Mr. Peter Eddington
Sermon Transcript
February 17, 2001
Do We Go To Heaven?
Well,
I mentioned that the radio program that has gleaned the most response so far
is the one, "What Happens After Death?" And that really is something
that's on people's minds--they want to know. And some of our teenagers mentioned
to me that once in awhile they'd like to hear a split sermon or a sermonette
or a sermon on real foundational topic that is something that is a basic belief
of the church, and the most common Christian belief regarding the afterlife
is that people possess immortal souls and that at death their consciousness
in the form of that soul departs from the body and goes to either heaven or
hell, and basically, everybody believes that in Christianity today.
Most religions, in fact, do teach some form of life after death. The ancient
Egyptians, for example, you are very familiar with their practice of elaborate
ceremonies to prepare Pharaohs for their next life. They constructed massive
pyramids and other elaborate tombs filled with luxuries the deceased were assumed
to need in the hereafter. In some civilizations, when a ruler died, others who
had accompanied him and served him in his life were put to death, so they could
immediately serve him in the afterlife. Wives and other relatives, servants,
sometimes even household pets joined him in death and a supposed entrance into
a new life on the other side.
And belief in the immortality of the soul was an important aspect of ancient
thought. Espoused by the Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato, Aristotle--long
before Christianity. In fact, the Christian belief in an immortal soul actually
comes from ancient paganism. It was merged falsely with Christianity.
We received an encouraging letter at the home office. Let me read part of it
to you. The writer is from Farmington, Missouri, and he writes:
"I am writing to tell you of the joy I have in my heart because questions
and doubts I have housed in my mind have been answered by your magazine. Your
magazine showed me that creation according to the world is false and creation
according to The Bible is truth. I have never found a magazine that presented
both scientific reasoning and biblical truth to be unbiased. It is left to the
reader to see what the plain truth is and that worldly thinking is wrong. You
show The Bible to be current and up to date as it was meant to be--pure truth.
Many doubts I have housed about certain issues have been put to rest with only
my first issue, and I thank you for your kindness. I realize that my letter
is long…"
Because I edited a whole bunch more out…
"But when you are as on fire for God as I am now, you know what I mean
when I say, I am saved and going to heaven one day."
Now maybe he will yet get the "Heaven and Hell" booklet or
the "What Happens After Death" booklet, we'll see. But the
reason I read that to you, obviously, today as part of the split sermon was
primarily because of the last sentence…
"I'm saved and going to heaven."
Because, see, that's what everybody believes. And here's another quote from
the "Catholic Encyclopedia." Of course, the Catholics would be the
largest Christian group on earth today, and in their encyclopedia under the
topic, The Existence of Heaven, they say:
"There is a heaven that is God will bestow happiness and the richest gifts
on all those who depart this life free from original sin and personal mortal
sin and who are consequently in the state of justice and friendship with God.
The existence of heaven is, of course, denied by atheists, materialists, and
pantheists of all centuries, as well as by those rationalists who teach that
the soul perishes with the body…"
That's us.
"In short, by all who deny the existence of God or the immortality of the
soul…"
So the Catholics are saying everybody believes in it except those who don't
believe in the immortality of the soul. Then they finish the paragraph:
"But for the rest, if we abstract from the specific quality and the supernatural
character of heaven, the doctrine has never met with any opposition worthy of
note."
And then…
"Even mere reason can prove the existence of heaven or of the happy state
of the just in the next life."
That's from the Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VII.
You see God's church is in direct opposition to almost every other Christian
denomination on this subject. One of the most cherished of traditional Christian
beliefs is that at death the righteous go to their reward in heaven. Is this
belief upheld by the scriptures? The Bereans were commended for checking out
what they were taught by searching the scriptures. That's in Acts 17. Is this
commonly held Christian idea true?
In the Church of God, we have an understanding of this subject that is quite
different from almost every other Christian sect or group. For many new to the
truth, the understanding of life after death is one of the most foundational
concepts upon which hinge many other of our doctrines. It's one of the first
things we come to understand upon conversion, and of course, it's something
that even our teens need to be astutely aware of, what we believe in this regard.
The question of whether or not we go to heaven when we die is something that
we don't dwell on much at all, it's something that assumed that we all know
about, since we understand otherwise, and it's not a daily issue for us; however,
for those new to God's truth, it's a big new piece of understanding, and no
doubt from time to time we will have new people coming along and meeting with
us at Sabbath services with the gospel message being preached far and wide at
the moment.
And so I thought it would be helpful today for us to revisit the subject and
take a look at several of the basic scriptures involved with it. There are times
when we are asked about our beliefs in this doctrine, and so a refresher may
be helpful no matter how simple it might seem, and as I said, more and more
new people are beginning to attend with us, and this is a vital topic of understanding.
Hopefully, it will be especially helpful for our teenagers to get a little more
background on the subject, since almost everyone at school, and in the neighborhood,
and at college, believes that we do either go to heaven or hell when we die,
that's, one or the other, and it's actually quite a controversial subject.
Now since publishing two key booklets on the subject in the United Church of
God, one is "What Happens After Death" and the other "Heaven
and Hell: What Does The Bible Really Teach," since publishing those two
booklets, we've had a stream of letters and messages, both positive and extremely
negative coming into our offices around the world. Those two booklets have generated
quite an interesting response from our readers, and it can be a very sensitive
subject with people, and it's interesting that all of the people who believe
that we either go to heaven or hell, of those people almost no one believes
that, actually, they're going to be one of the ones going to hell, and it's
something like ninety-eight percent think they're actually going the right way.
No one wants to believe they're not going to heaven.
Here's a note from one angry reader:
"Thanks so much for preventing me from doing what I was about to do and
that was sending for the bible study course. In my Bible, I have read of two
deaths and two resurrections. Have you ever read the book of Revelation? Read
it and see what the holy spirit says about death and resurrection. There is
a physical death of this present body we are now living in, then there is eternal
death for living in heaven or hell. Heaven, as far I have read in my Bible,
is for those who love and serve God, who are obedient to him. Hell has been
preserved for the devil and his angels, anyone else who goes there is one who
has followed him. It seems to me that you don't believe in the spirit. I don't
just take what he said without searching the scriptures. With the help of the
holy spirit, I believe I know when someone is putting words in the mouth of
the holy spirit. Last of all, I know where my loved ones are who died in the
Lord. Thanks for preventing me from making a bad mistake."
So, of course, you don't win everybody, but the truth is the truth. Many believe
you are to inherit heaven when we die, and there's one passage that people will
turn to in I Peter 1, where Peter speaks of an inheritance incorruptible and
undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, we will turn
to it in a little bit, reserved in heaven for you. It sure sounds like that
doesn't it? Like we must go to heaven. Do we go to heaven when we die if we've
been saved? Let's take a brief look at what some "biblical authorities"
say about the subject. I say biblical authorities in quotes.
The "Wycliffe Bible Dictionary" under the subject heaven:
"Unquestionably, the Apostle Paul is speaking of the heaven, which his
the abiding place of God and the blessed dead. The heaven, which is reached
by the souls of the blessed when they have passed through the two lower regions
of the atmosphere and of outer space. Redeemed souls are presently with Christ
in heaven."
"Vines Expository Dictionary" under the title heaven:
"It is the eternal dwelling place of the saints."
Now remember, you may recall the verse from Acts 2:34, that David did not ascend
into the heavens. The explanation given about this verse by John Gill and his
commentary is that David is not ascended into the heavens in this body, that
being still in the grave, says Gill, in his sepulcher, which remained to that
day, though in his soul he has ascended to heaven. So the body is in the ground,
but the soul went to heaven. So they say that when David didn't ascend to heaven,
that was his soul, his body didn't go, but his soul did, and of course, there
are other similar quotes we could read because generally Christianity today
believes we go to heaven when we die, and it is there that we dwell in consciousness,
while our body is in the grave.
Here's from one of our other readers regarding heaven and hell. This one was
received over the internet on our website:
"As a God fearing Christian, I am very disappointed to see such an article
published. People need to hear the truth. It will set you free. Jesus is the
truth, the way, and the life. Don't sugar coat it. Christ taught of these things
and warned against them. If these are the kind of things being printed in your
newsletter, leave me off your mailing list."
Another one off the internet, from a place called the Religious Press:
"Your Position on the Place Called Hell…" is the title. "I
could not help but think how wonderful it would be if you were true. However,
I am fearful you have selected special portions of scripture to support your
theory. I wonder if there must be portions you do not understand. Possibly your
doctrine will turn out to be the greatest hindrance for the advancement of the
gospel ever."
I hope not.
"W.L. Oliver"
So what is the truth of the matter? Is our reward in heaven, like Peter says?
Apostle Peter said it is. How would you respond to people who asked you about
it? Let's turn to Acts 2:29, I referred to this a moment ago. We read that David,
King David, of course…
Acts 2:29. "…is both dead and buried,
and his tomb is with us to this day."
And then in verse 34 of Acts 2…
Verse 34. "For David did not ascend into
the heavens…"
Seems pretty plain, doesn't it? David was a man after God's own heart. Why didn't
he go to heaven? Well, I have three simple points here for you this afternoon.
You can take a note on. Three points, and the first one is…
1. What actually happens when he die? What happens when we
die?
Now you recall what Solomon wrote, and we'll turn to it in Ecclesiastes 9:5-6,
10. Let's turn to Ecclesiastes 9 and read verse 5 first of all.
Ecclesiastes 9:5. "For the living know
that they will die…"
And, you know, we all know that eventually our physical life will come to an
end.
Verse 5. "But…" says Solomon
"…the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the
memory of them is forgotten."
Verse 6. "Also their love, their hatred,
and their envy have now perished…"
See everything that they were is now perished and is gone, and so then Solomon
says in verse 10…
Verse 10. "Whatever your hand finds to
do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom
in the grave where you are going."
So all of your thoughts will be gone. All of your love, your hate, your envy,
the good things, the bad things that you did will be gone once you die because
"…the dead know nothing…"
When he dies…
Psalm 146:4. "His spirit departs, he returns
to his earth; In that very day his plans perish."
When you die, your thoughts perish.
Solomon said the dead know nothing. So if your body is in the grave, and as
Gill's commentary says, but your soul goes to heaven, what would be the point
of that, if you're not in any consciousness, if you don't know anything. You
see Christianity today believes when your soul goes to heaven that, obviously,
you are aware of that. But, no, "…the dead know nothing…"
When we die, we stay in the ground,
and our thoughts perish, as was written about King David. He didn't go to heaven,
he's still in the tomb. His thoughts perished. Has anyone gone to heaven?
John 3:13.
"No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that
is, the Son of Man who is in heaven."
So Christ himself said that, in the book of John here, no one has gone to heaven
except Christ. David, Job, no one, nobody, not even converted Christians of
today who have died. Who has gone to heaven? Christ. No one else. Are the dead
conscious? Do they have an emotional awareness? Does the conscious soul leave
an unconscious body behind? No. Your thoughts perish when you die. So that's
point one, what happens when we die? Point two then is…
2. Where is our reward?
And I think this is a good place to continue. Where is our reward? Matthew 5:12
is where I would like to turn to for a moment.
Matthew 5:12. "Rejoice and be exceedingly
glad, for great is your reward in heaven…"
Guess that settles it then. Must be heaven after all. In fact, look at I Peter
1:4. I referred to it earlier. Talking about the dead in verse 3, and then verse
4…
I Peter 1:4. "…to an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven
for you."
Well, I guess that settles it then. Doesn't it? Our reward is to go to heaven.
No. It doesn't say that, but that's what the churches of today would tell you
it says. It says our reward is in heaven. It doesn't say we are going to go
to heaven. It says, your reward is in heaven. Now keep that thought in mind
as we continue because our reward is in heaven. Does this verse say that we
then go to heaven to receive the reward? Actually, no it doesn't. So that brings
us to point three. So point one, what happens when we die? We know nothing.
Point two, where is our reward? It's in heaven, but point three is…
3. Does our reward stay in heaven?
So now let's turn to another passage in Revelation 22, and it speaks to the
time of Christ's return to this earth in power and glory.
Revelation 22:12. "And behold, I am coming
quickly…" says Christ "…and My reward is with Me,
to give to every one according to his work."
So Christ has that reward in heaven reserved for us, and he's coming back here,
and he's going to bring it with him. It doesn't stay up there. Other passages
show that the saints will be resurrected at this time of Christ's return. We
can turn back to I Corinthians 15 for a moment. I Corinthians 15:51, and of
course, this is part of the actual truth on the whole subject. Talking about
the resurrection at Christ's return.
I Corinthians 15:51. "Behold, I tell you
a mystery…" See this is something that not everybody grasps properly.
"We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed."
When it says, "we shall not all sleep," that's talking about death.
There are passages in The Bible that talk about when we die it's like we go
into a sleep and know nothing. We won't always sleep like that…
Verse 51-52. "…we shall be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet…"
Of course, that last trumpet is at Christ's return. Christ says when he returns,
he's bringing that reward with him. So this is the context here.
Verse 52-53. "…For the trumpet will
sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For
this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."
Now if you already have an immortal soul, why does God then have to give you
immortality? There is no immortal soul. It's an ancient pagan belief that has
been transferred into Christianity.
Verse 52. "…this mortal must put
on immortality."
We don't have it of ourselves, and this all happens at the time of Christ's
return at the last trumpet when he brings that reward back with him from heaven.
I Corinthians 15:23, you go back a few verses to verse 23. This all happens…
I Corinthians 15:23. "But each one in
his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His
coming."
So when Christ returns is when all this takes place. So what we read then, is
that our reward is in heaven, and when Christ returns to rule, he will bring
it with him. I don't want to be in heaven, while Christ is here on earth with
my reward. I think I want to be where he is not up in heaven floating on a cloud.
Now it's interesting Mr. Petty was mentioning in one of the radio programs this
week, or maybe it was one of the guests we were interviewing, that most people
do believe in the puffy cloud and the harp and all that, you know, most have
that kind of a belief of heaven, where you just sit around and do nothing for
eternity. Christ is coming back here, and we want to be here with him when he
brings the reward.
Revelation 20:4 states in a future tense that the saints lived and reigned with
Christ for a thousand years and chapter 5:10 says…
Revelation 5:10. "And have made us kings
and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
It's one of those Feast of Tabernacles scriptures we read. We shall reign on
this earth for a thousand years with Christ when he returns. If we're one of
the saints and Christ has our reward, and he brings it with him upon his return
to earth to rule, at which time then we are resurrected to immortality, then
where would you want to be? I think I'd like to be with Christ and the rest
of the saints teaching and helping others during the millennial reign of Christ
on this earth, especially if my reward and promise of eternal life is no longer
in heaven.
Look at this prophecy in Zechariah 14 of Christ's triumphant, astounding, earth
shattering return to planet earth. Zechariah 14:4. As I said Christ's triumphant,
earth shattering return. Zechariah 14:4-5, 9.
Zechariah 14:4. "And in that day His feet
will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the
Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large
valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward
the south."
Do you ever wonder why there is so much focus on Jerusalem today between at
least three different religions, with the Vatican trying to get involved, Islam,
Christianity, Judaism, fighting over that city? Because one day it's not going
to be theirs, it's going to be Jesus Christ's, and that's where the Kingdom
of God will emanate from.
Verse 5. "Then you shall flee through My
mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall
flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus
the Lord my God will come, And all the saints with You."
You see the saints will be with Christ when he comes to this earth. They'll
be resurrected at the last trump and be with him here on this earth headquartered
at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. And verse 9…
Verse 9. "And the Lord shall be King over
all the earth. In that day it shall be-- "The Lord is one," And His
name one."
So what is the hope the dead can have? It is as we already read, in I Corinthians
15, if I go back to verse 50…
I Corinthians 15:50. "…flesh and
blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God…"
Verse 51-52. "…we shall all be changed--in
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will
sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
And that's what Zechariah is prophesying here. That incredible time when the
earth is shaken, when the Mount of Olives is split in two as Christ returns.
The resurrection of the dead in Christ is God's answer to death. What must first
occur before anyone inherits the kingdom? We must be changed to immortality.
Has the resurrection taken place yet? No. No one has yet ascended except Christ.
Has anyone inherited the kingdom? No one other than Christ has yet inherited
the glory of the kingdom. Where are the dead waiting for the resurrection? In
the grave.
Revelation 21:2 is where we should go to next. This is talking about a new heaven
and a new earth, which is in the future after the millennial reign of Christ
here on earth when there will be no more death and no more sorrow and no more
crying.
Revelation 21:2-3. "Then I, John, saw the
holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… And I heard
a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with
men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself…"
talking about the Father, God the Father "…Himself will be with
them and be their God."
So do we eventually then go to heaven and dwell with the Father after the millennium?
No, the Father comes here. Once again, the focus is on this planet. Well, as
I mentioned earlier, some of our readers have not appreciated what we've tried
to preach in this regard, but some have appreciated it and felt enlightened
by it and even been very thankful. Not all of the letters we received have been
hostile. Not all of the letters have been asking for them to be removed from
our subscription list, and here's one such positive note…
"Dear United Church of God…" and this is from Wisconsin, town
of Bruce, Wisconsin "…thank you for sending me the booklet 'Heaven
and Hell: What Does The Bible Really Teach?' The Bible really does teach that
God is a merciful and loving God who would never sentence any human being into
an eternal punishment of fire, causing sorrow, crying, and pain forever. This
truth seems to have eluded the belief of some Christians."
And so he's now coming to understand what The Bible really teaches. What does
God, through The Bible, tell us about the reward of the saved? Where that reward
is and when that reward is to be received. Well, I think we can all see that
at present, our reward is in heaven in the hands of the custodian that can bring
it to us. It's reserved in heaven for us and that custodian, who's looking after
that reward, is going to bring it to us, will bring that reward with him upon
his return to this earth as King of Kings to give to each of us according to
our work once we have accepted Jesus Christ, become converted, become a part
of the family of God, then we'll be rewarded according to our work. Christ will
descend upon the Mount of Olives, splitting it in two, and the saints will be
with him, ruling on this earth for at least the first thousand years, and in
fact, we see in Revelation that eventually, the new Jerusalem will come down
here also, and God the Father will dwell here, and I think that we would not
want to be somewhere else when God's governance over the whole universe will
be headquartered in this part of the solar system.
So what is the biblical answer to death? The Bible plainly teaches that the
dead lie in the grave and know nothing, have no thoughts, have no emotions,
possess no consciousness, as if they are in a deep sleep some scriptures tell
us. Does this mean death, the cessation of our life is final, the end of everything?
Well, no, The Bible answers that question, too, doesn't it? Although mankind
is physical, subject to death, the good news is that God promises a resurrection
to eternal life. You can live forever, and there is a right way to go about
it. We do not have an immortal soul. Everyone who repents, worships God, and
accepts Jesus Christ as his Messiah and accepts Jesus Christ's sacrifice has
that opportunity for eternal life.
As one reader recognized, this is exciting, enlightening truth. Here's a comment
from Australia…
"I am writing to thank the UCG for some of its recent publications, such
as the new 'Heaven and Hell' booklet. In particular, I am impressed with the
statements on pages 48 and 49 concerning the third resurrection, that truth
which has been eschewed by so many these days, and of course, that's another
whole subject about the resurrections themselves."
And here's one more from Cleveland, Ohio…
"Thank you for your recent letter inviting me to write for a complimentary
copy of 'Heaven and Hell: What Does The Bible Really Teach?' I read the
article in the recent issue of the Good News and was impressed with the
approach of David Treybig. I have been a serious bible student for over sixty
years and wrestled with the question of eternal punishing many times. I am a
retired Baptist pastor and must admit that I never once preached on this theme,
and I look forward to receiving a copy of the book you are offering."
And so the first resurrection to immortality will take place when Christ returns
to establish God's kingdom on this earth and later will come another resurrection
to physical life for people who had never had a relationship with the Father
and Jesus Christ. They have not been doomed to an everlasting, punishing hell
fire. They too will gain the opportunity for immortality. People who never knew
Jesus Christ will have that opportunity themselves for immortality, and the
true final answer is not death in the grave, but resurrection.
This is a foundational aspect of the truth of God's kingdom, something we take
for granted sometimes, but as I said as the gospel is preached, as our literature
material is broadcast far and wide, we can expect to see new people coming into
our faith and being excited about this, and you can help explain to them what
the truth is. It's a principal upon which much other biblical understanding
comes. Our reward as sons of God will begin here on earth at Christ's return
not in heaven. So be prepared to give an answer of the hope that lies within
you if the need arises.