12 FOUNDATION STONES—CLASS 9A HEAVEN--WHAT IT'S LIKE, PART 1.1 ----------------------------------- Section 1: Introducing Heaven ----------------------------------- > Heaven awaits us! Jesus wants us to understand both the love that is in Heaven, and the place that those who love Him go to, when they pass beyond the veil. The distance beyond the veil is not so great, and what happens on the other side is not totally different to what happens on this side, on the earth side. But in Heaven there is the joy, the love, the peace, and the contentment that we who are saved have a taste of here, but which there we will experience in abundance. He wants us to understand what it is like when we come into the fullness of His love and the fulfillment of the promises that He has made. Heaven is real; death is just the door through which we pass from the life we now live into eternity! 1 Corinthians 13:12—For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. Many people in the world say that when you pass through the doors of death, it is over, it is finished, it is the end. They are wrong! You enter into a new life: The life on the other side of the veil. You are still you. You retain your individuality. You continue to live and to mature and to learn. Your spirit carries on. ----------------------------------- > What we are studying today In today's class, we're going to look at what the Scriptures say about Heaven, and we're also going to hear some testimonies of those who have had glimpses of Heaven through "Near Death Experiences." Through testimonies, through the Bible's teachings, and through prophecies and other revelations, we know a great deal about what awaits us! And we want to share at least a portion of this today. > The most important point to grasp from this class is that Jesus has prepared a wonderful place for us in the life beyond Jesus told us: John 14:2–3—In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. When we are called from this life, when we are brought to the threshold and we are called across, we leave the things of this life behind—our flesh, our material belongings. We shed these things as one sheds a garment. But our spirit, that which is truly "me" and truly "you," steps across the veil and lives on forever. Our experience and knowledge—and mainly the things that we have learned of the spirit, the matters of love, of kindness, and of truth—these things remain with us and benefit us throughout eternity. Therefore this class, and the one following, is also a challenge. Will we learn the lessons we need to learn in this life and apply them? In God's wonderful kingdom of love, all is love. There we will have and experience all of those things that we seek. No matter what our limitations here, there we will have peace of heart and mind and contentment of spirit; there we will have no fear; there our needs will be filled abundantly; there we can be creative; there we can find true love, and fill the empty spaces in our lives, our hearts, our minds, and our spirits. Jesus is the door to Heaven, and by coming into it through Him, your life in this world, and in the world beyond, will be much greater than anything you ever imagined! You've received Jesus, so you are going to live with Him in His loving, exciting, wonderful, fulfilling, peaceful kingdom—forever! * But don't get too impatient! The Lord will bring us to Heaven in His own time: Psalm 31:15a—My times are in Your hand. Psalm 48:14—For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death. We're studying about Heaven because that's where we're going to eventually go!—But in the meantime, the Lord has a lot for us to do, including bringing as many other people with us as we can. ----------------------------------- Section 2: Why Learn About Heaven? ----------------------------------- We are going to study what the Bible has to say about Heaven, and we're also going to hear the accounts of people who have had a "Near Death Experience" (NDE). They died, perhaps following an accident or during a medical procedure, but then were revived. During the time they were clinically dead, they experienced something for which there was no other explanation than they had been given a glimpse into what it will be like to make the transition from this life to the next world. ----------------------------------- > The Grand Finale Heaven is such a wonderful, almost unimaginable "Happy Ending" that the final chapters of the Bible are devoted entirely to it!—Revelation chapters 21 and 22's description of Heaven is the Grand Finale of the Bible, the thunderous climax of the symphony of God, and reveals a place of such resplendent beauty that just reading about it will lift you into the Heavenlies, beyond the imagination of man! We'll look at those chapters in a minute. The most stupendous things that you never even dreamed of are already in existence in that way-out home of the children of God—that Heavenly City whose Builder and Maker is God, and which our departed friends and saints are already enjoying! Hebrews 11:13–16—These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (14) For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. (15) And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. (16) But now they desire a better, that is, a Heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. It is such a beautiful place that you can hardly even possibly imagine it!—But the Lord in His great love for us has been telling us a lot about it. 1 Corinthians 2:9–10—But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (10) But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ----------------------------------- > Why learn about Heaven? They say that anticipation is 50% of enjoyment, so why not enjoy half of Heaven now? We're halfway to Heaven here in spirit, and we can get half of the enjoyment ahead of time just by thinking about it, praising the Lord for it, thanking the Lord for it, reading about it, dreaming about it, and anticipating it! We can have 50% of our enjoyment right now just by looking forward to it! That's one reason it's good to talk about Heaven and think about Heaven and read about Heaven. After all, that's where we're going to spend eternity, so it's a pretty important place, don't you think? It's our eternal Home, the place that Jesus has gone to prepare for us to live forever, so we certainly ought to be interested in it and want to know what it's like and what we're going to be like when we get there! All God's children of faith since the beginning of time have been looking for "a city which hath foundations"—eternal foundations—"whose Builder and Maker is God!" They were not satisfied with being citizens of this world, with its earthly, carnal, flesh-and-blood kingdoms of evil men and evil spirits. But rather they looked for a country made by God, a Heavenly country, a Heavenly City, built by the Lord! Hebrews 11:10—For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. If you're looking for the perfect city and the perfect government in the perfect country with perfect people, just wait a little while longer—it's coming! Jesus promised that He's preparing a place for us (John 14:2–3). Heaven is a great place to look forward to, and we hope you will get thrilled and excited about it too, as it will help you to bear some of the burdens and trials that you're going through now when you realize the wonderful things that God has in store for you! Romans 8:18—For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ----------------------------------- > Nothing to fear Fear of death is one of the greatest fears that grips people, but the Bible tells us that Jesus can set us free from those fears. He conquered death! There is nothing to fear, only a joyful and patient waiting to meet our Savior face-to-face. Hebrews 2:15—And release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 1 Corinthians 15:55–57—O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? (56) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 22:3–4—And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. (4) They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. ----------------------------------- > Near Death Experiences almost always result in a loss of fear of death One of the outstanding characteristics of someone who has had an NDE is that he or she no longer has any fear of death. They've been given a glimpse into the world beyond, and they know there is nothing to fear. NDEs are real! The research on NDEs offers quite compelling evidence that these experiences are genuine. For instance, Dr Melvin Morse, author of Closer to the Light, wrote: Michael Sabom, an American cardiologist, has done some fascinating work on out-of-body experiences and people who almost died of cardiac arrest. In these experiences, a person in a near-death crisis claims to leave his body and watch his own resuscitation as the doctor performs it in the emergency room or during surgery. Sabom had 32 such patients in his study. Sabom asked 25 medically knowledgeable patients to make educated guesses about what happens when a doctor tries to get the heart started again. He wanted to compare the knowledge of "medically smart" patients with the out-of-body experiences of medically unsophisticated patients. He found that 23 of the 25 in the control group made major mistakes in describing the resuscitation procedure. On the other hand, none of the near-death patients made mistakes in describing what went on in their own resuscitations. This presented very strong evidence that these people were actually outside their bodies and looking down as they said they were. NDE: Jerry's story In 1997 (at age 47), I was involved in a serious car crash with many major injuries. When I was trapped in the car, I felt no pain even though I had my pelvis broken in two places, a fractured tailbone, a rib that had punctured my lung, a fractured skull, lacerations to my face, and part of my ear was severed. I saw a place of warmth, love, and friendship. It was something like a tunnel but not round. It was a walkway type tunnel that you see joining buildings or stores together, the type that goes over a street, not narrow, but wide. I walked along it, or it felt like I was walking but I don't remember my feet moving. It was not bright on the sides of the walkway, but it was not dark either. When I reached the end of the tunnel, I could see people. It appeared to be only from their waist up. It was not scary at all. Everyone was smiling and happy. I saw faces that I recognized. I saw both my grandfathers and my father. It was very dark behind their bodies and I felt the presence of multitudes of others behind them. Someone was shaking my hand as if to greet me. I think it was my father. He died of Alzheimer's disease and was a mess when he died. But now he was upright and looking healthy and I realized just how short he really was. All these people were so very happy to see me. At that point I felt the need to go back to the living. It was not a horrifying feeling but just a point where it was time to decide. I still don't think the decision to go back was mine. I feel someone decided it for me. My hand was still holding (not shaking anymore in greeting) the person who I first started shaking hands with. The hand was very warm and soothing. My hand slowly and gently slipped away as I floated backwards to the living world. Then it was over. I was back. In retrospect, I am not afraid of dying now. ----------------------------------- > Let's think about Heaven All of those wonderful Bible heroes who are memorialized in God's hall of fame, the 11th chapter of Hebrews, considered themselves pilgrims and strangers here because they all looked for that Heavenly City which hath Foundations, the one country that really belonged to them and that they belonged to. They were able to endure all kinds of tribulation on Earth and suffering and hard work and even torture and death because they looked forward to that City. 2 Corinthians 5:1—A building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. So it pays to think about Heaven and talk about Heaven and try to visualize Heaven and what you have to look forward to—knowing that the suffering of this present time is nothing compared to the glories that we are going to share in the near future. 2 Corinthians 4:17–18—For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, (18) while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Colossians 3:1–2—If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Hebrews 13:14—For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. The Heavenly City, which will come down from God out of Heaven and dwell with men! This is the hope of all ages: That now-unseen Eternal World where we shall dwell with Him forever! That's what we're all looking forward to!—Not pie in the sky, but Heaven on Earth!—A New Heaven and a New Earth with its Eternal City! ----------------------------------- Another destination: Hell Of course, not everyone who dies is heading for Heaven. All do, however, pass on into the unseen world of the spirit and some go to Hell. What is Hell? It is the antithesis of Heaven. In every way that Heaven is beautiful, Hell is devoid of beauty. Imagine your worst nightmare and you have a taste of Hell. (You could read Luke 16:19–26, the parable of Lazarus the beggar and the rich man, for a description of Hell.) ----------------------------------- * Prayer ----------------------------------- Paul the Apostle, when writing to some of his followers about heavenly things, told them that he prayed continually, Ephesians 1:17–18—That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, (18) the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. (continued in part 2)