Perhaps Peter, James, and Paul are under the altar of God in Heaven. They are among those who are crying out with loud voices for vengeance on their persecutors. They will they be given the white robes of the royal priesthood during the opening of the fifth seal. At present they are they resting in the Presence of Christ.

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1)

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. (Revelation 15:2)

The above are representative of the passages that describe the state of the Christians who have lived a victorious life in Jesus. There would be no place among these overcomers for the careless, the lukewarm, for those who have buried their talents or allowed their lamp to run out of oil.

We do not say the above passages describe the limits of our future experience, for the testimonies of saints who were dead, or nearly dead, and then were revived, indicate a much different setting. The revived saints profess to have seen happy, righteous spirits in the Paradise of God. We do not doubt their testimony.

We note that Moses and Elijah were active with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.

We can be certain only of what is written. Also, it is important to understand the Gospel is not directed toward what takes place when we die physically but what takes place when the Lord Jesus returns in glory. The Gospel of the Kingdom has to do with the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth, not with our going to live forever in the spirit realm, as is taught currently.

The Apostle Paul was willing to die and go to be with the Lord.

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. (II Corinthians 5:8,9)

The context suggests this is not as much a longing to go to Heaven to live as it is the realization he was preparing to be clothed with a body of life from Heaven, a white robe of righteous conduct, a body fashioned from his afflictions (II Corinthians 4:17). Paul was stressing his desire to be acceptable to the Lord in view of the day when he stands before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (II Corinthians 5:10)

To be continued.