You are in serious error. Nowhere does the Bible say heaven is our home.
The Bible does tell us about people going to live in heaven. There has been a few special cases; like Elijah and just before Jesus Returns, the two witnesses will be resurrected and taken to heaven.
But any prophecy of a general ‘rapture to heaven’ of the Church in the end times, cannot to be found in the Bible.
The prophecy of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, is about the Return of Jesus, when He will gather those faithful Christians who remain alive then. Proved by Matthew 24:30-31 It will be a transportation from where they are on earth, to where Jesus is: in the clouds, then to Jerusalem. NOT a spiritual change for them as yet.
There is no scripture that says there will be a ‘rapture’, but there is plenty saying such a thing is impossible:
John 3:13 No one goes to heaven, except the One who came from there.
John 7:34 Where I go, you cannot come....
John 8:21-23 Your home is on earth......
John 17:15 I do not pray for You to take My followers out of the world, but keep them from the evil one.
Revelation 2:25-26 Hold fast to what you have until I Return. To those who are Victorious, to those who persevere in doing My will until the end, I will give them authority over the nations. Revelation 5:9-10
We will all be here to face the great and terrible Day of the Lord’s wrath:
Luke 21:35....that Day will come upon everyone, the whole world over.
Jeremiah 25:29...I am summoning a Sword against all the inhabitants of the earth.
1 Corinthians 1:7-8 There is no gift you lack, while you wait expectantly for Jesus to Return. He will keep you firm in your faith until the end.......
We Christians will be the people God always wanted in the holy Land:
Psalms 37:29 The righteous will possess the Land and will live there forever.
Zechariah 8:7-8 I am about to rescue My people and bring them back to Zion. They will be My people and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 34:11-16 I will search for My sheep from where they are scattered on the Day of cloud and disaster. They will settle in Israel and become prosperous.
Romans 9:24-26 We [Christians] are God’s people, called out of Jew and Gentile.
You were not My people, now I call you My people and the unloved; beloved. In the same place, [in the holy Land] where Israel was told; you are no longer My people, you will be called; the Sons of the Living God.
I know how the teaching of a ‘rapture’ has permeated the Church, For many, it is the only end times scenario they have heard, so for those Christians, it is very difficult to consider another outcome.
But serious thought must be given to the scriptures presented above and know that many pastors and Bible scholars dispute the validity of a ‘rapture.
Why want to go to heaven? We have an incredible destiny awaiting us here, where we belong.
Another BreadOfLife ready made list man. I am not going to answer your whole list, but I will answer the first few to show how mistaken you are.
(John 3:13) doesn't say what you said. It says, "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." It doesn't say 'no one goes to heaven'. Jesus had just told Nicodemus that He had been teaching 'earthly' things and that he did not believe Him. (3:12) What are those earthly things? They are the prophecies concerning the Kingdom and the Messiah to come written by the prophets. But the Jews and Nicodemus had rejected those things.
Then, when Christ tells Nicodemus abut the new-birth, Nicodemus doesn't understand and asks 'how can these things be'. (3:9) The 'how' of these things concerns 'heavenly teaching' and to have that one must have access to heaven to get it. And Christ did have that as that is where He is from as the Son. "no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." No prophets went to heaven to obtain their information. Only Christ has been in Heaven and so can teach heavenly things. But why, when they reject the earthly things? When they reject the things the prophets have told them of the earthly Kingdom?
But Christ will take His people to Heaven where He is from. (John 14:2-3) "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." That place and mansions are in Heaven.
And then after the crucifixion, when Christ descended into hell, the paradise section of Abraham's bosom, He freed all there and took them back to Heaven. (Eph. 4:8-10) "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)"
So, now, after the blood has been shed, man has a place in Heaven.
As to (John 7:34), Jesus is talking to the unbelieving Pharisees. (32-33) Simple context. Of course they cannot come where He is going. The same with (John 8:21).
This is why I hate ready made lists. It looks so authoritative, yet is full of deception.
Stranger
