← Back
1

As Solomon did not follow God in his latter years, but worshipped Baal, would he have gone to heaven?



      

1 Kings 11:1 - 43

ESV - 1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women. 2 From the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, "You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love.

Clarify Share Report Asked June 22 2022 Mini Kathlelen Kelnhofer Supporter

Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.

5
Mini Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
Although the idolatry of Solomon's later years is clearly described in Scripture, and his eternal state would be in God's hands to judge, it does not seem to me that Jesus would have spoken of Solomon in favorable terms (as He did in Matthew 12:42 and Luke 11:31) if Solomon were or had been eternally lost. (Even his idolatry serves as a warning to believers to this day of the dangers posed by disobedience to God's commands, as Solomon did when he married his many foreign wives.)

Further, God Himself had also promised David that He would not withdraw His love from Solomon as He had from Saul (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

June 23 2022 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


4
My picture Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church
Ah, a captivating question, Kathlelen K! King Solomon sinned greatly against the Lord (1 Kings 11:3-13). Sadly, he married pagan wives, built pagan altars for them, and even participated in pagan worship himself. The only reason God did not immediately take the kingdom from Solomon was that God wanted to keep His covenant with David (1 Kings 11:12). The record of Solomon’s sins, plus the dismal tone in Ecclesiastes, has led some to suggest that Solomon was not saved and is not in heaven today. —Houdmann

So in his latter years he failed. He had begun well but ended badly. I pray that this may not be true of me. But I believe Solomon will still be in heaven. God is merciful, and Jesus mentions him in a good light. And "after all Solomon suffered as a result of his sin, he acknowledged that only by knowing and obeying God can anyone have a meaningful life" (Eccl. 12:13, QSB). He wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

June 24 2022 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


4
Mini Aurel Gheorghe Supporter
To better address this subject, I'm going to answer two interconnected questions: 

1. Was Solomon saved? 
2. Did Solomon go to heaven?

1. Yes, I believe Solomon sincerely repented of his sins and God forgave him. At the very end of Ecclesiastes, Solomon puts an exclamation point to all the wisdom that God blessed him with: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Eccl 12:13, 14). These are not the words of a lost man, but rather the final words of wisdom of someone who knows what is most important in one’s life. Solomon was aware of the judgment he will one day face (2 Cor 5:10; Heb 9:27; Rev 20:12) but confident that God's grace is sufficient to cover his many sins. 

All humanity is saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8), regardless if a person happened to live during the OT or NT. The Bible makes this point abundantly clear in Hebrews 11. 

2. No, Solomon did not go to heaven when he died. He's in his grave “sleeping” awaiting the resurrection (John 5:28, 29; 1 Cor 15:52; Dan 12:2). 

Furthermore, David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13;22) is not in heaven now but also resting in his grave (Acts 2:29, 34). 

Solomon, the wisest man ever lived, clearly understood the state of the dead (Eccl 9:5, 6; 10).

June 26 2022 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


2
Mini Jason Perkins Supporter
Ecclesiastes and Proverbs, which many believe were written by Solomon in his later years, sure sound like he amended his ways. As others have mentioned the last chapter of Ecclesiastes [Ecc. 12], sounds like a man with a repented heart, and a man who feared God. Either way, God is the judge and he determines a person's salvation.

June 28 2022 1 response Vote Up Share Report


Add your Answer

All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED.
Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines.

What makes a good answer? ▼

A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone.

  1. Adhere to the eBible Statement of Faith.
  2. Your answer should be complete and stand-alone.
  3. Include supporting arguments, and scripture references if possible. Seek to answer the "why".
  4. Adhere to a proper tone and spirit of love and understanding.
  5. For more info see The Complete Guide to eBible
Header
  1. 4000 characters remaining