In the Q&A section of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s website, the famous evangelist recently answered five common questions many people have about heaven.
The first question is from a follower who asks: “What happens to us in the first minute after we die? Do we enter heaven immediately, or do our souls go into some kind of a sleep until the end of time, when our souls and our bodies will be reunited? I've always had lots of questions about heaven.”
Although Graham acknowledged that the Bible doesn’t answer all of our questions about heaven, it does assure us that if we know Jesus, we will be with the Lord right after we die.
“However, the Bible certainly does indicate that when we die we enter immediately into God’s presence if we belong to Christ. From our earthly point of view, death looks somewhat like sleep—but not from God’s point of view. Paul declared, ‘We are confident (of eternal life), I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord’ (2 Corinthians 5:8). Elsewhere he wrote, ‘I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far’ (Philippians 1:23).
Another follower asks a question many people are concerned about which is, will there be animals/pets in heaven?
“Heaven will be a place of perfect happiness for us—and if we need animals around us to make our happiness complete, then you can be sure God will have them there,” is Graham’s encouraging answer.
You can read the rest of Graham’s answers to popular questions about heaven at Charisma News.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: June 19, 2017