Grace Bible Church
Pastor Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Wednesday February 11 , 2015
Q: When the Bible talks about Heaven being a place of rest, how does that relate to the activity in Heaven?
A: Heaven is the last location, as it were, and like other locations in human history, it will challenge us with new opportunities, possibilities, and experiences.
Unlike the previous frontiers on Earth, Heaven will be unlimited in time and space.
We will be able to explore the infinite possibilities of an unlimited universe.
Our future blessings in Heaven will begin with the ending of all evil, suffering, and adversity, but it will also provide the fulfillment and enhancement of all the real joys and happiness of human life.
Q: "Will there be any animals in Heaven?"
A: There is an interesting passage in the book of Isaiah concerning how creation will be transformed into a worldwide Garden of Eden.
When Adam and the woman fell even nature was affected by their fall and man lost control over the nature including the creation of the animal Kingdom so much so that Paul tells us that even the creation itself is waiting for it be restored to its original form.
What the first Adam lost, the last Adam, TLJC, not only restored what they lost but even gave us greater blessing and environment than what they had in the garden of Eden.
Adam and the woman were created perfect with perfect righteousness, but now because of TLJC we all receive the +R of God.
1. The absolute righteousness that the first Adam lost, is now duplicated and imputed to the believer who receives +R and he will remain in that state of perfection forever and ever, REV 22:11.
2. The perfect environment in the Garden of Eden that the first Adam lost, is now duplicated in the spiritual realm in the PPOG for the will be consummated in the eternal state with perfect environment for all of eternity, REV 21:1-4.
3. The original design of marriage that the first Adam lost, can now be experienced in the spiritual realm for two believers in the Church-age and becomes analogous to the eternal marriage between TLJC and His bride for all of eternity, REV 21:9.
When Adam and the woman brought sin into their marriage, TLJC brought in the mystery that the Church-age believer would have a greater marriage than Adam and the woman, the marriage of the Church as the bride and the TLJC as the bridegroom.
Just like perfect environment in the garden had the animal kingdom in a peaceful habitation, than heaven must also have an improvement in that are as well.
This is also revealed by such passages as REV 19:11-14, we know there are horses in Heaven.
There's the black horse in REV 6:5 And when He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come." And I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
The ashen horse in REV 6:8 And I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him.
We have 200 million horses mention in REV 9:16-17. And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. Horses are also mention in REV 14:20; 18:13; 19:11.
Cattle and sheep are also mentioned in REV 18:13. and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives.
Birds are mentioned in REV 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, "Come, assemble for the great supper of God;
Our Lord is said to sit upon a horse in REV 19:19. And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, assembled to make war against Him who sat upon the horse, and against His army.
For many of us love dogs and cats and other members of the animal kingdom, and if you are blessed and receive happiness in this world of imperfection called the devils' domain then how much more will you receive +H in the eternal state?
Having established all of this, there is good reason to believe that there will be animals in the new heaven and new earth which will be the eternal home of those who are saved (REV 21:1; REV 22:5).
This will be a very physical place lived in by physical people with resurrected bodies, enjoying the material pleasures of the new earth (REV 20:4, 1CO 15:20-22, ISA 65:21-22).
Q: Will there be such a thing as time in Heaven? A: Some theologians have taught that there is no time in Heaven, but they do not understand the original language of the verse that they quote.
The King James translation says in REV 10:6, “And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created Heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.”
Notice, that the Tree of Life will yield “twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month,” which shows that we shall still enjoy the taste of various kinds of fruit.
Q: Will we have to wear clothes in Heaven or will we be naked like our original parents? A: REV 7:9 states that we shall be clothed with white robes to symbolize the righteousness of God:
Q: Are there any churches or Temples in Heaven? A: There are no churches or temples as we know them on earth because there will not be any need for a church building in Heaven.
Q: Do people in Heaven know what is taking place on earth? A: No. Heaven would not be Heaven if our loved ones knew what was happening on earth.
Q: Will people get married in Heaven? A: No one will marry in Heaven. Marriage is an earthly institution, LUK 20:27-36.
Q: Where will the Gazebo be in Heaven? A: Remember that the winner has special privileges related to the Tree of Life and the Gazebo of the Garden, called the Paradise of God.
The winner is a member of a special club with special parties to which they are invited, a member of the Paradise Club forever, REV 2:7; REV 22:14.
Q: Why will there be no sea in Heaven? A: The sea was actually used by God as a prison for the fallen angels, REV 20:11-13.
The word for sea is thalassa, which refers to the floodwaters of the universal flood where those fallen angels are imprisoned.
This is why Revelation 21:1 tells us that there is no more sea in the new Heaven and the new earth:
When God restored the earth in Genesis 1, He said everything He did was good except when He separated the sea, and that is because this caused the fallen angels to be released from prison.
Q: If an unbel has been given 24 hours to live and has no clue about the Lord Jesus Christ or Heaven or even “sin,” and is then said to have made “peace with his God,” is he saved?
A: There is no such thing as a person who has no clue about the Lord Jesus Christ, John 1:9, “There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.”
JOH 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.”
Q: Since Satan is still allowed to go to Heaven, if we die today, will we be able to see him or any other fallen angels?
A: Yes! We will be able to see him according to JOB 1:6-7; JOB 2:6 “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
Q: How will we be able to talk to one another with a universal language if we have different nations?
A: The same way the languages were scattered in Genesis 11, they will be brought back together. When God created the earth, there was only one language.
Q: Will we see the Father? A: We know that the Father has a throne in Heaven, so we have to see something.
REV 3:21 “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
Q: What is the difference between fallen angels and demons? A: There are two different opinions on this. One is that they are one and the same. The other is that the demons are the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim.
Q: In all that we are learning about the beauty and wonder of Heaven, if the stress of this world drives a believer to take his life, so that he may not hurt anymore, but experience this greatness in Heaven, does taking His life cancel his ticket to Heaven?
A: No. If a person is born again, he can do nothing that would cause him to lose his salvation. And, if a person is born again, he has the available power to handle all stress in life. If a believer commits suicide, he is guaranteed to be a loser in Heaven for all eternity.
Q. What is our body like and what will we be able to do once we are in Heaven?
1. The resurrection body is recognizable as a human body, Luk 24, JOH 20:25-27.
2. The resurrection body has substance and it can be touched, LUK 24:39-40, MAT 28:9.
3. The resurrection body can carry on conversations so it must have some system of vocal cords. JOH 20:26.
4. The voice of the resurrection body is recognized as the voice of the person in their human body, JOH 20:16.
5. The resurrection body has flesh and bones, LUK 24:39-40.
6. The resurrection body can also eat food, LUK 24:30,43.
7. The resurrection body can also walk though doors and walls, JOH 20:19,26, LUK 24:26.
8. The resurrection body is able to appear and disappear, LUK 24:31.
9. The resurrection body can move vertically or horizontally; MAT 28:10, ACT 1:9-10.