Inthe final book ofthe NewTestament, Godreveals Hisplan (through anangel) forJohn toshare with theworld.
Through John’s writing, weget apreview ofwhat Heaven will belike forthose whoare saved.
HEAVEN
Asyou read thefollowing fourverses about Heaven, allow yourself toget excited about what itwill mean tospend eternity with God, Jesus, andall thesaints!
Itis this excitement that gives ushopeandallows usto persevereduring times ofadversity.
- “Hewilldwell among them, andthey shall beHis people, andGod Himself will beamong them, andHe willwipe away every tear from their eyes; andthere will nolonger beanydeath;there will nolonger beanymourning, orcrying, orpain;thefirst things have passed away.” -Revelation 21:4,
- “InMy Father’s house aremany dwelling places; ifit were notso, Iwould have told you; forI goto prepare aplace foryou. IfI goand prepare aplace foryou,Iwill come again andreceive youto Myself, thatwhere Iam,thereyoumay bealso.” -John 14:2,
- “Things which eyehas notseen andear hasnot heard, andwhich have notentered theheart ofman, allthat Godhas prepared forthose wholove Him.” -1Corinthians 2:9,
- “ForI consider that thesufferings ofthis present timearenot worthy tobe compared with theglory that isto berevealed tous.” –Romans 8:18.
THEGREAT TRIBULATION
TheBook ofRevelation also provides adark picture ofwhat thelast days onEarth will belike forthose whochoose notto follow Jesus andinstead follow thesinful ways ofthe world. These days arereferred toas, “TheGreat Tribulation.”
Theword tribulation isdefined as, “Astate ofgreat trouble orsuffering.” (Source:Google Dictionary)
During theGreat Tribulation, those onEarth will experiencecatastrophic events, thelikes ofwhich theEarth hasnever seen!
According toRevelation 8:5, these events will include:
- Ahuge fireball hurled tothe Earth,
- Thunder,
- Lightning,
- Earthquakes.
TheBible tells usthat there will beseven angels standing before Godwho will sound their trumpets oneat atime.Aseach onesounds off, those onearth will besubjected totremendous suffering!
There will bea prolonged battle between good andevil where good prevails.
InRevelation Chapter 21, weread thefollowing words ofencouragementabout what life will belike after TheGreat Tribulation when Jesus returns:
- "Then Isaw anew Heaven anda newEarth; forthe first Heaven andthe first Earth passed away, andthere isno longeranysea.AndI sawthe holy city,newJerusalem,coming down outof Heavenfrom God,made ready asa bride adorned forher husband. AndI heard aloud voice from thethrone, saying, “Behold,thetabernacle ofGod isamong men, andHe willdwell among them, andthey shall beHis people, andGod Himself will beamong them, andHe willwipe away every tear from their eyes; andthere will nolonger beany death;there will nolonger beany mourning, orcrying, orpain;thefirst things have passed away.”–Revelation 21:1-4.
CONCLUSION
TheBook ofRevelationhighlights thedramatic differences between Heaven andHell.
Those whoare saved will bewith Godand Jesus forever inparadise!
Those whoare condemnedwill experience thehorrors ofHell forall eternity!
This needs tobe awake-upcall forall ofus tomake sure that weare right with Godbefore itis toolate! Inorder todo this, each ofus must evaluate ourselves against thesefive matters ofsalvationoutlined inthe Bible:
- BelieveinJesus.“Believe inthe Lord Jesus, andyou will besaved.” –Acts 16:31,
- Confess ourbelief inHim.“Forwith theheart aperson believes, resulting inrighteousness, andwith themouth heconfesses,resulting insalvation.” –Romans 10:10,
- Repent (turn away from) ofour sins.“Unless yourepent, youwill alllikewise perish.” –Luke 13:3,
- Bebaptized.“Baptismnowsaves you—notthe removal ofdirt from theflesh, butan appeal toGod fora good conscience—throughtheresurrection ofJesus Christ .” –1Peter 3:21and“Whoever believes andis baptized will besaved, butwhoever does notbelieve will becondemned.” –Mark 16:16,
- Obey God’s commandments.“Noteveryone whosays toMe, ‘Lord, Lord,’will enter thekingdom ofHeaven, buthe whodoes thewill ofMy Father whois inHeaven will enter.” –Mathew 7:21.
Ifwe dothese five things, wewill besaved.
Wewill endtoday’s study with thefollowing quote from theApostle Paul. These arethe same days that wehope tobe able tosay when ourtime onEarth isdone:
- “Ihave fought thegood fight, Ihave finishedthecourse, Ihave keptthefaith;inthe future thereislaid upfor methe crown ofrighteousness, which theLord, therighteous Judge, will award tome onthat day; andnot only tome, butalso toall whohave loved Hisappearing.” – 2Timothy 4:7-8.
