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WHO WILL GO TO HEAVEN?How about Adam? Was he ever given the hope of heaven? Not that we can find. When plans for his making were laid out in Gen. 1:26-31 he is to have dominion on the earth and over things of the earth. He lost it. He will regain it some day. He is dead now. How about Enoch? Did he go to heaven? Not according to John 3:13 . As late as about A.D. 64 no one had gone to heaven except the Lord Himself. How about Elijah? John 3:13 answers that question too. Furthermore, Elijah wrote a letter to the king of Judah after a tornado took him from the kingdom of Israel, leaving Elisha in his place. II Chr. 21:12. How about Abraham? He is dead, but counted with God as though living. When the Lord was speaking of resurrection to the Sadducee's, He reminded them that God had said, I AM the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living (in resurrection), Mat. 22:32 . Furthermore, Abraham was promised a land, not a part in heaven. And all who are children of Abraham, by faith or descent, have no part in heaven, but in the promises to Abraham. How about David? In Acts 2:29 Peter makes it emphatic that David is dead and buried. In verse 34 he says that David is not ascended into the heavens, nor does he have any such prospect. At that time it was the sole prerogative of Christ to ascend into heaven. No other had such right or hope. How about the dying malefactor? He asked for a part in the kingdom which is to be on the earth. He was denied that, but promised a part in paradise, a future home on the earth after the kingdom is over. How about John the Baptizer? He was numbered with the prophets who spoke of the kingdom, the millennial reign of Christ here on the earth. He knew nothing of anyone going to heaven. No such hope then. How about the 12 apostles? Their gospel was that of the kingdom here on the earth with the King sitting on the throne of His father, David. Furthermore, in the new earth, their names will be written in the foundations of the walls of the New Jerusalem which will be on the earth, not in heaven. See Re 21. When the King comes to set up this kingdom of His, the 12 will be among those in the former resurrection. 1 Co 15 and 1Th 4. How about Paul? Up till the end of Acts Paul had no other hope than that of the 12. He preached the kingdom the same as they. He too looked for the Kingdom. He too looked for the King. Then who do go to heaven? Those who have heard of the dispensation of the mystery, which had been hid in God from ages and generations till revealed after Acts 28:28 by the apostle Paul, and believe it. For faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Those who hear and believe the revealed secret are blest with every blessing that is spiritual in heavenly places. Their citizenship is there. And there they will some day be raised and glorified with the Head of the church when He is manifested to heavenly beings and also to His church. Search the Scripture and see.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God... 2 Timothy 2:15
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