Many Christians believe that babies that die will be resurrected at the end of time and will go to heaven on the basis of Jeremiah’s prophecy in the Old Testament about an event that took place in the New Testament which was recorded in Matthew 2:16-18. This event tells of king Herod who ordered the slaying of all the male babies in Bethlehem that were two years old or younger to get rid of the coming Messiah.
In Jeremiah’s prophecy, the saints that lost their children have the hope of reuniting with their precious children. The prophet wrote: “Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the LORD, that your children shall come back to their own border” (Jeremiah 31:16, 17).
Primarily, the Phrase “your children shall come back to their own border” points to the return of the exiles from captivity. But secondarily, it points to that time when the final restoration will be permanent, the time of the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21) at the second coming of Christ.
The promise found in Jeremiah 31:16-17, may well give assurance to any modern Rachel (or father) in Israel, that if she is faithful to the Lord, their babies who have been claimed by death will be restored to her by the great Life-giver on the Resurrection Day.
Jesus certainly made clear His love of children: “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14; also Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16). Therefore, we fully can trust the eternal destiny of our babies to His infinite love because He gave His life to save them (John 3:16). God will surely re-unite the redeemed with the children they lost at His coming.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
