Will Heaven Be Divided Up Into Sections?

By Joe Keim

May 23, 2012

Has it ever crossed your mind as to how God is setting up heaven for all the different people groups on earth-who call themselves Christians, and yet are as divided as they have ever been?

When we get to heaven, do you and I really believe there will be a section for Baptist Christians (the ones who love to holler Amen as much as possible during preaching time), go a little further and we find the Hutterite Christians (the ones who have all things in common), a little further on and we find the Pentecostal Christians (the ones who wave their arms and shout to the Lord during worship), a little further and we find the Amish Christians (the ones who believe life is either black or it's white-no gray area).

Or is it possible that when we get there, we will learn that those who entered heaven will live together as one big happy family?

The Bible seems clear! We will all live together as a big family. God's family! There will not be any more differences, divisions or "I am better than thou" attitudes. My question then is, why is it that way now? Why are we so divided?

Can a man who was born and raised in a certain group or culture, not serve God any other way but in his own group?

Do all church groups mentioned at the beginning of this article have God's approval when banning the member that chooses to leave and join another? Even if he or she continues to serve God in another Bible believing, Christ honoring group?

If it were true that a man or woman was saved from hell and their sins were forgiven because of the type of church or people group they belonged to, then the answer is YES! - the church has every right to ban that person.

But, if it is not the church or people group that saves the sinner from hell, then the answer has to be NO! - the church does not have the God-given right to ban that person.

Is it not true and recorded in God's Word that when a man or woman in the world today becomes born again, their sins are all forgiven and their name is written in the Book of Life-not because they belonged to a certain people group or were born at a certain location in the world-but because they trusted Jesus Christ and the sacrifice that He made on the cross for our sin.

Years ago, I heard a man try to explain how he felt all the different types of churches and people groups get to heaven. He said, "I think the way it works is like this: the good people are all going up their own side of the mountain, and when they get to the top, they all come together at the same place".  The man's answer may sound reasonable to some, but what does God say?

Jesus clearly teaches us that He alone is the way. In John 14:6, He says:

...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus did not say that I am one way to the Father, but rather, "I am the only way.

And again we are told the same thing in Acts 4:12:  

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Noah's Ark was a picture of the coming Christ. Do you know how many doors were in Noah's Ark? Only one door! All those who were saved from the flood waters had entered through the door.

Look what Jesus calls himself in John 10:9:

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved...

Looking at the door will not save us. Doing a study on the door will not save us. Talking about the door will not save us. Dying before we enter the door will not save us.

Whether we are Baptist, Pentecostal, Hutterite or Amish, we all must enter through the door to be saved from God's wrath to come.

...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. - 2 Corinthians 6:2

The Bible teaches us plainly: it makes no difference what our background is, anyone can call on the Lord for salvation.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Romans 10:12

Again we are told in Galatians 3:28:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

God wants everyone to be saved:

...Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim. 2:4

I would guess that we are all aware of the fact that for thousands of years, God looked at Israel as His special people group, but Paul tells us in Ephesians chapter 2 that Through Christ and His death on the cross, the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile was done away with. Meaning, Jew and Gentile are now held at the same level, as far as salvation is concerned.

For he [Jesus] is our peace, who hath made both [Jew & Gentile] one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both [Jew & Gentile] unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Ephesians 2:14-16

Clearly, we all come to God through one door, Jesus Christ.

This is how:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

John later wrote in Revelations 5:9:

And they [all those who had entered the door and were saved] sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

Will you have a part in singing that new song? If you are, I can promise you, it will not be because you lived a good life or because you were an outstanding member in the church. It will be because you got saved somewhere on your journey here on earth.

The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 3:9:

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Some other scriptures to consider:

Christ hath redeemed (delivered) us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us... (Galatians 3:13)

In whom we have redemption (deliverance) through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7).

Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem (deliver) us from all iniquity (sin), and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous (passionate) of good works (Titus 2:14)

Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him (Romans 5:9)

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