Questions about Eternity:

[Aquila]

Many never really study Eternity or hear much preached about Eternity (the Eternal State). Most have no idea what it will be like. The find themselves living their Christian lives out all the while hoping that "something" better awaits in Eternity.

What do you believe Eternity will hold? What do you believe the Eternal State will be like?

I believe the following:

The Bible speaks of this current creation (sinful and fallen) as passing away and a New Heavens and a New Earth being created (a glorified and sinless creation); a creation with all the beauty and pleasures that God originally introduced in Eden. A creation with rolling seas, majestic snow capped mountains, crystal clear lakes, pure white sandy beaches, vast forests and deserts, teaming cities, nations of people, languages, cultures, art, holy science, love, family, worship, rewarding and refreshing work, elegant foods, fine wine, music, dancing, animals, economy, praise, laughter, exploration, libraries holding sacred and unknown ages of history, freedom, and leisure unsurpassed. Some, perhaps the great ones in our world, will find the pleasures of serving. Others, perhaps the lowly of our world, will find the pleasures of governing. Many will find their callings as kings governing the nations and others will find their callings as priests of the resurrected Lord. Those who never attained their callings will find said callings realized in this eternal state of glory. Every dream will come true. People don’t realize the beauty of God’s true intentions for our future and so we run a race unable to conceive of the prize we are trying to win. We begin to focus on this life, its pleasures, and its blessings and forget that God has a world so much greater in store for all of His elect. It will be an unending golden and heavenly renaissance. It will be in one word…GLORIOUS.



So yes... I believe in an actual and physical RESURRECTION when Christ returns. It will be part of my eternal reward.

In short, I believe eternity will have the following:

rolling seas
majestic snow capped mountains
crystal clear lakes
pure white sandy beaches
vast forests and deserts
teaming cities
nations of people
languages
cultures
art
holy science
love
family
worship
rewarding and refreshing work
elegant foods
fine wine
music
dancing
animals
economy
praise
laughter
exploration
libraries holding sacred and unknown ages of history
freedom
leisure unsurpassed

All of this will be in the New Earth governed by Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, from the New Jerusalem.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10
9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

What do you believe Eternity will hold? What do you believe the Eternal State will be like? Please share your questions and thoughts!

God bless!

[RandyWayne]

It is extremely hard for me to conceive what Heaven/New Creation will be like because the number one thing Earthly pleasures and desires center around is the concept of achievement. In other words, goals. What "goals" will there be in heaven? Will it be the equivalent of a Universe sized World of Warcraft where people keep "leveling up" through eternity? Or will the desire to achieve be completely removed?

All I DO know (or hope beyond words) is that eternity isn't one unending pentecostal song service! LOL And yes, I have heard pastors say this more then once!

[seekerman]

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I'm not sure what all that entails, but it's going to be good.

I don't agree with the literal new Jerusalem cube city though. Revelation is fairly plain that the new Jerusalem is symbolism for the bride.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by seekerman

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I'm not sure what all that entails, but it's going to be good.

I don't agree with the literal new Jerusalem cube city though. Revelation is fairly plain that the new Jerusalem is symbolism for the bride.

You mean you don't believe we're all going to be living in a giant Borg ship? I don't either. LOL

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by seekerman

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I'm not sure what all that entails, but it's going to be good.

We often quote that verse about eternity, but that's not the whole verse. Let's take a look:

1 Corinthians 2:9-10
9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit, namely God inspired Scripture.

I don't agree with the literal new Jerusalem cube city though. Revelation is fairly plain that the new Jerusalem is symbolism for the bride.

The Holy of Holies was a cubic structure. I have no doubt that the structure of the New Jerusalem holds symbolic meaning... but I believe the city to be real also.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by seekerman

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I'm not sure what all that entails, but it's going to be good.

I don't agree with the literal new Jerusalem cube city though. Revelation is fairly plain that the new Jerusalem is symbolism for the bride.

Aquila, is right. That is not talking about eternity and heaven, but the things that the SPIRIT says to us NOW that we cannot know if we depend on what eye can see. The context is that the natural man cannot receive the things of God. Therefore, eye and ear cannot see nor hear these things. THEY ARE PRESENTLY DISCERNED ONLY by spiritual people. This has nothing, really, to do with what heaven will be like.

[deafdriscoll]

transparent gold streets and my mansion will be really kool.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by deafdriscoll

transparent gold streets and my mansion will be really kool.

Unfortunately there is no such thing, supernaturally or not, for there to be transparent gold. And if you carefully read John 14, WE are the mansions the Father lives in.

(oops)


Consider this, nothing in heaven will be corruptible, right?

1 Peter 1:18 KJV Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

GOLD stands for DEITY. Street stands for OUR WALKS. Those in the Kingdom will WALK A DIVINELY LED WALK.

This verse says we already arrived at the New Jerusalem:


Hebrews 12:22 KJV But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

You mean you don't believe we're all going to be living in a giant Borg ship? I don't either. LOL

The New Jerusalem was described LONG before the fictional Borg Ship was written into the story of Star Trek. So, I’d rather say that in Star Trek, the Borg dwelt in a New Jerusalem type ship.

But since you’ve brought up movies, I'm reminded of a scene from the movie Thor:

Jane Foster: Describe exactly what happened to you last night.
Thor:Your ancestors called it magic...
[Thor skims through a book on Norse mythology]
Thor: ...but you call it science. I come from a land where they are one and the same.

How do we know that Heaven's reality isn’t one wherein “science” and “supernatural power” aren’t one and the same? We know that the brain functions as though someone else is speaking when one speaks in tongues. We know that religious “faith” as an effect on not only emotional well being but also our physical well being. The “spiritual” is indeed connected to the “physical”. I find it interesting that so many Christians take a page from Plato in thinking that the natural world, and any natural reference, must somehow be “spiritualized” and the literal meaning is rejected because it’s not seen as being “spiritual” on account of it’s natural reality.

[The Matt]

I don't want to ruin a good box of chocolates by marking what kind they are.