Not one mention is made in the Old Testament of the saints making their home in Heaven or even of the desirability of going to Heaven. The emphasis is on the coming of God to the earth.

Christian teachers who stress our going to Heaven explain the Old Testament emphasis on the earth by saying that the Jewish race will rule the earth while the "Gentile Church" is in Heaven. But there is not a single Scripture to support this concept. This would necessitate having two kingdoms of God, two brides of the Lamb.

Nowhere is such a scheme suggested in the Scriptures, while the contrary can be found easily in both Testaments. Paul states there is "one new man" (Ephesians 2:15). Perhaps it is time now to begin to pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth, for the doing of God's will in earth as it is in Heaven.

One New Testament passage that could be construed to mean that the goal of the Christian salvation is that we make our home in Heaven is found in the Book of Hebrews.

But now they [the patriarchs] desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16)

It is true that we are pilgrims on the earth, that the present world system is not our home. But the heavenly country that the patriarchs sought is the Presence of God in Christ in the Jerusalem that is above.

During the thousand-year period, Christ, who is the Light of the heavenly Jerusalem, will be on the earth ruling from the city of Jerusalem. We who love Jesus will be with Him during this period for we always will be with the Lord.

After the thousand-year period, the heavenly Jerusalem, the Throne of God and of the Lamb, will descend to the new earth and forever serve as the light of the world. The new Jerusalem is the Wife of the Lamb, the Body of Christ, the Kingdom of God.

So in no event does the Heaven that is above become the eternal home of the saints.

Even more to the point, if Heaven is our goal then it is true that the patriarchs have attained the goal of redemption and are at rest.

Notice the following:

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (Hebrews 11:39)

"Received not the promise"?

If the patriarchs, who are in Heaven in the present hour, have not received the promise of God, then Heaven cannot be the land of promise. For if it were, the patriarchs would have received the promise.

It is true, rather, that the heroes of faith were looking toward the resurrection from the dead so they may return in glory and possess the earth.

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (Hebrews 11:35)

"That they might obtain a better resurrection."

We are not looking to go to a city but for the city to come to earth.

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (Hebrews 13:14)

To be continued.