Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
Let us look at several groups of people who will be in heaven. First, we have the prophets of the Old Testament. Our first example is found in Genesis 5:24, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Enoch is the first recorded human being to enter heaven. His experience was to give hope to his people. The inhabitants then, as now, were doubtful of a reward for those who lived a faithful life. Why did Enoch go to heaven? How did he earn his place there?
“He educated his mind and heart to ever feel that he was in the presence of God, and when in perplexity his prayers would ascend to God to keep him. He refused to take any course that would offend his God. He kept the Lord continually before Him. He would pray, ‘Teach me Thy way, that I may not err. What is Thy pleasure concerning me? What shall I do to honour thee, my God?’ Thus he was constantly shaping his way and course in accordance with God’s commandments, and he had perfect confidence and trust in his heavenly Father, that He would help him. He had no thought or will of his own. It was all submerged in the will of his Father.” –Last Day Events, p. 71
Let us take a look at our next example. “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.” Deuteronomy 34:5–6
“And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias.” Luke 9:28–30
Moses is our second Old Testament prophet who arose and went to heaven. Of course there is very much written about Moses in the Old Testament. His life story, his humility learned in the desert, and the mighty works he did in God’s power. Why was Moses taken into heaven? “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” Hebrews 11:24–26
Here we see a correlation between Moses and Enoch and all those who wish to be saved. That is “choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.”
If we read Luke 9:30 again, we will find our last example from the Old Testament. “And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias.” Here we see our next example, Elijah. “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” 2 Kings 2:11
“Those who are to prepare the way for the second coming of Jesus are represented by faithful Elijah, as John came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Christ’s first advent. The work of John the Baptist, and the work of those who in the last days go forth in the spirit and power of Elijah to arouse the people from their apathy, are in many respects the same. His work is a type of the work that must be done in this age. Christ is to come the second time to judge the world in righteousness.” –Maranatha, p. 22
These three examples of Old Testament prophets who arose, and were taken to heaven were to be an example for the people in their time period. But also for those throughout the ages, even down to our age. As the Bible Study Handbook says, “These three Old Testament persons were taken to heaven doubtlessly to give encouragement to God’s people that there would truly be a reward for the faithful.”
Aside from those in the Old Testament, there are others who have gone to heaven to stay. “Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” Matthew 27:50–54. The Spirit of Prophecy tells us that these saints were to be in heaven with Jesus, “Those who came forth from the grave at Christ’s resurrection were raised to everlasting life. They ascended with Him as trophies of His victory over death, and the grave. . . . I have brought them from the grave as the first fruits of My power, to be with Me, where I am, nevermore to see death or experience sorrow.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 786
This must have been so strange to see! Let us see who John the beloved disciple saw in his vision of heaven. “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. . . . And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power.” Revelation 4:2–4, 9–11
In these Bible texts we have learned of those already dwelling in heaven. What of those living at the time of Jesus’ second coming? Or of those who are dead in Christ? “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. . . . And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:4–9, 13–14
There are two distinct groups here—the 144,000 and the great multitude which no man could number. Both groups are made up of all different types of people. One group is made up of the living when Christ comes, including those that have died faithfully under the third angel’s message and were sealed, and were raised in the partial resurrection to see Jesus coming in the clouds. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea. . . that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them.” Revelation 14:13. The other group is made up of people from different decades or even centuries before. These dead in Christ are resurrected at His coming.
Let us look at two other distinct groups that will be in heaven. The Bible does not expand on or mention these groups in detail, but they are written about in the Spirit of Prophecy. “As the little infants come forth immortal from their dusty, they immediately wing their way to their mothers’ arms. They meet again nevermore to part. But many of the little ones have no mother there. . . . The angels receive the motherless infants and conduct them to the tree of life. Jesus places the golden ring of light, the crown upon their little heads.” –Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 260
These babies include those innocent ones slaughtered in the days of Moses and Jesus, but also sadly those whose mothers were not saved. With this thought, there is another group that Ellen White mentions who are clothed differently than the other heavenly beings. “As we were travelling along, we met a company. . . . I noticed red as a border on their garments. . . . As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were. He said they were martyrs that had been slain for Him.” This also includes “an innumerable company of little ones; they also had a hem of red on their garments.” –Early Writings, p. 18
Now let us look at some of the attributes of those who will dwell in heaven with God. “LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.” Psalm 15:1–2. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and He shall be My son. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:7, 27. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12
With these words in mind, let us continue to strive towards heaven to be part of the 144,000 and live in paradise with God forever. Amen.
Elaine Romero