Under the Old Covenant the Israelites in Jesus day believed that when they died they would all go to 'sheol'...the grave or the place of waiting. What they were waiting for was the resurrection of 'the dead' for judgment. This is not specifically taught but referred to by prophecies which Jesus and the apostles confirmed by quoting or alluding to in many places. The scriptures teach right from Genesis that in their future God Himself was to provide a seed who would crush the serpents head (Gen 3:15) ... and a Lamb for the sacrifice (Gen 22:7-14) to save humanity from its SIN (Mat 1:21 and John 1:29). The Israelites believed that the resurrection and judgment would then occur at the time known as 'the end of the age' at which time they would be judged for their adherance to the Law and be rewarded by being with God in His Kingdom when He himself would rule on earth though the coming Messiah.
Deut 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." NKJV
The failure of Israel as a nation under the Law was that most focussed on the WORKS they had to do ...and FAILED to seek GOD Himself. (Rom 9:30-33, Rom 10:3-4) to find LIFE. Throughout history they apostacised and served false gods but God at the same time always had a 'remnant' of believers loyal to Him in the nation (Isaiah and other the prophets mention this as does Rom 11 vs 4-6) ... and this includes those who were sealed and came out of the great tribulation after forming the base of the early church (Rev 7:14)
John 5:39-40 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. NKJV
The scriptures were to point people to JESUS...to look for salvation and eternal life.
The great men throughout Hebrew history are recorded in Hebrews chapter 11 as those who sought and found God by faith. From among the patriarchs it includes men and women such as Abel and Enoch and Noah and Abraham and Sarah and from those under the Law it includes Moses, Joshua, the judges, David and Samuel and all the prophets along with all who believed. We are told these looked forward to time when God himself would rule... in a city whose builder and maker was God (Heb 11:10), a heavenly country (vs 16), where they would experience the riches of Christ (vs 26) and believed that they would obtain a better resurrection (vs 35) after this life.
What persuaded them we might ask? Simply put it was personal encounters with the living God who they had sought by faith (vs 6). They also heard stories of their ancestors encounters with God. Cain offered better sacrifices...why else? Enoch and Noah walked with God and they were were warned ...they heard God. Abraham heard...and he obeyed because he KNEW the voice of Him who called. They received promises ...how? Joseph got them in dreams and visions as did king David....but they all KNEW who was speaking to them.
If we look at Abraham we see that his faith was unshakably based on the promise God made to Him ... "for all the land which you see I will give to you and your descendants FOREVER". Brethren Abraham knew that he as a mortal would die but because of God's promise also KNEW he would be raised to live with GOD forever. (Mat 22:29-32, Heb 11:17-19). David's promise to be in God's presence is mentioned in Acts 2:25-28.
BUT because the Law ... as represented in the Temple and the associated sacrifices offered by the priesthood which were still being practiced right up to AD70 ...the scriptures tell us that the saints under the Old Covenant were still not yet able to access the Holy of Holies which was where they would in future be dwelling in the presence of God in all its fullness...FOREVER.
Heb 9:8 ... the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. NKJV
There was no access for most Old Covenant saints until AD 70 ...though those referred to as being raised in Mat 27 vs 52-53 were certainly in God's presence after being raised in the 'first resurrection' of AD33 when Jesus was resurrected.
Note what Revelations tells us occurred when the temple was destroyed in AD70 ... after the fall of the Temple and Jerusalem (i.e. Babylon the great city ... Rev 14:8 // Rev 11:8)
Rev 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on' "
"Yes," says the Spirit,"that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them." NKJV
All believers POST AD70 have now found REST in Christ's completed work for us on the cross ... Heb 4:9-10
Brethren this promise speaks of us as NEW Covenant believers ... those who live in the time which was then "from now on"... for whom things changed forever from what was to happen to those UNDER THE LAW. They were waiting for the promised judgment on Israel. We die IN THE LORD... and are not looking forward to judgment... we already have eternal life IN CHRIST ... John 5:24
Jesus tells us clearly of our destiny ... the Holy of Holies to fellowship with the Father
John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know." NKJV
Luke 23:42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." NKJV
(For those who claim the comma in the above verse is in the wrong place, please consider that Jesus alone uses the phrase - 'Assuredly I say to you' - seventy-six times to emphasise something of special importance which He is about to say that must be believed. How can we believe that this one occasion is different? ... especially when all the modern translators are in agreement.)
Have you sought Him and opened your heart and life to HIS voice and HIS leading?
David the king of Israel prophesied this hope in the Psalms
Ps 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. NKJV
Also other prophets promised it for Israelites
Isa 26:19 Your dead shall live;
Together with my dead body they shall arise .
Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust;
For your dew is like the dew of herbs,
And the earth shall cast out the dead. NKJV (Rev 20:13)
Dan 12:1 "At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever. NKJV
The Prophets spoke of a coming tribulation (aka ..the time of Jacob's trouble) which would be followed immediately by a resurrection of the dead, judgment and reward of the righteous AT THE SAME TIME.....a time Jesus described as "THE END OF THE (or) THIS AGE"
Jesus confirmed this would happen as He includes quotes from Daniel 12 in the following parable
Matt 13:36 And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."
37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! NKJV
Please note that under the Old Covenant Jesus said that there were many 'sons of the kingdom' who would be CAST OUT of the kingdom.... they had not found the righteousness of God but had sought to establish their OWN righteousness instead. (Mat 5:20, Mat 13:47-50, Mat 22:1-14, Luke 13:23-30)
Paul preached the imminent expectation of God's day of judgment which would be preceded by the resurrection ...
Acts 24:14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will (SOON = mello) be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. NKJV
Brethren, please get this LOUD AND CLEAR.....it is the LAW and the Prophets (of the Law) that promised the resurrection for JUDGMENT of the just and the unjust! ...and it was promised for a time shortly after Messiah's death (Dan 9:26a) ... which was also to be at the time when the temple and Jerusalem were destroyed (Dan 9:26b). This would result in them being granted eternal life with God in His kingdom. This was 'the hope of Israel' which all 'the dead' (i.e. the righteous saints of the Old Covenant) were waiting for (ref Acts 28:20&23, 23:6, 24:14-15, 26:6-8)
The timing of the promised resurrection had to be soon in AD 33 because JESUS had said that ALL things that were written in the Law and in the Prophets would be fulfilled WITHIN THAT GENERATION. Peter confirms this too in Acts 2 & 3.
Luke 21:32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. NKJV (Mat 24:34, Mark 13:30)
Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. NKJV
Acts 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." NKJV
Acts 3:24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. NKJV
These events were specifically promised for the generation who Jesus came to in AD 30 ... not to the church some 2000 years later.
Does something different happen to people at death today under the New Covenant?
Do all who die today still go to the grave and wait for a future judgment?
Well firstly we need to know that the Law applied to ISRAEL only and what the Law says NEVER applied to Gentiles. We are not 'under the Law' but under a NEW covenant of GRACE. (Rom 6:14)
Rom 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law NKJV
In the Old Covenant one became an Israelite by PHYSICAL birth and circumcision. Today God has no grandchildren....we all personally need to find Him and have a faith relationship with Him. The kingdom is now IMMATERIAL, INTANGIBLE and INVISIBLE. The Kingdom does not equate to 'church world'. Our parents can arrange for us to be baptised and sign us up for church membership but only our personal pursuit of God and His righteousness (ie faith) will result in us entering the kingdom (John 1:12-13, John 3:3-7). Today we are ADOPTED by God as His children when we are born of the Spirit.
Those who do not believe in Jesus have NO covenant with God. They have nothing that will enable them to live beyond this life.The scripture speaks of the fate of those who do not have a covenant or relationship with God.
Isa 26:14 14 They (heathen/unbelievers) are dead, they will not live;
They are deceased, they will not rise.
Therefore You have punished and destroyed them,
And made all their memory to perish. NKJV
Please note that DEATH is the punishment... not 'eternal damnation and hellfire'. For those Israelites who rejected the prophets and killed them and then killed Jesus, a destruction by FIRE was promised in many places (Deut 32:22, Is 28:6, Is 64:11, Is 66:15, Dan 9:26, Malachi 4:1 and Matt 23:29-36)
Even for the Israelites who rejected God and killed Jesus, the Law promised only that they would die....not that they would be 'tormented in Hell forever'.
Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' NKJV
Brethren please note that UTTER destruction is annhilation... it is not eternal/everlasting torment.
Rom 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. NKJV
According to the scriptures those who do not believe in Jesus are already dead spiritually (ie separated from relationship with God). When they perish or die physically they will return to dust ... UNLESS prior to this they find LIFE in Christ while on earth.
Eph 2: 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked, NKJV
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. NKJV
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus NKJV
We as believers under the New Covenant ARE in Christ Jesus, we do NOT have to wait for a judgment to see if we have been good enough to be rewarded with eternal life.
Condemnation is that those who have chosen NOT to seek for life in God ... or have chosen to look for another way to the way God offers ... will find nothing. At the end they PERISH... and the consensus of scriptures does not say they are tormented forever.
Unlike Old Covenant saints, we as believers today, do NOT have to wait for a judgment at the end of our age... or at the end of the world. This is EMPHATICALLY the teaching of Jesus for the New Covenant. We either believe and are saved... or we do not believe and perish.
John 5:25 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. NKJV
John 8:51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." NKJV
The death Jesus speaks of here is spiritual death...or separation from God. For US as believers today, physical death is no more than a gateway into the fullness of the manifest presence of God. Our spiritual LIFE which we now experience in part on earth, is guaranteed by the Spirit of God Himself living in us. Yes, there is a sadness for those left behind who might miss those who have gone to be with the Lord...but for them there is only GLORY.
If we do not believe, then the scriptures tell us we are DEAD spiritually already.... and just waiting for the batteries to run out (death scripturally was the result of separation from our life source...i.e. our relationship with God)
Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned NKJV
John 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. NKJV
John 16:8 And when He (the Helper or Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment : 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. NKJV
The only sin which keeps mankind dead today is the failure to believe in Jesus....as the one who was sent by God to reveal His love for us by dying for us. Jesus is God's judicial basis for forgiving ALL sin in those who believe...and qualifying and cleansing us so that we can be God's children. Our primary role is to seek, to come to or to believe in Him!
Those who die today BELIEVING IN CHRIST, live on in Him and with Him ETERNALLY
Col 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. NKJV
Gal 2:20-21
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. NKJV
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NKJV
John 11:24 Martha said to Him,"I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" NKJV
1 Thess 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. NKJV
2 Cor 5:6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. NKJV
John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. NKJV
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV
Brethren, look at the change that JESUS brought about. Martha (John 11 vs 24) and the Jews knew only of a physical resurrection and judgment that was coming soon (at the end of their age). What Jesus came to intoduce was the NEW covenant age (the age to come) in which there is no judgement awaiting believers....IF you believe in Jesus you HAVE eternal LIFE. If you have eternal life you will NOT be judged to see if you were worthy to receive it because Jesus Himself is our righteousness and is worthy for us.
If you don't believe you remain dead and perish when your time on earth is done.
Do you believe Jesus?
So now when we look at the book of Revelation and we see that the judgment of Rev 20:13 (and that of Mat 25:31/Mat 13:39-43/Dan 12:1-3) was the same judgment promised for Israel by numerous prophets of the Law (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Obadiah and Malachi) ...and that each one was to be judged 'according to their works' ...we can see that these passages apply to the Old Covenant.
Peter tells us unequivocally that the prophecies about a coming day of judgment referred to the last generation of Old Covenant Israel ... (from among 'the people') who would reject and kill Jesus their Messiah ...
Acts 3:23-25 .. and it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. NKJV (i.e. AD 30 - AD 70 ... the last days or the last generation of those under the Law of Moses).
Jesus also confirms that the day of God's wrath would come on THAT GENERATION...who rejected him ... (Mat 23:36, Mat 24:34, etc)
BUT then things change...under the NEW Covenant...
Rev 20:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. NKJV
Hades ...'sheol' as the place of waiting for the dead under the Old Covenant ...was emptied and fulfilled in AD70. Death itself was destroyed when the Old Covenant came to an end because it was the LAW which caused sin to be imputed....and it was SIN which bought death (1 Cor 15:56, Rom 5-8, James 1:15) .
2 Tim 1:8 ... God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel ... NKJV
But probably the clearest description which we too can stand on is Paul's explanation of what he himself anticipated when his death was approaching... just prior to AD 65
Phil 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. NKJV
Brethren for us, as NEW Covenant believers, DEATH is over.... yes we physically pass from this temporal world into eternity but according to Jesus we do NOT DIE.... ie we will NEVER cease to exist or be separated from His presense because we have received the ETERNAL life of God.
Do you believe Jesus?
What kind of body do we get?...Physical or Spiritual?
Paul alone addresses this question in detail ...
1 Cor 15:35 But someone will say,"How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain — perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. NKJV
Brethren we will NO longer have earthly or physical bodies in heaven or the heavenly realm. We will however have spiritual bodies ... just like the angels. (Mat 22:30)
What is the goal for us here on earth set for us to achieve before death?
Each one of us has a God given task to complete
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
NKJV
Paul early in Acts was called and shown by God what he was to do for God....
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake." NKJV
1 Cor 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. NKJV
2 Tim 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. NKJV
Phil 1:22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. NKJV
Phil 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. NKJV
What is your role?...will you rest before it is complete?
Does Revelation Chapters 21 and 22 describe 'Heaven'....or is it referring to something else?
Rev 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. NKJV
I, like many today had always thought the 'new heaven and new earth' of Rev 21 referred to a physical heaven where believers would dwell after death. The dream we had imagined heaven to be was a literal and physical place of great luxury and comfort/happiness which is located somewhere around Jerusalem. But there are clues which tell us something is amiss with this understanding.
Firstly the scriptures tell us that the Kingdom of Heaven which was ushered in by Jesus (Dan 7:13-14) refers to THE NEW COVENANT. It is the spiritual realm in which God today rules in the hearts of His children.... the realm in which we encounter Him today. Isaiah (chapters 65 - 66) tell us of the 'new heavens and the new earth' as the time of the new covenant which was to follow after Christ's death on the cross (Is 53)... not after a further 2000 year interim period.
AND Paul also tells us directly what the 'heavenly Jerusalem' ...or 'Jerusalem above' is...
Gal 4:21-26 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar — 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children — 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. NKJV
The Jerusalem ABOVE refers to the NEW COVENANT ... where we as believers now can enter the kingdom of heaven...the spiritual realm in which God dwells. This is the same as the 'heavenly Jerusalem'.
Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. NKJV
In heaven ALL of the saints from ALL ages now dwell together....after the resurrection and judgment of AD70
Luke 20:37 But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 38 For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him." NKJV
'Jerusalem which now is' was the home of the Jews and the Law prior to AD70. It was also known as the great HARLOT city who had pursued idols and brought BONDAGE. We in the NEW COVENANT are FREE and called to walk in the glorious liberty of the children of God. The HEAVENLY JERUSALEM is the body of Christ or the church though out the ages whose names are registered in heaven ...i.e. written in the Lamb's Book of Life... those saved by Jesus shed blood and the New Covenant which it bought for us. (Mat 26:28). This includes both the Old Covenant saints now experiencing the fullness of what God had promised them...and ALL New Covenant believers throughout history.
In the resurrection for the believing Jews prior to AD70 (who formed the general assembly) or when today we as christians/believers in Jesus pass from this world into what many refer to as Heaven itself, we are told by Jesus that we will all be 'like the angels'. While living on earth we are clearly not 'there' yet in a physical sense....still being restricted by physical/mortal bodies.
That however does not mean that the 'Kingdom of Heaven' is not here now. Those who have passed away as believers ARE THERE in all its FULLNESS ALREADY! These are part of the 'cloud of witnesses' (Heb 12:1)...cheering us on .. in their new spiritual and immortal bodies.
Secondly those who dream of a PHYSICAL heaven where the streets are literally 'GOLD' need to understand that the physical world is TEMPORAL and itself will pass away.
2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. NKJV
Brethren, we need to realise that the kingdom of heaven is 'not of this world' ... it is in the spiritual realm... the realm of God, where He dwells in the hearts of His children throughout the generations... and where we too dwell with Him.
John 4:21-24 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." NKJV
Brethren, in the New Covenant God now dwells on earth in HIS CHILDREN...not in church buildings made by human hands (Acts 17:24, vs 1 Cor 3:16&17). We do not have to go on 'pilgrimages' to Jerusalem or anywhere else to find God or to encounter Him.
Brethren, in the New Covenant we as believers ALL have direct access to God through Jesus ...in the new heavenly city. We are now part of the church UNIVERSAL...that which is registered in heaven and which comprises believers from throughout history. We also ALL have direct access to the 'throne of Grace' through Jesus as our High Priest IN THE NEW COVENANT today.
Thirdly we should note that in the Kingdom of heaven itself, today on earth, there is no sin. Yes, there are sinners all around us BUT some have their robes washed in the blood of the Lamb and have been made perfect in Christ (Heb 10:14)...and then there are those who choose to remain outside the gates to the kingdom.
We should ask ourselves if we believe Revelations 21 and 22 are speaking of the traditional 'physical heaven on earth' of the creeds ... then what on earth are SINNERS doing still alive and sinning in these chapters?
Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments (NU 'wash their robes'), that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. NKJV
The Kingdom of Heaven is NOT a worldly organisation based in a physical location on earth (i.e. as in ny church organisation or denomination ...yes not even the Roman Catholic church)....it is the SPIRITUAL reality of the New Covenant now available to ALL believers. (Gal 4:23-26).
Those who follow God's commands and accept Jesus death for their righteousness (John 6:40 and John 12:44) are those who have 'washed their robes'...and can partake of the TREE of LIFE.
But OUTSIDE there are sinners and those who love and practice a lie ... i.e. they deny God the Father and His love for us as expressed in Jesus sacrificial death for us.
Many ask ... 'If the devil has been cast into the lake of fire'... 'why is there still sin today?'
Simply because God tells us it would continue to be here. Man would still be evil (John 3:19-20) ... but grace and mercy would now be available to all the nations of the world and individuals anywhere who seek for it!
Revelations 21:8, 25-27 and Revelations 22:11 and 14-15 are emphatic that the new 'great city, the holy Jerusalem which came down out of heaven from God' is NOT a physical place where only resurrected saints dwell with God.... it is the spiritual realm which believers alone can access though Christs shed blood.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. NKJV (// Isaiah 55:1, John 4:10&14)
The door remains open for sinners who want to come to God.
But if you would rather not know God... and choose to remain in your sin...
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. NKJV
1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. NKJV
John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." NKJV
This is the world in which we as believers live today. It does not matter if we belong to any worldly church organisation. What matters is that we have our names written in the Lamb's Book of LIFE...and our robes washed in His blood...and that because of this the fruit or the reality of our new birth is manifested over time by a transformation in our lives.
2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." NKJV
Under the New Covenant the door has been opened to the world now ....and God's grace and invitation now extends to ALL
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. NKJV
John 4:13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." NKJV
John 7:37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water ." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. NKJV
Jesus IS now glorified... the Holy Spirit HAS been poured out on believers.
Living water which is FREELY given is the difference between 'doing religion' (or spending our life trying to be good and earning your way to salvation) ...in comparison to living in an intimate relationship with God where we are sustained by the Spirit of God Himself dwelling in us!