Is King David In Heaven?

[Moneybags]

On a post of mine on the Immaculate Conception, I received this question. How should I answer this?

[quote]If we no longer "die" because of Mary and Jesus, why isn't David in heaven (Acts 2:34)? Because if he's not in heaven, he's either in hell (unlikely) or in the ground dead beyond all measure (likely), waiting to be resurrected in the day of Christ's return (no different then ourselves should we die before our Saviour's second coming).

Instead, while we will all still die (mind, body, soul, etc.) and cease to exist, what Christ has done is given us a hope for immortal life, but an immortal life that will only be given to those found worthy in his Kingdom which will be setup here on earth. [/quote]

[Thy Geekdom Come]

The objection you mention sounds like it comes from the Jehovah's Witness style of theology. It seems to claim that we cease to exist and then somehow come back into existence at the end of time, if we are found worthy. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that there is no hell; instead, the souls of the wicked simply cease to exist. In the meantime, they seem to claim that the just dead are taken out of existence for a while.

The argument concerning David falls flat. First off, he was never canonized, as far as I know, but neither were many saints. It is part of Tradition that he is in Heaven.

Second, the verse the person cited is being taken out of context. Acts 2:34 is St. Peter's address to the people of Jerusalem on Pentecost. If you read the passage, you will see that he references David to make a point not about David, but about Christ.

First, St. Peter says that David did not ascend to heaven as Christ did. This is true. Christ ascended in a glorified body. David went to heaven in his soul, but left his body behind in hope of the Resurrection. So already we see that the verse is being taken the wrong way by the question you were asked. Second, what St. Peter is doing is appealing to the great place David had in the minds of the Jews. He is saying that David was great, but Christ was greater, because Christ ascended and David did not. So St. Peter's intention clearly was not to tell them that David was no longer existent. Verse 34 is saying that David didn't ascend into the heavens; quite the contrary, he glorified the one who would come after him, his Lord. St. Peter is saying that, great as David was, even he himself admits that there is a greater one coming, the Christ, who will fulfill all.

The question you were asked is typical of the Protestant practice of isolating and misconstruing verses. Please direct this person charitably toward the true meaning of the verse. Also, ask this person how he interprets Revelation 6:9, which shows those who were martyred for the faith (i.e. dead) praying to God and asking for Him to intervene. They could not do this if they were not existent.

God bless,

Micah