Introduction
Scriptures offer descriptions and poetic images conveying heaven's splendour and majesty. The Old Testament often describes heaven as God's residing kingdom, while the New Testament predominantly emphasize heaven as the ultimate reward for righteousness and faith in Jesus Christ. Both emphases are correct.
Main Points: Revelation 21:1-2
- Characteristics of the divine realm: These scriptural portrayals of paradise emphasize the profound union with God that awaits believers, inspiring hope, and perseverance in the face of earthly challenges. We need to examine in some detail the characteristics and qualities of the divine realm:
- Perfect fellowship with God: Heaven signifies the complete realization of our relationship with the Creator Matthew 5:8 .
- Divine presence: The presence of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit permeates the heavenly kingdom, providing everlasting joy, love, and peace Revelation 22:3-4 .
- Eternal life: Heaven is described as a place where believers receive eternal life, transcending temporal existence and experiencing immortality Philippians 3:20-21 .
- No suffering: In heaven, all forms of earthly pain, sorrow, and affliction are eradicated, as God wipes away every tear Revelation 21:4 .
- Accessing Heaven: Accessing Heaven comprise of three facets for man: Salvation, Faith, and Righteousness
- Accepting God's gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ because His death and resurrection secure the possibility of eternal life for all who believe in Him John 3:16 .
- Repenting of sins and seeking forgiveness: True repentance involves a sincere change of heart and a commitment to turn away from sinful behaviours Acts 3:19 .
- Living a righteous life in alignment with Christ's teachings and bearing fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control Galatians 5:22-23 .
Through salvation in Christianity, faith in Jesus Christ, and a commitment to living a righteous life, believers can attain the promise of eternal life in the heavenly kingdom, experiencing perfect union with the Almighty.
Memory Verse
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands— 2 Corinthians 5:1
This house that we have on earth, the moment it is erected begins to decay. Left to the elements eventually goes back to dust. But the house that we will occupy in heaven is not made of materials that will decay, rather, it is made by God – it is eternal in the heavens John 14:3
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