Caught up to Heaven

It can be discouraging continually coping with wrath and threats from various sources. However, from the positive, heavenly view "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him" (Ge 5:24) "so that he would not see death" (Heb 11:5). It was because "he was pleasing to God" (:5). Also "Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven" (1Ki 2:11). In addition, Paul said "such a man was caught up to the third heaven" (1Co 12:2) who "was caught up to Paradise" (:4). Also, Jesus told a criminal "'today you shall be with me in paradise'" (Lk 23:43). Furthermore, "'to him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God'" (Rev 3:7). Access to paradise was recognized as "'when You come into Your kingdom'" (Lk 23:42). It is a literal location in the same sense as having an earthly existence. "With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory" (Ps 73:24). God told Moses, "'you too will be gathered to your people'" (Num 27:13). David wrote "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Ps 23:6).

However, make sure you consider the caveat as "Balam said, 'Let me die the death of the upright'" (Num 23;10). Observe what was cited that "those who are far from You will perish" (Ps 73:27). "This is the way for those who are foolish. As sheep they are appointed for Sheol" (Ps 49:13-14). "Death shall be their shepherd . . . and their form shall be for Sheol to consume so that they have no habitation" (:14). "But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me" (:15).