One of the biggest tricks that Satan has established in the world is to confuse the Word of God, and allow the common men of the the world to define Heaven. Satan did this in an effort to prevent people from ever feeling the need to walk toward the LORD God, bow their knee, accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, or be baptized in Christ and the Holy Spirit
The trick is perpetuated on unsuspecting worldly people, by making them believe that Heaven is for everyone that is good, and that it will be the dwelling place of all good people for eternty. Heaven is falsely purported to be the final place where all of your wishes are granted to you, and Christianity is defined as one who is “good enough to get to Heaven”.
Heaven nor Christianity is not what the world believes it to be.
Heaven is the current home to the LORD God and all of His Spirits, Jesus Christ, the resurrected faithful Christians, and angels. Heaven is not going to last forever. There is going to be a new Heaven established when the New Earth is established. The current Heaven will dissolve with fire and come to an end, as things are reordered and renewed, and those who oppose the LORD God’s rule are brought to justice.
Faithful Christians that have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, and have been baptized in the Baptism of Redemption, and have received of the Holy Spirit, and faithfully Walk the walk of Christ, are promised to NEVER DIE again! For this specific group of believers, and because of the resurrection of our Christ, our souls leave our body upon our death, and are immediately transported to Heaven, where new bodies are given us. We are in Heaven for one purpose…to rest for a while….to recuperate and prepare for our new lives on the New Earth, that will be ruled by our Christ.
Not all Christians even get the opportunity to go to Heaven for this rest. If a Christian has not walked the specific walk layed out in God’s Word, and has not received the Baptism of Redemption, then he will not go to Heaven temporarily, but will sleep in his grave for a while. When the Lord Jesus Christ resurrects all of the dead in their grave on the Day of Rapture, just before the raising of the live Christians to Him. These Christians will receive salvation because of their belief, and join the other faithful Christians in Heaven, to later go on and assume their positions on the New Earth.
I would garner a guess, however, that those Christians who had the opportunity to follow the Word of God while alive, but made no effort to comply completely, will be likely destined to more lowly positions upon the New Earth.
To be a Chrisitian and elgible for a time in Heaven requires a strict and narrow walk in accordance with the Word of God, and with Jesus Christ as your Master and King. Anything less will lead you to your grave for awhile, with promise of facing Jesus Christ on Judgment Day and explaining why you called Him Savior, but failed to honor the Word of God.
Kathy L. McFarland, MDiv.
“9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. “11 ¶ [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:9-14 KJV)
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” (Revelation 21:1 KJV)