A Christian is identified as one who believes and follows Jesus The Christ ,The Son of God.
In our lifetime, we have witnessed many family and friends passing from this life to the Spirit Realm. It is strongly believed when Christians die, their spirits go to a place of rest in the heavenly realm. Jesus spoke of the righteous being in Paradise, a place in the bosom of Abraham, where they find rest. Their earthly life is over. For those who we believe were faithful unto our Lord Jesus Christ, we often speak of them having ‘Gone Home’. This home is from whence they came–Heaven.
Jesus told John the righteous who die in the Lord shall have rest from their labors. Revelation 14:12-13. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
This rest is said to be with Abraham because of their faith as Abraham held. The dead are waiting for the second coming of Christ to usher in Heaven. Knowing the righteous who die in the Lord shall have rest, our understanding of Paradise is the place where righteous souls go. From the conversation Jesus had with the thief on the cross at his crucifixion. Jesus said they would be in Paradise together that day. Upon their death they were placed in Paradise. Paradise becomes that place of rest for the righteous.
With this understanding, believers, speaking of the righteous family and friends who have passed on, typically refer to them as having ‘Gone Home’. What does this ‘Home’ appear to be like?
Many question the activities of those now living in Paradise. Some relate it to the grave where there is no activity of any kind. The grave, also, is a holding place. Scripture, however, refers to the graves being opened and the spirits rising to meet the Lord in the clouds. Let us refer to 1 Thes. 4:13-17. 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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.
We assume the spirits are left in the graves until Jesus calls them forth. Yet, Jesus went to Paradise where many others are held. 1 Peter 3:18-20. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
Peter refers to this place as a prison for those of whom Jesus went and preached the Gospel who lived before the flood. This referees to a holding place where they were all gathered into one place. The graves of the dead are scattered over all the earth.
We, therefore, see the terms ‘asleep’, ‘rest’, ‘prison’, giving us an implication that the just people’s spirits are either left in the grave or they are in another place–bosom of Abraham or Paradise. We are led to think there is no activity there. Ecclesiastes 9:10 is a quote from King Solomon saying, 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Also, when we are asleep, our minds are at rest and our bodies do no activity. So, some people believe Paradise must be like the grave and being asleep; no activity. Yet Jesus said to the thief he would see him in Paradise and Peter said Jesus did an activity while there for the three days and nights–preaching to those who died before or in the Flood.
We also see the rich man in hell asking Abraham to send Lazarus to bring him a drop of water. He is not in rest nor asleep.
Some people believe, by faith, their loved ones who have died in the Lord are in a better place which is similar to Heaven, but is not Heaven as yet. It appears as people obey the Lord, Jesus is busy building a place for them. John 14:1-3. 14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 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.
If we take these words literally at face value, we come away with the idea Heaven is not fully prepared right now. Is Paradise a place similar to what heaven will be where this rest shall continue?
We know and believe those who die in an evil sinful state, as unbelievers with the mark of Satan’s beast, are immediately in torment. Those who die in the Lord are finding peace.
Therefore, either way, whatever you believe about the place of the righteous spirit waiting upon the Lord, in the grave with no activity or in another possible place called Paradise do not waver in your belief. There is no proven fact as one being absolute and the other a farce.
Bill Carlisle, born 1908, and died in 2003, wrote the song, ‘Gone Home’. It was first released in 1955. Here are the lyrics:
All of my friends that I loved yesterday
Gone home (they have gone home) gone home (they have )
The songbirds that sing in the dell seem to say
Gone home (they have gone home) gone home (they have )
They've joined the heavenly fold
They're walking the streets of pure gold
They left one by one as their work here was done
Gone home (they have gone home) gone home (they have)
Life here is lonely since they've gone before
Gone home (they have gone home) gone home (they have )
The old weeping willow that stands by the door
Sadly says (they have gone home) gone home (they have )
The trumpet will sound on that Great Judgment day
Gone home (they have gone home) gone home (they have )
We'll see all our friends that have gone on that way
Gone home (they have gone home) gone home (they have )
These lyrics paint a loving, peaceful feeling of the rest and peace that the righteous, who ‘have gone on before’ might be experiencing. It is a picture of what heaven may be like. It is a picture of what a believer in Jesus desires to obtain, walking the streets of pure gold.
John wrote of what he saw concerning the heavenly Jerusalem. Revelation 21:21. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. We do not know if Paradise is like this description of the New Jerusalem, but God will do as He wills. Perhaps Paradise is also beautiful as Heaven is described to be.
However, do you want to obtain paradise or Heaven alone? Are there friends and family who are not believers in the Lord? Are there former believers of Jesus Christ who have gone astray and may forfeit their soul to Satan? Would you wish for them the comforting words written in this song and from the Holy Word?
Many say they do. However, are we trying to persuade them to be believers and obedient unto the yoke of Jesus? Satan is tempting them, perhaps blinding them from the truth. Worldliness entices them to be like so many others. It is easier to be like the world–no additional hardships or persecutions from the world–all are behaving the same, doing all the abominable things God deplores. Often it is easier to have a mob mentality and do as they do to avoid severe persecutions. We comprehend that evil activities shall keep people from paradise, but we don’t desire them for ourselves. If we do not desire them for ourselves, why are we slacking in trying to teach and encourage others not to desire to be in torment, but found at rest?
If we do not warn people from the current evils, and actively pursue the story of peace and rest for the lost, we will be lost to Satan’s torments as well. Ezekiel 3:17-19. 17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Let the words of this song be said of us as well as our family and friends; including our neighbors when they have died; “They have gone Home.”
