HEAVEN IS NOT THE DESTINATION OF MAN

HEAVEN IS NOT THE DESTINATION OF MAN

 

Yes! You saw that right. The “NOT” is not a mistake. That’s it. HEAVEN IS NOT THE DESTINATION OF MAN.

 

HEAVEN IS NOT YOUR DESTINATION!

 

You were not created to reside in Heaven. You were created to reside on the earth.

 

God didn’t form you because he wanted you to occupy heaven but to occupy the earth.

 

Meanwhile, when I say heaven here I am not referring to the sky and space for they are all part of the earth. Am referring to the real heaven that we know of, where we usually say “God resides.”

 

Even though we have seen this in our bibles yet it has not occurred to us like this today. Don’t worry, just follow me gently as we unravel a mystery I discovered recently. I pray the Lord helps us and reveals His word to us not to fall into error. Amen.

 

Just keep an open mind as we continue.

 

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” (KJV)

 

In the beginning, God created two places. Two destinations we can call them or two places of residence.

1.  The Heaven

2.  The Earth

 

Now if you examine the creation story very well from Chapter 1 of Genesis, everything discussed was not done in/for the heaven but in/for the earth.

 

The light, the sky, the water, plants, planetary bodies, animals were all created for/in the earth to give the earth structure and beauty, including times and seasons.

 

Verse 26 is where the big deal starts from.

 

Genesis 1:26

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (KJV)

 

The purpose of creating the man was to rule over the created things which God has created on earth.

 

In verse 28, And God blessed them, and God saith unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (KJV)

 

That is a very important point to note. God told the man to fill the earth not the heaven but the earth.

 

He didn’t create man for heaven but for the earth. Man’s ruler-ship was to be exercised over the earth and not heaven.

 

God gave man everything on earth, he has created.

 

In verse 5 of Genesis 2 the first place God placed man, the residence, the destination God put man after creating him was immediately in the garden. The garden was not in any other place rather than on the earth. So man’s destination was on the earth. The man was to exercise his dominion over the whole earth starting from the Garden of Eden.

 

The will of God was for man to live forever in this first incorruptible earth but things changed when man disobeyed. The earth became corrupted and man could no longer live forever in his residence, he will have to die at a point.

 

But that is not the end of the story. This is where we know from normal bible story that when we die our flesh is what actually dies and decays but our real selves which is the spirit/soul is taken either to heaven or hell that is depending on if you are redeemed.

 

For those who will end up at heaven talking about the redeemed. Heaven is not the final place for you. You are in heaven temporarily until God completely destroys this corruptible old earth and bring about a new heaven and a new incorruptible earth then everyone who made it to heaven will now be taken to the new earth that is their final destination – THE NEW EARTH, THE INCORRUPTIBLE EARTH.

 

Now follow me to Revelation, let’s look at chapter 5 verse 9 – 10. In these verses, were the 24 elders praising the Lamb that was about to open the scroll and its seven seals.

 

In their words they spoke about persons who were purchased for God by His (the Lamb’s referring to Jesus’) blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. Now these persons are made to be a kingdom and priests to serve God and they are to reign on the Earth.

 

Look at it very well. It didn’t say reign in the heaven rather it said to reign on the earth.

 

Now the earth referred to here is the new earth that will be formed very soon after the total destruction of the old heaven and old earth. It would be more like the resurrected earth, just like we will be coming with a resurrected incorruptible bodies so also is the earth.

 

If you noticed the series of event that has been occurring on the earth since that day of disobedience you will see that the earth has been deteriorating because of corruption. Corruption does not preserve but destroys. That is what has been happening to the earth ever since. It’s only getting worse until the final destruction.

 

From when the Lamb started opening the scroll, massive mayhem starting happening in the earth. Read from chapter 6 of Revelation it all illustrates the destruction of the earth in different stages.

 

Now watch very closely those who have been killed before, for the sake of the word of God were waiting for the complete destruction of the old earth. They were waiting for their blood to be avenged. They were worn with white robes and were asked to wait a little bit longer for their number to be complete i.e. for their brothers and sisters to join them (here its referring to the saved ones- the redeemed).

 

Not only were they waiting for vengeance, but they were also waiting for their inheritance, their destination, where they can reign which is the new earth. And this was what the bible refers to when it says in Hebrews chapter 11: 10 that Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. This city all these years we’ve always thought it to be heaven but the reality is not really heaven. It’s referring to the new city of God. The New Jerusalem which will be brought down to the new earth.

 

All those who made it to heaven were rejoicing and praising God in chapter 7. They were serving God here in heaven day and night in his temple.

 

Continuing again in chapter 8 we see another massive destruction of the earth at the blast of the seven trumpets one by one the earth was gradually been destroyed.

 

The first resurrection was only for those who died in Christ they resurrected to reign with Christ in heaven for a thousand years. (Rev 20:1-6) but not forever. Take note of that.

 

When the final judgment day came the old heaven and the old earth fled from God’s presence. The judgment took place after the sending away of those whose names were not found in the book of life, death and hades into the lack of fire (Rev. 20:14-15). Then was the appearing of a new heaven and a new earth.

 

Remember the old heaven and the old earth had fled away at this time.

 

Now this new heaven and the new earth is entirely different in fact there is no sea in this new earth.

 

The Holy City, the New Jerusalem came down out of heaven from God to the new earth (Rev. 21:1-2)

 

Why does the Holy City not remain in heaven but had to come down to the new earth?

 

Revelation 21 verse 3 summarizes it all by saying “Look God’s dwelling place is now among the people and He will dwell with them. They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.”

 

This is the culmination of the statement of Jesus when He said “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) And also when the bible says “the kingdom of God is in our midst.” (Luke 17:21)

 

You can see it now. This is the real heritage of the children of God - God’s presence is the dwelling of God’s children and now it is not even in heaven but rather on the new earth just like it was from the very beginning with Adam.

 

God said now he is making everything new! (Rev. 21:5) This is the new creation.

 

Look now at Revelation 21:7 He said those who are victorious will inherit all this…”

 

Can you see that? This is our real heritage – the new earth, the holy city, the New Jerusalem, God’s dwelling place. This is our destination. This is our residence. And this is the inheritance that Peter spoke about was kept in heaven for us in 1 Peter 1:3-5

 

1 Peter 1:3-5

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

 

In this new city, this holy city in this new earth there is no temple because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple (Rev. 21:22).

 

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

 

Now take note of verse 24 of Revelation 21 it says “And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.”

 

The question here is, who or what are the nations? Who are the kings of the earth referred to in this verse? It’s very simple. Let’s go back to Revelation 5:9-10

 

Remember I told you this before. These are the persons purchased for God by the blood of the Lamb from every tribe and language, people and nation. They are the kingdom and priests to serve God and they are the kings of the earth, and they will reign on the earth.

 

Can you see this now?

 

Remember your very first purpose of existence was dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26, 28) now it is yours again in a better way. Isn’t it wonderful?

 

This is why I said heaven is not your destination but this new earth, the holy city is your destination, this is your residence and I believe when Jesus talked about his father’s house which has many mansions he is also referring to this new city where kings will live. Hallelujah!!!

 

In this city will be the throne of God and of the Lamb (Rev. 21:3).

 

Wow! This is amazing!

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I do hope you understand my point of view.

 

It is my desire that we all make it to this precious place that God has prepared for us. And it is on this note I will like to invite you to make the decision to invite Jesus into your life because he is the only way to this city. He is the only way to the Father.

 

As you have read earlier, only those who are purchased by his blood will inherit this new earth. Now the question is, are you purchased by his blood?

 

Also note that nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Rev. 21:27)

MAKE UP YOUR MIND TODAY TO CHANGE FROM THAT IMPURE WAY OF LIFE AND ENTER INTO THE PURITY OF CHRIST.

 

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BELIEVE AND CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD AND THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THEN YOU WILL BE SAVED.

 

IF YOU MAKE THIS DECISION THEN I WILL LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. I WILL LIKE TO WELCOME YOU INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD AND ALSO REJOICE WITH YOU.

 

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME ON +2348169968873 OR locate me at my Facebook page www.facebook.com/citizensofzion.ng and I will be glad to hear from you.

 

Thank you very much. I love you all and hope to see you in that holy city. AMEN

 

Yours Beloved in Christ,

Idoko, Meshach O.

(Friend of the Bridegroom)

idoko_meshach@yahoo.com