Are the righteous people going to live in Heaven or on Earth forever?

When we pray the Lord's prayer, we ask for His kingdom to come and for His will to be done on earth, as it is in heaven. This tells us that there are two salvations–one on earth and one in heaven (Matthew 6:10, Luke 11:2). When we read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, we see that some traits are given an earthly reward and some the kingdom of heaven.  What is the difference?

A Heavenly Reward Promised to Christians

We find a clue in Romans 12:1, 2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  We must follow the example of Jesus in laying down our lives in order to receive a heavenly resurrection. Heaven is a reward from God for faithfully obeying His will and being transformed into Christ’s character likeness. “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10. “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,…since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.” Colossians 1:3-5 (ESV)

"By His great mercy we have been born anew to a life of hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, born to an unscathed, inviolate, unfading inheritance; it is kept in heaven for you."  I Peter 1:3, 4 (Moffatt translation of the Bible).

An Earthly Reward for Mankind

However, the vast majority of mankind will receive an earthly resurrection. During Christ’s reign on earth, they will also develop loving, obedient characters. The difference between the two groups is this, mankind will not be developing obedience when there is great opposition to righteousness – as is the case now. No, when Jesus reigns with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:27), righteousness will be the rule. Christ will teach mankind God’s truths (Isaiah 2:2-4) and all will know the Lord from the least unto the greatest (Jeremiah 31:34). People will be healed physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually (Isaiah 35:5-10). Mankind will not need to strive against their fallen flesh, the sinful world, nor the devil. Thus, the willing and obedient of mankind will have life everlasting but on earth and not in heaven.

Did Israel fast after a call for it by prophet Joel in chapter 2?

The book of Joel was written between 770 and 870 BC, about 50 years before the Assyrians captured the northern ten tribe kingdom of Israel. God directed Joel to prophesy of Israel’s coming captivity because the nation was practicing idol worship, sacrificing their babies to idols, and disregarding the Lord’s commands (Jeremiah 19:5). Joel called for a fast to focus the people on their sinful behaviors and to then repent (Joel 2:12, 13). Sadly, there is no biblical record that Israel did fast, but the historical fact of the Assyrian invasion (2 Kings 18:11-12) is evidence that Israel did not repent of their evildoing and did not mourn their conduct with a national fast.

This was the immediate fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy; however, there are multiple, deeper layers of this prophecy.  For example, Peter quotes portions of Joel (Joel 2:28, 29) as fulfilled in Acts 2:16-20 with the pouring out of God’s spirit at Pentecost upon the disciples. The Roman destruction of Jerusalem occurred about 36 years later (AD 70) because the religious leaders representing the nation had crucified our Lord (AD 33).    

In our Lord’s great prophecy of the end times, Jesus quotes from Joel 2:10 in Matthew 24:29. He referenced the sun being darkened and the moon not giving her light as signs of His invisible second advent. The repeated use in Joel of the phrase “the day of the Lord” points to the time at the end of the Christian age when there would be the ultimate fulfillment of Joel’s prophecies.    

In each of these prophetic fulfillments: the Assyrian invasion, Pentecost, destruction of Jerusalem, our Lord’s second presence, the prophecy of Joel is applied with ever increasing degrees of severity.  Each period involves the destruction of Israel, the punishment of the nations that come against Israel, and the reformation and blessing of the Jews. In the grand finale of this prophecy, Joel describes the permanent blessing of Israel and the world in Christ’s kingdom (Joel 3:17-21).

A parallel interpretation of Joel’s prophecy refers to the “spiritual” house of Israel, a term used to describe the Christian church. When the Apostles were present, the spiritual house of Israel was completely faithful. After they fell asleep, the church became contaminated and intoxicated with the spirit of the world (see Revelation  17:6). The Lord, therefore, pronounced judgment on them (similar to natural Israel) and will eventually destroy these babylonish churches (Revelation 14:8).  Still to come is the gathering of the nations to the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2, 3:12) (also called Armageddon in Revelation 16:16). It is here that the final destruction of the world’s social, financial, political and false religious systems will occur. After the old order is demolished, Christ will establish God’s true kingdom on earth (Matthew 6:10). During this kingdom, repentance (as pictured in fasting by the Joel prophecy) will be required by all!

What is the position of the death penalty in the New Testament?

Punishment of criminals is a governmental responsibility. Under the Law Covenant, God promised He would direct Israel’s governmental affairs if they tried to obey Him. Deuteronomy 30:16, “If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land…” “For the Lord will be judge of his people…” Deuteronomy 32:36.

However, the Lord has never promised He would direct the affairs of any nation beside Israel. “You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:2) No where in the New Testament does God teach He will overrule the decisions of any Gentile nation.

What does the New Testament teach about earthly governments and rulers? Romans 13:1, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” This scripture does not teach God is directing each nation. It’s obvious that the nations are not obedient to the Bible! Look at all the injustices around the world. However, this verse does indicate that God is a god of order and He has instituted governments to deal with offenses in order to keep people safe. 

Continuing in Romans 13:2-4, “Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good…But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain…” Essentially, God is permitting the nations to use the death penalty as a punishment for murderers. Christian believers are not the government. We may individually forgive a murderer but we may not direct the government as to how to punish the guilty one. That decision is out of our control.