Q. Do dead babies go to heaven? Do babies who die automatically receive eternal life even though they never accepted Jesus as their personal savior?
(Submitted by: Annette)
A. Scripture teaches that unsaved people who die aren't immediately put into an eternal hell fire. Instead, they simply aren't judged until the resurrection occurs. This would be true for babies as well as for adults who were uncalled in this lifetime. It may seem hard to believe that people could be saved after they die. But notice this very interesting passage in Ezekiel 37, the vision of the valley of dry bones. Notice that the house of Israel in the Old Testament was mostly not saved then, for so many were so faithless and disobedient that they often worshipped false gods using idols. Yet, instead of being put into the lake of fire after being resurrected, they are put into the land of Israel (Ezekiel 37:11-12):
"Then He [God] said to me, 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, "Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off." Therefore prophesy, and say to them, "Thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel." "
Scripture teaches that the dead are dead, and don't go to heaven or hell at death, that they don't have consciousness until the resurrection. As Solomon wrote (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, 10):
"For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. Indeed, their love, their hate, and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun. . . . Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or wisdom in Sheol where you are going."
|
