| The fulfillment
of God's plan will occur after this universe ceases to be. It is
to be replaced by a new system which God calls "the new
heavens and the new earth". It promises to be a wonderful
place.
We are here only
a short time. Even a lifetime of 100 years is not long when
compared to eternity. The Bible describes the brevity of life as
"a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes
away" (James 4:14). The question follows: "What will
eternity be like for me?".
TEMPORARY
OR ETERNAL?
The Bible teaches
that some things are temporary. They exist for a time and then
cease to be. Other things are eternal and will always be. But
many people give the things which are destined to pass away
first priority. They trade what would have given them eternal
joy for that which lasts for a moment. What a foolish and
fateful decision!
(2 Corinthians
4:16-18) For which cause we faint not; but though our outward
man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look
not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are
not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the
things which are not seen are eternal.
For example,
there are two kinds of wealth. Material wealth lasts for only a
time; "You cannot take it with you." Then there are
spiritual treasures which will never fade away but only grow
more precious, even after this world has ceased to be!
(Matthew
6:19-21) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and
steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there
will your heart be also.
(1 Timothy
6:17-19) Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be
not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living
God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do
good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute,
willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a
good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold
on eternal life.
Also there is
the universe in which we live. It is an amazing place with its
countless galaxies. But it is temporary. On the other hand there
is a new heavens and earth to come, an unending spiritual realm
which will far outshine this present system.
(Hebrews 13:14)
For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
(1 Peter 1:4) To
an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not
away, reserved in heaven for you,
(2 Peter 3:12)
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,
wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat?
(Revelation
21:1) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first
heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no
more sea.
We see the
marvelous works of humanity. There are works of art, machines
and buildings. But none of these last forever. Then there are
God's eternal works, such as the eternal city and His eternal
Word.
(2 Peter 3:10)
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in
the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and
the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and
the works that are therein shall be burned up.
(1 Peter 1:23)
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible,
by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
(Hebrews 11:20)
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
We see people
anxious to reverse or at least slow down the aging process as
time takes its toll on their bodies. We also read about
spiritual bodies which God will prepare for us in eternity.
These will never wear out or die.
(2 Corinthians
5:1) For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle
were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens.
(1 Corinthians
15:50-53) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit
incorruption. 51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all
sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall
be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put on immortality.
THE
HUMAN SPIRIT
The human creature
has both a physical and a spiritual side. The body is only the
temporary abode of the soul, or spirit. The words
"soul" and "spirit" each have several
different uses in the Bible and it must be determined from the
context as to their meaning. We shall consider examples where
these words are used to refer to that very real part of each one
of us that will never cease to exist.
God created man
as a dual being of body and spirit.
(Genesis 2:7)
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a
living soul.
(Zechariah 12:1)
The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD,
which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of
the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
(1 Corinthians
6:20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in
your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
The spiritual
part of man survives death and continues to have consciousness
and identity.
(Matthew 22:32)
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
(Luke 16:19-31)
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and
fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a
certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full
of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell
from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his
sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was
carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also
died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being
in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his
bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on
me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in
water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime
receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things:
but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside
all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so
that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can
they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I
pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my
father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify
unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let
them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one
went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said
unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will
they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
(Luke 23:43) And
Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou
be with me in paradise.
(Philippians
1:20-24) According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that
in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as
always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body,
whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is
Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this
is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and
to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide
in the flesh is more needful for you.
The place where
our spirits go to await the resurrection is referred to as
"sheol" or "hades"
(Psalms 16:10)
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou
suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
(Luke 16:23) And
in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth
Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
At the
resurrection the spirit will be reunited with a spiritual body
which will never die.
(1 Corinthians
15:42-44) So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in
corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in
dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is
raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a
spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a
spiritual body.
JUDGMENT
Following the
resurrection there will be a final judgment of all. This
judgment is not for the purpose of determining guilt or
innocence; this will have already been determined. Rather, it is
for the pronouncing of reward or punishment. It is final; there
is no higher court to which to appeal.
(Hebrews 9:27)
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:
Each will be
judged by the Word of Christ
(John 12:48) He
that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that
judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge
him in the last day.
It will be just
. . .
(Romans 2:5-8)
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto
thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the
righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man
according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in
well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal
life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the
truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
. . . and
according to one's life's deeds
(2 Corinthians
5:10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
that every one may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Tragically, many
will be unprepared.
(Hebrews 10:27)
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
By God's grace
some will be ready for judgment and eternity to follow
(1 John 4:17)
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in
the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
HEAVEN
With
newly-fashioned, incorruptible bodies like Jesus' own glorified
body, the redeemed of the ages will enter into heaven.
(1 John 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.
Christians live
in anticipation of Heaven, where they are enrolled as citizens
(Philippians
3:20) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we
look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Heaven is
described as an eternal place where the saved dwell with Christ
and the Father
(Matthew 25:46)
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the
righteous into life eternal.
(John 14:1-3)
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also
in me. 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. 3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
(Revelation
21:3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold,
the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with
them, and be their God.
It is a place of
rest, which does not mean that there will be little activity,
but that the activity will be refreshing and enjoyable, not
burdensome and tiresome
(Hebrews 4:1)
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering
into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
It is the
inheritance of the faithful and the home of the victorious
(1 Peter 1:3-5)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a
lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth
not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the
power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed
in the last time.
(Revelation
21:7) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be
his God, and he shall be my son.
There is no
death or sorrow there, but rather it is filled with light and
glory
(Revelation
21:4) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and
there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are
passed away.
(Revelation
21:23-25) And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the
moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and
the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which
are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the
earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates
of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no
night there.
In its midst
stands the tree of life.
(Revelation
22:14) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may
have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the
gates into the city.
Small wonder
that it is called a "better" place
(Hebrews 11:10)
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder
and maker is God.
(Hebrews 11:16)
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath
prepared for them a city.
HELL
All will be raised
(John 5:28-29)
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all
that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come
forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;
and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation.
Those who have
rejected God's grace and light have chosen eternal darkness for
themselves. They will reap what they have sown
(Galatians
6:7-8) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his
flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to
the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Jesus tells us
that hell is everlasting.
(Matthew 25:46)
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the
righteous into life eternal.
It is a dark
place far from God and all that is good.
(Matthew 25:30)
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(2 Thessalonians
1:7-9) And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord
Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In
flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall
be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of
the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Jesus described
it as a place of fire and plainly warned of sorrow there.
(Matthew 13:42)
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
(Matthew 25:30)
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(Romans 2:8-9)
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth,
but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation
and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew
first, and also of the Gentile;
It is a place of
hopelessness where there is no rest
(Ephesians 2:12)
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of
promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
(Revelation
14:11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and
ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast
and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
(Revelation
20:10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake
of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet
are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
It is described
as the second death.
(Revelation
20:14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This
is the second death.
We do not enjoy
thinking of such a place, but that does not change the facts. We
do rejoice that Jesus was willing to save us from this by His
own suffering. Hell can be avoided by loving and trusting in
Jesus!
CONCLUSION
It is by God's
grace that there is hope. He has already done more for us than
we could ever hope to deserve. Each one of us are in the
position of choosing for ourselves heaven over hell; life over
death and victory over defeat. God will abide by our choice. The
faithful Christian has made heaven his choice by his obedient
trust in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and on that basis lives in
hope
(Colossians 1:5)
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye
heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
(Colossians
1:23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be
not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard,
and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven;
whereof I Paul am made a minister;
LESSON #6 is
entitled "WHAT MUST WE DO?". We will examine what it
really means to be "born again" and how this new birth
is absolutely necessary. We will learn what it means to
"call upon the name of the Lord" to be saved.
CAN
YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
Using this
lesson and your Bible, please look up the passages cited, then
answer the following questions.
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Last revised:
February 22, 2007 . |
