It would be funny if a mother talked to her baby who is in her womb. She may say to the baby, "My dear, you will be born in a new world before long. It is called the earth where there is the sun, the moon, and the stars in the sky, mountains, seas, trees, grass, and various kinds of birds, fish, and animals. Your father also lives there, your family, and many other people." If the baby in the womb heard this, how would it react? First, the baby would say, "Don't be ridiculous! There cannot be such a world. I'd rather be here. You don't know how good it is to be on a water bed in your womb." Secondly, the baby would say, "Are you sure that there is such a world? I can't believe it. I want to live here as long as I can. How can I believe you?" Thirdly, the baby would answer, "Oh, really? Is there a world called the earth? Then I have to prepare to go out. Thank you for telling me. I will be looking forward to that day." Likewise, we live in the womb of our mother called the earth. We are supposed to leave this place sooner or later. God clearly tells us where we have to go and shows us the way. However, people have different kinds of reactions. Many people are indifferent to the Gospel or resist it. Other people become skeptics, have doubts about the Gospel, and don't believe in the Lord by repenting. Yet, the blessed listen to this news, believe in Jesus, are ready, leave the earth safely, and enter heaven.
1. A rich man and a beggar named Lazarus (Lk 16:19-23). 1) The life of a rich man. (1) Purple and fine linen - symbolizes power and wealth. (2) Lived in luxury - physical pleasure. (3) Atheist of secularism. 2) A beggar named Lazarus. (1) Suffered from sores. (2) Begged for food. (3) Close to dogs - mistreated by man. (4) Listened to the teaching of Moses and prophets. 3) The death of a beggar. (1) Buried terribly. (2) His inner being was carried to Abraham's side, to paradise (Ps 116:15). 4) The death of a rich man. (1) A luxurious funeral. (2) His inner being was in hell - tormented in fire. (3) Asked Abraham for help. (4) Totally hopeless, with all his prayers rejected - he asked Abraham for his brothers to be saved but was refused.
2. Hell certainly exists. 1) The contents of hell. (1) Hell (Hades) - the prison of prisoners under trial. (2) A fiery lake of burning sulfur (Rev 20:10,14-15). 2) The torment of hell. (1) A hopeless place (Mt 22:13; 25:46). (2) A place full of sin (Mk 9:48,49). Sin - worms, fire - torment salted with fire - ultimate suffering (2 Th 1:8,9; Mt 11:22,24; Lk 12:47,48). 3) The testimony of Mrs. Choo Thomas.
3. Heaven certainly exists. 1) The contents of heaven. (1) Paradise - the waiting room for heaven, located in the upper part of hell, where believers in Old Testament times had entered until Jesus came; Jesus descended into hell for three days (Lk 23:43; 1 Pe 3:18,19). (2) Heaven - the New Jerusalem that Jesus prepared (Eph 4:8; Jude 1:14). (3) A new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21:1,2; 20:6,12). 2) The life in heaven. (1) A resurrected body (1 Co 15:42-44; Jn 5:28,29). (2) The splendor of each kind (1 Co 15:40,41; Da 12:2,3). (3) Many mansions in heaven (Jn 14:1-3). (4) Heaven seen from the viewpoint of the Bible (Rev 22:1-7). 3) The book written by Mrs. Choo Thomas - Heaven Is So Real. (1) A spiritual body. (2) The image of Jesus (Rev 1:13-15). (3) The real image of heaven - the earth is the model of heaven (2 Pe 3:12,13; Ac 1:11).
It has been 2,000 years since the Lord prepared heaven. Now the time is at hand for Him to keep His promise that He will come to take us there (Ro 13:11-14; Rev 22:16,17).
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