The Saints That Have Gone, Are They in Heaven Now?
1) Direct Answer
Yes. The saints who have died are with the Lord now—in Paradise, at rest and conscious—but they are not yet in their final, resurrected bodies. They are waiting for the resurrection.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- The Bible says, “To be absent from the body… is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6–8). And it says we have “a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1–4). That shows a heavenly dwelling while we wait.
- Paul desired “to depart, and to be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23). Not unconscious—“with Christ.”
- Jesus told the thief, “Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). That is immediate presence, a place of rest.
- We come “to the spirits of just men made perfect” in the heavenly Zion (Hebrews 12:22–23). They are there, perfected in spirit.
- Revelation shows souls conscious and at rest, speaking and waiting (Revelation 6:9–11).
- And the Bible says that when the Lord comes, “them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him… and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:14–17). They are with Him now, and they will receive their glorified bodies at the resurrection.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- When a believer dies, the body sleeps in the grave, but the person is not lost. The inner man goes to be with the Lord. You see, Scripture calls death “sleep” for the body, but shows the saints awake with Christ.
- They are clothed with that “house from heaven” now, at rest in Paradise, and at His coming they will return with Him and pick up a glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:51–54; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).
- Final Heaven and the New Earth come after the resurrection and judgment, but the saints are already in His presence.
4) Reinforcing Statement
So yes—God’s people are with the Lord now, rejoicing and resting in Paradise, waiting for that great day when they will rise in glorified bodies. It’s not soul-sleep; it’s blessed rest in His presence.
See also The related topic:
https://truebibleteachingsai.org/answers/is-there-a-scripture-that-shows-that-the-dead-saints-are-in-a-dimensio-e5cbbdb There a Scripture That Shows That the Dead Saints Are in a Dimension and Jesus Is in a Higher Dimension?
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
From that time
61-0520 §95
All that feels real good say, "Praise God." Let us bow our heads just a moment now. I wonder if you know that song up here in Canada. It's one of our great songs of the South. "Take the name of Jesus with you." All right. Give us a chord on it, sister. All right. Let's sing it sweetly now. All these good little Norwegian voices come right out now. You might not be a melodious singer, but sing with your heart. I love good old Pentecostal singing, but I hate an overtrained voice---holding their breath, you know. I ju...
Christianity versus Idolatry
61-1217 §134
At the name of Jesus bowing, Falling prostrate at His feet, King of kings in heaven we'll crown Him, When our journey is complete. Precious name (precious name!), O how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heaven; Precious name (O precious name! Isn't He wonderful?) Hope of earth and joy of heaven. Now, listen, don't forget this. You sing the chorus, let me sing the verse to it, see. I don't know if I can think of the verse I want to sing of it, is the next thing. At the name of Jesus bowing, Falling prostrate at His fe...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 5:E-32
Here also was the answer to Matthew 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? and in Thy Name have cast out devils? and in Thy Name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." Jesus does not deny that they did the mighty works that only the Holy Ghos...
God perfecting His Church
54-1204 §89
Oh, there's people in Eternity tonight, out in hell screaming. If we could walk and pull open the gate like this and let you look down in there, I'd never have to make much of an altar call. They'd be screaming and climbing over one another for the opportunity, but they have passed beyond the veil and beyond mercy now. It's too far. They can't never be redeemed. They're gone forever. They will never, never be redeemed. They had the same opportunity that you have. You wouldn't want to take their place tonight, would...
Joseph meeting his brethren
56-1230 §75
Now, look, don't want you to leave yet. I want you to see somebody standing near you, shake their hand, say, "God bless you, brother, sister." Whoever it is. Just turn right around. This is little old interdenominational Tabernacle. We're just on our journey, peculiar people. All right. Take the name of Jesus with you, Child of sorrow and of woe; It will joy and comfort give you, Take it everywhere you go. Precious name! (Precious name!) ... O how sweet. Hope of earth and joy of heaven; Precious name, O how sweet!...