I have pondered recently why is it that we are more comfortable talking about hell than heaven? Why is it that we tend to omit the heavenly paradise in favor of hellish purgatory? Is there a reason Dante's Inferno, his journey into hell sells more than Dante's Paradiso, his journey into heaven? What is it about human soul that enjoys watching torment, and punishment more than transformation and perfection? The answer is found in Genesis, Chapter Three, the Fall of Mankind. Our ancestors Adam and Eve lived in a part of heaven and earth called Eden. There every need, comfort, and desire was met. In that place there was no death, no hunger, no tears, no fear, and love abounding, until the Serpent known as Satan and devil deceived the first couple into taking a couple of bites out of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This started a downward turn, in which we gained death, sin, violence, insecurity, and paradise lost. God had to evict our ancestors from Eden, because now they knew good and evil. It is this knowing of good and evil, and trying to decide justice that makes us mad and kills us with anxiety.
Man enjoys playing God. There is thrill in sentencing wicked people to everlasting judgement in fires of hell, hence why Dante's Inferno is a exciting adventure for many students studying literature. This attitude only changes if empathy is employed, and the person who enjoys reveling in enternal sufferings of the characters in Dante's masterpiece, is asked to consider, "what if it where you being sentenced to this torments?" Suddenly, the student becomes mercy personified and acquittes himself of very guilt he wants to see punishment for in another. Thus heaven often only comes up when people become self focused, when they become concerned for their enteral state and if they on an off chance could be sentenced to the Inferno. Thus heaven and hell become like two rods, the former we hold to protect us, the latter to smite every person who has done us wrong with.
Heaven gets second billing only because man enjoys other people's suffering more than preventing his own suffering. Like the mob in Coliseum crying for death in Gladiator match, or modern people going to violent movies, even horror movies to revel in slaughter of perceived wicked people. We enjoy standing in judgement over each other, hence why gossip is consider a sin that bares the way into heaven, because its purpose to judge another person. The top entertainment companies know that a series will only be successful if it contains violence, sex, and judgement. People want an outlet for their grievances, and pain, so they turn to the least risky place to vent those feelings.
The Pearly Gates has in recent years developed a bad reputation, thanks once again to Hollywood's interpretation. People picture scenes of people dressed in Puritan white clothing's, no individuality, having to go before councils of angels, strumming harps for eternity in a white schizophrenic setting, or other scenes of interment in fancy clothes. Dolly Parton and many other celebrities have helped promote this misunderstanding of heaven, and it has made many who are not Scripturally literate think heaven is another form of hell. The truth is radically different and I believe the assault on heaven is a goal to make people want hell, which trust me is no poker game with Hitler, and other infamous people.
Firstly, heaven is a confusing word. There is Heaven, a eternal place that contains God's throne room, which the Temple in Jerusalem was modeled after, and there is the heavens, which simply are stratosphere, terrsphere, and layers of our ozone. The latter understanding of heaven as part of earth is more recent, and this causes confusion when trying to understand the realm of Heaven where the Trinity resides and all redeemed believers live until the New Heaven and New Earth are made (Revelation 21:1-4). Heaven is an eternal place, a Kingdom of God in a realm we cannot see except in visions, dreams, third heaven experiences, and when we die. Heaven is a paradise, there God Himself is enthroned, "When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand," (Mark 16:19), and "At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne." (Revelation 4:2-3). Interesting, heaven isn't all white or gold, but God has many colors surrounding Him. In Heaven there are people and angels, "Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads," (Revelation 4:4), and "The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle." (Revelation 4:7). This particular angel is called a Cherubim, and their duty is to stand guard around God's throne.
According to Prophet Isaiah, the animals shall also be in paradise with man,
"Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot [Jesus Christ]—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 He will delight in obeying the Lord. [John 5:19]
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
4 He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word, [For He is Word John 1:1-15]
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. [2 Thessalonians 2:8, Revelation 19:11-16, Zachariah 14].
5 He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment.
6 In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; [Eden Restored, Paradise Regained]
the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.
7 The cow will graze near the bear.
The cub and the calf will lie down together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
8 The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
9 Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, [Revelation 21:4]
for as the waters fill the sea,
so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.
the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.
7 The cow will graze near the bear.
The cub and the calf will lie down together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
8 The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
9 Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, [Revelation 21:4]
for as the waters fill the sea,
so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.
10 In that day the heir to David’s throne
will be a banner of salvation to all the world. [Jesus on the Cross, Jesus is Way of Salvation]
The nations will rally to him,
and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time
to bring back the remnant of his people—
those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt;
in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam;
in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands [Western Civ, Europe and America].
12 He will raise a flag among the nations
and assemble the exiles of Israel.
He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 11:1-12).
will be a banner of salvation to all the world. [Jesus on the Cross, Jesus is Way of Salvation]
The nations will rally to him,
and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time
to bring back the remnant of his people—
those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt;
in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam;
in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands [Western Civ, Europe and America].
12 He will raise a flag among the nations
and assemble the exiles of Israel.
He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 11:1-12).
In Heaven Jesus promises us mansions, not empty white endless spaces with golden air, "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." (John 14:2). In heaven there is a city, "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." (Hebrews 11:16). As aforementioned movies and television shows like "The Golden Girls" have made people believe heaven is all clouds and one golden gate, but the Scriptures that contain God's own words on matter say it has a city, mansions, and His throne is most colorful, not dreary white. Apparently there is a stairway to heaven, "He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it," (Genesis 28:12), and that stairway and way up to heaven is Jesus, "And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (John 1:51). For Jesus is the only Way to Father (John 14:6) and remember that the Father is in Heaven ().
The Kingdom of Heaven is a realm that is both in Heaven (God's Throne) and on Earth in us, for God lives in us Christians (Colossians 1:27, 1 Corinthians 3:16) and we are His Temple. The Kingdom of Heaven is found only through Jesus Christ, confessing and believing in Him (Romans 10:9-10, John 6:40, John 3:16). By believing in Jesus as Lord God and Savior, you may enter Heaven when you die, and you shall be His temple why you live, the Kingdom of Heaven transcends both domains of Earth and Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven is causeway, a connection of Earth and Heaven, God reigning in Heaven and on Earth His footstool. We are part of that, Christ reigns through us, and that is why we must preach the good news (Gospel) of salvation in Jesus Christ and Kingdom of Heaven.
The New Heaven and New Earth is the most detailed description of paradise we find in the Holy Bible. It is important to remember, Eden was a paradise connected to Heaven and Earth, it was both Heaven and Earth, and in same manner the New Heaven and New Earth are connected. Here is full account of what we shall enjoy, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 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. And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. 12 The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.[c] 17 Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel). 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life." (Revelation 21:1-7, 1127). Here is plethora of details about the New Jerusalem that comes out of Heaven. Again, Paradise isn't going to be clouds and golden rooms of no detailed carving or design, but rather a City with rivers of water, golden roads, jewels, and other splendors. If you remember back in Hebrews 11:16, there is talk about a City in Heaven, that is mostly likely this New Jerusalem. I have seen this city myself in vision, and it has many levels and layers.
Heaven is going to be place where we are in presence of God 24/7, and the joy, ecstasy, euphoria, delight, and wonderfulness of that presence will satisfy our aching souls that so often In this life try to replace the presence of God with other pleasures. In addition, we shall have city that is vast, many mansions to live in, rivers of water to swim in, and no more pain, tears, hurt, or violence. In a glimpse of heaven, I saw levels and different parts, where even Knights of Middle Ages joust at Jesus' pleasure, and so do not think Heaven will be without celebration, activities, and things to do. On the contrary, the Scriptures tell us about one particular party, "And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God," (Revelation 19:6-9), and "Jesus responded by speaking again in parables: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding party for his son. He sent his servants to call those invited to the wedding party. But they didn’t want to come. Again he sent other servants and said to them, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look, the meal is all prepared. I’ve butchered the oxen and the fattened cattle. Now everything’s ready. Come to the wedding party!” ’But they paid no attention and went away—some to their fields, others to their businesses. The rest of them grabbed his servants, abused them, and killed them. The king was angry. He sent his soldiers to destroy those murderers and set their city on fire. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding party is prepared, but those who were invited weren’t worthy.Therefore, go to the roads on the edge of town and invite everyone you find to the wedding party.’“Then those servants went to the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding party was full of guests. Now when the king came in and saw the guests, he spotted a man who wasn’t wearing wedding clothes. He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he was speechless. Then the king said to his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet and throw him out into the farthest darkness. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.’ Many people are invited, but few people are chosen." (Matthew 22:1-14), and "Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet." (Luke 14:15-24). Parts of Christ's parable of wedding feast do cover the range of Revelation, including Winepress of God's Wrath (Revelation 19:11-16, Zachariah 14:1-18) However it is clear from the Gospel of Luke this is an actual banquet.
Heaven is going to be an exciting place! Full of God's presence, entertainment, beauty, wildlife, and so much more. It is not the dreary place Hollywood has tried to make it appear. If you want to go to Heaven, then do the following, "confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:9-10). For Jesus Christ died for your sins on the cross, sin which is wicked nature in you and the bad deeds you do that harms yourself and others, and separated man from God (Genesis 3). But Christ has made payment for all sin if you confess your sins, confess Jesus as Lord and believe in Him in your heart, and the result is this, "God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life," (John 3:16) and "For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day." (John 6:40). There is no more death if you trust, believe, and hold fast to Jesus Christ, because Jesus is Life (John 14:6), created all life (John 1:3) and so if you 'die' as we call it and go to Him, you've gone to life! (see my post, No More Death, Jan 8, 2015). If you've prayed the verses above, and now follow Jesus, we shall meet each other in Heaven, if we do not meet here first on earth! Hallelujah! Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment