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From the time that Jesus made His Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem, significant events happened each day that week ending with His arrest, death, and resurrection. This is a must have Holy Week devotional eBook. Click on the Link below to get your free copy.
Many people are very fuzzy on what heaven will actually be like. Some of the questions they have are:
– are we just going to sit around on clouds playing harps all the time?
– is heaven just going to be a 24/7 praise & worship service?
– what could we do for an eternity that wouldn’t turn out to eventually be boring?
– will there be pets/animals in heaven?
– will we have bodies or will we just be ‘spirits’?
I realize that there are many more questions than these few but let’s answer these first.
Actually, there are two heavens, the intermediate heaven and the eternal, final heaven.
The intermediate heaven is where believers go when they die now. Our body goes into the grave and our spirit goes to be with God in the intermediate heaven (2nd Corinthians 5:8). Think of it as another dimension (2nd Kings 6:15-27 & Acts 7:55-56). We will have a spiritual body but it won’t be a physical body. This intermediate heaven will last until Jesus comes to set up His final, eternal kingdom. When He does come, there will be two resurrections. The 1st resurrection will be for believers only (Daniel 12:2 & Revelation 20:5-7). That’s when all of creation will be redeemed and changed (Romans 8:20-22). Our spirits will be reunited with our bodies. We will have resurrected, perfect bodies with our spirit and soul reunited with our physically perfect body. We will inherit a resurrected, perfect Earth and universe.
The 2nd resurrection will be for unbelievers (Daniel 12:2 & Revelation 20:11-15). Their spirits will be resurrected with their bodies. They will have their forever bodies reunited with their spirit and soul but they’ll be in hell forever.
So, what will a resurrected universe look like? What will our perfected bodies look like?
The creation mandate in Genesis, chapters 1 & 2, was never removed. So, we will start to have dominion over all of creation but in a perfected state.
We will not know everything as only God is omniscient (1st John 3:20). But our learning won’t be hindered by our old sin nature, which we won’t have anymore. Sin deadens everything, including our ability to learn. Learning will be a lot easier.
Will we explore a redeemed outer space? Probably! The universe is big and getting bigger all the time. We’ll have an eternity to explore God’s incredible creation. We’ll be in awe of His handiwork.
Will we write stories and new songs? Probably! God is a creative God and we’re made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). Our creativity won’t be hindered by our old sin nature anymore. Some of the best stories and the most beautiful songs are yet to be written. The new stories and songs will praise God, His people and creation even more. Some professions won’t exist anymore in heaven, like doctors and dentists, as there will be no injuries or death.
But I thought we were going to praise and worship God for all eternity? It’s a narrow definition of praise and worship to think it’s only a church service. We will praise and worship by doing what He made us to do. We will be using our spiritual gifts to their fullest, unhindered by our old sin nature. Everything we do will be to the praise and worship of God. We won’t be bored because there will always be new challenges and new ways to praise and worship Him.
Will there be pets/animals in heaven? There were animals in Eden (Genesis 1:24-25). And none of them were carnivorous. Think of it. Maybe we’ll be able to play with lions and tigers without ever getting hurt.
What about entertainment in heaven? Wouldn’t it be great to see movies (or something like it) with wonderful values? Wouldn’t it be great to interview some of the great Christians of all time? Like Peter or DL Moody or Jim Elliott? Or maybe see their stories on some type of film? You want to climb a high mountain on Earth? Or maybe on a redeemed Mars? Maybe we’ll be able to swim with the whales and dolphins. Wouldn’t it be great to time travel and solve some of the great mysteries or see the great moments in history? Maybe we’ll be able to see the people’s inner thoughts as they were sacrificing for God. Or maybe we’ll see events thru God’s eyes?
Relationships will exist in heaven. We don’t know exactly what they will look like, but they’ll be great. No more pettiness, jealousy or gossiping. We’ll get along with everyone. They’ll be no more envy. We’ll be blessed when we see other people getting their rewards. We’ll celebrate with them and they with us.
We’ll not only talk about adventures that we’d like to do around a campfire with friends, we’ll go out and do them. I think anything would be allowed if it brings praise to God. Does this kind of heaven sound boring to you or does it sound AWESOME?
If you know Jesus as your Savior, we’ll see you there!
References:
The free online course and videos “Heaven and Hell” at https://bsssb-llc.com/video-courses-overview/heaven-and-hell/.
The book, “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn
For the sake of His Name,
Dave Maynard
https://bsssb-llc.com
Messiah is a Hebrew word that means “the anointed one”. When translated into Greek (the common language for most of the ancient world), it becomes “Christos”. This is where we get the English word “Christ” from. To the Jews, Messiah would be someone empowered by God to save people and establish God’s Kingdom on Earth.
The problem was that the Jews saw two very different pictures of the Messiah in their scriptures (the Christian Old Testament). One picture was of a Kingly Messiah who would come and set the Jews free. The other was of a suffering servant.
The Kingly Messiah (or the Son of David) is seen in scriptures likeIsaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
And Isaiah 11:1-10 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him… They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.
But the suffering servant Messiah (or the Son of Joseph) is seen in scriptures like Isaiah 53:1-5 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed…
For the Son of Joseph comparison, this is taken from https://jesusplusnothing.com/studies/online/thetwocomings.htm:
-Joseph, like Jesus, was his father’s beloved son.
-Joseph was despised by his brothers.
-Joseph was betrayed for silver coins after his brethren plotted, betrayed and sold him.
-Joseph was falsely accused and imprisoned.
-Joseph was imprisoned with two criminals; one lives, one dies! Likewise Jesus was crucified with two criminals – one who found spiritual life and one didn’t.
-Joseph was then exalted to the right hand of Pharaoh, authority given to Him over all Egypt. Likewise, —Jesus was exalted to the right hand of the Father and given all authority.
-Joseph then took a gentile bride. Like Jesus took a bride (spiritually) for Himself predominantly from the gentile nations.
-Later, during 7 years of hard famine, Joseph’s brothers were forced to come to him. In the future, there is still seven years of hardship (called the day of Jacob’s trouble) that Israel as a nation will have to go through. They will at this stage be brought to the place where they will acknowledge Jesus!
-At first they don’t recognize Joseph, and he treats them harshly to bring repentance.
-Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and they are reconciled amongst many tears. Likewise, there shall be great weeping once Israel finally acknowledges their Messiah Jesus. See Zech 12:10-11.
-Joseph treats his brothers with kindness saying ‘What you meant for evil, God meant for good, to accomplish… the saving of many lives.’ What a great picture of Jesus!
The Jews of Jesus’ time were confused as to how their Messiah would appear.Some believed that one person would fulfill both pictures at one time. Others believed that two people would fulfill these pictures separately. What they didn’t see was that one person would fulfill these pictures at two different times. In other words, they didn’t see one person fulfilling the suffering servant picture, then waiting a time (what we Christians call the church age), then coming back to fulfill the Kingly Messiah.
While Jesus partially fulfilled the Kingly Messiah at His 1st coming (He told of and introduced God’s Kingdom), He will completely fulfill it at His 2nd coming. But He did completely fulfill the suffering servant Messiah at His 1st coming. And that is what this study is about. To the skeptic, many of our proofs will be explained away. But when we compute the probability of one person, out of a population of the entire world, fulfilling all of the suffering servant prophecies, that is convincing to all but the hardest skeptic. In other words, there are some people, that no matter how much proof you give them, they will not be convinced.
God starts out by telling us that He will provide us with a Savior (Genesis 3:15). I will now quote you the Old Testament scripture and it’s New Testament fulfillment. Then God gets more specific and says…
-that He will be an Israelite (Israel didn’t exist at this time) from the tribe of Abraham (Genesis 22:18 & Galatians 3:16)
-He will be a descendent of Isaac, not Ishmael (Genesis 21:12 & Luke 3:23-34)
-He will be a descendent of Jacob, not Esau (Numbers 24:17 & Luke 3:23-34)
-Of Jacob’s 12 sons, He will be a descendent of Judah (Genesis 49:10 & Luke 3:23-34)
-He will be a descendent of Jesse’s (Isaiah 11:1-5 & Luke 3:23-34)
-Of all of Jesse’s sons, He will be a descendent of David (Jeremiah 23:5-6 & Luke 3:23-31)
-A messenger come before Him, to prepare the way and announce His coming (Isaiah 40:3 & Matthew 3:1-3)
-He will begin His ministry in a particular area, Galilee. Not in Samaria, Judah, Moab, Ammon, Gilead, Edom or Aram (Isaiah 9:1 & Matthew 4:12-17)
-He’ll be rejected by the people He grew up with (Psalm 69:8 & John 7:3-5 and Matthew 13:54-58)
-Leaders will oppose Him (Psalm 2:1-2 & Matthew 12:14 and 26:3,4)
–He will be rejected as God’s Messiah (Psalm 118:22-23 & Matthew 21:42)
-He will teach in many parables (Psalm 78:2 & Matthew 13:34-35)
-He will perform many miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6 & Matthew 9:35)
-He will suddenly and forcefully enter the Temple (Malachi 3:1 & John 2:15-16)
-He will come into Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9 & Matthew 21:1-5)
–He will enter Jerusalem as a King exactly 483 years after the declaration of Artaxerxes to rebuild the Jewish Temple (see https://bsssb-llc.com/daniels-prophecy-about-the-coming-of-the-messiah/)
-His message will be for everyone (Isaiah 49:6 & Acts 26:23)
-He will be a ‘stone of stumbling’ to the Jews. They will not embrace Him as their Messiah (Isaiah 8:14 & Romans 9:31-33)
-He will heal the deaf and the blind (Isaiah 35:5 & Matthew 11:5)
–He will make a new, everlasting covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34 & Hebrews 10:15-20)
-He will be a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, 19 & Acts 3:18-22)
-He will be hated without good reason (Psalm 35:19 and 69:4 & John 15:24-25)
-He will do the will of God (Psalm 40:6-8 & Hebrews 10:5-9)
-He is ‘anointed’ by God (Psalm 45:6, 7 & Hebrews 1:8, 9)
-He will care for the poor and needy (Psalm 72:12-14 & Luke 7:22)
-He will speak to people in parables (Psalm 78:2 & Matthew 13:10-16, 34-35)
-He will pray for His enemies (Psalm 109:4 & Matthew 5:44)
-His Spirit will be poured out on believers (Joel 2:28-32 & Acts 2:16-23)
-A new priesthood is established (Zechariah 3:8 and Isaiah 61:6 & 1st Peter 2:5, 9)
–He will be raised from the dead (Psalm 16:8-11 & John 20 & Acts 1:3 and 2:32 and 13:34-37)
-He will ascend on high (Psalm 68:18 & Luke 24:51 and Ephesians 4:8)
-Death is swallowed up in victory (Isaiah 25:8 & 1st Corinthians 15:54-57)
It’s possible that one man could fulfill several of these prophecies. It’s impossible that one man could fulfill every single one of these prophecies. Because the Jewish Temple was destroyed in 70AD, the Jewish Messiah had to come before then. Otherwise, they would have no way to trace His lineage (all the lineage records were kept in the Temple. Since then, only 1 or 2 tribes can be traced and they are not the tribe of Judah) and for Him to fulfill the prophecies pertaining to the Temple. The only person before 70AD that could fulfill all of these suffering servant prophecies was Jesus. Read about the Messianic prophecies probabilities on https://www.bsssb-llc.com/prophecy-probability/.
For someone to deny that Jesus fulfilled the suffering servant prophecies would be irrational. Such a person cannot be reasoned with.
God did indeed, provide us with not only a road map to the Messiah but with an exact map to who, when and where that Messiah would appear in human history. Therefore, humanity is without excuse as to who, when and where God’s Messiah is. He has made it very clear that who His Messiah is and why He came down to Earth. All we have to do now is to accept Him into our hearts. May you have the joy of knowing Him.
For God’s Messiah,
Dave Maynard
https://bsssb-llc.com
He was the greatest legal mind in American history. He helped to found and put Harvard Law School on the map. His 3 volume “A Treatise on the Law of Evidence” is still regarded as the greatest single authority in the entire literature of legal procedure. The USA judicial system still operates on rules of evidence established by him.
While teaching at Harvard, one day he told his class that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was nothing more than a myth. You see, he was an atheist. Three of his students asked him to apply his own rules of evidence to the resurrection account. He agreed to do so but thought he would easily disprove it. Yet the more he investigated it, the more stunned he was at the undeniable evidence that Jesus really did rise from the dead. He was unable to explain many things but specifically the behavior of the disciples. Not just a few of them, but ALL of them. Many of them died violent deaths because they believed Jesus had risen from the dead.
He wrote another book, called “The Testimony of the Evangelists” that documented the evidence that caused him to change his mind. He became a believer based on the irrefutable evidence of the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.His book still influences people today even though it was written more than 120 years ago. People like Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel. His name is Simon Greenleaf.
Have you looked at the evidence for the resurrection? If Jesus really did conquer death, shouldn’t that make everything else He said about life and life after death of paramount importance to us? Jesus said He left many infallible proofs for us to consider. What have you done with these proofs?
Reference for the resurrection….y-jesus.com/body_count1/
With you on the journey,
Dave Maynard
http://BSSSB-LLC.com
Have you thought about death? Or what comes after it? Psychiatrists report that 75% of their patients are disturbed at the prospect of their death. The amazing thing is:
-few people ever investigate death
-few make an attempt to understand death
-few ever talk about death
Being that death is certain, wouldn’t you want to learn all you could about it? If there is an afterlife, wouldn’t you want to know about it also? Virtually all religions talk about death and most speak about an afterlife. You make extensive plans about where you’ll spend your vacation for 2 weeks. Doesn’t it make sense to make plans for where you’ll spend eternity?
To understand death, we need to understand life. The problem is that death, life and the afterlife cannot be measured. Nor can we create life, although we can somewhat perpetuate it. Life involves doing things we can observe ( other people, our immediate surroundings, etc.) and things we cannot observe ( thoughts, emotions, love, etc.). Death is the absence of our physical life.
Materialists believe that when you physically die, your soul/spirit dies also. So when you die, your body goes into the ground (in a coffin) while your spirit just ceases to exist. Every cell in our body is replaced every 7 years or so. But if life were just matter and energy, our body would be replaced every 7 years. Memory would be lost and our personality would change, We wouldn’t be the same people. Yet, we know this isn’t what happens. We retain our memories and personality. So, our life must be more than just matter, energy and chemical reactions in our brains and bodies.
Almost all religions believe in an afterlife. Many of the archaeological finds from every culture tell us this. Even when someone’s physical body is damaged beyond recognition, that person is still the same person mentally. About all we can say is that the brain is a conduit that the soul/spirit operates through. So our body is different from our soul/spirit. At death, our body dies (no brain waves, no heartbeat, etc.) and goes to the grave. But where does our spirit go?
Some people have had what we call Near Death Experiences (NDE’s), where they and their doctors claim that they have died but came back to life. Some scientists have tried to explain NDE’s in terms of our physical reactions of our senses, our nerves or physical reactions in our brains. But these have never been proven and are largely ignored now. While some of these NDE people have described events that they couldn’t have known about, almost all of the NDE stories taken together are very consistent. The experience of an NDE is almost universal, but how people interpret that experience is where the difference comes in. Some go to heaven, a few go to hell, some see Jesus, some just see a Being of Light. NDE’s all speak of an afterlife. Because we can’t observe, measure and repeat these experiences, it doesn’t seem possible that we’ll ever be able to scientifically prove anything about the afterlife or an NDE. But that doesn’t mean that we cannot know anything about an afterlife.
There are enough things that almost all NDE’s have in common to make it not just a coincidence. John Burke’s book, “Imagine Heaven” is a great book on this subject.
The most compelling evidence for an afterlife comes from the bible. Given that the bible is so accurate in many other fields (see “Prove to Me that God Exists” at http://BSSSB-LLC.com/video-courses-overview/prove-to-me-that-god-exists/ and “How We Got the Bible” at http://BSSSB-LLC.com/video-courses-overview/how-we-got-the-bible/), we have every reason to believe it over any other religious books.
The bible distinguishes the body from the spirit in many places.
– Stephen gave up his spirit when he died (Acts 7:29)
– Jesus did the same in Matthew 27:50
– Paul said to be away from the body was to be at home with the Lord (2nd Corinthians 5:8)
The Sequence of Events after Death:
1…our body dies and is buried or cremated
2…our spirit immediately goes to…
A…be with Jesus in the intermediate heaven if we know Him
B…be in Hades, the place of the dead, if we don’t know Jesus
3…Jesus returns to Earth and judgement begins (Revelation 20:11-15). There are many other events that occur before this happens but we won’t go into those here.
4…people’s spirits are reunited with their bodies.
5…some will spend eternity in the future heaven with God.
6…some will spend eternity separated from God forever in hell.
For 5& 6, read Daniel 12:2 and Matthew 25:41-46.
For a more detailed view of heaven and hell, watch or read “Heaven and Hell” at http://BSSSB-LLC.com/video-courses-overview/heaven-and-hell/.
The one person who did die and came back to life is Jesus. He even said that His resurrection would prove that everything He told us while on Earth is true (John 2:19-22 & Luke 24:44-46). What He told is recorded in the bible. So He not only predicted His own death, He predicted His own resurrection. How many people do you know that have successfully done that? This is a man to be listened to!
Maybe it’s time for you to talk or think about death and the afterlife…about where you’ll spend it…and what is required to spend it with God in eternal happiness.
Jesus said “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
God has a wonderful plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11)
But you are sinful, you’re not perfect (Romans 6:23)
Jesus died for your imperfections, for your sins (Romans 5:8)
Accept Him as your Savior…Invite Him into your life (John 1:14)
If you have any questions, please write to me.
Book reference:
“Heaven” by Randy Alcorn
“Imagine Heaven” by John Burke
For His Kingdom,
Dave Maynard
http://BSSSB-LLC.com
Why is resurrection Sunday significant to the Christian faith?
Whether it is called Easter or Resurrection Sunday is not as important as the event and purpose of the resurrection. However, the timing of the crucifixion and resurrection is significantly meaningful. The resurrection of Jesus is the culmination of all things meaningful, faith and fact, in establishing a relationship with God.
God used the timing, which occurred just after "Passover" and during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, to illustrate the ultimate sacrifice He made for sinners. Without this sacrifice, Christianity would be an empty religion. Every purpose of Jesus Christ, His atonement for sin, would be unfulfilled and the foundation of Christianity would fall apart.
The Passover commemorates God's "passing over" the Hebrew's homes by the angel of death (Exodus 12:29). By accepting Jesus, we are promised eternal life and we are saved from spiritual death. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (verse 15) begins with unleavened bread (made without yeast) and sacrificing an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. Leavening represents the escape from bondage and sin. Jesus is called the Lamb of God through whom the only escape is possible.
Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection are God's provision for the perfect and final sacrifice for man's sins. God requires no other payment for sins! With this provision, mankind is granted opportunity for new life by the forgiveness of sin and escape from its bondage. It is ours for the mere acceptance of this gift.
This is the key event in the New Testament where it is proclaimed throughout. All four Gospels report the miraculous event. In Matthew 28:6 the angel declared "He is not here: for he is risen!" Mark 16:6 reports "'Don't be alarmed,' [the angel] said. 'You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.'"
In Luke 24:46-48, the risen Jesus gave His disciples a greater understanding of the resurrection when He told them: "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things." Jesus foretells of His resurrection in John 16; then to one of the doubting witnesses, Thomas, He says the following in John 20:29: "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
While Jesus was admired and praised as a teacher, healer, and for performing miracles, He was put to death on the cross. But God raised Him from the dead. Had the witnesses not believed what they saw, Christianity would not have spread across the globe and remained a profound belief to this day.
