[no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven]

Actually, the following is taken from a post I just entered under another topic as part of a response to that topic, but since it is applicable to this topic as well, I will go ahead and post portions of it here also:

There are many in mainstream Christianity have adopted the pagan belief that a soul is immortal.  Plato also embellished on this unbiblical idea.  This is what many churches ignorantly teach out of tradition.

However, scripture teaches that man is MORTAL, not immortal.  I Timothy 6:16 clearly states that ONLY GOD has immortality.  Anything he created, he can destroy (Matthew 10:28).  He GAVE Jesus Christ immortality when he raised him to life from the grave, just like he will give all believers immortality when Christ returns (I Corinthians 15:51-54; I Thessalonians 4:16-17).  Satan will be destroyed because he is not immortal (Ezekiel 28:18-19; Isaiah 14:15-16)

Also, the Bible clearly tells us that no one is heaven right now because all "sleep":

"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven" (John 3:13)

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten (Ecclesiastes 9:5)

His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish (Psalm 146:4)

The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence (Psalm 115:17) 

For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? (Psalm 6: 5)

"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day" (Acts 2:29). "For David is not ascended into the heavens..." (Acts 2:34)

The dead have no knowledge of the passage of time. 

No one is in a fiery place some call "hell" right now either.  All sleep.

Understanding what scripture teaches about the first "death" ("…It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Hebrews 9:27), helps us to understand the significance of the resurrection.  I Corinthians 15 tells us that Jesus Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection and then those at His coming.  Revelation 20:4-5 tells us that believers will be of the first resurrection at Christ's coming, then there will be a resurrection of the "rest of the dead" at the end of the millennium.  Until one's resurrection (whichever one is in), he sleeps and is not aware of anything.  It will be as if we died, then immediately were made alive again.

Also, there is not one shred of evidence in scripture that gives any indication of ANYONE serving God in heaven right now, other than the holy angels and Jesus Christ.  In fact, scripture says that we will reign with Christ ON EARTH.  That is the newly glorified saint's first assignment...to rule and reign with Christ on earth.  There are no PRIOR assignments ever mentioned in all of scripture. 

NO MAN shall receive the promise UNTIL Christ returns:  "These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise"! (Heb. 11:40).

"NO MAN HAS ASCENDED TO HEAVEN but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." (John 3:13)

So, scripture does not teach that unbelievers "go to hell" at death, or that believers "go to heaven" at death. 

Scripture does not teach that anyone "goes to hell".  Scripture DOES teach that the unbelieving are destroyed one day in the lake of fire, along with death itself (I Corinthians 15:25-26; Revelation 20:14-15; Malachi 4:1-4; Ezekiel 28:18-19)

The options of mankind are not eternal life in heaven or eternal life in hell, but rather, as scripture teaches, ETERNAL LIFE or DEATH.

Eternal life is a GIFT for those who believe, not a "given" for all that come into existence after an egg and sperm unite.  "For the wages of sin is DEATH (not live torture into the eons), but the GIFT OF GOD is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Also, John 3:16 clearly delineates man's options, which are: a)to perish (die, cease to exist) or b)to have eternal life: 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not PERISH, but have EVERLASTING LIFE. 

The God I believe and trust and have faith in is not a sadist.  Scripture makes it very clear that He is not willing that ANY should perish, but anyone who does reject Him will perish (die), and are put out of existence forever. 

It is confusing to some to reconcile the words "everlasting punishment" with total abolishment of life (DEATH).  This simply means that the punishment of death can never be undone.  The EFFECTS of death are forever.  So, it is not endless punish-ING, but rather a punish-MENT, the EFFECTS of which will be everlasting.

In case I am unable to return to this discussion board any time soon, I would like to so ahead and share what scripture is clear about regarding the “end things”.

Revelation basically sums up what the prophets foretold would occur and what Jesus Christ Himself told us about the end of the ages, along with some of the other writers of the New Testament bringing light to a seemingly mysterious topic…the end of the ages.

There are several aspects of scripture that tie in together.  Without understanding them individually, the bigger picture will never be understood.

God's seven Holy Days (found in Leviticus 23) foreshadow His plan of salvation for mankind.  Four of the events that the Holy Days foreshadow have not yet occurred.  They are, briefly: a)the return of Christ/ harvest of the firstfruits (Feast of Trumpets), b)the binding of Satan for 1000 years (the Day of Atonement), c)the millennial reign of Christ (the Feast of Tabernacles), and d)the greatest harvest/opportunity of salvation (the Great Last Day).

Most Christians are so busy keeping Babylonian holy days (Christmas, Easter, etc) and minding the world’s system that they are completely unaware of God's Holy Days and the tremendous significance of them.  Understanding what they mean brings greater understanding to Revelation 20 and 21.

At the end of the millenium, Satan is loosed for a "season", the resurrection of the "rest of the dead" takes place, and the Great White Throne judgment period begins.  Scripture indicates that the "books" will be opened and also the "book of life".  Ezekiel tells us in chapter 37 that many dead will be raised to fleshly bodies, which ties in with Revelation 20:5 and Revelation 20:12. 

So, here we have millions of newly resurrected people, Satan being loosed for a "season", and the "books" opened and the "book of life" opened.  We are also told that it is Satan's primary goal to deceive people during this time.  Those he deceives he will gather together to make one final attempt to quell the saints.  These rejecters of the grace of God, whose names are NOT found in the book of life, are cast into the lake of fire.  We are told that many others (Ezekiel 37) will respond to the outpouring of God's Spirit will believe and be saved.

The parable of the sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46) is the Great White Throne judgement.  Works do not save.  It is only by God's grace that he declares a sinner "righteous" through the blood of Jesus Christ.  However, a person's deeds done with pure motives will be the test of genuine faith.  That is why the parable of the sheep and goats SEEMS to say people are judged by what they do, because, in a sense, it is what they do from a pure heart that demonstrates their inward faith.  Revelation 20:12-15 speaks of this also, people are judged "according to their works".  It is only the works of the genuine believer that will stand the tests of the judgment period.

Now remember, all those "in Christ" prior to Christ's return were in the "first resurrection" and will not be subject to any further scrutiny regarding their position of eternal life (Rev. 20:6).  These "firstfruits" will have already reigned with Christ in glorified bodies during the millenium.  After the millenium they will obviously continue to minister the gospel to the newly resurrected unbelievers until the end of the Great White Throne period.

At the end of the Great White Throne period, all who are not found written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire, along with Satan, and death and hell.  The "second death" is very final.  All unbelievers will PERISH (die, cease to live).  In fact, death will be no more and hell (the grave) will be no more.  (Revelation 20:14; I Corinthians 15:24-28)

There are many in mainstream Christianity have adopted the pagan belief that a soul is immortal.  Plato also embellished on this unbiblical idea.  This is what many churches ignorantly teach out of tradition.

However, scripture teaches that man is MORTAL, not immortal.  I Timothy 6:16 clearly states that ONLY GOD has immortality.  Anything he created, he can destroy (Matthew 10:28).  He GAVE Jesus Christ immortality when he raised him to life from the grave, just like he will give all believers immortality when Christ returns (I Corinthians 15:51-54; I Thessalonians 4:16-17).  Satan will be destroyed because he is not immortal (Ezekiel 28:18-19; Isaiah 14:15-16) So, basically, all that goes into the lake of fire is destroyed (Malachi 4:1-4)

Eternal life is a GIFT for those who believe, not a "given" for all that come into existence after an egg and sperm unite.  "For the wages of sin is DEATH (not live torture into the eons), but the GIFT OF GOD is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Also, John 3:16 clearly delineates man's options, which are: a)to perish (die, cease to exist) or b)to have eternal life. 

The God I believe and trust and have faith in is not a sadist.  Scripture makes it very clear that He is not willing that ANY should perish, but if they do reject Him and die, they are put out of existence forever.  It is confusing to some to reconcile the words "everlasting punishment" with total abolishment of life (DEATH).  This simply means that the punishment of death can never be undone.  The EFFECTS of death are forever.  So, it is not endless punish-ING, but rather a punish-MENT, the EFFECTS of which will be everlasting.

So, by understanding the significance of God's Holy Days, one can then know that this is not the only age for salvation.  The resurrection of the "rest of the dead" will be the greatest harvest of God's people and will occur AFTER the millennium.  The Great White Throne judgment is a period and will last for a "season".  All who have ever lived will be given an opportunity to hear and believe. This is the most wonderful part of God's plan of salvation for mankind that most in mainstream Christianity never teach nor understand.

John 7:37-38 speaks of the Great Day of the Feast when Jesus Christ stood and cried, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."  This cross-references Revelation 21:6, "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."  Also, Ezekiel 37 tells us that many will be resurrected and God will put His Spirit in them.  These all reference the offering of salvation AFTER the millenium and during the Great White Throne period.

When all enemies are made Christ’s footstool (unbelievers, Satan and his forces, death itself – I Corinthians 15:25-26, Revelation 21:10, 14-15), he will turn the kingdom over to God the Father, who will be all in all.  The beautiful eternity we’ve all been waiting for commences without ONE ounce of sin, ugliness, tears, heartache, or sorrow (Revelation 21:1-5).

Chaplain Bob,

Could you provide scriptural support for the following statement from your last post?

At the end of the thousand year Kingdom the Believers will be removed and God will cast Satan, his demons and those who rejected His plan of salvation back down to Earth for the "Great Tribulation".

First of all, what scriptural support can you provide that indicates believers being "removed" at the end of the millenium?  Then, when does scripture imply that there is a "great tribulation" AFTER the return of Jesus Christ?

Thanks.