HEAVEN / EARTH

We realize this essay can get a bit deep in digging through bible scripture. Therefore, don't be afraid to take just a little "bite" at a time if you need to. And, as always, continue to test all teachings.

EARTH:
From the beginning, Yahweh intended for the earth to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18) and filled with people (Genesis 1:27-28, 9:1,7). Humankind is intended to be the custodians of the earth and it's inhabitants (Genesis 1:26, Genesis 9:2). God will fulfill this intention as indicated by Isaiah 55:8-11 and Hebrews 1:25. Further support is found in scriptures such as Psalms 37:11 (the meek will possess the earth), Psalms 37:29 (righteous will live forever on the earth), and Matthew 5:5 (the righteous will inherit the earth). There is no mention of death and an eventual life in a separate heavenly realm as an originally planned part of our existence. Death was only installed as a consequence for sin (Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:3, Romans 5:12 and 6:7,23).

In order for mankind to reside forever on the earth, this would require the earth to exist forever. The bible says the earth will exist forever (Ecclesiastes 1:4, Psalms 104:5). However, many interpret the bible as saying the earth will be incinerated by God, quoting from 2 Peter 3:10, which says:

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (American Standard Version)

So what are we to make of this?

If you compare various translations of this scripture, some translations will say the earth will be burnt up (New American Standard Version, Amplified Bible, King James Version, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Translation, etc.), others say it will be laid bare, (New International Version, etc.) and yet others say it will be exposed or discovered (The Message, New Living Translation, English Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New World Translation, etc. ). Since this verse is translated in a variety of ways, how can we know what is originally meant? Referring to the interlinear bible, we see what the original wording for the scripture is. An interlinear bible shows the original Hebrew and Greek text of the bible, with a literal word-for-word translation of the text under it, and a side margin translation of that text by another bible version. Some interlinear bibles are based on the Textus Receptus manuscripts, others are based on the Westscott and Hort manuscripts. Each of these does hold some variations in the translation in some places. Although the editors at CommonTruth do not recommend one manuscript over the other, we do use a Westscott and Hort online Interlinear bible quite frequently.To read an article discussing the differences between the Textus Receptus and the Westscott and Hort, please go to:
http://www.bible-researcher.com/kutilek1.html
To access the online interlinear bible version based on the Westscott and Hort texts, please go to: http://www.scripture4all.org

The interlinear text of this scripture shows the original Greek wording used was "The land... shall be found". By using bible study supports such as Strong's Greek Lexicon, we know the text used the Greek word "heurisko", which means "found" according to Strong's Greek lexicon:
Word entry #2147. heurisko hyoo-ris'-ko, a prolonged form of a primary heuro hyoo'-ro, which (together with another cognate form) heureo hyoo-reh'-o is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find (literally or figuratively):--find, get, obtain, perceive, see.

Some readers continue to hold to the "burned up" doctrine, because the verse also states "and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat...." Again, if you look to the interlinear, you will see that the Greek word translated as "elements" was the word "stoicheia", derived from the word "stoicheion". Looking up this Greek word also in the Strong's Greek Lexicon, we see this entry:
4747. stoicheion stoy-khi'-on neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of 4748; something orderly in arrangement, i.e. (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (literally), proposition (figuratively):--element, principle, rudiment.
4748. stoicheo stoy-kheh'-o from a derivative of steicho (to range in regular line); to march in (military) rank (keep step), i.e. (figuratively) to conform to virtue and piety:--walk (orderly).

Putting these corrections together, we see the passage is originally telling us:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the [conformity/piety] shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be [seen].

As you know, it is impossible to physically burn away mental concepts (conformity and piety). It seems, instead, that this passage is telling us that all pretense and conformity will be done away with, exposing the true worshipers from the counterfeit worshipers.

Many continue to point to the part that says "the heavens shall pass away..." believing this still supports the "burned up " doctrine. Again, according to the online interlinear, the Greek word for "shall pass away" is "parerchomai". According to the Strong's lexicon, this is word #3928 and is defined as:
parerchomai par-er'-khom-ahee from 3844 and 2064; to come near or aside, i.e. to approach (arrive), go by (or away), (figuratively) perish or neglect, (causative) avert:--come (forth), go, pass (away, by, over), past, transgress.
Therefore, we see that the phrase "pass away" isn't in reference to death or destruction; it is in reference to passing by, coming near or approaching. This is the same exact Greek word used at Matthew 24:35 ("The Heaven and Earth shall pass away...") and thus the same applies there as well. Lastly, some will point to the scriptures at Revelation Chapter 8, which speaks of a disaster of fire and of a burning mountain falling to earth. Let's take a look at what is said:

1 -- Revelation 8:7 tells us that only 1/3 of the earth will be plagued with fire. That leaves a majority of 2/3 left. Note, this also specifies only 1/3 of the dirt, plants and vegetation are burned up -- it says nothing about animals, humans, or anything else suffering that particular catastrophe.

2 -- Although other verses in Revelation 8 speak of a fiery mountain being thrown to earth (vs. 8), and a burning star falling to earth (vs. 9), these are not spoken of as burning anything on the earth; instead they cause other plagues (the sea turning into blood, and fresh water becoming poisonous). Going back to vs. 5 it says a censer with fire is hurled to earth, from which the online interlinear bible says the fiery censer became thunders and sounds and lightnings and quakes. Again, no mention of this incinerating the surface of the Earth.

As we can see, scripture doesn't say the earth is going to be destroyed by global fire. To teach the earth will be globally incinerated goes against all the other scriptures which say the earth will stand forever (Psalms 104:5, 119:90, Ecclesiastes 1:4), and that God never had the idea of burning people alive come into His heart (Jeremiah 7:31, 19:5, 32:35). It also goes against the scripture in which God Himself states He would never destroy the surface of the earth again on account of mankind and that the earth will continue forever (Genesis 8:21-22). Since Yahweh cannot lie (Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18), and His word always come true (Isaiah 55:8-11), we can be assured that global incineration is not in God's plan for the earth.


HEAVEN:
Since the earth was originally intended to be populated, and scripture repeatedly tells us the faithful will inherit the earth with everlasting life, does this mean nobody is going to heaven? To answer this, let's take a close look at what the bible states regarding Heaven's connection with Earth (the following scripture quotations will be from the Holman Christian Standard Bible unless otherwise noted):

Revelation 21:1-4, 10:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer. 2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God's dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away....He then carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the holy City Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.

It is significant to notice this passage clearly states God's Heavenly City, New Jerusalem, will come down out of Heaven and exist among men. It plainly states "and He will live with them." Notice, it does not say people will ascend to live with God in New Jerusalem, but instead that God will descend with New Jerusalem to earth to be with men. This isn't the only scripture stating this concept. We can find this also in the following scriptures:
Ezekiel 37:26-28
I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. I will establish and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be My people. 28 When My sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel."
2 Corinthians 6:16
And what agreement does God's sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said: I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.
Revelation 3:12
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.

So what we're seeing here is that we aren't going to heaven, it's the other way around: Heaven is coming to earth . Since sin will be destroyed, we will no longer be separated from God and His Holy Presence. Heaven and earth will be together as one, our segregation from God will be ended.

Why do we say we are currently separated/segregated from God? We are not meaning that God is unreachable. We firmly believe Yahweh is always ready to listen, always ready to help His faithful worshipers. Instead, we are meaning that He is Holy and clean, and we (because of sin) are unholy, and unclean. Only Holy and Clean can come into the direct presence of God (Isaiah 35:8-10, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Galatians 5:21, Revelation 21:27). We see this at the very beginning, in the Garden of Eden: Before Adam and Eve sinned, they had a very close relationship with Yahweh (Genesis 1:28,29, 2:16-22) because they were holy and clean/sinless at that time. However, after they sinned, they were banished from the Garden and kept at a distance from Yahweh. Not completely cut off from Him, yet kept at a distance, not allowed the closeness they once enjoyed. This why we need Christ to be the mediator between ourselves and Yahweh (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 9:15). If we weren't separated from God, we wouldn't need a mediator. Once Christ destroys all sin and the baggage that comes with it (1 Corinthians 15:25-28), we will be clean enough for New Jerusalem to return. Sin and evil will be gone, making us spiritually clean enough to return to God's presence.

As the scripture in Revelation 21:1-4 tells us, when New Jerusalem arrives all pain, sickness and death will be wiped out. In order for this to occur, our aging, mortal bodies must be changed into everlasting, immortal bodies, much like the changing of one's clothing, as mentioned at 1 Corinthians 15:50-57
50 Brothers, I tell you this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. 51 Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 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 will be changed. 53 Because this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 Now when this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting? 56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Paralleling this is
2 Corinthians 5:1-8:
For we know that if our earthly house, a tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And, in fact, we groan in this one, longing to put on our house from heaven, since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. Indeed, we who are in this tent groan, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.and the one who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment. Therefore, though, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight, yet we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.

Right now we are "away from the Lord" because we are still separated. So right now, we are "home" in our aging, mortal bodies and away from the Lord. When the time comes, we will be out of these mortal bodies and into our newly immortal bodies/ new "home" when New Jerusalem arrives.

Is this to be taken to mean that when New Jerusalem arrives we'll all transform into immortal spirits to dwell upon the earth? We don't believe so: The fact is, Adam and Eve were immortal, flesh bodied humans when they had their close relationship with God before their fall. Therefore, that is what God originally intended for us to be: Flesh. And since He keeps His intentions (Isaiah 55:8-11), we believe we will remain flesh as we return to immortality.

Of course, there is one scripture that seems to undo all this, confusing people regarding this matter:
1 Thessalonians 4: 14-18
14 Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord's coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

What are we to make of this?

Keep in mind that the events in this scripture are paralleled at Matthew 24:3, which tells us Christ will come with the clouds of Heaven and send the angels forth with a trumpet sound to gather his chosen people from the earth. Other scriptures, such as Matthew 26:64 and Revelation 1:7 also state Christ will be coming with the clouds of Heaven. Now, what's interesting about this is when Christ ascended to heaven after his first coming, it was said that his second coming will be in the manner as his departure, as told at Acts 1:9-11: After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven." Therefore, since Christ will return in the same manner that he left, it seems that he will indeed be coming back with clouds, and his disciples will be gathered, watching.

And since Heaven will be coming to earth, the believers will meet the Lord (who is in the air) because Heaven is returning to earth (Revelation 21:1-5). And believers will always be with the Lord because New Jerusalem will always stay with us (Daniel 7:13-14).

As you may have realized at this point, this information completely demolishes the doctrine of the Rapture. Along with this, it also demolishes the teaching of dead loved ones currently living in heaven. But if this were true, then what of the scripture at Ecclesiates 12:7 :

"And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it". (New International Version)

If you look at what the scripture is saying, it is referring to the fact that people originate from dirt, and return to dirt, and it is God who actually gives the force of life to our "dirt", just as described when Adam was created (Genesis 2:7). The bible does not tell us that this life force is a sentient being, it simply says it is the force of life from God. Ecclesiastes 3:19-22 tells us our sentience is gone when our bodies die, we have no advantage over animals in this regard. Coupling this with the scriptures that say there is no thought process or consciousness in death (Psalms 115:17, Ecclesiastes 9:5,10), we get a better picture of what actually happens: Death is the absence of life-force and a state of non-sentience. To better understand the difference between the "life-force" and "sentience", consider this: If a person has a severe accident and is considered to be "brain dead" (not the same as a coma, by the way), he may still have the force of life running through his body while hooked up to life support machinery. His body is still alive: the lungs breathe, the heart beats, the skin wounds heal. However, he is without sentience because his body is dead, even though his life force/spirit is still within him. In human bodies, sentience comes from brain function in tandem with the life force. If our spirits were sentient, then brain dead people on life support would have awareness, for their spirit is still within them, and thus wouldn't be brain dead to begin with.

Therefore, it seems a person's spirit/life force rests with God until the time of the resurrection (John 11:23-25, Acts 24:15). Because this life force is non-conscious, death is often referred to as "sleep" in the scriptures (Matthew 9:23-25, John 11:11-14, Jeremiah 51:39, Acts 7:60, etc.). To learn more about death and resurrection, please see our essay at:
http://www.commontruth.com/Resurrections.html

Putting this enormous amount of information together, we conclude that the Earth will stand forever, that when Christ cleanses evil from Earth then Heaven will return to dwell with us, and that there will be a resurrection in which spirits are returned to newly immortalized bodies for everlasting life. We believe this fits in with God's original plan for mankind, a plan that was interrupted by sin, yet will be restored in His due time. This doctrine is supported at Psalms 115:16, which says:

The heavens are the LORD's, but the earth He has given to the human race. (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

We realize this is not a mainstream Christian view, and we understand if some of you have great difficulty accepting this, being it is a radically different view from traditional church doctrine. However, we cannot find evidence of the traditional doctrine in scripture, and instead found the information we posted here in this essay. Please continue to test all things with scripture, and may our God guide you to His truth.