The 7th Part of our Bible Study series "Questions and Answers."

1. Heavenly
Country

2. Question #1
Who Gets to Go
to Heaven?

3. Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is
the gate and broad is the way that leads
to destruction, and there are many who
go in by it. Because narrow is the gate
and difficult is the way which leads to
life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13,14

4. Look at the passages following
7:13-14. Jesus is clearly addressing those
who are faithful, not those outside of
the Church. See specifically 7:21-23.
Those who “...enter into the narrow
gate...” will be those who “...hear these
sayings of Mine, and do them” (24).
Context Always Matters

5. Question #2
Who Does God want to
Go to Heaven?

6. The Lord is not slack concerning His
promise, as some count slackness, but is
longsuffering toward us, not willing that
any should perish but that all should
come to repentance.
Second Peter 3:9

7. This verse represents God’s ideal will. It
represents what He wants to happen, not
necessarily what will happen. When free
will (choice) entered the world then this
conflict arose. God wants everyone to
repent (see Rom 3:23) and believe in Jesus
who died for them (see Jn 3:16).
God’s Will: Ideal v. Reality

8. (God) desires all men to be saved and
to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one Mediator
between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a
ransom for all...
First Timothy 2:4-5

9. When people reject God and His divine
grace they bring upon themselves
punishment. First Peter 4:3-6 says,
“...when we walked in lewdness, lusts,...
and abominable idolatries (with) these
who speak evil of you. They will give an
account...for this reason the gospel was
preached to those who are dead...”
God’s Will: Ideal v. Reality

10. Question #3
What is Required to
Go to Heaven?

11. But now they desire a better, that is, a
heavenly country. Therefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God, for He
has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:16

12. Look at the passages preceding 11:16.
These heroes of faith made choices to
serve God in face of stubborn circumstances
and long odds. Like Moses they “...looked
to the reward” (11:24) and Abraham
“...waited for the city which has
foundations, whose builder and maker is
God” (11:10).
Context Always Matters

13. Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice and be
exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in
Heaven...”
John 14:2-3, “In My Father’s House are
many mansions...if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again...that where
I am, there you may be also.”
What Did Jesus Say?

14. Philippians 3:20, “...our citizenship is in
Heaven, from which we eagerly await for
the Savior”
First Peter 1:3-5, “...(God) has begotten us
again to a living hope...to an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled that does not
fade away, reserved in heaven for you...”
What about the NT?

15. Revelation 14:13, “...blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord from now on...that
they may rest from their labors, and their
works follow them.”
Hebrews 4:9-11, “There remains a rest for
the people of God. For he who has entered
His rest has ceased from his works...”
What about the NT?

16. Note that you cannot die “...in the Lord”
if you have lived out of the Lord. The
bliss of heaven for those who are there
is described as a “rest.” That word
signifies work that is exhausting.
Turn to (and read) Matthew 25:31-45.
Context Always Matters

17. And these (the unrighteous) will go
away into everlasting punishment, but
the righteous into eternal life.
Matthew 25:46

18. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the
death of His saints.
Psalm 116:15