Eternity in Heaven?

Did you know that nowhere in the Bible is it taught that we will be spending eternity in heaven? Instead, the Scriptures teach that we can expect to be bodily resurrected at the end of the age upon the return of Christ, and upon the earth we shall rull and reign with Him throughout all eternity. For that is where He will be. And in our bodily resurrection, and in the new creation that will come into being, the story of redemption comes full circle, and is made complete.

We need to recover the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. It has been largely lost to Christianity today, even in the Evangelical movement.

The kingdom of GOD is fast upon
us; and Christ must reign until
all HIS enemies are crushed under
HIS feet. We who are in HIM, of
HIM, and for HIM will share in
HIS glory and HIS life, which
are eternal!!

I will say that it is true that when we die, at the present time, we will be with the Lord in heaven. But such will NOT be our eternal place of habitation. We are supposed to be looking forward to our bodily resurrection from the dead, at the return of Christ.

It dawned on me some time ago how much of our evangelism is theologically off. We talk about spending "eternity in heaven" with the lost, when the Scriptures talk of no such thing. Additionally, when we talk about hell, because we have lost the doctrine of the bodily resurrection of the dead, hell (as well as heaven) is reduced to this sort of disembodied limbo spiritual ghostly like state where one dwells. But I think if we preached that we will be actually physically resurrected one day, and that our soul as well as our new BODY will enter into to the next age, our gospel might have more impact.

Hell is not some eternal state where one's soul merely suffers, rather, it is a place where body AND soul will suffer torment forever and ever. Likewise, in the age to come, the believer will forever enjoy, both physically and spiritually, life in the kingdom of God, here on earth, and all the pleasures it brings, forever and ever.

--- REVELATION 21:1-7 (NIV) -------

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

--- REVELATION 21:1-7 (KJV) -------

1 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.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 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.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

-------------------------

Now, I don't know if this is speaking of "earth" as in the land and soil or the world as a planet. However, there will be a new heavens and a new earth. This is where we will be living.

by KingJimmy
by KingJimmy on 2010/9/20 9:23:33

Did you know that nowhere in the Bible is it taught that we will be spending eternity in heaven? Instead, the Scriptures teach that we can expect to be bodily resurrected at the end of the age upon the return of Christ, and upon the earth we shall rull and reign with Him throughout all eternity. For that is where He will be. And in our bodily resurrection, and in the new creation that will come into being, the story of redemption comes full circle, and is made complete.

We need to recover the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. It has been largely lost to Christianity today, even in the Evangelical movement.

Amen, Jimmy!!

No one has to agree with me but here in the Bible belt of East Tennessee, they (i.e. pastors, evangelists, etc), have given way to "saying a prayer in order to have your name written down in heaven" instead of the Scriptural resurrection of the dead.

Excellent post and thread!
God bless,
Lisa

It is interesting to read some of the more modern statements of faith that have been produced in the last century or so. Many of them talk about spending eternity in heaven. Compare this to some of the more ancient statements of faith, such as "The Apostles Creed," and you read about the resurrection of the dead.

Our doctrine of the resurrection has become watered down. And I believe our lack of belief in the Evangelical movement has made it possible for the Joel Osteen's of this world to arise and talk about "Your Best Life Now." When the doctrine of the resurrection is list, the Christian faith becomes an entirely different beast.

For those of you who might be interested, I taught a Sunday school lesson on this very issue once upon a time. It's a very dense and somewhat technical lesson, but, at the time I felt the strong need to give the Church something very weighty.

Listen to: Redemption, Resurrection, and Reward - http://www.iamadisciple.com/sermons/redemption_resurrection_and_reward.mp3

It's about 45 minutes long if memory serves correct. I made use of some Powerpoint slides during my lesson, but, you should be able to follow along just fine without them.

Many blessings.

I agree KingJimmy. Most people seems to view "heaven" as this kind of hazy existence in the sky that is detached from the body and the earth.

I actually try to point out the fact that "heaven" will be on earth (though renewed) when people state we will spend eternity "in heaven". Surprisingly, it is often a new concept to people.

Indeed. It's a rather pagan concept in my opinion. Where exactly it crept into Christian doctrine historically, I'm uncertain. My thought is that it probably crept in through by and large doctrinal neglect, especially amongst ministers that tend to shun eschatology altogether in their teaching. Thus, some sort of watered down doctrine has been produced. I've seen this teaching about "heaven" manifest even in preachers who are very Biblically minded in their preaching i.e. Paul Washer.

In my opinion, greater attention should be given to studying and preaching of eschatology. While it can be a very tricky subject, one cannot honestly preach about "eternity" without giving serious attention to doctrines associated with it. Otherwise, you get vague romantic notions of eternity, that aren't grounded in truth. Thus we speak about spending eternity in heaven.

Interesting. I have about 40-50 pages left in Louis Berkhof's Systematic Theology. I'm in the section on eschatology. He points out that it has been generally neglected throughout history compared to the other areas of theology.

I'll be interested to read what he has to say on the "eternal state" (as it is usually called in Systematics).

Yeah, let me know what Berkhof says about it. I had his Systematic Theology once upon a time, but I only read what was required for me to read in my theology classes in Bible college. I don't think we looked at what he said about eschatology though.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

If we are asleep in Jesus and where Jesus is so are we, and where we are so is He, birthed of the Father by the Christ in us, then where are we? If Jesus is going to bring those that are asleep, dead, where is He coming from? If we are with Him in the heavenlies already and also when we are asleep in Him, When He comes with those that are to be resurrected first, which sleep in Christ, the body is resurrected physically, the spirit and soul are already resurrected and in Him, then body, soul and spirit will be with Christ when He comes to rule and reign on this earth for 1000 years, this assuredly is a Physical place we will be with Him, on this earth, which will become uninhabitable for those that are not in Christ or the Israel of God whom the New Covenant has taken place and we will all live physically on this earth and even the Son will turn all things back to God the Father who has son's by the Incorruptable Seed of the Father, Christ in us, living in His House and those that are His people living on this earth.

It looks like, for a while those (asleep in Christ), will be in the heavenlies, but that is not where we will stay. Maybe this is where this preaching of living in heaven forever comes from.

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Where He goes we will go. 1 John 4:17-19 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: (((because as he is, so are we in this world.))) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.

Sorry for all the corrections and additions, but it just keeps coming.

In Christ: Phillip

Sorry to throw a spanner in the works, but

"For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Phil 3:20-21 (KJV)

We are citzens of heaven. We are come to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God (Heb 12.22). We are to be clothed with a house from heaven (2 Cor 5.2)

And God Himself:
"in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:" Eph 1:8-11 (KJV)

We are His heavenly people, There will be new heavens and a new earth, but His bride will be forever with Him and will see His face.

Christ will receive His earthly kingdom on this present earth for 1000 years, but this will be for Israel and administered through Jerusalem.

Ar the end of the 1000 years, at the dispensation of the fullness of times, Christ will deliver up the kingdom to the father, having already gathered us, His heavenly saints, that God might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth. Then God will be all in all.

This is my how understand the sciptures and what I believe.

Revelation 21:10-11 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

Is this not the Heavenly Jerusalem come down to earth where Jesus will rule for 1000 years on the Throne of David, which leads to the Great White Throne Judgement of those who are not the Bride of Christ or the Isreal of God His people?

The son's of God have a house to live in which Christ is preparing a place for us in the Father's House, which is the New Holy Jerusalem come down to earth and there we will be with God serving Him forever.

In Christ: Phillip

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written: “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Wow. Just think... No eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor nothing that we can comprehend awaits us in eternity.

We serve an AWESOME GOD!

Revelation 21:10-11 The holy Jerusalem
Is this not the Heavenly Jerusalem come down to earth where Jesus will rule for 1000 years on the Throne of David, which leads to the Great White Throne Judgement of those who are not the Bride of Christ or the Isreal of God His people?

If you work back from this passage, you will see in chap 21 v1 that this new Jerusalem is in the new earth.

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 Rev 21:1 (KJV)

Before this, the old heaven and earth fled away at the sight of Him that sat om the great white throne chap 20 v 11

Before this last judgement, there are 1000 years reign of Christ on the throne of David, which the old testament prophets prophesied of and the faithful remnant of Israel waited for.

The clear order of events in from chapter 19 is:

The Second coming of Christ to the earth to judge the beast and the false prophet (chap19 vs 11 to 21)

The binding of Satan for 1000 years (chap 20 vs 1 to 3)
The first resurrection of saints who had not received the beasts mark during the 7 years tribulation time (20 vs 4 to 6) (These are the saints who will reign with Christ for the 1000 years of His kingdom (v6))

End of the 1000 years, Satan loosed to gather an army against Jerusalem. But cast into the lake of fire ( vs 7 to 10)

The Great White Throne judgement. First heaven and earth fled away (vs 11 to 15)

New heaven and new earth. New Jerusalem comes down to the new earth from God. This is the bride, the Lamb's wife, the church.

It is in this way that God gathers together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth. Then God will be all in all.

(Love to read your postings Phillip)
David