General Kingdom of God and our Future

Let’s explore the topic of the Kingdom of God, the resurrection, and the idea of going to heaven. Here are some key points I've learned since leaving Watchtower:

1. The Kingdom of God:
   • Jesus emphasized the Kingdom of God throughout his teachings. However, he never explicitly spoke about going to heaven when we die.
   • The heart of Christianity lies in understanding the concept of the Kingdom of God, which was expected by the prophets.
   • Traditional Jewish and Christian explanations often miss the true nature of this Kingdom.
   • A third solution involves recognizing Jesus as the non-political Messiah who inaugurated a future political Kingdom.
   • The New Testament provides a framework for understanding the Messianic future and the role of the Kingdom1.
2. Resurrection and Rapture:
   • The idea of going to heaven when we die has led to misconceptions. Scripture describes the dead as unconscious, “sleeping” until the resurrection day.
   • The so-called “rapture” (I Thessalonians 4:13ff) occurs simultaneously with the resurrection of faithful believers.
   • The issue is not about the rapture itself but about the timing of the resurrection of the dead.
   • Jesus outlined events that would precede his Second Coming, providing primary data for understanding end-time events.
   • Paul warned against systems that did not allow for specific events before the resurrection/rapture of Christians2.
3. Abraham’s Reward:
   • A study of the book of Hebrews reveals that “heaven” (as a location beyond the skies) is not the reward promised to Abraham and Christian believers.
   • The common notion of going to heaven lacks careful reflection and is not the biblical promise.
   • Instead, the focus should be on the future Kingdom of God, where faithful believers will inherit the earth3.

In summary, the biblical perspective emphasizes the resurrection, the coming Kingdom, and our role as heirs of that Kingdom. Rather than seeking to escape to heaven, we look forward to participating in God’s Kingdom on earth.

Learn More
Microsoft Word - kingdom book.doc (focusonthekingdom.org)
Rapture and Resurrection (focusonthekingdom.org)
Abraham's Reward and Ours (focusonthekingdom.org)

 

[LeeB]

If you use your gifts it can be seen that the real us is our human spirit, the part of the soul that GOD is interested in for it is the spirits of just men made perfect. At death, this real you goes back to GOD , it is totally unable to operate without a body but GOD already has another body for us when the resurrection occurs. 2 Corinthians 5:1 This body is 100% spirit because flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of GOD. WE WILL BE A NEW CREATION in Christ, no longer human beings but immortal spirit beings, like the angels. 1 Corinthians 15:44,45,46,4748,49 Also this helps in understanding why Jesus said he came from heaven and was going back to heaven, we all do. In the case of Jesus glorification was promised to him by his FATHER. Isaiah 42:1,6,9 JOHN 17:5 , the words “I had with you” should be kept in store “ as Strongs article G2192 permits “on hold with you” as we know Jesus did not preexist . So then we all go to “heaven” GOD when we die, saint and sinner and our change is on hold until the second advent. The sinner in the second resurrection.