A man can lay claim only to what is given him from heaven. - John 3:27 -
I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you - Luke 15:18, 21 -
And now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven. - Rev. 12:7-8 -
At the end of time, a new heaven will be created to surround the new earth. This new heaven will be the place of God's perfect presence. Then, there will be a literal fulfillment of heaven on earth. Heavenly City - the city prepared and built by God, for those whom God's loves and who are faithful to Him. It is also known as the heavenly Jerusalem, this is the city that is to come. The New Jerusalem is illuminated by the glory of God. It serves as the dwelling place of God among His redeemed for ever and ever. New Heaven is a term which, when used with new earth refers to the perfected state of the created universe and the final dwelling place, for those whom God's loves and of the righteous one.
For now I create new heavens and new earth, and the past will not be remembered, and will come no more to men's minds. Be glad and rejoice for ever and ever for what I am creating - Is. 65:17
They lived there in tents while he looked forward to a city founded, designed and built by God; but in fact, they were longing for a better homeland, their heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, since he has founded the city for them. - Heb. 11:10, 16 -
But what you have come to is Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have gathered for the festival, with the whole Church in which everyone is a 'first-born' and a citizen of heaven. You have come to God himself, the supreme Judge, and been placed with the spirits of the saints who have been made perfect - Heb. 12:22-23 - Rev. 14:1, 21:10 -
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bridge all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, 'You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.' - Rev. 21:1-4 -
Rooted deep in Jewish thought was the dream of a new heaven and a new earth, a recreation of the universe that would occur following the Day of the Lord. - Is. 13:10-13; Joel 2:1-2, 30-31 - The concept of a recreated universe is closely related to the scriptural/biblical account of the Creation and the Fall. - Gen. 1:1 - and the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. - Gen. 3 - It is because of their sin, "the creation was subjected to futility and the bondage of corruption." The need for a new heaven and a new earth arises from man's sin and God judgment, not from some deficiency or evil in the universe.
I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God: but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God. From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free. For we must be content to hope that we shall be saved - our salvation is not in sight, we should not have to be hoping for it if it were - but, as I say, we must hope to be saved since we are not saved yet - it is something we must wait for with patience. - Rom. 8:18-25 -
Saint Paul referred to the Old Testament doctrine of the Day of the Lord and applied it to the events that will occur at the Second Coming of Christ Jesus. When the Lord Jesus Christ returns, this present wicked, and evil age will give way to the age to come. The universe will be purified and cleansed by the power of God. This will be reminiscent of the purging of the earth in the days of Noah, but on a universal scale.
The Day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then with a roar the sky will vanish, the elements will catch fire and fall apart, the earth and all that it contains will be burnt up. Since everything is coming to an end like this, you should be living holy and saintly lives while you wait and long for the Day of God to come, when the sky will dissolve in flames and the elements melt in the heat. What we are waiting for is what he promised: the new heavens and new earth, the place where righteousness will be at home. - 2 Peter 3:10-13 -
Second Coming refers to Christ's future return to the earth at the end of the present age. The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible is filled with expectancy of the Lord Jesus Christ second coming, even as Christians should be today. A thorough study and examination of the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible, however, makes it clear that the Second Coming will be a climactic historical event. The Lord Jesus Christ would return in the same manner as they seen Him ascended into heaven. The date and time of the Second Coming is unknown, but the Lord Jesus Christ second coming will be personal, bodily, and visible.
I am going now to prepare a place for you,
and after I have gone and prepared you a place,
I shall return to take you with me;
so that where I am
you may be too. - John 14:3 -
Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there. - Acts 1:11 -
Jesus replied, It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority - Acts 1:7; Matt. 24:35-36; 1 Thess. 5:1-3; 2 Peter 3:10 -
Therefore, most of the believers may ask, what about 'Eschatology'? Eschatology is a theological term that designates the study of what will happen at the end of history, particularly the event known as the "Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ." The word comes from two Greek words, eschatos (last) and logos (study) - thus its definition as 'the study of last things.' It is also define as the part of theology concerned with death, Last Judgment: Heaven and Hell: and the ultimate destiny of the soul and of humankind. Eschatology reveals that Abraham's land, ultimately, is the new heaven and earth and that Abraham's lineage is the redeemed community in Christ Jesus.
Eschatology shows how God's Redeemer will establish His kingdom upon a rebellious earth. The long process through which God selected a righteous group (apostles, saints, righteous one, and those whom God's loves) to serve Him on earth came to a climax in the person of Christ Jesus.
The Lord Jesus Christ first coming was to save. His second coming will be primarily to judge. The Lord Jesus Christ return will also spell relief to His faithful remnant. Eschatology shows that God's presence for the redeemed will be fully realized at Jesus' second coming, when He will dwell among all the redeemed in the new heavens and earth.
For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. - Mark 10:45; Matt. 20:28; Luke 22:27 -
You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. Rev. 21:3 -
In the end times, a basic order of judgment will prevail as the conflict between God and Satan comes to an end. There will be a time of great 'Tribulation,' followed by the 'Second Coming' and the 'Judgment of all peoples.' Another judgment is portrayed in the Book of Revelation, is called the second death. Those who are judged will be thrown into the lake of fire if their names are not found in the Book of Life.
Above all, the Cross is the decisive eschatology event. In it the curse that brought God's wrath was reversed. Ever since, God has been progressively accomplishing His judgment against the forces of wickedness in heaven and earth.
Tell us, when is this going to happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered them, Take care that no one deceives you; because many will come using my name and saying, "I am the Christ" and they will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars; do not be alarmed, for this is something that must happen, but the end will not be yet. For nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes here and there. All this is only the beginning of the birth-pangs.
Then they will hand you over to be tortured and put to death; and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name. And then many will fall away; men will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise; they will deceive many, and with the increase of lawlessness, love in most men will grow cold; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved. This Good News of the kingdom will be proclaimed to the whole world as a witness to all the nations. And then the end will come.
So when you see the disastrous abomination, of which prophet Daniel spoke, set up in the Holy Place (let the reader understand) then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains; if a man is on the housetop, he must not come down to collect his belongings; if a man is in the fields, he must not turn back to fetch his cloak. Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come! Pray that you will not have to escape in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great distress such as, until now, since the world began, there never has been, nor ever will be again. And if that time had not been shortened, no one would have survived; but shortened that time shall be, for the sake of those who are chosen.
If anyone says to you then, "Look, here is the Christ" or "He is there" do not believe it; for false Christs and false prophets will arise and produce great signs and portents, enough to deceive even the chosen, if that were possible.There; I have forewarned you.
If, then they say to you, "Look, he is in the desert" do not go there; "Look, he is in some hiding place" do not believe it; because the coming of the Son of Man will be like lightning striking in the east and flashing far into the west. Wherever the corpse is, there will the vultures gather.
Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will fall from the sky and the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven; then too all the peoples of the earth will beat their breasts; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet to gather his chosen from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. - Matt. 24:3-31 - Mark 13:4-37 - Luke 21:7-28 -
Then I saw a great white throne and the One who was sitting on it. In his presence, earth and sky vanished, leaving no trace. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of his throne, while the book of life was opened, and other books opened which were the record of what they had done in their lives, by which the dead were judged.
The sea gave up all the dead who were in it; Death and Hades were emptied of the dead that were in them; and every one was judged according to the way in which he had lived. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the burning lake. This burning lake is the second death; and anybody whose name could not be found written in the book of life was thrown into the burning lake. - Rev. 20:11-15 -
The full and final revelation of God has occurred in Jesus Christ. "This is the revelation given by God to Jesus Christ." - Rev. 1:1 - The Book of Revelation depicts the end of the present age and the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is a personal Spirit distinct from the world; He is absolutely holy and is invisible to the view of physical, finite, sinful minds. Although people, on their own, can never create truth about God, God has graciously unveiled and manifested Himself to mankind. God has made Himself known to all peoples everywhere in the marvels of nature and in the human conscience.
The central figure in the army of God the King is Jesus Christ. John's first vision is of the Lord Jesus Christ standing in the midst of His Church with eyes like fire (all-seeing) feet like fine brass (all-powerful) hair like wool, white as snow (eternal and all-knowing) and with a sharp two edged sword coming out of His mouth (the word of truth). Indeed, Christ Jesus is "the First and the Last", "the Alpha and the Omega", "the Beginning and the End." - Rev. 22:13 -
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Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -
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