Do All Good Persons Go To Heaven?

Do All Good Persons Go To Heaven? When Lazarus died, if he really went to heaven, would it make any sense for Jesus to resurrect Lazarus and essentially recall him back from heaven to his physical body on Earth? Would Jesus really be doing him a favor?

The Bible does not teach that all good people go to heaven. In fact, Acts 2:34 specifically mentions one good person that did not go to heaven:

"David [whom the Bible refers to as being `a man agreeable to Jehovah's heart'] did not ascend to the heavens."

And John the Baptist was a good man. Yet, Jesus indicated that he would not be exalted to rule as a king in heaven. (Matthew 11:11)

Where Was Lazarus During the Four Days After His Death?

Jesus knew full well the condition of the dead which is what the Bible consistently tells us - that the dead are “conscious of nothing at all.” (Eccl. 9:5, 10; Ps. 146:4) That is why death is like sleep and why Jesus likened Lazarus' state to sleep:

"After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." His disciples replied, "LORD, if he sleeps, he will get better." Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead." (John 11:11-14) - NIV

Notice these other occurrences in the Bible where death is likened to sleep:

"But let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die ("sleep", ASV; ESV; RSV KJV; NKJV; NIV), but we will all be transformed." (1 Cor. 15:51) - NLT

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died ("asleep", NIV; KJV; NKJV; NRV; ASV; Young's), so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." (1 Thess. 4:13) - NRS

So when we die we are said to “sleep” because due to Christ’s ransom sacrifice there is the hope of a resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:22) Were it not for God’s purpose to awaken persons from the sleep of death, they would never wake up. (See Job 14:10-15 and Jer. 51:39, 57)

What is the Outcome For Good People?

The Bible shows that only 144,000 will be "bought from the earth" and have the hope of heavenly life. (Rev. 14:1-3) But the Bible also shows that God's original purpose was for mankind to live on earth. (Gen. 2:17)

Ps. 115:16 says: "The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth he has given to human beings." (NRS)

"God created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos." (Isa, 45:18) NLT

Like Lazarus, the Bible talks about a promised hope in the future for us:

"The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear [Jesus'] voice and come out." (John 5:28, 29)

"There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." - Acts 24:15.

Recommended Related Articles:

Do All Good People Go to Heaven?
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2010082

Who will go to heaven, and why?
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20131101/who-goes-to-heaven/

Hope for the Dead—The Resurrection
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20140101/resurrection-hope-for-the-dead/