An Overview of

the Eternal Destinies of the Believers of ALL Ages

By Arthur J Licursi

The Eternal Destiny of the Believers of All the Biblical Ages

Most Christians claim they will ‘go to heaven,’ but then many also claim they will return to earth with Jesus to be in the Kingdom on earth. Which is it? It’s clear then that unnecessary confusion abounds in Christendom since most Bible truth has been corrupted and obscured by man’s religious traditions that most often contradicts the basis for believers today to attain a home ‘in heaven.’

The answer to our titled question not only involves who will go to heaven, but also when, and how that could occur. Let’s consider a Biblical overview noting the destiny of the Biblical believers who would represent those who have lived throughout the Biblical ages of mankind in order to see from the Scriptures Who Will Ultimately Dwell Eternally in Heaven.”

We begin with the first man, Adam

Was Adam given the promise of heaven? No!  When plans for Adam’s creation were laid by the Godhead in Gen. 1:26-31 we see that Adam was to have ‘dominion” over the earth and over the things of the earth.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26 (KJV)

But as we know, Adam disobeyed God’s one command and thereby fell to Sin by the Serpent’s temptation. Man thereby losing dominion as God’s representative and agent upon earth. We know from Scripture that today Adam is dead and like all dead men he is in his “grave” (read Eccl. 9:10).

In answer to our titled question, we need to recall how Jesus has said;

“And No Man Hath Ascended Up To Heaven, but [except] he [Jesus] that came down from heaven, even [that is] the Son of man which is in heaven.” (John 3:13 (KJV)

Recall that after the fall of Adam to Sin, God gave Adam and Eve the promise that ‘One’ of Adam’s descendants would come and ‘crush the head of the Serpent [the Devil]’ – to destroy the power of the Devil who had usurped dominion over the earth from mankind.

“And I [God] will put enmity between thee [the Serpent] and the woman, and between thy seed and her [Eve’s] seed [Christ]; it [her seed, Christ] shall bruise thy head [the Devil’s headship over humanity], and thou shalt bruise his [Jesus] heel [at the cross].” (Genesis 3:15 (KJV)

Adam, having seen God’s answer as to how Adam and Eve’s sins were covered with the skins of an animal, through the shedding of innocent blood, no doubt must have then continued to make blood sacrifices for sins. We get a sense of this when we note how that Adams firstborn son, Able, who was killed by his brother Cain, also made a good innocent blood sacrifice that were accepted by God. We can suppose then that Able must have learnt of innocent blood sacrifice for sins from Adam and Eve’s experience in having their sins covered through the shedding of innocent blood. From this we could say that Adam was a believer who was saved in accord with the salvation standard of that day… believing God’s demonstrated words.

What about Enoch? Didn’t he go to heaven? No! (see https://artlicursi.com/articles/enoch-heaven )

As late as AD64 when John wrote in John 3:13, still “no man hath ascended up to heaven” (1Cor. 12:2) except the Lord Jesus Himself. Please note that there are the three (3) Biblical ‘heavens’; 1) the atmosphere, 2) outer space, and 3) the highest heaven which is “far above all heavens” (Eph. 4:10), the place of ‘the throne of God.’

Because “all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years” (Gen. 5:23). Not just part of his days, but all his days! If Enoch did not die — if he were changed to immortality and thus continued to walk with God, his days would exceed three hundred and sixty-five years. But is days were 365 years!

This expression “all his days” is used in the same fifth chapter of Genesis about a dozen times and always it means that the person lived for that length of time only “and he died.” So Enoch lived no more than three hundred and sixty-five years because “all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.” As he lived only for this length of time then ultimately, he must have died and lies in his grave!

What about Elijah? Didn’t he go to heaven? No! Again, we must defer to John 3:13 “And No Man Hath Ascended Up To Heaven. Yes, Elijah was caught up in a whirlwind [a ‘tornado’ in the 1^st heaven, the atmosphere]. After the tornado took Elijah from the Kingdom of Israel, Elisha was left in his place (2Chron 21:12). Please note that Elijah survived and later wrote a prophetic letter to Jehoram, the awful King of Judah (2Chron. 21:12-15). In Revelation 11:3–12 is a description of two individuals who will help accomplish God’s work during the tribulation: “I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days…” (verse 3). Nowhere does the Bible identify these two witnesses by name,

What about Abraham?  Abraham is dead and only ‘counted with God as though living.’ (cf. Matt. 22:32). Recall when Jesus spoke of the resurrection with the Sadducees, He remined them that God had said “I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”  Abraham was promised a land on earth, having no part in heaven. All those who are the children of Abraham, by descent, have no part in heaven, but rather a part in God’s promises to Abraham who was promised a specific land on earth.

What about David? In Acts 2:29 Peter makes this emphatic statement. “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that He Is Both Dead and Buried, and His Sepulchre Is With Us Unto This Day.” Acts 2:29 (KJV). David had and has no prospect of heaven.

What about the dying ‘thief on the cross’? Believing, he asked for a part in the “kingdom” which was expected to come on earth. He was denied that, but he was promised a part in ‘paradise,’ which refers to his ultimate resurrection to the New Earth After the Millennial kingdom concludes. 

What about John the Baptizer? He was numbered with the prophets (cf. Matt 11:13) who spoke of the “Kingdom,” beginning with the Millennial reign of Christ here on earth. John the Baptizer knew nothing of going to heaven. In John the Baptist’s time no such hope of heaven existed for anyone.

What about the 12 Apostles? No Israelite has ever had any promise or hope of heaven. The Twelve Apostles preached Jesus’ “gospel of the kingdom,” which concerned the physical, literal, “Kingdom of [from] heaven” to come here on earth with King Jesus ultimately sitting on “the throne of David.”

Though long-dead and in their graves, “The Twelve” will be among those of ‘the 1^st resurrection of Rev. 20:6, 1Cor. 15 and 1Thes. 4., when King Jesus comes again to earth to set up His Millennial Kingdom. The resurrected elect kingdom “saints” that time will co-reign on earth with Jesus (Rev. 5:10, 20:6, Matt. 19:28). Later, sometime after the end of the Millennium, “the New Jerusalem” will come down from the third heaven to the “New Earth,” bearing the names of “The Twelve” Apostles written in the foundations of its walls (Rev. 21:14).

WHAT ABOUT PAUL? Until The End Of The Acts Period, Paul’s 1^st ministry was to “the Jew first” (cf. Rom. 1:16-17). He wrote the 7 epistles of Romans through Galatians. During that time Paul’s hope was for the King and Kingdom on earth, just as did Israel’s 12 Apostles (cf. Acts 28:20).

Paul preached about and referenced Christ to come FROM heaven to earth (cf. Rom. 10:6). Paul had his vision of being caught Up “to paradise,” (2Cor. 12:1-5), which is to ultimately come Down to be On the New Earth. So Paul preached the Kingdom to come on earth in the same way as the Twelve. Paul looked for the Resurrection of 1Thes 4 and 1Cor 15, and the King to bring the Paradise ON EARTH.

NOTE: Only “The Mystery” Church, of the Gentile “the body of Christ” Will Dwell In Heaven Forever.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings In Heavenly Places In Christ:” Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)
“When Christ, who is our life, shall Appear, then shall ye also Appear With Him In Glory.” Col. 3:4

PAUL AFTER ACTS 28

AFTER THE ACTS PERIOD CLOSED WITH ACTS 28:28 PAUL’S MESSAGE and GOSPEL CHANGED to focus upon the GENTILES.; Paul received Further RevelationS (cf. 2Cor. 12:1, 7) of ‘the Mystery’ concerning his 2^nd Ministry as “the prisoner of Jesus Christ For You Gentiles.” (cf. Eph. 3:1). This is explained in Paul’s Post-Acts epistles of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Titus, 1 & 2 Tim. It is in these epistles that Paul reveals and explains his further revelations that pertain to us today as “the church” of “the Mystery [secret],” of “the body of Christ” (Eph. 122b-23a, 4:12).

 “The body of Christ” is to be seen according to the ‘COMPLETE’ Pauline revelation of “the mystery [secret],” of the Eternally Plan SECRET of God concerning establishing a people to ‘reign with Christ’ In The Heavenly Places (2Tim 2:12), wherein its members “In Christ” are ‘Seated “Far Above all heavens.” (Eph. 1:3).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST:” (Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)

“For the hope which is laid up for you IN HEAVEN, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;” (Colossians 1:5 (KJV)

“He that descended is the same also that ascended up Far Above All Heavens, that he might fill all things.)” (Ephesians 4:10 (KJV)

I expect that by now it is becoming clear as to WHO among men today DO Go To Dwell Eternally in “the HEAVEN OF HEAVENS” (cf. Deut 10:14) and WHO among men today DO NOT Go To dwell in “the HEAVEN OF HEAVENS.”

The “Heaven of Heavens” is the eternal destiny of all those believing Gentiles (of ALL races) who have HEARD of Paul’s Post-Acts dispensation of “the mystery [Grk. musterion, secret]” of Eph. 3. These are “the FAITHFUL” who Believe It and live accordingly in sincerity by His life, His grace, and His mercy.

This “mystery” is the ‘secret’ plan of God that had been “HID IN GOD from ages and generations” (Col. 1:26-27) UNTIL it was REVEALED to the Apostle Paul AFTER Acts 28:28 for the enlightened believers of today’s age of “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2). Such believers are counted as among those who Paul calls “the faithful” of Eph. 1:1, they will “reign with Him” in heaven (cf. 2Tim. 2:12).

After all, since “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God,” those who then believe the now revealed Ephesians “mystery [secret]” are thereby already, at least potentially, Blessed With Every Spiritual Blessing IN THE “HEAVENLY Places” (Eph. 1:3).

The “citizenship” of such believers  is IN THE “HEAVENLY Places, which could better be termed as “The [Super] Heavenly Places.” (cf. Philippians 3:20-21 below). They will one day be raised to “Appear with” the glorified with “The HEAD” of “the church, which is His body” …  when He, Christ, is manifested, “Appearing” to heavenly beings and to “the faithful” members of “the church, which is His body” who also will “APPEAR  WITH HIM.”

“When Christ, who is our life, SHALL APPEAR, then shall YE ALSO APPEAR WITH HIM in [heaven’s] glory.” (Colossians 3:4 (KJV)

“He [Jesus Christ] that descended is the same also that ascended up FAR ABOVE ALL HEAVENS, that he might fill all things.” (Ephesians 4:10 (KJV)

“For our conversation [Old English for ‘Citizenship’] Is In Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ²¹ Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious [resurrected spiritual] body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21 (KJV)

Paul wrote in Eph. 1:1 to two classes of believers; “the saints [meaning, the sanctified, saved, or set-apart ones] which are at Ephesus,” and another class of intelligized believers that he calls “the faithful.”

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the Saints which are at Ephesus, and to the Faithful in Christ Jesus: ² Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who Hath [already potentially] Blessed Us With All Spiritual Blessings IN HEAVENLY PLACES In Christ:” (Eph. Chps. 1-3)

In Colossians Paul says he had a further message for “the saints” who were already saved ‘by grace through faith’, but lacked the knowledge of “the mystery” of ‘the body of Christ’ that is revealed in Paul’s seven Post-Acts epistles.

“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil [Grk. pleroo, complete] the word of God; ²⁶ Even [that is] the mystery [secret] which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his SAINTS [the saved]: ²⁷ To whom God would [also] make known what is the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY among the GENTILES; which is Christ in you, the hope [expectation] of [heaven’s] glory:” (Col. 1:25-27 KJV)

 Paul specifically prayed this below for “the saints,” that they might gain ADDITIONAL “UNDERSTANDING,” “REVELATION” and “KNOWLEDGE” to SEE AND BELIEVE the riches “THE MYSTERY [THE SECRET],” of the spiritual “Body of Christ” that must to be ‘revealed’ by “the Spirit” (v17).

“Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, ¹⁶ Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

¹⁷ That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and REVELATION in the knowledge of him: ¹⁸ The EYES OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEING ENLIGHTENED; THAT YE MAY KNOW what is the hope of his calling, and what the RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS, ¹⁹ And what is the exceeding greatness of his Power To Us-Ward Who Believe, according to the working of his mighty power, ²⁰ Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right Hand IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES,” (Ephesians 1:15-20 (KJV) 

The Lord will ultimately, in “the fulness of time” recover and the two domains of ‘the kosmos’; that is “the heaven and the earth” (cf. Gen 1:1, Eph. 1:10), filling “the heaven and the earth” with the righteousness of Christ Jesus in and through His Two People Groups (Israel on earth & The Body of Christ in heaven)

“That in the dispensation of the Fulness Of Times he might Gather Together In One All Things In Christ, both which are IN HEAVEN, and which are ON EARTH; even in him:” (Eph. 1:10 (KJV)

In summary we must note the clear distinction between all the past dispensational requirements for salvation to dwell in the promised kingdom to come On Earth and the unique place of today’s “salvation by grace through faith” for the Gentile “body of Christ” leading to our eternal destiny “IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.”

1. The believing Nation of Israel will dwell ON THE NEW EARTH serving Christ forever. The believing remnant of Israel and The Twelve Apostles will function as God’s agents exercising Christ’s dominion on the NEW EARTH for eternity.

2. “The faithful” members of “the [Gentile] body of Christ” will serve the Lord IN THE NEW HEAVEN forever.

The “faithful” members “the body of Christ” will co-reign with Christ as God’s agents “in the heavenly place,” filling the seats of rank and authority in God’s government of the heavens.

“If we suffer [endure while on earth], we shall also Reign With Him: if we deny him, he also will deny us [from reigning with Him]:” (2 Timothy 2:12 (KJV)