Timothy Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U. S. Army

I am not Jewish, and do not purport to speak on behalf of Judaism or Jewish doctrine, but the Old Testament records cases of individuals such as Enoch and Elijah who did not die, but were taken directly from earth, apparently to an eternal, non-earthly realm of blessedness.

Also, although Moses died, there was apparently a dispute about his body (referenced in Jude 9) between the archangel Michael and Satan, leading to Moses also being taken to heaven (apparently in a revived condition), allowing him to appear with Jesus and Elijah at the Transfiguration in Matthew 17. 

In the New Testament, Jesus also spoke (although in a parable) of at least one individual (the beggar Lazarus in Luke 16) being present with Abraham after his death (again, with both apparently in a blessed condition, while others were still alive on earth) using imagery that I would say must have been familiar or comprehensible to His Jewish listeners.

Similarly, while on the cross, Jesus told the repentant thief that they would be together in Paradise that day, and, in His final words, committed His spirit into His heavenly Father's hands.

October 09 2025 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Do Jews believe in heaven?

Mark 12:18: And there come Sadducees unto him, who indeed say—Resurrection there is none! --Rotherham Bible

There is a great diversity of belief in Judaism; there is no single, uniform dogma that exists regarding the specifics of the afterlife. Jewish texts primarily focus on human actions and how they should be performed out of love and duty to God, rather than for the sake of a heavenly reward. Different interpretations of the afterlife exist across Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism, and some Jews consider the concept unimportant.

Their focus is primarily on the purpose of life on Earth, known as Olam Ha-Zeh ("this world"). The afterlife is referred to as Olam Ha-Ba ("the World to Come"), which can be an ultimate spiritual state of bliss or refer to the Messianic Age on Earth.

The primary focus of Jewish teaching is on living a righteous life and fulfilling God's commandments on Earth. 

The Sadducees, though, did not believe in the resurrection or in the existence of angels; in fact, they opposed Jesus and wanted to kill him.

The Sadducees refused to accept any teaching not mentioned explicitly in the Pentateuch, even if it was stated elsewhere in God's Word. In fact, they "considered it a virtue to dispute" these matters. (The Jewish Encyclopedia) This calls to mind the occasion when they challenged Jesus concerning the resurrection.

The Sadducees' equally rigid attitude toward the written law possibly "arose not from any special religious feeling," writes Jewish author Gaalyahu Cornfeld, "but as a political weapon in their opposition to the legislative powers of the Pharisees."

The Sadducees were thoroughly familiar with the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures, but they overlooked essential truths contained in those inspired books. For example, consider how Jesus responded when the Sadducees challenged him about the resurrection. He asked them: "Have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account about the thornbush, that God said to him: 'I am the God of Abraham and God of Isaac and God of Jacob'?" (Mark 12:18, 26) Although the Sadducees had surely read that passage many times, Jesus' question revealed that they had overlooked a crucial Scriptural truth​—the teaching of the resurrection.​—Mark 12:27; Luke 20:38

9 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report