Where Do Babies Go When They Die?

Where Do Babies Go When They Die?

Larry D. Schultz

Jesus Christ said, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

Is this a general statement our Saviour is making here, or is it inclusive to all people everywhere, to all generations, and to every age of life? In order to come to a biblical conclusion we must go to the Holy Scriptures and compare scripture with scripture. In rightly dividing the word of truth, one must realize that though everything in the Bible is true, not everything is truth. Truth, as in absolute. An example of this is seen first in Genesis 3:4 where Satan says, “Ye shall not surely die,” which is obviously not truth according to Genesis 2:17, where God said, “thou shalt surely die,” this being a true statement about eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We see this principle again in Acts 15:1, when certain men taught “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved,” which is a true statement, but not truth according to Jesus Christ in John 3:3, “...except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” With that being said, I want to look at David's comment in 2 Samuel 12:23, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” These are David's words given at the time of his grief, much like today as people at a funeral of a loved one saying, “they're in a better place now,” or “heaven just got another angel.” These are comfort words. Nowhere in the Scriptures does it ever allude to the remote possibility of anyone at any age going to heaven without grace through faith. The Bible is clear that all are sinners (Romans 3:10; Psalms 51:5, 58:3). Sinners must go to hell for not accepting the free gift of eternal life by grace through faith, because of their sinful nature. So, that leaves an open assumption that God is not fair to give infants who can't understand, or mentally challenged people, or the people who have never heard the word a chance to accept and receive the gift that has already been purchased for them. Or, possibly God has another plan. No one went to heaven when they died in the Old Testament until Jesus resurrected. They went to Abraham's bosom. They didn't know this place existed until it was written of in Luke 16:23. Could there be a “holding place” now? The Bible teaches that all nations will hear the gospel (Matthew 24:14). I believe the aborted babies, mentally challenged, and people who have never heard the gospel will show up during the millennial reign of Christ. They will learn of Christ and have an opportunity to put faith in him. And this decision of trust will be verified after the millennial when Satan is “loosed out of his prison” and try to deceive the nations (Revelation 20:7,8), then Christ will put a quick end to that. It's at that time when those who have been aborted, or died early in life without knowing truth will have a chance to trust, and when Satan tries to deceive them that will be the time to “prove” their trust by being not deceived. Right after that is the White Throne Judgment, when all who have not believed will be cast forever into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

God is just, and God is fair. I agree what Calvin is quoted saying, “that God need not be limited because he works in ways we cannot always perceive, and he can still bestow his grace.” I believe his grace is to follow his word, and tell us only the things we need to know, as he does the things that only he can understand.

“There is no searching of his understanding” (Isaiah 40:28).

This is my personal belief on a subject that has long been speculated about with many different opinions. Even a number of theologians have disagreed on this matter.

One thing to get out of this is that God is not willing that any should perish. (2 Peter 3:9).