Why Don’t Christian Leaders Emphasize That Before Jesus, No One Went to Heaven?

Depends on what timeframe or understanding of time you consider. The Orthodox Church, in the context of the Easter or 'Paschal' Troparion, emphasizes this concept. Here is the corresponding hymn from the Divine Liturgy:

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life.

Before the advent of Jesus Christ, Christian belief suggests that human beings did not go directly to heaven or paradise. Instead, those who lived righteous lives were believed to enter a paradise on Earth. According to verses such as Psalm 37:11 and Hosea 13:14, there was always the promise of a paradise where the righteous would be resurrected. This belief held true for those who worshipped through Mosaic Judaism, expecting resurrection in a paradise earth.

As different denominations of Judaism evolved, teachings changed, and the idea of paradise on Earth shifted towards heavenly paradises. However, the core belief remained the same: people who lived righteous lives would be part of the promised afterlife.

Christianity further elaborates on the salvation brought by Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus died for the sins of the entire human race, from Adam to the last person born on Earth. Whether you accept his salvation is part of your choice, but his blood avails for all. Those who lived before Jesus and who lived righteous lives would have been granted paradise on the death of Jesus.

God’s justice is undeniable. There will be many in heaven who may not have heard of Jesus Christ. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, missionaries journeyed to tribes and indigenous societies to spread the gospel, only to find that these communities had already established social, moral, and judicial codes. These codes reflected a sense of right and wrong, much like the moral conscience described in the Bible.

The Bible states in Romans 2:14: 'Indeed when Gentiles who do not have the law do by nature things required by the law, even though they do not have the law, they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts.' This indicates that people are born with a sense of moral conscience. This understanding is crucial as it suggests that those who followed their consciences to do the right thing can still be saved, even without Jesus.

The antediluvian people and even modern primitive people today do not face the same judgment as those who lived after Moses. Romans 5:13 explains that sin existed before the law was given to Moses, yet it was not charged against anyones account when there was no law. This further emphasizes God’s fair and just nature, ensuring that even without an explicit knowledge of Jesus, one can still find salvation through the moral conscience they were born with.