Heaven Forum

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Heaven Forum

• A Night Of QA

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(No Transcript)
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What is the Millennium?

• Revelation 20 refers to the 1000 years of reign
• The devil is bound (2)
• The nations are no longer deceived (3)
• The saints come to life and reign with Christ for
  a thousand years (4)
• The rest of the dead dont come to life until
  after the thousand years are ended (5)
• The saints will be priests and kings (6)
• Satan will be loosed at the end and will prompt
  final human rebellion (7-8)

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Will the new earth be like Eden?

• History wont start over, it will continue.
• The Fall of man divided history, but it did not
  end it.
• The resurrection of the new earth will divide
  earths history, but wont end it.
• Culture will not regress. Technology will not
  regress.
• Earth will no longer be hampered by the curse of
  sin.

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Will the earths places be resurrected to the new
earth?

• The new earth will be just as much the new earth
  as the new us will still be us.
• Expect the sky to be blue. Expect to see trees,
  grass, buildings, water, and all that is
  beautiful.
• God might choose to refashion many of the wonders
  of the world because it was his idea in the first
  place.
• Our world is a shadow of something that once was,
  and yet will be.
• The new earth will be a place of healing as in
  Revelation 222
• God is no more done with earth than hes done
  with us.

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What is the New Jerusalem?

• Heaven is described as both a country (Luke
  1912 Hebrews 1114-16) and a city (Hebrews
  1222 1314 Revelation 212)
• Its description points to a literal geographical
  location architecture, walls, streets, rivers,
  gates, and foundations.
• It is subject to one government and one King.
• Expect inhabitants, visitors, bustling activity,
  cultural events, gatherings, music, the arts,
  education, athletics, and breath taking sights.

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What are the citys dimensions?

• In Revelation 2115-16, an angel measures the
  city in mans measurement.
• It is reported to be 12,000 stadia, the
  equivalent of 1,400 miles in length, width, and
  height.
• Could have towers going 1,400 miles into the air.
• The ground level of heaven would be over two
  million square miles.
• If each level of heaven were a generous 12 feet
  tall, the city would have over 600,000 stories.
• God will live in the city and His presence will
  be the greatest feature.

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Base Dimensions of The Heavenly Jerusalem
1,400 miles
1,400 miles
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What is the significance of the citys gates?

• There are 12 gates with 12 angels.
• Each gate will be made of solid pearl
• The pearl may represent Christs suffering on our
  behalf much like a pearl is formed out of an
  oysters pain.
• On the gates are written the names of the twelve
  tribes of Israel.
• The gates will never be shut (Revelation 2125)
  There are no enemies.
• There will be no toll, or admission ticket.
• People will not have to prove their worth and
  will have access to parks, concerts, and
  everything the city has to offer.

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What will the city be made of?

• Revelation 2111
• The city will be built on 12 foundations made of
  gems.
• Streets are made of pure gold, almost
  transparent.
• Jasper is mentioned as being a chief
• The Chief Architect will be God.

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What is the River Of Life?

• It flows from the Throne of God, occupied by the
  Lamb of God.
• It flows through the middle of the city.
• Water is still an essential part of life, so the
  original readers were probably very relieved to
  hear that finding water will never be an issue.
• The fact that water is flowing down suggests the
  thrones higher elevation.

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What is the Tree of Life?

• On each side of the River stood the Tree of Life.
• This is the same tree that is mentioned iin
  Genesis 2. (three times in Genesis and four
  times in Revelation)
• The Tree of Life is currently in Paradise, the
  intermediate heaven (Rev. 27)
• When the New Jerusalem is brought down out of the
  present Heaven, the Tree will be stationed right
  beside the Tree of Life.
• It seems that we will be able to eat from the
  same Tree that sustained Adam and Eve in Eden.
• Ezekiel 4712- Prophecy speaks of trees that have
  fruit that will serve for food and their leaves
  for healing.
• Nations will NOT be eliminated, but healed.

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Will there be Space in Heaven?

• Scripture is pretty clear about occupying space.
  God made it. It was a good idea.
• God made space. We are physical beings who live
  in a physical universe and we will be physical
  beings after the resurrection.
• Some theologians have stated that we will be
  Omnipresent. That is an attribute of the
  Creator, not the created. That would be inhuman.
• Although there may be an aspect we will have
  like the angels in speed of travel and in our
  molecules passing through solid objects like the
  risen Jesus, we are not certain.
• Resurrection doesnt eliminate space, it redeems
  it.
• God is the one who inhabits eternity. Creatures
  inhabit time. Jesus, the God-man, is the only
  one that inhabits both. By being with Him on the
  New Earth, we will share space and time with God.

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Will there be time in Heaven?

• The King James version of Revelation 106 is
  states there should be time no longer. A better
  translation would read There will be no more
  delay.
• The phrase and Time shall be no more we think
  comes from the Bible. Actually it is a phrase of
  a well known gospel song When the Roll is Called
  Up Yonder.
• Amazing Grace better grasps time when it states
  When weve been there ten thousand years.

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Time (continued)

• Heaven now tracks events happening on earth (Luke
  157)
• Martyrs in heaven are told wait a little
  longer. (Revelation 610-11)
• Paul speaks of the coming ages (Eph. 27)
• The Tree of Life on the New Earth speaks of
  yielding fruit every month. (Rev. 222)
• Summer and Winter, day and night will never cease
  (Genesis 822)
• Theres music in Heaven (which needs meter,
  tempo, and rests)
• Kronos (quanity of time) and Kairos (quality of
  time) will both be present in Heaven, without the
  storms of life in between.
• There is a time in heaven that is very clear when
  the Creatures and Elders pause for a half an
  hour

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Will there be male and female in heaven?

• Androgynous conditions are not spoken of in
  heaven.
• Some people site Galations 328. However, Paul
  is referring to something that is already true on
  earth the equality of men and women in Christ.
• We dont lose our gender at conversion
• Jesus was not genderless after his resurrection.

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Will there be children in heaven?

• We know that Scripture speaks of a little child
  leading animals around and sleeping near the
  mouth of lions.
• Perhaps children who did not grow up on earth
  will grow to a certain time and then be adult
  looking for the rest of eternity.
• Perhaps some people who never got to parent on
  earth will get the chance in heaven.

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Will we eat meat?

• It appears that people didnt eat meat till after
  the Flood when God says Everything that lives
  and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave
  you green plants, I now give you everything.
  (Genesis 93)
• Romans 821 suggests that once the curse is
  lifted, animals will no longer die. This
  suggests becoming vegetarians.
• However, Isaiah 256 says that God will prepare a
  banquet of aged wine and the best of meats.
  This may refer to the Millennium.
• During the Millennium (Ezek. 479-10) fishermen
  will spread their nets and catch fish.
• Since there will be no more death and suffering,
  there may be something that God creates as meat
  that does not require the death of an animal. He
  made manna in the Old Testament that was dropped
  from the sky.

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Will We Drink Coffee in Heaven?

• I sure hope so.
• God made the coffee plant.
• Coffee grows on the earth.
• God deemed coffee trees to be good
• I Timothy 617 says that God provides richly for
  our enjoyment.
• However, addictions will be a thing of the past.

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Will we desire anyone besides Christ?

• He IS sufficient to meet all our needs.
• However, God designed us for relationships.
• God states in Genesis It is NOT good for man to
  be alone.
• God planned originally, before the Fall of man,
  human companionship.
• David seeks one thing- to be in Gods magnificent
  place and to be with Gods magnificent Person.
• While Christ is our primary Treasure, he still
  encourages us to store up treasures in heaven.
• Love God and love people are eternal truths.
• Paul longed for reunion in heaven. It is ok to
  look forward to seeing loved ones again.

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Will there be marriage in heaven?

• Matthew 2228- The Sadducees didnt believe in
  the resurrection of the dead.
• They asked him Now then, at the resurrection,
  whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of
  them were married to her?
• Christ replies At the resurrection people will
  neither marry nor be given in marriage they will
  be like the angels in heaven (vs. 30)
• Christ does not teach that there will not be
  marriage in heaven there will be. There will be
  one marriage between Christ and His Bride.
• Earthly marriage is a copy, a shadow of the true
  and ultimate marriage. The purpose of marriage
  on earth is not to replace Heaven, but to prepare
  us for it.
• God usually doesnt replace his original creation
  unless he replaces it with something better.
• The goal of heaven will be deep and growing
  relationships that are intimate and not marred by
  sin.

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Will There be sex in heaven?

• Sex was created by God. Sexual relations existed
  before the Fall.
• However, weve seen that people in heaven
  wouldnt be married to each other.
• This is the only exception that Christ speaks of
  as it relates to the principle of continuity.
• Sex prefigures what it means to be lost in the
  intimacy of Christ.
• We will have sex organs.
• Our romance with Christ will never disappoint.

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Will we be reunited with infants who have died?

• Yes.
• However children are born into sin.
• The Bible makes no mention of the idea of age of
  accountability
• John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit
  before birth.
• The Bible has always paid special attention to
  becoming like a child and not leading a child
  astray.
• Confession and repentance are needed for
  salvation.
• God may well have a just way to cover children
  with Christs blood so they go to Heaven when
  they die.
• This should not take us from a sense of urgency
  to see our children come to faith in Christ.

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Will We Work in Heaven?

• Its a definite possibility! However our work
  will be engaging.
• God gave us minds and marvelously constructed
  bodies. Well be whole people that are full of
  energy, passion, and vision.
• God worked when he created. Jesus is working now
  to prepare a place for us in heaven.
• We will not toil. We will not grow weary.
• We will probably rest. God gives us the example
  of resting on the seventh day. This was not
  because he was tired. This is an example of how
  he intends us to live.

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Sports? Arts? Drama?

• Imagine thrills without risk.
• Imagine creating without sin clogging your
  creativity.
• Imagine drawing people even closer to God through
  poetry, sculpture, writing, and architecture.