Part 3: WHATS IT GONNA BE LIKE?

Eternity Part 3: (heaven) Whats it going to be like?

ETERNITY - Part 3.

Isaiah 43:8–13 NLT

8 Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. 9 Gather the nations together! Assemble the peoples of the world! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth? 10 “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. 11 I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. 12 First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord. 13 “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”

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PRAY

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Hopefully you’ve been immersing yourself in this series and its making yo THINK, CONSIDER, GLEAN FROM THE WORD… and HOPEFULLY LIVE A CERTAIN WAY AND THINK ABOUT ETERNITY AS IT RELATES TO YOU AND TO OTHERS.

We’ve been on a journey answering some VERY NORMAL QUESTIONS from the WORD of GOD:

IS HEAVEN REAL?

WHAT COULD I DO ABOUT ETERNITY NOW?

IF THERE IS HEAVEN THEN IS THERE HELL?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIE?

WHATS HAPPENED TO MY LOVED ONES WHO HAVE GONE ON?

QUICK RE-CAP1.HEAVEN IS REAL 2.WHAT CAN I DO.....

TITLE FOR THIS MESSAGE: HEAVEN : WHATS IT GONNA BE LIKE?

What can i expect?

What is in scripture that tells us.?

How can i get my mind around Heaven and HEAVEN in the scope of eternity.

couple more KEY verses before we get into it:

1 Corinthians 2:9 “9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—”

1 John 3:1-2 “1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

Man has always had an obsession with the after life. Or LIFE AFTER DEATH.

ITS AMAZING HOW WE DONT TALK MUCH ABOUT DEATH>>>> ETERNITY.

(In the Victorian age, people were obsessed with The after-life.... with death and whatever is next - but would never talk about sex. That was a strictly TABOO never to be talked about topic. almost....Now it seems like the opposite: we live in this hugely sexualized consumaing instant gratification society but no one seems obsessed with eternity).

(study: over 60% of american’s think heaven is real. almost half of Americans believe HELL is real.... but only 5% think that they will end up there. Its interesting the SKEW here. its a human thing to HOPE that everything will just WORK OUT..... right church? ....... But this is WHY we need GODS word.

LETS NOT CHERRY PICK THE BIBLE> lets BE FAITHFUL to THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD>

acts 20:27 “27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”

What do we see in scripture that shows us or tells us what Heaven will be like, what do we have to look forward to?

***** FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP AND WEIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO HEAVEN MEANS SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT HELL***

BUT BEFORE I WANNA TALK WHAT DOES HELL HAVE TO OFFER:

This is WHAT THE BIBLE DESCRIBES: The bible talks about… and JESUS talks about HELL often. We dont because its OFTEN offensive to us, its dificult for us, and it MAKES US VERY SOBER TO THINK ABOUT

BUT THIS IS THE TRUE MESSAGE FOR US TODAY ABOUT WHAT HELL IS: ITS ETERNAL.

The bible talks about HELL as a place where two things happen: There is Weeping & Nashing of Teeth.

Jud 7 “7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.”

The Biblical words for HELL are Gehenna & Sheol. Greek word HADES.

Another verse here - This is Jesus describing this place: HELL, GEHENNA, SHEOL HADES.

Matt 13:40-42 “40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

According to biblical teaching, hell is the state where those who do not have faith in Christ are consigned to suffer eternally.

Its where the bible says there is continual Weeping & Nashing of Teeth.

(THERE IS THIS MISCONCEPTION THAT HELL IS JUST THIS PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO SIN CAN JUST GET TO DO IT FOREVER<> THATS NOT WHAT THE BIBLE DESCRIBES IN FACT ITS QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

****

IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT A SEPERATION THAT EXISTS. A KNOWLEDGE THAT EXISTS, AND ETERNAL AWARENESS. AND THIS IS WHAT JESUS LIKENED IT TO:

Luke 16:19–31 (ESV)

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”

Think of it this way: its a distance that cant be traversed or travelled. It’s IMPOSSIBLE to reach.

THIS IS WHY THIS SERIES MATTERS.

ETERNITY IS BUT A BREATH AWAY: THE BEST PART IS THAT I GET TO CHOOSE WHERE I SPEND IT.

THE BEST PART IS Pt3 last week I GET TO BRING PEOPLE WITH ME.

YOU DONT GO TO HELL FOR SIN: JESUS PAID FOR YOUR SIN. THE WRATH OF GOD WAS POURED OUT ON JESUS NOT YOU ....YOU GO TO HELL BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF. HELL IS COMPLETLY AVOIDABLE.

PRAISE JESUS CHRIST.

SO NOW THATS OUT OF THE WAY......

What is HEAVEN GOING TO BE LIKE:

THERE WILL BE ANGELS IN HEAVEN. Genesis 28:12 “12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!”

THERE WILL BE PEOPLE IN HEAVEN. Luke 23:43 “43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

THERE WILL BE PARTIES IN HEAVEN. Matt 8:11

Matthew 8:11 NIV

11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

THERE WILL BE INCREDIBLE FOOD IN HEAVEN. Is 25:6

Isaiah 25:6 NLT

6 In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.

HEAVEN WILL HAVE MANYT WONDERFUL AND INCREDIBLE THINGS BUT THATS ALL REALLY ON THE PERIPHERAY BUT MOST OF ALL. HEAVEN IS WHERE THE FATHER IS> AND YOU AND I WILL GET TO MEET HIM. PERSONALLY.

1 john 3:2-3 “2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

BUT HERE ARE SOME TRUTHS ABOUT HEAVEN. WEVE TALKED ABOUT HELL. BOTH ARE REAL ETERNAL DESTINATIONS.

BUT HERE ARE SOME THINGS SOME TRUTHS SOME AMAZING THINGS THAT WE CAN CONSIDER AND THINK ABOUT AS WE SEE IT IN GODS WORD:

WHAT WILL HEAVEN BE LIKE:

1.THERE WILL BE NO MORE PAIN & SORROW.

Revelation 21:4 NLT

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Pain. Gone forever.

Death. Gone Forever.

Sorrow. No tears

No more sadness.

Sickness - gone

Disease - gone

Aches and pains - gone

Theres no ANXIETY in heaven

Theres no WORRY in HEAVEN.

Distress GONE.

Write this down: When God wipes away my tears in Heaven they never come back.

Even DARK NIGHTS WONT BE IN HEAVEN:

Rev 22:5 “5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”

There won’t even be darkness - it’s constant light. The radiance of God.

2.THERE WILL BE PERMANENT JOY & UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

If there will be any tears it’ll be tears of pure JOY. Tears of ELATION. Tears of PURE JOY.

1 John 3:1-3 “1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

"See what kind of LOVE the FATHER has Given to us, that we should be called CHILDREN OF GOD.

**i’ve noticed quite a few of the testimonies of people who have had “out of body” experiences on the surgery table and all these kind of things This is the consistent theme amongst many that ive watched. Its this: They all say that THEY SENSE and FEEL AN INTENSE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE and thats what we can expect.

ITS A PERMANENT / CONSTANT / NEVER GOING AWAY JOY.

*****(HIGHS AND LOWS OF LIFE AND JOY. Happniness comes… Sadness comes… Happiness comes back… ITS NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL IN HEAVEN.

THERE WILL A PERMANENT JOY. A CONSISTENT FOR ETERNITY JOY THAT NEVER LEAVES US.

There is overwhelming evidence to support this

Luke 15:7 “7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

IN OTHER WORDS HEAVEN IS NOT A PLACE LIKE EARTH WHERE WE SWING THE PENDULUM OF SADNESS TO JOY AND BACK AGAIN WHICH CAN SOMETIMES WBE THE CASE IN LIFE>

3.THERE WILL BE NO SIN.

(why? JESUS HAS TAKEN CARE OF THAT FOREVER).

RC Sproul said something one time that really got me.

We don’t understand what HEAVEN is truly like because we are still in our earthly bodies which begin with a sin nature. We experience sin in this life and we DONT KNOW A LIFE without SIN.

Yes we are a NEW CREATION spiritually but we WRESTLE our SOULS along on this journey towards HEAVEN

Our Pilgrimage towards heaven is one of OVERCOMING the past and Stepping into the NEW.

The Apostle Paul talked about this wrestle!

Romans 7:15-18 “15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”

HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF TOTAL FREEDOM FROM SIN AND THE BONDAGE THAT COMES WITH IT.

In HEAVEN We are free from the eternal bondage and weight of sin but sin exists still and we are immersed in a world filled with SIN. A fallen WORLD. A sinful world.

That’s NO LONGER THE CASE WHEN YOU AND I GET TO HEAVen.

The WICKEDNESS of this WORLD.... cannot exist.

The Rightoeousness of God PURIFIES any wickedness and we will LIVE in an ETERNITY that is SIN-FREE.

Just TRY TO Imagine for a moment a place where NO SIN EXISTS. That’s a GLIMPSe....of heaven.

Where there is NO TRANSGRESSING. NO INIQUITY. NO SIN.

4.THERE WILL BE A PLACE FOR YOU.

(JESUS MAKES A WAY FOR ME, AND PREPARES A PLACE FOR ME).

Theres a PLACE ON OFFER FOR YOU. scripture even declares it. Jesus even says it to you - if you’ll open youself up to it!

John 14:1-3 “1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

He doesn’t make idle preparation

He takes his work seriously.

He doesn’t let us down.

When Christ prepares a place.

We have ever reason to be confident of what awaits us IN HEAVEN.

Colossians 3:1–4 NLT

1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

SECURE YOUR PLACE NOW IF YOU HAVENT ALREADY.

DONT WAIT ANOTHER DAY, WEEK< YEAR

KNOW THAT HEAVEN AWAITS ALL WHO BELIEVE AND IN THAT PLACE IS NO MORE PAIN, PERMANENT JOY, FREEDOM FROM SIN & A PERFECT PLACE FOR YOU AND FOR ME

LETS PRAY.