p. 44 | Will the Saints Go to Heaven? by A. Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 4, 1875

Will the Saints Go to Heaven?

By A. Smith

THAT Heaven is a local place distant from the earth is supported by the following testimony. It is the dwelling place of God; 2 Chron. 6:21; the Father's house; John 14:2; not in the world; John 16:28; called the third heaven; 2 Cor. 12:2; Paradise; verse 4; God's throne is there; Matt. 23:22; Ps. 2:4; 11:4; 103:19; 115:3; Heb. 8:1; Rev. 4:2. It is the place of his sanctuary. Jer. 17:12; Ps. 102:19. The sea of glass is before the throne; Rev. 4:6; 15:2.

The redeemed of all nations will stand before the throne and ascribe their salvation to God and the Lamb. Rev. 15:2; 14:1-5; 7:9-15; 19:1-9. John had a view of scenes to transpire long after his time, and, as though standing upon the earth at the time, he heard the shout of

victory that will ascend from the sea of glass before the throne of God in Heaven. How can such a shout be heard in Heaven if the saints never go there?

Christ, when about to leave the world and go to the Father, John 16:28, see also 1 Pet. 3:22, told his sorrowing disciples that they could not follow him then, but that they should follow him afterward. John 13:33, 36; 14:3. Christ prayed that his people might be with him, and behold his glory which he had with the Father before the world was. John 17:24, 25. How can they see that glory unless they go to Heaven where he is associated with the Father on the throne of universal dominion?

Enoch went to Heaven, Gen. 5:22-24, and Elijah, 2 Kings 2:11. Moses was raised from the dead, Jude 9, see also Luke 9:30, 31. Where is Moses now if not with Christ in Heaven?

When Christ rose from the dead, many of the saints also rose and ascended with him to Heaven. Matt. 27:52, 53; Eph. 4:8, 9. Christ promised the penitent thief that he should be with him in Paradise. Luke 23:43.

When Christ comes in his glory to raise the dead, all the holy angels will come with him. 2 Thess. 1:7; Matt. 16:27; 25:31. There is nothing said about their returning to Heaven, yet John afterward saw them with redeemed men before the throne.

During the 1000 years, the earth is in a state of chaos, and unfit for the abode of the redeemed. Isa. 24:1-6, 17-22. Many days is 1000 years. (Compare verse 23 with Rev. 22:1-5. This event does not transpire till the end of the 1000 years, hence Christ cannot reign here during that period.) Jer. 4:23-28.

Satan, once called Lucifer, the covering cherub, &c., and his angels, will be confined here during that time, having been cast out of Heaven. Eze. 28:11-19; Isa. 14:12; Rev. 20:1-3; Jude 6. Satan is the antitypical scape-goat, upon whose head will be placed all the sins of God's people; and to carry out the figure, he must be let go alive into a land uninhabited, and this land or uninhabited place is the earth, as we have seen, during the 1000 years.

The binding of Satan consists simply in confining him to this chaotic earth, and restraining his power by leaving none alive upon the earth that he can tempt to sin.

The antediluvians were shut up in prison by being condemned to destruction, and limited in their probation to one hundred and twenty years, yet in other respects they were free till the day that Noah entered the ark. Matt. 24:37-39; 1 Pet. 3:19, 20. So with Satan. Though by limitation his power is restrained, he is yet free to roam over the earth and witness the ruin which his iniquity has wrought—not a very desirable place, truly, during that time, for redeemed men. But when renewed, they will possess it forever and ever.

A. SMITH.