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Remember in Your Prayers
Robert Allen, Sage
Tomlinson, Trina Burton, Zelma Crothers, Lois Braman, Lois Cooper, Roy Stevens &
Jobeth Parsons
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HEAVEN
It has been rewarding and enjoyable to
think about heaven for the last several Sunday evenings. I think none of our
One Another group topics has generated as much discussion during and between
classes as this one. As we have emphasized from the beginning, the Bible gives
teachings that point us toward legitimately using our imaginations. As a
Christian family we are meant for joy and a part of that is to share the happy
ideas we have of where we are going! I have been asked several times what my
beliefs are about heaven. You can follow the handout sheets for much of my
thoughts, but let me get more specific about some things:
In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1). What was made was not just like what we now
experience as the physical world for it was not yet subject to the forces of sin
and its curses (Gen 3:16-19). Now we know only a cosmos that is mixed with
thorns, pain, decay, disease, evils, and death. It has always been God’s plan
to provide an idyllic setting for His people Isaiah 65:17-25 is a
remarkable passage with staggering implications. Created order is to be
renewed: “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former
things [the current existence - CC] shall not be remembered or come to mind.”
The latter phrase should figure greatly in how we think of heaven: no longings
of something or someone we will miss.
Isaiah
uses aspects of this life to create poetic impressions of a next life beyond
imaginations - a totally happy, secure and peaceful place. The end of death is
depicted in terms of impossibly long adolescence and life spans. It will be a
place where the inhabitants reap the benefits of everything they do - no
destruction, conquering, or stealing.
The passage also refers to the new existence as
“Jerusalem,” just as John does when writing of the new heavens and new earth in
Revelation 21:1-2,10 (things “coming down out of heaven from God” are not
to be thought of as separate from heaven, but as heavenly things. It is, after
all, a whole new existence. The phrase “kingdom of heaven” means heaven or the
things thereof.). John also sees the “first heaven and first earth” [the
current existence] as having passed away. The whole point is “all things are
new” (vs.5).
This fits well with 2 Peter 3:10-13.
There, the heavens and earth we know are to be destroyed. This is Isaiah’s
“former things” and John’s “first” cosmos. Then Peter says, “We are looking
forward for new heavens and a new earth” and adds the summary beautiful
description “in which righteousness dwells.”
Heaven is
somehow a renewed universe, without sin and curse and all that results from a
fallen world. It is never described as an immaterial, spirit only, wispy cloud
nine place where worshippers seek not to grow weary of praise! In fact,
scripture points toward things to be and do in a world of . . . . . Well,
more on that next time!
Clif
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