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Commentary on "Heaven"
Day 3: Monday, May 25, 2009
Overview
This lesson discusses our final eternal destiny. While the lesson points out that none of us choose to be born into this world, we do have control over how we leave this present life. The Bible teaches that there are two possibilities. We will either reign forever with our Savior or we will be condemned to the "Lake of Fire" prepared for Satan and his Fallen angels.
Problems
The lesson speaks of; "back to nothingness". This is an assumption not supported by Scripture. We will explore why this concept is supported by Adventist theology, but is wrong.
In the following verses the word 'eternal' means eternal. The condition of torment goes on eternally in the same way that eternal life goes on eternally. You can not change the meaning of a word half way through the sentence. There simply is no hint of nothingness described here:
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matt. 25:41,46 KJV)
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:10,14,15: KJV)
The phrase; "tormented day and night for ever and ever” speaks of conscience existence, not "nothingness".
When in 1844, nothing happened, the beginnings of the doctrine of investigative judgment was introduced to give importance to that date by saying it was when Christ entered the Holy of Holies of the Heavenly Temple. However, Christ sat down at the right hand of his Father 1800 years earlier when he ascended to heaven.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2 KJV)
As Investigative Judgment developed, it was realized that a conscience Saint in the presents of the Lord would know if they were saved. Therefore the doctrine of Soul Sleep was needed and this means you must deny that the soul of a person is eternal. Finally, we see that this is the real the reason it must be claimed that the soul is destroyed in the Lake of Fire. This trilogy of doctrines must stand or fall together.
Important as the topic of what heaven and hell are like, the real issue is which place will each one of us be headed for when Jesus returns to claim his Bride. Is it to be heaven or hell?
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8,9 KJV)
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12 KJV)
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36 KJV)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24 KJV)
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (I John 5:13 KJV)
The Apostle John clearly states that he what he wrote is so we can know we have eternal life.
Did you hear that? You can know you have eternal life!
Summary
- It is important to know what the Bible has to say about both heaven, the throne of God, and hell otherwise known as the Lake of Fire, especially reserved for Satan. What is even more important is to understand the gospel message of Jesus Christ and to know you have eternal life. Your destiny depends on it. The wonderful news is that it is grace, a gift of God and not of any works we can perform.
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised May 11, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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