John records in the Book of Revelation: "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL to preach to those who dwell on the earth— to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—" (Revelation 14:6). Here, John calls the gospel of Christ the everlasting gospel. The gospel of Christ is EVERLASTING indeed. God's revelation of Himself to the world has been progressive, culminating in the manifestation of Jesus Christ in the flesh, and the compilation of the complete Scriptures that we have today. At every stage in history the people of God had a certain amount of revelation, but it was the same gospel — the everlasting gospel of Christ. It is the same gospel that has been revealed progressively and preached throughout the generations, beginning with Adam — the gospel that offers man a choice between LIFE and DEATH, the Kingdom of God (Jesus) and the kingdom of Satan (see Genesis 2:9, 16-17; John 3:16-18), the gospel by which those who believe are saved. (see 1 Corinthians 15:1-2). The gospel is the same yesterday, and today and forever. It has never changed, and it will never change. The same gospel was preached to Abraham (see Galatians 3:8), preached to the children of Israel (see Hebrews 4:2), and is being preached to us today. (see Hebrews 4:2). Indeed, it is an everlasting Gospel, and it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. (see Romans 1:16). All the people in the Old Testament who believed the gospel (including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Daniel, Job, Moses, David, Elijah, and Isaiah) were saved, just as we have also believed the gospel today and are saved. The only difference between us and the Old Testament saints is that we have the full revelation of the gospel, or the substance, which is of Christ; we understand the things they did which they themselves didn't even understand. For instance, they didn't know that the Rock that gave the children of Israel water in the wilderness was Jesus Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 10:4). They did not know that they were bitten by serpents and destroyed because THEY TEMPTED CHRIST. (see Numbers 21:4-6, with 1 Corinthians 10:9). They also didn't know that the Passover Lamb (without spot or blemish) that was slain to redeem the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt was Jesus Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 5:7). They didn't know that the Sabbath rest is entered or attained when one believes the gospel of Christ. (see Hebrews 4:3; Matthew 11:28). And so they only had a shadow of the things that were to come — they didn't have the substance, which is of Christ. (See Colossians 2:17). Today we have the substance — Christ Himself was manifested in the flesh. We have the full revelation and we understand the things the Old Testament saints did not understand. And, of course, with more revelation or knowledge and understanding comes more victory in this life, for the Bible says that “through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.” (see Proverbs 11:9). This is the main difference between us and them. We have the glories that were to follow the sufferings of Christ. (see 1 Peter 1:11). Hallelujah! Thank God that the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world (see Revelation 13:8) was manifested in the flesh to us. (see 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 1:1-2).
Beloved, the truth that Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world is what allowed the God of Justice to justify (by faith) or declare as righteous such great men of faith as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Lot, etc — see Hebrews 11:4-10). And it is also what allowed God to send these men to Heaven, where the souls of all the righteous go immediately after death. (see 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23). Even some of these Old Testament men of faith — specifically, Enoch and Elijah — did not taste death at all, but were taken by God to Heaven; they were taken bodily or translated right into God’s Holy presence. (see Genesis 5:24, with Hebrews 11:5; 2 Kings 2:1, 11). So the question is, if (supposedly) no one could go to Heaven until Jesus physically came to the world to be slain for our sins, then how come Elijah, for instance, was taken alive to Heaven? (see 2 Kings 2:1, 11). This just completely tears apart this false doctrine that no one could go to Heaven until Jesus physically came to the world to die for our sins; it completely debunks the false belief that Abraham, or any Old Testament believer for that matter, was kept in a compartment of Hades (or Hell) until the physical death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It refutes and invalidates the doctrine that the Old Testament believers (or saints) were the prisoners or captives that Jesus set free or took with Him when He arose or ascended on high, as reported in Ephesians 4:8. What many people don’t seem to realize is that all men were (formerly) the captives of Satan; and all believers were freed by Christ and taken with Christ when He ascended (see Ephesians 2:4-6), and not just the Old Testament saints. Having been created in Christ (see Ephesians 2:10), we were IN Christ before the foundation of the world (see Ephesians 1:4-5), we were IN Christ when He ascended into Heaven, and we are still IN Him today. Thus, speaking of all believers, the Bible says: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, MADE US ALIVE TOGETHER with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and RAISED US UP TOGETHER, and MADE US SIT TOGETHER in the HEAVENLY PLACES IN Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6). Indeed this statement is true and has been true from the foundation of the world for all who believe, because Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world. (see Revelation 13:8).
Many people today are confused and find it contradictory also (especially in the light of the prophet Elijah’s ascension to Heaven in a chariot of fire), that the Lord Jesus Christ stated during His earth walk that: “NO ONE has ASCENDED TO HEAVEN but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.” (John 3:13). But this statement by Jesus is neither confusing nor contradictory at all. In fact, Jesus did not say anything new here as He was only echoing what was written in the Book of Proverbs, where it says: “I neither learned wisdom Nor have knowledge of the Holy One. WHO HAS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, OR DESCENDED? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if you know? Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:3-6). The revelation many people haven’t caught yet is that no one can ascend to Heaven unless they go THROUGH or IN Jesus Christ the glorious Son of God. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER except THROUGH Me.” (John 14:6). Of course, we know that the Father is in Heaven. (see Matthew 6:9; Isaiah 66:1). So no one ascends or goes to Heaven except through Jesus Christ. You have to be IN the Lord Jesus Christ to be able to get to Heaven. And you can't be IN Jesus unless you believe in Him, unless you believe the gospel. All those who believe in Jesus Christ are created IN Him (see Ephesians 2:10) and are new creations (see 2 Corinthians 5:17); they are born again, and can therefore enter the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God. (see John 3:3). Therefore, all those who ever went to Heaven (including Enoch and Elijah) went IN Jesus Christ; they didn’t ascend to Heaven on their own or apart from Christ; they were IN Christ and went as members or parts of the Body of Christ — of His flesh and of His bones — Jesus Himself being the Head. (see Colossians 1:18, with Ephesians 5:30). Thus in Heaven, Christ is all and in all, just as Colossians 3:11 says He is, in the Church. Jesus is and will forever remain the only one who has ascended to Heaven, or descended, and we (believers) are all in Him, being members of His Body — of His flesh and of His bones. Yes, we are all citizens in Heaven (see Philippians 3:20), but we don't ascend to Heaven on our own; we ascend to Heaven IN Jesus Christ our Savior, “He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.” He is the only one who has ascended to Heaven, carrying all of us IN Him. Thus Speaking of believers, the Book of Hebrews says: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and CHURCH of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, TO JESUS the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:22-24). When you come to Jesus Christ, you have come to Heaven, you have come to the Heavenly Jerusalem. Indeed, when you are in Christ, you are in Heaven. Hallelujah! All the Old Testament saints went to Heaven because they were IN Christ. Jesus Christ is the only Ladder between Heaven and Earth; He has to carry you to Heaven, and bring you down from Heaven or you can do neither on your own. Even the angels of God cannot descend from Heaven and ascend to Heaven unless they do so ON or UPON Jesus Christ the Ladder. Genesis 28:12 records a dream Jacob had about this truth. The Bible says, "Then he dreamed, and behold, A LADDER was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there THE ANGELS OF GOD were ascending and descending on it." (Genesis 28:12). Echoing the truth that He is this Ladder, the Lord Jesus Christ also said to Nathanael during His earth ministry: “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and THE ANGELS OF GOD ascending and descending UPON the Son of Man.” (John 1:51). Praise God!
Again, all the old Testament saints (including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Elijah, Moses, etc) believed in Christ when they believed and acted on the Word of God, because the Word of God is Jesus Christ. (see John 1:1, 14; Revelation 19:13). This is why God declared them as righteous. Their righteousness was by faith, just like ours. And so they are called saints just like us. Like the Old Testament saints, we believers of today didn't come into Christ by seeing Him on the street somewhere and saying to Him, "Hey Jesus, here you are, I believe in you!” No. We just heard the Word of truth, the gospel of our salvation, and we believed it; and by believing the Word of God, we were born again, we were saved and were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. (see Ephesians 1:13). So we are in Christ, we are new creations. (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Therefore, Beloved, I will be the first to admit that I am not in Christ because I have seen Him with my natural eyes, but that I am in Christ only because I believed the Word of God and acted on it. That Word of God is Jesus Christ. (see John 1:1, 14; Revelation 19:13). The Old Testament saints were also in Christ only because they believed the Word of God or the gospel and acted on it. Again, that Word of God is Jesus Christ. This is how we are born again: By faith in the Word of God, which is Jesus Christ. This has always been true since the foundation of the world, and will forever remain true. Paul said, “For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:13-15). Salvation has everything to do with hearing the Word of God or the gospel, which is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.
The Bible even cites Abraham’s faith and obedience as an example for all of us (believers) today, and calls Abraham the father of all believers. (see Hebrews 11:8-10; Romans 4:3-5, 16; Galatians 3:5-9). The Bible also says, as we have noted repeatedly, that the same gospel you and I have believed unto salvation today, was preached to Abraham beforehand, and he believed it. (see Galatians 3:8-9). Abraham heard the gospel of Christ and believed it before you and I heard it. The same gospel was also preached to the children of Israel who rebelled in the wilderness, who did not believe it. (see Hebrews 4:2). And so ask yourself, how could the gospel of Christ have existed in Abraham’s day if Jesus wasn’t slain from the foundation of the world? And how could Abraham who believed the gospel of Christ go to (a compartment of) hell after his death? Doesn’t this even insult the very foundation of Christianity? Sadly, many of us have been falsely taught the Word of God for so long that we have become rebellious against the truth. False teachings abound because there have been and still are too many sense-knowledge men preaching or teaching the Word of God — men who have limited revelation of the heart of God or the theme of the Bible, men who have neither yielded to the teachings of the Holy Spirit nor heeded to Paul’s advice to Timothy to “Be DILIGENT to present yourself APPROVED to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.” (2 Timothy 2:15). In fact, I was once a victim of these false teachings myself, and I have often wondered how we all came to believe these false teachings without asking questions. Obviously, those who maintain that no one could go into Heaven until Jesus physically came to the world to die for our sins can't explain why the Bible says Enoch and Elijah went into Heaven, or at least, they can't explain it without twisting God’s Word.
I truly thank God for the Holy Spirit, the greatest Teacher on earth today! I commend all believers to the Holy Spirit to be taught directly by Him. Indeed, we can still find more evidence in the Bible to refute the erroneous belief and teaching that Abraham’s bosom was a compartment of Hades (Hell) and a prison from which the Old Testament saints were set free when Jesus ascended on high. From what we’ve learned so far, it is even puzzling and baffling that someone could come up with such a doctrine or teaching that has no Scriptural basis whatsoever — that even contradicts the Scriptures — and still manage to get so many sincere believers to accept it and believe it. I see the fingerprints of Satan the deceiver all over this. Now, you will remember that in the account of the transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ on the mountain (see Mark 9:1-4; Matthew 17:1-3; Luke 9:28-36), we are told that two Old Testament saints — Moses and Elijah — appeared IN GLORY with Jesus and talked with Him about His death which He was to accomplish at Jerusalem. (see Luke 9:31). And so the question is: “If Moses and Elijah were in Abraham’s bosom, and if Abraham’s bosom were a compartment of hell so that Moses and Elijah were supposedly captives or prisoners who were to be set free by Jesus in His resurrection or ascension on high, then how come they were able to appear IN GLORY with Jesus here in His transfiguration? Who freed them from prison or captivity and glorified them to join Jesus in His glory there on the mount (of transfiguration) and to have this glorious conversation with Jesus?” Beloved, that Moses and Elijah appeared IN GLORY with Jesus should tell you that they had been living in glory (in Heaven) ever since Elijah was taken away into Heaven in that chariot of fire (see 2 Kings 2:1, 11), and ever since Moses died at the age of 120 in the land of Moab, on Mount Nebo, on top of Pisgah and was buried by God Himself — through His archangel Michael. (see Deuteronomy 34:1, 5-7, with Jude 1:9). We are also told in Jude 1:9 that Michael the archangel had to contend with the devil, when he (the devil) disputed about the body of Moses. Please note here that the devil did not contend for the soul or spirit of Moses, just his BODY — his spirit/soul indisputably belonged to God and was with God, because he believed in God and was a faithful servant of God. His body, on the other hand, belonged to God not in its corrupted state but in its transformed and glorified state, which would occur at the resurrection of the dead when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. Thus, Satan had the right to contend for Moses’ body (of corruption) although he didn't win custody of it, as the Lord (through His archangel Michael buried Moses). I mention this here because many people misunderstand and misrepresent this verse also.
Thus far, we have proven beyond every doubt that Abraham’s bosom is just a descriptive phrase in reference to Heaven where all believers will rest in the bosom of our father Abraham when we fall asleep in Christ or leave this earthly tent (or body). Yet another word which means the same thing as Heaven and Abraham’s bosom is “Paradise.” The first time we see this word used in the Bible is in Luke 23:43 where Jesus promised the thief on the cross who expressed faith in Him that he would be with Him in Paradise. The second time we see the word Paradise used is in the epistles, specifically, Second Corinthians 12:4 where Paul, speaking of his visions, narrates “how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Corinthians 12:4). Then in its third and final appearance or usage in the Bible, we are promised in the Book of Revelation, that to him who overcomes, Jesus “will give to eat from the tree of life, which is IN THE MIDST OF THE PARADISE OF GOD.” (see Revelation 2:7). And so, clearly, Paradise is just another name for Heaven, just like Abraham’s bosom. Thus, the three names — Abraham’s bosom, Paradise, and Heaven — all refer to the same place, which is the presence of God. The Bible also tells us that Heaven as it is today is a temporary place which will pass away just like the earth as it is today, and that there will be a new Heaven and a New Earth which will be the permanent place of dwelling for the righteous. (see Matthew 24:35; Revelation 3:12; Revelation 21:1-2; Isaiah 65:17-19; Isaiah 66:22-24). Hallelujah! Let God be true, but every man a liar. (Romans 3:4). Believe the everlasting gospel of Christ, for it saves! Remain blessed.
I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV).
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