Many folk's perception of the future is that all good people, either at death or else at the return of Christ, will fly away to a far off planet in outer space and there they will live happily ever after.

Is this a fact? What does the Bible say?

Many are aware that God deeded the land of Canaan to Abraham forever.

"And I will give unto thee ... the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession..." (Gen. 17:8).

Thus Abraham's future inheritance is certain. It will be the land of Canaan located in the Middle East.

Yet, often overlooked is the fact that the promise God gave to Abraham was not just to the Patriarch but also to his' seed.

"And I will give unto thee (Abraham) and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger ... for an everlasting possession" (Gen. 17:8),

Who are the seed of Abraham?

Thankfully, the Apostle Paul removed all doubt

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ... And if ye be Christ's, then are ye (the Saints) Abraham's se and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. 3:16, 29).

Emphatically, the "seed of Abraham" is Christ and the Saints!

Sadly the final destiny of the unrepentant will be the "lake of fire" (Rev 21:8) whereas Planet Earth is destined to become the future inheritance of the Saints.

"But those that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth" (Psalm, 37:9).

"But such as be blessed of Him shall inherit the earth" (Psalm 37:22).

"Me righteous shall inherit the land and dwell therein forever" (Psalm 37:29).

"Behold the righteous shall be recompensed -in the earth" (Proverbs 11:31).

"And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the MOST HIGH Whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom" (Dan. 7:27).

Even Christ confirmed the O.T. promise, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5).

Wow! Did Jesus really think that the Saints should inherit the earth?

The beloved Apostle John agreed (John 14:2,3 see Aug. '98 newsletter) and Paul also lent support.

"For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith" (Rom. 4:13),

Solomon, the man whom received his great wisdom directly from God (11 Chr. 9:23), was so adamant concerning the eternal destiny of the Saints that he wrote:

"Me righteous shall never be removed (i.e., from the earth): But the wicked shall not inhabit the earth" (Proverbs 10:30).

Did that say "never be removed"? My Solomon how non-traditional!

If the land of Canaan and the adjoining region is stated to be the firm allotment of Christ, Abraham and the Saints, then why is it that some say that the Saints do at death, or else will at the rapture, wing their way to a far off galactic heaven?

I often sing the beloved hymn, "I'll Fly Away". Why? Because there are some hectic days that I feel like I could use it. You know - it's the thought that counts.

Regardless, does the Bible really teach that the Saints will someday soar away to galactic heaven?

As translated, the following verse gives that impression. The Psalmist wrote,

"The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away" (Psa. 90: 10).

The phrase translated "fly away" is somewhat misleading. The same Hebrew expression is translated "be faint" and "wax faint" elsewhere in the KJV Bible. The Hebrew syntax of the passage implies that after their allotted number of days upon this earth that men will wax faint, i.e., they will die, This verse says little about winging our way to a galactic heaven,

Jesus said, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5: 10).

Isn't this proof that the Saints go to a celestial heaven?

Remember, Jesus had said several verses earlier (vs. 5) that the "meek shall inherit the earth".

The phrase "kingdom of heaven" is used several times by Matthew. The Greek expression literally means the "kingdom from the heavens". Thus, it refers not to a kingdom located on Planet Heaven, rather to the kingdom that will be established upon this earth by Christ when He returns from heaven.

Daniel was told, "And in the days of these kings (the 10 latter-day kings) shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, (hence "the kingdom of heaven) which shall never be destroyed'' (Dan. 2:44).

This earthly kingdom is so dubbed because it was decreed and willed by the God of heaven. Yet, it will be established upon this earth and it will prevail over all other kingdoms when Christ and the Saints take their rightful place in the coming kingdom (Dan. 2:32-45).

"And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven (i.e., the "kingdom of [from] heaven), shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom" (Dan. 7:27).

Jesus said, "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, 'in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt, 8:11).

Since these noted Patriarchs were promised the land of Canaan forever, then the phrase "kingdom of heaven" must refer to an earthly kingdom, else how will many come from the east and the west (the Gentile regions) to sit down with the Patriarchs?

Jesus continues, "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven" (Matt. 5:12).

"Hot dog"! - Some say. "We knew that Jesus promised that we would go to a celestial heaven".

I hate to be a party pooper but this isn't the intent of the passage. Why, because verse five says that the "meek shall inherit the earth".

It is true that the rewards of the Saints are currently being stored in heaven but Jesus didn't say that the Saints would go to Heaven to receive them, rather that He would return to Planet Earth to distribute them.

"I (Jesus) come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Rev. 22:12).

But doesn't Hebrews 3:1 say that the Saints are, "Partakers of the heavenly calling"?

This is true but Abraham is also said to be a part of this calling.

"For he (Abraham) looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10).

Surely this is the same city depicted in Revelation 21:2, 14. But how will Abraham reside on a planet called Heaven and also in the region of the Middle East since he was promised the latter for an everlasting inheritance (Gen. 13:15, 17:8)? John explains.

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coining down from God out of heaven".

The heavenly city, depicting the bride of Christ (Rev, 21:9. 10), will one day be manifested upon planet earth (Rev. 21:2, 3). Abraham will be resurrected at the last trumpet. He too will become a part of the new Jerusalem after it is established upon this earth.

Hebrews 11 concludes that Abraham (vs. 8) died and did not receive the promise at that time but only -viewed it afar off by faith. Over 3,000 years have already transpired. Yet verses 39 and 40 assure us that the Saints, along with Abraham, will receive the inheritance at the same period of time.

"And these all (Abraham & the faithful saints of Hebrews I 1)...received not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they (Abraham, etc.) without us (the N. T. Saints) should not be made period'' (Heb. 1139, 40).

When will this occur? At the last trumpet! When it sounds, the dead Saints along with those now living, will be changed from mortality, both body and soul, to immortality (I Cor. 15:53).

Thus, the writer of Hebrews uses the expression "heavenly calling" in the same sense that he refers to the Holy Spirit as the "heavenly gift" (Heb. 6:4).

This is not to suggest that the gift was in heaven when I' century believers received it, rather that it. was sent by God from heaven to those believers. It is called the "heavenly gift" even though it is received upon earth.

Doesn't the Apostle Paul place the future destiny of the Saints on Planet Heaven?

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath (past tense) blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ-And hath (past tense) raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 1:3; 2:6).

These passages say little concerning the Saints inheriting a far-away, celestial heaven. However they do teach that the Saints are already reckoned as being seated in heaven because that is where Christ dwells. Since He is the vine and we are the branches and since He is the head and we are the body, therefore Christians around the world are even now in a spiritual sense seated with Christ on high. Paul assures us that through our union with the exalted Christ that we have already become the beneficiaries of the spiritual' blessings that belong to and come from the heavenly realm.

The text refers to the exalted position that the Saints have already been granted through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. God's provision for us is divinely inspired and the power of our daily living is heavenly.

The Apostle Paul said, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14).

Doesn't this prove that at least some of the Saints will soon fly away to a celestial heaven?

No more than does a similar expression suggest that David winged his way to heaven when God exalted him above his enemies.

"Now these be the last words of David ... the man who was raised up on high" (11 Samuel 23:1 cp. 22:49).

Peter said centuries after David had died; "For David is not ascended into the heavens" (Acts 2:34).

Thus Paul's usage of "high calling", quite similar to that of David, refers to the apostle's desire for the superior (of greater degree and rank) spiritual status that believers can acquire in the future age, if they forsake all and follow Christ during this present age (Cp. Matt. 25:1929, Lk. 19:12-26, 1 Cor. 15:41, 42). However, it is doubtful that Paul and a select few will reside on some celestial planet while the Saints are ruling upon this earth.

Jesus Christ will soon sit upon the earthly throne of David.

"And, behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end." (Luke 1:31-33 cp. Isa. 9:7).

If Christ -is eternally destined to rule -upon Planet Earth then why should the Saints reside elsewhere?

"so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thes. 4:17).

Actually, the Saints (the seed of Abraham) are promised that they will rule and reign along with Christ.

"But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever ... And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him" (Dan. 7:18, 27).

"...and bast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth" (Rev. 5: 10).

Take courage Saints. We have a tremendous task to perform and it will not be to simply dangle our feet in some gently flowing stream throughout eternity.

We will literally rule and reign on Planet Earth.

"Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession" (Psalms 2:8).

Doesn't Planet Earth pass away someday? if so, then how will the Saints inherit it forever?

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away" (Revelation 2 1: 1).

It should be noted that both heaven and earth are said to pass away. If the Saint's final abode is in heaven as tradition often suggests, then we still have a major problem - it too will pass away. What then does the Bible mean by "heaven and earth shall pass away'?

The Greek word for passed is parerchomai. It means to pass from one condition to another. Example:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed (parerchomai) away, behold, all things are become new" (II Cor. 5:17).

When an individual accepts Jesus as Savior "old things pass away' but this doesn't mean that one's home, one's car, one's environment or one's workplace pass away and are replaced with new ones. Rather, it means that the old carnal nature passes away and that the individual receives a brand new spiritual nature.

Similar can be said of the new heaven and earth, The old carnal society, rather than Planet Earth itself, will pass away and Jesus Christ will replace man's sinful society with a new spiritual Theocracy.

Heaven will someday come to earth and at that time earth will become a part of heaven (Rev. 21:2).

The Apostle Peter calls the future renewed earth an "earth wherein dwelleth righteousness" (11 Peter 3:13).

Isaiah speaks of this new heaven and earth and also describes the unprecedented changes that will occur when heaven comes to earth (Isaiah 65:17-25, 66:22-24).

Planet Earth will not physically pass away.

"One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever" (Eccl 1:4).

"Bless the Lord ... who laid the foundation of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever" - Ps 104:1,5.

Planet Earth will be restored.

"All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up" (Zechariah 14: 10).

"The waters shall be healed" (Ezek. 47:8).

"For in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert and "the parched ground shall become a pool" Isa. 35:6-7).

The mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south" (Zech. 14:4), etc.

The fact that Abraham was promised the land of Canaan does not mean that this particular land region is all that he and the Saints will rule over. The "kingdom of (from) heaven" will continue to expand during the Millennium as the heathen nations are brought under the authority of Christ and the Saints (Isa. 2:4, 60:1-3, 66:19, Rev. 2:26, 27). The gospel will flourish and the kingdom will eventually engulf the entire earth.

"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of .. the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Hab. 2:14).

"But as truly as I live all the earth shall be filled with the glory of die Lord" (Num. 14:2 1)

"He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth" (PSA. 72:8).

"The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 11: 15 cp. Dan. 7:27).

If the Saints are caught up to meet Jesus, then aren't they taken to heaven?

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord *in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord"

(I Thessalonians 4:17).

The following are two factors worth noting.

I - The Greek word "apantesis "that is translated ,,meet " is only used in the following sense in the Bible.

Party one (in this case, the Saints) leaves location A (the earth) destined for location B (the clouds). Party two (in this case, Christ) leaves location C (Heaven) to meet party one (the Saints) at location B (the clouds). After a brief reunion by both parties at the neutral site of location B (the clouds), party one (the Saints) throws out the welcome mat to party two (Christ). Together they continue their journey to location A (the earth), the origination point of party A (the Saints).

(C) HEAVEN

(2 - Christ descends)

(B) Christ/Saints Meet in Clouds

(Both Saints & Christ descend to earth)

(1 - Saints ascend to clouds)

(A) EARTH

Example: The same Greek word for "meet" (apantesis) is used in Acts 28:15. Paul sailed (actually be was being brought prisoner) from Jerusalem to Rome. When the ship approached the coast of Italy, a group of Saints from Rome heard of Paul's arrival and journeyed southward 43 miles to Appii Forum to meet him. After, a happy reunion, the Saints and Paul journeyed to Rome, the origination point of the Saints.

The custom is still observed today. Often a delegation from a city is dispatched to the airport to meet a visiting dignitary. In turn he is ushered into the host' city.

Thus the Saints will be "caught up" to meet Jesus in the clouds (not heaven) as He ascends to Earth. While still in the air, we will rendezvous with Christ (I Thes. 4:17). We, along with our Savior, will then descend to Planet Earth where jointly we will begin to rule and reign.

2 - The Greek for "caught up" doesn't suggest "upwards" as a final destination, rather it means "snatched away". For instance, the same Greek expression is used in Acts 8:39: 'Vie spirit of the Lord caught away Phillip".

The evangelist was likely lifted into the clouds but he was not taken upward to remain there because verse 40 says that he was later found at Azatus (in the Gaza Strip).

Similar can be said of the Saints. They will be "snatched away" to meet Jesus in the clouds which are located in the air (I Thes. 4:17) but since the clouds extend to only about ten miles above earth's surface, nothing in the passage suggests that the Saints will go on to heaven. The text continues, "so shall we ever be with the Lord".

Jesus will descend to the Mount of Olives at Jerusalem (Zech. 14:4), This same city will become the eternal capital for the entire earth.

"For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:3).

Though Jerusalem will be the capital, the Saints will be granted dominion over the entire earth.

"Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost Parts of the earth for thy possession." (Psalm 2:8).

Technically, man will someday dwell in heaven but not until it is established upon this earth. Thus, the Saints don't "ascend to a far off heaven," rather heaven will someday "descend to the Saints" (Rev. 21:2).

`Me heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: But the earth hath He given to the children of men" (Psalm 115:16).

When I Thessalonians 4:17 is property understood the words of Solomon, 'Me righteous shall never be removed" is in total agreement (Proverbs 10:30).

I do not declare that mankind will never, even after he is granted his immortal and incorruptible body, be able to visit (not removed, but visit of His own free will) the, celestial heavens. in fact, there is some Bible evidence that this may occur after the 1000 Years have transpired. But, that subject must await a future study.