You say Stephen did not go to heaven. Did you read the whole chapter before responding? And then read the beginning of the next chapter?
ACTS 7 & 8
55 But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Stephen actually saw with his own eyes the heavens opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Then he said to Christ "receive my spirit".
Should it not be obvious to anyone that the spirit and soul of Stephen went directly to Heaven upon his death? "He fell asleep" is simply a euphemism for "he died in Christ" since we read about "those who sleep in Jesus".
The body was buried but the soul and spirit went to Heaven.
Enoch, Enoch, Enoch, slow yourself down. just because the heavens was open don't mean you go to heaven. classic example. John was in the Spirit on the Lord day on the Island of patmos.
he didn't go to heaven, not his body, but was showned a visions. now how do I know this? listen,
Rev 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and
I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. STOP..... he "heard" a voice .... "FROM", "FROM" heaven, but accord to many he was supposed to be in HEAVEN. so how can John who supposed to be in heaven heard a voice "from" heaven... are you getting this?.
now, many say John went to heaven, scripture, Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said,
Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
now did the verse say come up to heaven, only a door was open... (smile). because the voice that spoke with John was ON EARTH. listen, Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:
and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said,
Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. I suggest you read your commentary, especially Gill's
our spirit returned to God, JESUS who is Lord and God,. now may I ask a question, where is God?.... (smile). thank you. now concering our spirits, for the scriptures states,
Eccl 3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?. now examine that scripture closley, where do it say the spirit go to heaven?, ... and please don't assume.
Now, you quoted, "He fell asleep" is simply a euphemism for "he died in Christ" since we read about "those who sleep in Jesus". now where is the Lord JESUS Spirit, GOD? his body is in Heaven seated on the throne, meaning in POWER, functioning as High Priest and Mediator, but where is his Spirit ... let's see, Read revelation 1:9-20, and one will quickly see him, JESUS, his Spirit here on earth, the Holy Spirit. Want to know how I know this right. I’ll tell you later.
Don’t you know that God is everywhere, read Ps 139:7-10. now to say that our brother Stephen went to heaven then God is 1. a Respecter of person, because some was left here on earth to be raise. 2. he’s a lair, God forbid. and here’ why. If everyone who died went straight to heaven there are no death in HEAVEN …. who’s up there DEAD? For the SCRIPTURE clearly states Eccl 9:5 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.... why, listen,
Ps 115:17 The dead
praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence”.
So if you’re with the LORD and have not a body,
the spirit without the body is DEAD. And since your spirit is with the LORD and as you said, if in heaven then that’s impossible, for you will already have had a body.
See how easy one can reprove false thinking.