The Ancient
Jews did not believe in an after-life as far as I can tell, correct me if I'm wrong.
The Watchtower says
yes. They say all the prophets believed in a paradise earth.
But the Old Testament does not show any prophet speaking about humans living forever in a paradise earth at some point in the future or for that matter an
afterlife in heaven.
In fact it teaches death is the end-- period.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6) . . .but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all,
... Also, their love and their hate and their
jealousy have already perished,. . .
Since this was the case, the Old Testament's admonition was for humans to do this while they are
alive;
(Ecclesiastes
9:10) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all
your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor
wisdom
If the Jews
didn’t believe in an afterlife, where did Jesus who was a Jew get the idea that the dead would go to heaven and live
in heavenly homes?
John 14:1 In my Father's house are many rooms; ---I am going there to
prepare a place for you.
Where did
Jesus get the idea of a heavenly afterlife? It wasn't from the Hebrew Canon.
This was a new teaching for the ancient Jew.