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| Without faith, proving that a place such as Heaven exists would
be difficult -- if not impossible! It is faith that is the substance
of the things we are assured of. The atheist would have people believe
Heaven is a fantasy of Christianity. But our faith, as established by
his Holy Word, declares otherwise. To the Christian, Heaven is a place
as real and tangible as any earthly city. In fact, Jesus himself said
it was a place: "In my father's house are many mansions: if it
were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a _________ for
you. And if I go and prepare a __________ for you, I will come again,
and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also." John 14:2
Heaven is an important place to us for a variety of reasons. It embodies all our hopes and dreams as Christians. Its reality offers peace to those who are dying or who have lost loved ones. It is the dwelling place of God and his angels, and the temporary resting place of the saint's soul at death. Often Christendom (Christianity as a whole) confuses Heaven with the 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ on earth, or with the new heaven and the new earth. In this lesson, you will learn the difference and find out more about Heaven as the Bible teaches. Monday Looking for a City When we are born again, we become citizens of another country, the country of our birth, Heaven. For this reason, we can only consider earth as a temporary abode. Paul described this in Hebrews 13:14 when he said: "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come." Peter reinforces this statement in 1 Peter 1:17 when he says, "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:" Jesus makes it clear that we are not of this world. He states in John 15:19: "If you were of the world ..." and again in John 17:14, "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world," But we are not the only ones who have looked for a city. Abraham also confessed that he was not of this world but sojourned here, looking for a city whose builder and maker was God himself. Hebrews 11:9-10 By faith he ____________ in the land of promise, as in a ______________ country, dwelling in _______________ with Isaac and Jacob, the _________ with him of the same ______________: For he looked for a _________ which hath ____________, whose _______________ and maker is God. 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as ________ and ___________, abstain from ___________ lusts, which war against the ___________; Questions:
What is Heaven Like? Heaven is not a state of mind, but an actual place of unknown location. Paul was called up to the third heaven. John was told to "Come up hither..." Its description is found throughout the book of Revelation and other prophetic books such as Ezekiel. While the details are not written down as such, men were allowed to see different scenes as they were to unfold in the future and thus could see what activities were going on in Heaven. This gave them a firsthand view and a knowledge of what heaven was like. For example, in Revelation, we see through John's eyes the throne of God, and around the throne were seated 24 elders. Before this throne was a sea of glass, like crystal. Around the throne were four beasts (living creatures). There was an altar, and the souls that had been martyred under the altar, as well as angels with trumpets and vials ready to do God's bidding. While these scenes were not specifically to inform the reader of what Heaven looked like, it did that very thing. 2 Corinthians 12:2-3 I knew a man in _____________ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one _________ up to the third _____________. Revelation 14:17-18 And another __________ came out of the _________ which is in ___________, he also having a sharp sickle. And another _________ came out from the _________, which had power over fire;... Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore _______ ye: Our ________ which art in _________, Hallowed be thy __________. questions:
The Kingdom of Heaven More often than not, when we hear or speak of Heaven, we visualize a complete picture of Heaven. That is, we may speak of the place where God's throne is now located in the same sentence that we talk of the reign of Christ on this earth. Any place where God dwells might be termed "Heaven," but Heaven as it is now is "up." In this place, God is seated on his throne, his angels come and go, doing his bidding, and the souls of all the dead saints await the resurrection when they will get new bodies. In the parables of our Lord, Matthew describes with some exactness the Kingdom of Heaven. However, here he describes the Kingdom of Heaven that includes things now present on this earth, things yet to be on this earth, and thing that will take place on the new earth. So, when reading the parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, remember that it is not just the place Heaven that Jesus was referring to, but the whole realm of his Kingdom domain -- which included things past, present and future. Matthew 13:33 The ______________ of heaven is like unto _____________, which a ______________ took, and hid in three measures of __________, till the whole was _________________. Romans 14:17 For the _________ of God is not __________ and _________; but _________, and ________, and ________ in the Holy Ghost. Matthew 6:33 But _________ ye first the _______ of God, and his ____________; and all these things ___________ be added unto you. Questions:
Heaven -- Not the Final Resting Place It has been said that "Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people." As fantastic as it may seem, there is a place worse than Hell (which we will deal with in the next lesson), and there is a place better than Heaven! Any person who knows Christ as personal Savior will, upon death, go immediately to Heaven. He will remain there until the resurrection, after which he will return with Christ to this earth and set up his kingdom. These saved persons will live upon this earth that we have inhabited since Adam for 1,000 years with Christ. At the end of this 1,000 years, God will create a new heaven and a new earth. The new heaven and the new earth will be void of ALL sin and unrightousness. Former thing will no longer be remembered, and all tears will be wiped away. While Heaven will be wonderful and reigning with Christ will be magnificent, to be on this new earth with Christ will be the crowning event of all ages! Revelation 21:1-5 I saw a new _________ and a new ________: for the first _______ and the first _________ were __________ away; and there was no more __________. And I John saw the __________ city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of ___________, prepared as a _______________ adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of ___________ saying, Behold, the __________ of God is __________ men, and he will ________ with them, and they shall be his people, and God __________ shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all _________ from their eyes; and there shall be no more ___________, neither ____________, nor _________, neither shall there be any more __________: for the ___________ things are passed _________. And he that sat upon the __________ said, Behold, I make all things ________. 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are ____________, I say, and _____________ rather to be _________ from the __________, and to be __________ with the Lord. Questions:
The Millennium and New Earth The millennial reign of Christ has been referred to as "heaven on earth." However, as wonderful as this time will be, it will not be heaven on earth. Sin will still be present, although Christ will deal with it with "a rod of iron" from his position in Jerusalem. The beginning of the 1,000 year reign of Christ will see Christ ruling and reigning from the city of David -- Jerusalem. There will be some who have come through the Tribulation in their natural bodies and they will enter into the millennium with those bodies. We that have been raptured and already taken out will have returned from Heaven in our new glorified bodies, bodies like Christ's. Because some men and women will not have a glorified body, sin will still be a problem and will need to be dealt with. Christ and those who have overcome will reign and rule this earth. "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father." Revelation 2:26-27 New Earth, Revelation 22 At the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ on Earth, God will create a new earth. The New Jerusalem will descend from Heaven, and God's throne and that of the Lamb will be in the center of this new city. For the first time, man will see the face of God (Rev 22:4) for God will live with us! From his throne will emanate a light (his glory) that will light the complete city. In fact, the light will be so complete that we will have no need for the sun nor for candles. He will lighten every nook and niche and expel all darkness. things have passed away and with them death, tears, sorrows, crying, and pain, as well as the causes and effects of these. All men will now be in their glorified bodies, and sin will have been completely removed. All unbelievers and those who have worked abominations will have been cast into the Lake of Fire. Because there is a new earth, there will be no more curse on the ground, and planting and harvest will be effortless and natural. Revelation 22:1-5 And he _________ me a pure __________ of water of life, clear as _____________, proceeding out of the _______________ of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the __________ of it, and on either side of the river, was there the ___________ of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her ___________ every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the ________ of the nations. And there shall be no more ___________: but the ________ of God and of the _________ shall be in it; and his ____________ shall serve him: And they shall see his _________; and his __________ shall be in their ___________. And there shall be no _________ there; and they need no ___________, neither light of the __________; for the Lord ___________ giveth them light: and they shall ___________ for ever and ever. questions:
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