INTRODUCTION
This article is a revision of the section entitled “Heaven is Too Unimaginably Wonderful to Miss” at pages 35-37 of The Salvation Meter book. There are two basic reasons I revised this section.
First, a sermon is never finished, merely preached. In the same way, there will always be ways, as well as a need, to revise and improve the discussion of this crucial reason why a person should use The Salvation Meter. My hope is this revision will give the book a “dynamic” aspect.
Second, this revision contains much more detailed information and discussion than in The Salvation Meter book. Through these additional materials, I hope this revision assists anyone who reads, teaches, preaches, or merely considers the substance of this test. I sincerely hope these revisions increase your excitement about one day making your eternal abode in Heaven.
REVISED DISCUSSION
Background
Sometimes song titles say it so short and to the point, like Loretta Lynn’s song title “If you miss heaven (You’ll miss it all).” Heaven is so wonderful that no one wants to be shut out for eternity. This would be true even if hell did not exist. But, since hell is a terrifying reality and the only other eternal destination is heaven, heaven is the only sane choice!
The splendor of heaven came home for me when I took the time to read and study about the realities of eternal life in the context of the New Heavens, the New Earth, and the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-2). While I always knew heaven would be terrific, I did not appreciate just how marvelous my, as well as every believer’s, future will be.
To better appreciate the beauty of heaven, I looked for pertinent Scripture via the relevant topical indices (1356-1367) in the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible. I supplemented my findings with excerpts from The Glory of Heaven by John MacArthur (published in 1996 by Crossway Books, Wheaton, Illinois), and Heaven by Randy Alcorn (published in 2004 by Tyndale House in Wheaton, Illinois).
God is the Builder of a Believer’s Eternal Abode in the New Heavens
Heaven possesses many wonderful attributes. That makes sense because Almighty God is the architect and builder of Heaven. Referring to Abraham, Hebrews 11:9–10 (NASB95) reads:
9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Abraham was looking for the heavenly city – the city of the living God. Abraham’s vision was of the eternal and not of the earthly. He was a nomad in this life as he sought the only real permanent dwelling which is God’s eternal city. See MacArthur at p.p. 89-90. It seems this could be the yet to be “new Jerusalem.” One commentary reads:
VER. 10. The city that hath foundations.—This is not the earthly Jerusalem (Grot., etc.), but the heavenly (Gal. 4:28), which (ch. 12:22) is called the city of the living God, and (13:14) the city that is to be, whose foundations also are mentioned (Rev. 21:14). In so far as God projected the plan of this city, He is called its τεχνίτης, and as the one who executes this plan, its δημιουργός.
Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., Moll, C. B., & Kendrick, A. C. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Hebrews (p. 186). Logos Bible Software.
The NASB95 translates the Greek noun technitēs as “architect” and it means one who customarily engages in a particular craft or occupation—‘craftsman. See Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 515). United Bible Societies. The NASB95 translates the Greek noun dēmlourgos as “builder” and it means one who creates a construction, involving both design and building (often used in reference to divine activity). See Louw et al., supra, at Vol. 1, p. 519. It is exciting to realize that the one true living God is the craftsman and builder of a believer’s heaven abode. Nothing will be lacking in a believer’s heavenly home that displays the stamp “designed and built by God – the Creator of the universe.” Whatever God builds will last. See Alcorn at p. 245.
Just think! According to John 14:2–4 (NASB95), Jesus Christ, a believer’s Lord and Savior, made a dwelling place [monē] for every believer:
2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 “And you know the way where I am going.”
The NASB95 translates the Greek adjective monē as “dwelling places” and it means:
a place where one may remain or dwell—‘place, dwelling place.’ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ πατρός μου μοναὶ πολλαί εἰσιν ‘in my Father’s house are many dwelling places’ Jn 14:2; ἐλευσόμεθα καὶ μονὴν παῤ αὐτῷ ποιησόμεθα ‘I will come and live with him’ (literally ‘… and make my dwelling place with him’) Jn 14:23.
Louw et al., supra, at Vol. 1, p. 731.
Monē is used only one other time in the New Testament; namely, in John 14:23 (NASB95), which reads:
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
Here, monē is a noun the NASB95 translates as “our abode.” For a believer to die means they will be present with the Lord Jesus Christ per 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NASB95), which reads:
8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
Randy Alcorn writes at page 182 [italics in original]:
Jesus indwells us now, and perhaps he will then, but he will also physically reside on the earth with us. Have you ever imagined what it would be like to walk the earth with Jesus, as the disciples did? Have you ever wished you had that opportunity? You will – on the New Earth.
Jesus comforts His disciples, as well as every believer, that He goes “to prepare a place” for them. The NASB95 translates the Greek verb hetoimazō as “to prepare” and it means to cause to be ready—‘to make ready, to prepare. See Louw et al., supra, at Vol. 1, p. 682. The NASB95 translates the Greek noun topos as “a place,” and it means an area of any size, regarded in certain contexts as a point in space—‘space, place, room.’ See Louw et al. supra, at Vol. 1, p. 706.
Whatever space or area a believer’s Lord and Savior Jesus Christ causes to be ready in which they will abide forever with God the Father and God the Son has to be so awesome it is beyond our earthly comprehension. John MacArthur writes at p. 143:
He [Jesus] is personally preparing rooms in the Father’s own house for each one of the elect! That promises us the most intimate fellowship imaginable with the living God.
We cannot lose sight of the fact that a believer’s future topos is real and a part of God the Father’s own house (Psalm 23:6). See MacArthur at p. 107. It is an actual place. See Alcorn at p. 80. There will plenty of room. Randy Alcorn quotes D. A. Carson at page 321:
The point is not the lavishness of each apartment, but the fact that such ample provision has been made that there is more than enough space for every one of Jesus’ disciples to join him in his Father’s home.
Finally, God will provide a lot of “new” things per Revelation 21:1–2 (NASB95):
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
The NASB95 translates the Greek adjective kainos as “new.” Louw et al., supra, at Vol. 1, p. 593, defines kainos as follows:
pertaining to that which is new or recent and hence superior to that which is old—‘new.
MacArthur points out that kainos means the “new” will be different.
Kainos has theological significance per the “Little Kittel:”
2. Theological Data. kainós denotes the new and miraculous thing that the age of salvation brings. It is thus a key teleological term in eschatological promise: the new heaven and earth in Rev. 21:1; 2 Pet. 3:13, the new Jerusalem in Rev. 3:12; 21:2, the new wine in Mk. 14:25, the new name in Rev. 2:17; 3:12, the new song in Rev. 5:9, the new creation in Rev. 21:5.
Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume (p. 388). W.B. Eerdmans.
What a thrill to know that something brand new awaits a believer! One translation handbook stresses the newness:
A new heaven and a new earth: the words emphasize the fact that the old universe has not been renewed but has been replaced. A new creation has taken place (see Isa 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13).
Bratcher, R. G., & Hatton, H. (1993). A handbook on the Revelation to John (p. 296). United Bible Societies.
The newness is in a physical sense per one commentary, which reads:
Newness here carries with it the idea, not of a spiritual existence, but of a new creation of the material world (Gen 1:1; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; Eph. 2:10; 4:24). Indeed, salvation includes the entire universe because all of creation must be renewed to serve as an appropriate abode for the faithful saints. Thus, the Bible places humanity in a restored heaven and earth from which evil is banished and the righteous reign supreme, rather than in a spiritual realm separate from the physical (Dan. 12:3–4).
Yeatts, J. R. (2003). Revelation (p. 399). Herald Press.
Truly, “something better is a coming!” And, the “better” is beyond what we can imagine.
A Believer Will See and Experience the Glorified Jesus Christ is in Heaven
There are many verses that teach the presence in Heaven of the risen glorified Lord Jesus Christ. One particularly riveting passage reports Stephen’s vision just before he was to physically die. Acts 7:55–56 (NASB95) reads:
55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Just imagine the comfort Stephen experienced! He was about to pass from this earthly life and he saw where he was heading. What Stephen saw was real! His eyes were opened to reveal a heretofore hidden dimension of spiritual reality. Even though it is hidden, it still exists in space and time. See Alcorn at p. 48. Stephen’s vision of the reality of heaven should give us goose bumps. One commentary reads::
This vision positively culminates the climactic thesis of Stephen’s sermon: God dwells in heaven, not in temples made with hands (7:48–50). The Son of Man standing at the right hand of God is at the center of Stephen’s attention and the heart of his confession. Son of Man, a phrase otherwise present primarily on the lips of Jesus during his earthly ministry, points at once to Jesus’ incarnation, saving death and resurrection, and heavenly exaltation, universal dominion, and glorious future reign (Mt 8:20; Lk 9:22, 44; 18:31; 19:10; 21:27, 36; 22:69/Dan 7:13; Ps 110:1). When we think of the title against its background (Dan 7), the divine nature of this figure comes to the fore.
By this confession Stephen and Luke invite us to see Jesus for who he really is, and in that vision to recognize him as worthy of worship, of complete devotion and obedience even to death.
Larkin, W. J., Jr. (1995). Acts (Vol. 5, Ac 7:55–58). IVP Academic.
Some day every believer will see Jesus Christ in His physical resurrected, glorified body and in all His glory!!!
A Believer Will Reign Forever and Ever with God
A believer’s future is too wonderful for words. For example, a believer will reign forever with God per Revelation 22:3–5 (NASB95):
3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; 4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
The meek shall inherit the earth per Matthew 5:5. To reign forever and forever with God is beyond human comprehension. One commentator writes:
The concluding promise is that the city’s citizens will reign for ever and ever. Exactly what this means is not clear, but it is evidently part of their service to God. One of the promises Christ made to the overcomers early in Revelation was that they will share his rule (2:27; 5:10). In Revelation 11:15, “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.’ ” The final words of the last vision of Revelation show this as fully accomplished—but he fulfills it by sharing his rule with his servants.
Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation (Vol. 12, pp. 416–417). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
It should be no surprise that a believer will rule forever over lands, cities, and nations. See Alcorn at p. 208. Heaven will be much too good to miss.
Our future fellowship with God can be enjoyed today! MacArthur writes at p. 116:
Unfortunately, many Christians think that fellowship with God and enjoyment of heaven is impossible until we actually arrive there. But the real truth is that for Christians, eternal life is a present possession, not merely a future hope. We’re supposed to live as if our hearts are in heaven already. We can commune and fellowship with God even now – not face to face, but through prayer and the study of His Word.
What MacArthur writes should encourage us to increase and intensify our prayer life and our Bible engagement.
A Believer will have a Glorified Body in Heaven
One super exciting future condition is a believer will have a glorified body in Heaven. Philippians 3:20–21 (NASB95) reads:
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
A believer can look forward to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ transforming their body into a glorified body!!! No more aches and pains and all of the physical ailments that go along with the aging process.
The NASB95 translates the Greek verb metaschēmatizo, which is in the future tense, as “will transform.” This verb means to cause a change in the form of something—‘to change, to change from one form into another. See Louw et al., supra, at Vol. 1, p. 587. “Little Kitel” discusses it as follows:
Paul uses the verb in Phil. 3:21. Believers have the Spirit as an earnest of the consummation, but when Christ comes he will transfigure their present bodies of humiliation into bodies of glory.
Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume (p. 1130). W.B. Eerdmans.
The NASB95 translates the Greek adjective symmorphos as “into conformity” and it means pertaining to that which has a similar form or nature—‘similar in form, of the same form. See Louw et al., supra, at Vol. 1, p. 584. The expression “the body of His glory” refers to a believer’s future perfect body:
Our bodies get sick, hurt, desire sinful pleasures, grow old, and eventually die. Followers of Christ have the hope that life in this world is not the end. Someday, we will have a perfect body that will never die, a body like the one the Savior now has (1 John 3:2).
Anders, M. (1999). Galatians-Colossians (Vol. 8, p. 247). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Wow! I can only imagine what it will be like to someday have my personal glorified body. One commentator writes:
“Like his glorious body,” though an expression incapable of exact definition, sets the mind stretching to exalted heights, and raises hope to the boiling point.
Ash, A. L. (1994). Philippians, Colossians & Philemon (Php 3:21). College Press.
A Believer will be a Citizen of Heaven
Again, Philippians 3:20–21 (NASB95) reads:
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
John MacArthur points out that a believer has full rights of citizenship now. At p. 60, he writes:
There is another important sense in which heaven transcends normal time-space dimensions. According to Scripture, a mystery form of the kingdom of God – incorporating all of elements of heaven itself – is the spiritual sphere in which all true Christians live even now. The kingdom of heaven invades and begins to govern the life of every believer in Christ. Spiritually, the Christian becomes a part of heaven with full rights of citizenship here and now in this life.
Assuming you are a believer, take some time to ponder your present citizenship in Heaven. If you aren’t a believer, then I strongly refer you to pages 77-82 of The Salvation Meter where you take the necessary action to change your eternal status.
A Believer will have a Multitude of Holy Company in Heaven
A believer will have a multitude of holy company in Heaven. Revelation 7:9 (NASB95) reads:
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
Note that Heaven’s inhabitants will be from “every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues.” The diversity of the peoples in Heaven will beyond our human comprehension. As Randy Alcorn suggests (see p. 369), you may want to use your imagination about Heaven’s future citizens:
I believe we have more than just biblical permission to imagine resurrected races, tribes, and nations living together on the New Earth, we have a biblical mandate to do so. So close your eyes and imagine those ancient civilizations. Not just what they were, but what they yet will be.
It will be more exciting than people-watching in the International Terminal of Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
Death is Nonexistent in Heaven
A believer has nothing to fear about death. Randy Alcorn writes at pp. 450-451:
But it will be a wonderful, big adventure only for those who are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Those who die without Jesus will experience a horrifying tragedy. Of course, dying is not the real adventure. Death is merely the doorway to eternal life. The adventure is what comes after death – being in the presence of Christ.
Death is nonexistent in Heaven per 1 Corinthians 15:54–55 (NASB95), which reads:
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
A believer should not look at physical death as the end. But, instead, they should view physical death as the beginning of their final and never-ending adventure.
A Believer will not have to Worry about Losing Anything
A believer will not have to worry about losing anything as taught by Matthew 6:20 (NASB95), which reads:
20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
Heaven will be the place we cash in our true investment. Randy Alcorn writes at p. 357:
He [Jesus] suggested that by parting with treasures now, we invest them in Heaven, where they’ll be waiting for us when we arrive.
A believer will have a new store house in heaven. See MacArthur at p. 64. At p. 209, John MacArthur describes the extreme value of a believer’s treasure in heaven:
They shall have royal treasures, sufficient to support the dignity to which they are advanced. Since the street of the royal city is pure gold, and the twelve gates thereof are twelve pearls, their treasure must be of that which is better than gold or pearl. It is “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17).
A Believer will Receive Rewards for Enduring Suffering on Earth
There is much suffering and turmoil on earth. Yet, a believer will receive rewards for their suffering on earth. Matthew 5:11–12 (NASB95) reads:
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
One of these rewards will be ruling with Christ per Revelation 20:4 (NASB95):
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Randy Alcorn writes (p. 226), “Should we be excited that God will reward us by making us rulers in his Kingdom?” The answer is “YES!”
A Believer will Receive Rest from Their Labors
A beliver will receive rest from their labors. Revelation 14:13 (NASB95) reads:
13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”
A believer will want to rest per Hebrews 4:10–11 (NASB95):
10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
Randy Alcorn discusses (p. 317) rest in Heaven:
Eden is a picture of rest – work that’s meaningful and enjoyable, abundant food, a beautiful environment, unhindered friendship with God and other people and animals. Even with Eden’s restful perfection, one day was set aside for special rest and worship. Work will be refreshing on the New Earth, yet regular rest will be built into our lives.
At p. 258, MacArthur quotes a sermon by J. C. Ryle entitled “Home At Last!”:
Then we shall sit down at ease, for the Canaanite shall be expelled forever from the land. Now we are tossed upon a stormy sea, then we shall be safe in harbor. Now we have to plough and sow, then we shall reap the harvest; now we have the labor, but then the wages; now we have the battle, but then the victory and reward. Now we must needs bear the cross. But then we shall receive the crown. Now we are journeying through the wilderness, but then we shall be at home.
The prospect of heavenly rest should cause every believer to look forward to an eternity in Heaven.
A Believer will Not Experience Mourning, Crying or Pain
A believer will not experience mounring, crying or pain in Heaven. Revelation 21:4 (NASB95) paints an inviting picture of heaven:
4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
Randy Alcorn writes (p. 456) about life in Heaven:
With no fear that life will ever end or that tragedy will descend like a dark cloud. With no fear that dreams will be shattered or relationships broken.
What a joy to know that “the other shoe” will never fall.
A Believer will Receive Spiritual Crowns
The rewards a believer receives will be eternal. Paul stressed the difference between temporal and eternal when he wrote 1 Corinthians 9:25 (NASB95), which reads:
25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
The NASB95 translates the Greek adjective phthartos as “perishable” and it means pertaining to that which is bound to disintegrate and die—‘perishable, mortal. See Louw et al., supra, at Vol. 1, p. 266. The NASB95 translates the Greek adjective aphthartos as “imperishable” and it means to being not subject to decay and death—‘imperishable, immortal. See Louw et al., supra, at Vol. 1, p. 267. One commentator (Pratt, R. L., Jr. (2000). I & II Corinthians (Vol. 7, p. 152). Broadman & Holman Publishers) writes:
Third, unlike athletes who work hard to get a crown that will not last, a ceremonial wreath, Christians will receive a crown that will last forever (cf. 2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Pet. 5:4). By this latter crown Paul referred to eternal rewards such as everlasting life, not to temporal blessings. Christians endure for eternal glory (Rom. 2:7; 2 Tim. 2:10).
The kind of crown a believer receives is a crown of righteousness. 2 Timothy 4:8 (NASB95) reads:
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Larson (Larson, K. (2000). I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon (Vol. 9, p. 322). Broadman & Holman Publishers) writes:
Biblical writers often used the metaphor of a crown to describe the conferring of honor or reward. Paul used this metaphor in reference to the reward of righteousness that believers will receive when Christ returns. Though an individual receives the righteousness of Christ when he trusts in him as Savior, this righteousness is not fully realized until the day of his appearing. Legally, before the holy God, we are righteous. Practically, we await Christ’s return when we will experience the reward of his total righteousness.
A believer receives the “crown of life” per James 1:12 (NASB95), which reads:
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
The crown of life is salvation itself per Davids (Davids, P. H. (1982). The Epistle of James: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 80). Eerdmans):
Such a tested person will receive a crown of life as his reward. The future tense in λήμψεται reminds one that the author has his focus on the consummation of the age (as does the author in 1 Pet. 5:4, who promises τὸν ἀμαράντινον τῆς δόξης στέφανον when “the chief shepherd appears”). The actual reward is salvation itself, for (eternal) life is certainly the content of the crown (so Laws, Mussner, Mitton, Schrage).
The Apostle John also recorded Jesus’ promise of “the crown of life” when he wrote Revelation 2:10 (NASB95):
10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
The Apostle Peter referred to “the unfading crown of glory” when he wrote 1 Peter 5:4 (NASB95):
4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Wuest (Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 11, pp. 125–126). Eerdmans) discusses the “unfading crown of glory:”
The Greek word translated “crown” referred to a crown of victory in the Greek athletic games, a crown given for military valor, or a festal garland worn at marriage feasts. Here it is the reward given to faithful shepherds of the flock of God. “Fadeth” is a participle in the Greek describing this crown. The word in its noun form was the name of a flower that did not wither or fade, and which when picked, revived in water. The crown given to victors in either athletics or war was made of oak or ivy leaves, the festal garlands of the marriage feast, of flowers. These would wither and fade. But the victor’s crown which the Lord Jesus will give His faithful under-shepherds will never wither or fade. What form this reward will take, is not stated. Paul says that his crown of rejoicing at the coming of the Lord Jesus for His Church will be made of the souls he won (I Thess. 2:19).
I can’t wait to receive my crowns! How about you?
QUESTIONS
The description of a believer’s future home mandates you make certain of your salvation. The New Heavens, the New Earth, and the New Jerusalem are too glorious for words to describe accurately. Because “something better is coming” for a believer, please answer the following questions.
Question 1-47: What are some attributes of your eternal life in the New Heavens, the New Earth, and the New Jerusalem to which you look forward? Please explain your answer.
Question 1-47A: Does the truth that God is the builder of a believer’s eternal abode in the New Heavens cause you to look forward to heaven? Do you believe that is a sufficient enough reason to use The Salvation Meter to evaluate your salvation and spiritual condition? Please explain your answers.
Question 1-47B: Does the truth that a believer will see and experience the glorified Jesus Christ who is in Heaven cause you to look forward to heaven? Do you believe that is a sufficient enough reason to use The Salvation Meter to evaluate your salvation and spiritual condition? Please explain your answers.
Question 1-47C: Does the truth that a believer will reign forever and ever with God cause you to look forward to heaven? Do you believe that is a sufficient enough reason to use The Salvation Meter to evaluate your salvation and spiritual condition? Please explain your answers.
Question 1-47D: Does the truth that a believer will have a glorified body in Heaven cause you to look forward to heaven? Do you believe that is a sufficient enough reason to use The Salvation Meter to evaluate your salvation and spiritual condition? Please explain your answers.
Question 1-47E: Does the truth that a believer will be a citizen of Heaven cause you to look forward to heaven? Do you believe that is a sufficient enough reason to use The Salvation Meter to evaluate your salvation and spiritual condition? Please explain your answers.
Question 1-47F: Does the truth that a believer will have a multitude of holy company in Heaven cause you to look forward to heaven? Do you believe that is a sufficient enough reason to use The Salvation Meter to evaluate your salvation and spiritual condition? Please explain your answers.
Question 1-47G: Does the truth that death is nonexistent in Heaven cause you to look forward to heaven? Do you believe that is a sufficient enough reason to use The Salvation Meter to evaluate your salvation and spiritual condition? Please explain your answers.
Question 1-47H: Does the truth that a believer will not have to worry about losing anything cause you to look forward to heaven? Do you believe that is a sufficient enough reason to use The Salvation Meter to evaluate your salvation and spiritual condition? Please explain your answers.
Question 1-47I: Does the truth that a believer will receive rewards for enduring suffering on earth cause you to look forward to heaven? Do you believe that is a sufficient enough reason to use The Salvation Meter to evaluate your salvation and spiritual condition? Please explain your answers.
Question 1-47J: Does the truth that a believer will receive rest from their labors cause you to look forward to heaven? Do you believe that is a sufficient enough reason to use The Salvation Meter to evaluate your salvation and spiritual condition? Please explain your answers.
Question 1-47K: Does the truth that a believer will not experience mourning, crying or pain cause you to look forward to heaven? Do you believe that is a sufficient enough reason to use The Salvation Meter to evaluate your salvation and spiritual condition? Please explain your answers.
Question 1-47L: Does the truth that a believer will receive spiritual crowns cause you to look forward to heaven? Do you believe that is a sufficient enough reason to use The Salvation Meter to evaluate your salvation and spiritual condition? Please explain your answers.
Question 1-48: Does the expectation of spending eternity in the New Heavens, the New Earth, and the New Jerusalem provide you with an incentive to make sure you are saved? Please explain your answer.
Question 1-48A: Does the prospect of spending eternity in the presence of God, as well as with other believers, furnish the impetus for you to invest the time and effort to use The Salvation Meter? Please explain your answer.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION
If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my new (published in October, 2021) book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth (book link at Xulon Press: https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638 ). At Amazon the book link is https://www.amazon.com/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual/dp/1662828632 . I also have website in which I am updating the content in the book. The link to my website for the book is https://thesalvationmeter.com .
IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN
If you are reading this post and are not a Christian, your eternal destination is hell unless God intervenes. But, your destiny can change. Today can be the day of your salvation. Please see my blog (https://stevebelsheim.com/2020/04/20/for-god-so-loves-you-2/) for a description of how you can be saved and a more concise description at my (https://stevebelsheim.com/2020/10/20/there-is-hope-even-when-there-seems-to-be-no-hope-2/ ).
NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS
I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and/or publishers possess in their works. I thus try my best to not violate any copyright rights other authors and/or publishers possess in their works. The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or “fair use” is available and/or to secure direct permission for specific works. The quotations from commentaries are considered to be “fair use.”
Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture marked “NASB95” are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”
Scripture marked “NCV” is taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
The Scriptures marked “NET” are quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved”.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture marked “GW” is taken from the God’s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission.