“Jesus and Paul said that if you don’t believe and behave a certain way, you will not go to or inherit Heaven!”
This business of “inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven” has caused a lot of confusion. So much so that I’m going to have to clear it up. The “Kingdom of Heaven” is not “Heaven.” Read that again. The Kingdom of Heaven is not Heaven. It is “Heavenly” in character not location. It is also referred to as the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew’s Gospel, probably because as a devout Jew, Matthew likely hesitated to write the Holy Name of God. A website says,
“Heaven is the common religious term generally referring to a “place,” where God or divine beings are thought to originate from and dwell. Also, many humans imagine ascending to heaven at their deaths, depending on their goodness and God’s grace. Ancient peoples have passed on the mythology of heaven being a place above this created world, with its opposite, hell, being located in the underworld.
The “kingdom of heaven” is a term used frequently by Jesus, though never defined by him. It is also sometimes called the “Kingdom of God” or “Reign of God.” The concept is one of the central messages of Jesus’ preaching. It is a symbolic term calling up the Jewish belief that God created this world, and is its universal king and judge who constantly works for the good of the people. The Kingdom encompasses a reign of justice, peace, and love — in short, a paradise.
(Source: https://bustedhalo.com/questionbox/whats-the-difference-between-heaven-and-the-kingdom-of-heaven, italics mine)
The Jews were not looking forward to heading up to the sky like Christians today are. Another website explains,
“The mere thought of no one going to heaven sends traditional churchites into a tailspin. Their entire message of salvation is built upon the foundation that all adherents escape an eternal hell and fly off to “a pie in the sky” heaven. They continually reassure each other that it will be great when death comes, and they can leave this troublesome earth for that wonderful heaven. When there, they can float down an endless milk river, eating honeycomb while playing golden harps.
It is amazing that all of them don’t leave now, but they just keep plodding along in a world of sorrow. Their refusal to end this life and immediately take their heavenly journey only proves that deep down inside of each one there remains a nagging doubt that their dogma is only a man made myth.
Blind faith is the key ingredient for their heaven-bound story since it can never be found in the Bible. The scriptures never state that anyone is going to heaven when they die.
If the good news of the Bible is not heavenly salvation, then what is it? It is the message that the Kingdom of God will be established upon earth. The gospels open by saying, “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,” (Mark 1:14), “From that time Jesus began to preach, and say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), and He says, “I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also; for therefore am I sent.” (Luke 4: 43) In Luke 9:1-2 He “called his twelve (“12” is the Biblical number of government) disciples together…and he sent them to preach the kingdom of God.”
Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God over 130 times in the gospels, and even instructed His disciples to pray that God’s kingdom come on earth. (Matthew 6:10 & Luke 11:2) Even after His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus still spoke “of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3), and Rev. 11:15 announces that grand age when “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever (to the ages of ages).”
(Source: https://www.truthfromgod.com/studies/not_heaven_kingdom.html, underline and explanations mine)
The Jewish people of Jesus’ day were looking forward to the 1,000-year Messianic Kingdom on earth. I say again, because it bears repeating, the “Kingdom of Heaven” is NOT equivalent to Heaven, where God the Father is, and where Jesus currently sits at His Right Hand (though, I hope, not for very long). The Kingdom of Heaven is going to be on earth, where Christ will come down and sit on His Throne! The “Heavenly Kingdom” will be ruled from Heaven. Compared to the past few millennia, it will be Heaven come down to earth!
So, when people like Paul write things such as “you won’t inherit the Kingdom,” what exactly does that mean? Where do people go if they don’t “inherit the Kingdom?” Do they go to hell for all eternity? No, I’ve already debunked that nonsense! It may be that they will be made subjects (slaves) to those in position of authority, to those to whom Jesus gave power to rule to. Remember the parable of the talents? In it Jesus told this story,
“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five [a]talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his [b]master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt 25:14-30, NASB).
We have already explored what the “weeping and gnashing of teeth” was previously. It’s not like this “wicked, lazy” person would go to “hell, into outer darkness.” No, he would suffer loss because he didn’t put in the work necessary to reign with Christ. I’m sorry to tell all of those lazy, flabby “Christians” out there, but this life and the next are all about work. Now, don’t worry about the word – it’s a good thing. In this life, it gives you purpose. In the next life, you will actually enjoy the work that the Lord gives to you! It won’t be a drudgery type of work, but it will be done in joy and will give followers of Christ actual satisfaction! In another Gospel, Luke 19 to be precise, He told a variation of the above parable. Let’s read it,
“While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. 12 So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. 13 And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas (1 mina = 100 day’s wages) and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. 16 The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ 18 The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ 24 Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ 26 I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 27 But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence” (Lk 19:11-27, NASB, underline and explanations mine).
The message of these parables is clear: do the work laid out ahead of time for you to do, get rewards. Fail to do so, forfeit your rewards. Simple. We are saved not by works, but we are expected to do good works once saved! Paul says it over and over in his letters that “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God! Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God” (1Cor 6:9,10, NASB, underline mine). If we don’t do the Lord’s work, we may not “inherit” His Kingdom – that is to say, we will not be rulers, but be ruled over! Only those that, along with Paul, have “fought the good fight, and finished the race” are counted worthy of ruling over others. Speaking of thieves, the thief on the cross asked Jesus to remember him when He comes into His Kingdom. Basically, he petitioned Him to be included in the 1,000-year Kingdom. Did you know that Jesus actually denied his request? Let me explain by pulling up the passage in question. In Luke 23, it reads,
“One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Lk 23:39-43, NASB).
That seems pretty straightforward. So, why do I think that Jesus denied this man’s prayer? Well, for one thing, the Greek text does not have punctuation marks like the English language does. So, a Bible translator has to “guess” where to put these at. The last sentence in that verse could say, “Truly I say to you today (comma) you shall be with Me in Paradise.” For another thing, this “Paradise” I personally don’t believe to be Heaven. It will be rather in the New Earth after the 1,000-year reign of the Messiah. I’ve already said before that we (or our “souls” rather) don’t automatically “shoot” up or down the moment our heart stops.
The term “Paradise” in the Greek is “παράδεισος or paradeisos” (Strong’s #3857) is defined as “a park, a garden, a paradise or an enclosure.” There are only two other places where this word is found in the NT. They are in,
“(Likely Paul) was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak” (2Cor 12:4, NASB, underline mine).
And,
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’” (Rev 2:7, NASB, underline mine).
These websites have this to say about it,
“Paradise is a word that is likely borrowed from the Persians. It means “garden.” The word appears in the Hebrew Old Testament only in three places where it refers to a park (Ecc. 2:5), a forest (Neh. 2:8), and an orchard (Song of Solomon 4:13). But the word seems to have taken on a new flavor after the Babylonian Exile. In the Septuagint (LXX) the Greek word paradeisos is used for the Garden of Eden. “Paradise” becomes God’s Garden…
The religious meaning—God’s garden or Paradise—entered Jewish thought and vocabulary after the Babylonian Exile, was combined with the hope of a blessed eschaton, and appears in the Apocrypha (2 Esdr 4:7; 6:2; 7:36, 123; 8:52) and frequently in other early Jewish writings. (Paradise).
Thus, by the time of the New Testament paradise became synonymous with resting in God’s presence. The word paradeisos only appears three times in the New Testament. It is the locale where Jesus tells the thief on the cross he will be with him in Luke 23:43. Paul speaks of being caught up into the “third heaven” and then almost synonymously refers to it as “paradise”. And in Revelation 2:7, Jesus tells the church in Ephesus that they will be granted to “eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God”. Revelation 2 clearly has overtones of the Garden of Eden.
(Source: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-is-paradise-and-is-it-the-same-as-heaven.html)
“The Jews word for Paradise is “pardes” and is actually a borrowed word from the Persian word that means “park” or “garden” and in some Rabbinical circles is thought of as Eden restored.”
(Source: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2014/09/11/what-are-the-differences-between-paradise-and-heaven-in-the-bible/, underline mine)
So, “paradise” may not be “heaven,” as we have been led to believe. Some may reach a different conclusion than I have, but personally, this makes the most sense for the context that it is in. Paradise is going to be in the New Heavens and New Earth. Anyway, for his actions and misdeeds, the thief on the cross will miss the Blessed Kingdom, but may be included in the 2nd resurrection, since, even though it was at the last moments, he repented, and asked for forgiveness. Meanwhile his unrepentant cohort on the cross on the other side will likely be at the third and final resurrection – at the Consummation. I believe this is another picture of the three types of people - the barley loaf (Christ, with His Elect - His Firstfruits), the wheat loaf (the just unbelievers), and the wine (unjust unbelievers). ALL of us will be at God's banquet table, with The Lamb as the centerpiece! Salvation is simply not an option and it's not up to you. ALL of mankind will be there!
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