12 FOUNDATION STONES—CLASS 9B HEAVEN, NOW AND FOREVER PART 2.2 ------------------------------------------- Section 2: Our Heavenly Co-Workers ------------------------------------------- > Heaven is a busy place Job 1:6a; 2:1a—Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord. (1) Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord. Revelation W4:2, 6, 9–10; 5:11—Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in Heaven, and One sat on the throne. (6) Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. (9) Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, (10) the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne. (5:11) Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. Being in Heaven does not mean an eternity of nothingness, but a whole new life of movement, action, learning, and achievement. When you read the book of Revelation, you'll see there are lots of things happening!—People coming and going, trumpets blowing, singing, praising, people being called in for audiences, sent on assignments, and more! > Helping those on Earth From the Scriptures we can see that one of the activities of Heaven's inhabitants is helping those of us still alive here on Earth. Those in Heaven are not only observing our activities, but they are assigned by the Lord to actively assist and sometimes communicate with us on Earth. Some examples of God using the spirits of departed believers to communicate with those still living on Earth are found in the account of the spirits of the departed prophets, Moses and Elijah, appearing and conferring with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration; and Saint John's account in the book of Revelation of his conversation with a heavenly messenger sent by God to reveal to him mysteries of the future. Let's look at some of the Scriptures that explain this. > The cloud of witnesses—Hebrews 12:1 The 11th chapter of the New Testament Book of Hebrews is an inspiring account of the faith and exploits of many of the most outstanding men and women of God who appear in the Old Testament. Immediately following this listing of heroes and heroines of faith, we are told in the first verse of the next chapter, Hebrews 12:1—Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. The original manuscript of the New Testament was not divided into chapters, so you've got to keep in mind the chapter before this (11) in order to know what "great cloud of witnesses" he's talking about. Those who have already gone on to be with the Lord are watching us, praying for us, and trying to help us. > Delivering prophecies In almost every case of the Biblical prophets there was some spiritual agent or an angel or someone helping him most of the time. Time and again when the prophets revealed something, they said the angel of the Lord or someone else was there showing them. So it must have been the angel who was communicating those visions, and the prophet was able to see what God was showing the angel to show to the prophet to pass on to the people. Daniel 8:13a—Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking. Daniel 8:15—Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. Daniel 9:21–23—Yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. (22) And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. (23) At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:" Daniel 12:5–7—Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. (6) And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?" (7) Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. Ezekiel 40:1–4—In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured, on the very same day the hand of the Lord was upon me; and He took me there. (2) In the visions of God He took me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a city. (3) He took me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze. He had a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand, and he stood in the gateway. (4) And the man said to me, "Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you; for you were brought here so that I might show them to you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see." Zechariah 1:9—Then I said, "My lord, what are these?" So the angel who talked with me said to me, "I will show you what they are." Zechariah 2:3—And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him. Matthew 1:20—But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 2:13—Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." Luke 1:11–13—Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. (12) And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. (13) But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias." Revelation 1:1—The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants— things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John. ------------------------------------------- > Heavenly communication Isaiah 30:21—Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. Zephaniah 3:9—For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord. Communication in the spirit world may be different than in this physical world, and perhaps includes thought transference. This helps to explain how we receive messages from those beyond, as they usually communicate directly in our thoughts. ------------------------------------------- Try the spirits ------------------------------------------- Of course, not every communication from the spirit world comes from a good source. In this class we are focusing on angels or men and women who loved the Lord in their lifetimes and went on to help from Heaven. There is another side to spiritual communication—the darker side. Not every spirit is from the Lord and not every prophecy is inspired by Him! I John 4:1–3—Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. As the Word says, you must "test the spirits" through His Word so that you will not be led astray. The judgment of prophecies was explained in the classes on prophecy and you may like to review this subject. ------------------------------------------- > The book of Revelation ------------------------------------------- In chapter 19 of the book of Revelation, written by the apostle John, after receiving a glorious revelation of the future from a heavenly being, he writes, Revelation 19:9–10—Then he said to me, "Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." (10) And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." A similar passage from chapter 22 says, Revelation 22:8–9—Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. (9) Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." The book of Revelation contains a number of other passages where John records messages he received from departed saints. Revelation 6:9–11—When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held. (10) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (11) Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. It is interesting that in this passage John sees and hears the so-called "dead," and identifies these "souls" as "fellowservants" and "brethren"—the same terms applied to the messenger that he fell down to worship in the previously quoted text. It's also noteworthy that these spirits who had already left this life still expressed concern about "them that dwell on the earth." In chapter 7, John describes more astounding sights and sounds he partook of during a spiritual trip to Heaven: Revelation 7:9–14—After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, (10) and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (11) All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, (12) saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen." (13) Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" (14) And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Here John beholds an innumerable multitude of people in Heaven, and he then carries on a two-way conversation with one of them, an "elder," who clearly appears to be a departed believer. In chapter 5, verse 9, these same "elders" proclaim to Jesus, "You have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation," showing that indeed these elders are departed brethren. ------------------------------------------- > Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration ------------------------------------------- Another outstanding appearance of two renowned departed saints is recounted in three of the four Gospels, in the description of Moses' and Elijah's meeting with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. These two prophets had left this life hundreds of years earlier, but held what was no doubt an important conference with the Lord shortly before His crucifixion. Luke 9:28–31—He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. (29) And as He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. (30) And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. > The saved of all ages can communicate with those still in this life The privilege of helping those still in this life is not limited to personalities from the Bible. The saved of all ages who have passed on to the spirit world can communicate with us. Our loved ones who have passed on, and those unknown to us personally, may on occasion deliver messages from Heaven. One example of this is the founder of our movement, David Berg, who departed this life in 1994. It makes sense that those who devote their lives to sharing the good news of Jesus' love will want to continue doing so when they pass on beyond, so the Lord gives them opportunities to communicate with us. ------------------------------------------- Section 3: Getting Ready for Heaven ------------------------------------------- > Getting this far It’s like the old lady when they made fun of her because she believed that when she died she was going to go to Heaven. "Ah," they said, "didn't you know all that stuff's been debunked and there's no such thing as God and Heaven? That's ridiculous to believe like that!" She said, "Well, even if it isn't so, I sure have had a good time getting this far!" Think that one over! Even if we don't get to enjoy it forever, we've had a good time getting this far, haven't we? But the fact is we are going to enjoy it forever! Heaven is our destination! > We don't have to fear death 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. Romans 7:24–25a—O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (25a) I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! For us, as believers, death will have no sting because our sins are forgiven, and the grave will have no victory because we have won the victory over the grave through Christ and our salvation and our eventual resurrection. Our spirits are immediately free to go be with the Lord, so it's not really death for us in the same way it is for others. We don't really "die" in the sense that they die. That's why we don't really like to call it "dying" or "death." It's better to call it "graduation," "passing on" or "promotion." It's just like passing from one room to another. It's a very beautiful experience for most people who know and love the Lord. John 11:25–26—Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. (26) And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." John 8:51—Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My Word he shall never see death. Jesus Himself said we don't really die! He doesn't even want to call it death or dying. At times when they said somebody was dead or had died, He said they were "sleeping." He didn't even want to say that they were dead. At least apparently their body was sleeping and probably their spirits had an after-death experience or life after life. Matthew 9:24—He said to them, "Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping." And they ridiculed Him. John 11:11—He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." Whenever it comes and whenever we go to be with the Lord, however we go to be with the Lord, our entry into the next world is going to be a wonderful experience! Our place in Heaven is guaranteed! Matthew 16:28a—Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death. Psalm 23:4a—Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. Hebrews 2:14b–15—That through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil, (15) and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. > Dying Grace You don't have to worry about death and fear it and wonder about what's going to happen when you die. When it comes the Lord will give you dying grace and dying will probably be the easiest thing you ever did. The hard thing is to live!—Right? It's like what Dwight L. Moody told the old ladies when they asked him, "Doctor Moody, have you got dying grace?"—Two self-righteous Holiness sisters who figured, of course, they had dying grace already! He shocked them by saying, "No, sisters, I'm sorry, I don't have dying grace!" "You mean, you, the great D.L. Moody, the great evangelist, you don't have dying grace yet?" He said, "No sisters—I'm not dying yet!" Out of sight, but not gone I am standing on the seashore. A ship spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the ocean. I stand watching her until she fades on the horizon, and someone at my side says, "She is gone." Gone where? The loss of sight is in me, not in her. Just at the moment when someone says, "She is gone," there are others who are watching her coming. Other voices take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!" That is dying. ------------------------------------------- The other side—those who die without the Lord We've talked a lot about Heaven and we haven't talked much about what happens to those who die without knowing the Lord. Most of the people whose Near-Death Experiences we've heard about must have been saved, or at least good people, and that's why they all had such good experiences. However there have been other studies of other kinds of people, some of them not so good and criminals and whatnot, and some of their experiences were not so happy, it was more like a bad drug trip! There is a Hell and a very unhappy side to eternity, but we don't have time to get into it in this class. ------------------------------------------- > Our lives are in the Lord's hands. He'll bring us Home when it is time. As much as we're looking forward to Heaven, we should never consider taking matters into our own hands. God knows when and how we're supposed to die. If you love the Lord, God has appointed a time and a place for you to die when your job is done. Psalm 48:14—For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death. We do not consider suicide an acceptable act in the eyes of God. Anyone who commits suicide is robbing God of the life that He has given them to serve others! God knows when and how you're supposed to die, and we should each wait for God to make the decision and have His way, whatever it is, and not die at our own hand. Life is a precious thing, given to us by God, and though He has given man the freedom of choice, He means for you to leave with Him the choice of when your physical body dies and you return to His arms. God has His Own timetable for each person on Earth, and when your time is up, He'll call you Home. This present life on Earth is for a reason. There are lessons to be learned to prepare us for Heaven, and it's wisest and best for each of us to live our lives on Earth through to the end in order to be prepared and learn what we need to learn before our arrival in Heaven! Although Heaven has wonderful beauties and glories, including freedom from the pain and suffering that exists in our earthly life, those who end their lives prematurely will have to face the consequences of their action once they get to the other side. They will have to learn the lessons that the Lord wants them to learn from their wrong decision. They will still have to face the sorrow, pain, and suffering which they have caused their friends, relatives, and loved ones. Self-destruction is no victory. It could come under the classification of the Scripture about respecting the "temple of God" which you are: 1 Corinthians 3:16–17b—Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (17b) … For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. The worst disrespect of all would be to destroy your own body. We need to wait for God to make the decision of when our life on Earth should be over. We have no right to destroy the God-given life which He's given us to live for Him and others! ------------------------------------------- NDE: June's story (As told by her doctor:) June had had a cardiac arrest at the age of five during surgery to repair her heart valves and to install a pacemaker. She often talked about her near-death experience, mainly because it was such a beautiful event that it always seemed to be with her. Although she was deeply anesthetized during the surgery, she suddenly found herself floating above the doctors, watching them as they worked. She could recount details: the appearance of certain instruments, for instance, and the fact that one of the doctors was right-handed and the other left-handed. When the doctors began their procedure to restart her heart, she found herself leaving the operating room and traveling down a long tunnel. At the other end, she was bathed in light, a bright warm light that she always described as "the Light of God." As she later told her husband, Don, "I was never afraid again after I experienced the light. I know that I can die at any time, and yet I have no fear." It was the experience of this light that gave her such a positive outlook on life. Without it, much of her life would have been dark. Her parents died when she was young. Her sister died of a drug overdose at the age of eighteen. June knew that pacemakers sometimes stop working, causing heart failure, but she didn't dwell on it. "I was more afraid than she was," said Don. "She had no fear because she had seen the light." The day before she died June was having a cup of coffee at her kitchen table, when her dead sister appeared. She stood before her and announced, "June, it's time to go." Then the apparition sat down across the table and drank a cup of coffee. When the apparition finished, she simply got up and left the house. June felt that she couldn't tell her husband what had happened. Instead, she called the aunt and uncle who had raised her and told them about the peculiar occurrence. "I am going to die, and I just wanted to say good-bye," she said. Then she called her two brothers. She told them not to mention their conversation to her husband until she died because it would be too upsetting for him. She simply told Don how happy he had made her. She was glad to have such a beautiful home and a wonderful child. Nothing could have made her happier. That night she died in her sleep (at age 28) because her pacemaker failed. Her heart simply stopped. ------------------------------------------- > We can prepare for Heaven by pleasing the Lord ------------------------------------------- Our lives in the world to come depend upon the choices that we make while on Earth. Those who choose to love God and receive Him and try to do good and love their fellow man will be blessed with love in the world to come. On the other hand, those who hate and destroy and kill will be judged in the world to come, and they will suffer for their choices and for their lack of love. If we want to go to be with the Lord in Heaven, if you have received the Lord into your heart, that's what counts! You're saved! John 6:37b—And the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. However, if we want the Lord to rejoice at our arrival and if we want rewards, then we need to do the things that please Him. We have already prepared for Heaven by receiving the Lord. Now our lives need to show and manifest our faith. Remember what Jesus told us: Revelation 14:13—Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on, and their works follow them. Matthew 16:27—For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. A good question to ask yourself at the end of each day is: "What have I done with my life this day? What did I do for Jesus? What did I do for others?" Believers will be rewarded at the Judgment of Jesus Christ, the Throne of Christ. For many, the greatest part of our reward will be meeting people that we have helped, especially meeting people in whose salvation we were involved. When these people get to Heaven, they're going to be so thankful and appreciative because we were instrumental in bringing them into that heavenly Kingdom! ------------------------------------------- Rewards in Heaven ------------------------------------------- Matthew 6:19–21—Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 25:31–40—When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. (32) All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. (33) And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. (34) Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (35) for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; (36) I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' (37) Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? (38) When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? (39) Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' (40) And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Psalm 62:12—Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for You render to each one according to his work. Jeremiah 17:10—I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Revelation 22:12—And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 2 Corinthians 5:10—For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ------------------------------------------- Heaven is full of sinners! ------------------------------------------- Heaven is full of normal people, just like we are. Anyone who arrives in Heaven is there because they are saved by grace, not because they're some sort of holy, self-righteous hypocritical type of person! This song expresses the thought very well. Heaven Is Full of Sinners By Jeremy Spencer I know Heaven is full of sinners You never thought you would see. They were lost, humble, loving sinners Jesus came to free. I know Heaven is full of sinners, People like you and me. All so happy to be forgiven For eternity! You can never be too bad for Jesus, Only too good! Heaven's open to all who will receive Him If only they would! I know Heaven is full of sinners. We just might be surprised At the characters we will meet There In our Home up high! They're our sisters And they're our brothers, All saved by grace. Sinning saints! There are no others In that heavenly Place! (End)