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Commentary on "Heaven"
Day 5: Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Overview
Today's lesson focuses on such questions as; What is heaven like? And; What will we do when we go to heaven? Or; Will we remember anything of this present life?
Problems
While there is no harm in speculating concerning about what Scriptures have to say concerning what it will be like living a perfect life in the eternal light of God in heaven after Satan and all others who are wicked are put away, we should backtrack and focus on at least two eras that lead up to when the earth and all of creation are made new.
There are several valid views concerning the return of Christ and when the Church, the Body of Christ, will be raptured out of this present life. We are admonished to be ready and watching because it could be at any time. One thing is clear, God still has a plan for the Nation of Israel and God will keep his promises. According to the book of Revelation, this seems to mature during the time period known as the Great Tribulation. Revelation Chapter Seven very clearly speaks of 144,000 ”servants of our God” who are from the nation of Israel. Now notice what is said in the following passage:
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (Rev. 11:1-4 KJV)
The tribulation ends with God setting up his throne on Mount Zion with Israel, his chosen people. The Body of Christ, while truly in heaven, will reign on the earth for a thousand years. The earth has been devastated but is not totally desolate as Adventist theology demands. Satan and his evil angels are locked away and not loose on the earth. Revelation speaks of nations that have yet to be judged. We see this in Rev. 20:1-3. Further along in Chapter Twenty, Satan is released from his chains for a short time and is allowed to deceive "the nations". This is certainly not an uninhabited and totally desolate earth. The final battle takes place when Satan assembles his army and attacks Jerusalem, the holy city of God. It ends with his total defeat. Satan and everything that is evil will then be cast into "The Lake of Fire". Satan's defeat is certain and total because, in reality he has already been defeated at the cross of Christ.
Finally, we come to the really good part in Rev. Chapters 21 and 22 where our heavenly home descends upon a New Earth, where all of creation has been made new. This New Jerusalem will include the throne of God and he will reign into eternity right here with us.
Summary
- While the details and sequence of events of the Book of Revelation may be obscure for now, the overall picture is clear. The revelation of Jesus Christ is laid out so that as these end time events unfold before our eyes, we can know that God is in control and has those who love him safe "in his arms".
- As the lesson title indicates, eternity will be beyond our wildest expectation. However, we shouldn't skip over the promises God has made concerning the nation of Israel, his chosen people. We need to prayerfully consider all the things spoken of in the Book of Revelation between our present life now and the time when the earth has been made new.
- It all comes down to one question; Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and are you safe in his arms?
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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