Requirements For Going To Heaven

Requirements for going to Heaven

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

My Desire: - Is not to never just read the Bible to get a sermon, but to read the Bible to get to the heart of God. It is my mission through any message I deliver and especially this message about Heaven to cause you to search the scriptures and find the heart of God yourself. I want to cause you to search the scriptures wherein them you think you have eternal life for these are they which testify of Him. I want you after the end of this lesson to know with surety what it takes for you to get to heaven, what heaven really is, what it is not, who enters heaven, and who doesn’t. I am determined to destroy common misconceptions about heaven and bring understanding to those that are truly yearning to get to the heart of God.

WATCH THIS: - Everyone wants to know about heaven, and everyone wants to go there. Recent polls suggest that nearly 80% of all Americans believe there is a place called heaven. This is somewhat encouraging because it states even in this skeptical age of doubters and total disregard toward anything Holy there is still something deep inside the human heart that cries out, there’s got to be more. Something more than the pain and suffering of this life. Something more than 70 or 80 years on planet earth. Something more than being born, living, dying, and then being buried in the ground. After all this mess we go through in life there must be more than just this and that’s it when this is over. Heaven is that more people are looking to understand and hoping for.

PRAYER: -

OPENING STORY: - There is a story about a rich old man who, on his death bed, negotiated with God to allow him to bring his earthly treasures with him when he came to heaven. God's reaction was that this was a most unusual request, but since this man had been exceptionally faithful, permission was granted to bring along just one suitcase of his most prized possessions. The time arrived, the man died and presented himself at the pearly gates, with suitcase in hand - both hands since he had stuffed it with as many bars of gold bullion as would fit into the suitcase. Standing at the pearly gates Peter said, "Sorry, you know the rules - you can't take it with you." But the man protested, "God said I could bring one suitcase." Peter checked, found out that this man would be an exception, as he prepared to let the man enter, he said, "OK, but I will have to examine the contents of your suitcase before you pass through the pearly gates." He took the suitcase, opened it, saw the gold bars and asked questionably, "You brought PAVEMENT?"

This story is full of misconceptions and false statements about heaven. The concept of Peter standing at the gates of heaven is an interpretation or rather a misinterpretation of Scripture. Matthew 16:19 says “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”. Some interpret this as Peter being the Saint who is physically holding the keys at the entrance of Heaven, but others interpret it to mean Peter was entrusted to bring the Gospel to the lost. Looking at this interpretation, Peter has the authority to open the gates by sharing the Gospel. Most of us have heard that heaven is a place where the streets are paved with gold, the gates are made of pearl, and the walls made of precious jewels. Those images come from Revelation 21, this picture is in all reality describing the New Jerusalem the Holy City of God.

The New Jerusalem, which is also called the Tabernacle of God, the Holy City, the City of God, the Celestial City, the City Foursquare, and Heavenly Jerusalem, is literally heaven on earth. It is referred to in the Bible in several places Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 11:10; 12:22 – 24; and 13:14, but it is most fully described in Revelation 21. The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” We need to understand the context of the scriptures in order to properly be able to know how to use them and what they are actually saying.

Understand that here in Revelation 21,(you really need to take time a read this chapter in its entirety – it is only 27 verses long), the recorded history of mankind is at its end. All the ages have come and gone; the dispensations are over. Christ has gathered His church in the Rapture 1 Thessalonians 4:15 – 17. The Tribulation has passed Revelation 6 - 18. The Battle of Armageddon has been fought and won by our Lord Jesus Christ Revelation 19:17–21. Satan has been chained for the 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth Revelation 20:1–3. A new, glorious temple has been established in Jerusalem Ezekiel 40 - 48. The final rebellion against God has been squashed, Satan has received his just punishment, and is spending eternity in the lake of fire Revelation 20:7–10. The Great White Throne Judgment has taken place, and mankind has been judged and given it’s punishment in the lake of fire for all eternity or reward with Christ for all eternity having heard the words of Matthew 25:23 “Well Done my good and faithful servant enter in the Joy of the Lord” Revelation 20:11 – 15. We arrive at Revelation 21, after the re-creation of the New Heaven and the New Earth, God reveals the New Jerusalem. John sees a glimpse of it in his vision: “The Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” Revelation 21:2. This is the city that Abraham looked for in faith Hebrews 11:10 “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”. It is the place where God will dwell with His people forever Revelation 21:3