1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.
9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'"
16 For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
John 1:1-18

Sunday, August 5, 2012

What will heaven be like?

The best-selling book, "Heaven is for Real," shows just how interested people are in heaven.

A. Heaven will be a paradise
(Luke 23:39-43) f3
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

-->As one criminal seemed unconcerned about his eternity, the second man confessed his guilt and accepted the punishment for it. But he also acknowledged Jesus' innocence and His authority as Messiah...
42 And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43 And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

-->"Paradise" means park or garden; the paradise of heaven is nothing like anything we have ever known.

B. We will be with God
Rev. 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

-->Revelation is the vision of John of the end times. This section speaks of "the holy city, new Jerusalem." We see that what God began in the garden will be perfected and made complete in heaven. God promises in Leviticus that He will be our God, and we will be His people. The sin of Adam and his subsequent separation from God had to be dealt with first. We have all "sinned and fallen short of the glory of God," but in heaven we will be reunited to Him.

C. There will be no more sorrow or pain
Rev. 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

D. We will worship and serve God forever
Rev. 22:1-5
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

River of water of Life= from the throne of God signifies life without end
Tree of Life= healing of the cross; sin no longer has a hold
No curse= the Genesis curse is overturned; we will see God and be in His presence forever!
No more night= God is the source of light
Reign forever= no longer like slaves, but sons
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