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beamerjx3 -> Heaven (4/24/2008 2:24:23 PM)

I have been trying to get my mother to read her Bible and to go to church with me and due to the recent passing of my grandmother my mom has been a lot more interested in what happens when you die. Yesterday she called me and asked me "What do you do once you get to heaven?" I was at a loss and didn't have a good answer for her. I was wondering if anyone could help me out with verses that describe either what we do once we are there or even what heaven looks like. Thanks.



mvic -> RE: Heaven (4/24/2008 2:57:24 PM)

What a difficult - yet clever - question. What does Heaven look like and what do we do when we get there?

Jesus refers to Heaven frequently in the New Testament and on one occasion He says "In my Father's house there are many rooms" (John 14:2).

I suppose He said this to teach people who had no other point of reference apart from earthly houses and palaces that Heaven is like a big mansion where His followers would be welcomed. It was a description that they would understand. Whether Heaven is indeed a house, mansion, big cloud or whatever is anyone's guess - although I'm sure many people will have various interpretations from what they read in the Bible.

I prefer to believe that Heaven is a place (or a state of being) where you are close to God and where you experience and enjoy His love for mankind. It is difficult to explain it precisely, but here's something an old wise man said to me once: "Hell is the absence of God".

Now then, perhaps this helps explain what Heaven is.



ta_mosquito -> RE: Heaven (4/24/2008 3:09:20 PM)

Note that in Revelation, we aren't in heaven for eternity. The earth is destroyed by fire, and God makes a new earth. The New Jerusalem comes out of heaven to the earth.

In other words, we're not floating on clouds and playing harps for eternity. While the Bible doesn't state explicitly what we'll be doing, I suspect that we'll be tending the earth (paradise restored). Some verses talk about us reigning with Christ. I'm not sure WHO we'll be reigning over, though. [;)]



CherishedbyGod -> RE: Heaven (4/24/2008 3:49:27 PM)

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.
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.
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: 1,3,4



And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 22: 1-5


The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 11: 6-9 (New Earth)


I think I am going to be one of the rulers of the animal kingdom since I love animals so much[:D] And I already asked the Lord if I can rule and reign in a place as beautiful as Bridal Falls, Yosemite or as georgeous as Mendicino, California[:D]



CherishedbyGod -> RE: Heaven (4/24/2008 3:52:37 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ta_mosquito

I'm not sure WHO we'll be reigning over, though. [;)]


Maybe, I will be your moderator[:D][:D]



ta_mosquito -> RE: Heaven (4/24/2008 4:16:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: CherishedbyGod

quote:

ORIGINAL: ta_mosquito

I'm not sure WHO we'll be reigning over, though. [;)]


Maybe, I will be your moderator[:D][:D]


LOL! The first shall be last and the last first, right? I'll probably be on one of the lowest rungs of the Heavenly Forums. [8D]



gmc4Jesus -> RE: Heaven (4/24/2008 6:48:30 PM)

Revelation 7:9-17 says:
9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:
“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore,
“they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
16 Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

CherishedbyGod, I think this Scripture should be added to the other ones from Revelation. When we get to heaven, we are going to be so overjoyed to be free from the sin, pain and suffering of this world and in the eternal presence of God that we will do everything we can to rejoice, praise God and dwell in the eternal presence of His love.

The old hymn says,
"When all labors and trials are ore,
and I am safe on that beautiful shore,
Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,
Will though the ages be glory for me."

Heaven's beauty is far beyond what you and I could ever imagine. But outside of that, to be in the eternal presence of the God who made us, loved us while we were yet sinners, sent His Son to die for our sins and made it possible for us to have this relationship with Him will be far more wonderful than I know how to describe.

I love God and Jesus because they first loved me and initiated a process to have a deep and personal relationship with you and me. Because of that love, I want to be ever in His presence. When I leave this world, and am freed from this body, I firmly believe (based on the promises of God as revealed in Scripture) that being in His loving presence will be overwhelming in a beautiful and positive way. I'll be so happy that all I will want to do is praise the God who made it possible for me to attain this relatioinship.

I pray that everyone could know how much God loves them and desires to have a close and personal relationship with them. The key to finding that relationship is by getting to know Jesus and realizing what He did for you and how you can become His brother by adoption!

God bless you as you are getting to know Jesus.



Jhud -> RE: Heaven (4/25/2008 12:45:58 PM)

I think what I find interesting is the timelessness of heaven; many people fear, when they think of 'eternity' that it will be like our daily experience here, only forever. As a result they fear boredom, they fear inactivity, they fear uselessness. I think that is because in this world we always suffer lack; when we are young we don't have the resources or knowledge to do what we desire, when we are old we lack the energy or the time. And we are ever oppressed by the knowledge that a clock is ticking somewhere and that our own inadequacies will ultimately keep us from enjoying life to it's fullest. Even in Christ, in this world our bodies are 'ever dying', and though we have inward peace, we face the same turmoil of daily living.

But, even with all that, we occasionally get a little fleeting picture of perfection. For an hour, maybe even just a moment, when we are young and strong and rested, we feel completely loved, we feel adequate to love others completely, no debt of any sort weighs on us, we are confident and hopeful, not fearful about the future.

No blast of cold causes us to shiver, the sun is warm, not beating down on us, we lay down in the new spring grass before the bugs emerge to pester us, before thorns grow to scratch us. And we realize that if this one moment were stretched out for all eternity, then we would never grow tired of it.

That is a little picture of what it will be like.



stamper_ben -> RE: Heaven (4/25/2008 1:23:19 PM)

In answer to the Mom's question, "What do you do once you get to heaven?", I'd think that the Spirit given us won't have left us and will direct our worship for the Father and Son, and all our actions in the perfect way that will be His. There is no reason to worry about it.



CherishedbyGod -> RE: Heaven (4/25/2008 6:22:05 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: gmc4Jesus

Heaven's beauty is far beyond what you and I could ever imagine. But outside of that, to be in the eternal presence of the God who made us, loved us while we were yet sinners, sent His Son to die for our sins and made it possible for us to have this relationship with Him will be far more wonderful than I know how to describe.

I love God and Jesus because they first loved me and initiated a process to have a deep and personal relationship with you and me. Because of that love, I want to be ever in His presence. When I leave this world, and am freed from this body, I firmly believe (based on the promises of God as revealed in Scripture) that being in His loving presence will be overwhelming in a beautiful and positive way. I'll be so happy that all I will want to do is praise the God who made it possible for me to attain this relatioinship.

I pray that everyone could know how much God loves them and desires to have a close and personal relationship with them. The key to finding that relationship is by getting to know Jesus and realizing what He did for you and how you can become His brother by adoption!

God bless you as you are getting to know Jesus.


I agree. Heaven is being in the presence of God and being able to gaze into my beloved Savior's eyes[:)] One look into His eyes and all pain here will be forgotten. One gaze into His face and all sorrow flees away.

Oh, Yeshua, you are my Defender, my Hope, my Refuge, my Strength, my Love...my reason for living, my Joy!

Heaven will be one continuous worship of ~The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world~ Heaven is Jesus! He is the Light, the absolute Delight of Heaven.

Pure, love, pure light, pure holiness, absolute and eternal bliss.

Nothing, nothing, nothing to ever hurt or harm again. Nothing will ever die again

Thank you, our dear Father, for our beloved Jesus.........



LCannon -> RE: Heaven (4/25/2008 6:48:34 PM)

Worship and serve Him
Learn of Him
Grow in Him



CherishedbyGod -> RE: Heaven (4/25/2008 7:10:25 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: LCannon

Worship and serve Him
Learn of Him
Grow in Him


Yes!
Endless worship of Him, serving Him, learning of Him and growing in Him[:)]



Ready-to-fly -> RE: Heaven (4/25/2008 11:47:45 PM)

there will be no sorrow or pain. We will praise The Lord standing on the sea of glass.... There will be Perfect peace.(I saw that )

.Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2.Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3.And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4.And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
5.Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
6.And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
7.He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ( Rev 21: 1-7)

The best part of all Is that God will dwell with us and we with him!!!!!!!



Rev_22_4 -> RE: Heaven (4/26/2008 4:37:48 PM)

What happens when we die? From what I gather in the Bible, it appears to me that we do not go heaven or hell as soon as we die. When we die, righteous or wicked, our spirit(which is the breath of life) goes back to God and our bodies go back to the earth.

quote:


Job 27
3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
Genesis 3
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Ecclesiastes 12
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.


The Bible refers to death as a sleep.

quote:


John 11
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Matthew 27
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
2 Samuel 7
12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers
Acts 7
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.


When we die, we will sleep the sleep of death until Jesus returns.

quote:


Job 21
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
John 5
28 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.


Paul pretty much sums it up. Note verse 18. You might want to show your mother these things.

quote:


1 Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.




What are we going to do when we get to heaven? It is my belief that when we get to heaven, there are going to be 3 surprises. Surprise #1: You are there. Surprise #2: You may find some people there that you thought would never make it to heaven. The third and most dreaded Surprise #3: You may find that some of your loved ones, who you thought would definitely be there because they deserve to be there more than you, are not there. It is not going to seem fair. Everyone will have questions along the lines of, “Why is this person here but, my aunt isn't?” God has prepared to answer our questions over a time span of one thousand years. During the one thousand years, we will be judging the wicked. Note: We will not be sending people to hell. God will have already made that decision. We will just be confirming that God has made the right decision.

quote:


Revelation 19
2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
Revelation 20
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.




What does heaven look like? While I am not quite sure what heaven looks like, the Bible does describe the city that Jesus is preparing for us. The people who posted before me have done an excellent job retrieving those verses for you. One thing to note though: Just as gmc4Jesus, CherishedbyGod, and Ready-to-fly have all expressed, as beautiful as the New Jerusalem sounds, the best thing about it is, God Himself will be there with us! We will, one day soon, dwell in the immediate presence of God! God is the greatest thing about being there.

quote:


Genesis 15
1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
Revelation 22
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.



CherishedbyGod -> RE: Heaven (4/26/2008 4:46:25 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rev_22_4


1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
Revelation 22
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.



Those two verses are two of my favorites. I noticed your handle name[;)]



Bluethread -> RE: Heaven (4/28/2008 6:27:19 PM)

I think we will do whatever He pleases and so it is imparative we practice doing His will here on earth and even more so as we see the day approaching.



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