This post was written by my friend Susie Kyman. I discovered it after I completed writing a series about the 5 Eternal Crown Rewards Christians will receive in heaven. I went to her Facebook profile to look for a certain post she had made.
However, this is what I found, I was astounded at the clarity and insight she wrote about heaven and what it will be like for Christians. I know it will bring deeper insight for you, too.
As you read the last paragraph keep in mind that she wrote it before her beloved husband Troy was diagnosed with cancer that took his life. He personally “liked” her post and is now in the great cloud of witnesses watching for her!
HEAVEN: A RESURRECTED LIFE, IN A RESURRECTED BODY, WITH A RESURRECTED CHRIST, ON A RESURRECTED EARTH!
October 8, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Heaven and eternal life are talked about and taught about very little considering it is our only hope! The Word of God gives us many glimpses of Heaven and even goes beyond that to promise life on a new and redeemed earth.
Even many Christians continue to fear death, dread death and are not confident about what awaits them when this life ends.
Many have been taught or have assumed that heaven is a place of “disembodied spirits,” that we will spend our days floating on clouds, in a state of eternal sleep, or that all of eternity is spent worshiping around the throne.
None of these descriptions fit what the Word promises us regarding eternal life! It will be a LIFE, although much richer than the one we enjoy now. We can’t know everything that awaits us, but the Bible has given us many clues as to what we can look forward to.
I am going to include the Scripture references for each of these claims, but I am going to let you look most of them up, as I believe our own diligent search in the Word brings the most revelation.
HEAVEN HAS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND IS CAPABLE OF CONTAINING PHYSICAL OBJECTS. IT HAS CITIES, GARDENS, BUILDINGS, BANQUETS, AND BODIES!
City – (Hebrews 11:16)
Buildings – (John 14: 1-3) Jesus promised a house with many rooms.
Food – We are promised a “wedding banquet” and a supper. Jesus talked about eating and drinking again when the Passover was fulfilled (after His death) – Luke 22. Wedding feasts and banquets in Jesus’ day served the best foods available to them.
Garden – Jesus called it paradise when talking to the thief on the cross (Luke 23-43). The Greek definition of paradise compares it to the enclosed gardens of the Persians.
Heaven has physical properties and is capable of containing physical objects. It has cities, gardens, buildings, banquets, and bodies!
IN HEAVEN WE WILL NOT BE DISEMBODIED SPIRITS. IF THERE IS NO NEED FOR A BODY, THERE IS NO NEED FOR A RESURRECTION!
The body is referred to as a glorified body free of sickness, pain, and limitations.
A resurrected body is the thing that distinguishes Christianity from every other belief.
In order to receive and believe in Jesus for our salvation, we have to believe that His BODY was resurrected after 3 days.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10
To be CONFIDENT in your salvation, go here>> My Story How God Found Me
A resurrected body is the thing that distinguishes Christianity from every other belief. In order to receive and believe in Jesus for our salvation, we have to believe that His BODY was resurrected after three days.WE WILL HAVE REAL THOUGHTS AND CAPABILITIES
The Word suggests our memory won’t be erased but will be free of any painful memories
~ Lazarus, full of sores and forced to beg crumbs at the rich man’s table, found comfort in heaven from his hard life on earth––in the bosom of Abraham (Luke 16: 19-31).
~ The martyrs in the book of Revelation ask God about justice for their murders on earth (Revelation 6:10).
WE WILL BE INDIVIDUALS KNOWN BY NAME
EACH NAME is written in the book of Life (Philippians 4:3, Revelation 20:12 and more).
EACH is given a robe (Revelation 6:11).
Jesus came back after the resurrection and said: “It is I, myself . . . .” He resumed his previous relationships when he returned.
When Moses and Elijah made a visit to a few of the disciples with Jesus, they were still recognizable as Moses and Elijah. (Matthew 17:1-8).
We will not be different people in heaven, but the same people relocated and transformed!
We will not be different people in heaven, but the same people - relocated and transformed!WE WILL ENJOY RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY IN HEAVEN
Heaven = rich relationships with people and with God
Hell = isolation from others and separation from God
Abraham and Lazarus were together (Luke 16:19-31)
Moses and Elijah returned to earth together to visit with Jesus (Matthew 17:1-8)
Jesus tells the thief on the cross that he will be “with him” in Paradise (Luke 23:43)
WE WILL BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS, WE WILL STILL BE LEARNING
The martyrs ask God a question in heaven (Revelation 6:10).
THE SCRIPTURES SUGGEST AN AWARENESS OF “TIME” IN HEAVEN
Jesus refers to time and dates for all events of the future.
The angels are aware that there are future events yet to unfold.
The martyrs in Heaven ask “How long until there is justice for our murders?”
WE DO NOT BECOME “ANGELS” WHEN WE DIE
Angels, as described in the Word, are separate created beings who have only resided in heaven. We will remain children of God when we die which is an even higher privilege.
When Jesus was asked if we will marry in heaven, he said, “no you will be ‘like’ the angels (in that you will not marry).” Even the angels have their own names and identities (Michael, Gabriel, etc.) which further shows everyone has their own identity in heaven.
THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE & EVENTS IN HEAVEN AND PEOPLE AND EVENTS ON EARTH
Heaven’s occupants may not have knowledge of your everyday coming and going, but are aware of the spiritually important events on earth:
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).
A great multitude is rejoicing over God’s judgment on the earth.(Revelation 10:1-5).
There is much rejoicing over one sinner on earth that repents (Luke 15:7).
He promises even more than that. The heaven that we refer to is the “3rd heaven” that Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 12. It is the heaven where God currently dwells. It is the location where believers in Christ currently go when leaving this earth but is referred to as a “temporary place” until the formation of the New Heavens and the New Earth! (2Peter 3: 10-13).
This hope does not completely erase the current pain of losing someone you love. As one pastor said, “The depth of your grief can be measured equal to the depth of the love that you had for that person.” Even Jesus wept when his friend Lazarus died even though he was about to resurrect him from the dead and return him to his family. But it can keep us from being hopeless and look toward the day when we do get to see them again.
A NOTE FROM ANN:
Susie’s article brings to light what I’ve recently read in The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn. He compares life on this Earth and heaven to living in the womb and after birth. In the womb we have eyes, ears, a mouth, feet, and hands, although we can’t see, hear, speak, walk and touch; however, we were created to do those things. Just think how much more the difference will be for us to LIVE in heaven compared to our existence down here!
If you are unsure of where you will spend eternity, please read my testimony My Story How God Found Me
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