SECURE A BEAUTIFUL HOME FOR YOURSELF IN HEAVEN

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism) DIP, BA, (Theology) MA, PhD

SECURE A BEAUTIFUL HOME FOR YOURSELF IN HEAVEN

“... In MY FATHER’S HOUSE are {already} many mansions...And if I go, I will come back and take you to be with me...” {John 14:2-3}.

                           

INTRODUCTION:

     The book of Deuteronomy chapter twenty-six verse fifteen pictures Heaven as the dwelling place of GOD. JESUS confirms this, as He refers to it as “His Father’s HOUSE,” {John 14:3}, which He says believers would also live in,{Vs. 3}. In line with this, the Book of Revelation foreshadows the consummation of the promise, when it says, “After this, I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the THRONE and in front of the LAMB...” {7:9-10}.

     But, according to Louis Berkhof, “many conceive of heaven as a subjective condition, which men may enjoy in the present, and which in the way of righteousness will naturally become permanent in the future. However, the Scripture clearly presents Heaven as a place, for it records that CHRIST ascended into Heaven, which can only mean that He went from one place to another, {Acts 1:11}

NATURE OF HEAVEN

     Prophet Isaiah describes heaven as a high place, {Isa. 57:15}, as the Psalmist pictures it as a holy place, {Psalm 20:6}, John, the revelator, cites it as a happy place {Rev. 7:17}, as well as a place without death, {Rev. 21:4}. Heaven is further described as a place without night or darkness {Rev. 22:3-5}, and, as a place without hunger, thirst or excessive heat, {Rev. 7:16}. No wonder, Hannah Moore in Lockyer {1964:289}, talks of heaven as a place of “perfect purity, fulness of joy, everlasting freedom, health and fruition, complete security and eternal good,” as Lockyer posits that the “reunion with loved ones in heaven, fellowship with renowned saints, the absence of all sins, sorrow, pain and death, the conscious presence of GOD and the SIGHT of CHRIST combine to make Heaven the sphere of inexpressible felicity.”

KING OF HEAVEN

The LORD GOD is the KING OF HEAVEN, the earth, and every other planet. For, “HE HAS established HIS THRONE in Heaven, and HIS KINGDOM rules over all,” {Ps. 103:19}. According to Prophet Daniel... “thrones were put in place and the  ANCIENT OF DAYS took HIS SEAT. HIS clothing was as white as snow, and the hair of HIS HEAD as white as wool, HIS THRONE was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before HIM...” {Dan. 7:9-10}.

     In Isaiah chapter sixty-six verse one, heaven is said to be the THRONE of GOD, and the earth HIS FOOTSTOOL. This indicates that HE REIGNS over the heavens and the earth, which, according to Herbert Lockyer, the Jews of the old recognized  as three heavens, namely; the atmospheric heaven, where birds fly, wind blows, and the showers, mists, vapour  and the sun, moon and starry host, {Gen. 1:1}, as the heaven of heavens, where GOD dwells, is spoken of as the place of HIS immediate presence, {Ps. 11:4}.

SUBJECTS OF HEAVEN

     Lockyer further remarks that, “heaven is the final abode of all those redeemed by the BLOOD of CHRIST, an regenerated by the HOLY SPIRIT, {Titus 3:5}, and so, “the fearful and unbelieving, the abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars,” will not be there, {Rev. 21:8}. Also, the devil and his angels will not be in heaven {Matt. 6:9}, together with all those who manifest the works of the flesh, such as, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness and revelries, {Gal. 5:19-21}.

     But, according to Alban Douglas {1991:230} “angels are there {Matt. 18:10}, Enoch {Gen. 5:24} and Elijah {2 Kings 2:11}.who were translated are there. Moses, who was buried by GOD {Matt. 17:4}, as well as all those who died or will be alive, trusting in JESUS till the end, will be there, {1 Thess. 4:1617}.

     In conclusion, please note that heaven is the opposite of hell, and one who fails to secure a beautiful home in heaven, automatically gets a place in hell, which is an abode of conscious pains and eternal sufferings {Luke 16:23-24}, as the Scripture does not speak of purgatory or limbo, which are baseless doctrines from the pit of hell to deceive. And, the idea that GOD will not punish sinners eternally in hell is the most dangerous religious deceit in history. For, “the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget GOD,{Ps. 9:17}. Therefore, “seek first the KINGDOM of GOD and HIS righteousness, and the things you need will be given to you as well,” {Matt. 6:33}. DON’T BE MISSING IN HEAVEN

REFERENCES:

     Douglas, Alan {1991} 100 Bible Lessons,

Overcomers Bookshop, Nigeria

Berkhof, Louis {1953}, Systematic Theology,

The Banner of Truth Trust, U.S.A.

Lockyer, Herbert {1964},  All the Doctrines of the Bible,

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan

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