Information Related to "No one has ascended to Heaven"
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*That is, except Jesus Christ, who came down from Heaven (John 3:13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.). But when you read in Luke 16:22And 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; that "the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom," it's easy to assume this means Lazarus was taken to heaven.
Likewise, Luke wrote in Acts 2:34For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, that "David did not ascend into the heavens." So the Bible actually says that people do not go consciously to heaven when they die. (For additional information on this topic please read our free Bible study aid booklet Heaven and Hell: What Does the Bible Really Teach? )
Even if Jesus were talking about a real event and not just a story, when would Lazarus be taken to Abraham's bosom? This will occur at the time of the first resurrection. "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matthew 24:31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.).
If Lazarus were to be resurrected from the grave he will be escorted by angels to meet Jesus Christ in the clouds at His second coming. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 [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.
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Jesus certainly knew Abraham and other faithful individuals were dead in their graves and would be raised in a resurrection (John 8:52-56 [52] Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
[53] Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
[54] Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
[55] Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
[56] Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
). "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29 [28] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
[29] And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
). Also the prophet Daniel wrote, "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 12:2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.).
It's important to note that Jesus and Daniel are speaking about two separate resurrections. First, the righteous will be raised from the dead at Jesus' return to earth. Then, more than 1,000 years later, there will be a resurrection of the "rest of the dead" (Revelation 20:5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.). Some of these people will ultimately be judged to be unrighteous-those who, knowing the truth, refuse to repent. "For just as in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive. But each in his own order: the Messiah is the firstfruits; then those who belong to the Messiah, at the time of his coming; then the culmination, when he hands over the Kingdom to God the Father, after having put an end to every rulership, yes, to every authority and power" (1 Corinthians 15:22-24 [22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
[23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
[24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
, Complete Jewish Bible).
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Keywords: heaven resurrection two resurrections
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