive through our spirit that returns with Christ when He comes again.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (KJV) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

1 Corinthians 15:44 (KJV) It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 (KJV) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

The Spark of life is for the Natural Body, and the Spark of life, is for the human Spirit.

 

[rwb]

The Spark of life is for the Natural Body, and the Spark of life, is for the human Spirit.

That spark of life is spirit! Every living creature upon the earth is both body (physical, material) and spirit (internal, immaterial). The spirit that God gives to every living, breathing creature on the earth is how the body is alive. And as long as the physical body of all living creatures has breath (spirit life) we are all living souls upon the earth. The spirit in every living, breathing creature controls every bodily function. The spirit gives mobility and function to every joint, limb, and organ, and it is the spirit that is our mind, through which we think and reason. Every breath we take is by the power of spirit in us. Our spirit controls our will and emotions, what we believe comes through spirit in every living breathing creature.

Without the Spirit of Christ entering into those of faith, the human spirit would be natural, and without ability to understand, or enter the spiritual Kingdom of God. (See Jo 3) It is for this reason that Paul writes without the Spirit of Christ in us we are naturally "dead in trespasses and sins." And this is why Christ tells us "Ye must be born again!" Why must man be born again to both know and enter the Kingdom of God? James writes, "the body without the spirit is dead", (Ja 2:26) and for that reason when we say we have faith without good works, our faith is merely natural and is from fallen natures in unbelief, or of natural spirit without the Spirit of Christ in us. Why cannot man with natural spirit do works that are pleasing to God? Because without the Spirit of Christ in our spirit we have not the ability to know the things of God.

When man physically dies, the spirit in them returns to God in heaven. The spirit in man endowed with the Holy Spirit from Christ returns to God in heaven still having the spark that gave the physical body life. Without the Spirit of Christ to take us to heaven after our body dies, then our spirit or spark of life will be as our physical dead body without life and in silence and darkness until raised to life again to stand before God and be judged according to what is written in the books and the book of life.

 

[dev553344]

I would LOVE to have everyone Agree on something, but I fear this is not it.

I absolutely believe that when we die, our human Spirit, if we are truly BORN AGAIN, goes directly to Heaven to Be with the LORD.

2 Corinthians 5:8-9 (NKJV)
8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. {They are not sleeping in the Grave.}

Another example is look what happens to Beheaded Tribulation Saints.

Revelation 6:9-11 (HCSB)
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the people slaughtered because of God’s word and the testimony they had.
10 They cried out with a loud voice: {They have a voice in their dissembodied Spirit.} “Lord, the One who is holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?”
11 So a white robe was given to each of them, {That may be the very moment they were given their Glorified Bodies.} and they were told to rest a little while longer until ⌊the number⌋ would be completed ⌊of⌋ their fellow slaves and their brothers, who were going to be killed just as they had been.

Revelation 7:13-17 (NKJV)
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"
14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

I think we either meet an angel or the Lord and they accept saved people into heaven.

 

[VCO]

I think we either meet an angel or the Lord and they accept saved people into heaven.

The only way to heaven is through being born again, and it has NOTHING TO DO WITH WORKS.
It is how much you LOVE the LORD, with all your heart.

John 3:3-7 (NIV)
3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

 

[dev553344]

The only way to heaven is through being born again, and it has NOTHING TO DO WITH WORKS.
It is how much you LOVE the LORD, with all your heart.

John 3:3-7 (NIV)
3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

I didn't say anything about works.

 

[VCO]

MERRY CHRISTMAS, one and all!

 

[DJT_47]

The spirit returns to God, the body back to the ground, but the soul lives on and goes to either paradise with the Lord or hell. That's what the scriptures teach.

 

[David in NJ]

Genesis 2:7 - And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils THE BREATH OF LIFE; and man became a LIVING soul.

Ezekiel 18:4 - Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Matthew 10:28 - And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul & BODY in hell.

JOHN 2:19 KJV
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

Matthew 12: 40
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

1 PETER 3:19 KJV
"By which also he went and preached unto the  spirits in prison;"

Does any truly understand these three distinct parts that make up man ? Body, easy A, earth to earth. Spirit, the script in 1Peter says he preached to the spirits in prison,( was this the OT saints only bc it was before his ascension?) Soul, God states that ALL SOULS ARE HIS. Does this or anywhere in scripture say it, the soul, returns directly back to God?

Death to the soul, yes in the future judgement , I believe.

Good Morning @Keturah

@Keturah asks: "Does this or anywhere in scripture say it, the soul, returns directly back to God?"

The soul of man is permanently attached to the spirit that is within a man/woman = only God can separate the two.

When a Blood Washed Saint dies and goes to Heaven, his/her spirit and soul go to Heaven while the flesh goes to the grave/earth.

Revelation chapter 6
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

 

[David in NJ]

View attachment 38896

MERRY CHRISTMAS, one and all!

O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appears and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!

[Verse 2]
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the Wise Men from Orient land
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend

[Verse 3]
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is Peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us Praise His Holy name
Christ is the LORD; O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim

 

[rwb]

The spirit returns to God, the body back to the ground, but the soul lives on and goes to either paradise with the Lord or hell. That's what the scriptures teach.

Where/how does the soul live on? If there is no living body, and the spirit returns to God, can the soul exist without life in some form?

 

[DJT_47]

Where/how does the soul live on? If there is no living body, and the spirit returns to God, can the soul exist without life in some form?

Scripture says man becomes a living soul. It also makes reference in Revelation 20 to the souls of the dead. The soul is the being you become, the unique individual that you are that has consciousness.