Reply #26: This poses a great theological difficulty.

[trotsky]

Earth is supposed to be the place where we have free will to make our decision between God and not-God. The price of free will is sin, as evidenced by the innocent suffering on earth. Never mind, for the moment, how the free will of victims gets overruled by their assailants. Free will is supposed to be so precious that God allows it to run its course.

But what you say is that heaven is a place where we either have no free will (a disturbing thought) or a "limited" free will where all choose to live in God and thus have free will in everything else.

The problem them becomes - why does there need to be an Earth at all? Why couldn't God just create heaven, reveal himself personally to everyone, and if they choose to reject him, THEN cast them away?

Here on Earth it is unbelievably easy for people to not get a clear picture of God, whether it be from being raised in false teachings, or subject to an abusive priest or minister, or what have you. Many "souls" could easily be lost that way, through no fault of their own. Is it fair that very few people actually get to have that clear personal revelation of God on which to base their decision?

Wouldn't it be easier then to simply skip the Earth part and just have heaven? If free will and the lack of sin can exist in heaven, doesn't that demolish the reason why we have to endure Earth?