what does the bible say?

Only a few verses prior, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).  So do some of the saved (the persecuted – see verses 11-12) go to heaven to collect their reward, while others (the meek – see verse 5) inherit the earth?  Did Jesus Christ contradict Himself?  Absolutely not!

Notice what the Apostle Peter was inspired to write: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).  As this verse clearly shows the inheritance of true Christians is reserved in heaven.  That is where it is kept currently.

But do Christians go to heaven to receive their reward? Jesus Christ answered this question in the book of Revelation.  “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).  When Jesus Christ returns – at His second coming – He will bring the reward of the saved with Him from heaven to this earth!

Jesus explained it further in the parable of the minas: “Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said: ‘A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return’” (Luke 19:11-12).  The nobleman represents Jesus Christ going to heaven to receive His Kingdom from the Father (Daniel 7:13-14), and at the end of this present age He will return.  At His second coming He will return to earth and reward His true servants according to how much they have overcome their sins and produced the fruit of obedience (Luke 19:13-27).

What is included in the reward of the saved? For one thing, rulership over the earth.  When Christ returns, He will say, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities” (Luke 19:17, 19).  Notice also what Christ said in Revelation 2:26, “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.”  The prophet Daniel was inspired to write, “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.  

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:27). Jesus did not say Christians will receive their reward in heaven.  Rather, the reward, authority, and office of power in the Kingdom of God is being temporarily reserved in heaven – because that is where Jesus is now.  But it will be brought to this earth, where Jesus will reward His saints, in the soon coming Kingdom of God with positions of power and authority over the nations!