Is Heaven the Reward of the Saved?
Do the righteous go to heaven when they die?
Is heaven the reward of the saved?
I'm not going to Heaven when I die. No one has so far, and the Scriptures are plain that the earth, not Heaven, is the abode of the saved. Notice Matthew 5:5,
"the meek shall inherit the earth";
Psalms 115:16,
"the heavens are the LORD'S, but the earth He has given to men";
John 3:13,
"no man hath ascended up to Heaven";
and Acts 2:34,
"David is not ascended into the heavens."
I Go to Prepare a Place for You
Jesus said that where He was going (Heaven), the disciples could not come,
"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." (John 13:33, KJV)
Did Jesus contradict Himself a few verses later in 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] ye may be also."
Of course not! Yet many have used these verses to support the "going to Heaven" idea. Jesus went to Heaven to prepare an office, a position of rulership, for us, as verse 2 can more appropriately be translated. Where He was going, the disciples could not come, John 13:33. He would come again, receive His true followers, and where He would be, they would be there also, John 14:3. He would never leave His disciples, Hebrews 13:5. After He ascended to His Father in Heaven, He would not leave them comfortless; He would come to them, John 14:18, in the form of the Holy Spirit, verses 16-17. This Holy Spirit is the mind of Christ, Philippians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Romans 8:9, NOT the "third person" of a "trinity." God is a Family, not a trinity. The Family of God is composed of those having the Holy Spirit: God the Father, the Son, and the sons of God (1 John 3:1-2), men and women who have the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:13.
John 14 tells us that Jesus would come to His disciples in the form of the Holy Spirit and be with them. Then, in the future, Jesus Christ will return with power to this earth and rule all nations with His saints for 1,000 years--the Millennial Kingdom of God.
In Acts 1:1-12 we are given the account of Jesus ascending to Heaven from the Mount of Olives. The angel told the disciples, verse 11, that Jesus would return in the same manner as they saw Him leaving, in a cloud, verse 9. Jesus would come back from Heaven in a cloud to the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14 graphically displays Jesus' return, verses 4-9. The LORD-- Jesus Christ--will stand on the Mount of Olives, which will split in two in a giant earthquake, verse 4. The saints will be with Him, verse 5. The earth shall be healed, verse 8. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth, verse 9. Nations shall beat their swords into plowshares, Isaiah 2:2-4, and all nations shall be taught God's ways, Isaiah 2:3 and Habakkuk 2:14. Those that do not keep the Holy Days such as the Feast of Tabernacles will receive plagues from God, Zechariah 14:16-19, Isaiah 60:12.
Where He--the Messiah--is, there will we be also, John 14:3. He will be ruling the earth with His saints! The Lord shall descend from Heaven, and the saints, those alive at the time and changed to spirit beings along with those resurrected from the dead to life immortal, will rise in the clouds to meet Jesus in the air and thereafter be with Him forever. We know from Zechariah 14:4, that Christ shall stand on the Mount of Olives. The angel in Acts 1:11 said Jesus would return in the same way He ascended. He must complete the reverse trip. The saints will meet Him returning to the earth in the clouds, come back to the earth with Him, and rule with Christ a thousand years, Revelation 5:10, 2:26-27, 20:4-5.
During the 1,000 years, the earth will become a paradise due to the powerful righteous rule of Christ and the saints, as described in Isaiah 11. Most of mankind will be converted at that time. The great devastations wrought on the earth by the beast and God's Seven Last Plagues described in Revelation, will not exterminate all the earth's people. Isaiah 24 is clear to this fact. In her book, The Great Controversy, Ellen G. White is dishonest with Isaiah 24:6 when she quotes all but the last words: "and few men left." Yes, there will be left a remnant, like the gleaning of grapes, verse 13. The LORD of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion in Jerusalem, verse 23. And the inhabitants of the world will then learn righteousness, Isaiah 26:9.
Man does not have an immortal soul. Souls can die, Ezekiel 18:20. In the day of a man's death, his thoughts perish, Psalms 146:4. That is why the New Testament frequently speaks of death as sleep, e.g., 1 Corinthians 15:51. Verse 52 shows that the dead in Christ won't go to Heaven when they die--they will be resurrected to eternal life when He returns.
Enoch and Elijah
What about Enoch and Elijah, those righteous men of the Old Testament? When they died, didn't they go to the Heaven where God is? No, they did not. John 3:13 means what it says. God's Word never contradicts itself. Genesis 5:21-24 tells about Enoch, who walked with God "and he was not; for God took him." It does not say God took Enoch to Heaven. Hebrews 11:5 says that God translated Enoch so that he should not see death. We know from Jude 14-15 that Enoch preached powerful sermons in a wicked and perverse time just before the Flood. Did Enoch not die? Was he taken directly to Heaven? No, because Hebrews 11:13, in referring to Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Sarah, says that "these all died in faith, not having received the promises." They all died and must await their reward at the resurrection when Christ returns. The word "translated" in the Greek means "moved to another place." The same Greek word for "translated" here is used in Acts 7:16 as "carried over", referring to transferring Jacob's dead body to Sychem. Because Enoch's preaching was gaining opposition and he was likely to be killed in that age of violence, Genesis 6:11, God took him, and he was not to be found, Genesis 5:24. The Almighty took Enoch bodily to another place, exactly as described in Acts 7:16.
2 Kings 2:11 describes a fiery chariot which came and took Elijah in a whirlwind into heaven. Some suppose that this is the "heaven" where God's throne is located. Actually, the Bible speaks of three heavens, 2 Corinthians 12:2. The first heaven is where the atmosphere and clouds are, from whence the rain comes, e.g., Genesis 7:11. The second heaven is outer space, home of the planets and stars, e.g., Psalms 8:3. And the third Heaven is where God's throne is located, e.g., Psalms 11:4. A whirlwind took Elijah into heaven, according to God's direction. Obviously it was the first heaven, for only in the atmosphere can a whirlwind be operative. God took Elijah to another place to live out his days, his office being transferred to Elisha, 2 Kings 2:12-15. Notice that the sons of the Prophets knew that God was going to take Elijah from them, verses 1, 3, 5. After he was taken away, they sent a search party of 50 men, but in 3 days could not find him, verses 16-17. They knew nothing about Elijah going to the third Heaven!
Elijah was taken into heaven during the reign of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah. Yet years later, a letter from Elijah came to Jehoshaphat's evil son, King Jehoram, warning him of a horrible death because he had not walked in the ways of his father Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 21:12-15. Compare 2 Kings 3:1, 1 Kings 22:42, and 2 Kings 8:16 and it is inescapable: God used Elijah one more time before he died. This has puzzled Bible commentators like Adam Clarke. But the truth is simple--if we can receive it! God took Elijah to another place on the earth. No man has ascended into the Heaven where God's throne is.
Heaven is Coming to This Earth
The truth of the matter is, after the Millennium, God the Father and the Heavenly Jerusalem, the New Jerusalem, will descend out of Heaven, and come to dwell permanently on this earth, Revelation 21:1-5. There we will occupy the place Jesus has been preparing for us. We will then dwell with the Father and the Son forever in the new earth. I'm not going to Heaven! Heaven is coming here--to this earth. During the 1,000 years, I will--if I overcome with the Spirit's help--aide in the rebuilding of the waste places, Isaiah 58:12, 61:4, and educate and train others to follow God's ways, Isaiah 61:6. After that, the New Heavens and New Earth will be a crowning glory, Revelation 22:1-5.
Three Heavens
That there are three heavens is clearly shown in The New Englishman's Greek Concordance & Lexicon under the word #3772 ouranos. This word is defined in this lexicon as:
the sky, Matthew 6:26; Luke 4:25;
region beyond the atmosphere, Revelation 6:13;
with earth as creation's sum, Matthew 5:18;
as the abode of God, Matthew 3:17; and of the resurrected Christian, 1 Peter 1:4.
The last phrase above is not true. 1 Peter 1:4 does not say that resurrected Christians will go to Heaven. It says that our inheritance is preserved (kept undefiled) in Heaven for us. Jesus Christ will bring our reward back from Heaven with Him when He returns, Revelation 22:12, 11:18, Colossians 3:24. Notice that 1 Peter 1:4 does NOT say our inheritance is Heaven, but says our inheritance is reserved in Heaven. Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 18:22, Luke 12:33-34 show that we should lay up treasures in Heaven, so that Jesus can bring our reward back to give to us at His return. Truly, if we endure persecution here and now, our reward is great in Heaven, Luke 6:23. God is keeping an account of all our deeds. We should rejoice because our names are written in Heaven, Luke 10:20.
The Kingdom Of Heaven
The Gospel of Matthew frequently mentions the "Kingdom of Heaven", Matthew 5:3, 10,19, etc. Is this kingdom in Heaven? "Of" means "proceeding forth" or "from". Yes, the rule of the Heavenly Father and His Son, our Savior, will someday come to this earth, as it is now in Heaven, as is stated so clearly in the so-called Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:9-10. By following this outline prayer, we are asking God's Kingdom to come to this earth! Far from showing a kingdom in Heaven, Matthew's Gospel shows God's kingdom on this earth. Luke uses a different term, "Kingdom of God", Luke 19:11, etc., which means the same as "Kingdom of Heaven." It is a kingdom ruled by the Almighty and His saints.
Luke 19:11-27 records the Parable of the Pounds, while Matthew 25:14-30 records the similar Parable of the Talents. The same message is in both accounts: Jesus went to Heaven, leaving gifts to us. He expects us to use them and produce results. When He returns with His kingdom, He will reckon with His servants, and reward or punish depending upon our growth with what He has given us. Nothing is even hinted that the saints will go to the "far country" (Heaven) with Jesus. Instead, He returns where they are and rewards the productive with rulership over cities.
Daniel 7 speaks of this same subject. Messiah is crowned King and given dominion, Daniel 7:13-14. The Kingdom and dominion under the whole Heaven shall then be given to the saints, who of course, shall be subject to the one who gave them the Kingdom, Daniel 7:27, 18, 22. "Under Heaven" means "on the earth." Daniel does not say that the saints will go up to Heaven.
In the days of the ten toes (ten earthly kings co-existent at the end time), the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed nor left to another people. It will crush all human kingdoms and bring them to an end. But the Almighty's Kingdom shall stand forever, Daniel 2:44, Revelation 17:12-14. No, the Millennium will not be spent in Heaven. The earth will not be left desolate for 1,000 years. Jesus Christ, the stone which the builders rejected (Matthew 21:42), shall smite the wicked kingdoms of men and set up a great Kingdom that will fill the whole earth, Daniel 2:35. (Note: "mountain" in Biblical symbolism represents a kingdom or government.) The saints will rule with Christ over nations on this earth, Revelation 2:26, 5:10, 20:4.
As Nebuchadnezzar led the Babylonian "golden kingdom", and was followed by the Medo-Persian "silver kingdom", the Greek "brass kingdom", and the Roman "iron kingdom", so will the Messiah institute the "Stone Kingdom". He is the Rock, 1 Corinthians 10:4.
Kings and Priests
The saints shall, as we have seen, rule with Christ as Kings and Priests for a thousand years on the earth, Revelation 5:10. It is inspiring how the Old Testament prophecies confirm and expand upon this.
"But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves", Isaiah 61:6.
The saints will be respected by those who are learning the ways of the Eternal, Isaiah 60:14. The righteous will inherit the land forever, Isaiah 60:21.
Psalms 37 might be termed the "inheritance Psalm," because it repeats over and over the theme: the wicked may prosper for the time being, but the time is coming that the righteous shall inherit the earth, Psalms 37:9, 11, 18, 22, 28, 29, 34 (see also Matthew 5:5).
Notice the loving statement of Jesus to His faithful in Matthew 25:34,
"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world"
and Revelation 21:2,
"And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
Our position in the Kingdom and New Jerusalem is what Jesus said He was preparing for us in John 14.
How is it that we can inherit the earth? We certainly didn't earn this position and reward. Who made it possible for us to inherit the land? Galatians 3 says,
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ . . . . And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise", verses 26-27,29. .
The faithfulness of Abraham resulted in the promise that he would be "heir of the world", Romans 4:13. Yes, Abraham, father of the faithful, verse 16, was NOT promised Heaven, but the world! Neither Abraham nor any of the faithful men and women of old have yet received these promises, Hebrews 11:13. The promise the Eternal made to Abraham and the faithful was eternal life--on this earth. The promise was repeated to those faithful few who followed Abraham's example of faithful obedience, Genesis 26:2-5. Since Abraham and the faithful ones in the past have died without inheriting the land God promised them (Acts 7:2-5), he and the saints will have to be resurrected to eternal life to inherit the land forever (Genesis 13:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:50-53). Yes, Abraham looked forward to the eternal city on this earth, Hebrews 11:8-10. At the return of Jesus, Abraham and all the saints who are co-heirs with him will inherit the Kingdom, Matthew 25:34; Daniel 7:18, 22, 27
The Messiah came to confirm the promises made to the fathers, to extend the promised blessings to the Gentiles and all who become children of Abraham, Romans 15:8-12. Satan was the ruler of this world, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Matthew 4:8-10, but Christ overcame Satan and qualified to replace him as ruler of this world, Matthew 28:18, Daniel 7:13-14, Luke 1:31-33, John 3:35. Messiah will come back to take over His kingdom with the saints, who will be given positions of co-rulership with Him. He will, as the angel promised, sit on the throne of His father David, Luke 1:30-33.
Come On Down!
Isaiah prayed that the Eternal would rend the heavens and come down, causing the mountains to flow down (quake) at His presence, Isaiah 64:1-3. Nations will tremble at His presence, verse 2.
That is what we pray for as well. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in Heaven", Matthew 6:10. God's Kingdom is in Heaven. His will is done there. We pray that it will come to this earth as well, if we earnestly pray the "Lord's Prayer."
His presence on this earth will be a day of reckoning, Jude 24, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Revelation 14:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Isaiah 2:10-22, Zephaniah 1:7-18. Notice how the theme of Zephaniah is that the wicked shall be cut off in the Day of the LORD, but a remnant who trust in His name shall be left. Yes, there will be a few men left! See also Nahum 1:5, Ezekiel 38:19- 23, Jeremiah 4:26-27 (notice that not all men will perish, though the cities will be forsaken, verse 29, the residue can't escape the Eternal), Psalms 114:7, 97:1-5, 68:2, 8. Yes, at His presence, the earth shall tremble, Revelation 16:17-20. Are we ready for that great event? Can anyone say that Christ is present on the earth if He is floating in the upper atmosphere? No! He will be present and accounted for at that time.
"I Shall Return"
General Douglas MacArthur was one of the great United States military leaders during World War II. He and the American troops were forced off the Philippines by the Japanese. But MacArthur courageously promised: "I shall return." And he did! He waded ashore with liberating Allied troops and the Filipinos went wild with joy. MacArthur kept his promise!
Jesus Christ said that no man hath ascended up to Heaven except He himself, John 3:13. He said that He would come again, John 14:3. Jesus described Himself in the parable of the pounds (Luke 19:11-27) as the nobleman who went into a far country (Heaven) to receive for Himself a kingdom, and to return (Luke 19:12). We are to occupy (produce results) till He comes, verse 13. When He returns, He is going to give rewards and punishments to His servants (verses 15, etc.). He will do this when He sits on His throne, Matthew 25:31-46. Where will His throne be? In the clouds above the earth? NO! His throne will be at Jerusalem, Jeremiah 3:17. Jesus said He would return, not offshore or at a distance, but to this earth. This should be our prayer, Isaiah 63:17 and 64:1-2.
The Rapture Doctrine
The rapture doctrine says that the saints will be taken off to Heaven while the Eternal sends plagues on the earth. The idea of a rapture is said to have originated with a Spanish Catholic Jesuit named Ribera, in 1580 A.D. (See The Rapture of the Wicked, by Stephen E. Jones and The Rapture of the Saints, by Duncan McDougall.) During a time of much bloodshed in Europe as Catholics persecuted and killed their opponents, this doctrine said that Christ was going to come and secretly snatch away the Church before a great seven-year tribulation, when the "anti-Christ" would rule the world. This futurist interpretation of the book of Revelation, along with the future coming of the Antichrist, was designed to take the pressure off the Pope, who was universally regarded as being the antichrist by His opponents.
While Revelation does describe a great many future events, it is nevertheless true that antichrist, the spirit of antichrist, was already on the scene as early as the latter part of the First Century, A.D. See 1 John 4:1-3. In recent times, this future antichrist idea with a pre-tribulation rapture concept, has become a popular view among Protestant churches. The idea of going to a place of safety, whether on earth or in Heaven, is a concept held by many. What is the Bible truth?
Daniel 7 is clear that the saints shall undergo much tribulation and persecution, even right up to the time that they receive the Kingdom.
"I beheld, and the same horn (the little horn, verse 8) made war with the saints, and prevailed against them . . . . And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time [three and one-half times]" Daniel 7:21,25.
Verses 26-27 speak of the time when the little horn's kingdom shall be taken away and given to the saints.
Jesus' Olivet prophecy speaks of affliction and punishment befalling true Christians, Matthew 24:9-13, Luke 21:12-19. More on this later.
Rapture of the Wicked
The day of the LORD follows the tribulation (wrath of Satan), Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:9-12, 8:1. It is not a day when we will all be snatched up into heaven. It will be a time when God will shake both the heavens and the earth. He will separate the wheat and the chaff. Both will be shaken until only wheat remains. See Isaiah 13:9-13, Hebrews 12:26-28, Amos 5:18, Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43.
In Matthew 13:47-50, Jesus gives another parable of the good and bad fish caught in a net. Verse 49:
"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just."
Thus if there is to be any rapture at all, it must be a "rapture of the wicked" to the lake of fire.
Matthew 24:36-42 is a section used by rapturists to twist the Scriptures to mean the opposite of its true intent. Verses 40-41 are taken out of context to support the rapture, or being taken away to a place of safety. However, verses 36-39 speak of the wicked people in Noah's day who continued
"doing their own thing" and "knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be", verse 39.
Those who are "taken" in verses 40-41 do not appear to be raptured to a place of safety, but taken away to be slain. As we have seen,
"the righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth", Proverbs 10:30.
The wicked shall be reaped for punishment, Revelation 14:18-20. Jesus' prayer was NOT that His servants would be taken out of the world, but that they would be kept from the evil one, John 17:15, 20. No doubt the Savior wanted His followers to inherit the Kingdom of God on the earth, Psalms 115:16. Solomon knew this also:
"For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it . . . . Be not afraid of sudden fear neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken" Proverbs 2:21-22, 3:25-26.
The chaff will be blown away, Psalms 1:4.
The Supper of the Great God
Nearly all rapturists falsely teach that after the rapture the saints will attend the "marriage supper of the Lamb" in heaven for some years while the Great Tribulation rages on the earth. Revelation 19:7-9 describes the marriage supper. This is what Christ must have been referring to in Matthew 26:29, Luke 22:18 and Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 14:15-24. The Church makes herself ready and partakes of a supper with the Eternal. No passage shows that this marriage supper takes place in Heaven. Instead, it will take place when His Kingdom has been established on this earth.
There is another supper. As a result of the Eternal's war, many are slain in the winepress of His wrath. The fowls--scavenger birds such as vultures, are called together to "the supper of the great God" and they are bidden to eat the dead flesh of those slain by the conquering Messiah, Revelation 19:10-21. Ezekiel 39:17-20 speaks of a similar event.
Truly, the wicked shall be slain, cut off from the earth, "raptured" if you will, to be slain. I don't want any part of this "rapture."
A Two-Fold Coming?
Rapturists believe that Christ will first come FOR His saints, taking them in rapture to Heaven, and then later come WITH His saints back to earth. Thus, they believe there is a two-fold coming.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says nothing about Christ taking the saints to Heaven. The saints meet Christ who is on His way to the earth.
Jude 14-15 is sometimes used to support the claim that Christ will come WITH His saints. Enoch prophesied saying,
"Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, To execute judgment upon all . . . ." .
The word for "saints" is the Greek hagios meaning "holy ones", and is used to refer to God's Holy Spirit or to true believers, as well as holy angels (Matthew 25:31, etc.). From the context, it appears that Jude 14-15 is referring to the angels who come with the returning Christ and fight along with Him in the great final battle of Armageddon, Revelation 19:14, 2 Thessalonians 1:7
Another passage used by rapturists is 1 Thessalonians 4:14,
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."
Supposedly this verse teaches that before Christ returns, the righteous dead are taken to Heaven and now they are returning from Heaven. No, this is not the correct meaning! Paul knew that the dead are asleep, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14. So did Christ, John 5:28. The righteous dead do not go to Heaven at death, they remain "asleep" in their graves, until the coming of the Lord!
A Thief in the Night
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 is another often misunderstood passage:
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief."
Verse 2 says that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. But verse 4 says that we should not be in darkness so that day overtakes us as a thief. Will Christ return, rapture away His true believers, with the rest of mankind unaware of what happened?
Not at all! A "thief in the night" in the original Greek refers to a bandit leader and his gang who would swoop down on an unprotected village in the middle of the night, throw everyone out of bed, take everything of value and kill anyone who resisted him. Certainly not the burglar type of thief who does everything in quiet secrecy.
There will be a lot of noise and destruction when the Eternal returns, Joel 1:15, 2:1-2, 2 Peter 3:10. The whole earth shall see Him returning, Matthew 24:30. Don't believe in a secret coming, Matthew 24:26. He will come unexpectedly, as a thief, Revelation 3:3, 16:15, but in full view of all. Let us be ready, Matthew 24:42-51.
The Harpazo of the Saints
The word rapture comes from the Latin word raptus meaning to snatch or seize. A similar Greek word is harpazo, meaning to seize, catch away or up, pluck, pull, take by force (Strong's #726). This Greek word is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, "caught up together with them in the clouds." Does this refer to going to the third Heaven where God's throne is? 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4 and Revelation 12:5 do use harpazo to refer to being caught up to God's Heaven. But Acts 8:39 (the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip) and Jude 23 ("pulling them out of the fire") refer to merely taking from one place to another. God took Enoch (Genesis 5:24) to another place. In the same way He will take us up to meet Christ. When you go to meet someone returning to you, you don't go back with them to their home, but come back together, to your abode. At a moment when we are about to perish, the merciful Eternal will pluck us up to meet Him, as He is returning to defeat our enemies. Praise be to Him for that day!
Written by: Richard Nickels
(The late BSA President)
Is heaven the reward of the saved?
I'm not going to Heaven when I die. No one has so far, and the Scriptures are plain that the earth, not Heaven, is the abode of the saved. Notice Matthew 5:5,
"the meek shall inherit the earth";
Psalms 115:16,
"the heavens are the LORD'S, but the earth He has given to men";
John 3:13,
"no man hath ascended up to Heaven";
and Acts 2:34,
"David is not ascended into the heavens."
I Go to Prepare a Place for You
Jesus said that where He was going (Heaven), the disciples could not come,
"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." (John 13:33, KJV)
Did Jesus contradict Himself a few verses later in 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] ye may be also."
Of course not! Yet many have used these verses to support the "going to Heaven" idea. Jesus went to Heaven to prepare an office, a position of rulership, for us, as verse 2 can more appropriately be translated. Where He was going, the disciples could not come, John 13:33. He would come again, receive His true followers, and where He would be, they would be there also, John 14:3. He would never leave His disciples, Hebrews 13:5. After He ascended to His Father in Heaven, He would not leave them comfortless; He would come to them, John 14:18, in the form of the Holy Spirit, verses 16-17. This Holy Spirit is the mind of Christ, Philippians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Romans 8:9, NOT the "third person" of a "trinity." God is a Family, not a trinity. The Family of God is composed of those having the Holy Spirit: God the Father, the Son, and the sons of God (1 John 3:1-2), men and women who have the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:13.
John 14 tells us that Jesus would come to His disciples in the form of the Holy Spirit and be with them. Then, in the future, Jesus Christ will return with power to this earth and rule all nations with His saints for 1,000 years--the Millennial Kingdom of God.
In Acts 1:1-12 we are given the account of Jesus ascending to Heaven from the Mount of Olives. The angel told the disciples, verse 11, that Jesus would return in the same manner as they saw Him leaving, in a cloud, verse 9. Jesus would come back from Heaven in a cloud to the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14 graphically displays Jesus' return, verses 4-9. The LORD-- Jesus Christ--will stand on the Mount of Olives, which will split in two in a giant earthquake, verse 4. The saints will be with Him, verse 5. The earth shall be healed, verse 8. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth, verse 9. Nations shall beat their swords into plowshares, Isaiah 2:2-4, and all nations shall be taught God's ways, Isaiah 2:3 and Habakkuk 2:14. Those that do not keep the Holy Days such as the Feast of Tabernacles will receive plagues from God, Zechariah 14:16-19, Isaiah 60:12.
Where He--the Messiah--is, there will we be also, John 14:3. He will be ruling the earth with His saints! The Lord shall descend from Heaven, and the saints, those alive at the time and changed to spirit beings along with those resurrected from the dead to life immortal, will rise in the clouds to meet Jesus in the air and thereafter be with Him forever. We know from Zechariah 14:4, that Christ shall stand on the Mount of Olives. The angel in Acts 1:11 said Jesus would return in the same way He ascended. He must complete the reverse trip. The saints will meet Him returning to the earth in the clouds, come back to the earth with Him, and rule with Christ a thousand years, Revelation 5:10, 2:26-27, 20:4-5.
During the 1,000 years, the earth will become a paradise due to the powerful righteous rule of Christ and the saints, as described in Isaiah 11. Most of mankind will be converted at that time. The great devastations wrought on the earth by the beast and God's Seven Last Plagues described in Revelation, will not exterminate all the earth's people. Isaiah 24 is clear to this fact. In her book, The Great Controversy, Ellen G. White is dishonest with Isaiah 24:6 when she quotes all but the last words: "and few men left." Yes, there will be left a remnant, like the gleaning of grapes, verse 13. The LORD of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion in Jerusalem, verse 23. And the inhabitants of the world will then learn righteousness, Isaiah 26:9.
Man does not have an immortal soul. Souls can die, Ezekiel 18:20. In the day of a man's death, his thoughts perish, Psalms 146:4. That is why the New Testament frequently speaks of death as sleep, e.g., 1 Corinthians 15:51. Verse 52 shows that the dead in Christ won't go to Heaven when they die--they will be resurrected to eternal life when He returns.
Enoch and Elijah
What about Enoch and Elijah, those righteous men of the Old Testament? When they died, didn't they go to the Heaven where God is? No, they did not. John 3:13 means what it says. God's Word never contradicts itself. Genesis 5:21-24 tells about Enoch, who walked with God "and he was not; for God took him." It does not say God took Enoch to Heaven. Hebrews 11:5 says that God translated Enoch so that he should not see death. We know from Jude 14-15 that Enoch preached powerful sermons in a wicked and perverse time just before the Flood. Did Enoch not die? Was he taken directly to Heaven? No, because Hebrews 11:13, in referring to Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Sarah, says that "these all died in faith, not having received the promises." They all died and must await their reward at the resurrection when Christ returns. The word "translated" in the Greek means "moved to another place." The same Greek word for "translated" here is used in Acts 7:16 as "carried over", referring to transferring Jacob's dead body to Sychem. Because Enoch's preaching was gaining opposition and he was likely to be killed in that age of violence, Genesis 6:11, God took him, and he was not to be found, Genesis 5:24. The Almighty took Enoch bodily to another place, exactly as described in Acts 7:16.
2 Kings 2:11 describes a fiery chariot which came and took Elijah in a whirlwind into heaven. Some suppose that this is the "heaven" where God's throne is located. Actually, the Bible speaks of three heavens, 2 Corinthians 12:2. The first heaven is where the atmosphere and clouds are, from whence the rain comes, e.g., Genesis 7:11. The second heaven is outer space, home of the planets and stars, e.g., Psalms 8:3. And the third Heaven is where God's throne is located, e.g., Psalms 11:4. A whirlwind took Elijah into heaven, according to God's direction. Obviously it was the first heaven, for only in the atmosphere can a whirlwind be operative. God took Elijah to another place to live out his days, his office being transferred to Elisha, 2 Kings 2:12-15. Notice that the sons of the Prophets knew that God was going to take Elijah from them, verses 1, 3, 5. After he was taken away, they sent a search party of 50 men, but in 3 days could not find him, verses 16-17. They knew nothing about Elijah going to the third Heaven!
Elijah was taken into heaven during the reign of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah. Yet years later, a letter from Elijah came to Jehoshaphat's evil son, King Jehoram, warning him of a horrible death because he had not walked in the ways of his father Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 21:12-15. Compare 2 Kings 3:1, 1 Kings 22:42, and 2 Kings 8:16 and it is inescapable: God used Elijah one more time before he died. This has puzzled Bible commentators like Adam Clarke. But the truth is simple--if we can receive it! God took Elijah to another place on the earth. No man has ascended into the Heaven where God's throne is.
Heaven is Coming to This Earth
The truth of the matter is, after the Millennium, God the Father and the Heavenly Jerusalem, the New Jerusalem, will descend out of Heaven, and come to dwell permanently on this earth, Revelation 21:1-5. There we will occupy the place Jesus has been preparing for us. We will then dwell with the Father and the Son forever in the new earth. I'm not going to Heaven! Heaven is coming here--to this earth. During the 1,000 years, I will--if I overcome with the Spirit's help--aide in the rebuilding of the waste places, Isaiah 58:12, 61:4, and educate and train others to follow God's ways, Isaiah 61:6. After that, the New Heavens and New Earth will be a crowning glory, Revelation 22:1-5.
Three Heavens
That there are three heavens is clearly shown in The New Englishman's Greek Concordance & Lexicon under the word #3772 ouranos. This word is defined in this lexicon as:
the sky, Matthew 6:26; Luke 4:25;
region beyond the atmosphere, Revelation 6:13;
with earth as creation's sum, Matthew 5:18;
as the abode of God, Matthew 3:17; and of the resurrected Christian, 1 Peter 1:4.
The last phrase above is not true. 1 Peter 1:4 does not say that resurrected Christians will go to Heaven. It says that our inheritance is preserved (kept undefiled) in Heaven for us. Jesus Christ will bring our reward back from Heaven with Him when He returns, Revelation 22:12, 11:18, Colossians 3:24. Notice that 1 Peter 1:4 does NOT say our inheritance is Heaven, but says our inheritance is reserved in Heaven. Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 18:22, Luke 12:33-34 show that we should lay up treasures in Heaven, so that Jesus can bring our reward back to give to us at His return. Truly, if we endure persecution here and now, our reward is great in Heaven, Luke 6:23. God is keeping an account of all our deeds. We should rejoice because our names are written in Heaven, Luke 10:20.
The Kingdom Of Heaven
The Gospel of Matthew frequently mentions the "Kingdom of Heaven", Matthew 5:3, 10,19, etc. Is this kingdom in Heaven? "Of" means "proceeding forth" or "from". Yes, the rule of the Heavenly Father and His Son, our Savior, will someday come to this earth, as it is now in Heaven, as is stated so clearly in the so-called Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:9-10. By following this outline prayer, we are asking God's Kingdom to come to this earth! Far from showing a kingdom in Heaven, Matthew's Gospel shows God's kingdom on this earth. Luke uses a different term, "Kingdom of God", Luke 19:11, etc., which means the same as "Kingdom of Heaven." It is a kingdom ruled by the Almighty and His saints.
Luke 19:11-27 records the Parable of the Pounds, while Matthew 25:14-30 records the similar Parable of the Talents. The same message is in both accounts: Jesus went to Heaven, leaving gifts to us. He expects us to use them and produce results. When He returns with His kingdom, He will reckon with His servants, and reward or punish depending upon our growth with what He has given us. Nothing is even hinted that the saints will go to the "far country" (Heaven) with Jesus. Instead, He returns where they are and rewards the productive with rulership over cities.
Daniel 7 speaks of this same subject. Messiah is crowned King and given dominion, Daniel 7:13-14. The Kingdom and dominion under the whole Heaven shall then be given to the saints, who of course, shall be subject to the one who gave them the Kingdom, Daniel 7:27, 18, 22. "Under Heaven" means "on the earth." Daniel does not say that the saints will go up to Heaven.
In the days of the ten toes (ten earthly kings co-existent at the end time), the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed nor left to another people. It will crush all human kingdoms and bring them to an end. But the Almighty's Kingdom shall stand forever, Daniel 2:44, Revelation 17:12-14. No, the Millennium will not be spent in Heaven. The earth will not be left desolate for 1,000 years. Jesus Christ, the stone which the builders rejected (Matthew 21:42), shall smite the wicked kingdoms of men and set up a great Kingdom that will fill the whole earth, Daniel 2:35. (Note: "mountain" in Biblical symbolism represents a kingdom or government.) The saints will rule with Christ over nations on this earth, Revelation 2:26, 5:10, 20:4.
As Nebuchadnezzar led the Babylonian "golden kingdom", and was followed by the Medo-Persian "silver kingdom", the Greek "brass kingdom", and the Roman "iron kingdom", so will the Messiah institute the "Stone Kingdom". He is the Rock, 1 Corinthians 10:4.
Kings and Priests
The saints shall, as we have seen, rule with Christ as Kings and Priests for a thousand years on the earth, Revelation 5:10. It is inspiring how the Old Testament prophecies confirm and expand upon this.
"But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves", Isaiah 61:6.
The saints will be respected by those who are learning the ways of the Eternal, Isaiah 60:14. The righteous will inherit the land forever, Isaiah 60:21.
Psalms 37 might be termed the "inheritance Psalm," because it repeats over and over the theme: the wicked may prosper for the time being, but the time is coming that the righteous shall inherit the earth, Psalms 37:9, 11, 18, 22, 28, 29, 34 (see also Matthew 5:5).
Notice the loving statement of Jesus to His faithful in Matthew 25:34,
"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world"
and Revelation 21:2,
"And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
Our position in the Kingdom and New Jerusalem is what Jesus said He was preparing for us in John 14.
How is it that we can inherit the earth? We certainly didn't earn this position and reward. Who made it possible for us to inherit the land? Galatians 3 says,
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ . . . . And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise", verses 26-27,29. .
The faithfulness of Abraham resulted in the promise that he would be "heir of the world", Romans 4:13. Yes, Abraham, father of the faithful, verse 16, was NOT promised Heaven, but the world! Neither Abraham nor any of the faithful men and women of old have yet received these promises, Hebrews 11:13. The promise the Eternal made to Abraham and the faithful was eternal life--on this earth. The promise was repeated to those faithful few who followed Abraham's example of faithful obedience, Genesis 26:2-5. Since Abraham and the faithful ones in the past have died without inheriting the land God promised them (Acts 7:2-5), he and the saints will have to be resurrected to eternal life to inherit the land forever (Genesis 13:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:50-53). Yes, Abraham looked forward to the eternal city on this earth, Hebrews 11:8-10. At the return of Jesus, Abraham and all the saints who are co-heirs with him will inherit the Kingdom, Matthew 25:34; Daniel 7:18, 22, 27
The Messiah came to confirm the promises made to the fathers, to extend the promised blessings to the Gentiles and all who become children of Abraham, Romans 15:8-12. Satan was the ruler of this world, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Matthew 4:8-10, but Christ overcame Satan and qualified to replace him as ruler of this world, Matthew 28:18, Daniel 7:13-14, Luke 1:31-33, John 3:35. Messiah will come back to take over His kingdom with the saints, who will be given positions of co-rulership with Him. He will, as the angel promised, sit on the throne of His father David, Luke 1:30-33.
Come On Down!
Isaiah prayed that the Eternal would rend the heavens and come down, causing the mountains to flow down (quake) at His presence, Isaiah 64:1-3. Nations will tremble at His presence, verse 2.
That is what we pray for as well. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in Heaven", Matthew 6:10. God's Kingdom is in Heaven. His will is done there. We pray that it will come to this earth as well, if we earnestly pray the "Lord's Prayer."
His presence on this earth will be a day of reckoning, Jude 24, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Revelation 14:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Isaiah 2:10-22, Zephaniah 1:7-18. Notice how the theme of Zephaniah is that the wicked shall be cut off in the Day of the LORD, but a remnant who trust in His name shall be left. Yes, there will be a few men left! See also Nahum 1:5, Ezekiel 38:19- 23, Jeremiah 4:26-27 (notice that not all men will perish, though the cities will be forsaken, verse 29, the residue can't escape the Eternal), Psalms 114:7, 97:1-5, 68:2, 8. Yes, at His presence, the earth shall tremble, Revelation 16:17-20. Are we ready for that great event? Can anyone say that Christ is present on the earth if He is floating in the upper atmosphere? No! He will be present and accounted for at that time.
"I Shall Return"
General Douglas MacArthur was one of the great United States military leaders during World War II. He and the American troops were forced off the Philippines by the Japanese. But MacArthur courageously promised: "I shall return." And he did! He waded ashore with liberating Allied troops and the Filipinos went wild with joy. MacArthur kept his promise!
Jesus Christ said that no man hath ascended up to Heaven except He himself, John 3:13. He said that He would come again, John 14:3. Jesus described Himself in the parable of the pounds (Luke 19:11-27) as the nobleman who went into a far country (Heaven) to receive for Himself a kingdom, and to return (Luke 19:12). We are to occupy (produce results) till He comes, verse 13. When He returns, He is going to give rewards and punishments to His servants (verses 15, etc.). He will do this when He sits on His throne, Matthew 25:31-46. Where will His throne be? In the clouds above the earth? NO! His throne will be at Jerusalem, Jeremiah 3:17. Jesus said He would return, not offshore or at a distance, but to this earth. This should be our prayer, Isaiah 63:17 and 64:1-2.
The Rapture Doctrine
The rapture doctrine says that the saints will be taken off to Heaven while the Eternal sends plagues on the earth. The idea of a rapture is said to have originated with a Spanish Catholic Jesuit named Ribera, in 1580 A.D. (See The Rapture of the Wicked, by Stephen E. Jones and The Rapture of the Saints, by Duncan McDougall.) During a time of much bloodshed in Europe as Catholics persecuted and killed their opponents, this doctrine said that Christ was going to come and secretly snatch away the Church before a great seven-year tribulation, when the "anti-Christ" would rule the world. This futurist interpretation of the book of Revelation, along with the future coming of the Antichrist, was designed to take the pressure off the Pope, who was universally regarded as being the antichrist by His opponents.
While Revelation does describe a great many future events, it is nevertheless true that antichrist, the spirit of antichrist, was already on the scene as early as the latter part of the First Century, A.D. See 1 John 4:1-3. In recent times, this future antichrist idea with a pre-tribulation rapture concept, has become a popular view among Protestant churches. The idea of going to a place of safety, whether on earth or in Heaven, is a concept held by many. What is the Bible truth?
Daniel 7 is clear that the saints shall undergo much tribulation and persecution, even right up to the time that they receive the Kingdom.
"I beheld, and the same horn (the little horn, verse 8) made war with the saints, and prevailed against them . . . . And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time [three and one-half times]" Daniel 7:21,25.
Verses 26-27 speak of the time when the little horn's kingdom shall be taken away and given to the saints.
Jesus' Olivet prophecy speaks of affliction and punishment befalling true Christians, Matthew 24:9-13, Luke 21:12-19. More on this later.
Rapture of the Wicked
The day of the LORD follows the tribulation (wrath of Satan), Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:9-12, 8:1. It is not a day when we will all be snatched up into heaven. It will be a time when God will shake both the heavens and the earth. He will separate the wheat and the chaff. Both will be shaken until only wheat remains. See Isaiah 13:9-13, Hebrews 12:26-28, Amos 5:18, Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43.
In Matthew 13:47-50, Jesus gives another parable of the good and bad fish caught in a net. Verse 49:
"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just."
Thus if there is to be any rapture at all, it must be a "rapture of the wicked" to the lake of fire.
Matthew 24:36-42 is a section used by rapturists to twist the Scriptures to mean the opposite of its true intent. Verses 40-41 are taken out of context to support the rapture, or being taken away to a place of safety. However, verses 36-39 speak of the wicked people in Noah's day who continued
"doing their own thing" and "knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be", verse 39.
Those who are "taken" in verses 40-41 do not appear to be raptured to a place of safety, but taken away to be slain. As we have seen,
"the righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth", Proverbs 10:30.
The wicked shall be reaped for punishment, Revelation 14:18-20. Jesus' prayer was NOT that His servants would be taken out of the world, but that they would be kept from the evil one, John 17:15, 20. No doubt the Savior wanted His followers to inherit the Kingdom of God on the earth, Psalms 115:16. Solomon knew this also:
"For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it . . . . Be not afraid of sudden fear neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken" Proverbs 2:21-22, 3:25-26.
The chaff will be blown away, Psalms 1:4.
The Supper of the Great God
Nearly all rapturists falsely teach that after the rapture the saints will attend the "marriage supper of the Lamb" in heaven for some years while the Great Tribulation rages on the earth. Revelation 19:7-9 describes the marriage supper. This is what Christ must have been referring to in Matthew 26:29, Luke 22:18 and Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 14:15-24. The Church makes herself ready and partakes of a supper with the Eternal. No passage shows that this marriage supper takes place in Heaven. Instead, it will take place when His Kingdom has been established on this earth.
There is another supper. As a result of the Eternal's war, many are slain in the winepress of His wrath. The fowls--scavenger birds such as vultures, are called together to "the supper of the great God" and they are bidden to eat the dead flesh of those slain by the conquering Messiah, Revelation 19:10-21. Ezekiel 39:17-20 speaks of a similar event.
Truly, the wicked shall be slain, cut off from the earth, "raptured" if you will, to be slain. I don't want any part of this "rapture."
A Two-Fold Coming?
Rapturists believe that Christ will first come FOR His saints, taking them in rapture to Heaven, and then later come WITH His saints back to earth. Thus, they believe there is a two-fold coming.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says nothing about Christ taking the saints to Heaven. The saints meet Christ who is on His way to the earth.
Jude 14-15 is sometimes used to support the claim that Christ will come WITH His saints. Enoch prophesied saying,
"Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, To execute judgment upon all . . . ." .
The word for "saints" is the Greek hagios meaning "holy ones", and is used to refer to God's Holy Spirit or to true believers, as well as holy angels (Matthew 25:31, etc.). From the context, it appears that Jude 14-15 is referring to the angels who come with the returning Christ and fight along with Him in the great final battle of Armageddon, Revelation 19:14, 2 Thessalonians 1:7
Another passage used by rapturists is 1 Thessalonians 4:14,
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."
Supposedly this verse teaches that before Christ returns, the righteous dead are taken to Heaven and now they are returning from Heaven. No, this is not the correct meaning! Paul knew that the dead are asleep, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14. So did Christ, John 5:28. The righteous dead do not go to Heaven at death, they remain "asleep" in their graves, until the coming of the Lord!
A Thief in the Night
1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 is another often misunderstood passage:
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief."
Verse 2 says that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. But verse 4 says that we should not be in darkness so that day overtakes us as a thief. Will Christ return, rapture away His true believers, with the rest of mankind unaware of what happened?
Not at all! A "thief in the night" in the original Greek refers to a bandit leader and his gang who would swoop down on an unprotected village in the middle of the night, throw everyone out of bed, take everything of value and kill anyone who resisted him. Certainly not the burglar type of thief who does everything in quiet secrecy.
There will be a lot of noise and destruction when the Eternal returns, Joel 1:15, 2:1-2, 2 Peter 3:10. The whole earth shall see Him returning, Matthew 24:30. Don't believe in a secret coming, Matthew 24:26. He will come unexpectedly, as a thief, Revelation 3:3, 16:15, but in full view of all. Let us be ready, Matthew 24:42-51.
The Harpazo of the Saints
The word rapture comes from the Latin word raptus meaning to snatch or seize. A similar Greek word is harpazo, meaning to seize, catch away or up, pluck, pull, take by force (Strong's #726). This Greek word is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, "caught up together with them in the clouds." Does this refer to going to the third Heaven where God's throne is? 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4 and Revelation 12:5 do use harpazo to refer to being caught up to God's Heaven. But Acts 8:39 (the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip) and Jude 23 ("pulling them out of the fire") refer to merely taking from one place to another. God took Enoch (Genesis 5:24) to another place. In the same way He will take us up to meet Christ. When you go to meet someone returning to you, you don't go back with them to their home, but come back together, to your abode. At a moment when we are about to perish, the merciful Eternal will pluck us up to meet Him, as He is returning to defeat our enemies. Praise be to Him for that day!
Written by: Richard Nickels
(The late BSA President)
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