(Hebrews 12:1-2a)"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfector of the faith."
When the Sadducees came forward to question Jesus about the resurrection, he answered them "Have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." (Mark 12:26-27). The Church therefore, is the assembly of ALL the Holy Ones, those who worship Christ, both on earth and in heaven. But the book of Revelations says of Heaven, "The treasure and wealth of the nations will be brought there, but nothing unlcean will enter it, nor anyone who does abonminable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.