The Inheritance Reserved in Heaven

The heading of this article is taken from the apostle Peter’s first letter which reads, “…to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet.1:4). This is an attractive verse and many of our friends and Bible readers regard it as supporting the belief that our loved ones, when they die, go to heaven. This is a comforting belief thinking they will be happy there, but is that what Peter meant by this verse?

Peter made a similar statement about the same matter later in the chapter. To encourage the believers he wrote, “wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to the end for the grace (favour) that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet.1:13)

The revelation of Jesus Christ refers to his return from heaven some time in the future when he will bring this grace to give to the believers. This wonderful event is referred to several times in scripture. For example, the apostle Paul wrote a comprehensive explanation in his letter to the Thessalonians.

The Testimony of the Apostle Paul

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede, go before) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess.4:14-17).

In this passage, Paul provided some interesting details about the revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus returns to earth ‘with a shout’ which many people will hear and know about. An archangel will also be involved and the dead in Christ will be raised. This wonderful event of the resurrection of the dead clearly proves that those ‘in Christ’ who are referred to here are not in heaven as is popularly supposed but are resting in their graves waiting for this great event to happen.

Just as in sleep one is unconscious for a while but expecting to wake up later, so Paul refers to these believers who had died as being ‘asleep’ in Jesus, waiting to be restored to life at the resurrection.

It appears that the question in the minds of these Thessalonians was this; will those who are alive when Christ returns receive their rewards before their faithful brethren who have already fallen asleep?

Paul’s answer is clear; those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who are asleep as to receiving their reward because the dead in Christ shall rise first. Consequently the living and the resurrected will be caught up together to meet the Lord in ‘clouds’, that is, in multitudes from all parts of the world when Jesus returns.

The phrase ‘in the air’ must be understood in a figurative sense, similar to the way we understand the expression ‘a new heaven and a new earth’. When Jesus returns he will commence to reign in the kingdom of God in its initial stage (Matt.25:31). Eventually his kingdom will fill the whole earth. (Dan.2:35)

Returning to the quotation from Peter’s letter we may now understand the meaning as Peter intended. Peter had introduced the subject by writing ‘Blessed be God…which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you’ (1 Pet.1:3-4). It is because Jesus is now in heaven that our hope of receiving an inheritance will be realised when Jesus returns.

The Testimony of the Lord Jesus

It is worth noting that Jesus used similar language in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt.5:10). We have already shown that the kingdom of God will be established on the earth. Jesus calls this same kingdom the kingdom of heaven because it is God’s kingdom and has its origin from Him who dwells in heaven. Previously Jesus had said, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” (v.5) This literal statement is clear enough.

We may therefore look forward to the time when this wonderful kingdom will be established on the earth when Jesus returns. He himself said, “And they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven (angels) with power and great glory.” (Matt.25:30). May that great event soon happen!

Bro. Ralph Green (Torquay, UK)