Did Jesus lie to Martha?

no, Jesus did not lie to Martha....

The way I have understood it, those who have 'died' before Jesus came, have gone to Sheol, the place of rest...

Christ Himself held the key to heaven and hell.... before He came to earth, only the place of the dead (Sheol) existed. tho, even there, those of God were seperate from those who were not of God.

Some of these things we will not know until the end of our own lives.... but God's faithful do not suffer in hell... even the 'apostles' creed (not sure where this even came from, as it is not in the bible) says that Jesus descended into hell... which He would not have done.... only the place of rest (and NOT purgatory, another made up thing)

When Jesus said that Lazarus was "sleeping" the disciples didn't fully understand what he meant at first. They thought maybe he could be awakened. Then Jesus said to them outspokenly that Lazarus had died. - John 11:11-14

This Bible account shows that the resurrection of the dead is possible. It showed that Jesus had power over death. Just as sure as a person can be awakened from sleep, the dead will be awakened too.

Consider this too - Lazarus had been dead for parts of four days, his body likely decaying and yet after this time when Lazarus was bought back to life he never said that he'd been anywhere else. He was a relatively good man but he didn't say "why have you bought me back down from heaven?" or words like that.

This is because the dead are unconcious, their thoughts are nowhere else - Ecclesiastes 9:5 & 10

The only hope for the dead is a resurrection on the restored paradise earth -

John 5:28, 29

Psalm 37:29

For the dead, the resurrection will be like the next moment, the last thing they will remember when they're resurrected is just before they died. Just like when we go to bed at night - time passes but we're unaware of it.

They have a wonderful future in paradise conditions.

:)

No, He didn't lie to Martha. The incident with Lazarus was done so that Jesus could show His authority over life and death. He brought Lazarus out from heaven, and this is why he wept. It's a terrible thing to do to someone just to prove that you are who and what you claim to be.

As to ascending into heaven, you're dealing with one part of an answer. Look at the rest of it. No one has seen heaven and come back to be able to tell of what they saw, and Jesus came from heaven to tell us what it is and how to get there.

The word for death in the New Testament is "falling asleep." For example, 1 Thessalonians 4 14 -15: "For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him through Jesus those who have fallen asleep [in death].For this we declare to you by the Lord's [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death].

I remember being intrigued when a little girl showing me around her village in Greece pointed to the cemetery and made a gesture of being asleep.

When we die we move out of time into eternity. There is no chronology, so any arguments based on time cannot be sustained.

The word "sleep" was used by Jesus in this instance as an alliteration to show man that they could have the same kind of power through demonstrations of faith. Lazarus was dead, but God allowed him to die for that demonstrative purpose. As for John 3:13, it simply means what it says: that no one has ascended to Heaven yet. When people die, they go either to "torments" (as in the parable of the rich man winding up in Hell where he was 'tormented by this flame') or to "paradise" (as in the man who was crucified with Jesus who begged for forgiveness and Jesus said, "Verily, today thou shalt be with Me in PARADISE."). The people who lived and died before Jesus went to these places based on their spiritual condition when they died.

Jesus never lied. But much of what He said was not clearly understood--especially when He spoke in parables. Lazarus was indeed dead by human definition. However, God (Jesus) being all knowing and all powerful chose to raise him from the dead, therefore Lazarus was technically dead, but he did not enter the gates of heaven.

Judgment day has not come yet. The righteous will be judged and receive rewards. "Blessed are they that have part in the first resurrection.

The wicked and unfaithful will have to face the great white throne judgment.

Revelation 20:10-12 (King James Version)

10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Before Christ's work on the cross, all the faithful departed ended up in a place called "Abraham's Bosom." Like a pleasant waiting place. They could not get to be with God because Christ had yet to pay their ransom. That is partially what it means when the word says "He set the captives free." It has other meanings, like slaves to sin.

But, before Christ, no one went to Heaven, not even Moses, Elijah or even Enoch, whom God took directly.

He never said that to Martha .Martha was at the house in Bethany.Get your story straight.She said when He got to Bethany"Lord ,if you had been here my brother would not have died.

They were sleeping, until Jesus defeated death and set them free.