Heaven Answers
Answers To Your Questions About Heaven
There are many pages at this site that provide answers to specific questions, some of these are:
A to Q
Answers
Answering Questions About God
This page is called “Heaven Answers.”
People want to know about heaven and thus this page addresses the typical questions asked by people. Many questions are asked differently, but people are seeking the same basic question about heaven. Many of the answers can be found throughout Heaven Coach under different titles. Actually, there is great detail about life’s purpose, God, heaven, eternity and so-on on these pages. So if you want a deep-dive into a subject you can find it at this website or a sister sight called “Catholics Question.”
Question One:
Does heaven exist and how can I know your answer is true?
Answer One:
You cannot get much more basic question about heaven than this. Heaven is very, very real and it is the place for those who succeed in life. We know this because heaven is discussed throughout the scriptures and we learn heaven is at the center of God’s purpose. You might say, well how do I know the bible is true – we will answer that also.
First: Who We Are
It will help to understand who we are before we can grasp the concept of heaven. We are God’s creation, created for a purpose. That purpose is to exist forever with God in His abode. We are created in the image of God meaning that like God we have a unique personality – there is no one quite like you. We are created with an intellect different than the animals, we can be creative. However, our intellect is minuscule compared to God. Additionally, we are eternal. The existence we recognize is physical inasmuch as our real person is locked inside our physical body and that person is spiritual. Our body is locked inside a physical universe and in a time existence. God is spiritual and is not limited like us in any way, that is, not locked in the physical or time existence.
Second: Let Us Define Heaven
Heaven has several meanings. Most frequently heaven or heavens or heavenly will be in reference to what we see from earth as we look outward towards the sky or as we say the heavens. Heaven can mean everything above the earth or as we would say, the sky, the stars, planets, galaxies – the universe.
The bible begins by telling us God (the God of the bible) created all things beginning with the heavens and the earth. It also appears that in the beginning refers to the creation of time, as before this there would be no beginning. Beginning is part of what God is doing in relation to His purpose. In the verses below heaven is described as that which is different than the earth – that which is above the earth. Heaven is the wonderment of God for humankind also having many utilitarian effects such as weather. God begins defining this physical heaven in Genesis, even the first verse of Genesis.
Genesis 1.1
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
God defines the firmament as heaven and that is the definition to this day. Specifically it is the sky and further expanses. The “firmament” (from the Latin firmamentum, meaning “sky” or “expanse”) is mentioned 17 times in the King James Version of the Bible and refers to the expanse of the heavens above the earth.
Genesis 1:8,9
8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.
9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.
God defines His creation of the physical world in terms of heaven (sky and above) by how the firmament divides the day from night, for signs and seasons and for days and years.
Genesis 1:14,15,17,20
14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;
15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.
17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth,
20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.”
God summarizes this in Genesis 2.4 and so we have this clear definition of heaven, heavens different than the eternal resting place.
Genesis 2.4
4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens
Also, heaven is referred to as the place of God, the final good and desired abode for a human life lived acceptable to God. Another word that describes this sense of heaven is two words, eternal life.
Mark 10.17
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
This is consistently the answer to a life “well lived.” It is God’s reward, it is what God wants for each person. Here are some examples:
In these verses below, God indicates we should lay up treasures in heaven and not on earth. Of course, God is NOT referring to laying up treasures in the sky or some physical place in the universe. God is differentiating between worldly treasures, which are not lasting and those which are eternal.
Matthew 6.19-21
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This verse does not use the word heaven,but talks about a more perfect tabernacle or home that is not of this creation. God’s dwelling place has always existed and one day because of Christ, it could be your heavenly sanctuary. As the verse above indicates, where are you laying up your treasures?
Hebrews 9:11
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
The verse below also does not use the word heaven, but is extremely powerful in answering questions about heaven in just three short verses. The inward man – the real you is being renewed day by day, while your outward physical man is aging and will perish. Paul is writing to Christians, that is those who have obeyed the gospel and are living faithfully. Such a person is headed towards heaven and can endure the difficulties looking forward to an eternal weight of glory. Then God tells us that there are seen things (obvious) and unseen things (not obvious). All the seen things are temporary, whereas the unseen things are eternal. For instance, you are eternal, you are spirit and likewise heaven is unseen and eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
God’s people in this last age are those obedient to the Son of God. The Lord added them to His spiritual church and have a citizenship in heaven although they are not there yet. They eagerly wait to be there, although some will fall and never see heaven.
Philippians 3:20
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
Sometimes heaven refers to both the firmament above the earth and heaven the final resting place of those successful in life. Jesus is seen in Matthew ascending into the heaven. He was raising into the sky (heaven), but His final destination was the eternal heaven to sit at the right hand of God.
Acts 1.9
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up …
The apostles see Jesus being taken up into the clouds towards heaven, but this is not His final destination as we see in Mark 16.19.
Mark 16.19
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
Jesus came from heaven and has now returned to heaven.
John 3:13
13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
In Ephesians 4.10, we understand that Jesus ascended far above all the heavens and into a realm different than the one God created for humankind.
Ephesians 4:10
10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.
One important aspect of this ascension is the message to the apostles regarding His similar return.
Acts 1.10,11
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
This aspect of Jesus return has been considerably complicated by humankind and it is so simple. A full explanation can be found in, “End of The World.”
Third: Eternal Life
Let us see what the scriptures say about heaven, the eternal place, i.e. “eternal life.” I believe the descriptions are highly prized by people in view of the difficult earthly existence. Every person of some age understands the everyday challenges of life. There can be happiness, but there is a mix of good and bad for every person. The heavenly existence is very appealing to most all people. The references here are for heaven (or Eternal Life) and NOT the heavens or the firmament above the earth.
There is an emphasis throughout the New Testament on the end of all of God’s creation. The heaven and earth we have been discussing, the abode of humankind, that includes the universe will all be destroyed.
2 Peter 3:10-12
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
Indeed, Jesus will return in the air and everyone will know!
Philippians 2:10
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth
Paul provides additional details of Jesus’ return to the church in Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Paul further explains the seriousness of this event to the Thessalonian Christians.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power
When the end of all things physical has occurred and God’s children are headed for heaven. Those who are not in Christ are headed for the wrath of God.
Romans 1.18
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness
How can you possibly believe this unless you understand God and who you are and your intended purpose. You might observe that the world is not aligned with the scriptures and God is widely rejected, even His existence. So, despite God’s desire that none perish (are lost), most will reject God during their lifetime. In rejecting God, they reject eternal life. It is the rejecting of God’s Son that brings the wrath of God. There will be no excuses and indeed, God in His perfection will be perfectly fair in accordance with His word. You might understand why God is so strongly rejected by what has been said about God’s wrath. A proud person will not even allow God to warn them, threaten them if they reject His ways.
A person’s rejection of God will in no way alter the course of God’s plan. You or I are not God and God makes the rules and we do not like the rules. However, there are some who love the truth more than their own opinions, their own desires. These will find heaven and it will be WONDERFUL!
Heaven is now described in terms of a new existence – a new heaven and a new earth. It is not a physical world, but your eternal abode infinitely better than any existence you can imagine.
1 Cor 2:9
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Revelation 21:1
1 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.
God is always describing spiritual things in ways humanity can understand. Humans understand the earth and the heavens above the earth as their abode. There will be a new home for those who pass the test and it will be different as you will no longer be physical. Yet, it will be home, a wonderful home the prize for a life well lived. There will be a separation and God does not hide that which must be, namely failure in life and its consequences. Although, God indicates the seriousness of failure, the emphasis is on success as found in forgiven sin though obedience to the gospel, that is, obedience to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:3-4
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Despite God’s desire, each person will choose God or the world and this choice is central to the purpose of God.
Matthew 25:46
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Eternal life is difficult to achieve simply because in opposition to it is what YOU WANT, how YOU
WANT to live. Now, is what God requires of you going to win out over your immediate desires? In addition, what God wants is a living sacrifice from you in terms of things you may consider too difficult. When Jesus said to gain your life (He was speaking of eternal life), you must lose it. He explains this very clearly by saying you must live your life for Him and the gospel – thus losing the life you really want to live. Matthew 19.29 is pretty clear on how much you might need to give to inherit eternal life.
Matthew 19:29
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
The circumstances requiring one to leave family and friends may be quite varied. Of course, this is not commanded and in fact the opposite as you want to do all you can for those who you love (as well as all people) in relation to achieving heaven. Yet, the verse is as all things in scripture, that is the truth. You might do it to simply go and preach the gospel as your main focus, which is what Jesus specifically required in some cases. You might do it to move away from a situation that is in some way going to cost your soul and not help, but even hinder those you love. Nonetheless, one never wants to give-up on any soul. In some cases, time passes and since we have limited time (our lifetime) your hopes for people may never be realized. This is all very difficult to grasp unless you understand God and His purpose and fundamentally that life is ultimately NOT about this life. The scriptures throughout point to the seriousness of God in relation to making the right decisions in life and like this verse (Matthew 19.29) there are many challenges. A person should not think heaven is casually attained. For some strange reason the world believes they can walk through life, ignoring God and His directives and then be found acceptable to God. This idea is clearly not from God.
Paul in writing to Timothy was emphasizing eternal life as he did continuously in his letters. The letters were to Christians and the message was to fight to hold onto eternal life. In another place he tells Christians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Life is about the soul, about winning the battle between good and evil. Life is very specifically about you versus sin.
1 Timothy 6:12
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:19
19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Heaven will be very real when your time on earth ends. All the things you thought were important in your life will be totally unimportant. Your family, friends, possessions, honors and awards will all be gone. Your concern for those who are alive will be for their souls and not in any way about their worldly success. Did you spiritually hinder those who you loved? In the story of rich man and Lazarus, the rich man (in torment) has concern for his five brothers. The rich man wanted someone to go and warn his brothers about what becomes of people who lived like him and the indication is like his brothers. He is told (in this time before the new covenant) that they should listen to Moses and the prophets. Today in this last age, God speaks to us by His Son.
Hebrews 1.1,2
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
There is an emphasis on the message to humankind, that is the message to get a person to heaven. 2 Peter 1.2-4 talks about possessing the knowledge of God and how God has provided us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Clearly God wants each person to succeed, but it falls to each person to decide between God’s way and their personal way.
2 Peter 1.2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
God wants you to be a partaker of the divine nature and indicates it is an exceedingly great and precious promise to those who have escaped the lust of the world. A person partakes of the divine nature in heaven.
The message from God is consistent and it is always related to the decisions you make in life. If your life choice is sin the payment is death and if you know the context and all scripture you recognize death here as meaning spiritual death. On the other hand, God’s gift allows one to participate in the death, burial and resurrection of the savior and have your sins forgiven. The end in this case is eternal life.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Heaven with all its desirability also brings to mind thoughts of failing and its extreme undesirability. Many people put such negative thoughts out of their mind, although God wants you to face up to and learn the true purpose for life. Death is reality and cannot be avoided, but you choose not to think about it. So, when you die and still exist it may be a real shock and equally shocking will be that your life was a test with the rule-book being the bible. You may have believed someone who taught that there would be more chances or a purgatory and that would allow you to avoid a very bad eternity. The scriptures teach very simply that you are appointed to die once and then the judgment.
Knowing For Certain About Heaven
The second part of the question was how can I know for certain “Heaven Coach’s” answer regarding heaven is truth. First, is Heaven Coach consistent with the scriptures and if so are the scriptures the source for truth? “Heaven Coach” is not authoritative, but only the scriptures. Inasmuch as Heaven Coach is consistent with the scriptures, then it is correct. God’s word is not hard to understand, but the vast majority of people want to put their own “twist” on the scriptures. Heaven Coach is dedicated to carefully, accurately and without prejudice helping people to understand the scriptures in order to achieve heaven. The world and the religious world is respectively, pointing people away from God and distorting the scriptures. When you want the truth and not a certain, desired answer on a subject, you CAN FIND IT. You can see how all of scripture fits perfectly together and at the core is God’s purpose. So, Heaven Coach does its best to be perfectly consistent with the scriptures with that philosophy.
Now, how do we know the scriptures are from God?
There are several ways to gain assurance that the scriptures represent God’s will for humankind. The thing you need is a love of the truth and be tenacious, relentless in reaching the truth – accepting nothing less. The world is not helpful here, but is pulling people in the wrong direction. God is exceedingly, infinitely more powerful than the world for the person who loves the truth. Here are some of the ways you can know the scriptures are from God and thus the truth.
1. The Technical Analysis of the Bible
Many people have done this sort of analysis and it will not be hard to find many good materials that are helpful. This analysis differs from the “science of the bible” inasmuch as it deals with non-scientific issues. Things like consideration of the wisdom found in the bible, the purpose of God and how everything fits together in fulfilling God’s purpose. God’s word is consistent in purpose, in message, and the plan of God from Genesis 3.15 is fulfilled. We see the fulfillment of every prophecy regarding Christ. There are literally hundreds of things that demonstrate the wisdom of God and in the process God reveals a great deal about Himself. This careful analysis of God and His plan is overwhelmingly convincing to those who love the truth and is overwhelming rejected by those who are proud, selfish, and self-seeking.
2. The Science of the Bible
The bible is not a science book, but it is correct in its pronouncements in relation to science. The bible was never intended to be a book of science. The bible provides no scientific explanation of creation, but we know from what it claims that God is behind creation. Look at Heaven Coach page, “Why Does God Exist?”
3. Perfection in the Scriptures
God’s word is perfect, so perfect that persons with certain attitudes, which God rejects will never realize the obvious. It is this evidence that is the most powerful of the three being discussed. It is this Divine characteristic of what God has delivered that provides the most evidence – no need to be a scientist to understand God and His plan.
The scriptures being from God fit everything together perfectly, from Genesis to Revelation. There is a consistent message despite over forty different writers over about 1600 years. This is not possible for humankind especially considering the times over which the writers lived. There is consistency in the purpose and message from God. God reveals Himself and His purpose within the scriptures and if you look from God’s point of view everything makes perfect sense. How do you do that? Throughout Heaven Coach and in the book, “What Is Life All About?” There is a great deal of material on the subject of understanding God – AS HE HAS REVEALED HIMSELF. Therefore armed with some of that knowledge you will easily be able to see that the scriptures are central to God’s plan. Jesus indicates that God’s plan includes getting the message correctly to humankind.
Mark 13:31
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Jesus, near the end of His life told His apostles that he would give them the Holy Spirit, the comforter to lead them into all truth.
John 16.13
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;
Jesus would shortly suffer the terrible death. All He would go through to bring about the reconciliation would be of NO VALUE WITHOUT THE MESSAGE – the gospel message. The accuracy of that message was critical to salvation. This is the most basic reason there is no Catholic church, No Protestant churches, no Mormon church, no God in Islam and all the others that rely on the wisdom of humankind for any part of their belief system. It is simply God and His word and everything else is of no value for your soul. Throughout scripture, adding to or taking away from the scriptures is condemned. You should know that these religions of men are opposed to God and you will not succeed in life by associating with any of them.
A person might say, it is impossible for God’s word to be delivered correctly throughout all these years. Of course, nothing is impossible for God. It is strange that a person can accept that God creates the universe, life, human life and everything that is physical, but cannot assure His word comes down through the ages in a precise way. Well, someone says, there are many different translations of the bible and if the earliest documents were correct, which of the later translations is correct? The scriptures are clear that a person love the truth and love means dedication to the truth. Despite all the confusion around things like different translations, you do not need to be a scholar to find which translations were done without prejudice and are consistent with the earliest manuscripts and other early materials. God’s word is perfect and all things fit together. When something is out of place there will be hundreds of things out of place – it is NOT God’s word. Transliterations and paraphrased bibles are easily discarded as without merit. There are a number of deeply researched translations coming from true independent (of any religious group) scholarship and you will find these to be consistent with each other. This is a subject worthy of considerable investigation and the writer has done this and the things just mentioned above will bring you to an accurate translation. I personally find the New Kings James Bible to be an excellent choice. In any case there will be no excuse for failing to come to a knowledge of the truth. We like to make excuses around some theoretical situation and because of this exception the teaching from God cannot be valid. For example, a person cannot hear or read and therefore EVERY PERSON cannot come to a knowledge of God and the gospel OR a person has been strongly indoctrinated in a sophisticated manner and believes differently than the scriptures teach. Certainly, there may be many such reasons for a person to fail that are not apparently their fault. Such reasoning can be an excuse for a person without any such misfortunes to see imperfection in the word of God. The world does not like the pronouncements, the commands from the word of God and excuses are everywhere. However, God can perfectly handle all the little problems we can imagine. The kinds of people seeking to find problems with the scriptures are exactly the ones God does not want for heaven. They will fail and those who they are so concerned about God will handle with perfect justice.
Questions about heaven have great value because they relate to your eternity. The world is interested in planning for retirement, which is planning for the last years of your life. These will be years of progressively less health and progressively less capability to do physical things. Planning for heaven has real eternal value and your later years can be much better as you serve God until the end. The substantial effort and the sacrifice required throughout your life to live comfortably in the last years of your earthly life is just amazing. Even if you are young, all your plans, hopes can be dashed in an instant. Life is about the soul and if you can “come to grips” with that you will not be wasting your life.
In summary, heaven is very real and your success in life (heaven) depends on how you live this life in relation to Christ and the gospel. The verses below tells of an eternal inheritance available because of the sacrifice of Jesus and the hope you have through His resurrection from the dead. This heaven is reserved for those who have been begotten again (born again) and in the process had their sins forgiven.
1 Peter 1.3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Question Two:
Can you tell me how many, maybe what percentage of people will make it to heaven?
Answer Two:
No, I cannot tell you how many will get to heaven. However, I can say that there will only be a few, since this is what Jesus indicated. If you have a reasonable understanding of God and the scriptures and if you look at the world you will realize that indeed very few will achieve heaven. If you look at the religious world, all the large religious groups, you can know that God will reject all of them. They all bring different doctrines, they do not worship God in Spirit and Truth and they all make a mockery of the seriousness of living this life for Christ and the gospel. God is not like the world inasmuch as the world is enabling by accepting all sorts of sin and depravity as the modern way. This is also true of the religious world in their widening acceptance of sin under the guise of their definition of God’s love.
Question Three:
God appears to be very harsh on liars, yet we all have lied so how can anyone achieve heaven?
Answer Three:
(in development)
First, lets look at why God is so harsh on liars.
We could look at Proverbs 6.16 and note that God hates certain things and mentions seven things.
Proverbs 6.16-19
16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
Three of these things are associated with lying and so it is easy to see how God views lying. Why God hates lying can be gleaned from the destruction it causes even in this life. However, the real destruction is what is done to the eternal souls of people as a result of lying about God and spiritual things.
The first sin was the result of a lie coming from the father of lies and then Adam and Eve decided to believe the lie. The fact Adam and Eve were skillfully deceived is not an excuse as they decided to disobey God and there were consequences. Today, people are also skillfully deceived by the world and by religion. Those lies receive a broad acceptance.
The final fate of liars is well defined in Revelation.
Revelation 21.8
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
All sins can be forgiven, completely and forever covered by the blood of Christ in obedience to the gospel. There needs to be belief in Jesus as the Son of God, repentance, confession of Jesus before men or in other words no shame in Christ or the gospel.
Romans 1.16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Then finally baptism where you receive forgiveness of sins.
Romans 6.3,4
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Your life must continue in living for Jesus and the gospel and not for yourself. In the end you will receive the prize – heaven!
The bible begins by telling us God (the God of the bible) created all things beginning with the heavens and the earth. It also appears that in the beginning refers to the creation of time, as before this there would be no beginning. Beginning is part of what God is doing in relation to His purpose. In the verses below heaven is described as that which is different than the earth – that which is above the earth. Heaven is the wonderment of God for humankind also having many utilitarian effects such as weather. God begins defining this physical heaven in Genesis, even the first verse of Genesis.
9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.
God defines His creation of the physical world in terms of heaven (sky and above) by how the firmament divides the day from night, for signs and seasons and for days and years.
15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.
17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth,
20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.”
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This verse does not use the word heaven,but talks about a more perfect tabernacle or home that is not of this creation. God’s dwelling place has always existed and one day because of Christ, it could be your heavenly sanctuary. As the verse above indicates, where are you laying up your treasures?
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
God’s people in this last age are those obedient to the Son of God. The Lord added them to His spiritual church and have a citizenship in heaven although they are not there yet. They eagerly wait to be there, although some will fall and never see heaven.
Sometimes heaven refers to both the firmament above the earth and heaven the final resting place of those successful in life. Jesus is seen in Matthew ascending into the heaven. He was raising into the sky (heaven), but His final destination was the eternal heaven to sit at the right hand of God.
Jesus came from heaven and has now returned to heaven.
In Ephesians 4.10, we understand that Jesus ascended far above all the heavens and into a realm different than the one God created for humankind.
11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
There is an emphasis throughout the New Testament on the end of all of God’s creation. The heaven and earth we have been discussing, the abode of humankind, that includes the universe will all be destroyed.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
Paul provides additional details of Jesus’ return to the church in Thessalonica.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power
How can you possibly believe this unless you understand God and who you are and your intended purpose. You might observe that the world is not aligned with the scriptures and God is widely rejected, even His existence. So, despite God’s desire that none perish (are lost), most will reject God during their lifetime. In rejecting God, they reject eternal life. It is the rejecting of God’s Son that brings the wrath of God. There will be no excuses and indeed, God in His perfection will be perfectly fair in accordance with His word. You might understand why God is so strongly rejected by what has been said about God’s wrath. A proud person will not even allow God to warn them, threaten them if they reject His ways.
A person’s rejection of God will in no way alter the course of God’s plan. You or I are not God and God makes the rules and we do not like the rules. However, there are some who love the truth more than their own opinions, their own desires. These will find heaven and it will be WONDERFUL!
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Despite God’s desire, each person will choose God or the world and this choice is central to the purpose of God.
WANT to live. Now, is what God requires of you going to win out over your immediate desires? In addition, what God wants is a living sacrifice from you in terms of things you may consider too difficult. When Jesus said to gain your life (He was speaking of eternal life), you must lose it. He explains this very clearly by saying you must live your life for Him and the gospel – thus losing the life you really want to live. Matthew 19.29 is pretty clear on how much you might need to give to inherit eternal life.
The circumstances requiring one to leave family and friends may be quite varied. Of course, this is not commanded and in fact the opposite as you want to do all you can for those who you love (as well as all people) in relation to achieving heaven. Yet, the verse is as all things in scripture, that is the truth. You might do it to simply go and preach the gospel as your main focus, which is what Jesus specifically required in some cases. You might do it to move away from a situation that is in some way going to cost your soul and not help, but even hinder those you love. Nonetheless, one never wants to give-up on any soul. In some cases, time passes and since we have limited time (our lifetime) your hopes for people may never be realized. This is all very difficult to grasp unless you understand God and His purpose and fundamentally that life is ultimately NOT about this life. The scriptures throughout point to the seriousness of God in relation to making the right decisions in life and like this verse (Matthew 19.29) there are many challenges. A person should not think heaven is casually attained. For some strange reason the world believes they can walk through life, ignoring God and His directives and then be found acceptable to God. This idea is clearly not from God.
Paul in writing to Timothy was emphasizing eternal life as he did continuously in his letters. The letters were to Christians and the message was to fight to hold onto eternal life. In another place he tells Christians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Life is about the soul, about winning the battle between good and evil. Life is very specifically about you versus sin.
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
The message from God is consistent and it is always related to the decisions you make in life. If your life choice is sin the payment is death and if you know the context and all scripture you recognize death here as meaning spiritual death. On the other hand, God’s gift allows one to participate in the death, burial and resurrection of the savior and have your sins forgiven. The end in this case is eternal life.
Heaven with all its desirability also brings to mind thoughts of failing and its extreme undesirability. Many people put such negative thoughts out of their mind, although God wants you to face up to and learn the true purpose for life. Death is reality and cannot be avoided, but you choose not to think about it. So, when you die and still exist it may be a real shock and equally shocking will be that your life was a test with the rule-book being the bible. You may have believed someone who taught that there would be more chances or a purgatory and that would allow you to avoid a very bad eternity. The scriptures teach very simply that you are appointed to die once and then the judgment.
Now, how do we know the scriptures are from God?
There are several ways to gain assurance that the scriptures represent God’s will for humankind. The thing you need is a love of the truth and be tenacious, relentless in reaching the truth – accepting nothing less. The world is not helpful here, but is pulling people in the wrong direction. God is exceedingly, infinitely more powerful than the world for the person who loves the truth. Here are some of the ways you can know the scriptures are from God and thus the truth.
The scriptures being from God fit everything together perfectly, from Genesis to Revelation. There is a consistent message despite over forty different writers over about 1600 years. This is not possible for humankind especially considering the times over which the writers lived. There is consistency in the purpose and message from God. God reveals Himself and His purpose within the scriptures and if you look from God’s point of view everything makes perfect sense. How do you do that? Throughout Heaven Coach and in the book, “What Is Life All About?” There is a great deal of material on the subject of understanding God – AS HE HAS REVEALED HIMSELF. Therefore armed with some of that knowledge you will easily be able to see that the scriptures are central to God’s plan. Jesus indicates that God’s plan includes getting the message correctly to humankind.
Questions about heaven have great value because they relate to your eternity. The world is interested in planning for retirement, which is planning for the last years of your life. These will be years of progressively less health and progressively less capability to do physical things. Planning for heaven has real eternal value and your later years can be much better as you serve God until the end. The substantial effort and the sacrifice required throughout your life to live comfortably in the last years of your earthly life is just amazing. Even if you are young, all your plans, hopes can be dashed in an instant. Life is about the soul and if you can “come to grips” with that you will not be wasting your life.
In summary, heaven is very real and your success in life (heaven) depends on how you live this life in relation to Christ and the gospel. The verses below tells of an eternal inheritance available because of the sacrifice of Jesus and the hope you have through His resurrection from the dead. This heaven is reserved for those who have been begotten again (born again) and in the process had their sins forgiven.
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
First, lets look at why God is so harsh on liars.
We could look at Proverbs 6.16 and note that God hates certain things and mentions seven things.
17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
The first sin was the result of a lie coming from the father of lies and then Adam and Eve decided to believe the lie. The fact Adam and Eve were skillfully deceived is not an excuse as they decided to disobey God and there were consequences. Today, people are also skillfully deceived by the world and by religion. Those lies receive a broad acceptance.
The final fate of liars is well defined in Revelation.
Then finally baptism where you receive forgiveness of sins.
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Your life must continue in living for Jesus and the gospel and not for yourself. In the end you will receive the prize – heaven!
