It has been the intention of this series to clear up misconceptions of what Heaven is really like. It is at this point in our discussion of Heaven that things get tricky. There is a hurdle I must get us over. We might take a peak at paradise but I think the good look I promised will have to be put off till next post, sorry.
Heaven is not "in the clouds". That is unbiblical. The belief that we will be "spirits floating around in Heaven" is unbiblical. See 1 Corinthians 15:35-58.
So where is Heaven and were do we go when we die? As I said, this is the tricky part, but first, let us set aside whatever our believes may be of the "end times". This is not an "end times" discussionssion. What I want to focus on is after the "end times". We might dispute how we get to the point I wish to take us but the point we are going to is without dispute.
After the end times, the current "heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10) replaced by the New Heavens and New Earth. The eternal dwelling place of believers will be the New Earth. The New Earth is the "Heaven" on which we will spend eternity. It is the New Earth that is paradise.
"So what's so tricky about that Michael?" Well, here is the hurdle, were do we go now when we die? For believers, after death is to be absent from the body and present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). For unbelievers, after death means everlasting punishment in Hell (Luke 16:22-23). Without any absolute bible verse to say I believe that we can put the puzzle together of where we go when we die.
To be absent from the body and present with the Lord means that we are in paradise (paradeisos). Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). I think it is safe to say then that until the final resurrection, after death a person resides in a "temporary" Heaven (paradise) and Hell. At some point after death, believers will be sent to the New Heavens (a new atmosphere) and New Earth (Heaven/Paradise)(Revelation 21:1). At some point after death, unbelievers will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). These are the final, eternal destinations of all people. Where will you go? If you do not know Click Here.
Unless I think of something else, in the next post we will take that good look at paradise and what the New Earth will be like.
2 comments:
I think it is safe to say then that until the final resurrection, after death a person resides in a "temporary" Heaven (paradise) and Hell.
Great work again.
I do however have a little gripe with the above statement.
With your undestanding of time I would have expected you to believe that as there is one 'Day of Judgment' and not one ach for every person, that once we die we are no longer consrtained by time and go to that moment in eternity when we are all judged. No limbo, no waiting around for thousands of years, but when Jesus said "Truly I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in Paradise" He was not lying. Jesus was dead and in the tomb for a couple f days and then on earth for a while longer after He rose. He did not go back and forth but rather, once that thief died he was instantly at the day of judgment (which he will pass through and be numbered among the sheep) and was in paradise then, "with" Jesus. That 2000 years has passed since then is not important, once we die our spirits are eternal and thus no longer limited by the physical roperty of time.
You have an intriguing string of thoughts here.
How do you think Luke 16:19-31, Matthew 12:40 and Ephesians 4:8-10 fit in with Paradise?
I am enjoying your thoughts.
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