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Is this our eternal destination? In the Old Testament the resting place for the dead was called Sheol (the Greek word is Hades). Here dwell the conscious spirits of the dead. Within Sheol there seems to have been a clear divide. We understand this from a story that Jesus told about a rich man and a beggar. Their lives are described, and then Jesus tells that both of them died. Of the beggar, whose name was Lazarus, Jesus said that angels took him to be with Abraham. The rich man went to hell, a place of torment. Between the two places was a great divide, so that it was impossible to get from one to the other. The story can be found in Luke chapter 16 vv.19 to 31.

Jesus also spoke more directly about the future. He made a specific promise to the disciples. He said (John 14 v.2), "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." There may be many rooms, but there is not room for everybody. Jesus makes this clear to us as well. Do you remember from your reading of Luke the passage in chapter 13 vv. 22 to 30? Jesus is talking about the narrow gate into the Kingdom, which many will try to enter and not be able to do so. Those who Jesus does not know will be excluded. 'But he will reply, "I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers."' That division among the dead that is revealed in the parable is confirmed in Jesus' teaching.

In his teaching Jesus does speak of two distinct places. One is heaven, the other he calls Gehennah (as distinct from Sheol) which is hell, the place of eternal damnation and the ultimate destination of the wicked. To those who suffer because of himself, Jesus says, "Great is your reward in heaven." (Matthew 5 v.12). Jesus also tells a rich young man what to do to have treasure in heaven (Matthew 19 v. 21).Heaven would seem to be a temporary dwelling place for the redeemed people of God. The end of Revelation describes the ultimate and eternal destination of the saints, which is called the New Earth. This is the Holy City where God will dwell with his people.

The final destination of every individual is declared on the Day of Judgement. This is the culmination, and all people will be judged together. This is described in another parable of Jesus. It is the story of the Sheep and the Goats, found in Matthew 25 vv.31 to 46.This tells of the classification of people into the righteous and the wicked. It also gives the reasons for that division. It is interesting that many are taken by surprise by the judgement. Do pay particular attention to verse 46.