What is Heaven Really Like?
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Heaven is a place, just as much a place as is Freehold, Iowa. That's the first thing you should know. I begin this sermon with two statements that I believe to be almost universally true: 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. I find that statistic encouraging because it tells me that even in this skeptical age there is something deep inside the human heart that cries out, “Jesus is waiting for me." I. Where is heaven? There are three things I can tell you in answer to this question. The most important fact is that heaven is a real place. Listen to the words of Jesus on the night before he was crucified: Quote:
The Bible also tells us that heaven is the dwelling place of God. His throne is there, the angels are there, and the Lord Jesus Christ is in heaven. Philippians 3:20 says very plainly that “our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” That’s why Jesus told the thief on the Cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Third (and I find this fact fascinating), the Bible hints that heaven is not as far away as we might think. Because heaven is a real place, we sometimes think it must be outside our present universe-which would mean that it is billions and billions of light years away. However, it’s very clear that the early Christians understood that they would pass immediately from this life into the presence of Christ in heaven. How can that be possible if heaven is beyond the farthest galaxy? Hebrews 12:22-24 tells us something amazing about what the gospel has done for us: Quote:
We’re not that far from heaven. We’re not that far from the angels. We’re not that far from our loved ones in heaven. We’re not that far from God. We’re not that far from Jesus himself. Heaven is a real place, it’s where Jesus is right now, and it’s not far away from us. II. What is heaven like? This question came from one of our junior high students. I would answer by saying that the Bible doesn’t give us a great deal of information. What we have are images and pictures of heaven and comparisons with life on earth. What is heaven like? Here are some biblical facts about heaven. It is … – God’s dwelling place (Psalm 33:13). – Where Christ is today (Acts 1:11). – Where Christians go when they die (Philippians 1:21-23). – The Father’s house (John 14:2). – A city designed and built by God (Hebrews 11:10). – A better country (Hebrews 11:16). – Paradise (Luke 23:43). 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 21-22, which offers us the most extended picture of heaven in the entire Bible. If you ask me if I believe those things are literally true, the answer is yes and no. Yes, they are literally true but no, heaven won’t be anything like we imagine. It will be much greater. Here’s a delightful legend that makes the point very well: I love the old story of the rich 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. The time arrived, the man presented himself at the pearly gates, suitcase in hand– BOTH hands, actually, since he had stuffed it with as many bars of gold bullion as would fit. St. Peter said, “Sorry, you know the rules–you can’t take it with you.” But the man protested, “God said I could … one suitcase.” St. Peter checked, found out that this one would be an exception, prepared to let the man enter, then said, “OK, but I will have to examine the contents before you pass.” He took the suitcase, opened it, saw the gold bars and asked quizzically, “You brought PAVEMENT?” [Note: This story is from the sermon “Heaven” by Dr. David Leininger, March 30, 1997] When John writes about a street paved with gold, I do not doubt his words. He simply reports what he saw in his vision. Thus his words are literally true. They are also meant to tell us that the things we value so highly in this life will be used to pave the roads in heaven. A City Built By God Heaven is a real place filled with real people. The Bible pictures it as a great city filled with all of God’s people. What would such a city look like? It would be a city with … No pollution for the skies would always be crystal clear. No crime or violence for no criminals would ever enter. No greedy politicians, no drug pushers, no child molesters. No potholes and no power outages either. It would be filled with abundant parks, rivers, rolling meadows, and flowing streams. Lining the streets would be flowers in constant bloom, fruit trees of every kind, every species of plant life growing free from pestilence and disease. The gates would be made of pearl, the walls of jasper, the streets of gold. Precious stones would lie on the ground like playthings: emeralds, rubies, diamonds galore. On every hand there would be children laughing, bright conversation, music floating from every direction. In the city that God builds, there are no tears, there is no sorrow … no regret … no remorse. Bitterness gone forever, failure left far behind, suffering redeemed and rewarded. There are no eyeglasses, no braces, no wheelchairs, no false teeth, no bald heads, no hearing aids, and no crutches. There are no more hospitals, no more nursing homes, no paramedics, no CPR. Doctors have to find a new job, they aren’t needed anymore. Aspirin gone, accidents over, cancer disappeared, heart attacks banished, AIDS a distant memory. In Heaven no one grows old and feeble. There is one other thing you won’t find in heaven. There are no cemeteries in the city God builds. Why? There are no funerals … for in that glad city no one ever dies. If you make it to that city, you live forever, never to die again. Either you believe in Heaven or you don’t. It’s either a real place or it isn’t. This is Heaven-where all our best dreams finally come true. I'll have more to say on this. I want to encourage you to post your visions of what Heaven will be like. |
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Is heaven a higher dimension than ours?
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Please make a thread of your own in the "Introductions" section of the forum, so that we can properly greet you. Tell us about yourself, your church, and how you came to find Jesus. And if you're here to flame us, better take a look at THIS before making an even bigger ass out of yourself. :rtfm: I will pray that the Holy Spirit enter you and chase the demons out of your rectum and let Jesus fill you with His Grace. If you use your God-given free will to reject Christ and His temporary death on the cross for my sins, then you are sending yourself to hellfire. :sinner: |
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Nobody really knows what Heaven looks like, but I have a strong suspicion it would look close to this.
http://s21.postimg.org/n3uly3f8n/Scr...2_30_58_AM.png |
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That is a powerful sermon, Pastor. I believe that Heaven would look a lot like Texas.
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Not more like this? |
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There are no coloreds in heaven.
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Imagine a world populated exclusively by Pastor Ezekiel's proponents. That is what Heaven is like.
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I believe there will be plenty of Blue Bell ice cream in Heaven. I doubt there are listeria scares in Heaven. Thus, there will be no recalls.
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Heaven is not open for everyone.
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Is there any other groundbreaking revelation you want to share? :sarcasm: |
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Hell is cold. Quote:
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A good clean place. Everyone straight out of central casting.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._HJ-Jungen.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...C3%BChrung.jpg |
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Praise! What a fantastic Bible study and sermon Brother Ezekiel. All True Christians will one day dwell in Paradise while all of the Unsaved Trash burn in Hell's fires for eternity. We at LBC can rest assured that we ARE going to Heaven when our time comes and there's no doubt about that. Thank you Brother Ezekiel for this hope-filled, inspirational, and glorious message.
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Last I checked the Department of Faith was still reviewing your dossier, and the reviews were mixed. So hold your horses, dear. Also, I have not seen you yet successfully use Bible verses to support your opinions. |
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I'm not sure if there's an after-life or not; part of me even feels that perhaps it might be dangerous to put too much faith in an after-life, lest I don't do my utmost with the life I already have; thinking I can make up for missed opportunities after I die.
But deep down...I think I believe in Heaven. It's too hard for my feeble human brain to comprehend "Absolute Nothingness" lol. XD I think Heaven is akin to an extremely elevated state of consciousness; much like when you dream at night. I don't think it'll necessarily be "perfect" in the traditional sense though; I believe it can be more wonderful than anything I can possibly imagine right now, but I also believe it could be a nightmare at times, because I believe Heaven is a place that's different for each person, and fluctuates and changes in accordance with the individual. I believe sometimes it may be necessary or otherwise important to feel painful emotions at times, or overcome physical obstacles standing in your way. I believe YOU control your Heaven; perhaps like a vivid, lucid dream-like state. A dream where reality is influenced by your thoughts and emotions. If you have positive thoughts and emotions in Heaven, then it'll be wonderful beyond your wildest dreams. But if you have negative thoughts and emotions in Heaven, then Heaven can become...Hell, lol... ...And I believe the same holds true in THIS life; that positive thoughts and emotions contribute to a happy, heavenly life, and that negative thoughts and emotions; Sin itself perhaps, contributes to a sad, painful life of torment.....Sin is it's own punishment. What goes around comes around as the old saying goes. Like attracts like, etc. Basic law of nature. --John |
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You seem to be a sincere seeker for the Truth™ but there's an inherent problem. :fear2: You think. :fear2: Instead of thinking, we trust the Bible™. It was written (by proxies) by God, and it is only reasonable to trust Him (Titus 1:2). We do not need to think, we just follow God's Word and it tells us many things about heaven!
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. Consider this: I did not have to think at all to gain as much knowledge about Heaven! I just accepted the Bible as it is. If you have other notions of Heaven, that is perfectly legal but, please, provide us with some a bit more tangible evidence about your musings except your "thinking". You probably know that after the Fall (Genesis 3:6) mankind has been prone to all kinds of biases. Please, tell us why your subjective "thinking" should replace God's Word. Yours in Christ, Elmer :bye: |
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What if I don't want the Christ to spend His time spoon feeding me like a piffleing baby? What if, Heaven forbid, I want to actually use my hands to feed myself food that I hunted myself and grew in my own garden, from dishes which I molded myself? What if I have serious boundary issues, and would feel quesy and uncomfortable with being spoon fed, or having somebody close enough to me to wipe my tears? Why can't I wipe my own tears away? I get freaked out when people put their hands anywhere near my face; when people touch me, my skin crawls and I just want to leave as fast as I can. In regards to "servicing" God, (that sounds dirty lol), I don't think He wants us to be slaves; I think He just wants what is best for us, and to love us as His own children. I think perhaps God's whole plan was for us to be happy and joyous, because that's what brings HIM happiness and joy; by doing what He our Father commands us to do, (I'm mostly just concerned with the 10 Commandments; I have little knowledge of all the hundreds of other little rules throughout the Old Testament), we ARE serving Him and his ultimate Plan, (for us to be happy), because the 10 Commandments are basically a guide to how to live a happy life, because when any of the commandments are broken, it always brings nothing but pain and sorrow, loneliness, torment, wrath, destruction, and and ultimate self-sabotage. Quote:
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"Visions" imply personal thoughts and opinions; which don't actually require any tangible evidence at all; no more than is tangible evidence of God required for people to believe in Him. My own personal opinion is merely based on my observations of numerous individuals who had Near Death Experiences and claimed to have seen God and Heaven and Jesus and all that jazz. Some of them seemed kinda cheesy.....but then there were some others who were really really convincing. The thing they all had in common was that it happened in the form of an extremely vivid and intense dream. Their bodies didn't actually travel to another place; it was all happening in their minds, (not to be confused with the brain; you may need to do some research on the mind/brain connection and what the difference is, I don't have time to explain it for you). Quote:
One last thing......What about my personal theory contradicts God's word about Heaven? In my own vision of what Heaven will be like, everything that John the Revelator witnessed is possible there....and so much more. It's simply the only way my human brain can even BEGIN to comprehend the notion of Heaven or Hell; the only way I can think of for any place to be as great as Heaven as described in the Bible is the same way that my brain can even begin to imagine a place as horrible as Hell: If it is all like a lucid dream; tailored for the individual. This doesn't mean that you won't also be able to find your family and friends there also. Truly ANYTHING is possible according to my personal Vision.....which again, I was encouraged to share. Kinda sorry that I did now. :( --John |
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something WITHOUT any evidence to support it. I suppose you could call me a Doubting Thomas; probably won't truly believe until I see the proverbial holes in His hands for myself. In my own mind, beliefs should always be formed lightly and cautiously and with extreme scrutiny....I've experienced firsthand what danger there can be in putting Faith into the wrong kinds of things; Faith is too powerful to not be used carefully; it's not something I can just do on a whim. Put it into the wrong thing, it can really mess you up....trust me. Quote:
--John |
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