A Non-Conformist Look at Heaven

Apart from a little respite, change of scenery, shucking the limitations of a body, reunion with family and saints gone by and seeing God face to face without being struck dead, what does heaven have to offer?  Oh, yes, we’ll know as we are known and no longer see through a glass darkly—almost immediately, I would presume, we’ll have many questions answered (I Corinthians 13:12).  One question that needs to be asked now:  “When does this wiping away of every tear and banishment of death, sorrow, and pain kick in?”  Revelation Chapter 21 speaks of these things happening after the Millennium, momentary Satanic-led-revolution, the Great White Throne Judgment, and imposition of a new heaven and a new earth--uh-oh, so much for these things happening in heaven.

Further, in heaven there’s no more growth in grace; our faith-level would seemingly be fixed; inasmuch as tribulation works patience there’s no more growth in patience (Romans 5:2-4).  Come to think of it, in what areas will growth be possible?  Until the resurrection of the righteous dead, one of the things new arrivals in heaven will have to get used to is an almost discordant note sounded by the martyrs of every age, “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth’” (Revelation 6:10).  This is a scene reminiscent of Tiananmen Square.

Now there’s one thing that’s probably big in heaven—anticipation by the Martyrs of having their blood avenged and of all saints returning to earth with King Jesus to get their new and resurrected bodies (I Thessalonians 4:16 & 17). Jesus’ descent to the earth makes it clear the earth is where resurrection takes place.  And there is not one shred of Scriptural evidence to suggest Jesus turns around and “hightails” it back to heaven with all the resurrected saints in tow.  What would be the point?)

Here we need to get our “trumpets” straight, namely the “trumpet of God” in I Thessalonians 5:16 is the same as the trumpet in Matthew 24:31.

An interesting little sidelight accompanying Jesus’ resurrection, while at the same time underscoring the importance of the earth as the future home for “believers”, was the request of the “saints” who had been held captive in Sheol and were on their way with Jesus to heaven, to see their old stomping ground, Jerusalem (Matthew 27:52,53).  They knew this would be the site of future action and wanted to get a “sneak-peek”.

One last thought.  When God created man and set him in Garden with the responsibility to tend it two things were fixed: man’s identity with the earth (Psalm 115:16) and his need to work (Genesis 2:15). A heaven-bound existence doesn’t answer to either of these critical issues.

So, let’s consider to pursue the truth together.