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Paul was a Citizen of Rome
At the time that Paul was speaking, he was a citizen of Rome. Legally, this carried certain benefits.
No one here on earth can prove that they are a citizen of Heaven. There is no verse in the Bible that says this. There is no verse in the Bible that says that Christians go to Heaven when they die. What is said is that we will be resurrected at the appointed time to live in the Kingdom that will be re-established here on earth. At least, this is what my Bible says.
Even Paul agrees with this when he says "Some of our brothers have fallen asleep" He did not say that they had gone to Heaven. Jesus said that He descended from Heaven but that is not a license to claim that we will go to Heaven when we die. Where did Lazarus go when he died? Nowhere. He stayed in his tomb until he was resurrected at the appointed time. This was done give us a preview of things to come and to show that our death is not final if we rely on Jesus, who has power and authority to resurrect our dead bodies.
Anyway, that is the way I understand it at the time.
KT
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