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What scriptures teach or show specifically that heaven, God's dwelling, is the final destination for the faithful in Christ?

Are the faithful in Christ not already blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ?

 Ephesians 1:3.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Christ has all power in these heavenly places.

 Epesians 1:19.  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
 20.  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
 21.  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

A world to come is refered to here where Christ also has all power. Yet we claim heaven as that which is final. Is this world to come after Paul's writing this epistle something before the final heaven? Then again I ask where is the scripture that shows heaven as the final destination for the faithful?

The faithful in Christ have been raised up together and sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

 Ephesians 2:6.  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
 7.  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.


Just asking some questions here on "going to heaven". It is a belief held by Christians, but yet it is hard to discern such from the Bible. What I have just quoted above seems to say Christians are already in heavenly places with Christ.
 We will ever be with the Lord when we meet Him in the sky, but does it say He will take us back to God's dwelling place? What of the references of the "world to come", "the new earth, new heaven" and "new Jerusalem"? What of Paul's reference that we seek a "city to come"?

 Hebrews 13:14. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

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.

This city comes down from God out of heaven.
What is it coming down to?


None of this is binding on anyone. I am just trying to understand and know the reasons for the concept of "going to heaven".

Ollie

Oklahoma Howdy to Ollie,

I'd like to make some general comments that I'm sure you will be able to identify with quickly.

First, absent from the body, present with the Lord.

Ollie, we live in a world full of evil. Every day in this world is a struggle for Christians. We walk here in a human body made of clay with illness, suffering, strife, and grief. All of these things are gone in Heaven, including the old earthly body we once used. Christians will be given a glorified body at HIS appointed time.

There will also be a new Heaven and a new earth at God's appointed time. In Heaven, there are no more tears, sadness, pain, suffering, and struggle for God's Children. THIS earth is not our home, nor is it our identity. Our life in this human body is only temporary. ETERNITY is in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

I'm sure that you easily recognize many portions of Scripture that will support what I just said. If you want me to list them, just holler.

Love in Christ,
Tom

I think the clearest verse is from the Gospel of John.

Joh 14:2  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.
Joh 14:3  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.


Grace and Peace!

Absolutely. Within Heaven we have the Heavenly City, New Jerusalem, and within this city we have the true Eden -- the Garden or Paradise of God, with the Tree of Life as well as the "mansions" described above. Every saint also has an eternal inhertiance reserved in Heaven.  Thus Heaven is the home of the saints from Abel to the Second Coming of Christ.

Bu there will also be a Millenium on this earth, when Christ is truly King of kings and Lord of lords.  Beyond the Millenium will be the New Heavens and the New Earth, which will be a righteous earth -- "wherein dwelleth righteousnesss" -- again under Christ.

Thus the earth will be peopled with those who love and obey the Lord, while Heaven continues to exercise authority over the earth for all eternity. That is when the saying will be fulfilled -- "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven". All the unrighteous will be eternally confined to "outer darkness" where the Lake of Fire is situated.

When the Heavenly City comes "down" from Heaven, it hovers over the earth. The light of the glory of God the Father and of the Lamb become the light of this earth, since there is no more sun or moon. There is communication between earth and the Heavenly City, but the inhabitants are not the same. The inhabitants of Heaven are revealed in Hebrews 12:22-24. The inhabitants of the future redeemeed earth are revealed in the Psalms and other portions of Scripture.

While we accept all these truths literally by faith, we who are mortal have ABSOLUTELY NO CONCEPT of what it is really going to be like. As Scripture says, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him"  (1 Cor. 2:9).

Oklahoma Howdy to Sower and 2nd Timothy,

Thanks Brothers!

We can only imagine what that place of peace and beauty will be like. I enjoy thinking about it more and more. I'm looking forward to THE LIGHT.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Thank you for your thoughts and replies. They are very much appreciated.

Ollie

SEATED IN HEAVEN




God sees every believer in Christ as already in heaven. See what the Bible says about this:

"BUT GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, FOR HIS GREAT LOVE WHEREWITH HE LOVED US,

"EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SINS, HATH QUICKENED US TOGETHER WITH CHRIST (BY GRACE YE ARE SAVED),"

AND HATH RAISED US UP TOGETHER AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS:

"THAT IN THE AGES TO COME HE MIGHT SHOW THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS" (Eph. 2:4-7).

Most sincere believers, poorly taught in the Word, are concerned about getting to heaven, but as far as God is concerned they are already there. They have been "made accept-ed in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:6). God has given them a position "in Christ."

We are well aware that most of God’s people know little about this experientially, but God says that as far as He is concerned, they are already in heaven, and this is what matters. As Christ took our place on Calvary’s cross, God now sees us in Christ, at His own right hand, the place of favor and honor. This is why the Apostle Paul says to believers in Christ:

"IF YE THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST SITTETH ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.

"SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH.

"FOR YE ARE DEAD, AND YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD" (Col. 3:1-3).

And all this by the free grace of God:

"WHO HATH SAVED US, AND CALLED US WITH AN HOLY CALLING, NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE, WHICH WAS GIVEN US IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN" (II Tim. 1:9).

Our hearts go out to those of our readers who have not yet received this "gift of the grace of God." "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

C.R.STAM

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Important indeed.  But not to be misunderstood with the aspect of litterally going to heaven.

1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

While I find much joy serving the Lord on planet earth, I want so much to go home and be with him.

Grace and Peace!