Where do we go from here?

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Heaven Hell

• Where do we go from here?

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And I thought church was boring!

• Jean Fouquet,
• The Blessed Virgin and the Trinity
• 15th Century

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Does my bottom look big in this?

• The blessed in adoration of the Trinity, 1569
• Maerten van Heemskerck

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• If the choice is between being bored in heaven or
  burning in hell Im opting out now!

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Where do we go from here?the view from the Old
Testament

• In the beginning earth is home
• Personal hope after death?
• Sheol
• Resurrection?
• National future hope?
• The meek shall inherit the land
• Global future hope
• Isaiah 6517 6622 Habakkuk 214

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Theres a new world a-comin

• 6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
• the leopard will lie down with the goat,
• the calf and the lion and the yearling together
• 9 They will neither harm nor destroy
• on all my holy mountain,
• for the earth will be full of the knowledge of
  the LORD
• as the waters cover the sea.
• Isaiah 11

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Righteous
D E A T H
? R E S U R R E C T I O N ?
Unrighteous
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Three views from the time of Jesus

• Saducees The soul perishes with the body

Pharisees Gods going to boot out Israels
enemies and re-establish Israel in her own land.
The faithful dead may participate in the future
renewal
Essenes Your body rots, but your soul rises,
released from its prison in the body to a place
of refreshment beyond the oceans
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Jesus on the futurereturn to earth

• 31When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and
  all the angels with him, he will sit on his
  throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will
  be gathered before him, and he will separate the
  people one from another as a shepherd separates
  the sheep from the goats
• Matthew 25

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Jesus on the futurereturn to earth

• 30At that time the sign of the Son of Man will
  appear in the sky, and all the nations of the
  earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man
  coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and
  great glory.
• Matthew 24

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Jesus on the futurereturn to earth

• 10They were looking intently up into the sky as
  he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in
  white stood beside them. 11Men of Galilee, they
  said, why do you stand here looking into the
  sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you
  into heaven, will come back in the same way you
  have seen him go into heaven.
• Acts 1

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Jesus on the futurethe renewal of all things

• 28Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth, at
  the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man
  sits on his glorious throne, you who have
  followed me will also sit on twelve thrones,
  judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
• Matthew 19

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Jesus on the futurerewards from heaven

• 19Do not store up for yourselves treasures on
  earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where
  thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for
  yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and
  rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not
  break in and steal.
• Matthew 6

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Jesus on the future rewards from heaven

• 19After a long time the master of those servants
  returned and settled accounts with them. 20The
  man who had received the five talents brought the
  other five. Master, he said, you entrusted me
  with five talents. See, I have gained five more.
• 21His master replied, Well done, good and
  faithful servant! You have been faithful with a
  few things I will put you in charge of many
  things. Come and share your masters happiness!
• 22The man with the two talents also came.
  Master, he said, you entrusted me with two
  talents see, I have gained two more.
• 23His master replied, Well done, good and
  faithful servant! You have been faithful with a
  few things I will put you in charge of many
  things. Come and share your masters happiness!
• Matthew 25

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Jesus on the future rewards from heaven

• 12Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with
  me, and I will give to everyone according to what
  he has done.
• Revelation 22

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Jesus on the futureresurrection day

• 26For as the Father has life in himself, so he
  has granted the Son to have life in himself.
  27And he has given him authority to judge because
  he is the Son of Man.
• 28Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming
  when all who are in their graves will hear his
  voice 29and come outthose who have done good
  will rise to live, and those who have done evil
  will rise to be condemned.
• John 5

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Jesus on the futureremoval of faithless

• 47Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
  net that was let down into the lake and caught
  all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the
  fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they
  sat down and collected the good fish in baskets,
  but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be
  at the end of the age.
• Matthew 13

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Jesus on the future removal of faithless

• 36No one knows about that day or hour, not even
  the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the
  Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it
  will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in
  the days before the flood, people were eating and
  drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to
  the day Noah entered the ark 39and they knew
  nothing about what would happen until the flood
  came and took them all away.
• Matthew 24

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Paul on the future

• 18I consider that our present sufferings are not
  worth comparing with the glory that will be
  revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager
  expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
  20For the creation was subjected to frustration,
  not by its own choice, but by the will of the one
  who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation
  itself will be liberated from its bondage to
  decay and brought into the glorious freedom of
  the children of God.
• 22We know that the whole creation has been
  groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up
  to the present time.
• Romans 8

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Paul on the future

• 16For by Jesus all things were created things
  in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
  whether thrones or powers or rulers or
  authorities all things were created by him and
  for him. 17He is before all things, and in him
  all things hold together 19For God was pleased
  to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and
  through him to reconcile to himself all things,
  whether things on earth or things in heaven, by
  making peace through his blood, shed on the
  cross.
• Colossians 1

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Peter on the future

• 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
  The heavens will disappear with a roar the
  elements will be destroyed (dissolved) by fire,
  and the earth and everything in it will be laid
  bare (discovered).
• 11Since everything will be destroyed (dissolved)
  in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?
  You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you
  look forward to the day of God and speed its
  coming. That day will bring about the destruction
  (disintegration) of the heavens by fire, and the
  elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping
  with his promise we are looking forward to a new
  heaven and a new earth, the home of
  righteousness.
• 2 Peter 3

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John on the future

• 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the
  first heaven and the first earth had passed away,
  and there was no longer any sea...
• 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne
  saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and
  he will live with them. They will be his people,
  and God himself will be with them and be their
  God. 4He 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.
• 5He who was seated on the throne said, I am
  making everything new! Then he said, Write this
  down, for these words are trustworthy and true.
• 6He said to me It is done. I am the Alpha and
  the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who
  is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from
  the spring of the water of life. 7He who
  overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be
  his God and he will be my son.

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Righteous
JUDG EMENT
D E A T H
R E S U R R E C T I O N
Unrighteous
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the way to the future

• 22The time came when the beggar died and the
  angels carried him to Abrahams side. The rich
  man also died and was buried. 23In hades, where
  he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham
  far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he
  called to him, Father Abraham, have pity on me
  and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in
  water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony
  in this fire.
• 25But Abraham replied, Son, remember that in
  your lifetime you received your good things,
  while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is
  comforted here and you are in agony. 26And
  besides all this, between us and you a great
  chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to
  go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross
  over from there to us.
• Luke 16

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the way to the future

• 39One of the criminals who hung there hurled
  insults at him Arent you the Christ? Save
  yourself and us!
• 40But the other criminal rebuked him. Dont you
  fear God, he said, since you are under the same
  sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are
  getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has
  done nothing wrong.
• 42Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come
  into your kingdom.
• 43Jesus answered him, I tell you the truth,
  today you will be with me in paradise.

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Righteous
JUDG EMENT
D E A T H
R E S U R R E C T I O N
PARADISE (with Jesus)
HADES (world of departed spirits)
Unrighteous
HADES (anticipating Judgement)
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Fire alarm!

• Hell Gehenna (not Hades)
• 11 times in Gospels once in James never
  contrasted with heaven
• a place associated with evil in Old Testament
  days, and in Jesus days, the smouldering rubbish
  dump outside Jerusalem

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Fire alarm!

• 7By the same word the present heavens and earth
  are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of
  judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
• 2 Peter 3

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Fire alarm!

• 1 The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad
• let the distant shores rejoice.
• 2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him
• righteousness and justice are the foundation of
  his throne.
• 3 Fire goes before him
• and consumes his foes on every side.
• 4 His lightning lights up the world
• the earth sees and trembles.
• 5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
• before the Lord of all the earth.
• Psalm 97

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Fire alarm!

• 41Then he will say to those on his left, Depart
  from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal
  fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For
  I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I
  was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I
  was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I
  needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was
  sick and in prison and you did not look after
  me.
• 46Then they will go away to eternal punishment,
  but the righteous to eternal life.
• Matthew 25

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Fire alarm!

• 7When the thousand years are over, Satan will be
  released from his prison 8and will go out to
  deceive the nations in the four corners of the
  earth to gather them for battle. In number they
  are like the sand on the seashore. 9They marched
  across the breadth of the earth and surrounded
  the camp of Gods people, the city he loves. But
  fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
  10And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown
  into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast
  and the false prophet had been thrown. They will
  be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

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Fire alarm!

• 11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was
  seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his
  presence, and there was no place for them. 12And
  I saw the dead, great and small, standing before
  the throne, and books were opened. Another book
  was opened, which is the book of life. The dead
  were judged according to what they had done as
  recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead
  that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the
  dead that were in them, and each person was
  judged according to what he had done. 14Then
  death and Hades were thrown into the lake of
  fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If
  anyones name was not found written in the book
  of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
• Revelation 20

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Righteous
JUDG EMENT
D E A T H
R E S U R R E C T I O N
PARADISE (with Jesus)
HADES (world of departed spirits)
Unrighteous
HADES (anticipating Judgement)
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• So, if heaven isnt going to be
• my home
• what is it?
• why does the bible talk about it so much?
• why will there be new heavens as well as a new
  earth?

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where do we go from here?

• Heaven and Hell are never contrasted in the
  Bible Heaven is always contrasted with earth
• Heaven is never promised as the future home of
  Christians

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Understanding Heaven

• The Christian Understanding of Reality

Perceived by sense and revelation
Spiritual world
Material world
Real
ity
Perceived by science and reason
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Gods home
The Heavens
2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be
hasty in your heart to utter anything before
God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so
let your words be few.
39
Gods home
The Heavens
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
40
A world at war
The Heavens
12For our struggle is not against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark
world and against the spiritual forces of evil in
the heavenly realms.
41
A world at war
The Heavens
Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day
that you set your mind to gain understanding and
to humble yourself before your God, your words
were heard, and I have come in response to them.
13But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted
me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the
chief princes, came to help me, because I was
detained there with the king of Persia. 14Now I
have come to explain to you what will happen to
your people in the future, for the vision
concerns a time yet to come.
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The Heavens
PARADISE (with Jesus)
HADES (world of departed spirits)
The world of the dead
HADES (anticipating Judgement)
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Understanding Heaven

• The Christian Understanding of Reality

God Good / evil spirits Hades/ Paradise
Perceived by sense and revelation
Spiritual world
Material world
Real
ity
Perceived by science and reason
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The three-storied universe
Gods Throne
Hades / Paradise
The Heavenly Places (principalities and powers)
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A world to be renewed
The Heavens
13But in keeping with his promise we are looking
forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home
of righteousness.
46
A world to be renewed
The Heavens
10And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown
into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast
and the false prophet had been thrown. They will
be tormented day and night for ever and
ever. 14Then death and Hades were thrown into the
lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second
death. 15If anyones name was not found written
in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake
of fire.
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A world re-integrated
The Heavens
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will
live with them. They will be his people, and God
himself will be with them and be their God. 4He
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.
48
Understanding Heaven

• The Christian Understanding of Renewed Reality

Spiritual world
God Spirits (good)
Material world
Real
ity
People Things
49
The New Earth
Physical Resurrection bodies Personal Relationship
s Animal Re-created not resurrected International
Racial harmony in diversity
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Righteous
JUDG EMENT
D E A T H
R E S U R R E C T I O N
PARADISE (with Jesus)
New Earth
HADES (world of departed spirits)
Unrighteous
HADES (anticipating Judgement)
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The BIG picture show
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Questions, questions, questions

• Is the prospect of eternal life on a new earth
  more attractive than eternal life in a spiritual
  heaven?
• If eternal life is physical what difference
  does that make to the way we view life now?
• What biblical references can you think of which
  do not appear to fit with a new earth view of
  the future?

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Righteous
JUDG EMENT
D E A T H
R E S U R R E C T I O N
PARADISE (with Jesus)
HADES (world of departed spirits)
Unrighteous
HADES (anticipating Judgement)
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Righteous
JUDG EMENT
D E A T H
R E S U R R E C T I O N
PARADISE (with Jesus)
HADES (world of departed spirits)
Unrighteous
HADES (anticipating Judgement)
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Fire alarm!

• Five Contemporary Views
• Eternal Conscious Torment
• Eternal Conscious Spiritual Torment
• Eternal Separation from God
• Conditional Immortality
• Annihilationism