Eschatology - The Doctrine of Last Things (4)

1.        The believer shall see and know God in a direct way.  1 Corinthians 13:9-12  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
2.        There will be no evil in heaven.  The source of evil will be gone. Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and  the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
3.        Heaven will be a place of glory. Luke 19:38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. Revelation 21:18-23 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, atopaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh,  a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light The images of heaven suggesting immense size or brilliant light, depict heaven as a place of splendor and beauty.  The splendor of heaven far exceeds anything that the believer as ever experienced here on earth. Revelation 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
4.        Heaven will be a place of rest or the experience of reaching a goal of crucial importance. Hebrews 4:9-11There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. “ Heaven will be completion of the Christian’s pilgrimage the end of the struggle against the flesh, the world, and the devil.  There will be work to do, but it will not involve fighting against opposing forces.”  (Erickson, 1237)
5.        Heaven will be a place of worship.  Revelation 5:9-12 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof:  for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders:  and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
6.        Heaven will be a place of service.  Revelation 7:14-15 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  It is not clear what or how service will be rendered.  But it is clear that there will be judging and reigning with Christ. 2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: Revelation 2:27-28 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

1.        The term hell is the final abode and condition of the unbeliever.  God’s Word is the only authoritative source of revelation on the subject of Hell. Science and philosophy are unable to respond to the subject of hell. “The Greek word translated “hell,” which is descriptive of this abode, is Gehenna-the name given to the valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem in which the garbage of the city was cast and burned.  At any time, day and night, the fires with their ascending smoke could be seen in this valley.  Jesus makes it the symbol of hell, “Where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.”  (Bancroft, 394) Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
2.        Hell is a place of unholy associations. Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
3.        Hell is a place of imprisonment and death. Revelation 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
4.        Hell is a place of sorrow and despair.  Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
5.        Hell is a place of conscious misery and torment.  Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  
6.        Hell is a place of darkness and degradation.  Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
7.        Hell will be occupied by Satan, his angels, and the unbeliever. Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
8.        Hell is a place of eternal duration.  Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

1.        The decisions that we make in this life will govern our future condition not merely for a period of time, but for all eternity.  So we should exercise extraordinary care and diligence as we make them.
2.        The conditions of this life, as Paul puts it, are transitory.  They fade into relative insignificance when compared with the eternity to come.
3.        The nature of the future states is far more intense than anything known in this life.  The images used to depict them are quite inadequate to fully convey what lies ahead.  Heaven, for example, will far transcend any joy that we have known here.
4.        The bliss of heaven ought not to be thought of as simply an intensification of the pleasures of this life.  The primary dimension of heaven is the presence of the believer with the Lord.
5.        Hell is not so much a place of physical suffering as it is the awful loneliness of total and final separation from the Lord.
6.        Hell should not be thought of primarily as punishment visited on unbelievers by a vindictive God, but as the natural consequences of the sinful life chosen by those who reject Christ. (Erickson, 1248)