What is meant by "the meek will inherit the earth?"

[Dan_Parker]

Mailman:
Doctrines should never be established by vague or difficult-to-be-understood scriptures.

Dan:
They also should not be lightly dismissed. Some of the questions you ask later on in this post can be answered by looking at Col 1:15-20 in context.
Mailman:
Colossians 1:20 says nothing about whether any human being has gone to heaven or whether heaven is the reward of the saved. It merely mentions about “things” being reconciled to God through Christ. It can even be argued that if these “things” refer to human beings exclusively, why then did Paul chose to use that word [things] instead of the word “men”? It would have been more correct to say, “…to reconcile all MEN unto himself… whether they be MEN in earth, or MEN in heaven.”

Dan:
Paul wrote what he wrote. I am never comfortable with the notion that we can say that Paul should have said this or that if he meant this or that. Let’s look at Paul’s use of language in the immediate context and see how he uses the term PANTA.

NAS Colossians 1:15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 16 For by Him all things = PANTA were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things = PANTA have been created by Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things = PANTA, and in Him all things = PANTA hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things = PANTA to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether** things = PANTA** on earth or** things = PANTA** in heaven.

Note that the first instance of PANTA are further described as beings in a ruler-ship position, " thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities." This is clearly not a reference to inanimate things.

Also note that it is “in him” that these things were created. BDAG says of this Greek phrase EN indicates “4. marker of close association within a limit, in” and “everything was created in association with him 1:16” These ones are “in Christ” and therefore are the body of Christ (cp v18).

KATALASSW (reconcile) has the gloss in BDAG of: **the exchange of hostility for a friendly relationship, reconcile **

This can only refer to human beings who need Christ’s ransom to be reconciled with God.

Mailman:
The scripture which deals directly on the subject of whether or not any human being has gone to heaven is John 3:13. This scripture is plain and clear in what it says: No man has ascended up to heaven, except Christ.

Dan:
Of course that was true when Jesus spoke those words. I agree.

Mailman:
That scripture is supported by yet another statement from Jesus: “I go [to heaven]” and “I will come back again [back to this earth]” … (John 14:2-3).

Dan:
Lets look at what precedes this:
NAS John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for** I go to prepare a place for you**. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that b)where I am, there you may be also.

At this part of Jesus’ life a major theme is that he is going back to the Father. His Father is in heaven. He is preparing a place for his disciples and will come back for them.

Jesus said that he wanted to be glorified in the presence of the Father which is in heaven.
ESV John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Later in the same prayer he speaks about his disciples that they will see his glory by being with him where he is, in the presence of the Father.
ESV John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may **be with me where I am, to see my glory **that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Mailman:
Jesus went again to heaven, from where He had come. And He said, “Whither [where] I go, ye CANNOT COME.” That’s in John 8:22 and John 13:33. These scriptures support Jesus’ statement in John 3:13 that, except for Him, no man has ever been to heaven.

Dan:
That was true then, because he had not yet prepared a place for them. In addition he would die to go to heaven and they would follow in his footsteps to get to heaven as well.

Mailman:
When studying any one particular biblical subject or doctrine, prudence demands that we begin with the plainer scriptures and understand the vague and obscure ones in light of the plainer scriptures. So, on this subject of human beings going to heaven, we have to start with John 3:13, which is plain and clear.

Dan:
I have addressed John 3:13 and it does not say that men will never go to heaven.

Mailman:
Another one is found in Acts 2:34: “For David is not ascended into the heavens….” Since God calls David “a man after mine own heart,” David should have been one of the first to enter heaven. But according to this scripture, he has not gone there.

Dan:
Agreed. David did not go to heaven. Your logic eludes me and presumes a theology that you have not proven. It appears from what you write that you expect David to be resurrected to live on earth. I agree. However that does not mean that others will not go to heaven to the place in the presence of the Father that Jesus promised his disciples.

 

[Mailman]

Mailman:
Doctrines should never be established by vague or difficult-to-be-understood scriptures.

Dan:
They also should not be lightly dismissed. Some of the questions you ask later on in this post can be answered by looking at Col 1:15-20 in context.

I agree that vague or obscure scriptures should not be lightly dismissed. But plainer scriptures should come first, then the vague and difficult ones, understood in light of the plain scriptures.

Mailman:
Colossians 1:20 says nothing about whether any human being has gone to heaven or whether heaven is the reward of the saved. It merely mentions about “things” being reconciled to God through Christ. It can even be argued that if these “things” refer to human beings exclusively, why then did Paul chose to use that word [things] instead of the word “men”? It would have been more correct to say, “…to reconcile all MEN unto himself… whether they be MEN in earth, or MEN in heaven.”

Dan:
Paul wrote what he wrote. I am never comfortable with the notion that we can say that Paul should have said this or that if he meant this or that. Let’s look at Paul’s use of language in the immediate context and see how he uses the term PANTA.

NAS Colossians 1:15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 16 For by Him all things = PANTA were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things = PANTA have been created by Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things = PANTA, and in Him all things = PANTA hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things = PANTA to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether** things = PANTA** on earth or** things = PANTA** in heaven.

Note that the first instance of PANTA are further described as beings in a ruler-ship position, " thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities." This is clearly not a reference to inanimate things.

“All things” is further described NOT JUST as thrones, dominions, rulers and authorities, but INCLUDING thrones, dominions, rulers and authorities. In other words, Paul is not limiting the use of the term to apply ONLY to the four things he mentioned. Notice he says, “WHETHER” these be those things.

Paul begins with, “For by Him ALL THINGS were created,” clearly referring to EVERYTHING that was created both living and non-living – in the Greek this means literally, “the whole universe of things.”

Paul goes on to make sure that we understand what he means by “all things.” These encompass all things “in the heavens [must include the angels] and on earth, VISIBLE and INVISIBLE [the spirit world- the angelic kingdom]” – clearly EVERYTHING that was created in the limitless expanse of the universe.

He again confirms the all-encompassing nature of the term when he adds: “ALL THINGS CREATED by Him and for Him” which “He is before” all these things. Then Paul continues, “and in Him all things hold together.”

Also note that it is “in him” that these things were created. BDAG says of this Greek phrase EN indicates “4. marker of close association within a limit, in” and “everything was created in association with him 1:16” These ones are “in Christ” and therefore are the body of Christ (cp v18).

Yes, “in Him” indicates a close association with Him [Christ]. But does this refer only to those of His Church, the body of Christ? No, not in the context in which the expression is used. Here, ALL of His creation– the angels [whether faithful or fallen], human beings [whether in His Church or outside of it], and the whole universe including planet earth – all are held together in Him. They are all held together in Him because Christ is not only the Creator, but also the Sustainer or Conserver of all these things.

The book of Hebrews tells us that Christ “sustain all things [same Greek word used] by his powerful word” (Heb. 1:3 NRSV). Christ not only created all things, He also SUSTAINS it. The billions of heavenly bodies coursing through space, for example, would literally “fly apart” if not for the laws God set in motion to govern their functioning which He sustains by His power. Christ sustains the laws governing His creation, whether living or non-living, thus holding His creation together and having that close association with it. This is the sense in which Paul uses the expression “in Him all things hold together.”

KATALASSW (reconcile) has the gloss in BDAG of: **the exchange of hostility for a friendly relationship, reconcile **

This can only refer to human beings who need Christ’s ransom to be reconciled with God.

Are human beings the ONLY ones who have a hostile relationship with God? What caused this hostile relationship? Is it not sin, or the transgression of God’s Law? But human beings are not the only ones who have sinned against God. A third of the angels have sinned as well. Therefore, the term “all things” when used to refer to those things that need to be reconciled to God could also refer to the fallen angels [the spirit world], or as the immediate context tells us, all things “visible and invisible.”

 

[Mailman]

Mailman:
The scripture which deals directly on the subject of whether or not any human being has gone to heaven is John 3:13. This scripture is plain and clear in what it says: No man has ascended up to heaven, except Christ.

Dan:
Of course that was true when Jesus spoke those words. I agree.

If it was true only when Jesus spoke it, when did people start going to heaven?

Mailman:
That scripture is supported by yet another statement from Jesus: “I go [to heaven]” and “I will come back again [back to this earth]” … (John 14:2-3).

Dan:
Lets look at what precedes this:
NAS John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for** I go to prepare a place for you**. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that b)where I am, there you may be also.

At this part of Jesus’ life a major theme is that he is going back to the Father. His Father is in heaven. He is preparing a place for his disciples and will come back for them.

Yes, Christ will COME BACK for His disciples – to this earth. Christ did not say that they will GO TO Him to where He is preparing that place for them, but that He will COME BACK for them “to receive [them] to myself, that where I am” – the place where He would come back to, this earth – “there [they] may be also.”

The book of Hebrews tells us what this place is that Christ is preparing for His disciples and all the saints of God: “But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them A CITY” (Heb. 11:15-16).

Now, look where this CITY – that which Christ is preparing for His disciples – will eventually be located. John says: “And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, COMING DOWN from God OUT OF HEAVEN,” – coming down, of course to this earth – prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev. 21:1).

And then because this city, coming from heaven, will now be on earth, John says that a great voice from heaven will say: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is WITH MEN [that’s because its here on earth], and he [God] will dwell with them [God’s throne is in heaven but He will dwell with men on earth], and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them [here on earth], and be their God” (verse 3).

An angel carries John to a “great and high mountain [that’s here on earth]” to show him a vision of “the bride, the Lamb’s wife [God’s Church].” What John sees is, “that great city, the holy Jerusalem, DESCENDING OUT OF HEAVEN from God” (verse 10). Surely, nothing could be plainer than that. The place that Christ is preparing will be coming down to this earth.

Jesus said that he wanted to be glorified in the presence of the Father which is in heaven.
ESV John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

I agree.

Later in the same prayer he speaks about his disciples that they will see his glory by being with him where he is, in the presence of the Father.
ESV John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may **be with me where I am, to see my glory **that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

The text does not say they will see Christ’s glory in heaven. Nor does it say they will see Christ’s glory in the presence of the Father. What it says is that they will see His glory “where I am.” This could be rendered “whichever place I am” (Strong’s), or “wherever I am.” Christ could be here on earth and still be in a glorified state just like when the Father first glorified Him in heaven.

Now, notice how John describes the “great city” that he saw descending to this earth from heaven: “Having the GLORY of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal” (Rev. 21:11). Why would it have the glory of God? Precisely because it would be a glorified Christ who would be bringing that Holy City to this earth! And since the Father will dwell with men on earth then (verse 3), together with Christ, Christ’s disciples will see their Master in all His glory in the presence of the Father, fulfilling Jesus’ prayer to the Father in John 17:24.

Mailman:
Another one is found in Acts 2:34: “For David is not ascended into the heavens….” Since God calls David “a man after mine own heart,” David should have been one of the first to enter heaven. But according to this scripture, he has not gone there.

Dan:
Agreed. David did not go to heaven. Your logic eludes me and presumes a theology that you have not proven. It appears from what you write that you expect David to be resurrected to live on earth. I agree. However that does not mean that others will not go to heaven to the place in the presence of the Father that Jesus promised his disciples.

The Bible does not say the saved will go to heaven. Why would David, “a man after [God’s] own heart,” stay on earth while Jesus’ disciples and the others go to heaven and be with the Father?

BTW, what do you believe happened to the repentant thief on the cross? Did he go to heaven? When did he go to heaven?

 

[Reuben_J]

Pride is the ROOT of most, if not all sin.

Matt.18:3 "and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Humility, true humility is likely the most important of of all the virtues to be sought.

The meaning is that those really walking with our Blessed Lord, those who have [at least] to a large degree [or totally] given God back the supreme gift of our “freewill” are those who actually hear the message of Christ, His Pope, and His Church and OBEY it. These are the “meek of heart” the humblely obedient, and well on there way to heaven.

That is why friend any understanding og the Bible that does not fully conform to the Teaching of Christ Catholic Church, is simply wrong, in error, and very often an issue driven by pride.

Love and prayers,

Pat

Who are the meek of heart? Meek – humble, timid, submissive, gentle, docile, compliant, mild. These are the ones who hear the message of God and hear it with these dispositions. The message of God came through Jesus who gave it through the Church that he founded with the building materials of the apostles.

Those who are not submissive reject the Church and therefore are not meek of heart.

The meek of heart are also those who by their nature will endure all kinds of abuses and persecution that are inflicted on them for the greater Kingdom of God. They are steadfast in keeping what they have heard.

God bless.

 

[Reuben_J]

It means exactly what it says – that the meek will inherit the earth. However, it will not just be the meek who will take possession of the earth. All those whom Christ says are “blessed” for having the character traits of a true Christian are also going to inherit the earth.

Jesus’ “sermon” on the mount is about the Kingdom of Heaven – specifically what one needs to do and what character traits one needs to possess to enter the Kingdom. Notice Jesus begins by saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” and concludes with: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” It is clear what Christ meant.

Mat. 5:3: The “poor in spirit” shall possess the Kingdom.
Verse 4: Those who mourn “shall be comforted” in the Kingdom.
Verse 6: Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness “shall be filled” in the Kingdom.
Verse 7: Those who are merciful “shall obtain mercy” in the Kingdom.
Verse 8: Those who are pure in heart “shall see God” in the Kingdom.
Verse 9: Those who are peacemakers “shall be called the children of God” in the Kingdom.
Verse 10: Those who are persecuted for keeping the law [for being righteous] shall possess the Kingdom.

Now, what could Jesus mean by saying the meek “shall inherit the earth”? If Jesus promised “heaven” to the others possessing similar attributes of Christian character, then it is very clearly stated that the meek are going to stay on earth. But did Jesus promise “heaven” to the others? No! In fact, nowhere in the entire Bible is heaven ever promised as the reward of the saved.

The kingdom of heaven is NOT heaven. Notice it says the kingdom OF heaven. It is a kingdom ruled by God FROM heaven – a kingdom OF heaven, not a kingdom IN heaven. There is a big difference.

The kingdom of heaven is a kingdom which is to come down out of heaven – to this earth. Jesus clearly said: “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward IS WITH ME, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Rev. 22:12).

Christ will bring His reward with Him – the Kingdom of Heaven – to this earth. This is where He will reign together with all the resurrected saved. Notice what the prophet Jeremiah prophesied of the second coming of Christ: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice” – WHERE? – “IN THE EARTH” (Jer. 23:5).

If Christ will reign on this earth, so too will those of us who shall enter His glorious Kingdom: “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and WE SHALL REIGN ON THIS EARTH” (Rev. 5:10).

Yes, we have the potential to possess all the earth – even its uttermost parts – for it is written: “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH FOR THY POSSESSION” (Ps. 2:8).

God bless.

Would there be any difference in the status and the splendor of heaven and the Kingdom of God on earth?

 

[Dan_Parker]

If it was true only when Jesus spoke it, when did people start going to heaven?

Yes, Christ will COME BACK for His disciples – to this earth. Christ did not say that they will GO TO Him to where He is preparing that place for them, but that He will COME BACK for them “to receive [them] to myself, that where I am” – the place where He would come back to, this earth – “there [they] may be also.”

The book of Hebrews tells us what this place is that Christ is preparing for His disciples and all the saints of God: “But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them A CITY” (Heb. 11:15-16).

Now, look where this CITY – that which Christ is preparing for His disciples – will eventually be located. John says: “And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, COMING DOWN from God OUT OF HEAVEN,” – coming down, of course to this earth – prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev. 21:1).

And then because this city, coming from heaven, will now be on earth, John says that a great voice from heaven will say: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is WITH MEN [that’s because its here on earth], and he [God] will dwell with them [God’s throne is in heaven but He will dwell with men on earth], and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them [here on earth], and be their God” (verse 3).

An angel carries John to a “great and high mountain [that’s here on earth]” to show him a vision of “the bride, the Lamb’s wife [God’s Church].” What John sees is, “that great city, the holy Jerusalem, DESCENDING OUT OF HEAVEN from God” (verse 10). Surely, nothing could be plainer than that. The place that Christ is preparing will be coming down to this earth.

I agree.

The text does not say they will see Christ’s glory in heaven. Nor does it say they will see Christ’s glory in the presence of the Father. What it says is that they will see His glory “where I am.” This could be rendered “whichever place I am” (Strong’s), or “wherever I am.” Christ could be here on earth and still be in a glorified state just like when the Father first glorified Him in heaven.

Now, notice how John describes the “great city” that he saw descending to this earth from heaven: “Having the GLORY of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal” (Rev. 21:11). Why would it have the glory of God? Precisely because it would be a glorified Christ who would be bringing that Holy City to this earth! And since the Father will dwell with men on earth then (verse 3), together with Christ, Christ’s disciples will see their Master in all His glory in the presence of the Father, fulfilling Jesus’ prayer to the Father in John 17:24.

The Bible does not say the saved will go to heaven. Why would David, “a man after [God’s] own heart,” stay on earth while Jesus’ disciples and the others go to heaven and be with the Father?

BTW, what do you believe happened to the repentant thief on the cross? Did he go to heaven? When did he go to heaven?

May I ask your denomination? Are you Messianic? Also, how do you interpret this verse?

NAS 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal** in the heaven**

 

[Mailman]

Would there be any difference in the status and the splendor of heaven and the Kingdom of God on earth?

The Bible does not reveal much about what heaven is like. It only tells us what the Kingdom of God on earth will be like. It will have its buildings’ walls made of jasper, “and the city [of] pure gold, like unto clear glass, and the foundations of the wall of the city garnished with all manner of precious stones” (Rev. 21:18-19).

Since the Kingdom will be prepared by the One whose throne is in heaven, then there is no doubt that heaven is as glorious and resplendent, if not more glorious and resplendent, than the future Kingdom of God on earth.

 

[Mailman]

May I ask your denomination? Are you Messianic? Also, how do you interpret this verse?

NAS 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal** in the heaven**

No, I’m not Messianic. My beliefs come from a Church which I believe is the true Church of God.

In the KJV, the verse reads: “For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

This is speaking about our material body, which can be changed into spirit – that which is eternal (also, 2 Cor. 4:18) – after it dies and decomposes. When the change comes, we are to be clothed with spirit – “put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:53) – “that mortality might be swallowed up for life” (2 Cor. 5:4).

The spirit which will compose us at the time of change [at the resurrection] will come down from heaven: “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven” (2 Cor. 5:2).

If we have been begotten of the Holy Spirit [after repenting, believing, and being baptized], we have the “earnest” of the spirit: “… who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit” (verse 5). The “earnest” of the spirit means that a portion of spirit is given by God to bind His bargain with us that He will finally give us eternal life.

If the Holy Spirit dwells in us, it will be the agent by which God quickens, or makes alive, our mortal bodies at the resurrection (Rom. 8:11). When begotten and led by the Spirit of God we become children of God, therefore “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ… that we may be also glorified TOGETHER” (Rom. 8:17).

Christ is the “firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:20) – the first to rise from the dead and be glorified to eternal life. We will be glorified just like Christ. “BUT every man in his own order, Christ the firstfruits; AFTERWARD they that are Christ’s” – When? – “AT HIS COMING” (1 Cor. 15:23).

Notice these scriptures say we will all be glorified TOGETHER AT CHRIST’S SECOND COMING. If we say some are now in heaven [implying some are now in a glorified state], then we contradict these plain teachings in Scripture.

 

[Reuben_J]

The Bible does not reveal much about what heaven is like. It only tells us what the Kingdom of God on earth will be like. It will have its buildings’ walls made of jasper, “and the city [of] pure gold, like unto clear glass, and the foundations of the wall of the city garnished with all manner of precious stones” (Rev. 21:18-19).

Since the Kingdom will be prepared by the One whose throne is in heaven, then there is no doubt that heaven is as glorious and resplendent, if not more glorious and resplendent, than the future Kingdom of God on earth.

So where do we go - heaven or Kingdom of God on earth? (Provided of course if we are not sent to satan’s abode). If we are promised heaven and it is more respendant than Kingdom of God on earth, would not it be atrociously unfair then if we are sent to the latter?

 

[distracted]

It In fact, nowhere in the entire Bible is heaven ever promised as the reward of the saved.

The kingdom of heaven is NOT heaven. Notice it says the kingdom OF heaven. s.

What???!!??

 

[Thing]

What???!!??

The Kingdom of Spain is … well Spain.

The Kingdom of Sweden is … actually Sweden… and so on and so forth…

 

[Thing]

But, the meek don’t want to inherit the Earth…