Was Heaven Promised To Men? And Would The Earth Ever Be Desolate?
The Answers may surprise you.
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel, 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". 1Thes.4:16-17.
The vast majority of people in our world today, who look for the return of the Redeemer as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, expect to be taken to heaven to spend a thousand years. Some of these expect to return to planet earth at the end of this millennium in heaven. Countless sermons have been preached, endless tracts, booklets, magazines etc. have been printed all exhorting the "faithful" about this great expectation. Those who teach otherwise are dismissed as weird or false. But what does the bible teach?
The Truth Shall Make You Free.
Dear reader, you are probably one of those who expect to go to heaven with Jesus when he comes the second time, whether you believe in a secret rapture or not. If you are, have you ever-sought proof from the Holy Scriptures? Can you point to any passage or set of passages of scripture, which can properly be construed to mean that the redeemed would go to heaven? It's about time somebody took the time to prove or disprove this doctrine from the word of God. Only "the truth shall make you free". Jn.8:32. Thy word is truth Jn.17:17. Remember also "wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at". Mt.7:13.
1 Thes.4: 16-17
One of the passages of scripture usually quoted by the "heaven bound" believers is 1 Thes.4:16-17. Let's look at these verses to see if they teach or prove that believers would go to heaven. V17 says; "Then we ...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." Which part of this verse does it say that the redeemed would go to heaven?
The Lord is descending and the redeemed are caught up, we meet him in the air among the clouds. Is this going back to heaven? No. This is the meeting place. The text says "and so shall we ever be with the Lord". Where ever the Lord goes after we meet him in the air, we would go with him; whether back to heaven, down on the earth (ground) or staying among the clouds. But where would he go? We must find out from the scriptures, this verse does not say.
St John 14:1-3
"Let not your heart be troubled: Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there you may be also".
This is another text used by the "heaven bound" to justify their claim. Again, let us examine this statement, and make it plain. Jesus exhorted his disciples to believe in him as they believed in God. He said there are many mansions in his father's house, and if that were not a fact, he would have told them. So what he told them was in fact true. The mansions are there- already existing. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you". How would he do this, and what is he doing now? Let the bible speak. In Acts 7:56 we read, "And said, behold, I see the heavens opened and the son of man standing on the right hand of God" . Heb 8:1-2. "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens"; Heb 9:11-12 "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place having obtained, eternal redemption for us". Verse 24 says "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us".
Verse 15 says "and for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament". In Col. 3:1 we read "If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God". Again in 1 Jn 2:1 we read "My little children, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" ... See also Rom.8:34.
All these scriptures and more tell what Jesus is doing, and how he is preparing a place for us. He is our High Priest, Mediator, Advocate and Intercessor. Pleading our case; forgiving our sins, standing in the breach for us in the presence of the Almighty God, at his right hand. Jesus said "I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also". One day Jesus will leave the right hand of God and come back to earth. "I will come again....that where I am there ye may be also". When he comes, wherever he will be, there will we be also.
Now some read these verses and then ask; where is Jesus now? When you answer he is in heaven now, the response is well! There is where we will be, because he said that where I am, there ye may be also. This reasoning is worth a query. The question should rather be; where will Jesus be when he comes again? The answer to this question is what we are searching for to find out whether heaven was promised to men or not.
Ye Cannot Come.
While some teach and expect heaven as their reward, Jesus taught the exact opposite. Let us read these scriptures. Jn. 8:21-23. "Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, will he kill himself? Because he saith, whither I go ye cannot come. And he said unto them, ye are from beneath: I am from above: Ye are of this world; I am not of this world". Dear friend do you need a clearer statement from the mouth of Christ? It is clear the reason why "Ye cannot come" is because "Ye are from beneath", that is, the earth. It is also clear that he was not speaking of his death at all. But where did he go? To heaven of course!
There is a belief in some quarters that that statement was directed to unbelieving Jews, that's why they were told "ye cannot come". But think again.
Christ's statement was clear, not because they were unbelievers but because they were from beneath. We are all from beneath; that is the earth, whereas he is from above; that is heaven. In addition, let us examine another statement of Jesus. Jn.13:33 "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you". Here he was speaking to his own disciples, Peter, James, John and others telling them the same thing; "Ye cannot come!" That is why in chapter 14:1-3, Jesus told His disciples, "I will come again." We cannot go to heaven because we are from beneath. Jesus did not promise heaven to anyone.
What About Elijah?
The story of Elijah has always been absorbing, let us therefore examine the account of his chariot ride. In 2Kgs.2:11 the scripture says, "And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that behold there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven".
The question arises, so does not the bible teach that men would go to heaven? If you ask this question beloved reader, the answer is No; the bible does not teach that men [mankind] would go to heaven. When men speak of going to heaven, they refer to living and reigning with Christ around the throne of God. That is where the Most High has his abode. Let me draw your attention to a statement of Christ before we proceed to discuss Elijah. In Jn.3:13 Jesus said these words; "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven even the Son of Man which is in heaven." Christ said plainly that no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down—that is himself. So where is Elijah? I am sure you would agree with me that Christ cannot lie, and therefore, he spoke the truth when he made that statement. We conclude therefore that Elijah is not in heaven. Elijah is dead and the statement in 2Kgs.2:11 simply indicates that he was taken away from the earth, God not suffering him to die otherwise. Just as Enoch who was translated.
You are quite correct to ask, did not the text in 2Kgs.2:11 say that Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven? The answer is yes; it said that. Then does the bible contradict itself? The answer is no, it does not. Beloved reader this article would make this all very clear.
Three Heavens
As strange as this may sound, because it is not the popular view, it is nevertheless true. The Bible speaks of three heavens. The first one is here on the earth, that is, within the earth's atmosphere. The second is among the stars (planets) and the third is called Paradise. Interesting? Let the bible speak for itself.
We find two heavens mentioned in Genesis chapter one. In Gen.1:6-10 we read "And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering of the waters he called Seas: and God saw that it was good." Now notice that the firmament that divides the waters from the waters is here on earth. The waters above are referring to the clouds, while the waters beneath are called seas. We would know that there is no water vapour forming cloud outside the earth's atmosphere. So the first heaven is the atmospheric heaven. This is where the birds fly; See verse 20 and also Job 35: 5.
Now notice verses 14-17. "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years; And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth."
It can be seen that the heaven spoken of here is where the sun, moon and stars are positioned to "give light upon the earth." They are all outside the earth. So the second heaven is the starry heaven. This is where the planets carry out their respective functions in the vast expanse called space. See Job.31:26. These would be rolled back as a scroll for the coming of Jesus. Isa.34:4 and Psa.8:3. The Hebrew word translated heaven in all these instances is shameh, pronounced shaw-meh' [sky]. It has a dual application. "Alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve." [Strong's Concordance.]
We now come to that sublime statement concerning spiritual revelations made to the Apostle Paul. 2 Cor.12:1-4. "It is expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago,[whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell; God knoweth] such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, [whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth] How that he was caught up into PARADISE, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter". Verse 5 says, "Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities".
The Greek text puts it thus: "And I know this very man, [whether with a body or without the body, I know not; God knows;] that he was suddenly conveyed away into PARADISE, and heard indescribable things spoken, which it is not possible for a man to relate. Respecting such a person I will boast. So the third heaven is called Paradise, to which place Christ returned after his sojourn on earth. See Acts 7:56.
So where is Elijah, seeing he was not found? Where did he go? Elijah disappeared into the atmospheric heaven He is dead. This is the way God took him off the face of the earth. Enoch was translated, "that he should not see death." He was not allowed to decay as men would at death. So God "took him" Gen. 5:22-24.
But the Apostle Paul understood these hard sayings when he concluded in the faith chapter, Heb.11:13. "These ALL DIED in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth". All the holy men and women of old have died in faith, and are awaiting the resurrection of the dead, to reign with Christ, for one thousand years.
What Was Promised To Men?
Many do not like God's offer, they find it not good enough so they seek otherwise. Some even teach contrary to the pure word of God to satisfy their desire, but Psa.115:16 says, "The heaven even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men". Won't you accept God's offer? Psa 37:9 says "For evil doers shall be cut off but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth". See also verses 11,22. Does Jesus agree with David on this point? Let's see. In Mt.5:5 Jesus said "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth". So he agrees. But some say this is after they come back from heaven, after spending the one thousand years in heaven. That's also false. Rev.20:4 says "And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast ... and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years".
Where will the redeemed reign with Christ for these one thousand years? See Rev 5:9-10 "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was't slain, and has't redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And has't made us unto our God Kings and Priests: and we shall Reign On The Earth". That is reality!
Solomon concurs, he said in Prov 10:30 "The righteous shall never be removed but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth". Can you deny or continue to deny the overwhelming weight of evidence that proves that man would not be going to heaven to live with Christ?
When Jesus comes and we meet him in the air, we would not be staying in the air, nor would we be going with him to the heavenly abode of God Almighty. Instead, we would be coming back down to the surface of the earth, to begin the reign of Christ for one thousand years. The capital of this world government under Christ would be Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. Zech.14:16 & 17, Joel 3:16 & 17. Christ would touch down on Mt. Olives, which is on the east of Jerusalem. See Zech.14:1-5. The power of his coming is going to split the Mount of Olives in two.
The angel predicted to Mary, the mother of Jesus, Luk 1:32, "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David".
Where was David's throne established, in heaven? No, David's throne was in Jerusalem. 2Sam.5:6 & 9; 1Chr.11:4-7. This throne is promised to King Jesus.
Dear reader, Jesus is coming to rule with a rod of iron. Rev.2:27, for one thousand years. He would not be going back to heaven with the redeemed of the earth, no, not for one minute. When he comes, it would be the beginning of his reign as King of Kings right here on this earth. Do you remember what he said to Pilate in Jn.18:37? "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world".
A Desolate Earth?
Another popular teaching that is not supported by the scriptures is that at the return of Christ: "All the wicked living are destroyed with the brightness of his coming. The righteous living are translated to immortality, and all the saved accompany Christ and the angels to the heavenly city". This quotation is taken from a book called "Beacon Lights of Prophecy". Pg.391 a publication of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
A further quotation, from this same source. pg.393 1st paragraph, under the heading, "The Uninhabited Earth is Satan's Prison"; states, "With all the righteous in heaven, with Christ for a thousand years, and the wicked in their graves during this thousand years, this earth is empty and waste of human life and habitation. Not a man is abroad in it. It is a fit prison house for Satan, ..."
Is this what the bible teaches? This work has already proved that the righteous would not be taken to heaven at the return of Christ. It has also proved that this earth is the place where Christ would reign for one thousand years with the saints. Therefore it is clear that the earth would not be desolate during this One Thousand Years. But let us examine some of the arguments made by those who teach this falsehood.
All The Wicked Not Destroyed At Christ's Coming.
2 Thes 2:8 "And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming".
It is from this verse that the Beacon Lights of Prophecy have taken the idea that quote, "All the wicked living are destroyed with the brightness of his coming". But the verse is not saying that. Read it again in its proper context. Paul was speaking about the Man of Sin the son of perdition; 2Thes.2:3. This man of sin must be revealed (made known) before the coming of Christ. This man of sin would exalt himself above all that is called God, and would sit in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. V.4.
In verse 8. The man of sin is called that Wicked; he is working by the power of Satan, and would deceive many with his signs and lying wonders verses. 9 & 10. He is the man that Christ would personally destroy "with the spirit of his mouth and with the brightness of his coming". Not all the wicked, but that Wicked. We must not twist God's word to suit ourselves.
The Earth Would Never Be Uninhabited.
The Beacon Lights of Prophecy makes this statement about the earth after the coming of Christ: "this earth is empty and waste of human life and habitation. Not a man is abroad in it". That statement is definitely not in keeping with the word of God. In support of this teaching the book makes reference to Jer.4:23-26. We will now quote that text including Verse 27.
Jer 4:23. I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
Jer 4:24. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
Jer 4:25. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heaven were fled.
Jer 4:26. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the lord, and by his fierce anger.
Jer 4:27. For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
God Almighty said he will not make a full end. This means that there is bound to be people alive still on the earth. But, you may ask, why did not the prophet see them? Or rather, why did not he see them at first? Lets read verse 29. For good measure. "The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein". So the men were hiding in thickets and among the rocks. Does this sound familiar? See Rev.6:13-17. You must also read Isa 24:1-23. But let me first quote verses 1, 12-13. "Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof" The Beacon Lights of Prophecy says that "Not a man is abroad in it", the earth, God says he "scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof", Who is right? Let God be true and every man a liar.
Verses 12-13 says "In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction, When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done".
This question is relevant. What is it like after shaking an olive tree? Let the bible answer that. In Isa. 17:6, we read these words. "Yet Gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel". So men would be left after the shaking. But this is even clearer. Let us read Isa.24:6 "Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few men left". That is God's word! We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29.
After the flood, God Almighty made a solemn vow. Let's see in Gen. 8:20-22. "And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."
The Almighty says, while the earth remaineth, there will be no end to seedtime and harvest, cold and heat...The question is, will the earth still be in existence during the thousand years? If yes, who will be sowing seed, and who will be reaping a harvest? Satan? Since some claim that the earth is then Satan's Prison. Does Satan eat corn and soybeans; or did God make a mistake in his stated intention? Dear Reader, the answers to these questions would prove the fallacy of this doctrine.
Other scriptures can be quoted, but I believe these are enough. Satan would be bound by the power of God for One Thousand Years. Not isolation, Bound! Cannot God bind Satan? While Satan is jailed by the Eternal, Jesus would be ruling this world from Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. Satan cannot interrupt.
This government would tolerate no opposition. The unbelieving nations who don't obey would be severely punished. Zech. 14:18-19. You should seek out other texts on this, but I rest my case.
Jesus warned that in the last days there would be false prophets, "see that no man deceive you", he said. Please take heed. If you believe in going to heaven and a desolate earth, you are already deceived. Then you must "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord ... and I will receive you". 2Cor. 6:17.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good". 1Thes. 5:21.
JEREMIAH 7 - SELF-DECEPTION AND MINGLED RELIGION
It is time for the watchmen to blow the trumpet: destruction is all around us and Christ is pleading that we should amend our ways. It is only when we walk fully in the word of YHWH we will be able to receive of His manifold blessings, therefore let us take heed to the word of YHWH, to obey is much better than to sacrifice.
Urgent Prayer Request
I am asking everyone to say a prayer for my friend Ben. He suffered a stroke which paralyzed one side of this body. He was then diagnosed with Lupus. The doctors then found a tumor in his brain. He's in pretty bad shape, but I know God will see him through. Please say a prayer for Ben.
Urgent Prayer Request
We are requesting for all to keep Bro. Patrick, Sis. Sephora, Bro. Defoe, and Sis. Defoe in prayer. They are very sick and are in great need of our prayers. Whenever you have a chance, please just bow your head and mention these lovely brethren that God will work his miraculous mercy and their healing will their life long testimony.
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