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Heaven? Where and When?

q.gif (1639 bytes)   When was Abraham's bosom created?  Where did Adam and Eve go after death?

 

a.gif (1659 bytes)   Luke 16:19-31 says, “19  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,  21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;  23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.   25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.  26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.  27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:  28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.  29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.   30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.  31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

“Abraham’s bosom” is a reference to the comfort which the poor man immediately received when he went to heaven.  Just like when a child is hurt and crying, and is picked up and laid in his mother’s bosom for comfort, even so Lazarus is carried by the angels from his painful and lonely life, and laid to rest in Abraham’s bosom in heaven.  Abraham makes a distinction where they are, compared with where the rich man is.  The Bible gives a name where the rich man is.  “The rich man also died, and was buried;  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” 

All people who are saved are immediately with the Lord when they die — from Adam and Eve, to the last saved person that dies..  The Seventh Day Adventists teach “soul sleep” awaiting the resurrection day, and some other cults teach similar things, but that is false doctrine.  Luke 20:27-40 says, “27 Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,  28 Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.  29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.  30 And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.  31 And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.  32  Last of all the woman died also.  33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.  34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:  35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:  36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.  37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.  38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.  39 Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.  40 And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.”

In that above passage, Jesus not only refutes their false doctrine of no resurrection, but also refutes the notion of “soul sleep,” because when Moses called God the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jesus told us that means in the present tense — they are all alive with Him right now.  For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him” (Luke 20:38). 

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

Luke 23:39-43 says, “39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

“Paradise” is another word given to the third heaven, which is the dwelling place of God.  This passage uses the two words interchangeably.  2 Corinthians 12:2-4 says, “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.”

 

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