In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1.1)
Introduction
The Bible makes a distinction between heaven and earth in both Old and New Testaments. This distinction is placed not only on the present creation but the future creation as well (Isaiah 66.22; Revelation 21.1). The Scriptures, therefore, do not speak of reality as the “universe” but as “heaven (or heavens)” and “earth” (Ephesians 1.10; Colossians 1.16; Hebrews 1.10; James 5.12; 2 Peter 3.5, 7, 10, 13; Revelation 20.11, 21.1). This phraseology is not merely idiomatic language to describe different physical realities. Intrinsic in the distinction of heaven and earth as separate identities is God’s plan of redemption. We discover this first in God’s call of the man Abram.
Earthly Promises: Israel
Before Genesis 12, God dealt with the human race as a whole. Beginning in Genesis 12, we find a change. God introduced an entirely new program through which to accomplish His plan. This would involve the call of one man through whom He would create a new race of people: the Jews.
Genesis 12
1 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
The text above is known as the Abrahamic Covenant. From this text, we learn of God’s calling of Abram (later Abraham). He told him to leave his country and to go to one He would show him. God promised that He would do the following for Abraham:
- Make him a great nation
- Bless him
- Make his name great
- Be a blessing
- Bless those who blessed him
- Curse those who cursed him
- In him, all the families of the earth be blessed
By these statements, God declared that Abraham and his progeny were “special” (Deuteronomy 7.6-8). God sovereignly extended His blessings to Abraham and his progeny; He would bless those who blessed Abraham’s progeny and curse those who opposed them. God sovereignly declared that all the peoples of the earth would be blessed through Abraham.
Genesis 13
14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15 for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. 16 I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.”
After God had established his promise to Abraham, He revealed more details about the covenant. From the passage below, we learn that included in “make you a great nation” was a land deed. God told Abram that all the land that he could see and walk would be his and his descendants forever. We find also here the first mention of “earth” in God’s promise that he would make Abram’s descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth.
Genesis 15
1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great.” 2 Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.” 4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” 5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Paul used this text to make his great argument of justification by faith alone. God told Abram that He was Abram’s protector and reward (verse 1). In response, Abram asked God how He was going to do what He had promised to do since he remained childless (verses 2-3). God reiterated His promise to Abram that he would have a child from his own body (verse 4). God then took Abram outside and showed him the heavens and declared that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (verse 5). This is the first mention of a “heavenly” progeny. Abram’s response to this declaration was “he believed in the Lord.” God’s response to Abram’s faith was to reckon him righteous (verse 6). Paul had much to say about this which we will examine below.
Genesis 22
15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not with held your son, your only son, 17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham lived at Beersheba.
This last passage from Genesis is unique in that it referenced both heavenly (verse 17a) and earthly aspects of his descendants (verse 17b). This passage concludes the familiar story of Abraham’s (he now has a new name) willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Heavenly and Earthly Promises
The above passages form a template for heavenly and earthly promises and blessings. The Jews had no concept of dying and going to heaven or having anything to do with heaven. Their only interaction with things heavenly was through the visions of prophets who saw the glory and holiness of God and His throne complex (cf. Isaiah 6.1-6; Ezekiel 1-3; Daniel 7.9-28, 10-12). We find no biblical record of heaven as a destiny for Israel. Rather, all of God’s promises to Israel were earthly.
God’s earthly promises to Israel included a land and a kingdom. The vehicle of these promises were God’s covenants to the nation. The promise of an earthly kingdom began with His covenant with Abraham which included a land provision. Through His covenant with David, He promised He would establish David’s line upon the throne and his kingdom forever. (2 Samuel 7.8-17). The Jews understood these promises and anticipated this kingdom (Luke 1.31-33, 46-55, 67-79) since God had described it in hundreds passages through His prophets (cf. Isaiah 2.2-4, 11.1-10; Ezekiel 37.1-28; Zechariah 14.9-21).
Romans 4
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Romans 4.1-3).
The above verses established Paul’s argument for salvation of faith plus nothing. God declared Abraham righteous on the sole basis of his faith. Using this passage as his foundation, Paul revealed a whole new order of salvation.
Salvation for the Jew under the Mosaic Law was based upon both faith and works, never faith alone. The Levitical sacrifices formed the vehicle of salvation.1 It was not enough for a Jew to say he believed God would cover his sin by means of animal sacrifice. He had to bring the sacrifice. Bringing the animal to the priest was a work. On the other hand, it was insufficient for a Jew to only bring an animal to the priest. The sacrifice did no good for the individual unless he coupled the sacrifice with faith. Faith has always been required but not until Paul was salvation on the basis of faith alone.
We find the same kind of thing in the gospels. Once the Messiah arrived, salvation was based on believing that He was the Messiah (Matthew 16.13-17; John 11.23-27). But in addition to believing this, water baptism was required (Matthew 3.1, 6, 11; Acts 2.38). Water baptism was a work. Jewish salvation required faith and works. The exception was Abraham. And that was why Paul used him for his example.
16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist (Romans 4.16-17).
In the passage above, Paul quoted God’s promise to make Abraham the father of many nations. Paul’s point was to link part of the fulfillment of this promise to us, the body of Christ. Abraham is the father of all true believers of Israel and the Church because of faith. The following passages provide additional insight as to what Paul meant.
Galatians 3
6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
Paul reiterated the Genesis 15 passage in which God declared Abraham righteous on the basis of faith alone. He made two main points with this passage. The first was that all who believe are “sons of Abraham” (verse 7). Paul’s second point was about God justifying Gentiles. Thus, he quoted, “all the nations (ἔθνος, Gentiles) will be blessed in you.” As the “apostle to the Gentiles,” (Romans 11.13) Paul magnified his ministry to Gentiles. Paul’s ministry was entirely different from the ministry of Jesus and the Twelve. Jesus ministered to Jews (Matthew 10.5; Romans 15.8), not Gentiles. Peter and the Eleven ministered to Jews (Matthew 10.5; Acts 2.14, 22, 29, 36, 3.12, 17; Galatians 2.7-9) not Gentiles. Paul ministered to Jews (especially noted in Acts) but later almost exclusively to Gentiles. Paul’s epistles reflect this transition and change (cf. Acts 13.45-52, 18.6-6, 28.23-31).
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
In Galatians 3.26-29, Paul reiterated his point of salvation by faith alone. All who believe his gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4) are sons of God. Furthermore, this faith included being baptized into Christ, i.e., identified in His death and resurrection (Romans 6). One result of this baptism is to make the believer a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12.13). Such membership means that distinctions of Jew and Gentile disappear. The reader should pause at this point to reflect on how different Paul’s teaching was compared to Jesus’ earthly ministry or what the Twelve taught. Jesus and the Twelve had no ministry to Gentiles. Neither did they teach about the body of Christ or our baptism with Christ in His death and resurrection. The last point Paul made was that the believer of his gospel became a descendant of Abraham.
Did Paul mean that a Gentile became a Jew when he believed the gospel? Did he mean that in functional terms Jews were not Jews, Gentiles were not Gentiles, or that the Church was not the Church (1 Corinthians 10.32)? No, Paul taught that becoming a member of the body of Christ meant that God had removed the distinctions between Jew and Gentile that had been in force for 2,000 years. This was revolutionary! Before Paul, beginning with Abraham, Jews had held a privileged position before God (Deuteronomy 7.6-8). After God revealed to Paul the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20.24) in which the one who trusted in Christ’s death and resurrection became a member of the body of Christ such distinctions no longer applied. We must also point out that this doctrine is only taught by Paul. You will not find it taught by Jesus in His earthly ministry or by Peter, or by the other eleven apostles. Paul’s point (and he repeated it over and over) was that when one believed his gospel of faith plus nothing he followed the pattern of Abraham who was saved by faith plus nothing.
Heavenly Promises: Church, the body of Christ
Ephesians 1
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
God’s promises to Israel, beginning with the Abrahamic covenant and following in His additional covenants, were all earthly. The promises decreed a people, a land, and a kingdom. God’s promises to the Church, the body of Christ, are all heavenly. The Jew under the covenants had no concept or promise of dying and going to heaven. We do. Paul revealed that God had blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. This was language that had never been used towards Israel.
Philippians 3
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
In addition to having heavenly-based spiritual blessings, Paul revealed that members of the body of Christ are citizens of heaven. Again, this was never said of any Jew. Jesus never that Jews had heavenly citizenship nor did Peter or the Eleven. This was a new revelation that God gave to the Apostle Paul.
Colossians 1
13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Again, the above verse revealed new truth. God has rescued the believer of Paul’s gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4) from darkness to the kingdom of His Son. This kingdom, at the present time, is located in heaven: the kingdom is wherever the King is.
In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he disclosed to the believers there the wonderful hope that a new body awaits us in heaven. God created us with not just souls and spirits. He gave us bodies. C. S. Lewis wrote, “God likes matter. He invented it.” Our present bodies, through which we enjoy many experiences, are subject to pain and decay. But one day believers will have eternal bodies without these weaknesses. What a glorious expectation!
1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. 6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5.1-8).
New Heavens, New Earth
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer beany death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21.1-4).
John recorded that God will create a new heaven and a new earth (cf. Isaiah 65.17; 2 Peter 3.10-12). Detailed physical characteristics of this new creation are not revealed. What is revealed, however, is that this new creation will be much different from the present one.
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. 12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21.10-14).
John repeated what he had recorded in verse 2 about Jerusalem coming down from heaven onto the earth. The Old Testament and Hebrews recorded that God instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle after a heavenly pattern (Exodus 25.9, 40; Numbers 8.4; Hebrews 8.5). The Tabernacle was an earthly representation of a heavenly reality: the throne complex and heavenly abode of God. This passage, however, is the first to document that a heavenly city–Jerusalem–exists in heaven.
15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. 18 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass (Revelation 21.15-21).
God will move the heavenly Jerusalem to the new earth. The city is immense: 1,500 miles high, long, and wide (cube or pyramid?). Such a city is impossible on our current earth. Will the new earth be significantly larger than our present one? Will the atmosphere be like ours? The Scriptures are silent on these matters. We can only wonder. What is clear is that the city will be glorious. The full significance of the relocation has yet to be revealed but in this new environment, a closer relationship of heaven and earth exists.
Conclusion
God used “heaven and earth” to declare not only His creation of the universe but to provide a template of salvation for two distinctive entities: Israel and the Church (the body of Christ). To Israel, God made earthly promises. To the Church, He made heavenly promises. Both sets of promises originate in Abraham. God promised Abraham earthly, “dust of the earth,” “sand on the seashore” (Genesis 13.16, 22.17) and heavenly, “stars of the heavens” (Genesis 15.5, 22.17) descendants. Abraham’s earthly descendants were Jews who believed in the God of the Old Testament (YHVH, יהוה). The heavenly descendants are both Jews and Gentiles (but primarily Gentiles) who have believed Paul’s gospel of grace (Acts 20.24; 1 Corinthians 15.1-4).
1 Animal sacrifices could not pay sin’s penalty (Hebrews 9.11-14, 10.1-4). Animal sacrifices were a temporary, stopgap solution until Christ Himself paid for our sins. God used animal sacrifices as “types” to point to the future work of Christ. Nevertheless, Jews were required to offer sacrifices and believe in their efficacy, i.e., that the sacrifices covered their sin and fulfilled the demands of a holy God.
© 2011 Don Samdahl. Anyone is free to reproduce this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold.
Could you comment on Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all? I see this as one destiny for all believers at all times. It seems a little odd that every other believer in other dispensations will be enjoying the New Jerusalem with Jesus on the earth, and we’ll be floating 1500 miles in the new heaven just shining brightly and judging angels (I believe we will judge angels but Paul also told the Corinthians the world shall be judged by you. I assume he means the people of the future world)
Matt,
The Bible is sparse about information about the location or duties of the Church, the body of Christ. We know is our destiny is heaven, that we are joint-heirs with Christ, and that our future is glorious (Romans 8.17).
The context of Romans 8 is clearly the kingdom of God on the earth, because Paul says Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
The hope of believers is the resurrection of our bodies in his glorious kingdom. No where does he say here that heaven is our destiny.
Matt,
I don’t think a case can be made for the kingdom of God on earth from Romans 8.21-25 since the earth is never mentioned. What Paul is discussing is the whole creation–heaven and earth–which will be delivered from the bondage of corruption, i.e., entropy. The millennial kingdom will be a temporary patch–the earth will be regenerated to Edenic conditions. But the release from corruption will not occur until God creates a new heavens and a new earth (Revelation 21). I have stated many times in my articles that the kingdom of God is on earth. This is why Jesus told His disciples to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.” What our role is during the Millennial age is unstated (see Ephesians 1.3, 2.6; 2 Timothy 4.18).
The Kingdom of God arrived on earth with the advent of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon the earth and his kingdom has been advancing ever since. The Millenial age is now not later. We take a lot for granted regarding the transformation of civilisations on earth over the past two thousand years. We simply have forgotten just how depraved and barbaric societies were and some still are. Immense transformation has occurred for the better. The Kingdom of God is not an earthly Kingdom but is spiritual. Jesus is not going to return so that He can sit on a dusty throne in Jerusalem. He told us that His Kingdom is not of this world and that this world is going to dissolve. So how is it that there is this false doctrine of a coming millenial utopian reign on earth? There will be no utopia on this earth. And of course, the chosen people of Israel will rule with Jesus, the Jews, the ones who hate Him with all their might.
Lea,
Anyone who thinks the kingdom of God is not earthly should throw away his Bible. Thousands of verses declare it is earthly. Whoever is teaching the kingdom of God is not earthly is a deceiver. Jesus Christ will reign on earth. He will occupy David’s throne and rule the world (Luke 1.32; Zechariah 14.9).
Thank you for the excellent article! I was wondering if you could explain, though, how to reconcile the future distinction between heaven and earth with Paul’s revelation that all things will be gathered together? (Ephesians 1:10)
Dennis,
Thank you. While God has kept heaven and earth as distinct entities–and these distinctions will continue throughout eternity, all believers will be united or summed up under the headship of Christ. Technically, the word ἀνακεφαλαιόω means “regather.” The verb κεφαλιόω means to gather under a head and ἀνά means “up” or “again.”
Don, a bit confused from your above response to Dennis.
1. Is there a verse stating that God will keep these distinct entities of heaven and earthly believers throughout all eternity?
2. Eph. 1:10, “that in the dispensation in the fullness of times” Isnt the fullness of times referring to the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ? That He will then gather in one all thing in Christ?
3. How do we know that God has yet another plan to join heaven and earthly believers together after the millennium and Jesus being the Headship over all as you said? You stated in another article that Jesus will be, in the Millennium, the King of the Jews but He is our Head ie of the body? Isn’t a King also the Headship of a people? Tks for clearing up my confusion
Donna,
1. God will create a new heavens and new earth. The realms remain distinct. 2. All believers are gathered “in Christ.” 3. The term “Head” is only used of Christ with regard to the Church.
I’ve always understood that the term ‘Jew’ came from the word Judah. Judah was a son of Jacob. Jacob was Abraham’s grandson. If Jacob and his sons came after Abraham why is Abraham considered a Jew? thank you.
Joe,
Abraham was not a Jew. He was a Syrian. God established the Abrahamic covenant with him and the covenanted line through which Gentiles could be blessed by God came through Isaac, the Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes.
Abraham was not a Jew. He was a babylonian from Ur of the Chaldees. Babylonia was a semitic nation, as were the Assyrians and Akkadians and the Nabatean Arabs. Jew derives from the word Judea/Judaism and only came into linguistic use during the 1700s.
Lea,
Of course Abraham wasn’t a Jew. No Jews existed. But the Jews began through the covenant line that began with Abraham—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. The term Jew was used long before the 1700s. The term יְהוּדִי, Jew, originally applied to one in the kingdom of Judah but after the dispersion of the ten tribes, it applied to all Israelites. The Greek word Ἰουδαῖος, Jew, is first seen in Matthew 2.2 and occurs 202 times in the New Testament. I do not know where you are getting your information but it is a bad source.
Am I incorrect in thinking that many believe people we become spiritual Israel when we are saved? And this is due to vs.s like the following:
29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
Who exactly is the ‘Israel of God?’ I believe the Israel of God are saved Jews but many argue it’s all Christianity. Why would Paul use this phrase? (Gal. 6)
But then it gets more complicated. Hagar also produced a linage of Abraham’s descendants…..and What about Abraham’s next wife and all those descendants?….Weren’t there promises to Ishmael?
I wish it was easier to understand.
Joe,
The subject is complicated because of inept theologians. Poor exegetical work has resulted in confused theology. Conflation of Israel and the Church and failure to understand Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles has resulted in confusion. Please see my article, “Israel” as a Technical Term.
I have no idea why Paul is boxed in as an apostle to the Gentiles because it is very clear that He searched out the synagogues throughout the Jewish diaspora in existence at the time and attempted to persuade the Jews first wherever he went.
Just as there is today, the were more Jews living in other countries than there were living in Israel/Judea. Paul’s writings show that he had a passion for his fellow Jews to the point of seeking his own damnation in exchange for their salvation. Therefore I would not label him as an apostle to the Gentiles but to all who crossed his path whereas he sought out the Jews in their temples.
Lea,
Paul is known as “the apostle of the Gentiles” because that is what he called himself (Romans 11.13).
According to the Bible, Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, but that didn’t prevent him from reaching out to lost Jews. After all Paul states “he (Jesus) might reconcile both (Jew and Gentile) unto God in one body”. (Ephesians 2:16)
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Romans 11:13
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Romans 15:16
That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Colossians 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
1 Timothy 2:7
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity
2 Timothy 1:11
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Craig,
Yes. And many Jews believed Paul’s gospel and were part of the churches. This is especially clear in the congregations of Galatia and Rome. The Roman church was probably founded by Aquila and Priscilla.
a short paragraph above says, “Again, the above verse revealed new truth. God has rescued the believer of Paul’s gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4) from darkness to the kingdom of His Son. This kingdom, at the present time, is located in heaven: the kingdom is wherever the King is.”
Is Jesus Christ a King to the Church or Israel? I thought the Kingdom was for Israel after Christ’s return and that we (Church/Body of Christ) would rule WITH Christ.
Thank you for your time and efforts.
Joe,
Jesus is not the King of the Church. He is its Head and Lord. But He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Kingdom of God in Pauline language includes Israel and the Church. In that sense, He is King.
Don, I have never understood why Jesus referred to Himself as King and Lord.
1. Isn’t a King over a Lord? Who are “kings and lords” He is over? In the millennium ie those who are ruling the nations? Will they once again revert back to being kings and lord’s and not Presidents and Prime Ministers etc?
2. As a NT believer, is there a difference between Lord and Lordship? I was taught that we were under the Lordship of Christ ie His authority as our Lord.
I hope this makes sense…and doesn’t just expound on my confusion. Tks!
Donna,
These are position or rank equivalencies. The ancient world did not have the terms “president” or “prime minister.” Jesus is “King of kings and Lord of lord,” that is, He is supreme over all. The terms for Christ for members of the Church are Lord and Head. As such, we are under His lordship and He is our Head.
Hello,
I have read lots on your site and find it very interesting. Thank you for taking the time over the years to make it worth reading and a bit of a lightning rod. :)
So…as much as it pains me to have to begin believing this way, and it does, I am a couple of explanations away from giving myself over 100% to the so called ‘soul sleep’ idea. For one thing, the number of Biblical passages supporting this far outweigh any other supposed doctrinal viewpoint. Especially Old Testament…and sorry the progressive revelation excuse does not fit this idea at all so we cannot say we simply learned “more about death and heaven” in the New Testament that would make this clear teaching go away. The main oppositions come from: (a) the “Lazarus and the Rich Man” dialog between Christ and the Pharisees and Scribes, in which Christ tells a very odd story about the beggar Lazarus who died and went to heaven simply because he was a poor beggar and the rich man went to Gehenna/Hell because he was rich and thus matches ZERO doctrine of salvation texts in Scripture about faith, repentance and the need for a savior and is actually directed towards the idiocy and superstitions of the Jewish so-called leaders and presented in an effective and powerful “mock-Rabbinical” method that is not a tour guide to the afterworld but a firm lesson from the Master Rabbi Himself; (2) the Pauline “absent from the body/present with the Lord” in which Paul is assumed to mean upon death the soul finds itself immediately in either heaven or hell, which is not what Paul is saying if you simply read a literal translation in context (too long to explain here can send private email); and (3) the multiple mistranslations of “Sheol” as “hell” in many English versions and the entire concept of death, itself, as a horrible and frightening enemy that seems to be prevalent throughout all of Scripture and not a triumphant victory march into heaven for believers…who at some point are made to leave heaven (?), resurrect in their dead bodies into the new creations and live forever in our glorified bodies except these are not the same type of being they were when they were in heaven prior to being resurrected…huh? Where does this come from? Does this teaching seem odd? Why is the resurrection the great victory if prior to that the saints were living in heaven in completely different transitional types of heavenly bodies? I don’t really understand what it all means and I’m not saying we should but…I am missing that second part being in Scripture. Please walk me through this. Thanks.
Chris,
The soul does not sleep. I do not know how this idea originated; the Scriptures do not teach it. Resurrection bodies are different from whatever kind of spirit bodies exist before this. We’re just not given enough information about this subject to draw sound conclusions. What we do have is information that souls are aware in death and that the final phase of salvation is resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:42, 51 and 52
(42) So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
(51) …We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
(52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
We become “incorruptible” only when we are raised from the dead.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
(13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
(15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
(16) 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:
(17) 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.
Paul tells us that all the dead in Christ will rise at the Rapture when the Lord comes, and comforts us by letting us know that even when a person dies, he will rise again.
Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
Our hope is the coming of the Lord, because that is when the dead are raised and can be with Jesus.
Revelation 20:4 and 5
(4) 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, neither his image, neither had received his mark on their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
(5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
These verses separate the people who come to life in the first resurrection from those who do not. The souls of the righteous, meaning righteous people, come to life after the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-21) and reign with Christ.
Revelation 20:11-13
(11) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
(12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
(13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell (note: lit. “hades” or the grave) delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
These verses depict the Resurrection of the Unjust (Acts 24:15), also called the Resurrection of Judgment (John 5:29), and the Judgment that follows immediately afterward. At this future time, all the unjust people will get up and be judged. The souls of the wicked are not judged and thrown into Gehenna when the person dies.
Acts 17:31
Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.
1 Thessalonians 2:19
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
2 Timothy 4:1
I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
The Greek text of this verse is very clear that the Judgment is coming in the future. This verse shows that people who have died have not been judged yet, so it goes without saying that they cannot be in heaven or condemned to Gehenna yet.
Dear Brother Don, really appreciate your articles and clear Scriptual responses and in context. Thank you.
These are 2 statements that you made to another question, I forget where, but started me thinking.
1. To believe “in God” signifies Mental Assent.
By this I presume it means that God exists? (Heb 11:6)
2. To say “I believe God” signifies personal trust.
I presume that means faith, in what He declares in His Word? (Rom 10:17) (Act 15:8, Eph 11:13 referring to the Gospel Message)
Now with regard to Abram, would I be right in saying, he believed “in God,” gave mental assent to His existence on leaving Ur of Mesopotamia?
However in Gen 15:6 there seems to be a change in Abram’s belief. He is now believing for certain that God would give him an heir (although by all accounts Sarai was not yet in the picture), one through whom all His previous promises (Gen 1:12-3, 13:15-16) and now also the promise that God was now declaring to him (Gen 15:6 regarding his spiritual seed) would be fulfilled.
God then acknowledged Abram’s faith in His Word by declaring him Holy before Him.
Appreciate your reply, thanks.
Kaitmo,
What I wrote was an attempt to reveal the different between true faith and mental assent. The Scriptures state Abraham “believed in the LORD” in Genesis 15.6 but in both Genesis 12 and 15, it is clear Abraham believed what God told him. Belief and obedience are essentially the same. Abraham left Ur because he believed God would bring him to a new land and give him children. Abraham trusted God in this.
Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Dear Don, have another question regarding Abram. From this statement above from the Lord Jesus about Abram, are we able to conclude:
1. The extent of what he knew?
2. The time in his life when this knowledge turned to rejoicing etc?
Thank you for your consideration.
Kaitmo,
The Lord was revealing something about Abraham not found in the Scriptures.
Hi Don,
Really appreciate your effort to share knowledge of the word of God with others.
I find it very straight to the point, clear and simple. It really is a huge blessing.
I was wondering if you could do an article on where a believer in Christ (grace period) would go to after dying.
Im not sure if its abrahams bosom, or heaven, or what. You know what i mean, man?
Thanks mister!
Greetings from Aruba,
Brandon.
Brandon,
Thank you. As to the other, I don’t think it warrants an article. For us, to die is to go to heaven. Paul wrote to be absent the body was to be at home with the Lord (ἐνδημῆσαι πρὸς τὸν κύριον) 2 Corinthians 5.8.
I believe one of the Divine Institutions provided by God is nationalism. (freewill, marriage and family being others). As the world moves toward globalism I’m not surprised to see people like the ex-president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, tell a Fox TV host something to the effect that “God didn’t make borders”. I can think of God revealing the borders of Israel to Abraham. Are there other obvious national boundaries detailed in the bible that you can think of? (are there other divine institutions that I’m forgetting?)
Joe,
In Genesis 10 is the table of nations and first mention of national borders. Throughout the Scriptures national borders are recogized and defended. Nation-states are a check on globalism, unrestrained power and evil. Fox’s comment reveals he is ignorant of the Bible. It also reveals hypocrisy. If millions of Americans were streaming into Mexico, many committing crimes, he’d be singing a different tune. And Mexico’s southern border is tiny compared to the U.S. This kind of rhetoric is an attack on God’s establishment. Border-denial denies nationalism, transgenderism denies mankind created in the image of God and marriage, etc.
Don,
No words can suffice to show my gratitude on the work that you are doing in God’s service.
I’m sorry if I’m bringing a non related idea in this article. Down is my concern….
Mine is a question of –Comparing and Contrasting ..”HEAVEN”and “PARADISE”
Some people claim that there is solely one thing called, willfully, “Heaven/Paradise” . How biblically true and/or sensible is that fact.?
Best regards,
Bahati.
Bahati,
Before Christ arose, people went to either Paradise or Hell. Jesus described these two locations in Luke 16. Both were in the earth. After He was resurrected, Jesus told Mary Magdalene, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the My Father” (John 20.17). That was Heaven. So Paradise and Heaven were different. But Paul wrote “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago–whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows–such a one was caught up in the third heaven. And I know such a man–whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows–how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Corinthians 12.2-4). So by this time, Paradise was in Heaven. It seems the Lord emptied Paradise and took it to heaven after His resurrection. A hint of this operation is Ephesians 4.8-10.
Would we say that Paul is referring to the same thing by “Third heaven/Paradise “2 Cor 12: 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, …..such an one caught up to the third heaven…..4 How that he was caught up into paradise….
Must we draw at least a thin line between Highest Heaven and probably Third heaven/Paradise?….Considering that God is not in Paradise rather in Highest heaven.
Bahati,
The 1st heaven is the atmosphere, 2nd heaven is outer space, 3rd heaven is abode of God. Our home is heaven with the Lord (Philippians 3.20).
Really enjoyed your article. Thank you.
I am a little confused about one thing though. Since Jesus came to the Jews and dealt almost exclusively with them , why does he tell them in Matthew 6:20 to lay up treasure in Heaven, if they will be inheriting the Kingdom here on earth.
Thank you
Burl,
Heaven is the place of safe-keeping until Christ establishes His earthly kingdom.
Thank you for a very thorough treatment of this topic. I’ve been wrestling with this for years.
You say, “The Jew under the covenants had no concept or promise of dying and going to heaven. We do. Paul revealed that God had blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. This was language that had never been used towards Israel.”
However, didn’t Jesus say to his disciples in John 14:2-4 that he goes to prepare a place for his disciples, and that they knew where he was going?
Could you explain this a little bit, please?
Daniel,
Jesus prepares a place in heaven so it can later be enjoyed on earth. This was the promise of “treasure in heaven” and “laying up treasures in heaven.” Heaven is the place of safekeeping for blessings which will be enjoyed on earth. For Israel, all blessings are earthly. They will be enjoyed in the earthly kingdom when Jesus reigns as earth’s king. Later, Jews will enjoy earthly blessing in the New Earth, New Jerusalem which descends from heaven onto earth.
Don, is the earth flat? I know most Christians do not believe in a flat earth..
Craig,
Why would one think the earth is flat?
The Bible mentions the 4 corners of the earth. A sphere does not have corners.
Craig,
See Isaiah 11.12. The text has “four corners of the earth,” מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָֽרֶץ. The word כָּנָף is translated “corners” but also means extremities. The LXX translated the Hebrew as τεσσάρων πτερύγων τῆς γῆς. The word πτερύγων means “wings.” One could just as easily say the earth has for wings. Its a poetic, not a scientific expression.
Hi Don,
This is also my observation why God promised Abraham earthly, “dust of the earth,” “sand on the seashore” (Genesis 13.16, 22.17) and heavenly, “stars of the heavens” (Genesis 15.5, 22.17) descendants. However,
its not clear to me the role of the Body of Christ when God will move the heavenly Jerusalem to the new earth.
Uzziel,
The Scriptures do not tell us. The Church not mentioned in Revelation or in any passage relating to God’s prophetic plan. All we really know is that we will have eternal, resurrection bodies, are joint heirs with Christ, and we will rule angels. Sounds pretty good.
Don, you wrote somewhere that we will retain our sex organs in heaven. Is there any Scripture on this? I know we will still be male and female. The bible I believe says no marriage in heaven. So why would we need our sex organs?
Craig,
They define us as male and female. Important today for some cannot define “what is a woman.”
Don,
It is clear to me from your books and articles that the Church and this age of grace that we live in was a secret revealed to Paul by revelation from the risen Lord. If God would have revealed the church age to the Jews He would have showed His hand and they could have wrongly made the case that He determined their future failure. Who then are the “stars” of (Genisis 15.4-6) and if not the Church then who? In light of (Genisis 15.4-6) could you please explain (Galatians3.7-9) and especially verse 8? Are people saved by faith alone in the millennium?
Thank you
Terry
Thank you
Terry
Terry,
The Scriptures do not reveal how people will be saved in the Millennium. We know that before Paul faith and works were enmeshed. Paul’s gospel was new revelation and declares we are saved by faith alone in Christ’s death and resurrection for us. In Jesus’ earthly ministry, people were saved believing the gospel of the kingdom, faith and works, the faith portion being believing Jesus was the Christ. That gospel will return in the Tribulation (Matthew 24.14). But what the message of faith will be is unstated for the Kingdom. Good question. No answer.
Don,
Could you please comment on my first question in regard to Genesis 15.4-6 and Galatians 3.4-6?
Thank you
Terry
Terry,
The Church is God’s heavenly people. We are saved by faith alone, as was Abraham. In that sense we are the children of Abraham. The stars were a metaphor for those saved by faith alone, i.e., members of the Church. God promised Abraham an earthly people and a heavenly people based on Genesis 13, 15, and 22. Dust and sand represented the earthly people. These include Jews who came to know God as well as some Gentiles. Those who inherit the earthly kingdom are in God’s prophetic plan. The Church is outside prophecy per se but foreknown in the mind of God by His statement to Abraham.
Don, I’ve heard many times that Abraham was saved by faith alone. Would Abraham have been saved if he had not left Ur. Could his act of leaving Ur, as instructed, be considered a ‘work’, and part of his salvation?
Joe,
Paul spoke of “the obedience of faith.” Faith is obedience. Abraham obeyed God for he believed God. But his specific salvation was a result of his believing what God told him in Genesis 15.
Don, obviously we will be male and female in heaven. Any idea why we would retain our reproductive organs when we won’t be procreating? Is it just because our bodies remain the same except will be incorruptible?
Craig,
Jesus’ resurrection body had sex organs. We are created in the image of God. I cannot answer your question because the Scriptures give us not information. What can be said is that we will have sexual organs because that is the way God created us.
Don, to further this discussion, will animal predators retain their fangs, claws, stingers, etc., when there will be no death or destruction during the future utopian eternity that God will create? Yes, Isaiah writes of former predator animals coexisting peacefully with their former prey. So why have these ‘unnecessary’ aggressive features when they’ll be of seemingly no use? Just a thought. C.S. Lewis or another apologist/theologian may have already addressed this.
Brian,
God created animals with fangs, claws, etc. in a perfect world. We know from Genesis they ate grass and vegetables. The claws, fangs are not “unnecessary” in the sense that they are part of God’s artistry and each animal’s identity, presence, and glory.
Terry J Lanning made the statement that God didn’t show his hand concerning the church the body of Christ He knew but didn’t reveal until his timing am I wrong or is this another proof of God’s sovereignty and man’s freewill working together?
Bren,
Everything Jesus said in His earthly ministry indicated the Tribulation would occur and He would then return. He knew the Jews would continue to reject Him but had to let that play out. God never interferes with our free will. So yes, it shows cooperation of the divine and human will.
Don,
I’m guessing time is not a dimension in heaven. When I get to heaven will everyone who is saved and who is going to be saved be there with me in heaven even though in time on earth those who remain after I die are still here alive? Can the husband of a dying wife tell her that as soon as she passes he’ll be there with her when she is immediately present with the Lord? If this were to be the case then all who are saved or will ever be saved are already there in some form.
Joe,
As creatures, we can only be at one place at one time.
I am still not clear about what happens to believers when we die physically. You mention that Heaven is a place of safekeeping for our souls. But there appears to be very little in scripture about any “life” or “activity” in Heaven. Will we be doing anything there, or just waiting (“a holding pattern”) for the resurrection?
Most Christians seem to look at Heaven as our eternal abode and are taught that in churches. There is very little concept of the Millennial Kingdom (and our role in it) and the New Earth (and New Jerusalem), where we will spend eternity.
Is there anything I am missing about souls in “Heaven”?
Thanks again for all your amazing work. I just ordered your book “God’s Programs.” Can’t wait to read it!!
Dean,
This kind of information is extremely limited. We know to be absent from the body is to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5). We are not told what we will be doing after death, but soul and spirit never sleep, so that means we are aware. Will we have some time of spirit “body?” I do not know. We know angels appear as humans at times. We are not told if we will participate in the earthly kingdom or remain in heaven. We know we are joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8) and we will judge/rule angels (1 Corinthians 6.3). Paul wrote no one has seen or heard or imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2.9). In any case, it will be great. And it will last for eternity. Hope you enjoy the book!
It is true, that souls go to heaven or hell after death, is not explicitly outlined in the Old Testament of the Bible. However, it does not mean that OT saints did not believe in a life after death. The presence of heaven is clearly stated in the Bible from its first page onwards. The belief that God, the sustainer of life, reigns from heaven is a recurring theme. The people expressed their devotion through prayers to the God of heaven.
In several places the Old Testament mentioned the righteous and wicked will go to Sheol after death.
1. Doesn’t this words of Job in19:26-27 indicate he had a hope in life after? Job said: “And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another”.
2.According to Luke 16:22–23 Old Testament saints who died went to the realm called “Abraham’s bosom”. If their final destiny was the promised earthly land, why did they hold that view?
3.In 2 Samuel 12:23 why did David keep a hope that he will also go to a place where his dead son already gone? David said: ” But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”
4. 2 Kings 2:1,11 the Lord took up Elijah to heaven. In verse 11 it says; ‘Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven’. One may say it is not the heaven where God is reigning. But one thing is true that it was the Lord who took him up there.
5. “But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.” How can we explain Daniel 12:13 if there is no life after death?
James,
The hope of believing Jews was resurrection, they would one day live again on earth. Jews had no hope of going to heaven. That is a destiny exclusive to members of the Church, the body of Christ.
Hi Don, thanks for your ministry and may our LORD continue to bless your efforts! Near the end of this article you mentioned the 12 foundational stones of the apostles in New Jerusalem. Similar in description (perhaps the same stones?) there are 12 listed in the breastplate of the OT high priests. Furthermore there is a similar listing of 9 precious stones covering Lucifer in Eden prior to his fall. Is there a connection pertaining to God through these listings of precious stones found in these passages? I know with God there is nothing trivial or by accident in His Word, and I’m sure there is a deeper meaning to why the foundations of Heaven are set in these 12 precious stones. I would truly appreciate any insight you have on this matter, and any references to other scholars who have researched such things about the Heavenly Home we have to look forward to. Thanks again and God bless!
James,
Thank you. Interesting thought. What comes to mind is that precious stone reflect and refract light. God is light and his creatures are little lights. The stones and gold reflected God’s glory in Lucifer. The New Jerusalem will have foundations of these precious stones and will be gold to reflect God’s glory. Lucifer had nine stones but the high priests had twelve, which indicates that our glory will surpass that of the angelic host. Likely lots more to all this but we will have to wait for heaven for the Lord to reveal it. Eye has not seen. . . .