SOUNDS OF ETERNITY

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

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

SOUNDS OF ETERNITY

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt”

{Danial 12:2}

INTRODUCTION:

     According to the Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, “eternity is time without end”, “the future life, and period of time that is endless”... The New Webster’s  Dictionary of the English Language, in another scholarly output describes “eternity” as “the endless state after death”. In the words of Reginald Heber, “eternity has no gray hair! The flowers fade, the heart wither, man grow old and dies, the world lies down in the sepulchre of ages, but time writes no wrinkles on the brow of eternity,” and this, therefore, implies that “eternity” is a changeless, as well as, an endless period.

BIBLICAL TERMS FOR ETERNITY

     The Bible uses three outstanding terms to convey the idea of “eternity” and these are; “everlasting”, “eternal” and “forever”. The prophet Daniel favours the word “everlasting”, which denotes, “something going on forever,” as he says, “many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt”, {Dan. 12:2}. Saint Matthew prefers the use of the word “eternal”, painting the concept, which means something that has no beginning or ending, and lasting forever, as he narrates that, “the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal,” {Matt. 25:46}, as John, the revelator, picks up the word “forever”, which carries the idea of endlessness, as he portrays the notion of eternity, when he says, “and the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophets are, and shall be tormented day and night, forever and ever, {Rev. 20:10}

BIBLICAL HOMES IN ETERNITY

     When we talk of homes in eternity, we refer to homes beyond our present earthly homes. No doubt, homes in eternity are homes people after death, and GOD HAS only two homes for people during eternity, which of course, rules out the idea of purgatory and limbo, which the Scripture says nothing about. Biblically speaking, two homes exist, where people will spend eternity, and those are; “heaven” and “hell”. Heaven is a place of eternal happiness for the righteous, “then shall the KING say unto them on his right hand,  come, you blessed of my FATHER, inherit kingdom prepared

for you from the foundation of the world”{Matt. 25:34}, whereas, “hell” is a place of everlasting punishment for the wicked, “then shall HE say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels,” {Matt. 25:41}.

EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE IN ETERNITY

     The Bible pictures Davis, simply referred to, as “The Rich man,” and Lazarus, the beggar, as examples of eternity of torments and happiness. The Rich Man considered it not wise to serve God in his life time, whereas, Lazarus in his poverty, was committed to the worship and service of GOD, and accordingly, their individual decisions while alive earned them their respective homes in eternity. Thus, the Scripture says, “and it came to pass, that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; the Rich Man also died and was buried; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But, Abraham said, son, remember that in your life time, you received good things, and Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented,” {Luke 16:22-25}.

STEPS TO ETERNITY IN HEAVEN

     Contrary to the erroneous views of some religious groups, which deny the realities of eternal torments of the wicked in hell, as well as the blissful state of the righteous in paradise, the Bible, even as this gospel project portrays, clearly shows that souls will live eternally after death, either in heaven or hell. Based on this fact, the writer shows how to escape the torments of hell, if one desires the eternal bliss of the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN:

Step 1: You must realise that you were affected by the original sin of Adam and eve. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin: and so, death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” {Rom. 5:12}.

Step 2: You must repent of your sins, if you want to go to heaven. “I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish,” {Luke 13:3}.

Step 3: You must confess all known sins which you have committed. “If we confess ours sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from unrighteousness, {1John 1:9}.

Step 4: You must forsake your sins in order to obtain mercy

from the LORD. “He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy,” {Prov. 28:13}.

Step 5: You must receive the SON of GOD by faith into your heart as your personal LORD and SAVIOUR. “But as many as received HIM, to them gave HE POWER to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on HIS NAME, {Jn. 1:12}.

Step 6: You must begin and continue to worship GOD in spirit and truth. “GOD is a SPIRIT and they that worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and truth,” {John 4:24}.

Step 7: You must live the life of holiness everyday if you wish to finally see HIM in GLORY. “Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no one shall see the LORD,” {Heb. 12:14}.

     In conclusion, don’t forget that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of GOD. “Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abuser of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkard, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of GOD,” {1 Cor. 6:9-10}. And, if one does not inherit the KINGDOM of GOD, one definitely, will be turned into hell, {Psalm 9:17}. BE INFORMED!

    

This tract is God's message and property in your hands. Don't destroy it.

Read and pass it on.

Your financial support for soul winning, for CHRIST, is welcomed through UBA Acc. No. 2003513589