Again Our Earthly Cares We Leave Sda
In the very name of their denomination, Seventh-24-hour interval Adventists declare their utmost hope in the Second Coming of Christ. How wonderful that will be—our time on this sin-corrupted world will be done. And nosotros can look forwards to existence with Jesus forever in Heaven and in the New Earth.
But what exactly does "Heaven" hateful? And if at that place'due south a "Heaven," why do we need a "New Earth?"
It'south understandable to take questions about heaven. Information technology'south a concept we have to stretch our minds but to call back about! And even while the Bible offers several vibrant details1, there is nonetheless a lot of mystery left to us. So much that we tin can only begin to cover.
But that tin can besides speak to its significance. To how truly spectacular it is.
This post volition provide an overview of Sky, the New Globe, and why Adventists cherish this ultimate hope.
You'll likewise find out:
- What is sky?
- Where is heaven?
- What does heaven expect similar?
- When do we go to heaven?
- Who goes to heaven?
- How do we get to heaven?
- What volition we do in heaven?
- How tin this belief affect our lives right now?
Fourth dimension to dig into the Bible to detect these answers.
What is Heaven, really?
Starting from the basics, heaven is a literal place where God resides. Information technology is non just a comforting idea or "land of heed."
The Bible says God rules the universe from heaven (Psalm 33:thirteen-14). And the light of His celebrity fills the entire identify. Jesus came from Heaven before He took human form on earth, and He returned to Heaven afterwards His earthly ministry was completed (Luke 24:50-53; Acts ane:1-11).
Nosotros besides know that Heaven is big plenty for all of humanity! God is preparing a place for us (John 14:ane-6), and He hopes that "none would perish" just that all would repent and cull eternal life with Him (2 Peter 3:9).
Jesus as well describes Sky equally His "Male parent's house" (John 14:two). Hebrews 12:22-23 echoes this, calling information technology the "city of the Living God."
Information technology is a place where God's will reigns perfectly (Matthew 6:10). It is the true Paradise, the most wonderful and perfect identify in the universe.
This is amazing news! In that location really is a place so eternally magnificent beyond this earthly, finite existence. God really will restore His believers into eternal beings to live with Him forever.
Where is heaven?
The Bible does not provide usa with an verbal location for sky. We are told, still, that heaven is carve up from the world.
As mentioned above, later His decease and resurrection, Jesus left earth and had to ascend to heaven (Luke 24:51.)
Acts 1:2 describes Jesus being "taken upwards to heaven," so we can be sure it is a physical place and that is in a different location, above us, outward from World.
The Bible besides says, "From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind, from his dwelling place He watches all who live on earth…" (Psalm 33:13-fourteen).
And in Revelation, the New Jerusalem is described to be "descending" out of Heaven from God (21:10).
What does sky look like?
The Bible says heaven is a stunningly beautiful place with sparkling stones, streets of gold, and gates "fabricated of a single pearl" (Revelation 21:21).
Heaven completely stretches our agreement of reality. The apostle Paul says that Jesus currently "dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen nor tin can encounter…" (ane Timothy 6:14-16, ESV).
In our current bodies and states as humans, nosotros tin't even take in the kind of splendor heaven represents.
Paul as well says that, "no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the middle of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:ix, ESV).
Jesus promises his followers, "many mansions…" in John xiv:two.
And Revelation 21:21 describes the incredible beauty of the New Jerusalem with "twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The groovy street of the city was of golden, as pure equally transparent glass."
There's breathtaking power equally well.
Revelation 4:5 says God's throne, maxim that from it came "flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder" and in front "was what looked like a bounding main of glass, clear as crystal."
When exercise we go to heaven?
While we can't know the actual time, day and year, we know at what point in the globe's "future history" that Heaven will go a reality for the followers of Jesus Christ.
Jesus carries His believers to Sky at His 2d Coming. And but God the Father knows when this will accept identify.
Matthew 24:36 says "now concerning that solar day and 60 minutes no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son—except the Male parent alone."
When it does happen, the 2d Coming is going to exist absolutely unprecedented in scale:
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ volition ascension first. Then nosotros who are live and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to see the Lord in the air" (one Thessalonians 4:15-17, NKJV).
Want to know more than about Jesus, and how His 2nd Coming volition bring united states liberty and honey forever? Sign up for our Online Bible Studies today!
No one goes to heaven until the Second Coming—with but a few exceptions.
The Bible specifically mentions some people that God brought to heaven. Enoch, Moses, and Elijah were each taken to be in sky according to the Bible. There is besides evidence that some people were taken to heaven later on Christ's crucifixion. Genesis 5:21-24, Mark ix:ane, Jude one:9
However, the overwhelming majority of people do not go straight upward to heaven after death.
This is a very of import indicate. In the Bible, death is compared to sleep. This comparison occurs in many places in the Old Testament (1 Kings 1:21; Job 7:21; 14:12; Psalms xiii:3; Jeremiah 51:39, 57; Dan 12:2).
Over and once more, the phrase "slept [or rested] with his fathers" is used to talk about the passing of Israel'due south and Judah'south kings.
It'south also found in the New Testament:
Jesus compares decease to sleep when he resurrects the daughter of Jairus after she succumbed to her disease (Mark 5, Luke 8). He does it again when he brings his friend Lazarus dorsum to life (John xi).
As Christ was resurrected, Matthew tells us that "many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised" (Matt 27:52).
The book of Acts said that the start Christian martyr, Stephen, was stoned past his persecutors and then "savage comatose" (Acts 7:60).
To be clear, this "slumber" implies a total lack of consciousness. Ecclesiastes is especially clear on the matter:
"For the living know that they volition die, only the expressionless know cypher, and they accept no more reward, for the retention of them is forgotten. Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they take no more than share in all that is done nether the sun" (Ecclesiastes 9:5-half dozen ESV).
How Would You Summarize the Bible?
How do I get to sky?
Though nosotros can't "earn" our way to sky because we are flawed, sinful beings, God sent Jesus to die for us, paying the "wages of sin" (Romans half-dozen:23) for us, so nosotros could become to sky (John 3:sixteen).
Because of what Jesus did for us, nosotros are redeemed from our past and do not need to suffer the consequences of our sins.
Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself because He loves us. As we accept His cede and determine to follow Him, He gives the states eternal life. This means living with Him in heaven and the New Earth.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). None of us make our own style to heaven. It is impossible.
Heaven is a perfect place, therefore requiring perfection from those who enter it. Nobody in humanity qualifies for heaven on their ain claim. Jesus is our simply hope.
This tin can be comforting news. You don't take to focus on yourself and your weaknesses. That won't practice any good. The key is to have Jesus, who lived a perfect, sinless life. When nosotros accept His sacrifice on our behalf, His perfect record is considered instead of ours and we are granted eternal life in heaven.
Paul, writing in I Thessalonians iv:13-18, clearly was looking forward to existence with young man believers in heaven. He cheered upward the Thessalonians, with words of hope about God bringing united states to heaven. This kind of encouragement would non make a lot of sense if believers wouldn't actually exist able to personally, and as a community of believers, "be with the Lord forever."
It'south safe to deduce from all this that relationships in heaven with family, friends and all those nosotros go to know, will be far more fulfilling than even the best relationships nosotros currently enjoy on world. This is because of the most important human relationship of all: the ane we have with God who promises to wipe the tears from our eyes and live with us forever (Revelation 21:4, I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Tin I be sure I will go to heaven if I believe in Jesus?
Yes. Admittedly.
God knows your heart, and if you accept Jesus and what He did for you lot (Ephesians ii:8-9)
As nosotros accept his sacrifice and choose to alive a life in harmony and friendship with Him, He invites us into a life of certainty in salvation, heaven, and eternal life with Him.
This is assurance God wants usa to take! Otherwise, it wouldn't be said in the Bible quite so many times:
"But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that past believing you may have life in His name" (John xx:31, CSB).
"If you confess with your oral cavity, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you volition be saved" (Romans ten:9, CSB).
"For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will exist saved" (Romans 10:thirteen, CSB).
"They said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you volition be saved" (Acts sixteen:31, CSB).
"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God" (one John four:15, CSB).
Who Will Be In Heaven?
Will Hitler be in heaven? How most Elvis? Why don't we extend the list? How nigh Shakespeare? Or Billy Graham? Female parent Theresa should exist a pretty sure bet.
While this sort of speculating might make for an interesting word, information technology'south pointless. We just don't know. Just the biggest point to brand is we don't decide who goes to heaven, or who "should." Only God does (James iv:11-12).
Those who truly want to be there will be there. Those who don't desire to be with God for eternity will not. Those who cull to be in a loving relationship with God will savor this friendship with Him forever considering He freely offers information technology.
Ephesians ii:8 says:
"For information technology is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is non from yourselves, it is the souvenir of God…"
This gift is available to all. 2 Peter 3:ix tells united states how God wants every single human He created to choose eternal life with Him. That definitely includes you and your loved ones.
My loved ones who accept passed away were not Christians. Does that mean they won't go to heaven?
God is the only judge. Anyone who tries to tell you lot that someone is headed to sky or hell is speculating at best.
What we practice know is that, in addition to being judge, God is the most loving and merciful Existence in the universe. Permit's go out whatsoever and all judgment to Him (Exodus 34:6-7, Ephesians two:four-5).
What will nosotros practise in heaven?
Simply imagine the infinite possibilities for spending forever with God. This experience will surpass our wildest dreams (1 Corinthians 2:9).
One affair we practise know is that Revelation twenty:1-half dozen says God'due south people volition reign with Him for a thousand years. This is what's called the Millennium.
The Millennium is a fourth dimension in which we will gain understanding nearly God's judgment of the earth and its inhabitants.
It'southward also a time to learn more than from the Creator almost…well, anything! Get your list of questions prepare.
"…until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. …" (1 Corinthians four:5).
God volition help the states understand why some people are in heaven and others aren't (Daniel 7:22,ane Corinthians 4:five, i Corinthians 6:2).
This extends every bit far as learning why certain angels aren't in heaven: "Do you non know that we are to judge angels," says Paul in 1 Corinthians six:3.
But fifty-fifty aside from this, from learning almost the whole of the Keen Controversy and why everything happened the mode it did…we take eternity to spend in God'south unending universe with infinite possibilities.
How can learning about heaven affect our lives today? What does heaven tell usa about God?
Heaven is a reality. And because God values freedom of choice, He leaves it ultimately up to u.s. if nosotros want to be part of that reality or not.
Jesus gives us hope for the future. This hope in heaven that comes through a relationship with Him not simply provides eternal life but makes a huge difference for life right now.
Jesus is calling all of u.s.a. into a life of joy and peace every bit His friends. He is offering eternal life as well a life of meaning and peace in the here and now. (John 3:16)
Psalm sixteen:11 says, "Yous reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right mitt are eternal pleasures."
Suffering is a hard reality of life here on world. None of united states of america are exempt. We all go through extremely tough times in one way or some other.
Here's the adept news: The hope Jesus gives united states in heaven helps frame suffering in a dissimilar fashion. We tin can know with 100% certainty that by choosing Jesus, we are going to a place where God will wipe every tear from our eyes. God is calling us to Heaven where there will be no sin and no suffering. (Revelation 21:iv).
So even though we accept a lot to deal with in this life, God gives us hope for the time to come that helps us deal with the present in a positive, religion-filled way. The perfection of heaven speaks to the perfect nature of God and the beauty of life with Him that is bachelor to us all.
We can take promise that although life hither on world tin can be very hard, a better future waits for us in heaven as we take the sacrifice of Jesus (John three:16).
Only wait, there'south more! The New Earth and the New Jerusalem
Afterwards the grand-twelvemonth Millennium in which those that have accepted Christ spend with God in Heaven, God volition destroy Satan and his followers for good, and nosotros will come down from heaven back to a cleansed, remade earth—the New Globe—where we will live in the New Jerusalem. It volition be Garden of Eden 2.0—earth equally information technology was originally intended.
The apostle John described this new earth in Revelation 21 as "a bride adorned for her husband." It will be a place where God will alive with us (Revelation 21:22).
The New Jerusalem will be articulate every bit crystal and will be "adorned with every kind of jewel" (Revelation 21:15-20, CSB).
Living with God in the New Jerusalem will literally be Heaven on Earth.
Ready to choose Jesus Christ?
Want to acquire more than of what the Bible says virtually sky and humanity's destiny? Sign up for our free online Bible Studies to discover out today!
- ane Corinthians 2:nine; John 14:2; Hebrews 11:16; 2 Peter three:thirteen; Revelation 4:1-eleven; Revelation 21:1-27; Revelation 22:1-5;[↩]
Source: https://www.adventist.org/who-are-seventh-day-adventists/heaven-and-the-new-earth/
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