THE REWARD OF THE "SAVED" (NOT HEAVEN)

The destiny of mankind is not to “go to heaven,” but for heaven, God’s throne and presence to come down to earth 
so God may dwell with His children forever.

THE REWARD OF THE SAVED
(NOT HEAVEN)

The Bible clearly shows that the reward of the saved is not going to heaven, but that Christ will return to the earth to establish His Kingdom, reign for 1,000 years, and then God the Father will descend with the New Jerusalem to dwell with mankind. Let’s walk through it step by step, with scripture:

1. No man has ascended to heaven

• John 3:13 – “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man…”
  This makes it plain that people do not go to heaven at death — only Christ has ascended.
• Acts 2:34 – “For David is not ascended into the heavens…”
  Even righteous King David has not gone to heaven, but awaits the resurrection.

2. The reward is with Christ at His return — on the earth

• Revelation 22:12 – “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
  Christ brings the reward with Him at His second coming, not when people die.
• Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
  Not heaven — the inheritance is the earth.

3. Christ returns to rule on earth for 1,000 years

• Zechariah 14:4, 9 – “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives… And the LORD shall be king over all the earth.”
  When Christ returns, He rules on the earth.
• Revelation 5:10 – “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
  The saints will reign on the earth with Christ.
• Revelation 20:4 – “…and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
  This is the Millennium — Christ and the resurrected saints ruling on earth for 1,000 years.

4. After the 1,000 years — the New Heavens, New Earth, and New Jerusalem

• Revelation 21:1–3 –
  “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away…
  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them…”
  God the Father Himself comes down to dwell with His family on the renewed earth.
  

5. Summary (Scripture Chain)

1. No man has gone to heaven (John 3:13; Acts 2:34).
2. The meek inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5).
3. Christ returns and sets His feet on the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4).
4. The saints reign with Christ for 1,000 years on the earth (Rev. 5:10; Rev. 20:4).
5. After the Millennium, God creates a new heaven and earth, and the New Jerusalem descends (Rev. 21:1–3).

👉 The destiny of mankind is not to “go to heaven,” but for heaven — God’s throne and presence — to come down to earth so God may dwell with His children forever.

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1000 Year Rule of Christ on Earth 

Soon Christ will return to earth and will rule on earth for 1000 years.

Let’s carefully walk through this with scripture that shows:

1. Christ will reign 1,000 years on earth.
2. The earth will be renewed.
3. God will bring His people back to the Holy Land.

1. Christ Reigns 1,000 Years on Earth

🔹 Revelation 20:1–4, 6

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit... and he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years... And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years... Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection... they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

🔹 Zechariah 14:3–4, 9

“Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations... And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives... And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”

➡️ Christ descends to the Mount of Olives (earthly location), defeats the nations, and rules as King over all the earth for 1,000 years.

2. The Earth Will Be Renewed

🔹 Isaiah 65:17–18

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered... But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.”

🔹 Acts 3:19–21

“Repent ye therefore... when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ... whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”

➡️ The Millennium is the time of refreshing and restitution — the renewal of the earth under Christ’s reign.

🔹 Romans 8:19–21

“For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God... because the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

➡️ Even creation itself will be renewed when Christ reigns.

3. God Brings His People Back into the Holy Land

🔹 Jeremiah 30:3

“For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah... and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.”

🔹 Ezekiel 37:21–22

“Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen... and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all...”

🔹 Amos 9:14–15

“And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them... And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.”

➡️ God will regather Israel from captivity and restore them to the Holy Land under Christ’s kingship.

✨ Putting It Together

• Christ will return to the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14) and reign on earth for 1,000 years (Rev. 20).
• During this reign, the earth will be renewed (Isa. 65, Acts 3, Rom. 8).
• God will bring His people Israel back into the land He promised (Jer. 30, Ezek. 37, Amos 9).

This is the Millennial Kingdom: Christ as King over all nations, the restoration of Israel, and the earth renewed in peace.