This subject is very controversial; so, if you are a truth seeker, make sure you understand the condition of the dead presented in the following links: Condition of the Dead:[ One & Two, Special Scriptures ]

If you believe that everybody goes to heaven please read the God’s Kingdom page.  Still, go ahead and read this now. If you get stuck because of not having reviewed the condition of the dead or what God's Kingdom really is, you can always go back.

The Born Again

There is a good reason for the subject to be controversial--it's difficult, and it's difficult to present in a manner that makes it easy to understand! That having been said, here it goes:
1. Here Jesus connects being born again with seeing God's kingdom.
2. An equally important point is that Jesus equates born again with being born of the spirit!

John 1:11-13, "He came to his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: 13Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (Webster)

3. Born Again ones are sons of God (gender neutral, Gal 3:28).

Romans 8:12-17, Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if ye live according to the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself testifieth with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if we suffer with [him], that we may be glorified together. (Webster)

4. Born Again ones receive God's spirit, the Helper. Only those who receive God's spirit may be called sons of God. The receipt of the spirit testifies to their own hearts that they are children of God and joint heirs of Christ and shall be glorified.

( The Helper has its own page. On it you may verify the following: that the Helper also is known as the Comforter, the Paraclete, or the Advocate. The Helper is defined as Christ's Spirit which he received from God. Therefore, in the above scripture, though it is said "led by the Spirit of God" - it is also the Spirit of Christ by means of God's gift to his Son. )

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now he that establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God, 22who also has sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (Darby)

John 16:7 But I the truth say to you; it is better for you, that I should go away. If for not I should go away, the helper not will come to you; if but I go, I will send him to you. (Diaglott)

Ephesians 1:13-14,18 in whom also you (having heard the word of the truth, the glad tidings of the salvation of you,) in whom also having believed you were sealed with the spirit of the promise with the holy, 14which is a pledge of the inheritance of us in a redemption of the possession . . . 18Having been enlightened the eyes of the heart of you, for the to know you, what is the hope of the calling of you, and what the wealth of the glory of the inheritance of him in the holy ones. (Diaglott)

Eph 1:18 having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. (ASV)

5. The Saints or Holy Ones are born again They have been anointed and sealed with God's spirit, the Helper. This makes them spiritual Son's of God.
6. The sealing with the Holy Spirit is a pledge of the inheritance the Saints are promised.

What does being anointed mean?

It was a custom in Israel to anoint a King or the high-priest. When a king or a high priest was anointed, the individual had oil put on his head as a symbol of being appointed to that position. The word Messiah is Hebrew and Christ is Greek. Both mean anointed. Thus there were many messiahs or christs in Israel. Wikipedia states: "To anoint is to grease with perfumed oil, animal fat, or melted butter, a process employed ritually by many religions and races."  Nonetheless, there is only one Messiah and Christ anointed as God's spiritual Son. (Anointed scriptures: Ps 133:2; Jg 9:8, 15; 1Sa 9:16; 2Sa 19:10; 1Sa 10:1; Le 8:12)

Luke 3:21-22 Now it came to pass, when one and all the people were immersed, Jesus also, having been immersed, and being at prayer, heaven was opened; 22and the Holy Spirit descended, in bodily appearance, as a dove, upon him,?and, a voice out of heaven, came?Thou, art my Son, the Beloved, in thee, I delight. (With oil? John 11:2) (Rotherham)

James 2:5, heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him . . . (DRC)

Daniel 7:27, And that the kingdom, and power, and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven, may be given to the people of the saints of the most High: whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all kings shall serve him, and shall obey him. (DRC)

Rev 5:8z,10, prayers of the saints. 10and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth . . . (ASV)

2 Timothy 2:12, if we do endure together--we shall also reign together; if we deny him , he also shall deny us. (YLT)
2 Timothy 2:12 12 if we go on enduring, we shall also rule together as kings; if we deny, he also will deny us; (NW)

1 Peter 1:3-4, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his great mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead, 4to an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance, reserved in the heavens for you, 5who are kept guarded by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (Darby)

7. The Saints shall all become immortal kings and priests under Christ in heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:50, 53 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption, 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (ASV)

8. Some later, some right away, but after they die, the Saints shall be resurrected with heavenly immortal spirit bodies. This resurrection commenced sometime during Christ's presence, and it shall end when all are collected together and removed from earth in one go after the great tribulation, most likely before Armageddon. (See the page on Christ's Presence)

1 John 2:27-28, And you the anointing which received from him, in you abides, and not need you have, so that any one may teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and true is, and not is a lie; and as it taught you, do you abide in him. (Diaglott)

John 16:13 Howbeit, as soon as, he, hath come—The Spirit of truth, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak from himself, but, whatsoever he heareth, he will speak, and, the coming things, will he announce unto you. (Rotherham)

Matthew 10:19-20 And, when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak,—for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak; 20For it is not, ye, who are speaking, but, the Spirit of your Father, that is speaking in you. (Rotherham)

9. The anointing, the sealing by Holy Spirit, the Helper to be accurate, teaches. John 16:13 shows that the Born Again are taught by being guided by the Spirit of truth, the Helper.

Those who think that the teaching happens without study are seriously mistaken . Those taught or rather, guided, by the Helper are studying deeply all of God's inspired word, both of what is commonly referred to as the OT and NT. This deep study permits deep meditation (a comparing of scriptures about one subject, an adding them together) on the things read. Here the Helper guides the Born Again to run across the needed references in the Inspired Word of God so as to be able to make the correct connections, and as Matthew's indicates, the Helper may draw out known scriptures from the Born Again's mind when this is deemed necessary by God.

James 1:18, According to his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we should be a certain first-fruits of *his* creatures. (Darby)

10. The Saints are considered first-fruits and for this reason become immortal Kings and Priests. They are joint-heirs with Christ in heaven and heirs of God.  Once resurrected, they are immortal and cannot be affected by the second death.

Revelation 5:9-10, . 9And they sung a song new, saying: Worthy thou art to receive the scroll, and to open the seals of it; because thou wast slain, and didst buy back for the God us with the blood of thee out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation; 10and thou didst make them to the God of us kings and priests, and they shall reign on the earth. (Diaglott)

Revelation 14:3-5, and they sing, as it were, a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders, and no one was able to learn the song except the hundred forty-four thousands, who have been bought from the earth; 4these are they who with women were not defiled, for they are virgin; these are they who are following the Lamb whithersoever he may go; these were bought from among men--a first-fruit to God and to the Lamb-- 5and in their mouth there was not found guile, for unblemished are they before the throne of God. (YLT)

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19Or know you not, that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you, whom you have from God; and you are not your own ? 20For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body. (DRC)

11. The Saints number 144,000 -- details are included below. They are the only ones that the word bought, buy, or purchased is applied to. These Saints are considered God's temple in which his Holy Spirit inhabits to time eternal. More may be said regarding Rev 14:4,5. So as to limit the size of the study material such questions are better left to contact me if you want to know.

Because of the highly symbolic language of the Book of Revelation, many have wondered if this number represents an actual figure? The answer is that it doesn't really matter. What really matters is that the Saints ARE CHOSEN DIRECTLY by God through Christ.

Anyone mistakenly believing himself to be Born Again simply will not receive that reward.  We might therefore as well accept the number as true.  Seeing that God and Christ are doing the choosing, they are the only ones counting anyway – thus the number from our viewpoint is academic.

God's purpose is for the Saints to go to heaven to be Kings and Priest with Christ. Everybody knows that a country's governing body is a great deal smaller than its population. Thus it is not possible for all present-day Christians to become Saints or Born Again, and indeed for that reason the group of Saints or Born Again are known as the little flock.

Acts 2:1-4, AND when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. (DRC)

John 15:16, You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.(DCR)

Heb 5:4, And no man taketh the honor unto himself, but when he is called of God, even as was Aaron.

12. From Pentecost onward, until today, the gathering of the Saints has progressed. These Saints must all be Christian. Becoming a Saint is not a personal choice or simply happens just because one becomes a Christian. Among Christians, God through Christ selects those he wants to serve thus.

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The following scriptures contain additional information, most of the points therein have been incorporated above.

(DRC)
1 Thessalonians 2:12,  We testified to every one of you, that you would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

1 Corinthians 4:8, You are now full; you are now become rich; you reign without us; and I would to God you did reign, that we also might reign with you.

1 Corinthians 6:11, And such some of you were; but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of our God.

Hebrews 11:16, But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.

2 Corinthians 5:1-2, For we know, if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven. 2For in this also we groan, desiring to be clothed upon with our habitation that is from heaven.

Galatians 4:1-7, Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father: 3So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world. 4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law: 5That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father. 7Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.

Galatians 3:26-29, For you are all the children of God by faith, in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you be Christ's, then are you the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.

Hebrews 12:22-24, But you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels, 23And to the church of the firstborn, who are written in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect, 24And to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.

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Born Again Points

1. Here Jesus connects being born again with seeing God's kingdom.

2. An equally important point is that Jesus equates born again with being born of the spirit!

3. Born again ones are sons of God.

4. Born again ones receive God's spirit. Only those who receive God's spirit may be called sons of God. This reception to the spirit testifies that they are children of God and joint heirs of Christ and shall be glorified.

5. The Saints or Holy Ones are born again They have been anointed and sealed with God's spirit, the Helper.

6. The sealing with the Holy Spirit is a pledge of the inheritance the Saints are promised.

7. The Saints shall all become immortal sub-kings and priest under Christ in heaven.

8. The Saints shall die and be resurrected in heavenly, immortal bodies.

9. The anointing, the sealing by Holy Spirit, the Helper to be accurate, teaches. See above for the details already explained.

10. The Saints are considered first-fruits and for this reason become immortal kings and priests.  They are joint-heirs with Christ in heaven and heirs of God.

11. The Saints number 144,000. They are the only ones that the word bought, buy, or purchased is applied to. These Saints are considered God's temple in which his Holy Spirit inhabits to time eternal.

12. From Pentecost onward, until today, the gathering of the Saints has progressed. These Saints must all be Christian. Becoming a Saint is not a personal choice or simply happens just because one becomes a Christian. Among Christians, God through Christ selects those he wants to serve thus.

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The Meek

Shall Inherit the Earth

Since the above adequately demonstrates that the Anointed, the Saints, the Born Again ones, were the ones that were sealed with the Helper, we know from that discussion that they all will receive the first resurrection, the heavenly one. They will not be affected by the second death.

The ones that constitute the earthly human population, however, are no less Christians, or better said, they shall all become Christian if they want to survive and not be destroyed.

There are several distinct groups mentioned in the scriptures among those who are going to live on earth.

1. The Great Crowd that survives the great tribulation soon to come on earth. (Rev 7:9, 10)

2. There are the righteous and the unrighteous resurrected ones. (Acts 24:15)

3. The righteous are divided into two groups, the ones that belonged to ancient Israel, and the ones Jesus called Other Sheep of whom many have died over the centuries.

4. The ones mentioned in John 5:27-28, A: those who are righteous from Acts 24:15 coming out of the memorial tombs and B: those who are unrighteous and receiving a resurrection of judgment.

5. We must not forget those that will be born during the thousand year reign.