Our Destination is Different from O.T. and Gospel Saints

Our Destination is Different from O.T. and Gospel Saints

Have you ever noticed that Old Testament and Gospel saints were NOT PROMISED HEAVEN as a destination? Instead they were promised an everlasting kingdom on earth. As a matter of fact, these saints never even had a concept of "going to heaven" when they died. The reason is because all through the Old Testament and prophecy it was spoken of a glorious new earthly kingdom; one which would be restored and refreshed as it was before.

In the verse below, Zacharias, John the Baptist father, when speaking of salvation, does not have the concept of "going to heaven" as you and I would today. In his case, salvation is being saved from their earthly enemies and inheriting that promised 'earthly, terra firma' land mention in the covenant made to Abraham,

Luke 1:67-75 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:  68 "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, 70 as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, 71 That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, 72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, 73 the oath which He swore to our father Abraham: 74 To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

When Peter preaches after the day of Pentecost he references the Millennial Kingdom in statements bolded below, referring to words like "times of refreshing" and "restoration of all things",

Acts 3:17-21 Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Have a look at these verses to continue illustrating the point of bible saints not having a concept of heaven but rather of earth,

Zechariah 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Job 19:25-27 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

The Jews were not promised an inheritance in heaven, but on earth.

Matt.5:5 "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth".

They were taught to pray:

Matt.6:10 "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

They were looking for God's kingdom to come to earth. Jesus Christ would sit on "the throne of his father David." David's throne is on earth.

Luke 1:31-33 "...and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever;

Having seen the evidence in scripture regarding the destination of Old Testament and Gospel saints, lets look at what Paul says about the destination of the Body of Christ. This is completely opposite to the earthly destination as mentioned above,

Ephesians 2:6 ...made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...

Philippians 3:20 ... For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour...

Colossians 3:2 ... Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

If you understand the context of this last verse below, I'm sure it will amaze you as much as it does me. Paul writes this to Timothy at the very end of his ministry. But before Paul became the Apostle of the Gentiles, he was a devout and highly fervent Pharisee. The Pharisee sect believed in the resurrection and knew full well of the promised earthly kingdom, the inheritance of the Jews. So, for Paul to have changed his fundamental beliefs to now say that God would preserve him for His heavenly kingdom is a radical thing to say. 

2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.

This is no mistake. Paul, through his ministry and function became the first (1 Timothy 1:16) to be saved into the grace program, the first member of the body of Christ and therefore the first of many to inherit a new destination of heaven. How incredible is that!!