A: Dear Beven,

The answer to your question is No, Mary and Joseph did not go to heaven – not yet, anyway. The Bible teaches that when a person dies, they first rest in the grave awaiting the resurrection. Job says “But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he? As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up, so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep.” (Job 14:10-12). Job says man will rest in the grave “till the heavens are no more.” The Bible says the “heavens are no more” when Jesus comes again in 2 Peter 3:10 – “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar…” And Jesus Himself said He would raise the dead “at the last day” (John 6:39, 40, 44, 54).

When Jesus comes again, He will raise from the dead those who died trusting in Him. Mary and Joseph will be resurrected at that time.

Thanks for writing, and remember, there's never been a better time to share Jesus!

Your friend, Pastor Howard