Expert: Brenda Martin - 6/21/2007

Question
"I came across it twice; once in a book and once in an encyclopedia--the beginning of the preaching of Heaven. Now I do not have either one of these references at my disposal. Please tell me when the Christian churches first began preaching Heaven. If possible, give me also the geographical location where it began and the name of the person who first gave the command that the churches preach Heaven. After so doing, please give me a well researched Bible definition of the word "heaven". Please stick with the Bible and do not refer to traditions, beliefs, or commentaries since to do so would be to depart from the constraints of the Bible. If the second request is too hard, please give me the answer to the first request first."


Answer
THE BEGINNING OF THE PREACHING OF HEAVEN.


The gaining of lasting life in heaven or on earth was not open to any of humankind until Christ Jesus “shed light upon life and incorruption through the good news.” (2Ti 1:10)

On the basis of his sacrificial death, Jesus became the Mediator of a new covenant between God and a select group of men. Each of these has become “a new creation,” begotten by God’s spirit to a heavenly hope, with the prospect of ruling with Jesus in his heavenly Kingdom.—2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:5, 6; Hebrews 9:15.

The Scriptural record makes clear that prior to Christ’s coming, such a heavenly hope had not been opened up to men.—Joh 1:12, 17, 18; 2Ti 1:10; 1Pe 1:3; 1Jo 3:1.

The preaching of heaven was spoken for the first time by Jesus in 29 c.e. The first candidates were anointed with holy spirit, or born again, in 33 c.e.

“No man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man.” (John 3:13,) Since Jesus was the “firstfruits” of those raised to heaven, no one else could precede him. (1 Cor. 15:20) Jesus’ special prayer, “I wish that, where I am, they also may be with me,” shows further that even when this heavenly hope was opened up it was just a very special provision, and then not for all mankind, but for only a precious few, a “little flock” of Kingdom heirs.—John 17:24; Luke 12:32, NW.

all the best
Brenda