Isn't heaven supposed to be a place where creation is restored to perfection? How then does one enter into life, into the very kingdom of God, unwhole? Perhaps more to the point, how can one enter being anything but unwhole?
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched. ... And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched. ... And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
-- Mark 9:43,45,47
The conception of Jesus in Mark is irreconcilable with the later conception of a heavenly kingdom where the former things have passed away, entered into at death after a long life of blessedness in Christ, to dwell with him there in the Father's house with many rooms, where there are enough even for Gentiles.
One must face the fact that the historical Jesus believed in both an imminently coming judgment and suddenly in-breaking kingdom of God where the many doers of iniquity are swept away and the few who shed their former existence are saved. The certain nearness of it for Jesus urgently demands extreme forms of repentance, of turning, in order to escape and experience salvation. One must leave all and follow him, turning completely around, renouncing job, home, possessions, mother, father, brother, sister, wife, children, customary obligations including burials and farewells, even hand, foot and eye and flee to the hills if necessary, anything that holds one back, in order to escape the wrath that is coming. He who would save his life will lose it, but he who loses it will save it.
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
-- Matthew 13:41ff.
Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
-- Matthew 7:13f.
