Before Jesus?

Question

Before Jesus, how did people get into heaven ... Isnt the "only" way to heaven through the belief in the father, the son , and the holy spirit?

Answer 1

Before Jesus . . . door to Heaven locked?

Answer 2

Okay, first it must be understood that "Heaven" and "Hell" had completely different meanings in the time of Jesus (more correctly translated as Joshua or Yeshua) and in the times before Jesus. I have often wondered about the very question you ask and found a perplexing reading in Ephesians 4 (verses 8-10 or so) in which the writer suggests that Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth (Hades or Sheol: a temporary realm for departed souls according to the Hebrew Scriptures). I've often thought that maybe Jesus went to hell to save all those that may have been there before he came along. All the ones "not saved" so to say. However, we cannot be certain since the ideas of Heaven and Hell have changed so drastically since the time between Abraham and Jesus and now us. In my humble opinion, an all loving creator cannot send any part of the artist's creation to an eternal death. In reality, we may never know for sure until we ourselves take the greatest journey; into the great unknown. Good question. Probably never a good answer.

Answer 3

DD : A very great question - well thought out. As a Christian, I can inform you that contrary to popular belief, people do not "go to heaven" upon dying. People are simply, buried within the ground awaiting the return of Jesus Christ to earth. When Jesus arrives there will commence a series of resurrections from the dead. (read about it in the Bible, the Book of Revelation, chapter 20 ; and the First Book of Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 23). Oftentimes, the "contradiction" is in the MISunderstanding of the promotors.

Answer 4

Actually this is a very, very good and intelligent question.

The Bible can answer that question as well. Please notice:

The righteous man Job hoped in a resurrection back to life. Heaven was not mentioned at all.

"O that in She′ol [the common grave of mankind, not hell] you would conceal me,
That you would keep me secret until your anger turns back,
That you would set a time limit for me and remember me!
14 If an able-bodied man dies can he live again?
All the days of my compulsory service I shall wait,
Until my relief comes.
15 You will call, and I myself shall answer you.
For the work of your hands you will have a yearning."

Daniel was told that he would "stand up" which refers to the resurrection to life on earth. Not heaven.

“And as for you yourself, go toward the end; and you will rest, but you will stand up for your lot at the end of the days.”"
-Daniel 12:13

Regarding John the Baptist. John was killed before Jesus instituted the "covenant for a kingdom" referring to a heavenly hope for Christians. Therefore, one that would have the heavenly hope would be "greater" than John the Baptist.

"Truly I say to YOU people, Among those born of women there has not been raised up a greater than John the Baptist; but a person that is a lesser one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he is. 12 But from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press, and those pressing forward are seizing it."
-Matthew 11:11-12

And finally Jesus conversation with Nicodemus which shows that there was *NO ONE* had ascended into heaven except for himself that had descended.

"If I have told YOU earthly things and yet YOU do not believe, how will YOU believe if I tell YOU heavenly things? 13 Moreover, no man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man." -John 3:12-13

So, Jesus is saying that there was nobody that went to heaven before him, but churches of Christendom have preached and preached about the heavenly hope for everyone that was perceived to be "righteous" that had died.

There are two hopes. One in the heavens and one upon the earth. It is very plain, very simple, but people still refuse to accept the truth that the Bible contains.

Remember that Jesus didn't contradict the heavenly hope when he stated the following:

"“Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth." -Matthew 5:5

King David, under inspiration stated:

"And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more;
And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be.
11 But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth,
And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." -Psalms 37:10-11

And King Solomon after Kind David stated:

"For the upright are the ones that will reside in the earth, and the blameless are the ones that will be left over in it. 22 As regards the wicked, they will be cut off from the very earth; and as for the treacherous, they will be torn away from it."
-Proverbs 2:21-22

So, to succinctly answer your question:

Before Jesus died no one went to heaven.

Answer 5

Hmm, what a question. Before Jesus it was the Jews, they were the .. are the chosen people. they were given the law by Moses from the hand of God himself. and if you will God Himself talked to Prophets, sometimes through angels but most of the time Himself. Now through the law they became the "Chosen" and were held in limbo for a time untill the Christ had paid the price for not only them but the entire human race, Jews and gentiles alike. Its a little vague because there are many references to the biblical fact that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Christ to be savior. It is kind a little elusive that the link from the gentiles to the jews is through Jesus. but if you read through James and John you will find reference to this. You know it was very hard and odd for me to read the bible and try to get meaning of the passage until I went to a study. A good Bible study is a quick way to the word.

Prayer is the pathway to knowledge of God.

In His Grip "for my Son"

Warrior_Father

Answer 6

Jesus went and preached to those that had died and ."did so right after His death on the cross.

1 Peter 3:19-20: "He went and preached to the spirits in prison(which would be "paradise) who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water

Answer 7

Jesus was not the only one among many God's Sons.

He was not the only one of the many Saviors who were/are on Earth to help us.

But having said that, all saints and saviors are ONE with the Holy Spirit! They all speak from God with One Voice

The Holy Spirit is the Word of God!

And unless you heard it personally for yourself, you can never believe in or see God as One.

Redemption, not Heaven, comes from the Word and its Prophets!

Answer 8

Tell me what was the religion of Jesus, John, Zacharias, Moses, Joseph, Jacob and Abraham?.

Were they not all the Prophets of God?

Many were even given the Holy Scriptures like many of you believe and follow Ten Commandments.

So was not the God of all the prophets One and Only the same God?

If there is only one Creator and one God for all the Prophets and their followers, by simple logic, it has to be the same and only one religion.

So every prophet right from Father Adam and untill Muhammad it is all One Religion and One God.

Now I shall leave it to you to name it. Ponder over it.

So, every sincere follower of the religion right from Adam until Muhammad shall go to Heaven.

Answer 9

Christianity wasn't created until after the Romans crucifiead Jesus so before taht whatever your religion taught you about how to get into heaven. By the way belief in the father, son, and holy spirit is not the only way to get into heaven, it depends on what religion you follow or believe in.

Answer 10

The bible teaches us three things were required to reach heaven. For each dispensation (time period) God's Law required mankind to have:

1. Faith in Him (accept Him as one and only God)
2. Obedience to His Law during that dispensation (ie circumcision during Abram's time)
3. Shedding of Blood through animal sacrifices

Prior to Jesus, God required man to sacrifice a spotless lamb from his flock. After the fourth dispensation, God sent Himself as human living sacrifice, Jesus, fulfilling the third requirement for shedding of blood. At this point, no animal sacrifices were necessary to be in God's favor. Just faith, obedience, and baptism in spirit and water in Jesus' name.

Answer 11

They didn't.

Act 2:34 For David has not ascended into the heavens, but he says himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit at my right hand

Act 13:36 For David indeed, having in his own generation ministered to the will of God, fell asleep, and was added to his fathers and saw corruption.