What did Les mean when he said there is nothing in the Old Testament about a Jew dying and going to heaven?
He meant this only concerning the Jew’s eternal abode, not while awaiting resurrection. Old Testament saints who died went to paradise; they did not remain on earth. But the Jew had no concept of dying and going to heaven in their resurrected state, because resurrected believing Israel will be an earthly people, with earthly promises.
Les explains that his statement was misunderstood. He meant it concerning the Jew’s eternal abode. An Old Testament saint who died went to paradise and certainly did not stay on the earth. Even today, when a Jew dies, he goes to his place of reward; if he is a believer, he goes to paradise. But when Les said the Jew had no concept of dying and going to heaven, he had in mind their resurrected state. When Jews experience resurrection as believers, they will not be a heavenly people but an earthly people. All of Israel’s promises were earthly, which is why many had tremendous wealth, such as Abraham.