[Former Fetus]

Hell is the grave

Like I said earlier, before the cross Sheol (often times translated as hell) was the place of the dead. But after the cross, the believers go straight away to heaven, because to be absent from the body is to be present with Jesus (2 Cor. 5:8). Other than that, I agree 100% with you.

[Errant]

But after the cross, the believers go straight away to heaven, because to be absent from the body is to be present with Jesus (2 Cor. 5:8).

I agree with you as far as what is described as the 'First Fruits', however on the whole of the remainder, we do differ:

1 Thessalonians 4:

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Rev 20:

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

...

12 And 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.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; [BTW:] and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

[Elsie]

But after the cross, the believers go straight away to heaven, because to be absent from the body is to be present with Jesus (2 Cor. 5:8).

Uh; that is NOT what that verse says...

King James Version (KJV)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

---

(NIV) 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.