* ALL Questions about Heaven, Hell, and Eternity *

[Patriot]

How do I find comfort and peace when I have lost a loved one to death?​

Got Questions Ministries




How do I find comfort and peace when I have lost a loved one to death? What is the key to accepting the fact that a loved one is gone?

 

[Patriot]

How should Christian parents handle the death of a child?​

Answer

As parents, we cannot imagine a more traumatic experience than the death of a child. All parents naturally expect their children to outlive them. Such a loss is an extraordinary, out-of-order event that brings with it an overwhelming sense of pain and lingering grief. It is a life-altering experience that presents unique challenges to parents as they seek to rebuild their lives without their child.

It would be presumptuous for anyone to tell parents how to handle the death of a child. However, we do know that those who yield their lives to God are more apt to recover from such a loss with a greater sense of normalcy than those without a genuine and positive faith in our Creator. This being true, how do Christian parents handle the death of a child? Does the Bible address the subject, and if so, in what way?

First, we should note that each person handles grief differently. Emotions are normal and natural, but they vary widely in intensity and expression. Second, no parent ever “gets over” or “moves on” from the death of a child. It’s not like an illness from which we recover. Most counselors liken it to a life-changing physical injury. However, we should also know that, though we may always feel the loss, its intensity does diminish with time.

It is faith in a loving and ever-faithful God that enables us to endure and recover from the death of a child, sometimes in ways that others find remarkable. Such was the case of David in the loss of his child who died seven days after birth (2 Samuel 12:18–19). There are several valuable lessons we can learn from this passage of Scripture that can help grieving parents to face the future with hope.

One is that, before the child died, David prayed fervently for his child’s life (2 Samuel 12:16). This should be true for all parents at all times, not just when times are difficult. Parents should always pray for their children, asking God to watch over and protect them. Likewise, parents should pray for God to provide wisdom and guidance so their children will grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Judges 13:12; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4).

David’s reaction to his child’s death contains another lesson. Upon learning that the infant had died, David immediately accepted the fact and began a return to normalcy: “David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate” (2 Samuel 12:20, NKJV). What may surprise us most about this passage is that David “went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.” In other words, David not only accepted the death of his child, but he gave all his emotions and the reality of the situation to God. Through it all, he saw God as worthy of worship. The ability to worship and honor God in a time of trial or crisis is a powerful demonstration of our spiritual confidence in God. Worship enables us to accept the reality of our loss. And this is how God frees us to go on living. What David models for us is learning to turn loose what we cannot change.

The next lesson in David’s story is the most revealing. It is what appears to be confidence in the knowledge that children who die before they reach the age of accountability go to heaven. David’s attendants questioned his reaction to the death of his child, and David’s response has always been a source of comfort to believing parents who have lost infants and young children: “Now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). David was fully confident that he would meet his son in heaven. This passage is a powerful indication that babies and young children who pass from this world will go to heaven.

Grieving the death of a child is a heartrending journey. There are no hard-and-fast rules to teach us how to handle our mourning. However, counselors and those who have experienced the loss of a child have provided some helpful advice:

• Recognize that you are not alone. You have God. You have your brothers and sisters in Christ. You have close friends and family. Lean on them. They are there to help you.

• Don’t put time limits on your recovery. Don’t expect a day to pass without thinking about your child. Welcome such thoughts.

• Talk about your child. It’s important that you share the story of your child with others.

• Take care of yourself.

• Take care of your other children. They, too, are suffering. They grieve the loss of a sibling and have the additional discomfort of seeing their parents in grief.

• Try not to make any major decisions at least for the first year.

• Expect that getting through the many “firsts” following the death of a young child will be painful—first birthday, first Christmas, etc.

And last, Christians who have experienced the death of a child have the grand and faithful promise of God’s Word: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4, KJV).

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

How can I find comfort when an unsaved loved one has died?​

Answer

For the believer, the death of an unsaved loved one is tragic and difficult to process. In some cases, it seems we will never find comfort or peace of mind when we know the destiny awaiting the unsaved.

When a saved loved one dies, we miss him or her, but we do not grieve “as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13, ESV) because we know we will be reunited in heaven one day. But when loved ones die without Christ, we know we will not see them again, and finding comfort in that situation may seem hopeless.

Believers who have taken pains to communicate gospel truths to their loved ones feel an additional pain that asks “why?” As Christians, we wonder how anyone could refuse a gift as precious as salvation. Our joy in the Lord moves us to want that same joy for others. But the truth is that, even though the invitation is open to all, not all will receive the gift. We can take comfort that, even though we may never see our unsaved loved ones again, God is always faithful and just. God gave them the opportunity to turn to Him. God is so patient, and He leaves the door open for so long.

“Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). The answer is, of course, that God does do what is right, and this is a great comfort to those who are unsure of the destination of a loved one’s soul. God is a sovereign judge of righteousness. He is full of grace and mercy to all who call upon Him. It is His very justice that offers a way for all to escape judgment, and it is in that justice that we must rest. It is grace that saves us, and it is grace in which we stand when we go through the double grief of the death of an unsaved loved one. We yearn for the unsaved to choose Christ, but some will not. Those who have passed into eternity without Christ have made their choice, but it was God’s grace that gave them a choice to begin with.

Although we may have pain in the remembrance of that loved one, there will come a time when each born-again believer will be with the Lord. In that day “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4, KJV). Even if we cannot comprehend such a time, the promise should be enough to bring comfort and encouragement. When we see the Lord, the sorrow we have now will disappear: “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” (John 16:22). As we wait for the day when sorrow will be no more, we can lean on the everlasting arms of God, who feels our pain and comforts us with His great love and mercy.

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

What will we be doing in heaven?​

Answer

In Luke 23:43, Jesus declared, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in paradise." The word Jesus used for "paradise" is paradeisos which means "a park, that is, (specifically) an Eden (place of future happiness, paradise)". Paradeisos is the Greek word taken from the Hebrew word pardes which means "a park: - forest, orchard" (Strong’s). Jesus said, "Today you shall be with me "en paradeisos," not "en nephele" which is Greek for “in clouds.” The point is that Jesus picked and used the word for "a park." Not just any park but "the paradise of God" or park of God (Revelation 2:7) which for us will be a place of future happiness. Does this sound like a boring place? When you think of a park, do you think of boredom?

Jesus said, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve" (Matthew 4:10). It’s interesting to note that Jesus did not say "praise and serve." Even the briefest examination of the word praise in the Bible quickly shows it’s a verbal thing and is for the most part singing. Worship, however, is from the heart. Worship manifests itself in praise. Serving God is worship, and Scripture is clear we will serve God in heaven. "His servants will serve Him" (Revelation 22:3).

We are unable to fully serve God in this life due to sin, but in heaven "every curse will no longer be" (Revelation 22:3). We will not be under the curse of sin any longer, so everything we do will be worship in heaven. We will never be motivated by anything other than our love for God. Everything we do will be out of our love for God, untainted by our sin nature.

So what will we do? My favorite thing is to learn. "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?" (Romans 11:34), "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). God is the "the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity" (Isaiah 57:15). God is bigger than forever, and it will take eternity "to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ" (Ephesians 3:18-19). In other words, we will never stop learning.

God’s Word says we won’t have to be in His paradise alone. "I shall fully know even as I also am fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). This would seem to indicate that we will not only know our friends and family, we will "fully know" them. In other words, there is no need for secrets in heaven. There is nothing to be ashamed of. There is nothing to hide. We will have eternity to interact with "a great multitude, which no man could number, out of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues" (Revelation 7:9). No wonder heaven will be a place of infinite learning. Just getting to know everyone will take eternity!

Any further anticipation about what we shall do in God’s eternal park, heaven, will be far surpassed when "the King shall say to those on His right hand, 'Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world'" (Matthew 25:34). Whatever we will be doing, we can be sure it will be wonderful beyond our imaginations!

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

What age will everyone be in heaven?​

Answer

The Bible does not specifically answer this question. Will babies and children who die still be babies and children in heaven? What about elderly people who die—do they remain elderly in heaven? Some have guessed that, at the resurrection, babies are given a body that is “fast-forwarded” to the “ideal age,” and those who die at an old age will have a body that is “re-wound” to the prime of life. If this is what happens, then no one in heaven will appear as a child awaiting development, and no one will appear as a centenarian.

If everyone in heaven appears to be the same age, and that age is “ideal,” then what is that ideal age? Again, the answer is not in the Bible. Some assume it to be around 30 years old. Some guess 33 since that is approximately the age Jesus was when He died. But those guesses are based on life as we currently know it. What about Moses who, at 120 years old, was still full of vim and vigor: “His eyes were not weak nor his strength gone” (Deuteronomy 34:7)? What about Methusaleh, who lived 969 years? Maybe in heaven he will look like he did when he was 500 years old, and none the worse for wear.

We all imagine that heaven will be a place where we will be forever young. What that “youth” will look like is anyone’s guess. It’s probably pointless to assign a numerical value to our apparent “age” in heaven. It’s enough to know that God has a plan to transform us: “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

Whatever age we appear to be in heaven, we will be made perfect. We will be sinless, and our bodies will be remade flawless. Does that mean we will have no wrinkles in the skin? No age spots? No gray hair? We’ll have to wait and see. We know that all traces of human fallenness will be gone, and we will finally be everything God intended us to be, to the praise of His glory.

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

Will we have physical bodies in heaven?​

Answer

Although the Bible tells us little about what it will be like in heaven, it seems that we will most likely have a physical body, although not in the same sense of “physical” that we have now. First Corinthians 15:52 says that "the dead will be raised incorruptible" and that those who are alive at the time of Christ’s return for His saints "shall be changed." Jesus Christ is "the first fruits" of those who have died (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23). This means that He set the example and leads the way. First Corinthians 15:42 says that our "body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption." In a precursor to the believers’ resurrection, some were raised at the time of Christ’s resurrection in Matthew 27:52 where it says that their "bodies...were raised." Thomas, in John 20:27, physically touched the body of Christ following His resurrection, so He obviously had a body that was solid.

We can expect that all believers’ resurrection will be like that of Christ’s. What a wonderful truth! The Bible is not specific, but it seems that we will be able to eat. John, in Revelation 22:2, writes of his vision of the eternal state where he saw that "in the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month." This seems to be a reversal of the Genesis 3 punishment where Adam and Eve, and hence all of mankind, were banned from eating from this tree. As for hunger, it appears that there won’t be any. Isaiah 49:10 says that there will be no hunger or thirst in the millennial kingdom. This is speaking of mortal men during that period, not of translated saints, but by extension it can be said that if mortals on earth during Christ’s Kingdom do not hunger, then surely there will be no hunger in heaven (see also Revelation 7:14-16).

Finally, Job wrote that he knew for sure that even after he dies and his skin is long gone, that "in my FLESH I shall SEE God" (Job 19:26 - all caps added for emphasis). So that means our bodies will consist of some kind of glorified flesh. Whatever form we have, we know that it will be perfect, sinless and flawless.

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

What does the Bible say about death?​

Answer

The Bible presents death as separation: physical death is the separation of the soul from the body, and spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God.

Death is the result of sin. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). The whole world is subject to death because all have sinned. “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). In Genesis 2:17, the Lord warned Adam that the penalty for disobedience would be death—“You will certainly die.” When Adam disobeyed, he experienced immediate spiritual death, which caused him to hide “from the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). Later, Adam experienced physical death (Genesis 5:5).

On the cross, Jesus also experienced physical death (Matthew 27:50). The difference is that Adam died because he was a sinner, and Jesus, who had never sinned, chose to die as a substitute for sinners (Hebrews 2:9). Jesus then showed His power over death and sin by rising from the dead on the third day (Matthew 28; Revelation 1:18). Because of Christ, death is a defeated foe. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55, KJV; cf. Hosea 13:14).

For the unsaved, death ends the chance to accept God’s gracious offer of salvation: “People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). For the saved, death ushers them into the presence of Christ, “to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8, NKJV; cf. Philippians 1:23). So real is the promise of the believer’s resurrection that the physical death of a Christian is called “sleep” (1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 5:10). We look forward to that time when “there will be no more death” (Revelation 21:4).

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

Do we have an appointed time of death?​

Answer

The Bible says that “all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). God knows absolutely everything about us (Psalm 139:1–6) including when, where, and how we will die. So, yes, it does seem that we have an appointed time of death.

In Job’s suffering-fueled complaint against God, he mentions God’s role in the timing of our death:

A person’s days are determined;
you have decreed the number of his months
and have set limits he cannot exceed (Job 14:5).

Or, as the New Living Translation puts it,

You have decided the length of our lives.
You know how many months we will live,
and we are not given a minute longer.

According to this verse, the length of our lives is decreed by God, who has determined our days. A person has “set limits” on how long he lives on earth. No one is able to change God’s decree, and no one has the power to extend his life beyond what God has decided.

An important note is that none of us know the time of our death. Such knowledge is God’s alone. The one exception may be the miracle God performed for King Hezekiah in Isaiah 38. The king was sick “and was at the point of death” (Isaiah 38:1). In great sorrow, Hezekiah prayed, and the Lord answered through the prophet Isaiah: “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life’” (verse 5). This is the only time that we know of when anyone learned how long he would live. It also seems to be the only instance of God’s prolonging a life. The uniqueness of this miracle is brought out by the startling sign that accompanied it—the shadow on the sundial moved backward (verses 7–8).

So, in Psalm 139:16 the psalmist says, “All my days were written . . . and planned before a single one of them began” (CSB). And Job 14:5 says that “a person’s days are determined and the number of his months depends on [God]” (CSB). In other words, God is sovereign, and He has mapped out our lives. This would include an appointed time of death. At the same time, based on King Hezekiah’s story, it is not wrong to pray for life to be prolonged, for disease to be removed, and for health to be extended.

Since we do not know the number of our days, we should live each day for God. James 4:13–15 gives some practical wisdom on this matter: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” We should make wise decisions about how we live and how we take care of ourselves. And, ultimately, we trust God’s sovereignty in all things, including our time of death.

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

What does the Bible say about near death experiences?​

Answer

A near-death experience (NDE) is when a person is at the brink of death and, upon recovery, reports an unusual occurrence, generally an out-of-body experience or some sort of vision of heaven or hell. There is no specific scriptural support for near-death experiences. Many people use 2 Corinthians 12:2-5 as a biblical proof text of near-death experiences. However, this is taking great liberty with interpretation and makes the assumption that the man (presumed to be Paul) was either near death or actually dead when he found himself in heaven. The passage nowhere states that the man had died or come close to death. It was a vision that God gave the man of heaven, not a near-death experience.

That being said, it is not impossible for God to give someone near death, or anyone for that matter, a vision of heaven. However, with the completion of the biblical canon, visions are not a normative experience for Christians.

We need to be extremely careful in how we validate our experiences. The most important test of any experience is comparing it with the Bible. Satan is always ready to cause deception and twist people’s thinking. "But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. So, it is no wonder his servants can also do it by pretending to be godly ministers. In the end, they will get every bit of punishment their wicked deeds deserve" (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Because the Bible is silent regarding near-death experiences, and scientific research has not been able to be performed reliably, we simply cannot accept the legitimacy of near-death experiences on their face value. It would be too strong to state that all near-death experiences are faked, imagined, or Satanic, but there are still serious concerns, biblically, about the validity of near-death experiences. Again, any description of a near-death experience should be validated against the truth of Scripture. If such an experience comes from God, it will line up with what He has already revealed in His Word and ultimately bring Him glory in the name of Jesus Christ.

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

What is the first resurrection? What is the second resurrection?​

Answer

Daniel 12:2 summarizes the two very different fates facing mankind: “Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Everyone will be raised from the dead, but not everyone will share the same destiny. The New Testament reveals the further detail of separate resurrections for the just and the unjust.

Revelation 20:4-6 mentions a “first resurrection” and identifies those involved as “blessed and holy.” The second death (the lake of fire, Revelation 20:14) has no power over these individuals. The first resurrection, then, is the raising of all believers. It corresponds with Jesus’ teaching of the “resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14) and the “resurrection of life” (John 5:29).

The first resurrection takes place in various stages. Jesus Christ Himself (the “first fruits,” 1 Corinthians 15:20), paved the way for the resurrection of all who believe in Him. There will be the resurrection of “the dead in Christ” at the Lord’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and the resurrection of the martyrs at the end of the tribulation (Revelation 20:4). The Old Testament saints will also be raised at the end of the tribulation, and they are also part of the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:12-13 identifies those comprising the second resurrection as the wicked judged by God at the great white throne judgment prior to being cast into the lake of fire. The second resurrection, then, is the raising of all unbelievers; the second resurrection is connected to the second death. It corresponds with Jesus’ teaching of the “resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29).

The event which divides the first and second resurrections seems to be the millennial kingdom. The last of the righteous are raised to reign “with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4), but the “rest of the dead [that is, the wicked] lived not again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:5).

What great rejoicing will attend the first resurrection! What great anguish at the second! What a responsibility we have to share the Gospel! “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire” (Jude 23).

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

Will we remember our earthly lives when we are in heaven?​

Answer

Isaiah 65:17 says, “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” Some interpret Isaiah 65:17 as saying that we will have no memory of our earthly lives in heaven. However, one verse earlier, in Isaiah 65:16, the Bible says, “For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.” It is likely only our “past troubles” will be forgotten, not all of our memories. Our memories will eventually be cleansed, redeemed, healed, and restored, not erased. There is no reason why we could not possess many memories from our earthly lives. The memories that will be cleansed are the ones that involve sin, pain, and sadness. Revelation 21:4 declares, “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

The fact that the former things will not come to mind does not mean that our memories will be wiped clean. The prophecy could be suggesting the wondrous quality of our new environment. The new earth will be so spectacular, so mind-blowing, that everyone will quite forget the drudgery and sin of the current earth. A child who is scared of the shadows in his room at night completely forgets his nocturnal fear the next day on the playground. It’s not that the memories have been wiped out, only that, in the sunshine, they don’t come to mind.

Also, it’s important to make a distinction between the eternal state and the current heaven. When a believer dies, he or she goes to heaven, but that is not our final destination. The Bible speaks of “a new heaven and a new earth” as our eternal, permanent home. Both Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:1 refer to the eternal state, not the current heaven. The promise of wiping away every tear does not come until after the tribulation, after the final judgment, and after the re-creation of the universe.

In his apocalyptic vision, John sees sorrow in heaven: “I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’” (Revelation 6:9–10). John is obviously in heaven (Revelation 4:1–2), and he sees and hears those who obviously remember the injustice done to them. Their loud calls for vengeance indicate that, in the current heaven, we will remember our lives on earth, including the bad things. The current heaven of Revelation 6 is temporary, though, giving way to the eternal state in Revelation 21.

The story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19–31) is further proof that the dead remember their earthly lives. The rich man in Hades asks Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to warn the rich man’s brothers of the fate awaiting the unrighteous (verses 27–28). The rich man obviously remembers his relatives. He also remembers his own life of self-serving and sinful comfort (verse 25). The memories of the rich man in Sheol become part of his misery. The story does not mention Lazarus’ memories, but Abraham has definite knowledge of goings-on on earth (verse 25). It’s not until we reach the eternal state that the righteous will leave all sorrow behind.

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

​

 

[Patriot]

Will we remember our earthly lives when we are in Heaven?​

Got Questions Ministries




Will we remember our earthly lives when we are in Heaven? Will our memories be erased when we arrive in Heaven?

Got Questions Ministries​

 

[Patriot]

What are the new heavens and the new earth?​

Answer

In Revelation 21:1, John sees something spectacular: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away...” This new earth and new heavens are sometimes referred to as the “eternal state.” As seen in Revelation chapters 21-22, the new earth will be the eternal dwelling place of believers in Jesus Christ. Scripture gives us a few details of the new heavens and new earth.

The current heavens and earth have long been subject to God’s curse because of mankind’s sin. All creation “has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth” (Romans 8:22) as it awaits the fulfillment of God’s plan and “the children of God to be revealed” (verse 19). Heaven and earth will pass away (Mark 13:31), and they will be replaced by the new heavens and the new earth. At that time, the Lord, seated on His throne, says, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5). In the new creation, sin will be totally eradicated, and “there shall be no more curse” (Revelation 22:3, NKJV).

The new heaven and new earth are also mentioned in Isaiah 65:17, Isaiah 66:22, and 2 Peter 3:13. Peter tells us that the new heaven and new earth will be “where righteousness dwells.” Isaiah says that “the former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” Things will be completely new, and the old order of things, with the accompanying sorrow and tragedy, will be gone.

The new earth will be free from sin, evil, sickness, suffering, and death. It will be similar to our current earth, but without the curse of sin. It will be earth as God originally intended it to be. It will be Eden restored.

A major feature of the new earth will be the New Jerusalem. John calls it “the Holy City . . . coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). This glorious city, with its streets of gold and pearly gates, is situated on a new, glorious earth. The tree of life will be there (Revelation 22:2). This city represents the final state of redeemed mankind, forever in fellowship with God: “God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. . . . His servants will serve him. They will see his face” (Revelation 21:3; 22:3–4).

In the new heavens and new earth, Scripture says, there are seven things notable for their absence—seven things that are “no more”:
• no more sea (Revelation 21:1)
• no more death (Revelation 21:4)
• no more mourning (Revelation 21:4)
• no more weeping (Revelation 21:4)
• no more pain (Revelation 21:4)
• no more curse (Revelation 22:3)
• no more night (Revelation 22:5)

The creation of the new heavens and new earth brings the promise that God “will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4). This event comes after the tribulation, after the Lord’s second coming, after the millennial kingdom, after the final rebellion, after the final judgment of Satan, and after the great white throne judgment. The brief description of the new heavens and new earth is the last glimpse into eternity that the Bible gives.

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

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[Patriot]

What are the New Heavens and the New Earth?​

Got Questions Ministries





What are the New Heavens and the New Earth? Will believers spend eternity on the New Earth, or in the New Heavens, or both?

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[Patriot]

Will we have free will in heaven?​

Answer

The fact that Adam and Eve had a choice to make in the Garden of Eden shows beyond all doubt that mankind was created with a free will. The first couple chose to sin, and that choice plunged the entire world into spiritual darkness leading to our need of salvation. Through it all, mankind has retained his free will, and we will retain free will in heaven. Is it possible that people in heaven can exercise their free will to sin again and get kicked out of heaven? No, it is not possible.

To back up a bit, we need an acceptable definition of free will. We have free will, but not in the way most people think. Our freedom consists in the fact that we are free to choose according to our desires. As long as we have a minimum of two available options, we must make a choice, and we will always do so according to our strongest desire. But, in the case of a fallen sinner, he or she is not at liberty to choose according to righteousness. This is what Jesus means when He says that the one who sins “is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). This is not the language of “free will” as people typically think of it. The unregenerate person has a sinful nature; he is not just inclined to sin but driven by sinful impulses. It is perhaps helpful to say, “We are free to choose what we want but not free to want what we ought.” This greatly limits our “freedom” because the list of things we want (as sinners) coincides with whatever pleases our sinful impulses. Our choices are for things that will ultimately destroy us (Proverbs 14:12). As Paul says, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” (Romans 7:24, NLT).

When we are saved, we are liberated from our natural bondage to sin. The Holy Spirit sovereignly regenerates us and in grace gives us the ability to want what we ought to want, namely, forgiveness, salvation, and honoring the lordship of Christ. When we trust in Jesus for salvation, we begin a moral progression, a journey toward holiness in which we put to death daily the sinful impulses that reside within us and strive toward godliness. In heaven we will be completely devoid of sin; our only desires will be for the things of God—things that bless us, fulfill us, and give us life. This is true liberty (see Romans 8:21). We will retain our free will in heaven, but our will is sanctified there. The sin nature will be gone.

In heaven we are completely conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28–30). Our sanctification will be finished; we will not even want to sin. Also, in heaven there is no temptation to lure us and no devil to deceive us. Unlike Adam and Eve, we will face no test; our moral state will be secure. No one will get kicked out of heaven. Just as our Lord Jesus has a truly free will yet is without sin, so will we retain a free will yet be without sin. We will be like Him (1 John 3:2).

Before salvation, our free will on earth is limited by our inability to choose what is right. After salvation, our free will struggles between choosing what is right and what is wrong. In heaven our free will is limited by our inability to choose what is wrong. Our glorified state will allow us to exercise our free will in choosing what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (see Philippians 4:8).

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

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[Patriot]

Will it be possible for us to sin in heaven?​

Answer

The Bible describes heaven or the eternal state in great detail in Revelation chapters 21–22. Nowhere in those chapters is the possibility of sin mentioned. In fact, we have the promise that, in the eternal state, we will never experience death, sorrow, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4)—the absence of those things is proof positive that sin is also absent, since those things are the product of sin (see Romans 6:23).

The sinful will not be in heaven but in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Nothing impure will ever enter heaven (Revelation 21:27). Outside of heaven are those who sin (Revelation 22:15). An Old Testament prophecy also assures us that the Kingdom of God will exclude sinfulness:
“A highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it. . . .
But only the redeemed will walk there” (Isaiah 35:8–9).
So, the answer is, no, it will not be possible for us to sin in heaven.

God wills our sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3); that is, He wills to make us holy and free of sin. Our sanctification has three phases: positional sanctification, which saves us from the penalty of sin at the moment of faith in Christ; progressive sanctification, which saves us from the power of sin as we grow in Christ; and complete sanctification, which saves us from the presence of sin as we enter the presence of Christ. “When Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). In other words, the process by which God sanctifies us involves justification, maturation, and glorification.

The glorification that God promises His children (Romans 8:30) necessarily includes sinlessness, because sinful beings cannot be glorious. Heaven, the place of God’s glory, is sinless. Paul prays in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely” (ESV), and he links the glorious appearing of Christ to our personal glorification: “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). This glorified state will be our ultimate separation from sin, a total sanctification in every regard. It will not be possible for us to sin in heaven.

James 1:14 provides another assurance that we will not sin in heaven: “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” In this sinful world, we face temptation daily, and James identifies two forces that prompt us to sin: our own evil desire (our sin nature) and enticement (the devil’s schemes). Neither of those forces will be in heaven. Our sin nature will have been eradicated in our glorification, and the tempter will have been consigned to the lake of fire where he can do us no harm (Revelation 20:10).

The Bible’s teaching is that heaven or the eternal state is completely holy. There will be no possibility of sin, we will be clothed with righteousness (Revelation 19:8), and we will be eternally confirmed in our state of bliss. The work that God promised to complete in us will have been finished (Philippians 1:6). Our deliverance will be complete, as the elect are redeemed—body, soul, and mind—to the glory of the Lamb (Revelation 5:6–10).

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

Will it be possible for us to sin in heaven?​

Got Questions Ministries




Will it be possible for us to sin in heaven? If there is no sin in heaven, is there free will in heaven?

Got Questions Ministries​

 

[Patriot]

Do we become angels after we die?​

Answer

Angels are beings created by God (Colossians 1:15-17) and are entirely different from humans. They are God’s special agents to carry out His plan and to minister to the followers of Christ (Hebrews 1:13-14). There is no indication that angels were formerly humans or anything else—they were created as angels. Angels have no need of, and cannot experience, the redemption that Christ came to provide for the human race. First Peter 1:12 describes their desire to look into salvation, but it is not for them to experience. Had they been formerly humans, the concept of salvation would not be a mystery to them, having experienced it themselves. Yes, they rejoice when a sinner turns to Christ (Luke 15:10), but salvation in Christ is not for them.

Eventually, the body of the believer in Christ will die. What happens then? The spirit of the believer goes to be with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8). The believer does not become an angel. It is interesting that both Elijah and Moses were recognizable on the Mount of Transfiguration. They had not transformed into angels, but appeared as themselves—although glorified—and were recognizable to Peter, James and John.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul says that believers in Christ are asleep in Jesus; that is, their bodies are dead, but their spirits are alive. This text tells us that, when Christ returns, He will bring with Him those who are asleep in Him. Then their bodies will be raised, made new like Christ’s resurrected body, to be joined with their spirits. All believers in Christ who are living at the return of Christ will have their bodies changed to be like Christ’s body, and they will be completely new in their spirits, no longer having a sin nature.

All the believers in Christ will recognize one another and live with the Lord forever. We will serve Him throughout eternity, not as angels, but along with the angels. Thank the Lord for the living hope He provides for the believer in Jesus Christ.

For Further Study​

Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan, and Demons by Graham Cole

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[Patriot]

Will there be such a thing as gender in heaven?​

Answer

Some people believe that, in heaven, all people will be genderless; others believe that we will retain our gender in heaven and that the resurrection of the body will not change one’s sex. Males will be males in heaven, and females will be females.

Those who promote the genderless view sometimes use Matthew 22:30 as a proof text. In that verse, Jesus speaks of people after the resurrection not participating in marriage—they become “like the angels.” Jesus does say that people will not marry in heaven; however, He says nothing about gender in heaven.

Another passage cited by the supporters of the genderless view is Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (emphasis added). Some say that this verse presents the reality of the new creation: in Christ, who makes all things new, gender will be literally removed. In reply, we would say that Galatians 3:28 speaks of a spiritual unity in which neither men nor women have any special advantages or disadvantages in salvation. Heaven does not show favors on account of gender.

If there is no such thing as gender in heaven, then why did God create Adam and Eve as gendered beings? Some say that God knew gender would be necessary in a fallen world—that procreation would be needed to make up for the losses incurred by death. In the new earth, death will be abolished, thus making procreation (and gender) unnecessary. This explanation, however, is based on inference and assumption rather than anything explicit in the text of Scripture.

In fact, there is nothing in the Bible that indicates people will lose or change their gender in heaven. On the contrary, the Bible implies that we will remain who we are in heaven, and gender is part of who we are. Gender is part of our very nature and affects the way we relate to each other and to God. In paradise, Lazarus was still Lazurus, and Abraham was still Abraham (Luke 16:22–24). Elijah and Moses appeared in glory as themselves (Matthew 17:3). And the post-resurrection Jesus was still a “he” (see Luke 24:27). In each of these cases, the men are still men. No one lost his gender in heaven.

Augustine correctly saw the eternal state as a restoration and renewal of God’s work, not an eradication of it. Augustine had “no doubt that both sexes shall rise. For there shall be no lust, which is now the cause of confusion. For before they sinned, the man and the woman were naked, and were not ashamed. From those bodies, then, vice shall be withdrawn, while nature shall be preserved. And the sex of woman is not a vice, but nature. . . . He, then, who created both sexes will restore both” (City of God, Book XXII, ch. 17).

In the eternal state, “there shall be no more curse” (Revelation 22:3, NKJV). So, the curse of sin is done away with. But gender was never part of the curse. God created humanity “male and female” (Genesis 1:27) before the fall. Gender, therefore, was part of the “very good” creation (Genesis 1:31). Life in heaven will be much different than it is now, but there is no reason to think that gender will be lost in heaven.

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

Why do so many people have to experience terrible suffering before death?​

Answer

Suffering is a universal part of our humanity that exists in a fallen world. The question of why there is suffering in death for some and not as much for others is really not answerable. For we reckon things from our human experience and do not understand the infinite mind and purpose of God. In the great faith chapter, we often read of the heroes of the faith but neglect the litany of those unnamed who suffered for their faith (Hebrews 11:33-40). These all died suffering deaths yet are heroes of the faith. They are unnamed and unsung among men, but God values their suffering and includes them in this great chapter of faith as a lesson to us.

Suffering and death are part of the curse of sin on the world (Genesis 3:16-19). Adam and Eve fell, and when they did, they brought to themselves and to all of their descendants the suffering of death. "But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die" (Genesis 2:17). We know that Adam and Eve did not die physically on the day that they ate of the tree. Adam lived to the age of 930 (Genesis 5:5). But when Adam sinned, he was spiritually separated from God, and this is the first death.

The question of why some suffer at death and others do not could be summed up in one statement: "God is sovereign." That is not just a trite and easy statement. When Jesus healed a man born blind, the disciples questioned Him. "‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life’" (John 9:1-3). In this passage is a principle that can be applied to our question. God allows some to suffer so that "the work of God might be displayed." In other words, God allows some to suffer to bring glory to His name and others not to suffer for the same reason. It is His sovereign will that determines each circumstance. Therefore, we can safely say that no suffering is without a purpose in the plan of God, even though we as finite humans may not see that purpose clearly.

The Apostle Paul suffered much in his life and ministry. A litany of that suffering can be found in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27. Paul was killed for his testimony and according to universal tradition was decapitated after a long imprisonment. However, during this time, he wrote this testimony to Timothy: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Another purpose for suffering is to be a witness to those watching that God’s grace and strength is sufficient to enable a believer to stand in that suffering (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Paul also gives us an example as to how we should view suffering as a child of God. "But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). And Paul also said, "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Therefore, however a believer dies, in suffering or in relative peace, it is but a transition to "face to face" with the LORD. Once that transition has been made, all of the sorrow and pain of the suffering will end. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

For Further Study​

Heaven and the Afterlife: The Truth About Tomorrow and What It Means for Today by Erwin Lutzer

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!