1 Peter 1:3,4 – The Heavenly Hope

It is a strange thing that there are so many folks in the world of “Christendom” who entertain the concept that the righteous, in the eternal state of things, will dwell on the earth forever. The Watchtower devotees believe that all but 144,000 (those who will enter the heavenly kingdom) will live on “God’s glorified earth.” Many protestants even believe that the earth eventually will be purified by fire; and so a cleansed earth will become the abode of the saints. Simple Bible logic, however, destroys that theory.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul declared that there is but “one hope” for the righteous (Ephesians 4:4). But that “hope” (1 Peter 1:3) is “reserved in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4; cf. Colossians 1:5) for the faithful. It is therefore clear that our one hope is in heaven.

But heaven is not earth, for the Lord taught that we are to lay up treasures in heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:19). The irresistible conclusion, then, is this: the one hope for the child of God is not upon this earth, but is exclusively in heaven.

Circle “hope” in verse 3, and then circle “reserved in heaven” in verse 4. Connect these two expressions with a line and draw an arrow to the margin, recording this comment: See Ephesians 4:4 — one hope. Not on earth, but in heaven — Matthew 6:19.