By Gary Ray Branscome
The words, These
shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal,
tell us that after the last judgment, the righteous [those whose sins have been
washed away by the blood of Christ, compare Romans 10:4 with 1John 1:7] will
enter into eternal life (Matthew 25:46). Now the words, Today you will be
with me in paradise, tell us that those who trust in Christ begin that
eternal life at death (Luke 23:43). However, after the resurrection and final
judgment they begin eternal life with their resurrected and glorified bodies.
Of that life we are told that there will be, A new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). And, of that existence we
are told, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with men, and He will live
with them, and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them, and
be their God, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes; and there will be
no more death, or sorrow, or crying, neither will there be any more pain: for
the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:3-4).
The words, We
rejoice
in hope of the glory of God, and the words, God, who is rich in mercy
has raised us up together with Him, and made us sit with Him in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus, give us a glimpse of what God has in store for
those who are saved (Romans 5:2, Ephesians 2:6). Paul says, I desire to
depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better (Philippians 1:23).
John says of those who are with Christ, They will never again hunger, nor
will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down on them (Revelation 7:16),
for, 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 21:4). The Psalmist
writes, In your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand there are
pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11). And, Jesus prayed, I also want
those, whom you have given me, to be with me where I am; and to see my glory,
the glory that you have given me: because you loved me before the creation of
the world (John 7:24). In short, The sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us
(Romans 8:18). All of those statements tell us of the glory and blessedness
that God has waiting for those who trust in Christ.
At the same time, the
words, We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom that
God ordained before the world to our glory, tell us that these truths
cannot be known apart from Divine Revelation (1Corinthians 2:7). As it is
written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart
of man, the things that God has prepared for those who love him
(1Corinthians 2:9). For that reason, the truth that God has revealed to us in
Scripture should never be confounded with the twisted and distorted ideas about
the soul and heaven held by pagan philosophers and unbelievers. On the
contrary, the Bible warns us that, The heart is deceitful above all things
and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), and that, There is a way that
seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12 and
16:25).
Although the heathen have
always speculated about the immortality of the soul and life after death, all
of their speculation is at best only a caricature of the truth. The sensual
heaven of the Moslems and Mormons has more in common with sexual fantasy than
the glory God has prepared for those who love Him. The Bible plainly says, In
the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the
angels of God in heaven (Matthew 22:30). Furthermore, all who hope to gain
eternal life apart from faith in Christ are deluding themselves. The words of
the Apostle Paul, Strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope,
and without God in the world, tell us that there is no hope of Salvation
among the heathen (Ephesians 2:12; see Acts 4:12). Also, the words, Where
is the scholar? Where is the debater of this world? Hasnt God made the wisdom
of this world foolish? tell us that there is more eternal wisdom in the
heart of those who trust in Christ, than in all of the unbelieving philosophers
(1Corinthians 1:20).
Historically, seeing God
has been described as a beatific vision, that is, a seeing that is
inseparable from supreme bliss. The words, You will show me the path of
life: in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand there are pleasures
for evermore, equate all the joy and pleasure of heaven with Gods
presence (Psalm 16:11). The words of Job, After the skin worms have destroyed
this body, yet in my flesh I will see God: Whom I will see for myself, my eyes
will see him, not the eyes of someone else; though my reins are consumed within
me, tell us that he believed in the resurrection and equated seeing God
with salvation (Job 19:25-27). Christ said, Blessed are the pure in heart:
for they will see God (Matthew 5:8). However, the words, Moses said, I
beseech you, show me your glory
But He [God] said, You cannot see my
face: for no man shall see me and live, make it clear that no sinner can
ever see God and live (Exodus 33:18-20). And no sinner ever shall! The words of
the Psalmist, I will behold your face in righteousness: I will be
satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness, tell us that when the saved
see God no sin will remain in them (Psalm 17:15). Furthermore, the words, What
we are going to be like has not yet been revealed: however we know that, when
He [Christ] appears, we will be like him; for we will see him as He is,
tell us that we will be transformed by seeing Christ (1John 3:2). Therefore,
seeing God involves far more than just seeing Him with our eyes.
In this life we only see
God through His Word, a seeing that Scripture describes as, Like a dim
reflection on a glass, but, as Paul puts it, Then we will see face to
face: now I know in part; but then I will know even as I am known
(1Corinthians 13:12). All who see God, having been cleansed of sin through the
blood of the Lamb
will never again hunger, nor will they thirst; nor
will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat, because the Lamb who is in the
midst of the throne will feed them, and will lead them to fountains of living
water: and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7:14,
16, 17). And, because the devil who deceived them will be thrown
into the lake of fire there will never again be any spiritual foe to
interfere with their bliss (Revelation 20:10).
The heavenly blessing
that all Christian believers will enjoy consists not only of the fact that we
will never again have to experience the suffering brought on by sin, but also
of great joy and pleasures for evermore in the presence of God (Psalm
16:11).
Concerning the things
that we will never again suffer, Isaiah says, The Lord GOD will wipe away
tears from all faces; and He will remove the reproach of His people from all
the earth (Isaiah 25:8). And, again, They will not hunger or thirst;
nor will the heat or sun strike them: for He who has mercy on them will lead
them, and guide them to the springs of water (Isaiah 49:10). In the book
of Hosea we read, I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will
redeem them from death: O death, where are your plagues; O grave, where is your
destruction (Hosea 13:14). [See also Rev. 21:4; 1Cor. 15:26 and 55-57; Rev.
2:7, 11; Rev. 7:16-17; Matt. 22, 30.]
Concerning the positive
blessings of heaven, the words, We know in part, and we prophesy in part,
but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be
done away, tell us that our intellect will be enlightened (1Corinthians
13:9-10). The words, Who will transform our vile bodies, and make them like
His glorified body, tell us that sin will be removed from our nature
(Philippians 3:21). The words, When the dead rise. The body that is sown in
corruption; is raised in incorruption, it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in
glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power, it is sown a natural
body; it is raised a spiritual body. As there is a natural body, there is also
a spiritual body, also speak of our resurrection body (1Corinthians
15:42-44). The words, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and
this mortal must put on immortality, assure us that our spiritual bodies
will be incorruptible and immortal (1Corinthians 15:52-53). And, the words, To
give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for grief, the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness, tell us of the beauty, joy and happiness that
will belong to all who are saved through faith in Christ (Isaiah 61:3).
In addition to all of
those blessings, we will dwell in the presence of God which is the greatest
blessing of all. The words, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with men,
and He will live with them, and they will be His people, and God himself will
be with them, and be their God, tell us that God will dwell among us
(Revelation 21:3). Jesus said, If I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come back, and take you with me; so that where I am, you may be also, and
If anyone serves me, my Father will honor him (John 14:3, John 12:26).
The Apostle Paul said, We have courage, and would prefer to be absent from
the body, and present with the Lord (2Corinthians 5:8). In the book of
Hebrews we read, You have come to mount Zion, and to the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels
(Hebrews 12:22). And, the words, So shall we ever be with the Lord,
tell us that we will never cease to be in Gods presence (1Thessalonians 4:17).
[See Luke 23:43, John 17:24, Phil. 1:23, Matt.8:11, Luke 13:29.]
Because all who are saved
through faith in Christ will dwell in Gods presence, they will all be equally
happy and blessed in every way. However, the words, Those who are wise will
shine like the brightness of the heavens; and those who turn many to
righteousness as the stars forever and ever, seem to indicate that there
will be degrees of glory (Daniel 12:3). The parable of the talents (Matthew
25:14-23) may also indicate this, however, the words, Whoever believes on
him should not perish, but have everlasting life, (John 3:16) tell us that
no one who trusts in Christ will ever be cast into outer darkness: where
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30). Regarding
this, there is much that we do not know, but we do know that there will be no
envy among the saved for sin will no longer be part of our nature.
While the Bible portrays
heaven as a place, (John 14:2) we should not think of it as a physical place.
Because God created the physical universe, He transcends the universe. At the
same time, because He is present everywhere angels are in His presence even
when they are doing His will on earth, and Christ was in heaven at the same
time He was on earth. As it is written, No one has ascended up to heaven,
but He who came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven
(John 3:13). And, again, The angel said, I am Gabriel, who stands in the
presence of God (Luke 1:19). [See Matt. 18:10.]
Because it is only those
who are justified through faith in Jesus Christ who are saved, ministers need
to be faithful to their calling lest any be lost through neglect. Moreover,
Because Christians often endure hardship and persecution in this world, we all
need to keep our eyes on Christ, and the promise of eternal life that is ours
through His death burial and resurrection. Walking in that faith we have Gods own
assurance that He will keep us by His grace. As it is written, What shall
separate us from the love of Christ? tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Nay, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am convinced, that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord. (Romans 8:35-39) [See John 3:36, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:47, Acts
26:18, Ezek. 3:18-19, 2Tim. 2:23-26 and 4:1-2, 1Tim. 4:15-16, Matt. 18:15-17,
1Cor. 5.]
ALL GLORY TO GOD ALONE
If you have found understanding
in the pages of this book, and been blessed by reading it, know that the wisdom
it imparts was not revealed to me because I am especially wise, but to help you to grow in faith and
understanding. I am just an ordinary believer that has spent many years in
prayerful study of Gods Word. [See Daniel 2:30.]
Gary Ray Branscome