`20' But now the Anointed has been raised from the dead,
the first fruits of those who are asleep. `21' For since
by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection
of the dead. `22' For as in Adam all die, so also in the
Anointed all will be made alive.
`23' But each in his own order: the Anointed, the first
fruits, after that those who are the Anointed's at his
coming, `24' then comes the end, when he can deliver the
kingdom for the Almighty and Father, when he can abolish
all contrary rule and all authority and power. `25' For he
must reign this way until he can put all his enemies under
his feet. `26' The last enemy that will be abolished is
death. `27' For /he puts all things in subjection under
his feet/, [Psalms 8:6(7)] But when he says, "/All things
are put in subjection/," it is evident that he is excepted
who puts all things in subjection to him. `28' And when
all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will
remain subject to him who subjected all things to him,
wherein the Almighty can be all things---in all things.
`29' Otherwise, what will those do who are immersed? Is it
for the dead---if the dead are not raised at all? Why then
are they immersed for them?
`51' Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep,
but we will all be changed, `52' in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last shofar; for the shofar
will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and
we will be changed.
The dead in Messiah are raised together at the last shofar call, at
the coming of Messiah. Until then, the dead are in a state of
unconsciousness called, "sleep".
*John 5:25--29* [EHSV4]
`25' "Amen, amen, I say to you, a time is coming and now
is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Almighty Son,
and those who listen will live. `26' For even as the
Father has charge of life in connection to himself, so
also to the Son he has given over life, to have charge of
in connection to himself, `27' and he gave him power to
execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man. `28' Do
not wonder about this, because a time is coming, in which
all who are in the tombs will hear his voice, `29' and
will come forth. Those who did the good deeds to a
resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds
to a resurrection of judgement."
Note: In verse 25, the time /now is/ when the dead will hear the voice
of the Almighty Son. "The dead" in this verse are those who are under
the sentence of death; i.e., they are still living and not literally
dead. If they listen to his voice, they will live.
*1 Thessalonians 4:13--17* [EHSV4]
`13' But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers,
about those who are falling asleep, that you may not
grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. `14' For if we
affirm faithfulnes, because Yeshua died and rose again,
even so the Almighty will bring with him those who are
fallen asleep in Yeshua. `15' Because this we say to you
by the word of Yahweh, that we who are alive, and who
remain until the presence of Yahweh, will not overtake
those who are fallen asleep. `16' Because Yahweh himself
will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the Chief Messenger, and with the shofar of the Almighty,
and the dead in the Anointed will rise first. `17' Then we
who are alive and remain will be carried away in the
clouds together with them to meet Yahweh by air, and thus
we will always be with Yahweh.
*Daniel 12:2* YLT
And the multitude of those sleeping in the dust of the
ground do awake, some to life age-during, and some to
reproaches---to abhorrence age-during.
The Bible is clear: the dead are in a state of unconsciousness called,
"sleep." On the day of the resurrection, they will awake, regaining
their consciousness, and they will be judged: some to everlasting
life, and the others to everlasting damnation.
There is nothing in Scripture which teaches that one goes to "heaven"
when one dies; instead, it says that the dead are in a state of
"sleep" until the day of the general resurrection and judgement.
