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Talk of Heaven

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by agedman, Jun 9, 2012.

  1. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    This thread is to consider the believer's heavenly home.


    What Scripture states what the New Heaven and New Earth will be like

    What shape, size, and elements makes up this place of eternity?

    Do you have any special desire concerning your heavenly dwelling place?

    Do you think the BB members will meet and debate? :)

    Talk about heaven, and what intrigues you about it, for I am far closer to going there than I was at my birth.


    What will it be like?
     
  2. TadQueasy

    TadQueasy Member

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    I think it will be a lot more like current earth than we realize, yet completely redeemed and without sin. A thought that is so far beyond my wildest imagination that it is hard to even begin to contemplate.
     
  3. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    I think it's possible that heaven will not only be like the current earth, but will actually be on earth. But, as you say, it will be a new heaven and new earth. Such as the one John (in Revelation) saw coming down out of heaven.
     
  4. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    All I know and need to know is that it is where my God is. I really don't care much about the other details. :)
     
  5. Oldtimer

    Oldtimer New Member

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    I like to think of heaven as the Garden of Eden on the 8th day after creation. The beginning of a new week on a new earth. Where the lamb lays down with the lion and Jesus walks among us in the cool of the evening.

    I can't imagine streets lined with gold (Rev 21), as that's probably the closest symbol that man can understand of the glory of what God has waiting for us.

    The forces of nature (for lack of a better term) may still be in place. However, as with the promise of the rainbow, the destructive side of them will be gone. While we may see hurricanes, tornados, and earthquakes they will reflect His love and not His fury.

    I like to think that we'll recognize friends and family and will remember the blessings of knowing them. I like to think that we won't remember what caused us so much pain, anger, and grief during our lifetimes. If we do remember them, they'll be tempered with His mercy, so they'll simply be a way that leads to greater understanding.

    I like to think that we'll sit at Jesus feet as He explains all the mysteries of the Bible to us. While it's His will as to how we learn those answers, I envision listening to Him rather than suddenly being aware, as Eve was when she bit an apple, long ago.

    I can probably ramble on for awhile with speculations and supposes. But, in a sense, it doesn't matter. Simply being content in knowing heaven, in whatever form God chooses, is enough for now. I'm sure that nothing I can imagine will compare to what I'll see when He calls me home.
     
  6. Michael Wrenn

    Michael Wrenn New Member

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    That's a wonderful post!
     
  7. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    To get to the heavenly home the believer processes through a series of torturous fiery trials. Not only to purge and cleanse the believer in the earthly walk, but to clean off any dross at the judgment seat of Christ that would clinging and stain.

    Most believers gripe, worry, and complain in the midst of the cleansing processes; at times fear and avoidance drives the believer's current scheme. One vainly attempts to cover up and excuse, but when confronted with the terror of God, the leaves fall and the excuses provide no covering. We do and will confess; and confession provides no staying to the cleansing scrubs Christ provides in this life and at the judgement.

    What the believer faces in this purging during their life has very little comparison to the stark reality when the dust is cleaned off the memories, and each thought and motive exposed before the truth of Christ's judgement. Such shame and tears will become every believer and not one will withhold devotion from Christ. We shall all individually "run to the Father" as a child flees into the loving arms of a parent imploring forgiveness and penitence. We shall sob not only for the sins of our own, but for the sin of others. There will be none puffed up.

    Not one who escapes the judgement and the fiery results. Had not the believer the very possession of heir ship, believers would be consumed just as the flames sought to destroy the three in the furnace, but God was in the midst. This is the end of all judgment and never again a part the believer will ever experience. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."

    The Scriptures say that all sorrow and tears are wiped away by the Father. Often as my children would rush into my arms, over some hurt of heart, I would dry their tears with my cloth. God has no shortage of cloth, and all tears, sighs, hurts, and sorrows will be dried by Him.

    What a majestic sight appears before the believer. The believer's home is manifested. That which the Lord Jesus Christ said He was leaving to prepare.

    It took God six days to perform the wonders of this creation. Christ has been busy a very long time, and the splendors of that new home must be awesome. The wealth is not reckoned in palaces and lands. Each has their dwelling place, perfectly formed by the Creator, and in such arrangement that neighbors have no complaints; the addresses and zip codes of special earthly desired neighborhoods are dusty shacks in comparison to the the splendor of the heavenly address.

    Satan, his hosts, and the unregenerate have never tread the streets. They are unfamiliar sights and no road map is available to the likes of them and their hosts. They are barred from entry and the smoke of their place of torment rises up to mark the eternity.

    There is no evening sunset or morning sunrise. No night time stars. For the very Son of God is the light and in that never diminishing glory the believer rejoices ever more.

    The new earth does not grown as this present one does in its condemnation. Personally (though there is no Scriptural support), I think that it is inhabited with every loved pet that believers ever hope to see, again. They will join in the praise and glory of the goodness of God. I can't imagine Christ providing less than the believers every righteous desire.

    What we do and what bodily form we take is silent; there are other portions kept silent, too. That just adds to the mystery, the wonder, and the great imaginations for the believer to reflect and hope upon.
     
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