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Conspiracies of Faith: Going to Heaven
January 26, 2019

Religious hymns tell us what is going to happen when we all get to heaven. But what if going to heaven was just another conspiracy of faith; one without Biblical basis? If we are not going to heaven, then what happens to us in eternity? Last week we discussed the resurrection, and how and what that looks like. We found out that the resurrection happens at the return of Jesus during the seventh Trumpet described in the Book of Revelation. What does the Bible say about heaven? We will start our discussion in the same place we stopped last time, in chapter fifteen of the first book of Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:35-49
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Paul explains in this portion of his writing that physically we were all physically born in the image of Adam, having been born in the image of the earthy, and that in Jesus we shall, yet in the future, and as we learned last week, at the return of Jesus, we shall also be born in the image of the heavenly. Some will look at these verses to point to location, now on earth, later in heaven. These verses do not reference location for us, they only reference the location of the person whose image we have borne; a huge difference! Some will look to Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians as proof of life with Jesus in heaven. Once again Paul shows the resurrection occurs at the return of Jesus Christ, not immediately at death. The verses show the dead in Christ are raised when Jesus descends from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God. At that time, the dead in Christ rise first. If the resurrection of the dead instantly occurred, this wouldn't be needed. And yes, the verses say we will be called up into the clouds and forever be with Jesus. However, these verses do not indicate where Jesus will be after this time.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The Book of Revelation does show where Jesus will be. The New Jerusalem is shown coming down out of heaven in the first eight verses of chapter twenty-one. Verse 22 will later show that God and Jesus are the temple of this New Jerusalem. The Bible shows that what we think of as heaven, will actually be a place on earth.

Revelation 21:1-8
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The Bible disproves another conspiracy of faith, and one conspiracy leads to another. Many falsely think of heaven as the final destination for the faithful; today we learned heaven is coming to earth. Next time we will learn about another conspiracy of faith, hell. Is hell the eternal damnation of the wicked or do the wicked have another fate? Verse eight from above should give you a hint about the answer.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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