PROPITIATORY SACRIFICE
This is how Christ's death is described three times in the Scriptures.
The apostle John wrote, "The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent forth his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:10)
Propitiate means to "appease or conciliate". Christ's blood reconciles sinners back to our Creator.
Hence the reason for Jesus stating that he came to give his life as a 'ransom'. (Matthew 20:28)
In the book "Draw Close to Jehovah" chapter 14, page 141, paragraph 8, it provides a concise but detailed explanation as to how Jesus sacrifice acted as a 'ransom';"Significantly, the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament observes that this word (ko´pher) "always denotes an equivalent," or a correspondency. Thus, the cover of the ark of the covenant had a shape corresponding to the ark itself. Likewise, in order to ransom, or cover, sin, a price must be paid that fully corresponds to, or fully covers, the damage caused by the sin. God’s Law to Israel thus stated: "Soul will be for soul, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."" - Deuteronomy 19:21.
Note the descriptive terminology used - 'equivalent','correspondency',fullycovers', as well as the Scripture - to establish beyond any doubt that Christ's death balanced the divine scales of justice and bought back exactly what was lost. However, therein lies the death blow to the dominant teaching of most (if not all) religions claiming to be Christian - that some humans will ascend to heaven.
If "going to heaven when you die" was true, then the 'divine scales of justice' are blatantly out of balance.
If Adam had not sinned, what would be the outcome for every single human being on the earth? Everlasting life on a paradise earth - end of story - because that's exactly what Jehovah intended!
Therefore when Jesus died, his lifeblood paid for that to be restored - nothing more, nothing less.
Neither Adam nor any of his descendants were ever promised life in heaven, and because of the 'eye for eye, tooth for tooth' principle, Jesus' death would not, and could not change that God-given edict.
By this point, certain scriptures with their 'given' understandings may spring to mind, seemingly proving that heaven does beckon certain individuals.
An honest examination of the context of these verses, the original Greek meanings, and a comparison with other Scriptures, should at the very least call into question what is asserted as Bible truth.
Firstly, take note of the wordings of these different verses.
At Luke 22:43, Jesus told the dying thief, "Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise." He would be with Jesus, but in what sense/location?
At Revelation 7:14,15, the angel describes those on earth who survive the great tribulation as being "before the throne of God and rendering sacred service day and night in His temple." (divine habitation) In what context will this take place?
Clearly, the understanding of these two verses require a proper reasoning based on the Bible.
Likewise, the Bible verses routinely used to justify the "heavenlyhope" require close inspection as to whether there could be a different explanation.
Revelation 20:6 (NWT) speaks of certain resurrected ones who will "rule as kings" with Christ, but no other translation viewed inserts "as kings" into the verse. It is notable that only Jesus Christ himself is compared to Melchizedek as being a king/priest - not with a 144,000 others! (Hebrews 7:17)
The original Greek ( basileu ) means,
1) to be king, to exercise kingly power, to reign
a) of the governor of a province
b) of the rule of the Messiah
c) of the reign of Christians in the millennium
2) metaph. to exercise the highest influence, to control
In what sense, and crucially, in what location will such ones 'reign'?
Could these be the same princes prophesied about at Psalm 45:16 and the "chieftain class" discussed at length in the Watchtower March 1st 1999 p. 16 par. 14?
Nowhere, but nowhere is there a single mention of any humans going to heaven. Being priests - yes! 'Reigning' - yes! Even "sitting at Jesus' left and right hand"! Assuming something does not make it a reality, regardless of how much you want it to be so. These positions neither necessitate nor indicate anyone being transferred to heaven to be given a super - human existence, thereby exceeding what was lost in Eden! Those ones spoken of at Revelation 20:6 who are to 'reign' for 1000 years will also be priests.
This is how Vine's Expository Dictionary explains this assignation: "Meanwhile all believers, from Jews and Gentiles, are constituted "a kingdom of priests," Rev 1:6 "a holy priesthood," 1Pe 2:5, and "royal," 1Pe 2:9. The NT knows nothing of a sacerdotal class in contrast to the laity; all believers are commanded to offer the sacrifices mentioned in Rom 12:1; Phl 2:17; 4:18; Hbr 13:15, 16; 1Pe 2:5." All
faithful Christians are priests and offer their personal sacrifices, and since they and others who spoke about God are promised the first resurrection, (Rev. 20:4,6) it could be reasoned that all such proven servants will be on hand and ready to receive others who subsequently receive a resurrection.Admittedly, speculative - but not dogmatic or dictatorial!