We weep over the graves of infants and the little ones taken from us by death; but an early grave may be the shortest way to heaven.
- Tryon Edwards
Many legitimately wonder to what degree, if any, the Bible teaches that the pre-born and babies, toddlers and children who die before reaching adulthood are assured a place in heaven?
While an interesting study to be sure, thankfully the answer is a quantumly subtle yet resounding yes!
Ironically, the first generation to be able to view the miracle of human conception and birth has all but declared war on these same pre-born, aborting well over a billion and thus turning the womb into the most dangerous place on Earth. Such previously inconceivable shedding of innocent blood, not to mention various assaults against children from other quarters, raises important questions including the following:
1. Do all pre-born go to heaven?
2. Do all babies of to heaven?
3. Do all children go to heaven?
Sadly, there are millions if not billion today who claim the pre-born are not persons at all but merely clumps of cells, inviable tissue masses or even tumors to be discarded at will. While technically true from a certain perspective, might God not say the same about us? What God has said can be understood by even children as summed up by the esteemed Dr. Sues who points out “A person is a person no matter how small.”
In the Old Testament one place this is demonstrated is regards to the innocent baby conceived by David’s corruption of Bathsheba prior to the betrayal and murder of her husband Uriah the Hittite. As a small part of God’s judgment against the outrageous sin of the “Lord’s anointed” the baby was destined for death. Yet given David’s reaction after the child’s death, there was no question in his mind that he would meet the pre-born child in heaven:
- “One late afternoon, David got up from taking his nap and was strolling on the roof of the palace. From his vantage point on the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was stunningly beautiful. David sent to ask about her, and was told, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite?” David sent his agents to get her. After she arrived, he went to bed with her. (This occurred during the time of “purification” following her period.) Then she returned home. Before long she realized she was pregnant.” 2 Samuel 11:2-5 The Message
- “Then David confessed to Nathan, “I’ve sinned against God.” Nathan pronounced, “Yes, but that’s not the last word. God forgives your sin. You won’t die for it. But because of your blasphemous behavior, the son born to you will die.” After Nathan went home, God afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he came down sick. David prayed desperately to God for the little boy. He fasted, wouldn’t go out, and slept on the floor. The elders in his family came in and tried to get him off the floor, but he wouldn’t budge. Nor could they get him to eat anything. On the seventh day the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him. They said, “What do we do now? While the child was living he wouldn’t listen to a word we said. Now, with the child dead, if we speak to him there’s no telling what he’ll do… David got up from the floor, washed his face and combed his hair, put on a fresh change of clothes, then went into the sanctuary and worshiped. Then he came home and asked for something to eat. They set it before him and he ate. His servants asked him, “What’s going on with you? While the child was alive you fasted and wept and stayed up all night. Now that he’s dead, you get up and eat.While the child was alive,” he said, “I fasted and wept, thinking God might have mercy on me and the child would live. But now that he’s dead, why fast? Can I bring him back now? I can go to him, but he can’t come to me.” 2 Samuel 12:13-18, 20-23 The Message
David’s inconceivable sin that produced this child then escalated in his orchestrating the murder of Uriah, Bathsheba’s true and faithful husband, while she was pregnant with the baby. Taken together, this Shakespearean tragedy would set in motion terrible future events including the following:
1. The rape of David’s daughter by her half brother.
2. The eventual murder of the rapist by David’s favored son Absalom.
3. Absalom’s rebellious treason forcing David’s exile from Jerusalem.
4. Absalom following Ahithophel’s advice to have sex with David’s concubines on the palace roof (where David had lusted for Bathsheba).
5. Ahithophel’s suicide.
6. Absalom’s army’s defeat and his death.
7. David’s life work, the unification and holiness of Israel, torn in two by his foolishness and sin and those of his sons, grandsons and heirs.
With so few Old Testament references to the afterlife, it may be that the drama and trauma of this event is used to highlight the merciful fact that regardless of sin surrounding conception, God so identifies with the needy and helpless that when it comes to children Jesus assures, “…for such is the kingdom of heaven.”
For a more direct New Testament example consider the first authentic charismatic meeting in the New Testament. Note all four participants:
- “Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly, “You’re so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed! And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, The babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy. Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come true!” Luke 1:39-45 The Message
According to the World Almanac, 34% of the world favored "Christianity" above other religious beliefs in a census. In America 87% preferred Christianity. Unfortunately, with a fraction of that percentage even attending church regularly, it's likely that 87% is a highly inflated figure when it comes to those genuinely following Christ. Globally, 10% may be more accurate. Such a figure suggests that today as many as 9 of 10 adults who die perish for eternity! Billions espouse some kind of belief in Jesus. Yet only a remnant of a remnant submit to Christ as Lord. The only kind of “belief” Scripture deems acceptable.
With a global population of 7.5 billion, even a 10% salvation rate is appalling. All the more so given today’s mortality rate: “According to the CIA World Factbook, as of July 2012, the global crude death rate was 7.99 deaths/1,000 population." Globally, about 7.5 million die per year, 20,500 per day, etc. Such accounting alone should be enough to drive all of Christendom to it's knees until an unprecedented global revival breaks out.
Perhaps the most salient reason for God to allow abortion to continue is the filling of heaven with billions of children forever safe from the earth’s spiritual kill zone. In fact, combined with natural spontaneous abortion and other causes of childhood mortality, Jesus may well have been speaking both figuratively and literally when discussing the secure place of children in the Kingdom of Heaven:
- “People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:15-16 NIV
- “Beware that you do not despise or feel scornful toward or think little of one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always are in the presence of and look upon the face of My Father Who is in heaven.” Matthew: 18:10 NIV
- “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.” Mark 9:42 AMP
The following are just a few of the more obvious indicators that indeed all children, particularly those martyred within in the womb, go to heaven. Such assurity is even more certain when remembering all human life is sacred, from the moment of conception:
1. All verses regarding God’s love
2. All verses regarding God’s mercy
3. All verses regarding God’s faithfulness
4. All verses regarding the uniquely status and protection of children
5. All verses regarding God’s identification with the poor
6. All verses regarding God’s identification with the needy.
7. All verses regarding God’s protection
8. All verses regarding God’s justice (For examples see 150 Pro-Life verses)
Some will still object to the concept that all babies go to heaven on the grounds of a misunderstanding of such doctrines as election and eternal security. These, often modern Calvinists, suggest that only those with a kind of “God chip” comprise the elect that will ever see heaven. While Scripture certainly teaches that God possesses foreknowledge, this does not directly equate with determinism.
As for election, there are indeed a handful of passages reinforcing the concept that must be quantumly reconciled with the far more numerous passages reinforcing the gracious offer of salvation for everyone willing to receive the free yet conditional gift of eternal life offered by the costly atonement of Christ. This is done by keeping His commands, particularly to “love one another” which clearly includes pre-born babes in the womb. Seeing all Scripture is “God breathed” and “cannot be broken” such reconciliation must be done utilizing the standard rules of Biblical interpretation as well as the QC's Rule of Emphasis.
In light of Christ’s overwhelming concern for all children at all stages of development, the more salient question may be to what degree filling modern life with various forms of abortion, not to mention deadly snares of temptation and deception, entitlement and selfishness, immorality and sin, is impacting our own lives? In time and eternity?
Is it possible that Satan has deceived the church as he did David? Does Scripture reveal the need for Biblical Christian churches and genuine fellowship that promotes loving children and the womb? Might those not authentically pro-life and godly praying parents be unknowingly cursing their blessings, as well as aborting their prayers and worship, communion and even salvation?
An Acrostic of Change
Today there are many opportunities for individuals, churches and organizations to have an impact on people within their communities.
For some great simple pro-life ideas just click the link below: Change
For an overview of being authentically pro-life click the link below. For an in depth report on serious church and denominational objectives and strategies to enable the church to have a comprehensive pro-life, pro-family and pro-mission strategy click the link below:
Authentically Pro-Life
Objectives
More information
In the Red Dropdown Icon you'll find resources that we hope will both stimulate and facilitate your pursuit of and understanding of the God of the Bible. To get started simply place your cursor on a category of interest and see where it leads. You can also join the discussion in a variety of ways including posting comments to God Blogs as well as making comments or asking questions by email or text.
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved