Where Do Saints Go When They Die?
A dear sister got upset at a minister who, during her cousin’s funeral, said saints who die don’t go to heaven right now.
Here’s my response:
Good afternoon my sister, Cool down! The minister is correct in one sense, but he should have clarified what he meant.
The following is the correct understanding:
There are three temporal heavens:
1. Atmospheric (birds, planes, & clouds)
2. Celestial (moon, sun, stars, galaxies, etc.)
3. 3rd Heaven (Christ, angels, and saints who died)
Being temporal, these three had a beginning and will have an end. See 2 Peter 3:10-13. In that passage, there is the annihilation of the current heaven and earth and the beginning of a new heaven and earth (H & E). To be fair, not all Bible teachers agree with that interpretation, preferring to believe in a refurbished and restored old earth. Either way, the old heaven and earth will end, but the new heaven and earth will exist throughout eternity. These are also mentioned in Rev. 21:1. There is mentioned the temporal H & E which ends but the new H & E begins and never ends, going on into eternity (forever and ever). Saints (we) who die in temporal time go to the 3rd heaven, not the new heaven and new earth that's yet to come, but eventually, they (we) will be there.
Perhaps that's what the minister meant. If not, he needs to explain what he means.
Blessings!
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