WHERE IS HEAVEN & HOW DO WE GET THERE (4)?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Common Questions
a) If you have a question and are seeking an answer from the Bible, you may find what your are looking for the commonly asked question below.
2. Where is heaven and how do we get there?
a) In the wake of the shocking news of Michael Jackson's death, rumors began to arise of his conversion to Christianity weeks before starting debates among Christians and fans whether or not the pop icon would be in heaven. A recent prime-time TV show focused on heaven with Barbara Walters’ interviewing religious leaders, suicide bombers, and people who claimed near death experiences. Larry King recently told an interviewer that there is a lot of universe out there and he would like to explore it. He had said that he was afraid to die because he was not sure what happens when a person dies. It's a question everyone can't help but wonder: Is heaven a real place? Why will some go there and others not? What does the Bible say about heaven?
3. The New Earth as Heaven
a) Real earth, real houses, gardens, hobbies, loved ones, are all part of the perfect future life in store for those who are faithful to God’s Word. This becomes more believable when we realize that the Bible says that the greater part of the future existence of human beings will take place right here on our planet earth, which will be recreated and restored to its original perfection. This life will be free from sickness, war, crime and anything harmful. The future life will have the best of this life plus additional joys beyond our imagination.
b) Bible prophecy points to the fact that Jesus will return the second time. He will not come in secret, but every eye shall see him. (Revelation 1:7) At that time those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior will be taken to heaven for a period of time. They will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years in the mansions Jesus is building and in the New Jerusalem in the heavenly country. Then He will bring the New Jerusalem down to earth. God will recreate a new earth with new atmosphere, and our heavenly life will take place right here.
4. Life in the New Earth
a) "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea." (Revelation 21:1) "Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:2) "And" God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4) "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." (Isaiah 35:1) "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust [shall be] the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain," says the LORD. (Isaiah 65:25) "They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit". (Isaiah 65:21) Many of these promises from the Old Testament were given on condition that the Jews would keep God commandments and receive the messiah. (See Jeremiah 17:23-25) God would have put an end to sin and recreated the world at that time. Since His people did not accept Him, the culmination is put off until He will come the second time. He will then fulfill many of these Old Testament prophecies.
5. How does a person get to Heaven and the New Earth?
a) Contrary to popular belief, the Bible says we do not go to heaven or hell when we die. We sleep in the grave until the resurrection when the Bible says: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)
b) The entrance to heaven is not automatic for people who have simply tried to be good. The Bible says: "But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21:27) The qualifying factor for those who enter will be whether or not their names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
The End ...
1. Common Questionsa) If you have a question and are seeking an answer from the Bible, you may find what your are looking for the commonly asked question below.
2. Where is heaven and how do we get there?
a) In the wake of the shocking news of Michael Jackson's death, rumors began to arise of his conversion to Christianity weeks before starting debates among Christians and fans whether or not the pop icon would be in heaven. A recent prime-time TV show focused on heaven with Barbara Walters’ interviewing religious leaders, suicide bombers, and people who claimed near death experiences. Larry King recently told an interviewer that there is a lot of universe out there and he would like to explore it. He had said that he was afraid to die because he was not sure what happens when a person dies. It's a question everyone can't help but wonder: Is heaven a real place? Why will some go there and others not? What does the Bible say about heaven?
3. The New Earth as Heaven
a) Real earth, real houses, gardens, hobbies, loved ones, are all part of the perfect future life in store for those who are faithful to God’s Word. This becomes more believable when we realize that the Bible says that the greater part of the future existence of human beings will take place right here on our planet earth, which will be recreated and restored to its original perfection. This life will be free from sickness, war, crime and anything harmful. The future life will have the best of this life plus additional joys beyond our imagination.
b) Bible prophecy points to the fact that Jesus will return the second time. He will not come in secret, but every eye shall see him. (Revelation 1:7) At that time those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior will be taken to heaven for a period of time. They will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years in the mansions Jesus is building and in the New Jerusalem in the heavenly country. Then He will bring the New Jerusalem down to earth. God will recreate a new earth with new atmosphere, and our heavenly life will take place right here.
4. Life in the New Earth
a) "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea." (Revelation 21:1) "Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:2) "And" God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4) "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." (Isaiah 35:1) "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust [shall be] the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain," says the LORD. (Isaiah 65:25) "They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit". (Isaiah 65:21) Many of these promises from the Old Testament were given on condition that the Jews would keep God commandments and receive the messiah. (See Jeremiah 17:23-25) God would have put an end to sin and recreated the world at that time. Since His people did not accept Him, the culmination is put off until He will come the second time. He will then fulfill many of these Old Testament prophecies.
5. How does a person get to Heaven and the New Earth?
a) Contrary to popular belief, the Bible says we do not go to heaven or hell when we die. We sleep in the grave until the resurrection when the Bible says: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)
b) The entrance to heaven is not automatic for people who have simply tried to be good. The Bible says: "But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21:27) The qualifying factor for those who enter will be whether or not their names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
The End ...
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