(A teaching from the Restored Church of God from What Happens When You Die?".) I find no error in this teaching. Just isn't what I was being taught in mainstream Christianity when I was growing up.
"Jesus Christ emphatically and clearly stated, “And
no man has ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man [Christ]” (John 3:13). Billions of professing Christians believe that when one dies, he or she goes to heaven—but this contradicts what Jesus said! And keep in mind that when Christ said, “no man has ascended up to heaven,” scores of God’s servants from the Old Testament had already died. Take King David, for example, described as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). The Bible explains that he will rule in God’s kingdom. Certainly, he would be in heaven, right?"
"But notice: “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both
dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day…For David
is not ascended into the heavens” (Acts 2:29, 34). If we believe Christ’s words, then these faithful servants of God did not ascend to heaven."
"Now read Ecclesiastes 9: “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but
the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten” (vs. 4-5). Again, the Bible is clear about the state of the dead.
But this leads to the age-old question asked in the book of Job: “If a man die, shall he live again?” (14:14). The second half of the verse begins to answer the question: “…all the days of my appointed time will I wait,
till my change come.”
"Most people believe that they are born with “immortal souls.” But the Bible states otherwise: “
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Eternal life is a gift. People are not automatically born with it. Since “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (3:23), and “
sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4), there is a penalty—wages earned—for breaking God’s Law!"
"Some religionists try to reason around Romans 6:23, saying that “death” merely means separation from God. But these scriptures are plain. God declares, “Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine: the soul that sins,
it shall die” (Ezek. 18:4)."
"When a person dies, he is
dead. Death is the ultimate “separation.”
However, there is hope after death! Everyone who has ever lived will be resurrected: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality” (I Cor. 15:52-53). This is the “change” of which Job spoke—a change from this temporary, physical existence to eternal life. This is God’s ultimate goal for humanity."
"Those who are being called by God
now—who are being judged (I Pet. 4:17) and are building holy, righteous character—will be a part of the First Resurrection upon the Return of Jesus Christ (I Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:6)."
"Death is terrible. The Bible describes it as a “sting.”
"But there is coming a time when death will lose its sting—a time when death will no longer exist: “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,
Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” (I Cor. 15:54-55)."
You may also want to read "Is There Life After Death":
Is There Life After Death?