Do good people really go to Heaven when they die?

God described King David as "a man after My own heart," and one who would "do all My will" (Acts 13:22), yet the Apostle Peter stated in his first sermon: "....the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day…. For David did not ascend to heaven….." (Acts 2:29, 34, NIV).

The Apostle John also stated: "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man [Jesus Christ]" (John 3:13, NIV). Spiritual giants such as Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses, including others listed in Hebrews 11, did not ascend to heaven: "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised" (Hebrews 11:39 NIV).

King Solomon was inspired to write: "For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten" (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The patriarch Job echoed Solomon's words: ".... Man dies and is laid away; indeed he breathes his last and where is he?.... so man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep" (Job 14:10 and 12).

The dead are unconscious and unaware. Our emotions, thoughts, knowledge and feelings go to the grave with us. Job goes on to say: "O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time [the time of the resurrection], and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee...." (Job 14:13-15, KJV).

The writers of the Bible describe the experience after death not as going to heaven or hell, but simply as sleep. Notice, for example, how Daniel refers to the state of the dead in this prophecy of the resurrection: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2).

Jesus spoke of death as sleep. Speaking of a deceased girl whom He intended to raise from the dead, He told the mourners, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping" (Luke 8:52; Matthew 9:24). Before He resurrected Lazarus, He told the disciples, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." The disciples misunderstood, thinking Lazarus was sleeping because he was ill. "However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep" (John 11:11 and 13).

The key to the mystery of life after death is revealed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25). Paul confirms many were eyewitnesses to the fact Jesus Christ had risen from the grave (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). There were too many credible witnesses who saw and interacted with Him after He was raised from the dead for His resurrection to be denied.

Because Christ was resurrected we can be assured He will resurrect those who have been faithful to Him (1 Corinthians 15:12-21 NIV). The doctrine of the resurrection is listed among the fundamental doctrines of the Bible (Hebrews 6:1-2). It is a wonderful part of God's great master plan, and the hope of all true Christians (1 Corinthians 15:54).

When Jesus Christ resurrects those who have followed Him the Bible reveals it will not be so that they can go to live in heaven forever. Since Christ is coming back to earth (Zechariah 14:3-4), it makes sense that's where they will be as well: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:3). (See our study guide Christ’s Reign On Earth: What It Will Be Like) 

All of the dead —good and not so good alike—will eventually be resurrected, even those who have never heard the name of Christ in their lifetime, and have had no opportunity of salvation. (See issue 343 of Bible Insights Weekly for more information concerning when Jesus Christ will resurrect those who have died: The Second Resurrection To Judgment and The third resurrection.)

• Source:

  The Good News magazine (May-Jun 2003)

• https://www.ucg.org/good-news/good-news-magazine-may-june-2003/do-good-people-really-go-heaven-when-they-die

 

How to be a neighbour

The parable of the Good Samaritan is familiar to many. It begins with a conversation between a lawyer and Christ in Luke 10.

The lawyer asks Christ “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). Christ answers him by asking about his understanding of what is written in the law. The lawyer replies that one must love God and love one’s neighbor (verse 27). Jesus Christ tells the lawyer he is correct and if he does this he will gain eternal life.

When the lawyer asks “Who is my neighbor?” (verse 29) Christ does not answer the question directly, but begins to relate the parable of the good samaritan, beginning in verse 30. A man on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho encounters thieves who attack and rob him, leaving him for dead. A priest and then a Levite pass by and fail to assist. Then a Samaritan, a person who would have been despised by the Jews of the time, sees the injured man and has compassion. He delays his journey, carries him to safety, personally cares for him, and when he cannot delay his journey longer, leaves money with the innkeeper to ensure the injured man will be cared for in his absence.

After Christ finishes this parable, He asks the lawyer, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” (verse 36). The lawyer responds, “He who showed mercy on him” (verse 37), and Christ ends the conversation by saying, “Go and do likewise.”

Helping others when they need it is not an option for Christians. Proverbs 3:27-28 not only cautions us against withholding good from those to whom it is due, it cautions us against delaying: “Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you.” Paul, writing to the Galatians, instructs us: “As we have opportunity let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

So, how can we follow Christ’s instruction to “Go, and do likewise”?

1. Look out for the needs of others

A good neighbor keeps an eye out for ways to help and doesn’t neglect the small things. Not every opportunity to do good is going to be lifesaving, like the Samaritan. It might just involve taking the time to listen to someone when they need to talk, helping out with a chore, or writing an encouraging note.

2. Instead of focusing on what you can’t do for someone, look for what you can do.

You might not be able to make a sick person healthy again, but you can bring a casserole, give them a hug, send a card, or make a phone call. A good neighbor does what he or she can to help.

3. Slow down.

People who are in a hurry and thinking about their own needs are much less likely to help someone, even if that person is obviously in need. We need to take time to interact with others to find out what they are dealing with, and if we can help.

4. Be willing to be inconvenienced.

Some kind acts take almost no time at all, like a smile or a kind word, but being a neighbor often involves meeting a need when you don't have time in your schedule for it.

The priest and the Levite were on a journey and, for whatever reason, they only slowed down long enough to cross the road in order to distance themselves from the injured man (verses 31 and 32). The Samaritan was also on a journey and needed to be somewhere, but his first reaction was to help. Only after the man had been rescued and carried to safety did the Samaritan continue on his way.

• Source:

  United News (Sept -Oct 2021)

What does the Feast of Unleavened Bread mean for Christians? Sign of Jonah: Did Jesus Die Good Friday, Rise on Easter?

 What does the Feast of Unleavened Bread mean for Christians?

During the spring of each year (March-April in the northern hemisphere), immediately after Passover and before the Feast of Pentecost, another biblical feast is observed — the 7-day Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8; Exodus 12:17-18).

The Exodus from Egypt, which took place immediately after Passover during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Numbers 33:3), was one of the great events to occur during this time. The crossing of the Red Sea is traditionally assigned to the seventh or last day of Unleavened Bread.

After Israel entered the Promised Land, the miraculous conquest of Jericho also took place during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Other great events occurring during this time of year involved rededicating the people of God to their Creator. 2 Chronicles chapters 29 through 31 describe the religious reform led by Hezekiah, and chapters 34 and 35 tell of the reform by Josiah.

However, one other event that took place during the Days of Unleavened Bread had a much greater impact than any of these, and that was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. John 19:31 tells us He was crucified on the day before a Sabbath. While most people assume this was the regular weekly Sabbath (observed Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), John tells us this Sabbath "was a high day" — a term used for the seven annual Holy Days. A careful reading of the Gospels shows this "high day" was the first day of Unleavened Bread, a Holy Day (Leviticus 23:2, 6-7) that can fall on a weekday.

Jesus remained in the grave for three days and three nights just as He had prophesied (Matthew 12:40), making it impossible to reconcile Jesus' statement in Matthew 12 with a Friday afternoon crucifixion followed by a Sunday morning resurrection. (See "Jesus Wasn't Crucified on Friday—or Resurrected on Sunday!")

Three days and three nights from the time of His entombment, just before the beginning of the first Holy Day of Unleavened Bread, brings us to the sunset at the end of the weekly Sabbath, during the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, as the time Jesus was resurrected. On that Sunday, after His resurrection the day before, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18) and then to others.

These Days of Unleavened Bread marked a turning point in the way the spring festival was celebrated. Christians observing these annual festivals would still recall the exodus from Egypt as a type of redemption from sin and release from the bondage of Satan. There would still be an emphasis on eating unleavened bread as a physical reminder we are to become spiritually unleavened by removing sin from our lives. But the core meaning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is that Jesus Christ, the One who was resurrected during this time, now lives His life in every Christian.

Jesus repeatedly emphasized the importance of His own resurrection. During the last supper, He told the disciples that although He would soon be betrayed, He would live again: "Because I live, you will live also" (John 14:19). He had just promised they would not be left as orphans (verse 18)—that is, spiritually unprotected and vulnerable to Satan. Both the Father and He would live in the hearts and minds of Christians by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (verses 20-26), empowering us to overcome "the sin which so easily ensnares us" (Hebrews 12:1).

The Apostle Paul encouraged the church there to "keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness [lingering sinful attitudes], but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth"(1 Corinthians 5:8) —a clear reference to the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a festival that helps us focus on replacing sin with righteousness. We are reminded to "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12), but the Apostle Paul was not preaching a works-based salvation. In verse 13 he explains "it is God who works in you both to will [that is, to have the desire to overcome] and to do [to act on that desire] for His good pleasure." In 2025 the Days of Unleavened Bread will be observed from sundown April 13-19. (See Holy Day Calendar)

• Source:

  The Good News magazine (Mar-Apr 2006)

• https://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/what-does-the-feast-of-unleavened-bread-mean-for-christians

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Sign of Jonah: Did Jesus Die Good Friday, Rise on Easter?

by Mike Bennett

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Most churches commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday. But how does this fit with the sign of Jonah Jesus gave?

Good Friday afternoon to Easter Sunday sunrise does not add up to three days and three nights. This chart shows the chronology of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection that matches the biblical festivals and confirms the sign of Jonah. (See a larger version of this chart at the end of the article.)

Was Jesus in the tomb from Good Friday evening to Easter Sunday morning?

No, Jesus said that the sign that He was the Messiah was that He would be buried for “three days and three nights” (Matthew 12:40). In other words, He would be entombed for exactly 72 hours. It is impossible to fit 72 hours between Friday night and Sunday morning. When we closely study the Gospel accounts, we learn that Christ was entombed on a Wednesday evening and resurrected on a Saturday evening. 

As proof that He was the Messiah, Jesus Christ promised in advance exactly how much time He would spend in the grave. He called it “the sign of the prophet Jonah.”