When We All Get To Heaven?

Chapter 27

When We All Get To Heaven?

Recall from Chapter 2 False Teachings, that there is a basic flaw in current mainstream Christian theology preventing Christians from spending eternity in heaven! That flaw is the bodily resurrection doctrine! This doctrine states that the dead bodies of Christians will be resurrected incorruptible and joined with their immortal souls which have been waiting in heaven. But if your soul and physical body are reunited you can no longer remain in heaven:

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;... (I Corinthians 15:50)

Nonetheless, during a church service I attended recently the pastor asked everyone who desired to spend eternity in heaven with God to raise their hands. My hand was probably the only one not raised. I am perfectly content to spend eternity where the Bible states all born again Christians will spend it, with Jesus Christ.

Nowhere in the Bible is it ever indicated that Christians will spend eternity in heaven or even go to heaven. But regardless of what the Bible indicates, the goal of spending eternity in heaven remains a basic theology of all Christian churches and organizations! In fact, the only human who has ever died and gone to heaven is Jesus Christ:

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:51)

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:13)

Since going to heaven is a basic theology of virtually every Christian denomination, pastors should be able to verify this belief using biblical references as proofs! Ask one to do so! He or she will most likely quote the statement spoken by Jesus to one of the criminals crucified with Him as "proof" that Christians are going to heaven for eternity:

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)

However, notice that the above verse does not even contain the word "heaven." So where might this paradise be?

To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)

The tree of life is now in the midst of the paradise of God. Where was the tree of life when first mentioned in the scriptures? It was on the earth in the Garden of Eden:

And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9)

The Garden of Eden was also a paradise when it was created. Also notice that we must eat of the tree of life to gain eternal life. Remember that Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden so that they could not eat of the tree of life and live forever. Now consider the following verses describing the Lord's Supper:

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28)

We are to eat of Jesus' body and drink of His blood under the New Testament for forgiveness of sins! When the tree of life was in the Garden of Eden was Jesus there also? Speaking of Jesus, or the Word, John states:

All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:3)

We know that a creation was taking place in the garden and Jesus created everything! Therefore, Jesus was there in the Garden of Eden. So Jesus and the tree of life were in the Garden of Eden at the same time and the Garden of Eden was a paradise after it was recreated by Jesus. The tree of life has now relocated to the midst of the paradise of God:

To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)

God is in heaven. We are instructed to pray to, "Our Father which art in heaven." Therefore, the tree of life is now in heaven in the midst of the paradise of God. Jesus is also in heaven now preparing the place He will bring back to earth when He returns. Heaven is definitely a paradise.

We are to eat of the tree of life to gain eternal life. Until Jesus' return, we are to perform the sacrament of the Lord's Supper that symbolizes our eating the body of Christ and drinking His blood. Jesus and the tree of life seem to be at the same places at the same time. Most places where Jesus has been located are called paradises. But is it the place or the fact that wherever Jesus is becomes a paradise? Or is simply being in the presence of the Son of God equivalent to being in paradise? After all, following the judgment everyone present will be a spirit. The physical characteristics of a paradise only apply to the physical world. These include beautiful scenery, great weather, great food, entertainment, etc. Physical characteristics do not concern spirits.

Could the tree of life simply be another name for Jesus Christ, as is the Word? Is Jesus the tree of life? Jesus states that He will not have another Lord's Supper with us until He returns:

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom. (Matthew 26:29)

After Jesus' Second Coming, Jesus will defeat Satan and the earth will become part of the Kingdom of God once again. Will the earth under Jesus' rule then be the paradise spoken of in Luke 23:43?

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)

After all, the Bible indicates that the inheritance of the meek and those that wait upon the Lord is the earth:

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. (Psalm 37:9)

Heaven is the erroneous eternal destination of most Christians. In fact, it is also the goal of Muslims and Jews. Everyone seeks heaven. At every Christian funeral which I have ever attended the presiding pastor stated that the deceased person is now in a better place. He or she has gone to heaven to live with God for eternity. In actuality, the Bible never states that Christians are going to heaven! It always indicates that believers will enter or become members of the Kingdom of Heaven or Kingdom of God:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

Although these two terms are interchangeable, the Kingdom of Heaven applies to the geographical location, whereas the Kingdom of God applies to the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Heaven. We are told specifically where the Kingdom of God is located, and it is not any geographical location:

The Kingdom of God cometh not with observance: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-21)

So the Kingdom of God cannot be seen. No one can say here it is or there it is. It is within you. The Kingdom of God is in your heart and mind. So the Kingdom of God is different from the Kingdom of Heaven! The Kingdom of God consists of those who believe in the Trinity of God. This belief is in their heart and mind. The Kingdom of Heaven is a geographical area.

But as the eternal home of Christians is not heaven the same as the Kingdom of Heaven? It is natural to assume that the geographical location heaven would be included within the Kingdom of Heaven, but they are not necessarily the same. The entire kingdom could be much larger than its center or base of activity which is heaven itself. That is, the ruler is God the Father who rules from heaven. His rule extends over the entire Kingdom of Heaven. This will eventually include the earth which will be ruled by Jesus. Jesus is presently in heaven preparing a place for us:

I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

When our place is ready, Jesus will bring it back to earth upon His return:

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:1-2)

Jesus has been preparing our new earth and its associated surroundings for the past two thousand years. He is bringing His new creation back to the earth when He returns and Christians will be with Jesus for eternity. "That where I am, there ye may be also."

Is the earthly world presently part of the Kingdom of Heaven? No, it is basically a colony which has rebelled under Satan and some of his angels and broken away from the kingdom. However, the kingdoms of this world will once again become the kingdoms of our Lord and Christ:

The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)

The earth will once again become part of the Kingdom of Heaven. It will not be heaven, but will be under God's rule and part of the Kingdom of Heaven as is heaven itself. This will occur when Jesus returns to take back control of the earth from Satan. And how long does Jesus our Lord intend to reign on the earth?

The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. (Exodus 15:18)

The Lord shall reign for ever... (Psalm 146:10)

And they shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)

And what are the born again Christians going to be doing after Jesus' return?

We shall also reign with him. (II Timothy 2:12)

And how long are the born again Christians going to be with the Lord Jesus?

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:17)

Where will Jesus base His rule and locate His tabernacle to rule the earth? The holy city of Jerusalem:

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation 21:2-3)

New Jerusalem is part of what Jesus has been preparing for us over the past two thousand years. He will bring it down from heaven upon His return. Since Jesus is going to rule the earth forever from new Jerusalem, and we will rule with Him, and be with Him forever, where does that place us forever and ever? On the earth!

Once again, Satan with assistance from our clergy has deceived us! The final destination for virtually all of man's religions is somewhere other than this horrible earth. Most Christians have been deceived into believing their eternal home will be heaven where God the Father resides. However, the job site for earthly caretakers who replace Satan and his crew is on the earth, which once again will become part of the Kingdom of Heaven. Satan and our clergy have been trying to convince us the earth is a terrible job location. According to them we need to escape the earth. There is no way we should desire to remain on the earth for eternity! Life on earth is often equated with hell. Life is hell! Let's get the hell out of here. Let's go to heaven!

The earth will become part of the Kingdom of Heaven, and born again Christians are going to spend eternity ruling the earth with Jesus Christ. If you are now a Christian and do not desire to live in paradise on the earth in the Kingdom of God forever and ever with Jesus Christ, perhaps now would be a good time for you to renounce Him. Your life will then end when you suffer the second death. Therefore, you will not be stuck in this hellhole for eternity!

When the age of man is over the earth will become part of the Kingdom of Heaven once again. The Kingdom of Heaven is where the scriptures state that born again Christians shall reside:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

The scriptures never indicate that Christians cannot or will not go to heaven. After all, it is also included in the Kingdom of Heaven. However, their home base will definitely be the good earth!

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