What do you believe?

sparky · Jun 10, 2005

During my time here i have asked many members as to where they will be spending eternity.There seems to be two answers both with scriptural basis.Some believe they will go to heaven and spend eternity there praising God whilst others feel there will be a return to earth.I know the important thing firstly is to get to the end of this wicked system with our faith in tact but i love to speculate about our wondrous future in the Lords presence.What do you believe and why?

Devoted2him · Jun 18, 2005

all I know is this while i walk on this earth I will do all I can do to serve my heavenly father to the best of my ability I dont worry with the final destination for I know as long as I obey his commands live by his word and serve him with ,my whole heart where ever my eternity will be it will be with him that much I know question is are we doing everything God has called us to be are we reaching out to the lost are we feeding his word to them are we walking them throughto salvation are we acting Christlike . We need not be concerned where our eternity will be if we walk in his word we need to be concerned where our eternity will be when we arnt walking in his word and obeying his commands thats my openion

sparky · Jun 18, 2005

Thanks for the replies(at last).We seem to spend a lot of the time churning over the crappy issues of this world i thought it would be nice to reflect on the prize that awaits us.Im already daydreaming........

Chad · Jun 18, 2005

Good question sparky. Let me clarify one thing.

GOD tells us that the new Heaven ("new Jerusalem") will be on earth. It will be completely new, restored, and GOD will dwell one with us on earth as our King

Praies GOD!

I will find the Scripture to this and get back to you

TDS52 · Jun 18, 2005

Sparky....I believe our eternal destination is determined by what we do with Jesus. Do we believe His gospel--His death, He died on the cross to save mankind from their sin(unbelief);His burial, He was buried in a borrowed tomb because He would only need it for three days and nights, and His resurrection, He arose victorious from the grave on the third day and behold, He is alive forevermore. He has the keys of death and hell.(Revelation 1:18) The devil doesn't even have the keys to his home. There are two prepared places for eternity---Heaven(John 14:1-4, Revelation 21 and 22) and hell(Matthew 25:41, Luke 16:19-31---note that hell was "prepared for the devil and his angels" so if man goes there, he goes as an intruder, but suffers the torments as mentioned in Luke 16) Hell is referred to more often than Heaven in the word of God, I think God is giving a warning to mankind about the reality of the place and gives so many scriptures on how man can avoid going there. There are many people and denominations that try to bypass the existence of a "literal place of eternal fire and brimstone", the rich man in Luke 16, was probably in such a religious group, yet he realized "too late" of hell's existence. He knew it was impossible for him to get out, but he wanted someone to warn his brethren not to come to the place of torment. I think this is also a responsibility of the Christian who has come to the knowledge of the TRUTH=JESUS...warn others not to go to hell for it is ETERNAL. No where does the scripture say the rich man burned up, nor suffered for just a certain period of time, but rather, as Mark states in chapter 9:43-48 about hell, being a place of "fire that never shall be quenched. Where THEIR WORM DIETH NOT AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED." I believe that GOD has/will allow the skin worms to be eternal, also, to add to the torment of the eternal fire. Burning, but Never consumed is difficult to imagine with our finite minds, but TRUTH...GOD had it written in HIS word and that settles it whether man believes it or not. As we look around us, we see that the worldly situation will NEVER be better, so why would one want to continue to live here? The earth was cursed in Genesis, when Adam sinned, and continues to grow more wicked every day. This should be an encouragement for the child of GOD because it points to the soon return of our LORD. We can/must look back on the events before the flood, during Lot's day, and we can see how the happenings set the stage for the destruction that took place on the earth and to Sodom and Gomorrah...so much like what we see today. Something great, yet unexpected by so many, is upon the horizon for the child of GOD.

As Christians, we are grateful for salvation and are looking forward to heaven, but what are we doing in the space between? Do we learn, yet keep it to ourselves? Do we soak up GOD'S goodness, as a sponge, and continue to bask in it? Do we take advantage of HIS blessings and benefits, as though we are deserving? We deserve NOTHING, but have been given so much...eternal life, wisdom, knowledge, love, mercy, grace, etc. To be thankful that we will NOT have to go to hell is just one of our numerous blessings, yet there are millions who do not know JESUS, as their personal Savior...may not even know HIS name, who will go there. HE tells us that HE is "the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."(John 14:6) No trying to live a Christian life, no good works/deeds, no "I do's/don'ts", no religion/religious affliation with a church or organization, will be what gets us unto the Father, just our complete, child-like trust placed in the TRUTH of JESUS CHRIST. Every individual is responsible for himself and will never be allowed to give excuses, as to why they did not accept the TRUTH, if someone has shared with them the gospel of CHRIST. The destiny of Heaven or hell is still a choice...we must help others make the right choice, so they will not suffer the consequences of an eternal "torment" without, even, the things they consider "good" today.....besides, an eternal separation from GOD, Christian family, and friends.

You asked for what we believe and why...I am just sharing a little of my heart, as I write this. I believe in heaven and a hell, "a place of literal fire and brimstone". I believe that the thoughts/intentions of men's hearts are on evil, continually, and continues to grow worse and worse. I believe GOD will not put up with this much longer and will "rapture" HIS blood-bought children(the CHURCH) and begin HIS judgment upon the earth and mankind during the time known as TRIBULATION OR THE GREAT TRIBULATION. My prayer is that everyone here/who reads this will be ready to meet the LORD....As in the game, "Hide and Seek", the countdown is being made, soon JESUS will say..."...Surely, I come quickly..." as if to say, "READY OR NOT, HERE I COME"......Can we reply with assurance, as John in Revelation 22:20, "...Even so, come, Lord Jesus."?

sparky · Jun 19, 2005

Hey TDS52,if you believe in only heaven and hell what are your thoughts on the fate of this earth?Isiah 45v18 states that God did not create the world simply for nothing but for it to be inhabited,Isiah 55v10,11 goes on to tell us that everything God sets out to do he accomplishes.The Lord gave Adam a mandate in Genesis 1v28 that has not yet been carried out.I believe that there are roles for both heaven and earth in the future and personally look forward to making this earth a global garden of eden as God intended.Any thoughts?

jiggyfly · Jun 19, 2005

sparky said:
Hey TDS52,if you believe in only heaven and hell what are your thoughts on the fate of this earth?Isiah 45v18 states that God did not create the world simply for nothing but for it to be inhabited,Isiah 55v10,11 goes on to tell us that everything God sets out to do he accomplishes.The Lord gave Adam a mandate in Genesis 1v28 that has not yet been carried out.I believe that there are roles for both heaven and earth in the future and personally look forward to making this earth a global garden of eden as God intended.Any thoughts?

I think to set goals for heaven or Gods kingdom established on this earth will leave us short of God's purpose. In Revelation 21:1&2
1*And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2*And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The beauty of Salvation is spending eternity in the presence of Jesus the Christ. Everything else dims in comparison to Him.

sparky · Jun 20, 2005

I agree with what you say jiggy but i dont see it as setting goals as much as reflecting on what spending time in the Lords presence will mean.Isiah 65 v17 onwards prophetically speaks about future conditions of this earth and what it will be like for us to be living here.God wants us to have a full and satisfying life and this is demonstrated in verses 21,22 where it suggests that there will be no more "working for the man".How many of us do dead end jobs that dont really benefit mankind at all?How many of us live where we are truly happy?God wants us to enjoy our lives and see the fruits of our labours.We can praise God with our hearts and our minds but also with the works of our hands too.I will accept what ever the Lord has instore for me but i am mindful that he is a God of purpose and im sure he has a purpose for mankind.

lll3 · Jun 26, 2005

Sparky,

I just remember what Jesus said. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word will endure forever.". John describes a new Heaven and a new earth. How the two are together I really don't know. But I know it's going to be beyond my greatest imaginations.

El Hombre viejo · Sep 25, 2010

LOL I like digging up old threads.

Let me say this to this question. What do you believe?

What you believe is what you will do. You may say you believe Gods Word. Do you do it? Or do you walk in the way of the world?

What you say you believe is not always what you do, but what you believe is always what you do.

Selah

RJ · Sep 25, 2010

I will keep this short and sweet!

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<sup>13</sup>But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

God will also make us perfect and we will dwell in this perfect heaven and earth for all eternity!

Boanerges · Sep 26, 2010

The recreated earth will be heaven as it will be the place of His dwelling.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And 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.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

What do you believe?

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sparky

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