Where is "go to heaven" in the Bible?

[Der Alte]

I can explain your error, it might help. The meaning of the word is established above and not disputed. Rapture as the name of a false doctrine becomes a jargon with a speial meaning known to them that use it. Us not in the know can see that there is wrong with it's useage. At least one on this thread confuses rapture with tanslation.

I made no error to explain. Is this supposed to make some kind of sense? Your unsupported assumptions/presuppositions are not convincing. As I said the word "rapture" is the anglicization of the Latin word ""rapiemur" which simply means "caught up". See 1 Thess 4:17. quoted above.

 

[Der Alte]

In Jewish belief, Sheol was the holding place of the dead (sometimes called "grave,") which consisted of:
1) Paradise (Abraham's bosom) - place of blessing, and
2) Hades - place of punishment, as Jesus used it in Lk 16:23,
which is translated from the Greek into English as "hell."

You are misinformed. Before and during the time of Jesus there was a significant belief in a place of eternal fiery punishment which they called both sheol and Ge Hinnom written in the 225 BC Septuagint and the NT as hades and Gehenna. See linked section from 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia. In this section both hades/Gehenna are equated with "hell" 22 times.

GEHENNA - JewishEncyclopedia.com

Complete contents the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia.

www.jewishencyclopedia.com

 

[oikonomia]

On what will you be judged?

I expect to have to give an account to the Lord for how much He was able to make His home in my heart, given
the degree of awareness I had of His will to do so.

I also expect that there will be dispensational forgiveness available corresponding to how I was able to forgive others.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. (Matt. 5:7)
For the judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13)

Having this blessed awareness, I often begin my prayers with a request that God have mercy on all my enemies.

Now this mercy and forgiveness to the Christian (Matt. 5:7) is not related to eternal redemption which is secure.
It is related to reward or discipline in the millennial kingdom.

For example, I believe Paul prayed for a certain eternally saved believer by the name of Onesiphorus.
I believe this mercy Paul hoped he would have from God was related not to eternal redemption but to millennial kingdom reward.

May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain;
But being in Rome, he sought me out diligently and found me.

May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord in that day.
And in how many things he served me in Ephesus, you know best. (2 Tim. 1:16-18)

 

[Clare73]

You are misinformed. Before and during the time of Jesus there was a significant belief in a place of eternal fiery punishment which they called both sheol and Ge Hinnom

Ge Hinnom (Hades) was in Sheol, as was Paradise (Abraham's bosom).
You see Jesus' use of Hades and Abraham's bosom in Lk 16:22-23 regarding the rich man and Lazarus.

written in the 225 BC Septuagint and the NT as hades and Gehenna. See linked section from 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia. In this section both hades/Gehenna are equated with "hell" 22 times.

GEHENNA - JewishEncyclopedia.com

Complete contents the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia.

www.jewishencyclopedia.com

 

[Der Alte]

Ge Hinnom (Hades) was in Sheol, as was Paradise (Abraham's bosom).
You see Jesus' use of Hades and Abraham's bosom in Lk 16:22-23 regarding the rich man and Lazarus.

I don't know where you are getting your information. The bosom of Abraham was not a place but a position. The position of honor at the heavenly feast. I just quoted from the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia with history dating back to the Old Testament. Ge hinnom was NOT in sheol. Ge hinnom and sheol in the OT and Gehenna and hades in the 225 BC LXX referred to the same place which the Jews equated with the English word hell. Please read the article and the multiple sources the article cited at the bottom. I'm fairly sure that Jewish scholars know what their ancestors believed. You might want to find yourself some different scholars/teachers/pastors who are more honest to follow.

 

[CoreyD]

In Jewish belief, Sheol was the holding place of the dead (sometimes called "grave,") which consisted of:
1) Paradise (Abraham's bosom) - place of blessing, and
2) Hades - place of punishment, as Jesus used it in Lk 16:23,

which is translated from the Greek into English as "hell."

If you are referring to late century Jewish beliefs, that is not surprising.
Not only were the Jewish leaders a bad influence on the people, as we saw in Jesus' day, the latter Jews went even further astray, but that has nothing to do with the fact that the Hebrew word Sheol, and Greek word Hades, both refer to the same thing, and the early faithful Jews, from Moses to Jesus, understood these terms quite different to how they came to be viewed in later times.

Jonah, for example who lived quite early, said,“I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. Jonah 2:2

Jesus referred to Jonah.
Matthew 12:40 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Do you imagine that Jonah was somewhere other than the belly of the fish? Jesus did not agree.
Whatever beliefs arose among the Jews, who were always deviating in their stubbornness, are not beliefs we should adopt.
Rather, we should hold to the course of the faithful.

Sheol שְׁאוֹל
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (שְׁאוֹל), to which you are going.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 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 (שְׁאוֹל) where you are going.

 

[CoreyD]

I don't know where you are getting your information.

Evidently, corrupted Jewish teachings.

 

[CoreyD]

@oikonomia hello.
I want to get clarity on your OP, thanks.
I think you are not arguing that the Bible dies not teach that persons do go to heaven, but rather, you are arguing that the Bible does not teach that persons go to heaven for ever.
Am I understanding you correctly?

 

[oikonomia]

@oikonomia hello.
I want to get clarity on your OP, thanks.
I think you are not arguing that the Bible dies not teach that persons do go to heaven, but rather, you are arguing that the Bible does not teach that persons go to heaven for ever.
Am I understanding you correctly?

That is right.
I think it is high time Christians "graduate" from the superfiscial understanding
that God abandons the eart and desires the saved to dwell in heaven forever.

Now those who point out that heaven and earth appear to merge together in Revelation 21,22 see something.
But what I believe we really are seeing there eis the merging, mingling and blending of God and man.

Though the Triune God forever retains His non-communicable Godhead there is something He has intended
from before the foundation of the world.
In a word it is that God become man and man become God.

That is of course that He remain the eternal Sourc3, Origin, Father and Godhead of this united relationship.

 

[Der Alte]

If you are referring to late century Jewish beliefs, that is not surprising.
Not only were the Jewish leaders a bad influence on the people, as we saw in Jesus' day, the latter Jews went even further astray, but that has nothing to do with the fact that the Hebrew word Sheol, and Greek word Hades, both refer to the same thing, and the early faithful Jews, from Moses to Jesus, understood these terms quite different to how they came to be viewed in later times.

Jonah, for example who lived quite early, said,“I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. Jonah 2:2

Jesus referred to Jonah.
Matthew 12:40 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Do you imagine that Jonah was somewhere other than the belly of the fish? Jesus did not agree.
Whatever beliefs arose among the Jews, who were always deviating in their stubbornness, are not beliefs we should adopt.
Rather, we should hold to the course of the faithful.

Sheol שְׁאוֹל
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (שְׁאוֹל), to which you are going.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 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 (שְׁאוֹל) where you are going.

I think Jonah was using "sheol" figuratively. The belly of a large fish was not literally שׁאול /sheol.

 

[oikonomia]

I think Jonah was using "sheol" figuratively. The belly of a large fish was not literally שׁאול /sheol.

There are those who say Jonah actually died in the whale and was resurrected around the moment he was spat out.

 

[Clare73]

If you are referring to late century Jewish beliefs, that is not surprising.
Not only were the Jewish leaders a bad influence on the people, as we saw in Jesus' day, the latter Jews went even further astray, but that has nothing to do with the fact that the Hebrew word Sheol, and Greek word Hades, both refer to the same thing, and the early faithful Jews, from Moses to Jesus, understood these terms quite different to how they came to be viewed in later times.

Jonah, for example who lived quite early, said,“I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. Jonah 2:2

Would that not be Jonah metaphorically referring to the belly of the fish as a grave (Sheol)?

Jesus referred to Jonah.
Matthew 12:40 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Do you imagine that Jonah was somewhere other than the belly of the fish? Jesus did not agree.

No, I "imagine" that Jonah metaphorically referred to the belly of the whale as a grave (Sheol = grave, death).

Whatever beliefs arose among the Jews, who were always deviating in their stubbornness, are not beliefs we should adopt.
Rather, we should hold to the course of the faithful.

Sheol שְׁאוֹל
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (שְׁאוֹל), to which you are going.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 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 (שְׁאוֹל) where you are going.

Not understanding why the OT nomenclature there even matters to NT faith.

 

[Der Alte]

There are those who say Jonah actually died in the whale and was resurrected around the moment he was spat out.

Never heard that before. Jonah's narration seems to indicate he was alive all the time.

 

[Der Alte]

Would that not be Jonah metaphorically referring to the belly of the fish as a grave (Sheol)?

Yes.

No, I "imagine" that Jonah metaphorically referred to the belly of the whale as a grave (Sheol = grave, death).

Yes, again.

Not understanding why the OT nomenclature there even matters to NT faith.

2 Timothy 3:16
(16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 2:15
(15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
John 5:39
(39) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.​

The only scripture they had was the OT.

 

[Clare73]

Yes.
Yes, again.

2 Timothy 3:16​

(16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:​

2 Timothy 2:15​

(15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.​

John 5:39​

(39) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.​

The only scripture they had was the OT.

But why does that nomenclature matter to NT faith?

 

[Der Alte]

Would that not be Jonah metaphorically referring to the belly of the fish as a grave (Sheol)?
No, I "imagine" that Jonah metaphorically referred to the belly of the whale as a grave (Sheol = grave, death).
Not understanding why the OT nomenclature there even matters to NT faith.

Did or did not Jesus use the same words to describe the place of punishment? Also see 2 Timothy 3:16

 

[CoreyD]

That is right.
I think it is high time Christians "graduate" from the superfiscial understanding
that God abandons the eart and desires the saved to dwell in heaven forever.

Thanks for clarifying.
I think those who are humble are coming around to the realization that God has not abandoned the earth, thanks to the beautiful feet that are preaching and teaching the Good News of God's Kingdom to every nation. Romans 10:13-15; Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:18-20

Now those who point out that heaven and earth appear to merge together in Revelation 21,22 see something.
But what I believe we really are seeing there eis the merging, mingling and blending of God and man.

Though the Triune God forever retains His non-communicable Godhead there is something He has intended
from before the foundation of the world.
In a word it is that God become man and man become God.

That is of course that He remain the eternal Sourc3, Origin, Father and Godhead of this united relationship.

So, addressing the OP, here is what the Bible tells us.

Do righteous persons make their home in heaven?

• Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
• John 14:2, 3 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. 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.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
• Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,

Yes.

Do righteous persons make their home in heaven, forever?

• 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. And indeed, in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling which is from heaven,
• Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Yes.

Do righteous persons live on the earth, forever?

• Psalm 37:9-11, 29 9 For evildoers shall be [a]cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth (erets אֶרֶץ). 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth (erets אֶרֶץ), And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land (erets אֶרֶץ), And dwell in it forever.
• Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth (gé γῆς).

Yes

Why do some make their home in heaven, while others make their home on earth?
God intended people live on the earth forever. Isaiah 45:18; Psalm 115:16
That is God's will - from the beginning, to the end.
In other words, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10, 11

Ephesians 1:9, 10
[God] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment - to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

That "plan", or purpose, was on Jesus' mind, throughout his ministry, so that when asked by his disciples, to teach them how to pray, he said
“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:9, 10

Jesus, of all persons, knows God's purpose. He was there in the beginning. John 1:1; Proverbs 8:22-31; Colossians 1:15, 16; Revelation 3:14
Jesus knows that God intends for a family in heaven - spirit beings, and a family on earth - human beings, or earthlings. A universal family united in praising the creator. Ephesians 1:9, 10

Thus Paul under inspiration of God, through the holy spirit, wrote :
1 Corinthians 15:24-28
24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Notice that Jesus delivers the Kingdom to his father.
Did Jesus take up a structure, and place in God's hands? No. The kingdom is a rulership, or Government. It does not go from one location to another, like a car, train, or boat.
It's not a physical structure.

Hence, the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, simply refers to Christ and his kingdom heirs taking up their role as kings and priests over those dwelling on earth like a tent (skéné σκηνή : a tent). Revelation 21:2, 3

Because of believing that a literal city in heaven, would actually come down on earth, many have the view that God, Jesus, and the heavenly angels leave heaven, with their heavenly bodies, to live on earth.
Is this your view, also?

 

[CoreyD]

I think Jonah was using "sheol" figuratively. The belly of a large fish was not literally שׁאול /sheol.

What do you think Jonah used Sheol figuratively of?

 

[CoreyD]

There are those who say Jonah actually died in the whale and was resurrected around the moment he was spat out.

Do those that say this, point out a verse in the Bible, which actually says Job died? If not, they need to be careful about how they add ideas into the Bible, since Jesus referred to the Devil as the father of the lie, and we wouldn't want Jesus to refer to us as children of the Devil, for speaking lies.
We want to speak the truth, which is what is found in God's word.

 

[CoreyD]

Would that not be Jonah metaphorically referring to the belly of the fish as a grave (Sheol)?

No, I "imagine" that Jonah metaphorically referred to the belly of the whale as a grave (Sheol = grave, death).

Yes, the fish's belly would become his grave - Sheol.
We agree on something then?

What about Hades? Do you agree that Hades is the grave also?
Acts 2:31