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WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

he cold reality of confronts us daily. The CONTENTS TTobituary page of the newspaper is just one of the Whistling In The Dark . . . 2 many reminders that we are destined to die. Even a What Will Happen? . . . . . 4 nutritious diet, regular exercise, DEATH: super-vitamins, and the best Door To Another World. . 4 medical care won’t prevent RESURRECTION: death. But will death mean the Dressed For Eternity . . . 9 end of our existence? Or is JUDGMENT: there a future life? If so, what Final Exams ...... 14 will it be like? And can we do ETERNITY: anything to get ready for it? Good News And This booklet, written by Bad News ...... 19 Kurt De Haan, explores the biblical answers to these Through The Tunnel . . . . 29 perplexing and troubling Looking Ahead ...... 32 questions. My prayer is that these pages will help you live a more fulfilling life and encourage you to be prepared for what will happen to you when you die. Martin R. De Haan II

Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo: Denis Felix/FPG International Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version, ©1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers Copyright ©1987, 2001 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 2

WHISTLING IN of chance and destined for THE DARK the same fate—. A skeptic would not be able to come to any hose who talk of conclusions on this issue, going to heaven have which he feels has no TToften been accused objective means of positive of “whistling in the dark.” verification. Most of us know what that A Marxist would call all means. We can remember religious explanations of life dark moments during power and God mere illusions. failures, or we recall times Karl Marx, in fact, said when we had to walk that religion was just “the down a lonely street in opium of the people”—a the blackness of night. We way of getting us “high” feared the worst and hoped on hope and ignoring the for the best. Is that what we cold emptiness of life are doing now when we and death. think about hell or speak of A Hindu thinks of the heaven? Or is all the talk present life as just one of about the terrors of hell and many lives in a cycle of the joys of heaven just the births, , and rebirths. product of overzealous When the individual ancestors who wanted to eventually becomes good scare people into being enough, he achieves eternal good? bliss as he is absorbed into An atheist, of course, the universal spirit. would argue that thoughts A Buddhist lives a of immortality are only highly disciplined life in dreams. He would say that order to extinguish all man and beast are products desire and to attain a vague 2 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 3

impersonal existence he receive God’s approval in calls nirvana. the life to come. A Muslim devotes his A college student may life to the teachings of the be so overwhelmed by the prophet Muhammad in an diversity of religious beliefs attempt to make himself on campus that he loses all worthy of acceptance into certainty of where he is paradise and to escape the going in this life or the next. torments of hell. An 8-year-old probably A hardened criminal worries more about being may scoff at the idea of punished by Mom or Dad hell, saying, “I’d just as than he does his future soon go to hell, since that’s encounter with God. where all my friends are going to be.” A dog owner, fanatical “You take heaven. about his pet, may envision I’d rather go to heaven as a place where he Bermuda.” and Fido will play frisbee Mark Twain and tug-of-war forever. A battered wife may believe that she is enduring Who’s right? Does hell right now. anybody really know how A playboy laughs at the to sort out the fantasy thought of judgment and from the reality? Who is lives only for the pleasures whistling in the dark? And of the moment. who knows what death will A follower of bring? In the following Christ may fame, pages, we will search out fortune, and power in this the answers given in the life, knowing that he will Bible. 3 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 4

WHAT WILL four stages of life beyond HAPPEN? the grave. DEATH: ome people claim Door To Another to know what will World happen when they SS (Heaven) die. But how can they be so sure? Not through such ETERNITY things as space probes or JUDGMENT archaeological digs. The answer comes only from RESURRECTION God—the One who created life and holds all people DEATH accountable to Himself. He’s the One whose Son RESURRECTION died for us to prepare us for JUDGMENT eternity. He has spoken to us through the Bible, a ETERNITY book we can trust. The (Hell) author, God Himself, is an expert on life and death. People often joke that The Bible speaks of life only two things in life are as but a brief moment of certain: death and taxes. our existence, followed But that impression is not by death, resurrection, accurate, for many have judgment, and finally an been known to cheat the eternal existence in one tax collector and avoid of two destinations. In the payment. Death, however, pages to follow, we will look can’t be cheated. carefully at each of these Another inaccurate 4 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 5

impression is that death (1 Cor. 15:26). There is ends all of our problems. no use trying to gloss While it’s true that after we over its awfulness and die we will not have to face unnaturalness. After all, the tax auditor, listen to an God didn’t create man and angry boss, or deal with woman to wear out and be problem children, we will thrown away like broken have to face God. Death is toys. God made us special, not the easy way out. It will with the ability to relate to be gain for some and loss Him as no animal could. for others. And many people Death crashed Adam are in for a big surprise. and Eve’s garden party the moment they decided to “Of the tree of the disobey God. The Lord had warned our first parents of knowledge of good the side-effects of eating the and evil you shall not forbidden fruit (Gen. 2:17). eat, for in the day But the temptation was great and their resistance that you eat of it, was small—so they fell you will surely die.” (3:6-7). Genesis 2:17 Death came to Adam and Eve in two forms: What Is Death? Death spiritual and physical. They is an ugly beast. It comes first experienced a spiritual at us like a fictional dragon separation from God when with snorting nostrils and they sinned. They hid blazing breath, intent on from Him and were soon devouring us. The Bible expelled from the garden speaks of it as the last where they had once enemy Christ will destroy walked and talked with 5 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 6

Him. Spiritual death Where Do I Go? If opened the door to physical death is not the end of us death, which came years as distinct personalities, later. and if it really is the First and foremost, then, doorway to a new kind of death is a separation. In a continuing existence, what spiritual sense, it is the is the first thing that will separation of the soul from happen to us after we die? God (Isa. 59:2; Eph. 2:1). Although the Bible offers In a physical sense, it is the us only a glimpse of life on separation of the soul from the other side, it does the body (Mt. 10:28; Rev. indicate that there are two 6:9; 20:4). The Bible also very real places where the talks about eternal death. dead await the resurrection This is the irreversible and final judgment. Christ spiritual death—the gave us the most vivid second death spoken of picture of these two places in Revelation 2:11 and when He told the story about 20:6,14—which follows the the rich man and Lazarus. final judgment. So it was that the beggar Here are some things died, and was carried by that death is not: the angels to Abraham’s • rebirth into another life bosom. The rich man also form died and was buried. And • an unconscious state of being in torments in the soul Hades, he lifted up his • being absorbed by the eyes and saw Abraham “cosmic consciousness” afar off, and Lazarus in • the doorway into eternal his bosom (Lk. 16:22-23). bliss for everyone Some experts say this • the end of our existence story is simply a parable, 6 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 7

while others insist it was an Although the Old Testament actual incident. Regardless picture may seem fuzzy at of who is right, we can be times, it depicts a destination sure that Jesus was telling us that the righteous could look some important truths about forward to (Ps. 16:10; 49:15; life on the other side of Hos. 13:14) and the wicked death. The story tells us that should fear (Job 24:19; Ps. there are two destinations 9:17; 31:17; 49:14; 55:15). for the soul at death: a place of comfort and a place of Once we have torment. In describing life after death in this way, passed through the Jesus was filling in the Old door of death we Testament picture. can’t pick up our In Old Testament times, the Hebrew term Sheol suitcases and move referred to the place where out because we all souls went at death. Our don’t like the English Bibles translate Sheol as “the grave,” “hell,” accommodations. and “the pit.” (Hades is the New Testament Greek The story Christ told in equivalent of Sheol.) This Luke 16 explains that was the place where people will either exist in God’s children and His comfort and blessing or enemies awaited the final inhabit a place of torment. resurrection and judgment. It also makes clear that In that “waiting room” once we have passed there were two distinct through the door of death, places with two very different we can’t pick up our conscious existences. suitcases and move out 7 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 8

because we don’t like the new resurrected bodies, yet accommodations. the New Testament doesn’t We need to remember make it a big issue. We that the fuzziness of the may have some sort of Old Testament has been temporary body, though it removed through what will be an incomplete Christ has said and done. existence. When the rich Paul told us that Christ man and Lazarus of Luke Jesus “has abolished death 16 died, they had real and brought life and bodies that experienced immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10). “It’s not that I’m When a Christian dies, his soul goes immediately afraid to die. I just to be with Christ (Lk. 23:43; don’t want to be 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23). there when it The resurrection and glorification of our bodies happens.” will take place at the Woody Allen rapture of the church, when soul and body will physical discomfort and be reunited (1 Th. 4:13-17). sorrow. Another example is The souls of the non- when Moses and Elijah Christian dead, however, appeared with Jesus at will remain in the “waiting the transfiguration. The room” until the time of disciples saw them resurrection and judgment. with bodies that were Some people have recognizable and real (Mt. difficulty understanding 17:3). This intermediate what kind of existence we state will last only until the will have before we get our dead rise from the grave 8 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 9

and receive their new after you have finished bodies. your life? How would you How Can I Be Ready? live today if you knew it It is one thing to realize would be your last? If that we are all destined for a person has accepted either heaven or hell; it is Christ’s offer of eternal quite another thing to be life, why is physical death certain that you will go to still necessary? Which heaven. One of the clearest Christians will not have descriptions of what it takes to die? (1 Th. 4:17). to be ready is John 3:16, which says: RESURRECTION: For God so loved the Dressed For Eternity world that He gave His only begotten Son, that (Heaven) ETERNITY whoever believes in Him should not perish but JUDGMENT have everlasting life. The final choice is yours. RESURRECTION Will you recognize that you are lost without Christ? Will DEATH you trust Him to rescue you from sin’s penalty and RESURRECTION power? Will you accept His JUDGMENT offer of eternal life? Thinking It Over. Since ETERNITY you have only one life to (Hell) live, what do you think God wants you to do with it? Medical science has done What would you like others wonders in extending our to remember about you lives. Complex procedures 9 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 10

bypass clogged arteries, What Is Resurrection? kill rebel cancer cells, filter Physical death is the impurities from blood, and separation of the body replace worn-out joints. from the soul. This creates Vaccines have nearly a problem, because without eliminated polio and other bodies we are incomplete. dreaded diseases of the Resurrection, which past. But no one has reunites body and soul, discovered a vaccine is the solution. It is not against death. Unlike a merely the bringing back to new car or new appliance life of a corpse, but rather that carries a warranty the re-creation of the body promising customer to make it fit for eternity. satisfaction, our body is not Why Is Resurrection guaranteed against a major Necessary? Couldn’t we breakdown that will cause simply exist forever as it to quit before the average spirits? If man is basically a 70-year lifespan is over. spiritual being, why do we Our body is susceptible to need a body? The answer is sickness and decay. If we that a body is part of our are to live for eternity, we basic nature. To ask why need a completely new humans need bodies is to model. The Bible tells us ask a question like “Why do that we will be given a new fish need gills?” or “Why do body at the resurrection. It birds need wings?” Bodies is then that we will be are basic to our nature. “dressed for eternity.” To The reason we are understand what the Bible decaying and dying is not teaches about resurrection, because we have bodies. It let’s look at the answers to is because sin has infected five basic questions. our bodies. God designed us 10 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 11

as physical and spiritual people will be resurrected creatures who were to find and given new bodies for fulfillment through physical eternity? The apostle Paul and spiritual activities. had to address this issue Just as having a physical because some people were nature without a spiritual apparently denying the nature would make man an resurrection of the dead. animal, so possessing only a Now if Christ is preached spiritual dimension without that He has been raised a physical shell would make from the dead, how do him more like an angel than some among you say that a human being. there is not resurrection of New bodies are also the dead? . . . . But now necessary to fulfill God’s Christ is risen from the perfect justice. The rich dead, and has become man in the story of Luke 16 the firstfruits of those who experienced both mental have fallen asleep. For and physical anguish. since by man came death, Because the Bible teaches by Man also came the that God will resurrect all of resurrection of the dead. humanity and that He will For as in Adam all die, assign many to physical even so in Christ all suffering in hell, we can shall be made alive conclude that deeds done in (1 Cor. 15:12,20-22). the body can only be dealt Paul argued that our with justly if real physical faith in God and hope of suffering is endured. resurrection rests entirely How Can I Be Sure Of on the reality of the Resurrection? Is there any resurrection of Jesus Christ. precedent? What right do If Christ did not rise, then we have to believe that all our hope is lost and He is 11 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 12

dead and under the same The first resurrection is judgment as we are. But that of believers. Jesus Jesus did rise from the Christ will return at the end grave! The empty tomb, of this age to take all of His the hundreds of people who own, living and dead, to be saw the risen Christ, the with Him. This event, changed lives of His referred to as the rapture, disciples, and the very will take place before the existence of the Christian terrible outpouring of God’s church testify that Christ wrath on unbelieving Jews truly did rise from the dead. and Gentiles during the Because He arose, we can tribulation. The dead in believe Him when He said Christ will rise first and be that all will rise again (Jn. given new, glorified bodies. 5:28-29). Even before Christ Living believers will follow, spoke about resurrection, and their bodies will be the Old Testament assumed transformed. Both groups it and spoke briefly of it will meet the Lord in the air. (Job 19:25-26). This will occur suddenly. Who Will Be We shall all be changed Resurrected, And When? —in a moment, in the All people will be twinkling of an eye, at resurrected, but not all the last trumpet. For the at the same time. Even trumpet will sound, and though the Bible sometimes the dead will be raised speaks of the resurrection incorruptible, and we of the righteous and the shall be changed unrighteousness with no (1 Cor. 15:51-52). distinction of time, it For the Lord Himself will clearly indicates two descend from heaven with main resurrections. a shout, with the voice of 12 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 13

an archangel, and with (Rev. 20:1-15). The subjects the trumpet of God. And of this resurrection, all the the dead in Christ will unbelievers throughout rise first. Then we who history, will come from are alive and remain shall Hades, the place of be caught up together temporary suffering. They with them in the clouds will be given bodies in to meet the Lord in the which they will face God’s air. And thus we shall judgment and final always be with the Lord sentencing. (1 Th. 4:16-17). What Kind Of Body Old Testament saints Will I Have? When we are and the martyred believers resurrected, will our bodies of the coming tribulation be like they are now, or will will be raised at Christ’s they be entirely different? return to earth at the The scriptural answer to close of the tribulation this question seems to be (Dan. 12:1-3; Rev. 20:4). that our bodies will be The initial stage of the similar in some ways and first resurrection, then, different in others. Also, will occur when believers the bodies of believers will meet Christ in the air. The apparently be different from second stage will take place those of unbelievers. The 7 years later, after God has resurrected body of a poured out His wrath on believer is described in the the rebellious nations and following ways: Christ returns to set up His • Flesh and bone, but kingdom. dramatically changed The second resurrection (Lk. 24:39; 1 Cor. 15:50). will occur 1,000 years • Like Christ’s resurrected after the first resurrection body (1 Cor. 15:49; 13 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 14

Phil. 3:21; 1 Jn. 3:2). judgment on sin, though • Incorruptible they will never die. (1 Cor. 15:42,50). Thinking It Over. Both • Awe-inspiring believer and nonbeliever (1 Cor. 15:43). will be resurrected to allow • Having new abilities God to dispense perfect (1 Cor. 15:43). justice on all mankind. Are • Suited for heaven you ready? Do you know (1 Cor. 15:47-49). which body will be yours? • Spiritual (1 Cor. 15:44). When will you be That last point may resurrected? What are you raise some questions in looking forward to about your mind, How, you may the resurrected body? ask, can a physical body be called a “spiritual” body? JUDGMENT: The term simply points out Final Exams the imperishable and perfect nature of the new body. It (Heaven) will be able to stand in the ETERNITY presence of and relate to JUDGMENT God who is spirit. It is a body designed for life in RESURRECTION heaven for all eternity. What about the bodies DEATH of nonbelievers, who must face judgment and hell? The RESURRECTION Bible doesn’t tell us. But they JUDGMENT are not promised a body like Christ’s glorious body. We ETERNITY assume that their bodies will (Hell) be capable of sensing God’s 14 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 15

When I was in school, I alike—but we will not all be tried not to think about tests judged alike. Although the until I absolutely had to. two judgments are different, After all, thinking about both are serious occasions. tests would have spoiled And the time to get ready for many a night of watching them is now. TV or talking with friends. Why Is Judgment Likewise, I have the feeling Necessary? If God is a that most of us would rather God of perfect justice, then not think about the final He must judge us after this exam when we will stand life. The inequities and before God. That would injustices of earth must be cramp our style, wouldn’t it? resolved. God will not let It would make us take life those people who have more seriously and be more ignored His laws since they conscious of wasted time. were children get away with No, God’s judgment it. And Christians, who isn’t usually talked about have been entrusted with at coffee breaks. We would gifts to use for God’s glory, rather discuss sports, the will give full account of weather, or the new car their use and be rewarded models. accordingly. But just because the topic Who Will Be The makes us uncomfortable, Judge? God Himself will and just because we would be our Judge (Heb. 12:23). rather not think about it He will judge us through until we are forced to, does His Son. Jesus told us, “The not mean it is wise to ignore Father judges no one, but it or to delay facing the facts. has committed all judgment We will all be judged— to the Son” (Jn. 5:22; cp. believer and nonbeliever Acts 17:31). 15 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 16

Who Will Be Judged? He who hears My word No one will be excused and believes in Him who from God’s “final exam.” sent Me has everlasting It will take place in two life, and shall not come parts: (1) the judgment of into judgment, but has believers, and (2) the passed from death into judgment of unbelievers. life (Jn. 5:24). Believers: At The At the judgment seat of Judgment Seat Of Christ. Christ, believers will either Believers will be judged suffer loss or be rewarded, at “the judgment seat of depending on their Christ” (Rom. 14:10). Paul faithfulness. Although referred to this judgment we are saved by faith, our when he wrote: works will be tested (1 Cor. We must all appear before 3:13-15; 4:5; 9:16-27). the judgment seat of Christ told three parables to Christ, that each one may illustrate our accountability receive the things done in to God for the use of all the body, according to that He has given to us what he has done, whether (Mt. 25:14-30; Lk. 16:1-13; good or bad (2 Cor. 5:10). 19:11-27). Some believers This is not a judgment to will enter heaven by the determine whether a person skin of their teeth. They is going to heaven or hell. may get there through a That issue was settled by “deathbed conversion” (like the person’s acceptance or the thief on the cross in Lk. rejection of Christ during 23:39-43). And many will his earthly life (Rom. 5:1-2). be there who never matured Christ Himself assured us beyond spiritual infancy. that we cannot lose our The New Testament salvation: mentions that rewards and 16 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 17

crowns will be given to 15). At that time, the those believers who earn unsaved dead of all the them. For example: ages will stand before God’s • The incorruptible or throne. It will not be a time imperishable crown for of rejoicing. Every person those who build their who stands before the Lord lives with works that at the great white throne please God (1 Cor. 3:12- will be declared guilty. 14; 9:25-27). Then I saw a great white • The crown of throne and Him who sat righteousness for on it, from whose face the all who long for His earth and the heaven fled appearing (2 Tim. 4:8). away. And there was • The crown of life for the found no place for them person who perseveres (Rev. 20:11). in trials (Jas. 1:12; Rev. 2:10; 3:11). “One might better • The crown of glory for good shepherds of the try to sail the Atlantic church (1 Pet. 5:4). in a paper boat than • The crown of rejoicing to get to heaven on for those who lead others to Christ (Phil. good works.” 4:1; 1 Th. 2:19). Charles Spurgeon Unbelievers: At The Great White Throne. The unsaved will be All unbelievers will be judged on the basis of their judged at the great white relationship to Jesus Christ, throne. This will occur after and also on the basis of the 1,000-year reign of their deeds (Rom. 2:5-11). Christ on earth (Rev. 20:7- Since these people have 17 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 18

rejected the light they had of the living God.” We about Christ, they will be cannot afford to take that excluded from heaven. warning lightly. And we Their names are not cannot live without caring included in the book of about the eternal destiny of life (Lk. 10:20; Rev.3:5; those whose lives we touch. 13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27). Only a cold and calloused On the basis of what they heart will hoard the life- have done on earth, they giving news about salvation. will suffer varying degrees And only a shortsighted of judgment in hell (Lk. person will refuse the love 12:47-48; Rev. 20:12-13). Christ displayed on the cross and pursue the “If we would truly passing pleasures of sin. Thinking It Over. If a know God, and be Christian no longer has to known of Him, we fear judgment for sin, why should ask Him to should he be concerned about facing the judgment teach us here and seat of Christ? Should a now to reckon with person be content to get to the solemn reality heaven “by the skin of his teeth”? What “crowns” do of His wrath.” you think you will receive? J. I. Packer Could it be wrong to think too much about what you This discussion about will get for serving Christ? judgment should be Take a moment to thank upsetting. Hebrews 10:31 God for providing a way tells us that “it is a fearful of escape from the penalty thing to fall into the hands of sin. 18 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 19

ETERNITY: braces. Or it may be that Good News And when you took your car Bad News in for a routine brake inspection, the mechanic (Heaven) told you that the brakes ETERNITY were fine but that the engine was ready to fall out. JUDGMENT Good news and bad RESURRECTION news is not only a part of life, it is also a part of death DEATH and the hereafter. The good news is that many people RESURRECTION will enjoy heaven; the bad news is that many will JUDGMENT agonize in hell. The decision must be made in life. ETERNITY (Hell) (Heaven) Have you ever gone to your ETERNITY doctor, dentist, or auto Heaven:The Good News mechanic and heard good It sounds almost too good news and bad news at the to be true. It’s better than a same time? The good news mouse getting locked in a may have been that you cheese-processing plant. were still alive, but the bad It’s better than a beggar news was that it would take inheriting a million dollars. major surgery to keep you It’s better than a lazy that way. Or perhaps you person finding a job as a learned that your daughter mattress tester. It’s better doesn’t have any cavities, than winning the Nobel but she’s going to need Prize. We are talking about 19 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 20

heaven, and it’s far better • Have perfect knowledge than any earthly joy we can (1 Cor. 13:8-12). imagine. Our minds cannot • Be united with the begin to comprehend a redeemed of all time perfect environment where (1 Th. 4:17; Rev. 21:12,14). we will be united with God • Have glorified bodies and no longer have to with powers and abilities endure the struggles of life. beyond our imagination What Will Heaven Be (1 Cor. 15:35-49; Phil. Like? The Bible does tell 3:21). us some things about our • Live in beautiful eternal existence with God. surroundings that After He creates the new include magnificent heaven and new earth, buildings and wonders there will be: of nature (Rev. 21–22). • No more sorrow, What a wonderful future tears, pain, or death awaits us in heaven! The (Rev. 21:4). anticipation should cause • No more night us to live right now as (Rev. 21:23-25). citizens of heaven, as • No more evil children of the King. God (Rev. 21:27). should be ruling in our • No more curse hearts, even though this (Rev. 22:3). world is still under the And in heaven we will: control of the wicked one. • Serve God (Rev. 22:3). The apostle John wrote: • Reign with Christ forever Beloved, now we are (Rev. 22:5). children of God; and it • Live in a place prepared has not yet been revealed for us by Christ Himself what we shall be, but we (Jn. 14:2-3). know that when He is 20 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 21

revealed, we shall be like man wrote a book about it. Him, for we shall see Him And the other person, the as He is. And everyone one who knew the most, who has this hope in Him gave us only limited purifies himself, just as information. He is pure (1 Jn. 3:2-3). • Paul: He mentioned a Who Will Be There? time when he was “caught God will be in heaven, of up to the third heaven” or course, as its primary focus. “Paradise”—the dwelling With Him will be all the place of God (2 Cor. 12:2-4; Old Testament saints cp. Lk. 23:43). But he did not (believing Israelites and tell us any specifics about believing Gentiles), the that experience, except that church (Jew and Gentiles he had heard “inexpressible alike who trusted Christ for words, which it is not lawful salvation), those who put for a man to utter.” faith in Christ during the • John: While in exile on great tribulation, Jesus the island of Patmos, John Christ in all His glory, saw heaven in a vision and and the multitude of good wrote down what he saw angels (Rev. 5:11-14; (Rev. 4–22). 7:1-17; 20:4; 21:12,14,22). • Jesus: He left heaven Who On Earth Has to live and die on earth Ever Seen Heaven? Has (Jn. 3:13-17; 6:32-58). He anyone ever had a sneak then ascended to heaven, preview? Yes. In fact, three where He will be until He men have given us firsthand returns in power (Acts 1:11; information about what 2 Th. 1:7-10; Rev. 19:11- heaven will be like. One of 21). Jesus assured us of them could hardly talk about the reality and glories of his experience, but another heaven (Jn. 14:1-6). 21 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 22

What Is The New in tents during his life Jerusalem? In his vision because he knew that one recorded in the book of day he would live in “the Revelation, John said that city which has foundations, he saw “the holy city, New whose builder and maker Jerusalem, coming down is God” (v.10). This is the out of heaven from God, same city that believers prepared as a bride adorned anticipate as their eternal for her husband” (21:2). home (13:14). The holy city will appear after everyone has been “Though Christians resurrected and judged, and after the creation of a new believe in heaven, heaven and a new earth. sometimes they act The city will be the capital as though going of heaven, the place of God’s special presence. It there were a will be the primary dwelling calamity.” place of the redeemed. Henry Jacobson The city is said to have 12 gates symbolizing the Thinking It Over. Will presence of the 12 tribes any people who arrive in of Israel (v.12) and 12 heaven miss their old life foundations representing on earth? What questions the presence of the church are you looking forward to of the 12 apostles (v.14). finding answers for when John described it as being you get to heaven? If we are an immense jeweled city of already citizens of heaven great beauty. as Christians, how should Hebrews 11 tells us that that affect the way we live Abraham was willing to live here on earth? What will be 22 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 23

our greatest joy in heaven? the seriousness of rejecting Why do you suppose God God. It is not merely a gave us so little specific matter of doing something a information about heaven? little wrong and then having God overreact. The sin we ETERNITY commit by rejecting Him is (Hell) a monstrous crime (Rom. HELL:The Bad News 1:18; Col. 1:21; Heb. 10:29- The first reaction to bad 31). It is a crime so great news is often a refusal to that the only way God accept it. A person who is could rescue us from its told he has a terminal penalty was to sentence illness, for example, may go His own Son to die on our through a stage of denial behalf (Col. 1:15-22; Heb. before he comes to terms 9:11–10:18). It is only as with reality. Many react to we realize the significance the bad news about hell in of Christ’s death for us that a similar way. They feel it is we begin to realize the just too awful to be true. immensity of our guilt They think God is too before God. loving to create such a Our good and loving place. They say eternal God is also a God of punishment based on a holiness and justice (Ps. relatively brief life span 33:5). He cannot ignore sin. would be like sentencing a He will not tolerate person to the electric chair imperfection in His holy for a parking ticket. presence (Heb. 12:14). To Why Would A execute His justice, He Good And Loving God created a real place called Condemn People To Hell? hell, originally for Satan We must not underestimate and his angels (Mt. 25:41). 23 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 24

What Will Hell Be loving and merciful that Like? As with heaven, the He would never send Bible gives us only general anyone to a place like descriptions of what hell hell. But when Jesus taught, will be like. Although some He spoke more about hell people have questioned the than He did about heaven. literalness of a physical hell Whereas the Old Testament filled with fire and smoke, had revealed very little about the eternal condition “Almost every of those who reject God, Christ described hell as: natural man that • A place of fire (Mt. 5:22; hears of hell 7:19; 13:42,50; 25:41; flatters himself that Mk. 9:43-48). • A place of bodily he shall escape it.” torment (Mt. 5:29-30). Jonathan Edwards • A place separated from God’s presence we must remember that (Mt. 7:23). unbelievers will be • A place of darkness resurrected with some sort (Mt. 8:12; 22:13). of body that can endure • A place of weeping physical torment. The and gnashing of teeth essence of hell is eternal (Mt. 8:12; 13:42,50; separation from God; even 22:13; 25:30). so, its inhabitants will • A place of varying endure varying degrees degrees of punishment of physical suffering (Mk. 12:40; Lk. 10:13- (Mt. 11:20-24). 14; 12:47-48). Some people want to The apostles described believe that Jesus is so hell as: 24 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 25

• A place of indignation, heaven, is a real place that wrath, tribulation, and will exist for all eternity anguish (Rom. 2:8-9). (Mt. 18:8; 25:41,46; 2 Th. • Flaming fire and 1:9; Heb. 6:2; Jude 7,13; everlasting destruction Rev. 14:11). When the Bible away from God’s uses words like cut off, presence (2 Th. 1:6-9). death, and destruction, it • Eternal judgment does not mean the (Heb. 6:2). extinction of the soul. • Fiery indignation, which What About will devour God’s Purgatory? Some people enemies (Heb. 10:27). believe that even those who • A place of fire are saved by grace will (Jas. 3:6; Jude 6-7). endure some sort of “hell” • The final expression before they enter heaven. of God’s judgment (2 Pet. 2:4-9). “It is a fearful thing • A fiery place where the to fall into the smoke of suffering will rise forever (Rev. 14:11). hands of the • A , the second living God.” death (Rev. 20:14-15). Hebrews 10:31 Why Not Annihilation? “Would God be any less They say that prayers for just,” some ask, “if He the dead, acts of devotion, simply ended the existence and gifts of money to the of the wicked after they are church will help shorten a judged and found guilty?” person’s stay in purgatory. Perhaps not, but the There is absolutely no terminology of Scripture biblical support of this view. clearly says that hell, like In fact, it deprecates the 25 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 26

effectiveness of Christ’s balances their good deeds death on the cross by against their bad, the good implying that He did not will outweigh the bad and fully pay the price to they will go to heaven. But cleanse us from all our sins. that’s not what the Bible says. It tells us that “The safest road everyone has fallen short of God’s entrance to hell is the requirements (Rom. 3:23). gradual one–the No one has the proper gentle slope, soft passport to get through heaven’s gates on his own. underfoot, without Only those who have sudden turnings, personally trusted Christ for without milestones, their salvation will escape hell. Those who heard the without signposts.” gospel but scoffed at it, as C. S. Lewis well as those who never searched out the truth their Who Will Be There? consciences spoke to them Will only the worst of about, will be there. The humanity be in hell? Will citizens of hell will be those people like Hitler, Judas, who have taken the broad Jezebel, child molesters, road, the road that deceives murderers, rapists, and drug travelers into a false sense peddlers be the only ones of security (Mt. 7:13). condemned? No. Satan himself will be Most people like to the host of hell. He will be believe they are not bad joined by his cohorts: enough to go to hell. They Antichrist, the false prophet, like to think that when God and all his demons. It will 26 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 27

be a gathering of the who reject Christ. True, “Who’s Who Of Evil.” it would be nice to believe Hell is a difficult topic that everyone will to think about. Even so, it eventually be saved— is a reality. In His teaching, but that is not what the Jesus often pointed to hell’s Bible tells us will happen. terrors with one hand while Yes, according to the Bible, hell is real. This thought should cause us We can’t straddle to make sure of heaven the fence, and we and to help others escape can’t wait to make hell’s terrors. Thinking It Over. Why a decision until do some people reject the after we have idea of a literal, eternal passed through hell? Why must we believe in hell even though we death’s door. would rather not? How should a knowledge of pointing to the joys of hell’s awfulness affect our heaven with the other. He heart? For believers, how said we will all go to one is the idea of purgatory place or the other. There different from the biblical is no escape. We can’t picture of the judgment seat straddle the fence, and of Christ? Why is it that we can’t wait to make a many people don’t like to decision until after we have talk about sin and hell? If passed through death’s unbelievers are going to door. Scripture does not hell, what can you do to allow us to believe in a help them get off the road “second chance” for those to destruction? 27 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 28

ONLY TWO OPTIONS Will it be heaven—or hell? The decision you make (Heaven) now, before you die, will ETERNITY determine whether you are headed for the resurrection JUDGMENT of the righteous or the RESURRECTION resurrection of the condemned, whether DEATH your judgment will be joyful or miserable, and whether RESURRECTION you will spend eternity with God or eternity separated JUDGMENT from Him. The choice is yours. There are only two ETERNITY (Hell) options.

Imagine yourself standing at the door of an open Imagine yourself elevator. How do you standing at the decide whether or not to get on? Your choice is doorway to eternity. influenced by two factors: Where will you go? the elevator’s direction, Will it be heaven– and where you want to go. You wouldn’t want to end or hell? up in the basement if you intended to go to the top floor. Now imagine yourself standing at the doorway to eternity. Where will you go? 28 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 29

THROUGH THE earthlings live in a greatly TUNNEL expanded environment and breathe air, he would only be more skeptical. After all, Joseph Bayly was a respected a fetus lives in water; who author and speaker on the would imagine its being able subject of death. In this to live in a universe of air? excerpt, he wrote of the To him such a transition difficulty we have when we would seem impossible. try to understand the It would take birth to realities of the life to come. prove the earth’s existence I cannot prove the to a fetus. A little pain, a existence of heaven. I accept dark tunnel, a gasp of air— its reality by faith, on the and then the wide world! authority of Jesus Christ: Green grass, laps, lakes, “In My Father’s house are the ocean, horses (could many mansions; if it were a fetus imagine a horse?), not so, I would have told rainbows, walking, running, you. I go to prepare a place surfing, ice-skating. With for you” (Jn. 14:2). enough room that you don’t For that matter, if I were have to shove, and a a twin in the womb, I doubt universe beyond. that I could prove the What is heaven like? existence of earth to my For the tired, it is a place of mate. He would probably rest. For the sorrowing, a object that the idea of an place where “God will wipe earth beyond the womb was away every tear from their ridiculous, that the womb eyes; there shall be no was the only earth we’d more death, nor sorrow, nor ever know. crying; and there shall be no If I tried to explain that more pain” (Rev. 21:4). 29 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 30

Or war or greed or evil of found in serving God.” any kind. It is a place of total In heaven we will be happiness: “In Your presence freed from our present is fullness of joy; at Your fragmented intellectual right hand are pleasures knowledge, and see truth forevermore” (Ps. 16:11). and beauty with greatly Heaven is also a place expanded vision. “Now I of activity, of work (but know in part, but then I without the curse of toil shall know just as I also and sweat and barren am known” (1 Cor. 13:12). ground), of sharing in the Heaven will be responsibility of divine supremely beautiful. The government. biblical descriptions include I sat with a friend walls of precious stones, recently in his hospital gates of pearl, streets of room. The diagnosis is gold. (My mother used to terminal cancer. If death say that she didn’t find any comes, it will interrupt a particular attraction in distinguished career as a golden streets. I had no leader in training young answer for her until I read men to serve Jesus Christ. a comment by F. B. Meyer, “When we think of that in heaven all earth’s heaven,” he said, “I values are turned upside don’t think we give enough down. “What do we count consideration to what we’re most valuable on earth?” told in Revelation, that ‘His he asked. “Gold. Men live servants shall serve Him’ for gold, kill for it. But in (22:3), and that their heaven gold is so plentiful service is ‘day and night’ that they pave the streets (7:15). We talk too much with it . . . .”) about rest—our rest will be “But,” someone says, 30 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 31

“how could I enjoy such a earth without a thought of place? I’m not made for it.” their Source: “From him Neither is the fetus made for who does not have, even earth until he goes through what he has will be taken the tunnel. Is there another away” (Mt. 25:29). place? Yes, but if the reality of heaven is questioned “But,” someone today, the reality of a place of eternal separation from says,“how could I God (hell, as it is usually enjoy such a place? called) is ignored. I accept I’m not made for it.” its reality by faith, on the authority of Jesus Christ: Neither is the fetus “I say to you, My friends, made for earth until do not be afraid of those he goes through who kill the body, and after that have no more that they the tunnel. can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Jesus Christ defined Him who, after He has hell’s reality in stronger killed, has power to cast language than any other into hell; yes, I say to you, person in the Bible. But He fear Him!” (Lk. 12:4-5). also had compassion on the Jesus Christ described multitudes, wept over an it as a place of “weeping unbelieving city, and and gnashing of teeth” (Mt. defined His mission as 25:30), of remembering coming not to condemn, the past with its lost but to bring life. opportunity to repent and Reprinted from The Last Thing We Talk turn to God, of the loss of About by Joseph Bayly ©1973 by David those gifts men enjoyed on C. Cook Company. Used by permission. 31 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Q1202LifeAftrDth pp 11/8/04 2:05 PM Page 32

LOOKING AHEAD have to fear the grave. But what if you are o you know where sure that you are headed you are going after for the resurrection of the DDyou die? Or are you righteous? Then you must like the pilot who lost his remember the judgment seat navigation equipment, of Christ. You must so live became disoriented, and that you will reap a harvest then announced to the of eternal gain rather than passengers, “Ladies and loss. You must immerse gentlemen, the bad news yourself in God’s Word to is that we don’t know know what He values most. where we are going. The You must even now be good news is that we’re concerned about imitating making great time.” Christ in your attitudes and Is your life flying by actions (Eph. 5:1-7). without real direction and Christ wept over the lost purpose? Do you have condition of mankind. He serious doubts about where gave His life for sinners. His you will spend eternity? If love and compassion were so, remember these words obvious to all who came in of Jesus: “All that the Father contact with Him. What gives Me will come to Me, about you? Do people and the one who comes to sense your concern for the Me I will by no means cast lost? Are you willing to give out” (Jn. 6:37). The choice of yourself that others may is yours. If you seek God’s come to know God? forgiveness through Christ, May God help us know you will be forgiven. where we are going when You will spend eternity in we die—and to be faithful heaven. You will no longer until we arrive. 32 © RBC Ministries. All rights reserved. Get your free Bible Resources catalog! Discovery Series booklets can be valuable guides to help you learn what the Bible says about a broad range of topics. Each 32-page booklet can be used in your personal Bible study or in a small-group setting.

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