Heaven on Earth? No!

by Garland M. Robinson

Where will the redeemed be in eternity when this life is over? The Bible teaches they will go to be with the Lord in heaven (John 14:1-3). Yet, some are saying the heaven we’ve always hoped for does not exist —that it’s not going to be in heaven above (God’s dwelling place), but it’s going to be on earth below (man’s dwelling place). They imagine that God’s sole purpose through the ages has been to restore this sin-cursed earth to its original condition (like that of Adam and Eve) and that man will live upon a “refurbished” and “renovated” earth forever. They call this “reversing the curse.” But, according to inspiration, Peter wrote that this world, including everything God made and everything man made, will “pass away,” be “burned up,” “melt,” “dissolved,” and be gone! (II Peter 3:10-13).

It’s a false doctrine that says the redeemed have no hope of going to that realm beyond this world called heaven. Instead, this false doctrine teaches that God will leave His throne in Heaven and come down to live with the redeemed “on a refurbished earth.” Sad indeed, but some of our own brethren are teaching and preaching that at the Judgment, Heaven will not be in eternity where God dwells, but will be on this Earth where man dwells. That God will come down from heaven and live with man on the earth, to them, is a very appealing and comforting doctrine!

Though this doctrine may be new to many, it’s not new. It’s been around for a long, long time. It raises its ugly head now and then and is always put down by faithful brethren. Then another group arises, considering they’ve “dug deep” in the Bible and have found a new gem that has never been discovered before.

“Heaven on Earth” is a doctrine rooted in materialism. Materialism prioritizes physical, tangible, and material things over spiritual ones. Its core belief is that “substance is everything” —this world is everything.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have held onto materialism for their entire existence (a little more than 140 years). They also teach that eternal life will be on earth. Jehovah’s Witness doctrine says there is a heaven above, but that it’s already full (holding only 144,000). The rest of the saved will live on a refurbished Earth for eternity.

Anyone reading through the Bible, in even the most casual manner, would never get the idea that eternal life will be on this earth (unless that’s what you're looking for)! One needs help to see this idea in the Bible! And, sadly, there are many who stand ready to help.

Notice what Jesus said and taught about heaven...

Heaven is where God the Father is —His dwelling place. Jesus spoke of God, His father, “which is in heaven” at least 7 times. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21; cf. 10:32-33; 12:50; 16:17; 18:10,19).

Jesus spoke of God as our Father or your Father, which is in heaven, at least 14 times. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.” “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:16, 45, 48; 6:1, 14, 26, 32; 7:11; 18:14, 35; 23:9; Mark 11:25-26; Luke 11:13).

Heaven is God’s Throne and Christ’s Throne. This is mentioned at least 9 times in the New Testament. ”Heaven...is God’s throne” (Matthew 5:34). ”Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool” (Acts 7:49). “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory” (Matthew 25:31). “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever...” (Hebrews 1:8. Matthew 23:22; Revelation 4:2; 5:13; 16:17; 20:11).

The earth is God’s footstool, not his throne. “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest” (Acts 7:49; cf. Isaiah 66:1). God cannot be confined to a physical house or place of rest like the earth —that’s ridiculous. At the dedication of the temple, Solomon said, “...will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded” (I Kings 8:27)? He prays to God in I Kings 8:30, “...hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.” Heaven on Earth doctrine takes God off His throne in heaven and brings Him down to earth to sit on his floor mat.

Jesus cannot be a King or Priest on earth. It is impossible for Jesus to ever occupy a throne on earth. Zechariah 6:12-13 speaks of the reign of the Messiah, saying: “...he shall build the temple of the LORD; ...and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne.” Hebrews 8:1-4 says He can’t be a priest on earth. And, since he can’t be a priest on earth, he can’t be a king on earth because Zechariah says he will be both a king and priest at the same time. Also, Jeremiah 22:28-30 forbids the Lord Jesus from ever reigning on the throne in Judah (Zion). Coniah, king of Judah, was so corrupt that we read in Jeremiah 22:30: “Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.” Jesus is a descendant by adoption of Coniah (Jeconiah, Jehoichin), mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew as Jechonias (Matthew 1:11-12). He can’t be king on earth!

The Scriptures always speak of heaven being “up” —at least 18 times. “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19; cf. Matthew 14:19; Mark 6:41; 7:34; Luke 9:16; 18:13; 24:51; John 1:51; 3:13, 31; 17:1; Acts 1:10-11; 2:34; 7:55-56; 11:10; Romans 10:6).

The Scriptures always speak of coming “down from” heaven —at least 20 times. “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38; cf. Luke 9:54; John 1:51; 3:15; 6:33, 38, 41-42, 50-51, 58; Acts 11:5; Romans 10:6; I Peter 1:12; Revelation 3:12; 10:1; 13:13; 18:1; 20:1; 21:2).

The expression “from heaven” is used more than 45 times in the New Testament. The point is, heaven is not earth. Earth is not heaven. They are two separate and distinct places. “The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven, or of men” (Matthew 21:25; cf. Matthew 16:1; 28:2; Mark 8:11; 11:30,31; Luke 11:16; 17:29; 20:4-5; 22:43; John 1:32; 3:13, 27, 31; 6:32-33,38, 41-42, 50-51, 58; Acts 11:5,9; Romans 1:18; I Corinthians 15:47; II Corinthians 5:2; Galatians 1:8; I Thessalonians 1:10; 4:16; II Thessalonians 1:7; Hebrews 12:25; I Peter 1:12; II Peter 1:18; Revelation 10:1, 4, 8; 11:12; 13:13; 14:2,13; 18:1, 4; 20:1).

God speaks “from” his lofty place “in” heaven —at least 6 times. “And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11; cf. Matthew 3:17; Luke 3:22; John 12:28; Acts 10:15; Deuteronomy 4:36; 30:11-14).

We “pray” to God who is “in” heaven. Jesus taught his disciples, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). Jesus said, “...When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Luke 11:2). God told Solomon, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14; cf. Psalms 20:6; I Kings 8:30-32, 34, 36, 39, 43, 45, 49).

The angels of God are “in” heaven —found at least 12 times. “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:30). “For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven” (Mark 12:25). See also Matthew 18:10; 24:36; 28:2; Mark 13:32; Luke 2:15; John 1:51; Galatians 1:8; II Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 8:13; 12:7).

Our reward is “in” heaven. Found at least 9 times. “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven...” (Matthew 5:12; cf. Luke 6:23). He did not say our reward is great “on earth,” he said our reward is great “in heaven.” Jesus said, ”Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). If heaven is going to be on earth, then Jesus missed a great opportunity here to tell us. But he didn’t miss the opportunity; he told the truth about our eternal reward — heaven is not going to be on earth. He knew there would be a false doctrine that would arise, teaching that heaven would be on the renovated earth, so he drove a death-knell through its heart in these verses. Our hearts must be focused on heaven, not on the earth (Colossians 3:1-2). Also, Paul wrote the church at Corinth, saying, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (II Corinthians 5:1, it’s not on earth in this verse). Our physical (earthly) body will be changed into a spiritual (heavenly) body, and we will be with God “in the heavens,” not on the earth. (See also Mark 10:21; 12:33; Luke 18:22; II Corinthians 5:1-2).

Heaven and earth are different places. Jesus told the apostles, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19; 18:18). God did not allow the apostles to make their own laws (bind on earth) and then he would honor it in heaven (bind it in heaven). The point is, whatever they “bind on earth” will have already been “bound in heaven.” When the apostles spoke and wrote, they did so by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:21; II Timothy 3:16-17).

The emphasis we’re calling attention to is that “heaven” and “earth” are two different places. God dwells in heaven above, and we dwell on the earth below. I Corinthians 15:47-49 says, “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.” See also Matthew 28:18; Mark 11:30; Luke 10:20; 20:4; Acts 4:24; 14:15; 17:24; Ephesians 1:10; 3:15.