Where Do We Go the Minute We Die?

Note:  I have provided Biblegateway.com links to all the scripture referenced in this post, but I encourage you to get out your Bible and read them there.  There is something special that happens when we have God's Word in our hands.  As with anyone, you should not rely on what I tell you, but rely on what the Word of God and the Holy Spirit tell you.  Pray for discernment and understanding.

The question, "Where do we go the minute we die?" has come up a lot lately in my life.  I grew up believing the minute you die, if you are saved, you go to heaven.  A neighboring church (which is Baptist like my church) believes that you go to a place of rest until Jesus comes back, and then all believers go in to heaven together.  A preacher I know believes that you "sleep" until Jesus comes back.   Because I'm a teacher, and because I take all the warnings in the Bible against false teachers very seriously, I began studying this very seriously.  In fact, you might say I became obsessed with it.  Even when I wasn't studying that topic, it was like God led me in the scriptures to more confirmations, more answers. 

So I started my search with the words of Jesus.  In Luke 23:43, we read Jesus' answer to the thief on the cross:

"And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)

 Jesus told the thief that today he would be with Him in paradise.  "Today' seems very clear -- as in the day of his death.  So what is "paradise"?  Some people say that "paradise" is just a word to describe a place of rest, where we sleep or rest until Jesus comes back to earth and we all enter into heaven together.  But, let's look to the scriptures for our definitions.

The word paradise appears two more times in the Bible: 2 Corinthians 12:4 and Revelation 2:7.  Let's start with 2 Corinthians 12:4, but let's go back to the begining of the chapter and read the verse in context.

1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.    (2 Corinthians 12:1-4)

Paul is writing in this chapter about visions or revelations from God.  He had faith that God would reveal visions and revelations to him (v. 1), because he had seen it happen in others (v. 2-4).  Paul writes that he knew a man fourteen years ago, that was caught up to the third heaven (v. 2).    The "third heaven" is the uppermost part of heaven where God dwells.  Genesis 1 describes the creation of the lower parts of heaven (the sky, atmosphere) and tells how God placed the stars, sun, and moon in the heaven (or firmament).  In verse 4, the same man is described as being "caught up into paradise" and hearing "unspeakable words."  We must conclude that "paradise" and "third heaven" are synonymous.  

The other place that "paradise" is mentioned in the Bible is in Revelation 2:7:

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.   (Revelation 2:7)

This verse tells us that the person that overcomes will be allowed to eat of the tree of life, which is in the middle of the paradise of God.  In Genesis 2-3, we read that the tree of life was in the Garden of Eden and was the tree from which Adam and Eve were allowed to eat.  When Adam and Eve disobeyed God (sinned), they were cut off from the Tree of Life.  So now we know in paradise we will find the tree of life.  

Let's see what else we can learn about the tree of life.  In Revelation 22:2, we'll find mention of the tree of life again, but let's read it in context. 

1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  -- Revelation 22:1-2

John writes that an angel showed him a pure river of the water of life, flowing out of the throne of God and of the Lamb (Jesus), and on either side of the river was the tree of life.  So, the tree of life is in paradise, near the throne of God and the Lamb.  Now this passage takes place after the establishment of new Jerusalem.  In chapter 21 of the book of Revelation, John writes how an angel showed him "the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven" (v. 2), so it stands to reason that the tree of life and the throne of God was in heaven with God before he brought it down with new Jerusalem.  Remember another thing that Jesus told us.  In John 14:2-3, Jesus told us about his father's mansion:

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2-3)

Jesus gave these comforting words so that we may know that he is preparing a place for us in heaven, and one day, we will be where he is.  

In Paul's letter to the Philippians, he writes to them about something none of us can escape -- death.  But for Paul, death was not the horrifying, terrible thing that most people consider it to be.  Paul writes:

20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.  (Philippians 1:20-24)

Paul writes that it is his earnest expectation and hope that he will be ashamed in nothing and that with all boldness Christ will be magnified by him, whether it be through his life or by his death.  He goes on to say that "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (v. 21).  His whole purpose for living is Jesus, but to die would be to gain even more because he would be with Jesus.  In verse 23, he says he is caught between two choices, to live and bear the fruit of his ministry or to die and be with Christ.  

Paul clearly equates dying with being with Jesus.  You've probably heard a preacher or Sunday school teacher say, "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."  They are referencing  2 Corinthians 5:8:  

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  (2 Corinthians 5:8)

According to this scripture, if your soul is not in your body, you are present with the Lord.  

The preacher that I mentioned in my introduction who believes that the dead "sleep" until Jesus returns cited 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 as his proof for his beliefs.  Let's read that scripture:

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

The Thessalonians were worried about their Christian friends who had passed away, that they were going to miss out on Jesus' return.  Paul uses the euphemism "asleep" to mean death.  He encouraged them not to sorrow, like those who have no hope because they don't believe in Jesus (v. 13).  He goes on to tell them that if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even those who are dead ("sleep in Jesus") God will bring with Him at Jesus' second coming (v. 14).  If God is bringing the deceased Christians with Him, then they must be with Him already, right?  Verse 16 states "the dead in Christ shall rise first," is a reference to the resurrection of the body of the deceased Christian.

In chapter 5 of the book of Thessalonians, Paul writes:

9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,10  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.    (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

Once we have salvation through Jesus, whether we wake (live) or sleep (die), we live together with the Lord.