No. This is a myth that is widely believed but has no biblical support.

John says that

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man (John 3:13)

And Peter said

Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. … For David did not ascend into the heavens. (Acts 2:29,34)

David was a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 13:14), yet even he did not go to heaven. Jesus is the only human being to have done so.

Instead, the Bible promises a hope of life after death here on earth.

Psalm 115:16 The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,
but the earth he has given to the children of man.

See After death what? for more information.

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2 Responses to Will the religious go to heaven?

  1. Anonymous says:

    You are right that religion does not take one to heaven, but wrong in your understanding that faith in Jesus does not take the believer to heaven..    Jesus said that He will take us to be where He is (John 14:1-6).  Through Jesus we go to where God is.  If He is in heaven than we go there after death.

    Eph 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 

    Phil 3:18-21  For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

    1 Thes 4:16-18  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

    Heb 10:32-34 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 

    These are only a few that state that we have an eternal home in heaven.  I hope you will change your view and join all true believers in Jesus Christ there.

    • Jonathan Morgan says:

      With respect to John 14:1 – 6, it says that Jesus is preparing a place for us, which you assume is in heaven, and that we will be with him.  However, remember Jesus said this just before leaving for his crucifixion.  After his crucifixion he returned to them and spoke with them before he ascended to heaven 40 days later.  When we talk about God’s house, we are not necessarily talking about heaven.  In fact, God’s house is used to talk about believers right now in Ephesians 2:19 – 22 and 1 Peter 2:5.  I suggest that until Christ’s death the believers were not able to approach God in the same way as they were after he was raised and they could approach God through him.  After his death, they had a place as part of God’s house, with Jesus as chief cornerstone and head of the house.

      Ephesians 2 is talking about the war between a spiritual (“heavenly”) way of life and a fleshly way of life, and it is talking about our current life right now as believers (not life after death).  In that context, it is clear that we are with Christ because we are working with Christ and living a way of life that follows Christ.

      Philippians 3 says that right now we are to act as citizens of heaven, because we are showing heavenly values.  It also says that we are expecting Christ to return from heaven to earth, not for us to join him in heaven.

      1 Thessalonians 4 does not talk about the final state of where people are, otherwise it would have us after we’ve met Jesus staying in the air between heaven and earth.  It also talks about resurrection, not about going to heaven immediately on death.

      Hebrews 10 talks again about the difference between heavenly values and earthly values.  God is in heaven, and so when he keeps track of what we have done and whether there is a reward, that track is kept in heaven.  It doesn’t mean that the final reward will be in heaven.  Compare also what Jesus says about treasure in heaven in Matthew 6.

      Also consider that Revelation 21 talks about coming from heaven to earth, and then about God dwelling with people (on earth).

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