Is Heaven Or Hell the waiting place of the dead? Is it our FINAL resting place? Here's what scripture says about it.

Different groups have different views on what happens to people after death...including whether heaven and hell are waiting places, or not. Let's touch base with a few:

Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventists

According to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and Seventh-day Adventists, the bodies of believers who die, go into a state of "soul sleep" until the resurrection.At the resurrection, Jehovah brings them back to life.

Though they have other doctrines that don't match up with the bible, the Bible confirms they are correct on this one point. We do sleep in the grave until Resurrection Day. Our bodies only.... but our souls go straight to either Heaven or Hell. This is where we reside, until the resurrection, when our bodies join our spirit.

Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that believers who die, go to purgatory to atone for sins not covered by Jesus' death on the cross. Just the opposite of what scripture tells us. The blood of Jesus covers everyone's sins who wants to be saved. John 3:16 and 17. Any other stance is quite an insult to God. His blood is not so weak or powerless, that it could not, or did not, overcome sin and death, as we see in the resurrection of Christ.

Let's look at these philosophies for a moment. Do we want to be right, or do we want to honor and follow what God says in His Word is Truth? Believers can never atone for their own sins. First, the Bible states that we cannot earn salvation...period! As stated in Ephesians 2:8, 9. God did not give us the authority to change His Word nor the meaning of it to suit ourselves.

One of the hardest things for some to understand, is that the forgiveness of our sins and the granting of salvation, in terms of being justified, are not things we can earn nor deserve, through living a good life or by our own merit. The Bible specifically deals with this in the following passages:

And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:50

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2: 8-9

"For no human being will be justified in His sight, by works of the law, since through the law comes knowledge of sin."

Some churches try to use 1 Peter 3:19-21 to mean baptism alone, saves us. I ask you...what good is baptism, without the One who sacrificed His life, to pay for our sins?

1 Peter 3:19-21 confirms that baptism alone does not save us:Peter clarifies that baptism is not what saves us, but rather represents an appeal to God for a good conscience as the result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.Peter clarifies that baptism is an individual's expression of faith in the sufficiency of Christ's death and resurrection.Baptism does not wash away sins, and Peter makes it crystal clear that baptism does not wash away sins, either literally or metaphorically.

Secondly, the dead know nothing. They are "asleep" in the grave, until the resurrection....

"The dead have “no further reward” in this life; they no longer have the ability to enjoy life, hear, speak, or think, like those who are living. They are asleep!" Eccle. 9:5. You're not aware of your surroundings when you're sleep. You are simply resting. Oblivious to the world around you.

Third and most importantly, 1 John 2:2 confirms that "He Himself is the only atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but for the sins of the whole world."

Eternity News

Eternity News says that when people die, God takes them to heaven, which is a "waiting room" for God's new kingdom.

This is true. Jesus told the thief on the cross next to himself, as he showed his faith in Jesus as his Savior, "TODAY, thou shalt be with me in paradise." We can trust that Jesus was referring to being with God in Heaven. That is where Jesus resides, where He sits on the right hand of God the Father:

Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Life, Hope & Truth

According to Life, Hope & Truth, the Bible says that people die and go into an unconscious state, but that the sleep of death is not permanent.The Bible teaches that there will be a resurrection in the future.

Catholic theology

In Catholic theology, limbo is the border place between heaven and hell. Souls who die without being baptized, go to limbo, where they are not condemned to punishment, but are deprived of eternal happiness with God.

I'm sorry, but what an awful thing to teach, and so sad. Churches who preach this, will have to answer to God for teaching this. John 3:16 and 17 tells us that salvation is never dependent upon our performance/good works, but by the blood of Jesus Christ, who paid for our sins, and by His loving grace (unearned favor from God). Baptism is a "work". It never, by itself, saves anyone..."least they should boast that they saved themselves." Ephesians 8:2-9

NONE are "deprived" of heaven, who have given their hearts and lives to Jesus. Even John 3:16 confirms that we are given the promise of eternal life in heaven, the moment we accept Jesus as our Savior. God does not go back on his promises. We become Heirs of Heaven the minute we ask Jesus to forgive us:

"The Spirit itself, beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; in that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Romans 8:16-17

When you die, will you immediately go to heaven, or is there a waiting period?

There is no waiting period. Not biblically based. There is no “waiting room” in purgatory....

"We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8

"To be absent from one’s body at the point of actual death, is to be present with the Lord." "Paul says that it was more needful for him to stay here for us, but to depart and be with Christ would be far better.", (Phil.1:23–24). He knew that as soon as we die, our souls go immediately into the presence of Christ.

This is Hope: John 14:3, says, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also".

God is faithful to His promises. Without Jesus' death on the cross and his work to save us, there would be no place in heaven for people. That is, they could not drag their sins into a Holy Heaven, or it wouldn't be Heaven. Jesus did not owe a sin debt. He is sinless, so death could not keep Him. Only a sinless and pure sacrifice can pay for our sins. That...we are not!

Heaven and Hell are temporary waiting places, not purgatory. Further, find even one verse that states we can change our minds after we die, regarding our eternal destination, or even that we go through a "purification process" as some claim. It doesn't. This is why Jesus said today is the day of salvation; that we must make that choice while we are still alive, because once we cross over, there's no changing our minds:

"It is appointed unto men ONCE to die, but after this the judgment." is a Bible verse from Hebrews 9:27. This verse confirms that people are destined to die only once and then face judgment. No reincarnation. Will we believe a Holy God or flawed man's reasoning?

If we could be saved by works, that would not include faith, for it is by the grace of God and by faith in Him and His promises, that we are saved. Salvation is a gift from God. You never have to earn a gift. You only have to accept it. We are never ever have to earn God's love for favor. He already loves us! He proved it on the cross.

So I think we can see now that scripture confirms that when we die, our spirit and soul, go immediately to one place or the other (strictly according to our choice). After Jesus died on the cross, there was no need for souls to have a waiting place; not like in the Old Testament, where souls waited for Christ to come...as immediately after Christ came and died on the cross, He prepared a waiting place for us until the Resurrection Day.

Next, The Great White Throne Judgement, for those who mocked, laughed, scorned, and cursed God. They are going to hell because they wanted nothing to do with God saving their own soul, the only person that could have saved them. They would not allow Christ to save them, so they wouldn't have to suffer hell, but claimed they wanted nothing to do with Him and His salvation, so He honored their requests and gave them the desires of their heart, though it broke His heart, as He is not willing that any should perish.

God is fair and just. Sin is not. Sin always condemns us to death, but Jesus came strictly to save us from it. He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. John 3:16 and 17.

Heaven and hell are holding places. After the Judgment takes place, this is when souls will go to their final destination. No reincarnation. All from every nation, who have accepted Jesus as their Savior, will come back to earth with Jesus and live in the New Jerusalem, here on Earth. Heaven will come down and rest on Earth, after Earth has been purified by the Holy Spirit.

"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain." Isaiah, chapter 66, verse 22.