Question: I would just like to know why everybody thinks that we go to heaven when we die. No one really knows what happens but isn’t the most used explanation in the Bible the resurrection? 1 Corinthians 15 comes to mind. I would just like to know more about this subject. I hope I’m not taking too much of your time.

Edward

Answer: Dear Edward,

This is a huge topic, and I can only scratch the surface. Yes, the primary emphasis of the Bible about the after life is the resurrection. But, after the resurrection the Bible says that there will be a new heaven and new earth, that those who are given immortality of God’s grace will be with him and enjoy him for all eternity. Heaven is usually the term that is used, for we know that wherever God is (which is not one place, for he is everywhere at the same time) that "place" is superior to any human place that we know of have experienced – (like Kansas, Canada, Germany, China, etc.). So Christians usually speak of heaven in terms of the final "place" where they will be – in reality it is a description of eternal life of the age to come.

Of course, Christians also speak of heaven as the intermediate state between death and the resurrection – once again this term is used vaguely, best used when speaking of being with God, and protected and taken care of by him.

Hope this helps.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht