Jesus NEVER promised anyone that they will "GO TO HEAVEN." In fact, he says at John 3:13:
"Moreover, no man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man."
Man was made from the earth and it is the earth that mankind will inherit forever.
Many are stumbled by this "only a few" go to heaven. This is the result not only the Watch Tower, but all of Christianity because a large segment of it teaches only those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior go to heaven. This is a lie (or put more kindly, an error) to.
The truth of the matter as to where mankind will reside can be seen in where man came from: The Earth. And, in the fact that God's Kingdom "COMES DOWN" to the earth, so why would any need to GO UP to heaven?
It is the earth that will be gloriously transformed into the future and God's Kingdom will one day envelope it. Before God's Kingdom arrives, two kingdoms must come and go: First, Christs future 1000 year kingdom over the earth that is mentioned at Rev 20:7. After Christs future kingdom ends, another kingdom must arise. Second, the Throne of Satan or the Beast. It must be established upon the earth for an unspecified period of time. It could be 100s of years. We do not know. But what we do know is that it will come after Christs 1000 year kingdom has run its course. (Rev 2:13 and Rev 20:7-8) Lastly, God's indefinite Kingdom comes down to the earth.
The meaning of the Kingdom of the heavens being shut up is not what has been popularly taught. Shutting up the kingdom of the heavens have nothing to do with going to heaven, but rather teaching the truth about God's kingdom coming down to the earth.
Think about it for a moment: Almost all so-called denominations - including the WTBTS - teach that persons will go to heaven literally. They completely miss the point about what Christ was teaching about God's kingdom coming down to the earth. If God's kingdom expands to envelope the earth (coming down), there is no need to go up to heaven if God's kingdom will also include the earth. Jesus taught us to pray that God's Kingdom come (to the earth), not to pray that we go up to God's kingdom. (Matthew 6:9-10).
Sadly, millions are so indoctrinated in infected with the diseased teaching of going to heaven, they have not understood what the whole controversy and issue was about in the Garden of Eden in the first place. It was about who has rightful ownership and soveriegnty over the earth to establish permanent things upon it. There is only ONE: The Creator of the heavens and the earth. It is His will and purpose that His creation - the earth - be folded into His everlasting kingdom.
There is no need to go up to heaven. We did not come from there. Look at John 3:13 very closely again. Listen to what Jesus is saying. (Luke 9:35)
R. Jerome Harris
e-Prophetic.com
