What happens to babies when they die? What about miscarriages? Toddlers? Do they go to hell or heaven or just cease to exist?
First of all, life begins at conception.
There is no other logical, scientifically valid time to declare life to begin. All other moments of “becoming human” are based on arbitrary events and human emotions.
This means that a baby who dies, even very early in a pregnancy is every bit as much human as you and I are.
Children Belong to God
Ezekiel 16 “20 Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have born TO ME, and these have you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Is this of your prostitutions a small matter,
21That you have slain MY CHILDREN, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?”
21That you have slain MY CHILDREN, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?”
This was written to a people in deep rebellion to God, yet He claimed their children as His own.
Children are Innocent, even when parents are evil.
“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children; neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” Deuteronomy 24:16
“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children; neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” Deuteronomy 24:16
“The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” Ezekiel 18:20
Though we all have the nature to sin (condemning us to eventual, physical death), God does not punish us for other people's sins.
He does not punish our babies for our sins, or even Adam’s sin.
He will only punish a child for his own sins. In fact, all scripture that discusses Hell, talks about people being punished for their own, willful sin. (i.e. Revelation 21:8,)
So the question is, what sins can an unborn child commit? How about an infant? Can a toddler sin?
Though there are many sins, they can all be summed up in James 14:17
“Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.”
A small child or a baby (born or not) does not yet know how to do good. He has not yet learned enough to know righteousness.
He has not yet rejected God.
In Deuteronomy 1:39, God says
“Moreover your little ones, which you said should be a prey, and your children, which in that DAY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, they shall go in (to the Promised Land) thither, and to them will I give it, and they shall possess it.”
“Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.”
A small child or a baby (born or not) does not yet know how to do good. He has not yet learned enough to know righteousness.
He has not yet rejected God.
In Deuteronomy 1:39, God says
“Moreover your little ones, which you said should be a prey, and your children, which in that DAY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, they shall go in (to the Promised Land) thither, and to them will I give it, and they shall possess it.”
And in speaking about gentile children in Nineveh,
“And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than six score thousand PERSONS THAT CANNOT DISCERN BETWEEN THEIR RIGHT HAND AND THEIR LEFT HAND; and also much cattle?”
(120,000 people too young to even know their left from their right, much less right and wrong)
and again, speaking of the children of pagans,
“Because the people have forsaken Me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this place with the BLOOD OF INNOCENTS,…” Jeremiah 19:4
We also know Jesus blessed the children and He never blessed anyone in rebellion to God.
So children are innocent.
Yes, a small child can (and does) rebel and is selfish but, it is like the law of gravity, just part of nature.
“For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted”. Isaiah 7:16
“30 And the times of this ignorance (sinning such as idol worship, selfishness) God winked at (looked the other way, ignored); …” Acts 17:30 and
“The Lord is …not willing that any should perish.” 2 Peter 3:9
God looks the other way when a human does not know what is right and what is wrong but when they learn right from wrong He will no longer ignore their sins. They will be punished for them.
Paul tells us:
“For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” Romans 1:20
Those mature enough to see God’s handiwork in the stars and mountains, the rivers, flowers, desert cactus and the wind have no excuse to not know about God.
But a small child does not “see” these things. He simply doesn’t understand yet.
Examples
1 Kings 14:13 tells us that though, Jeroboam’s infant son would die physically as a result of his father’s sins, he would receive a noble burial and would not suffer the same punishment as those adults in the family who had sinned.
“… I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” David speaking of his dead child.
“… I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” David speaking of his dead child.
His servants were shocked he was worshiping God after he heard of his baby’s death (which was his own fault).
His response was that he would go to heaven to be with the child, so why not worship?
In contrast, when his son Absalom (who was in rebellion and not likely saved) died, David mourned inconsolably. He knew he would never see this child again.
Job wished he had been still-born. He knew what hell and heaven would contain.
He obviously believed that if he had died at birth, he would have gone straight to heaven. (Job 3:11-13)
3:16 “Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light?
17 There (in death/heaven) the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.
18 There the prisoners are at ease together; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.
19 The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master.”
An obvious description of heaven accompanied by the assumption that Job would already be there if he had died at birth.
Revelation 5:10 speaks of those from every tribe, nation and tongue worshiping God.
Since many tribes died out before the word of God was preached there, how could this be fulfilled if babies weren’t among those worshiping God?
Revelation 5:10 speaks of those from every tribe, nation and tongue worshiping God.
Since many tribes died out before the word of God was preached there, how could this be fulfilled if babies weren’t among those worshiping God?
Babies are Saved
For these reasons, I believe that Christ’s blood covers our little ones.
“The blood of Jesus Christ … cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
His salvation extends to them. We will see our babies who die before birth or while still small in heaven; we will see them dancing with Jesus.
“Except ye be converted, and become as LITTLE CHILDREN, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
“The blood of Jesus Christ … cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
His salvation extends to them. We will see our babies who die before birth or while still small in heaven; we will see them dancing with Jesus.
“Except ye be converted, and become as LITTLE CHILDREN, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14
Only children and the child-like will enter heaven.
At what age does a child become accountable?
The Bible certainly doesn’t give us an age, but God only held those Israelites over the age of 20 accountable for the sins of the nation:
“29 Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me.” Numbers 14:29
“29 Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me.” Numbers 14:29
Since Israelites counted children in their first year as “one year olds” this means God punished everyone we would call 20 and up and preserved those 19 and under.
He also commanded a different tax for those of adult age than those in their educational years. (Leviticus 27:3)
It appears that God considers someone old enough to take responsibility when they reach the age of (what we call) nineteen.
He also commanded a different tax for those of adult age than those in their educational years. (Leviticus 27:3)
It appears that God considers someone old enough to take responsibility when they reach the age of (what we call) nineteen.
Does this mean that an eighteen year old who dies goes to heaven?
I am confident that the unborn to small children who die are in the arms of God.
It is possible that He holds each person accountable when they reach the age to understand right from wrong, which would range from four to nineteen, depending on the person. I don't know.
It is possible that He holds each person accountable when they reach the age to understand right from wrong, which would range from four to nineteen, depending on the person. I don't know.
Some children between 4 and 19 act in horrible, evil ways. But when does God hold them accountable for those actions? I don't know.
I do know He honors prayers and vows made by knowledgeable children (I promised to serve Him for the rest of my life at four and know He accepted that promise. He granted my heart’s plea at twelve and has brought it to pass.)
Or He may not hold anyone accountable until nineteen. I have observed (and experienced) a time of testing to twenty-year-olds, as if God is asking them for an adult commitment. Could He "wink at" unholy actions before this time? Maybe.
I do know He honors prayers and vows made by knowledgeable children (I promised to serve Him for the rest of my life at four and know He accepted that promise. He granted my heart’s plea at twelve and has brought it to pass.)
Or He may not hold anyone accountable until nineteen. I have observed (and experienced) a time of testing to twenty-year-olds, as if God is asking them for an adult commitment. Could He "wink at" unholy actions before this time? Maybe.
This I do know:
God is love
God is mercy
God is justice.
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
2 Timothy 2:19