Table of Contents
The Assumption of Mary
The Assumption of Mary is a doctrine of the Catholic and the Eastern orthodox Churches. This doctrine teaches that the mother of God (as they claim), was bodily assumed into heaven. The word assumption celebrates the ascension of both Mary’s body and soul into heaven when her earthly life ended. The Assumption of Mary was made an official dogma – Munificentissimus Deus – of the Roman Catholic Church in 1950 by Pope Pius XII.
There is no biblical support for the Assumption of Mary. The Bible, however, does mention God “assuming” both Enoch and Elijah into Heaven (Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11) but not Mary. The scriptures do not record that Mary died or mention her name after Acts chapter 1.
In the Roman Catholic Church, the assumption of Mary is an important step towards why she is venerated, worshiped, adored, and prayed to. The Catholics identify Mary as the “woman clothed with the sun” that is mentioned in Revelation 12:1. To teach the assumption of the mother of Jesus is a step toward making her equal to the Son of God, essentially proclaiming her deity.
The Bible teaches that all humans have sinned. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3: 23). The mother of Jesus Christ herself acknowledged her need for the Savior when she said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46,47). Like every other human being, she needed salvation. She never believed that she had been born with no sin, as some have un-biblically claimed and taught.
Did Mary Ascend to Heaven?
May didn’t ascend to heaven. The Bible teaches that the dead do not ascend to heaven or descend to hell. The dead sleep in their graves to await the Resurrection Day. The dead will rise only when they hear God’s voice at the second coming. “All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth” (John 5:28, 29). Then, the rightouss will be taken to heavenly glory.
David, the prophet, did not go to heaven at his death. The Bible declares, “David … 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). In fact, the scriptures teach under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that:
- The dead are in a state of unconsciousness and are not aware of what is happening on earth (Psalms 115:17; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 9; Psalms 146:4; Psalms 6:5).
- Death is a state of sleep (John 11:11; Psalms 13:3; Daniel 12:2).
- The Lord will raise the dead at the Resurrection Day (1 Corinthians 15:51; John 5:28, 29; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Matthew 16:27).
- The rewards and punishments will be given only at the Resurrection Day not before. “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:27). And God’s judgment will be based on His Ten Commandment (Exodus 20:3-17; James 2:10-12) which was placed in the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:16).
So, all the dead including Mary (there is no Biblical record for her ascension) are sleeping (John 11:11) in their graves. They are awaiting to be resurrected at the Resurrection Day. “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Thessalonians 15:52).
For more on the state of the dead, check the following link: The Intermediate State
For more on the Assumption of Mary, check the following link:
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
