Place of resurrection, Heaven or Earth?

[omantodd2000]

Just wanted to get peoples opinions, not looking to debate them. Is the place of reward and resurrection in Heaven or Earth? What do you believe happens when you die? If you can use direct evidence from the bible that would be helpful.

[micah7:9]

Earth. 
1Th 4:17  then we who are living, who are remaining over, together with them shall be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in air, and so always with the Lord we shall be;
1Th 4:18  so, then, comfort ye one another in these words.

Pretty simple, glad you asked :dsunny:

[eaglesway]

Resurrected in the heavens, then heaven comes to earth ?:o)

[micah7:9]

To my understanding we are already in the "heavens," we have been battleling in them for years. Our destination is earth.
Psa 37:11  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Where does it read that we will be in heaven?

[eaglesway]

Well if we are waging war in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, I think we will be resurrected there-when we meet the Lord in the air-as in the scriptures you posted. The I think we come right back to earth to begin building the new heavens and the new earth wherein righteousness dwells.

[micah7:9]

Yep, on earth. Just where is this in heaven? I mean where is the location of heaven, I mean like a location, like earth?
We, those who believe are in the heavenly's, but heaven is not our destination, no earth is our destination. Earth is what Jehovah created to be inhabited, the heavens are our strength now, but our inheritance is the earth.

Psa 37:10  For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
Psa 37:11  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

[micah7:9]

Thank goodness there are some who find the exchange of years, moments wasted. :dsunny:

[Molly]

 :sigh:



For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.[a] 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

--2 Cor 5



Until the end of the age:  heaven.

[ded2daworld]

If you take the definition of resurrection as most people understand it,
"returning to the living state" then just as Jesus was resurrected, so shall Christians. Earth.
"Then the earth gave up the dead that was in it and the sea gave up the dead that was in it"
Micah is right. If we are all going to be in heaven, why would God bother to give us a new earth?
"There will be a new heaven and a new earth"
To me the resurrection hinges on the misunderstood but plain verse.
"Behold, I am making ALL things new." - it does NOT say "Behold, I am making all new things."

[Molly]

Micah is right. If we are all going to be in heaven, why would God bother to give us a new earth?

Notice I said heaven until the end of the age.

Paul confirms this in his 'to be or not to be' soliloquy.

But, it's confirmed in many other places as well.

Why else would he say, I long to [die] and be with Christ?


21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better. 23 I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

--Phil 1



...and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

--Psa 23

[ded2daworld]

So since the earth is God's footstool, then heaven is kinda out in space somewhere?
Jesus still has a body - a glorified body - but a body.
He showed Thomas his wounds from the crucifixion and Paul said
25 years AFTER Jesus had died, there is "one mediator between God and man, the man, Jesus Christ."
I don't know how, but it sounds like a physical body to me. He didn't say "the Spirit, Jesus Christ.
and when he came toward the disciples they were afraid because "they thought he was a spirit"
but he(Jesus) reassured them that it was himself in the flesh. :Chinscratch: :dontknow:   

[Molly]

Do you think there are any limitations on Jesus as to how he can appear to man or not?

Or in what form he might be found in?

Are you saying there is no heaven?




I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.

--2 Cor 12:2



Deuteronomy 10:14 To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.


Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."




And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--

was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.

--2 Cor 12:3-4

[dajomaco]

The victor: I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God—the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God—and My new name.

But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell.

But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water by the word of God.

Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels in festive gathering,

in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient.

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force.


He stretched out what appeared to be a hand and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and carried me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner gate that faces north, where the offensive statue that provokes jealousy was located.

So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed.

[Molly]

And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.




27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.



36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

[ded2daworld]

Yeah Molly, I quoted the Bible saying "there will be a new HEAVEN and a new earth"
just wonderin where it might be - out in space someplace or just on another dimensional plane

Oh and my wife said for me to say that living with her is heaven on earth :laugh:

[Molly]

It could be another dimensional plane, but it's a big universe out there.

Jesus could certainly play easily with dimensions.  Even before his death, he could make himself disappear [go invisible] to escape the angry Pharisees that were trying to kill him.




And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.

But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

--Luke 4:29-30



John 8:59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.



"hid" [himself]

G2928
κρύπτω
kruptō
kroop'-to
A primary verb; to conceal (properly by covering): - hide (self), keep secret, secret [-ly].

[ded2daworld]

I can't help but think heaven must be close if the earth is literally God's footstool. Of course, everything is close to God who encompasses all the universe and outside of it also.
...and it must be pretty close to W. Virginia because there it is "almost heaven" :cloud9:

[eaglesway]

I can't help but think heaven must be close if the earth is literally God's footstool. Of course, everything is close to God who encompasses all the universe and outside of it also.
...and it must be pretty close to W. Virginia because there it is "almost heaven" :cloud9:

Yea, I spent most of 2009 in almost heaven. And it is :o)

[omantodd2000]

Thanks for the replies, I had always believed it to be on Earth also but wanted to know what others thought since I know many Christians believe it is in Heaven. Seems to be allot of confusion about this in our religion and to be honest I am not 100% sure right now.

[sheila]

 all the above is  the reason  why jw's beleive in two hopes..a heavenly one and an earthly one. I don't think

that's true.  I think that what you look forward to..is where you are spiritually in your developement in

  the revelation of Christ.....

[jabcat]

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words..  I Thes. 4:16-18


Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

..But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  I Cor. 15

[Molly]

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words..  I Thes. 4:16-18


Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

..But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  I Cor. 15

All these scripts pertain to the end of the age.

But, meanwhile,  he has a place for us in heaven.

Or do we really think that Paul was longing to die so that he could spend 2000 years in the grave waiting for Christ to return?


And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me, that where I am you also may be. John 14:3


For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  2 Cor 5

[Molly]

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,

And, I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

--Psa 23




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.

--Jn 14:2

[jabcat]

I understood the verses to be saying He comes back to instantly change us and take us away with Him.   That's what I believe we have to look forward to (addressing sheila's post of what we have to "look forward to").

Seems like we do end up back here at some point though.  Maybe it's a few seconds later, or a thousand years later.  I don't know. 

[jabcat]

"And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me, that where I am you also may be." John 14:3

Molly, when do you believe this happens?  At the end of an age, or when one dies?  Or both? 

It's been confusing for awhile for me.  I do believe He literally returns and we rise to meet Him.  An instant miracle, not some progressive process.  I believe that's scripturally supported (the above.)  But what is confusing is, if we go at death, then come back/are resurrected, then go and come back again.  I'm surely missing something.  Unless it's more a matter of dimensions, close realms/planes as ded mentioned earlier.  And as you mentioned, Jesus able to apparently change dimensions (maybe there's a better term) even during His prior physical time on earth.   :dontknow:  Maybe it's not so much as a "here, then there" as we perceive, but more of entering different dimensions - where there are BOTH spiritual and literal/physical realities.  I don't know.  I'm over my head, but I wonder about it.