I had the pleasure of seeing Scott Hahn in person this weekend. He noted that in the Old Testament, Heaven is populated entirely with angels. In the scriptures, we do not see humans in Heaven until the Book of Revelation. When Christ ascended, He took the first of the saints with Him.
This opening of Heaven to mankind is represented by the veil of the temple tearing at Christ’s crucifixion. The holiest place on Earth, the Holy of Holies, was accessible only once a year by the holiest man in Israel, the high priest. The tearing of the veil represents the opening of the holy place to mankind, through Christ.
Heaven is our proper end. We, who have rational minds, cannot rest until we rest in the truth, who is Christ. Christ is the light who illuminates the meaning of the Bible. The Old Testament points to the New. By comparing the two, we see more clearly the gift that God gave us when He gave His Son.
In Genesis we learn that we are made in the image of God. The fulfillment of so great a gift is hinted at in 1 John 3:2. “Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God; and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know, that, when he shall appear, we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is.” This is the beatific vision. We are made in the image of God, but through Christ we become sons of God, and if sons, heirs. Our destiny is unity with God.
We see in Genesis 3:15 the hope of redemption. After the fall a promise is given, that the snake who deceived men into sin will be defeated:
“I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.”
This promise is known as the Protoevangelium, the “first gospel,” or “preliminary gospel.” It is the first promise of Christ and the Mother of God.
It is again John who reveals that the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New. In chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation John reveals that the Protoevangelium has been fulfilled in Christ, who is born of Mary. The snake of the garden has become the dragon, who wages ceaseless war against the Church.
From our father Adam we inherit sin and a fallen world. Through Christ we become sons of God, and inherit eternal life.