"I wanna go to heaven and rest ... I am tired of staying down here ... I am tired of the struggles and trials ... oh I wanna go to heaven and rest!!!". This popular Jamaican refrain reflects the innermost desire of many Christians all over the world today. Christians who are longing for the day when they will be raptured into this glorious city: walking on streets of gold in a land flowing with milk and honey. Embedded in the minds of virtually every Christian, is the idea that when they die their souls will be taken up into heaven where they will spend all eternity. Though no one knows for sure what they will be doing in heaven, by faith they accept that it will be worth dying for. Admittedly such faith deserves to be lauded with distinct recognition; but is this really what the Bible teaches? Was heaven promised as reward for the saints?
In John 14:2, Yahshua the Messiah promised to prepare a place for his disciples. The fact that Yahshua made mention of his "Father's House", many people interpret this phrase to be heaven. If this was the case, then this scripture would have been the first and only scripture in the entire Bible to describe heaven as the "Father's House". Apart from the usage in John 14:2, Yahshua used the term "Father's House" at least two other times in the New Testament (Luke 2:49 and John 2:16). Of these times, none was in reference to heaven. The Father's house therefore, as depicted by 1 Kings 9:3, is NOT in heaven. It is a physical place right here on earth. For the Jews, it was the temple. Acts 1:9 is often used to support the heaven theory. It is believed that since heaven is where Yahshua ascended to, then this must be where he is preparing the dwelling place. Admittedly this argument has some level of rationality to it. In fact, it may even seem more rational than the idea of Yahshua making reference to the temple when he said "my Father's house". A closer examination however reveals far more than what is usually seen. Scriptures such as Mark 16:19, Romans 8:34, 1 John 2:1 and Hebrews 7:25 all provide glimpses of Yahshua in heaven. None of these scriptures however, made mention of him preparing a dwelling place for the saints. Consequently the idea of Yahshua preparing a place in heaven is merely a thought and cannot be biblically supported. The scriptures only show him making intercession on the behalf of the saints. In fact, according to Psalm 110:1, it appears as though Yahshua is waiting for something to happen. Scriptures prove that he is in heaven waiting and interceding, but nothing supports him preparing a dwelling place. The idea of the temple on the other hand, is not as farfetched as one would believe when examined from a Jewish perspective. To the Jews, the temple was the holiest place in Jerusalem (and by extension the world). Those who held offices in the temple were the government of the land, and the highest authority. Yahshua was speaking about a form of government therefore, when he said "In my Father's house are many rooms [offices]".
Between his resurrection and his ascension, Yahshua spent his final days on earth preaching about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Again, it is widely believed that this Kingdom is in heaven. Note what the disciples asked in Acts 1:6. Why would the disciples be asking about an earthly kingdom at this time and not heaven? Yahshua died ... he rose from the dead ... he is preaching about the Kingdom, and the disciples are asking about Israel??? How could this possibly make sense if the reward is in heaven? Should not the disciples have banished their earthly wishes and be "heaven-bound" like unto many Christians today? More importantly, why did Yahshua not rebuke that question? Instead, he said this Acts 1:7. It now appears as though this Kingdom, (or the reward) is not in heaven after all. This proves that the disciples understood Yahshua's statement in John 14:2 to be in reference to some form of government and not a paradise in heaven. Observe the reassuring promise made in Acts 1:11 after Yahshua ascended into heaven. The angels did not reassure the disciples that they will one day be with Yahshua in heaven, instead, they said Yahshua will one day return to the earth. This is in perfect accordance with what he said in John 14:3. All Christians believe that Yahshua will one day return to this earth, however some believe he is coming for the saints to take them back into heaven. One could therefore ask, "When Yahshua returns to this earth, will he leave again and return to heaven???" ... What do the scriptures say?
What Will Happen When Yahshua Returns?
There are absolutely no scriptures in the Bible to support the theory that Yahshua will come to earth and collect the saints for a one-way trip to heaven. Contrarily, there are more than enough scriptural proof of what will happen at his return. The prophet Daniel had a vision of the return of the Messiah in Daniel 7:13. John's vision in Revelation 1:7 validates what Daniel saw, and proves that the Son of man really is Yahshua who was crucified. Neither Daniel nor John saw a rapture taking place, or Christians departing the earth. Instead, both bore witness to a Kingdom being established ON THE EARTH (Daniel 7:14, Revelation 1:6). A very profound statement is seen in Revelation 11:15. John saw the Kingdoms of the world becoming the Kingdom of Yahshua. Why would Yahshua establish a Kingdom here on earth, and then take the saints to heaven? What then would be the purpose of his Kingdom on earth? Yahshua is coming to earth, not to collect the saints, but to claim what is rightfully his - the world. He is coming to destroy evil (Rev.19:20), bound the devil (Rev.20:2), overthrow existing kingdoms (Zech.14:2-3) and set up his own (Zech.14:9). Yahshua is coming to make this earth his home! The earth is Yahshua's inheritance. Before Yahshua was born, Yahweh promised his mother that he would rule on David's throne, and he will rule over the house of Jacob (Luke 1:32-33). David does not have a throne in heaven, neither is the house of Jacob in heaven. The house of Jacob is ISRAEL. Yahshua's inheritance therefore is to rule Israel. This explains Psalm 110:1. Scriptures such as John 14:30 and 2 Corinthians 4:4 hints the idea that the devil is currently the "god of this world". Yahshua, not yet having a throne of his own, is patiently seated at his Father's throne waiting for the day when he will establish his own. The disciples understood that his kingdom would have been on earth. They knew definitely that it would have been in Israel, thus the only question they asked, was 'when will it be' in Acts 1:6. No one at any time asked Yahshua about being taken to heaven.
What Is The Reward For The Saints?
In Revelation 22:12, Yahshua stated that the reward for the saints is with him. In light of the fact that Yahshua will not be going back to heaven when he returns, what then will be the reward for the saints? The apostle Paul in Romans 8:17 described the saints as fellow heirs with the Messiah (most translations say 'joint-heirs'). This would imply that the reward for the saints is the same reward that Yahshua received. If Yahshua and the saints are joint-heirs, then they share the same reward or inheritance. Yahshua's reward is rulership over the earth, thus the saints will rule the earth with him. This is clearly seen in Daniel 7:18 and 27, Revelation 2:26-27, Revelation 3:21, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 20:4 among many other scriptures. The Bible is clear on the fact that saints will remain on the earth as rulers. The idea of being made a ruler in an everlasting Kingdom is far more rewarding than frolicking in a fantasy paradise. Additionally, it is far more logical to imagine Paul and the other apostles making such intense sacrifices for a Kingdom, rather than a room in heaven. Heaven, as is described by the many, is a paradise of joy, peace, tranquility, milk, honey and gold. All these and more can be attained in Hawaii, Bahamas or even California. Simply put, the heaven theory offers nothing new. It is not worth the sacrifices required. The Kingdom on the other hand, cannot be measured with all the wealth of this world. Having dominion over everything in and beyond the earth, even over the very angels is definitely something to push towards. Being equal with Yahshua the Messiah and having no other superior but Yahweh Himself - now that is worth dying for. This is definitely worth the sacrifices, in fact, with a reward such as this the sacrifices now seem insufficient. This was what the apostle Paul expressed in Romans 8:18. This is the reward for the saints: to be rulers with Yahshua in the Kingdom of God. This kingdom will be here on earth and NOT in heaven. If Christians were really to go to heaven, then Matthew 5:5 would never come to pass, and Yahshua would have lied, thus making Christianity invalid.
Where will you be spending eternity?
The Voice of Yahweh has spoken ... He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches
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