Lesson 5: Forever - Where Is Heaven? (4)

The third distinction of people is the Gentiles. Sometimes in Scripture the term "Gentile" is made to represent unbelieving people. However, in Revelation 21:24-26 there is a reference to Gentiles in the new heaven and new earth. Obviously, this can then not refer to unbelievers since all unbelievers will have been sent to their own place, hell, at the Great White Throne Judgment. These Gentiles, then, must be believing Gentiles. Indeed, we are told of them in the Scriptures: Adam, Eve, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Job, Melchizedek, and many more. These people believed in God but they were neither Jew nor Christian. All of the non-Jewish believers of The Tribulation will also fall into this category. Yet, God will prepare a special place for them just as he will for the Jews and the Church. What we are told in Revelation 21 is that these Gentile nations will bring their wealth to the city of New Jerusalem. There may be a slight distinction between Tribulation believing Gentiles and Old Testament believing Gentiles in that the Tribulation believing Gentiles are promised the position of reigning with Christ along with the church. This cannot be stated as certainly true concerning the Old Testament believers, but it also cannot be stated as false – the Scriptures just do not say.


Is one group to be jealous of another? Absolutely not! Each group has their own promises and their own place in eternity. The three groups will work in absolute harmony for the glory of God for all eternity. It would be no different, for example, for an earthly father who has three children – two boys and a girl. One wants to be the CEO, one likes numbers and wants to be the CFO, and one likes computers and wants to be the head of IT. The father can give all three of his children their dreams, place them into executive positions in his company, can make all three happy, and yet they are distinctive with specific responsibilities. Can it really be said that the CEO is the ultimate boss? Where would he/she be if the CFO and the IT director had different agendas? It does not even matter which is a man or a woman because they are all equal. If they all worked together they each accomplish their goals and the company runs smoothly. It is truly no different in God's kingdom – the three groups of people will have their distinctive purposes and yet their combined work is the same. There is no cause for jealousy from any of the three groups. Besides, in Heaven each of the three groups will be worshiping the same God and Savior – as such there cannot possibly be any disagreement.

*Since each of these groups believe in God, we are all His children. Therefore, how should we treat others today?