Are believers in Heaven, in paradise or asleep?
Q: When people die are they in Heaven, or asleep, or in Sheol's paradise? What does Scripture teach that when believers die they automatically go to Heaven?
A: When we die Scripture says we are in the presence of the Lord, in Heaven.
There's a misunderstanding out there by some and it is based on teach incorrectly that people remain in the grave (asleep) until Judgment Day, others say the dead are conscious in Paradise (as noted in the NT story Jesus shared). Both of those btw contradict each other. But what does Scripture go on to teach and reveal overall?
The body is asleep. It was another way to say dead in old times. Their soul isnt there, cuz their life left the body.
Believer's today are in Heaven.
There was 2 sides to the place of the dead/departed called Sheol. One side is Hell and beyond the chasm was Paradise.
Paradise is where believers were until Christ rose from the grave. Scripture notes He set the captives free. Those who were in Paradise rose (behind) after Him. He was the first [first fruits] of the resurrected. Of those Scripture clearly tells us: They were seen by many in the town and then were gone. Where? Jesus took them to Heaven. In Revelation we see myrtered believers there asking God how long till their death is avenged. We also see verses telling us that when we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord. And that in Heaven our tears are wiped away, the former things are passed ... we no longer have a connection to earth; our eternity has begun. These are straight from Scripture.
Revelation 4:4 tells us Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and upon the thrones, twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
More proof those who pass into eternity, are with the Lord, in His presence, and are doing heavenly things.
More proof those who pass into eternity, are with the Lord, in His presence, and are doing heavenly things.
"Jesus says, “To him who overcomes I will grant the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.” If you read Revelation 21 and 22, the tree of life is in heaven. So here [Jesus tells the thief] he’s not saying anything but you’re going to be with me in heaven today. There’s no waiting place. There’s no transitional place. Absent from the body, present with the Lord, to depart and be with Christ. If that is not the great illustration of grace I don’t know what is." (1)
They Long for the End & for the New to come
The ones who died are in the eternal relm, believers are living eternal life there awaiting the Last Day of humanity when all believers will be ushered completely together into eternity >> into the new Heaven and new Earth. Between then and now, they have nothing to do with this sin stained world anymore. They don't watch over us, theyre doing what God has them doing in that temporary Heaven. God does watch over us and see us. God always and only does. Scripture reveals this in many places. Angels may look into the things in Church amazed about the Cross and salvation of mankind, and doing what God has them do there or here, but until the time of Judgment when the whole world goes through the Tribulation era there is no humans looking into the things on earth. What we will see then is a general overview birds eye view of God's wrath righteously falling.
When all Church era believers are (finally all gathered) in Heaven (from the the Rapture), God will allow us to see His Judgment unfolding on earth. Explained here. They don't watch over anyone, they watch the Tribulation... and then return with Christ to reign [then the unfolding of the rest of end times happens]. The End. New Beginning.
It would be a good idea to read through the 66 books of Scripture (cover to cover) and look for where these things are revealed, as a personal study.
Here's some additional resources
On the cloud of witnesses
Other Helps
Footnotes:
1 Cor 15:23
But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest
Ephesians 4:8-10— "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)"
Matt 27:52-54 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
2 Cor 5:8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
