Where Do I Go When I Die?
"Throughout our culture we have been led to the idea that we
accept death as the end of life on earth... Time bound as we
are and goal oriented to achievements in our lifetime, we
find it strange to anticipate heaven. " I consider that our
present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory
that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18.
A ghostly imperial guard of more than seven thousand life
size clay soldiers has been unearthed in Mainland China.
Archaeologists recently uncovered these massive terra-cotta
statues, considered one of the most spectacular finds of the
age. The royal army, standing in battle formation to protect
the grave of China's first emperor, Shih Huang Ti, was
equipped with war chariots and weapons of wood and bronze.
Their horses, harnessed in gold and silver, lay in a pit
near the tomb. In this amazing discovery we see death
depicted as a battleground. The emperor wanted assurance of
protection in the afterworld.
Man's final destination has been pondered throughout the
ages. Some have accepted the tradition of their ancestors;
others have struggled with conflicting ideas. Buddhists and
Hindus believe they will undergo repeated rebirths,
transmigrating from existence to existence; there is no
beginning and no end of a continuing life; they are
reincarnated into other bodies.
The Taoist treats death with indifference; oblivion is a
state of non-doing. Islamic belief recognizes seven heavens,
places of carnal pleasure and spiritual bliss. American
Indian culture speaks of the "Happy Hunting Ground." Most
adherents to Judaism believe in a heaven where good deeds
done on earth are rewarded.
The Christian has a strong hope of heaven because of what
Jesus Christ has done through His death and resurrection.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade
- kept in heaven for you" (I Peter 1:3-4).
At the same time there are many things about heaven we do
not know for sure. "Now we see but a poor reflection (as in
a mirror); then we shall see face to face. Now I know in
part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (I
Corinthians 13:12). One unknown poet expressed it this way:
When the holy angels meet us,
As we go to join their band,
Shall we know the friends that greet us,
In the glorious spirit-land?
Shall we see the same eyes shining
On us, as in days of yore?
Shall we feel their dear arms twining
Fondly round us as before?
Shall we know each other there?
If you are interested in knowing more about where you
will go when you die, we have included additional articles
here which will answer some of your questions.
What Right Have
You to Enter Heaven? |
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Every man and woman who has ever
lived will have to answer that question. A woman who
had just experienced a death in her family
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Do We Decide to
Go to Hell? |
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Hell has been cloaked in folklore
and disguised in fiction for so long; many people
deny the reality of such a place. Some think it is
merely
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Hell: A
Controversial Subject |
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"What about hell?" or "Is there fire
in hell?" and similar questions are on the minds of
many. This unpopular subject cannot be ignored
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Heaven Can
Wait? |
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However glorious heaven may be, all
too many Christians don't give it much thought.
Philip Yancey wrote, "A strange fact about modern
American life
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Promises of
Heaven |
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On earth we tend to think of
ourselves but in heaven things will be different. We
will experience the truth: "Man's chief end is to
glorify God
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God Speaks From
Heaven |
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What is heaven? It's the home that
God created and He possesses. His throne room is His
headquarters from which He issues His commands,
directions ... |
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What Will Not
Be in Heaven? |
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In heaven there will be no sectarian
worship, no denominational differences, no church
creeds. There will be no temple worship ... |
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Homesick for
Heaven |
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When business recruiters visit
prospective employees to tell them about their
business, they put up a good front. They may woo the
recruit with
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Believer's
Death Benefits |
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"Even when we allow our imaginations
to run wild on the joys of heaven, we find that our
minds are incapable of conceiving what it will be
like."
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When Will We Get
To Heaven? |
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The believer's passage to heaven is
a direct route. As soon as we are dead, we will be
with the Lord. Jesus told the repentant thief on the
cross
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Death and The
Life After |
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The story is told of a missionary
family who were forced to leave inland China when
the enemy took over the country. Each night on their
flight
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Not Everyone
Will Die |
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Many believers will go to heaven
before they die a physical death. The Bible tells us
that one generation of believers will never know
bodily death
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Is the Trip
Worth It? |
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We have traveled all over the world
and have slept in more hotel and motel rooms,
endured more airline flights, and tried to
understand more foreign
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New Bodies for
Old |
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Scientists have made amazing
advances in giving new arms and legs for lost ones,
new eyes so the blind can see. Kidney and heart
transplants
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A Superhuman
Body |
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What kind of a body will a
resurrected believer have? It's difficult for us to
imagine what someone would be like with any other
than a physical body
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Beyond the Body
Beautiful |
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There is more to a Christian's death
benefits than a fine body. Some people place so much
emphasis upon the care and feeding of this temporary
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Before I Die |
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"When we build a house we lay the
foundation first. After that we choose the material
for the walls, floors, and roof. The believer
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Signs for a
Peaceful Exit |
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Herbert Lockyer tells about finding
an ancient work called The Book of the Craft of
Dying. The unknown writer of this early treatise
discussed
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Last Words of
Saints |
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Many times the dying words of
believers have been recorded by family members and
biographers. These expressions of faith and trust
illustrate
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We are
Accountable |
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Before we die two basic issues must
be resolved. The first is "Am I ready?" Have you
confessed your sins and asked Jesus Christ to come
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The Ultimate
Test |
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When we build a house we lay the
foundation first. After that we choose the material
for the walls, floors, and roof. Some buildings are
put up
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Five Minutes
After ... |
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It may be a moment, or after months
of waiting, but soon I shall stand before my Lord.
Then in an instant all things will appear
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