Heaven

Does the OT teach about Heaven - as in a place to go after we die?

In Jesus time, two major groups of OT believers where the Sadducees and the Pharisees. It is easy to remember the Sadducees because they did not believe in life after Death or Heaven as a place that people would go after they died. They believed in heaven as only a place where God abides and that, because of our sin, there is nothing left after death. They were "Sad - you see"s. The Pharisees were much more biblical and, although most of them didn't act properly, their beliefs were much closer to the correct beliefs.

Yes!!! The book of Job strongly teaches this concept.

Job started out with 1 wife, 7 sons, 3 daughters, 7000 Sheep and a bunch more animals.

His wife wasn't killed, but his 7 sons and 3 daughters were. The Sheep, Camels, Oxen and Donkeys were killed or stolen (important - some were stolen NOT killed.)

At the end of Job we are told that God blessed Job and explicitly gave him twice as much as he had before.

He had 1 wife before and 1 wife after and his 1st wife wasn't killed. So she is not his property or possession.

14000 sheep 6000 Camels etc.., - Yes, we see he had exactly 2x's as many as before.

Children - he had exactly the same number as before.

Now, if the children were in the same class as the wife, there would no reason to list them in this list, but they are listed along with the sheep and camels.

Because they are included in this list, and because it says 2x's as many, we can conclude that the other 7 boys and 3 girls still existed even though they had died. So. Job did receive 2x's as many children, it's just that 10 of them he would not see again until after he had died as well.

He cannot come to me, but I WILL go to him.

David said "I WILL go to him" not "I hope there is something after death so that I will be able to see him again - I wish I knew if something existed" No, David knew and understood that there is a life after this life.

Exodus 3:6: I "AM" the God of....cf Matt 22:32

Sorry, but "all dogs go to heaven" appears quite clearly to be incorrect. The book of Job also teaches that our animals don't go to heaven. Remember that some of Job's animals were stolen, not killed. If they, like the children, went to heaven, then Job would not have needed 2x's as many of those that were killed. So sorry. It looks like No dogs go to heaven. Only people, with soul AND spirits get an opportunity to go to heaven. Some thoughts of others: Rev. Brian McSweeney, vice-chancellor of the Catholic archdiocese of New York: "Heaven was designed for humans ... The reason dogs may be there is for us, not for themselves. Dogs will go to heaven perhaps because of our relationship with them." McSweeny also considers that Dogs that live apart from humans may "get to go" too. Rabbi Gershon Winkler of Cuba, N.M., believes that "Every animal based on how it lives in this world will reap its reward, its divine bliss in the world to come." But this does not seem to be based on a clear understanding of the Old Testament (remember that Rabbi's do not believe in the New Testament) I can accept the POSSIBILITY that some animals that lived on Earth may be in heaven, but if so, Rabbi Winkler's method of deciding seems to be way off base with the Bible. In Genesis 2:18 "It is not good for the man to be alone." In more general terms, remember that the Garden of Eden was created before Sin entered the world. And there were animals in the Garden of Eden. This tells us that there could quite well be animals in Heaven for the glory and pleasure of God and for the pleasure of man. However, only the actions of Man were of concern to God so it is unreasonable to think that animals can make their own way to heaven by their actions. If there are specific animals in heaven it will not be because of their relationship with God, not on their own merits, rather they will either be new creatures (possibly the same types, ie dogs) or they will be animals with the same spirit (but no soul) that had relationships with humans. cf Isaiah 65:25, The wold and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ok, but dust will be the serpent's food.

When God talked to Moses, Exodus 3:5 he said I am the God of Abraham.

Deut 32:50 Moses will be "gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people" Then, Exodus 34:6 - Moses died and was buried "in Moab, in the Valley opposite Beth Peor." So we know the bodies of Aaron and Moses were in 2 physical different places but both were gathered to their ancestors.

Isaiah 14:9 Kings in the grave are excited to meet the King of Babylonia.

Isaiah 14: 12-14 The King of Babylonia thought to have his throne higher than God's in heaven.

MMP: Ecclesiastes.

What about Genesis 3:19 "until you return to the ground; since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

Genesis 5:24 - Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. All the rest in this list of Adam's line "died" Enoch was specifically named as God took him away.Isaiah 26: 19: Your Dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.

2 Kings 2:11 "As they were going along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." (Proofs were offered to others in vrs 15-18) showing that it was not an allegory, but an actual event. Elisha received Elijah's cloak and a double measure of his spirit.

Ps 116:15

Isa 25:6-12 v8: He wll swallow up death for all time...wipe tears away from all faces..remove the reproach of His people.

53:12

Genesis 28:10-18 Jacob's Dream. A ladder reaching heaven.

Ezekiel 37: 12 - The dead will rise again. Now, some might say this is an allegory, but read on, 24: My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd,; and they will walk in My ordinances...My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people, And the nations will know that I am the Lond who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.

Proverbs 15:24 The path of life leads upward for the wise. That he may keep away from Sheol below.