There are many other views out there about the afterlife, but Jesus taught about the reality of only 2 eternal destinies – heaven & hell. Jesus not only didn’t discuss alternate views, but His teachings in Scripture have no need of such views. As we will see, any alternative teachings stand in contradiction to the very reality of Jesus Himself & His purpose for coming. Contrary teachings about the afterlife generally come about because they are built on other contrary teachings about God, mankind & sin.
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. – Col 2.8
If you have started out reading this page without reading the main page on heaven & hell, please click >HERE< to gain a better understanding before reading on. Otherwise, please continue…
Whenever we think about heaven & hell, our minds can’t help but think of friends or family that have passed away & where they might be. Of course, we want to think the best for them. It may make us feel better to talk like they’re in heaven. But someone else’s eternal destiny does not depend on our thoughts or feelings about them. In fact, we may realize that the person didn’t believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ or was of some other faith or perhaps didn’t even believe in God at all. Consequently, we may not want to believe any of this Bible stuff at all. And at this time, it might seem easier to just ignore it & go on to something more pleasant. But consider this parable that Jesus taught...
There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets (i.e. the Scriptures); let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ – Lk 16.19-31
Following are some views regarding the afterlife that Jesus doesn’t believe.
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. – Col 2.8
If you have started out reading this page without reading the main page on heaven & hell, please click >HERE< to gain a better understanding before reading on. Otherwise, please continue…
Whenever we think about heaven & hell, our minds can’t help but think of friends or family that have passed away & where they might be. Of course, we want to think the best for them. It may make us feel better to talk like they’re in heaven. But someone else’s eternal destiny does not depend on our thoughts or feelings about them. In fact, we may realize that the person didn’t believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ or was of some other faith or perhaps didn’t even believe in God at all. Consequently, we may not want to believe any of this Bible stuff at all. And at this time, it might seem easier to just ignore it & go on to something more pleasant. But consider this parable that Jesus taught...
There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets (i.e. the Scriptures); let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ – Lk 16.19-31
Following are some views regarding the afterlife that Jesus doesn’t believe.
Annihilation
The doctrine of annihilation teaches that unbelievers will be completely destroyed out of existence (usually burned up). Jehovah’s Witness (JW) teaching says that there is no hell, but rather unbelievers just die & are then annihilated with no chance of resurrection. Seventh-Day Adventism teaches that the souls of the unrighteous remain in a dormant state after death, but will be resurrected & cast into the lake of fire to be annihilated (completely burned up) – in other words, it’s not eternal.
But as we have seen, Jesus & many other Bible passages state that hell is a place of everlasting torment for those who reject God & His offer of salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It should be clear from the Scriptures referenced on the preceding web pages that not only does the Bible teach the doctrine of hell, but also gives ample reason for its existence.
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels… And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. – Mt 25.41, 46
Reference: http://watchthetower.net/reasons.html
But as we have seen, Jesus & many other Bible passages state that hell is a place of everlasting torment for those who reject God & His offer of salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It should be clear from the Scriptures referenced on the preceding web pages that not only does the Bible teach the doctrine of hell, but also gives ample reason for its existence.
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels… And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. – Mt 25.41, 46
Reference: http://watchthetower.net/reasons.html
Soul Sleep
Seventh-Day Adventist teaching claims that the soul & body are inseparable. Consequently, this has given rise to the doctrine of soul sleep where after a person dies their soul is unconscious & stays with the body in a “sleeping” state until it is resurrected – the righteous to heaven & the unrighteous to be annihilated (see above).
However, the Bible teaches that when a Christian dies, their soul is instantly in the presence of the Lord (2 Cor 5.8, Php 1.23). This was the case of one of the thieves who was crucified with Christ. After he had repented & believed Jesus was the Messianic Savior, Jesus told him “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23.43). But we know that Jesus’s body was placed in a tomb that very Friday (Lk 23.52-53) where it remained until Easter Sunday. As for the thief, Scripture only tells us his body was taken down before Saturday (Jn 19.31) so we don’t know specifically what happened to it after that, but criminal’s bodies were usually cast into a burning dump outside the city known as Gehenna. Yet Jesus promised the repentant thief they would be together in paradise (heaven) that same day. This can only mean their souls were together in heaven.
As for the souls of unbelievers, they are sent to hades (Lk 16.22-23), a temporary hell, until they are resurrected for the judgment of the Great White Throne (Rev 20.13-14) just prior to being permanently cast into eternal hell (Mt 25.41-46, Rev 20.5).
However, the Bible teaches that when a Christian dies, their soul is instantly in the presence of the Lord (2 Cor 5.8, Php 1.23). This was the case of one of the thieves who was crucified with Christ. After he had repented & believed Jesus was the Messianic Savior, Jesus told him “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23.43). But we know that Jesus’s body was placed in a tomb that very Friday (Lk 23.52-53) where it remained until Easter Sunday. As for the thief, Scripture only tells us his body was taken down before Saturday (Jn 19.31) so we don’t know specifically what happened to it after that, but criminal’s bodies were usually cast into a burning dump outside the city known as Gehenna. Yet Jesus promised the repentant thief they would be together in paradise (heaven) that same day. This can only mean their souls were together in heaven.
As for the souls of unbelievers, they are sent to hades (Lk 16.22-23), a temporary hell, until they are resurrected for the judgment of the Great White Throne (Rev 20.13-14) just prior to being permanently cast into eternal hell (Mt 25.41-46, Rev 20.5).
Reincarnation
Reincarnation is the teaching that when someone dies, their soul is transferred or transmigrated to another body. In Hinduism, the soul (atman) can be reincarnated (samsara) as another human, an animal or an insect. Some occult teachings having evolutionary influence say that it is progressive & one would go from an insect to an animal to a human. In either case, the quality of one’s next life is determined by their behavior in their previous life – this is known as karma. In the Hindu view, the ultimate “progression” would be for the soul to be liberated from a body (moksha) & absorbed into ultimate reality to be united with an impersonal deity (Brahman / Brahma).
Buddhism shares the ideas of reincarnation & karma, but seeks to break out of the reincarnation cycle to reach a state of non-existence known as nirvana. Borrowing from these Eastern religions, many in the New Age Movement also believe in reincarnation.
How does one define good & evil based upon an impersonal, uninvolved god? The Christian view holds that God is a personal & knowable God who specially created mankind & gave us responsibility for & dominion over the rest of creation – insect & animal (Gen 1.27-28). He also made each individual with value & purpose (Ps 139.13-16, Mt 6.26). He has given us His moral law for living & we sin against a morally pure & holy God when we violate it & alienate ourselves from Him (1 Jn 3.4, Col 1.21).
Death is the consequence of sin – not only is there spiritual death (disconnection from God – Isa 59.2), but also physical death (Rom 5.12). The Bible explains that we can only physically die once (Heb 9.27) & each individual soul bears the consequence of their sin (Eze 18.4, 24). Consequently, we will all give an account to God on an individual basis for the only life He has given us (Heb 4.13, Rom 3.19).
Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. – Eze 18.4
But God has placed such tremendous value on mankind that He chose to become one of us in order to be sacrificed on the cross & take the eternal punishment for our sin so that we don’t have to.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit – 1 Pt 3.18
God tells us that if we acknowledge our sin against Him & trust that Jesus Christ was punished in our place, we will be “born again” (Jn 3.3). This is not another physical life as in reincarnation, but regaining the spiritual life we lost when we sinned, except this life new life lasts forever with God (Jn 3.16-18, Rom 6.4).
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. – Jesus in Jn 5.24
References:
http://www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/buddhism.shtml
http://www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/hinduism.shtml
Buddhism shares the ideas of reincarnation & karma, but seeks to break out of the reincarnation cycle to reach a state of non-existence known as nirvana. Borrowing from these Eastern religions, many in the New Age Movement also believe in reincarnation.
How does one define good & evil based upon an impersonal, uninvolved god? The Christian view holds that God is a personal & knowable God who specially created mankind & gave us responsibility for & dominion over the rest of creation – insect & animal (Gen 1.27-28). He also made each individual with value & purpose (Ps 139.13-16, Mt 6.26). He has given us His moral law for living & we sin against a morally pure & holy God when we violate it & alienate ourselves from Him (1 Jn 3.4, Col 1.21).
Death is the consequence of sin – not only is there spiritual death (disconnection from God – Isa 59.2), but also physical death (Rom 5.12). The Bible explains that we can only physically die once (Heb 9.27) & each individual soul bears the consequence of their sin (Eze 18.4, 24). Consequently, we will all give an account to God on an individual basis for the only life He has given us (Heb 4.13, Rom 3.19).
Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. – Eze 18.4
But God has placed such tremendous value on mankind that He chose to become one of us in order to be sacrificed on the cross & take the eternal punishment for our sin so that we don’t have to.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit – 1 Pt 3.18
God tells us that if we acknowledge our sin against Him & trust that Jesus Christ was punished in our place, we will be “born again” (Jn 3.3). This is not another physical life as in reincarnation, but regaining the spiritual life we lost when we sinned, except this life new life lasts forever with God (Jn 3.16-18, Rom 6.4).
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. – Jesus in Jn 5.24
References:
http://www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/buddhism.shtml
http://www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/hinduism.shtml
Personal Extinction
This view says that once you die, you become personally extinct. It is the necessary conclusion of any purely naturalistic or atheistic belief that ignores the spiritual realm. And the Hindu belief of the soul leaving the reincarnation cycle to be absorbed into an impersonal ultimate reality (moksha) as well as the Buddhist belief of arriving at a permanent state of non-existence (nirvana) is essentially this same idea of personal extinction – you as an individual no longer exist. Your personal worth, thoughts, dreams, beliefs, relationships, pleasures, emotions – including your ability to enjoy those pleasures – all perish with your personhood. And if you follow these worldviews to their final conclusion – your life is purposeless & meaningless.
In contrast, the Bible shows that you are a unique individual made & known by God (Mt 10.29-31, Gen 1.27, Col 1.16). God knows every detail about you (Ps 139.1-18) & cares about you (Jn 10.14-15, 1 Pt 5.7). He understands what you are going through & hears when you cry out (Ps 18.6, 145.19).
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. – 1 Pt 5.6-7
Each person is made in God’s image & therefore has worth (Gen 1.26-27). God gives us each certain gifts, abilities, opportunities & relationships with other unique individuals. He also has distinct plans & purposes for us that involve those things (Eph 5.15-17, Col 1.9). We will then be accountable to God on an individual basis for what we have done with it all (Mt 25.14-30, Rev 20.11-15). And we are further accountable with respect to our morality – not just for our personal actions, but for our private thoughts & motives in our hearts (Mt 12.36, Rom 14.12, 1 Pt 4.5). It doesn’t get much more personal than that.
God dearly loves people, but humanity has rejected Him & sinned against Him – each one has gone their own way (Rom 3.10-18). Although living life without concern or respect for God’s moral authority is considered hostile to God (Rom 8.7, Col 1.21), He still demonstrated the overwhelming depth of His love for us in sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to take the substitutionary punishment for our sin when He died a cruel death on the cross (Jn 3.16, 15.13).
However, we must believe this on an individual basis in order to be personally forgiven for all our sins. Then to further the personal touch – if we have believed in the Gospel of Christ, our name is written in the Book of Life (Rev 3.5). Otherwise, we must individually give an account to Almighty God & face His punishment personally (Heb 4.13, Ps 9.7-8, 2 Tim 4.1).
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. – Heb 4.13
In contrast, the Bible shows that you are a unique individual made & known by God (Mt 10.29-31, Gen 1.27, Col 1.16). God knows every detail about you (Ps 139.1-18) & cares about you (Jn 10.14-15, 1 Pt 5.7). He understands what you are going through & hears when you cry out (Ps 18.6, 145.19).
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. – 1 Pt 5.6-7
Each person is made in God’s image & therefore has worth (Gen 1.26-27). God gives us each certain gifts, abilities, opportunities & relationships with other unique individuals. He also has distinct plans & purposes for us that involve those things (Eph 5.15-17, Col 1.9). We will then be accountable to God on an individual basis for what we have done with it all (Mt 25.14-30, Rev 20.11-15). And we are further accountable with respect to our morality – not just for our personal actions, but for our private thoughts & motives in our hearts (Mt 12.36, Rom 14.12, 1 Pt 4.5). It doesn’t get much more personal than that.
God dearly loves people, but humanity has rejected Him & sinned against Him – each one has gone their own way (Rom 3.10-18). Although living life without concern or respect for God’s moral authority is considered hostile to God (Rom 8.7, Col 1.21), He still demonstrated the overwhelming depth of His love for us in sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to take the substitutionary punishment for our sin when He died a cruel death on the cross (Jn 3.16, 15.13).
However, we must believe this on an individual basis in order to be personally forgiven for all our sins. Then to further the personal touch – if we have believed in the Gospel of Christ, our name is written in the Book of Life (Rev 3.5). Otherwise, we must individually give an account to Almighty God & face His punishment personally (Heb 4.13, Ps 9.7-8, 2 Tim 4.1).
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. – Heb 4.13
Islamic Afterlife Views
The Islamic view of heaven is known as the “gardens of paradise” which portrays a focus on sensuality & consumption of food & wine for Muslims (especially men). However, the Bible explains the true focus of heaven will be on God (Rev 4.2-3, Isa 6.1-4, Eze 1.26-28). Jehovah God will be source of the eternal delight for His people (Ps 16.11), even surpassing sensual pleasures which are no longer relevant in heaven where procreation is obsolete (Mt 22.30, Lk 20.34-36). And instead of attempting to earn paradise by trying to uphold the teachings of Islam, the Bible offers the free gift of eternal life by God’s own grace through one’s faith & trust in Jesus Christ – that He died as punishment for your sins, was resurrected to give you eternal life & lived perfectly to qualify you for heaven (Col 1.12-13, 1 Pt 3.18, Rom 10.9-10).
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life… Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. – Jesus in Jn 3.16, 18
While the Qur’an shares a tormenting view of hell known as “the fire”, it further claims unfounded details about chains & beatings, additionally using it as a threat to motivate good behavior even for Muslims. In contrast, the Bible motivates good behavior with God’s love & gratitude for His mercy & grace (1 Jn 4.15-19). Stemming from a “shame culture”, the Quran says those in Paradise will mock & question those in hell, but Jesus explains that a chasm is fixed between them & there is no communication between heaven & hell (Lk 16.26-31). In fact, the Christian view of unbelievers is not to celebrate their punishment, but to pity them & reach out to them while they’re alive, knowing we all deserve hell (Jd 1.22-23, Pr 24.17, 2 Tim 2.24-26). The Qur’an also has contradicting details about food & drink in hell, but the Bible offers no such relief (Lk 16.24-25), not even boiling water as Islam teaches. Instead, before people die, the Bible holds out the Living Water of Jesus Christ that satisfies & wells up to eternal life & saves people from hell (Jn 4.13-14).
References:
http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Fisher/Topical/ch09.htm
http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Fisher/Topical/ch10.htm
http://www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/islam.shtml
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life… Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. – Jesus in Jn 3.16, 18
While the Qur’an shares a tormenting view of hell known as “the fire”, it further claims unfounded details about chains & beatings, additionally using it as a threat to motivate good behavior even for Muslims. In contrast, the Bible motivates good behavior with God’s love & gratitude for His mercy & grace (1 Jn 4.15-19). Stemming from a “shame culture”, the Quran says those in Paradise will mock & question those in hell, but Jesus explains that a chasm is fixed between them & there is no communication between heaven & hell (Lk 16.26-31). In fact, the Christian view of unbelievers is not to celebrate their punishment, but to pity them & reach out to them while they’re alive, knowing we all deserve hell (Jd 1.22-23, Pr 24.17, 2 Tim 2.24-26). The Qur’an also has contradicting details about food & drink in hell, but the Bible offers no such relief (Lk 16.24-25), not even boiling water as Islam teaches. Instead, before people die, the Bible holds out the Living Water of Jesus Christ that satisfies & wells up to eternal life & saves people from hell (Jn 4.13-14).
References:
http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Fisher/Topical/ch09.htm
http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Fisher/Topical/ch10.htm
http://www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/islam.shtml
Mormon / LDS Afterlife Views
The church of Latter Day Saints (Mormon/LDS) teaches that the worst any person could ever experience is a place of “outer darkness” that is removed from the blessing & presence of God. The latter part is true, but it’s far worse than that. The phrase “outer darkness” is used 3 times in the Bible. All 3 times it’s used by Jesus & He always follows it by “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt 8.12, 22.13, 25.30). The hell Jesus & the rest of Scripture depicts is a real, horrifying, eternal place of torment & God’s endless retribution for rejecting eternal salvation through Christ. Watered down versions of hell do horrible injustice to the justice of a holy God as well as fail to grasp the gravity of sin.
Regarding heaven, the Mormon Church teaches there are 3 heavens known as the celestial, terrestrial, telestial kingdoms. According to this view, the highest glory is a celestial kingdom which is the only one God dwells in & is only attained by those who have completely obeyed all the LDS teachings. They also hold that a terrestrial kingdom is for lesser-performing Mormons & honorable non-mormons. Lastly, they teach of a telestial kingdom which is for everyone else who has come from a place of suffering where they have been punished for their sins.
The Bible explains that no one enters heaven by perfectly obeying God’s laws (Gal 2.16, Rom 4.2-3). That’s good news because no one is able to do that anyway (Jas 2.10, Rom 3.23). Instead, God holds out grace & in effect says – You have all sinned & there’s no way for you to possibly come to Me on your own, but I love you so much that I’ll make a way. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, lived the perfect life for us, then He died to completely pay for all our sins (Jn 3.16, 2 Cor 5.21, Eph 1.7-10). If we believe this by faith, God fully qualifies us for heaven (Col 1.12-14). Admittance to heaven is not based on performance (Mt 20.1-16), but strictly on God’s grace through faith in the work of Jesus Christ.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Eph 2.4-9
And as far as an eternal heavenly dwelling is concerned, there is only one heaven where even a repentant thief on the cross by Jesus went & joined Jesus that very day (Lk 23.39-43). In fact, the Bible explains that not only does every single person trusting in Christ's work of salvation go to be directly with God (Mt 22.32, Lk 23.43, 2 Cor 5.8, Php 1.23, 1 Thes 5.9-10), but God’s Holy Spirit instantly goes to live in them (Jn 14.16-17, Eph 1.13-14, 4.30). In addition to guiding & teaching the Christian, the Holy Spirit also is a seal of salvation who wonderfully guarantees God's promise of eternal life (Rom 8.16, 2 Cor 1.22)!
In him (Jesus Christ) you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. - Eph 1.13-14
References:
http://www.mrm.org/heaven-and-hell
http://www.mrm.org/celestial-kingdom
http://www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/mormonism.shtml
Regarding heaven, the Mormon Church teaches there are 3 heavens known as the celestial, terrestrial, telestial kingdoms. According to this view, the highest glory is a celestial kingdom which is the only one God dwells in & is only attained by those who have completely obeyed all the LDS teachings. They also hold that a terrestrial kingdom is for lesser-performing Mormons & honorable non-mormons. Lastly, they teach of a telestial kingdom which is for everyone else who has come from a place of suffering where they have been punished for their sins.
The Bible explains that no one enters heaven by perfectly obeying God’s laws (Gal 2.16, Rom 4.2-3). That’s good news because no one is able to do that anyway (Jas 2.10, Rom 3.23). Instead, God holds out grace & in effect says – You have all sinned & there’s no way for you to possibly come to Me on your own, but I love you so much that I’ll make a way. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, lived the perfect life for us, then He died to completely pay for all our sins (Jn 3.16, 2 Cor 5.21, Eph 1.7-10). If we believe this by faith, God fully qualifies us for heaven (Col 1.12-14). Admittance to heaven is not based on performance (Mt 20.1-16), but strictly on God’s grace through faith in the work of Jesus Christ.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Eph 2.4-9
And as far as an eternal heavenly dwelling is concerned, there is only one heaven where even a repentant thief on the cross by Jesus went & joined Jesus that very day (Lk 23.39-43). In fact, the Bible explains that not only does every single person trusting in Christ's work of salvation go to be directly with God (Mt 22.32, Lk 23.43, 2 Cor 5.8, Php 1.23, 1 Thes 5.9-10), but God’s Holy Spirit instantly goes to live in them (Jn 14.16-17, Eph 1.13-14, 4.30). In addition to guiding & teaching the Christian, the Holy Spirit also is a seal of salvation who wonderfully guarantees God's promise of eternal life (Rom 8.16, 2 Cor 1.22)!
In him (Jesus Christ) you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. - Eph 1.13-14
References:
http://www.mrm.org/heaven-and-hell
http://www.mrm.org/celestial-kingdom
http://www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/mormonism.shtml