With millions of babies being aborted, countless miscarriages occurring daily, numerous stillborns globally, and other tragic deaths of small children taking place all the time, it is an important and incredibly comforting truth to embrace that all babies go to heaven.
Take a look at six Bible evidences for why all babies go to heaven when they die. These are not in order of importance or weight. Each may perhaps hold a different weight of validity.
- God spared an entire city because of more than 120,000 small children in the Bible. He said that they didn’t know their right hand from their left (Jonah 4:11). If they didn’t know the difference between their hands, they certainly didn’t understand sin or the need for a Savior in Jesus. They couldn’t be held accountable for their sin and neither can small children today.
- God’s wrath is upon those who look at creation and refuse to submit to the Creator (Romans 1:18-20). Sinners remain condemned for willful rejection of the truth of a Creator and/or willful rejection of the truth of Him being the Savior Jesus Christ. Infants cannot look at creation and process the souls reality of being created, therefore, they have an excuse. There is no willful rejection of the Creator and/or the Savior Jesus Christ by infants. They cannot even process it. I believe this is not just a reality for infants, but also for all mentally handicapped individuals who cannot look at creation and process the reality of a Creator or a Savior. They are not held accountable for their sin.
- God made it clear in a case study that He wrote in the Bible that babies go to heaven. In 2 Samuel 12:15-23, we read about a man after God’s own heart, David, praying for his dying baby. The baby died and David said, “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel12:23). Scripture tells us that David went to be with God when he died. Therefore, this case study from God tells us that David’s baby went to heaven at death. All babies go to heaven at death.
- God tells us that we are sinners from the womb (Psalm 51:5), but God is intricately involved in forming us in the womb (Psalm 139:13), and He has the power to save individuals in the womb (Psalm 22:9-10; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:4-5; Luke 1:15)! The Bible makes it clear in those passages that God has saved people in the womb and I believe He saves those in the womb who never make it out.
- Jesus made a strong case for infants going to heaven in Luke 18:15-16. Read those verses and believe what Jesus said!!! Infants or little children all go to heaven!
- God spoke of the little ones, the children of Israel, having no knowledge of good or evil in the Bible. He continued by saying that they had not reached an age of understanding sin (Deuteronomy 1:39). Will God punish someone He created who has no knowledge of good or evil? Absolutely not!!! They go to heaven!
I believe in universal infant salvation. I believe that heaven is full of children. I believe that every aborted baby is in the presence of God. I believe that every stillborn is being held by God at this very moment. I believe that God forms every single person in the womb. For a reason that only He knows, He stops forming some and brings them into His loving embrace. We call it a miscarriage, but maybe it’s God mission to carry them home.
I encourage you to name unborn children. I believe that their names are written in the registry of heaven, the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). They have a name in heaven!
Finally, encourage the masses with these comforting truths from God. Share this with others! Many people are impacted in one way or another by the death of children. You have a great opportunity to tell them about Jesus! He can reunite them with their loved one! “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Don Jennings III is the Pastor of Training and Membership at Bethesda Baptist Church (Brownsburg, IN). His published works include The Gifts from God, Seeking the True God, and God’s Blueprint for Marriage. Follow him on Facebook, here.
**Editor’s Note: For more on this topic, view this brief video from John Piper.**
Thank you for printing this.
Thanks for reading Gladys. God’s truth is incredibly comforting!
I agree totally with this !!
Amen! Thanks Mary!
This is what I needed to reassure me of what I already knew. My baby’s heart beat stopped at 30 weeks two weeks ago and so many people said we shouldn’t name her or hold memories but knowing the God we serve I had to give her the place she deserved. Soraya Melodia Hernandez is in the presence of the Lord. Thank you so much for writing this I need it.
I am glad that you have named her, it will help you with her passing. This may sound callus. but rejoice as she is with God in heaven as was spared this evil world.
Wow, that’s powerful. Thanks for sharing Zayra!
Thank you, God has taught me so much though my daughter she impacted my life. I met her and got to hold her and I know God’s promises are real in my life for only he has given me the peace I needed.
oh dear God I can’t believe some one would tell you not to name or remember your child that is so cruel I am so sorry for your loss
Zayra I also had a daughter that was born sleeping in 2009. Absolutely you should name that baby. She was a little person from the first moment her heart beat and God breathed life into her. I know you heartbreak and you will be in my prayers. God bless.
Thank you, it’s an different experience for me but God has truly showed his peace.
Thank you for confirming what I believe and hope to be true! God bless you!!
Thanks for visiting Jessica! All glory to God!
I believe this whole heartily… At 29 weeks along in my pregnancy there was no heart beat I was devastated…October 6th marks the day I became a mommy to an angel 21 years ago. For many years I was angry with the thought of God taken her that nobody could say his name around me..my heart couldn’t even begun to heal so I started looking for answers and church was what helped me get them…I finally made the choice to go and from that day I felt a sence of comfort I had finally gotten to sit and open my heart to what I should had long before…..I know that my little girl is in a perfect place a place that I will also be one day
Wow, powerful story Lola. I can’t imagine your heartache. Thanks for sharing.
Spread those wings and fly my little angel ….mommy loves you Justine Maire McNay
We have 3 angels in Heaven watching over our family.
Anthony Ray … Aug. 16, 1983 …. born sleeping at 25 weeks
Melissa Rose … Oct. 23, 1985 …. CHF …gained wings Jan. 19, 1986
Jeanette Faye …Aug. 05, 1989….. placental rupture …gained wings immediately at 22week
I was five months pregnant and thrown backwards thru abuse, on the sidewalk at 3:30 am. three days later I miscarriage my baby Lee! I almost died from lose of blood, My boyfriend said he would never hurt me again and then it was because he drank tequila that night, I ask why & he said because he was in fear of becoming a father & confused, after I returned from the hospital I was lost & heart broken. Was the first time he ever hurt me and he said he would never do it again, and as soon as I could conceive again we would try to have a baby again, 4 months later I conceived and now my son is 21 years old & he has God in his heart & is a good man & I’m very proud of him! If I would of had baby Lee I wouldn’t of had my oldest son now! My heart still hurts, but I always knew I will see him again! So to read this so helped me, so thank you! I always knew baby Lee would be in heaven waiting for me, but reading your words helped me in many other area’s! Thank You Don Jennings, God Bless!
This is so encouraging. I am going to pass it on to those who have lost a little one. Thank you!
My husband and I lost 4 babies. I had 1 miscarriage in ’80 and 2 in ’82. Then in ’89 I had an ectopic pregnancy. It has been on our hearts to finally name them. My question is all 4 of our babies went to heaven so early that we didn’t get to see them or know their gender. How do we go about giving them appropriate names?
I want to also praise The Lord that our first born, Aaron John is a wonderful, healthy 37 yrs old. He is such a blessing to us!
Thank you and God bless you!
Annmarie
Thanks for this message. I feel at peace knowing this. So does that mean they aren’t judged right?
Yes, Tiffany, that’s right!
I had 2 miscarriages exactly 1 year apart. It was extremely heartbreaking. The second one almost killed me. I made a stupid and quick decision to take away my ability to have children. I didn’t know God back then as I was only 23 and had never heard the Good News and had never heard of Jesus. It’s so comforting knowing that God has my babies in Heaven and I will get to meet them one day. Thank you for this blog. It has definitely warmed my heart. God bless you!!
Wow, I can’t even begin to imagine that pain. Thanks for sharing Melissa!
I really needed to hear this and be reminded of what I already knew was true. I’ve had 4 abortions and lost 5 precious babies. I was young and dumb with my decisions. I’m thankful for God’s grave and forgiveness. I was just 13 years old when I had my first abortion and 19 years old when I had my last abortion. I didn’t know God or hear His Word until I was 19. I’m 21 years old now and I’m making sure my life is lived for His purpose and I’m just a vessel in which he uses.
The grace and forgiveness of God is amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Interesting about MisCarriages. To think I got two brothers or sisters in heaven is a win on my family’s part, because living in these times I doubt I’ll ever make it
Hey Thomas, thanks for reading and joining the conversation! The Bible says that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13) and “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
It’s a crazy world we live in, but God is still on the throne!
Thank you for this. I really needed to hear this.
All glory to God!
I have great grandchildren now but when I was first married the last of Nov. 1959, I had a miscarriage the first of Jan. 1960 and that would have been just only 4 or 5 weeks along. No way of knowing that soon what sex the baby would be. I wouldn’t know what name to use. I have always thought something must have been wrong with it for me to miscarry like that. I must say, I really like your article. I went on to have a babe in January of 1961 and when he was 3 months old I got on my knees beside my bed while he was sleeping and asked Jesus to come into my heart and forgive me for all my sins, that I wanted to go His way and not my own because if I were going to raise our son to know who God is, then I must be what I should be. I have been a born again Christian for 54 years now and I love the Lord ! He has drawn our son to Jesus and he is on fire for the Lord, reading everyday and studying late into the nights, the Word of God. We also have two daughters, one is saved, the other may be close.
Amen! Thanks for sharing your story!
Justin, my sister lives in Brownsburg, In. with her husband. He is retired and she works 2 days a week in a law firm. They need a church. Perhaps someone could visit them. I have not told her about this that I am writing to you. could I private message you with their names and address?
Blessings!
Absolutely!
What would you make of the scriptures that say?
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, -Acts 2:29,34
Or what Jesus said in John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Hebrews 11:39-40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Hey Justin,
I’m not sure I see those passages contradicting what Don said in the article, but I don’t want to speak for him. At the end of the article, there is a link to his Facebook account. I know he gets a lot of messages, but does his best to personally respond to each of them. Thanks for reading and contributing to the conversation!
What about the unborn children that do not make it long enough for them to know the gender? Do you think they should still name the child?
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for reading and commenting! I’m not sure how Don would respond, but I would say select a male name and a female name, just like you would if you waited until birth to know the gender. When you get to heaven, you will then know your child’s name.
I do not believe in universal salvation of infants as Pastor Don so boldly proclaims. It implies that our sin nature is not enough to condemn (see Romans 3:10). Even if God would send all of humanity to the fires of hell, it would be well within his righteousness.
How can we argue against abortion if millions of innocent babies are automatically spared the possibility of an eternity in hell? Salvation is by God’s grace (Eph 2:8-9). He will redeem his own. We should not dare to presume upon God’s grace and grant that which is not ours to give. Many unborn children may be in heaven (including my own) but it would only be by God’s undeserved grace, not because of their age at death.
Hi Ben,
Thanks for reading and contributing to the conversation! There are certainly other arguments that would suggest that not all babies go to heaven and I’ve had those discussions with some others who have contacted me via email or social media.
Differences there aside, the foundation for opposing abortion is the sanctity of human life. Murder is condemned in Scripture, therefore we oppose abortion. Also, you said that unborn children who may be in heaven would only be there on account of God’s undeserved grace. I wholeheartedly agree! But, is this not the only way that anyone ends up spending eternity with their Maker?
Thanks again for your comments and for posting a dissenting opinion amid lots of agreement. I look forward to continuing the discussion with you!
I just shared this with a friend who’s 10 year old son shot himself a year ago. Luke was a precious little boy. I am still puzzled by all of it. He just came home from school and I don’t know where the gun came from, but he is gone now. I pray that this sweet little man is in the arms of our savior….
I appreciate your thoughts. One question that I am sure you have processed through… If all aborted babies go to heaven, would they all end up going to heaven if they were permitted to live a full life? Are all aborted babies “elect”? I am not to blind to see the sovereign hand of God in this, but what if fighting for the life of a child actually ends up being their ultimate damnation if they do not accept Christ in their life? I am not fishing for an argument in any way just a question I have pondered over the years.
Hey David,
It’s a good question you raise. I think the answer to your first question is “we don’t know.” This issue is loaded with theological, philosophical, and practical tensions on so many levels. In the end, I do agree with Pastor Don, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good arguments for other viewpoints as well. Thanks for reading and commenting!