FIRST PART:

BIYAHENG
LANGIT?
Entering Heaven or
Entering the
Kingdom of God?
Q: “Salvation’ mean ‘
going to heaven.’ ‘Where
am I going? I’m headed for
heaven.’ Is that a correct
understanding?
Resp. Incomplete and
inaccurate. Ang buhay
ay hindi biyaheng
langit lamang.
Q: Did Jesus ever invite
us to ‘ enter heaven’ or
to ‘inherit heaven’?
Resp: Initial Shock!
Jesus never invited us to
‘enter heaven’ or to
‘inherit heaven’!
(Shock!)
Mitigated shock:

• We are welcome to
heaven when we die.
• But heaven is not
our final goal.

or a ‘New Heaven
and a New Earth’
• which is in process today

until its final fulfillment at

the end of history.
 Entering the
Kingdom of God
• Mark 9:47 And if your eye
causes you to stumble, tear it
out; it is better for you to enter
the kingdom of God with one
eye than to have two eyes and to
be thrown into hell.
• Mark 10:15 Whoever does
not receive the kingdom
of God as little child will
never enter it.”
• John 3:5 Very truly on one
can enter the kingdom of
God without being born of
water and Spirit.
• Matthew 19:24 It is easier
for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle than for
someone who is rich to
enter the kingdom of
God.”
• Acts 14:22 It is through
many persecutions that we
must enter the kingdom
of God.”
Inheriting the Kingdom
of God
• 1 Corinthians 15:50 What I
am saying, brothers and
sisters, is this: flesh and
blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God, nor does
the perishable inherit the
imperishable.
• 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not
know that wrongdoers will not
inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived!
Fornicators, idolaters,
adulterers, male prostitutes,
sodomites.
• Galatians 5:21 envy,
drunkenness, carousing, and
things like these. I am warning
you, as I warned you before:
those who do such things will
not inherit the kingdom of
God
Typical Language and
Thinking: Always
Kingdom of God (Not
Heaven)
• Mark 12:34 when Jesus
saw that he answered
wisely, he said to him, “
You are not far from the
kingdom of God.”
• Mark 14:25 Truly I tell
you, I will never again
drink of the fruit of the
vine until that day when I
drink it new in the
kingdom of God.”
• Mark 15:43 Joseph of
Arimathea… who was also
himself waiting expectantly
for the kingdom of God,
went boldly to Pilate and
asked for the body of Jesus.
• Luke 13:28 There will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth
when you see Abraham and
Isaac and Jacob and all the
prophets in the kingdom of
God, and you yourselves thrown
out.
• Luke 13:29 People will
come from east and west,
from north and south, and
will eat in the kingdom of
God.
• Luke 14:15 One of the dinner
guests… said to him, “Blessed
is anyone who will eat bread
in the kingdom of God!”
• Luke 19:11 He went on to tell
a parable, because he was
near Jerusalem, and because
they supposed that the
kingdom of God was to
appear immediately.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:5 This is
evidence of the righteous
judgment of God, and is
intended to make you worthy
of the kingdom of God, for
which you are also suffering.
Q: But is not ‘heaven’
identical with ‘ kingdom of
God’?
A. No. ‘heaven’ and
‘Kingdom of God’ are not the
same. (We will explain later.)
How the Time and
Culture of Jesus
Understood Heaven
Q: How did Jesus and His pre-
scientific culture understand
‘heaven?’
Resp: ‘Heaven’ had two basic
meanings.
Q: What is the first meaning
of ‘heaven’?
Resp:
• First Meaning: Roof of the
world or universe.
[the flat floor is earth; the
dome-like roof is heaven]
(see illustration)
• And when Jesus had been
baptize, just as he came up from
the water, suddenly the heavens
were opened to him and he saw
the Spirit of God descending like
a dove and alighting on him. (Mt
3:16)
• Taking the five loaves
and the two fish, he
looked up to heaven, and
blessed…. (Mt14:19)
• And suddenly there was a
great earthquake; for an
angel of the Lord,
descending from heaven,
came and rolled back the
stone and sat on it (Mt 28:2)
• when the angels had left
them and gone into heaven,
the shepherds said to one
another, “Let us go now to
Bethlehem…”(Lk 2:15)
• There were many widows in
Israel in the time of Elijah,
when the heaven was shut up
three years and six months,
and there was a severe
famine over all the land; (Lk
4:25)
• Until the day when he was
taken up to heaven, after
giving instructions through
the Holy Spirit to the apostle
(Acts 1:2)
• At that time his voice shook
the earth; but now he has
promised, “Yet once more I
will shake not only the earth
but also the heaven.”
(Hebrews 12:26)
Q: What is the second meaning
of ‘heaven’?
Resp:
• Second Meaning:
Dwelling Place of God
and the angels.
• Pray then in this way: Our
Father in heaven, hallowed
be your name. (Mt 6:9)
• Let your light shine before
others, so that… they give
glory to your Father in
heaven. (Mt 5:16)
• Forgive, if you have
anything against anyone; so
that your Father in heaven
may also forgive you your
trespasses.” (Mk 11:25)
• Whoever does the will of
my Father in heaven is my
brother and sister and
mother.” (Mt 12:50)
• Masters, treat your slaves
justly and fairly, for you
know that you also have a
Master in heaven. (Col
4:1)
• Take care that you do not
despise one of these little ones;
for, I tell you, in heaven their
angels continually see the face
of my Father in heaven. (Mt
18:10)
Q: What would be the core-
meaning of ‘heaven’ –
particularly in a scientific
age?
Resp: Heaven, of course, is not
the roof of the universe.
Heaven is…
- the unique, unadulterated,
absolute experience of God…
- … to be had after our
present life
- … after death
 … but still awaiting
resurrection at the end of
history.
Q: What is he confusion which
European philosopher can cause
among catechists?
Resp:
European philosophers said:
Heaven is not a place. It is a condition,
a state. It is right here on earth. (Hell
too is right here on earth.
Filipino catechist pick this up.
Accurately speaking, heaven can never
be experienced in this life.
Q: What is the meaning of
‘Heaven and Earth’?
Resp: Heaven & Earth (Roof +
Floor) means ‘World,’
‘Universe’
• I thank you, Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, because you
have hidden these things from
the wise and the intelligent and
have revealed them to infants.
(Mt 11:25)
• Heaven and earth will pass
away, but my words will not
pass away. (Mt. 24:35)
• You should turn from these
worthless things to the living
God, who made the heaven
and the earth and the sea and
all that is in them. (Acts 14:15)
• “Fear God and give him
glory, for the hour of his
judgment has come; and
worship him who made
heaven and earth, the sea
and the springs of water.”
(Rev 14:7)
Recap: Jesus Never Invited
Us to Haven. He invited to the
kingdom of God.
Jesus never talkd about

 ‘entering heaven’ or
‘inheriting the heaven’
Jesus' always talked about
 ‘entering the kingdom of
God’
‘inheriting the kingdom o
God
What is the Kingdom of
God? Learn from the
Book(s) of Isaiah Learn
from Jesus
Isaiah – texts Which
Influence Jesus
Isa 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet off the messenger who
announces peace,
who says to Zion,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
‘Your God reigns.’ (=Kingdom of
God)
Isa 40:9
Get you up to a high mountain,
O Jerusalem, messenger of
good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
say to the cities of Judah,
‘Here is your God!’
[or: ‘The kingdom of God is
manifest.”]
Isa 35: 5-6
Then the eyes of the blind
shall be opened,
and he ears of the deaf
unstopped;
the lame
shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless
sing for joy.
Waters shall break forth in the
wilderness, and streams in the desert.
Isa 29: 18 – 19
On that day the deaf shall
hear the words of a scroll,
and out of their gloom and
darkness
the eyes of he blind shall
see.
 The meek [‘anawin] shall
obtain fresh joy in the
Lord,
and the neediest people
shall exult in the Holy One
of Israel.
Isa 61: 1-2
The spirit of the Lord God is
upon me,
because the Lord has anointed
me;
he has sent me to bring good
news to the poor and oppressed
[‘anawin],
 to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the
captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the
Lord’s favor.
Note: The Year of the Lord's
Favor is the Julibe Year:
 release of slaves,
 rest or the land,
 recall of the debts o the poor,
 restoration of land,
property & houses of
dispossessed ancestral folk.
Isa 58:6
Is not this he fast that I
choose: to loose thee bonds of
injustice, to undo the thongs of
the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Isa 42: 1-4
Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul
delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the
nations.
 He will not cry or lift up his
voice, or make it heard in the
street; a bruised reed he will
not break, and a dimly
burning wick he will not
quench;
 he will faithfully bring
forth justice. He will not
grow faint or be crushed until
he has established justice
in the earth; and the
coastlands wait for his
teaching.
 Note: This text does NOT
talk about a Suffering
Servant!!
Isa 26:19
Your dead shall live, their corpses
shall rise.
O dwellers in the dust, awake and
sing for joy!
For your dew is a radiant dew,
and the earth will give birth to
those long dead.
Q: Therefore what is the
Kingdom of God in Isaiah-
writings?
Resp: Kingdom of God in
Isaiah-writings is:
• A new earth with a new history …

… where there is…

• ... Health for the sick, liberation and
joy for the poor and oppressed,
justice, lie for the dead, liberty to
captives, the julibee year, a servant
who will establish justice…

… where there is…

Kingdom of God according
to Jesus Based on Isaiah
Watch how the ideas, images,
and words of Isaiah are echoed
in Jesus’ words:
Mk 1:14-15 (Mission Statement)
Now after John was arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee, proclaimin
the good news [gospel] of God,
and saying,
 ‘The time is fulfilled, and
the kingdom of God has
come near
repent, and believe in the
good news,’ (cf Isa 72:7, 40:9)
Lk 4:16-21 (Inaugural
Statement, Declaration of
Mission, Agenda, Platform)
 [Jesus] stood up to read, and
the scroll of the prophet Isaiah
was given to him:
 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the
poor.
 He has sent me to proclaim
release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s
favor.’
 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it
back to the attendant, and sat down.
The eyes of all in the synagogue were
fixed on him. Then he began to say to
them, ‘Today this scripture has been
fulfilled in your hearing’ cf. Isa 61:1-
2; 58:6).
Mt 11:2-6 = Lk 7:18-23
(Summary of Jesus’ Activity)
 NATIVITY
The first records of the word nativity come
from before 1150. It comes from the
Middle French nativite, meaning “the feast
of the birth of Jesus.” It ultimately derives
from the Latin nātivitās, meaning “birth.”
Although nativity can mean “birth” or
“birthplace,” it's not commonly used in
this way.
The nativity of Jesus, nativity
of Christ, birth of Jesus or
birth of Christ is described in
the biblical gospels of Luke
and Matthew.
 Luke’s story takes place mostly
before the birth of Jesus and
centers on Mary, while Matthew’s
story takes place mostly after the
birth of Jesus and centers on
Joseph.
The other Canonical Gospels, the
Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of
John, begin their narratives of
Jesus’s life in his adulthood.
The Nativity of Jesus depicts Jesus'
Incarnation as God made Man, in
fulfillment of God's Divine Will,
undoing the damage caused by Adam's
fall. Since the fourth century, artistic
depictions of the Nativity have been a
major subject for Christian artists. The
Nativity scene, which emphasizes Jesus'
humility, has been celebrated since the
13th century.
The Birth of Jesus
Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2
 An Angel Visits Mary
 One day about 2,000 years ago an angel
named Gabriel appeared to a young
Jewish woman named Mary. Gabriel told
Mary she would have a son, Jesus, who
would be the Son of God! Mary was
confused and worried about this sudden
news, but she had faith in God and said,
"I am the Lord's servant; let it be as you
say."
 Journey to Bethlehem
 Mary and her husband-to-be, Joseph,
lived in a town called Nazareth. But
they had to travel to the city of
Bethlehem to register for a census
ordered by the Roman emperor, Caesar
Augustus. After traveling pregnant on a
donkey for several days, Mary and
Joseph arrived in Bethlehem and were
told there were no places to stay.
 They ended up spending the night in a
stable, a place where animals were kept.
There was probably fresh hay on the floor
that they used for beds.
 That night, Jesus was born. There was no
crib, so they laid baby Jesus in a manger,
a feeding trough for animals.
 Shepherds Visit Jesus
 That night, some shepherds were in the fields near
Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flocks of
sheep. An angel appeared to them and gave them
the good news that a Savior, the Messiah, had
been born. The angel told the shepherds they
could find Jesus lying in a manger. Suddenly a
whole group of angels appeared saying, "Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill
toward men!“
 After they had seen Jesus, they spread the news,
and everyone who heard was in awe.
 Wise Men Visit Jesus
 Some time later, wise men, or magi, from
eastern countries saw a star in the sky that
signaled the birth of a new king. The three
wise men traveled from a distant eastern
country to find the new king. A man named
Herod was the king of Judea. He called the
wise men to a meeting and told them to find
the new king so he could go and worship
him, too.
 The wise men continued on to Bethlehem
and followed the star until it was directly
above the house where Jesus was. They
found Mary and Jesus in the house and
knelt-down to worship Him. They
brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense,
and myrrh, some of the finest things in
the ancient world. Frankincense was
burned to make a sweet smell, and myrrh
was an expensive perfume.
 After visiting Jesus, the wise
men had a dream that warned
them not to go back to King
Herod, so they took a different
route home.
 Journey to Egypt
 King Herod lied when he told the wise men
he wanted to worship Jesus. What Herod
really wanted was to find Jesus and kill Him!
Herod was furious when he realized the wise
men had not come back to tell him where to
find Jesus. He sent his soldiers to Bethlehem
to kill all the children under two years old,
thinking Jesus would certainly be one of the
ones killed.
 But God had told Joseph in a dream to
flee to Egypt. Joseph took Mary and
Jesus to live in Egypt where they would
be safe from Herod. Joseph, Mary and
Jesus stayed in Egypt until Herod had
died, and then they returned to Nazareth.