HEAVEN
Php 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven……..
The word heaven means: The abode of God, the angels, and the souls of those who are granted salvation. I love that –the souls of those who are granted salvation! As Christians we have an incredible hope and an incredible destination. We who have trusted Christ can be assured of two things –we will receive eternal life when we die and in this world we will have tribulation, thankfully we are told by Jesus that He has overcome the world and can help us in our tribulation. 10 million years from now everyone we meet or know will be alive, either in heaven or hell, but we who have placed our trust In Jesus and repented of our wicked ways will be in heaven. Look at these well known verses:
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Joh 10:28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Tit 1:2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.
I think by some of these verses we can see that we can trust God when He says that we have eternal life.
So what happens when we die do we sleep for a thousand years or do we lie in the grave until judgement day? No, we go to be with Jesus in the glorious city the New Jerusalem. All people on earth will go either to the place of torment and then to the lake of fire or to the heavenly city and then on to eternal joy and purpose. Notice I say purpose and not playing a harp on a cloud. Here are some Scriptures to show that when we die we are with Him.
1Th 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
2Co 5:6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
Php 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Php 1:23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Php 1:24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
So, when we die our flesh man dies or goes to sleep as it is referred to in some translations. Then our spirit man and soul go to our eternal destinations, which is an exact replica of ourselves without any scars or defects. On judgement day we will all be reconnected with our bodies and stand in judgement, in other words there will be a resurrection of our bodies and we will be judged three in one, body, soul and spirit!
1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Heaven our spirit man is in the express image of ourselves, so we will instantly recognize one another. Many believe that we will all be as Jesus or around the age of Jesus-33 because that was the age He died, because the Scripture says:
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is..
What happens when we die :
Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
By many accounts of many Christians dying the angels of God fetch us and take us to our glorious destination. So where do we go?
Those who are redeemed as Christians go to the New Jerusalem the glorious city of God! The location of the city is in the northern part of the universe:
Psa 75:6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
So promotion must come from the north and:
Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north
Gods Holy mountain, the mount of congregation! So Cool!
Psa 48:1 ..Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain.
Psa 48:2 Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King.
This magnificent city is spoken about in Revelations:
Rev 21:1 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.
Rev 21:2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
Rev 21:4 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."
Rev 21:5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
Rev 21:6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
Rev 21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Rev 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
Rev 21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Rev 21:12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
Rev 21:14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
Rev 21:16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.
Rev 21:17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
Rev 21:18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
Rev 21:19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
Rev 21:20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
Rev 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
Rev 21:22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Rev 21:23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
Rev 21:25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 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.
What will we do in heaven? until judgement day we rest, but after judgement day the city will come down on the earth and the new dispensation will begin with us! What does that mean? That God has something incredible planned for us :
1Co 2:9 But as it is written: "EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."
We will not be playing a harp on a cloud one day –heaven is called a country:
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
We have read how big the city is in Rev 21:16 –one wall will be as far as Johannesburg and that square and in height square. Then there are those people outside the city:
Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Watchmen Nee says that the people outside the city are Christians who just made it-in other word Christians who got saved, but could not overcome their lusts, like drinking, sorcery(drugs) liars and people who hate others( murderers), they may never enter the city and will awake to shame and everlasting contempt.
Dan 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
We must be overcomers of sin and weakness and fear:
All the great promises of God are to the overcomers:
Rev 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God
Rev 2:11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death
Rev 2:17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." '
Rev 2:26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
Rev 3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Rev 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name
Rev 21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
God expects us as Christians to overcome, He understands that we are broken and fallen, but also has made a way for us to be able to overcome all things by the sacrifice that Jesus made for us!
Col 2:10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
1Jn 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1Jn 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith
So what is our eternal purpose in heaven?
Rev 22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
Rev 22:4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever
We shall reign with Christ forever and ever like kings and queens over whatever God has planned for us, many think all these planets and galaxies have been planned for the redeemed to rule and reign over them and over whatever God will create in them –such a glorious future, truly our future is so bright we will have to wear shades!
There have been many visions of heaven, many have been false, but great men like John Bunyan who wrote Pilgrims progress went to heaven and hell and he wrote a book called – Visions of heaven and hell. I was very much blessed through reading this account of visions of heaven:
ADULLAM children-FROM THE BOOK BEYOND THE VEIL.
The writer says:
The children and young people upon whom came this outpouring of the Holy Spirit and through whom came these visions and revelations were members of the Adullam Rescue Mission in Yunnan Province, China. For the most part, these children had been beggars in the streets of the city. In some cases they were poor children with one or both parents dead and had been brought to the Home. There were also some prodigals who had run away from their homes in more distant parts of this or adjoining provinces.
But from whatever source they came, these children, mostly boys ranging in ages from six to eighteen, had come to us without previous training in morals and without education. Begging is a sort of "gang" system in which stealing is a profitable part. The morals are what would be expected of a "gang" in a godless land.
The Bible is carefully and daily taught in the Adullam Home, and the gospel is constantly preached. These kids had the most incredible heavenly visions and can be read in the book Visions beyond the veil!
The Adullam children said they went to the third heaven. As they passed through the first heaven they felt air on their faces. Having passed the second heaven, they looked back upon the stars in their wonderful beauty, much as from a mountain height a
person might gaze down upon a beautiful, light-studded city below. From this starry heaven they passed on into the third heaven until they Came to the Heavenly Jerusalem.
As they approached this heavenly city they saw its light in the distance. Coming nearer, they saw the beautiful wall radiating its wonderful jasper light. The foundations were of indescribable beauty, sparkling with red, yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, violet,and all the other colors of the twelve most beautiful jewels.
This city in the sky the children saw as three cities in one: one city suspended above another, the largest city below, the smallest city on top, making a pyramid. Since this city John saw is surrounded by a wall, and since the city is one thousand five hundred miles high, Bible students have supposed the heavenly city is not a cube but a pyramid.
Our children, however, knew nothing of this, neither had I ever thought of the New Jerusalem as three cities, one suspended above another. God who suspends the worlds in space can suspend these cities in space. The Bible does not tell us the internal order of the city. One of our small boys spoke in prophecy when in vision at the feet of the Lord the Lord was talking to him. In this prophecy the Lord said that he had made heaven big enough for everybody, that he had made it in three cities one above another, and that at present his throne is in the upper city.
The Adullam children entered by its pearly gates into the city of golden streets. Angels in white guarded the gates and welcomed those entering in. No beggarly reception this. Here the one-time rejected off-scourings of the earth were welcomed as kings by these angelic hosts. Had not the Saviour promised the weakest and humblest of his children a kingdom where they shall reign with the King of Kings for ages and ages?
Through the gates into the city! Out of earth into heaven! Out of the mortal into the immortal! Out of death into life! All the old life behind and below! All the new life ahead and above! Inside the gates! Angels, angels everywhere. Angels talking, angels singing, angels rejoicing, angels playing harps and blowing trumpets, angels dancing and
praising the King. Such a scene no mortal ever saw; such floods of inner joy flooded the whole being as no one ever knew except when filled with the Holy Spirit, the eternal life, the heavenly life of God, "the earnest," "down payment" of heaven.
The children clapped their hands in rapture. They shouted for joy. They sometimes rolled on the floor in unrestrained laughter and jumped and danced in great delight, while their faces were so transformed by this heavenly joy that the glory of the celestial
city seemed to shine upon us. There was no sorrow in this city; no mournful, long-faced religion there; no funeral dirges in the hymns. This was a city of joy, "joy in the Holy Spirit," "joy unspeakable and full of glory."- end of quote from the Adullam book
The song sings: This world is not my home I'm just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore
The testimonies of dying saints include:
I shall soon be with Jesus; Perhaps I am too anxious . Can this be death? why its better than living; Tell them I die happy in Jesus; rest happiness and peace forever; It is sweet to die; Oh How beautiful; what shall I say? Christ is altogether lovely; His glorious angels are come for me; my mansion is all ready; now I go home to paradise; How bright is the room; how full of angels; They sing, the angels sing; is this dying no it is sweet living; I am not afraid to look death in the face; I have done with darkness forever ;I see Jesus; I will soon be gone , but do not weep for me I am going home to glory; I have no desire to recover-I would rather go home and be with Christ; Eternity rolls up before me like a sea of glory and so near; the sun is setting mine is rising. I go from this bed to a crown farewell!
Joh 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
Joh 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also
Praise God!
So, take heart weary traveller, wounded soldier or grieving heart, we shall see one another again, death is but a step into the next world. We have such a hope that all of hell legions cannot extinguish. We are all going to the City of God where only joy and love abounds, where we will be safe and have such a purpose that our finite minds cannot even conceive. We shall be with Father God, Jesus and the Precious Holy Spirit and we shall count our troubles on this earth as nothing compared to the Glory of God!
Repent, Place your trust in Jesus Christ and when everything fails around us, look up and know that we have a sure hope and we shall all be together one day in Christ.
Amen.
