Final Destination
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom
–Luke 16
Do You Believe:
In God
In Heaven
In Satan
In Hell
In Eternal Darkness; Nothing More
... the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. -- Luke 16
Does God exist? Is Heaven real? Will we all face a Day of Judgment when we learn where our souls will spend eternity? Will it be with God in Heaven? Or with the Devil in Hell? Or is there just blackness and nothing more?
How and When Did We Get Here?
Big Bang illustration / Unsplash
Science/Universe: “Some 13.8 billion years ago, the universe began with a rapid expansion we call the big bang. After this initial expansion, which lasted a fraction of a second, gravity started to slow the universe down. But the cosmos wouldn’t stay this way. Nine billion years after the universe began, its expansion started to speed up, driven by an unknown force that scientists have named dark energy.” Exactly what is dark energy is unknown. (Info is from https://science.nasa.gov/dark-energy/)
Science/Humans: “Human evolution is the lengthy process of change by which people originated from apelike ancestors. Scientific evidence shows that the physical and behavioral traits shared by all people originated from apelike ancestors and evolved over a period of approximately six million years.” (Info is from https://humanorigins.si.edu/education/introduction-human-evolution)
Personal Comment: Haven’t seen an answer as to how apelike ancestors got here.
No one can prove God exists.
No one can prove there is a Heaven.
No one can prove Satan exists.
No one can prove there is a Hell.
No one can prove there is a forever afterlife, that people face judgment for how they lived their lives on earth.
To believe requires faith!
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” — Hebrews 11:1
Those who take that leap of faith lose nothing. If they are wrong, they won’t even know it. In life they gain, for their lives will be enriched with eternal hope, with the loving feeling of life with purpose and connection with others! If they are right, heaven awaits; love prevails. Their souls will live forever with their Creator who will reveal all mysteries!
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Genesis 2:7
God As Creator
Those who look to human science for answers often scoff at those who believe God is creator of the heavens, the earth, and mankind. Yet God — as creator of a universe and earth that work with the precision of an atomic clock — makes more sense than an accidental dark energy Big Bang! And while human science is ever searching for truth that defines science, it is God himself who created True Science. For example, God’s living beings are determined by genetic makeup. A human has 23 pairs of chromosomes; chimpanzee: 24 pairs; pigeon: 40 pairs, etc. I cannot believe all this precision in creation came by accident. Thus I believe God is creator of all that is!
In writing of the world’s ending, the disciple Peter wrote: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:10).”
God makes himself known through all He has created — from the ever-expanding universe and stars of heaven to the blade of grass and the rain that falls. He also makes Himself known through His words spoken to Moses:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.” — Genesis 1:1
“And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” — Genesis 1:25
The Old Testament says God took six days to create the heavens and earth. In the New Testament the disciple Peter writes that a day for the Lord could be a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8). Peter also was the first disciple to recognize Jesus as the son of God (Matthew 16: 13-17). Many claim to know the mind God. They do not. There is a verse that informs: “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 Corinthians 13:12
In the Old Testament, God walks and talks to Adam and Eve. He has given them a home in the Garden of Eden. In this paradise all their needs are met. There is no danger. There is no pain. There is no death. Their food comes from the fruit of the Garden God has planted. Adam is given the task of naming all the animals God has created. In this garden are two trees — the tree of life and the tree of knowledge. God tells Adam that only the tree of knowledge is forbidden. God has also blessed Adam and Eve with the gift of choice. And when Eve is tempted by Satan — an angel who attempted to overthrow God and was cast out of Heaven along with his followers — Eve yields to temptation. She eats of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. She tells Adam that the fruit is good, and he also eats. They forfeit their place in paradise, and are driven out of the garden into a world where they must struggle to survive and one day die.
There is no record in the Bible that God spoke to them again. There is a record that God spoke to their son Cain, who killed his brother Abel. There is a record that Cain found a wife, so it is logical that Adam and Eve had children other than Cain and Abel. It is unknown how many years or centuries Adam and Eve were in Eden before they tasted the “fruit of knowledge.”
Between the time of Cain and Noah, the people of Earth chose a life of wickedness and violence. God spoke to Noah. The Earth was to be destroyed by flood. Noah was to build an ark so he, his wife, his three sons and their wives would be saved. They would re-populate the Earth. God also spared the animals He created.
(Consider: Genesis gives the size of the three-floor ark as 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. This, according to Ai, equates to a vessel 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high, about the size of one of today’s cargo ships).
(A thought about the animals: Instead of being adult size as they are pictured in books, couldn’t they have been child size? That would take up a lot less Ark space and require less stored food.)
After the flood, the Old Testament records the new generations born of the seed of Noah’s three sons. Populations grew. Habitants expanded. Cities were created. And man sought “gods” to worship. They worshipped “gods” of wood, stone, gold, etc., all “gods” they made themselves for themselves! They worshipped the sun, moon, stars. They built temples. They brought offerings and presented sacrifices, sacrifices that included their children.
Then God chose Abraham, son of Terah, descendant of Noah’s son Shem, to father a nation whose people would worship Him as the One True God, the God who created Heaven and Earth and ALL that is!
Abraham and his wife Sarah have a beloved son — Isaac. God tests Abraham’s faith by telling him to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obeys, and as he holds the knife to sacrifice his son, an angel of God stays his hand. The child Isaac becomes the man Isaac, who takes a wife. He and his wife Rebekah have twin sons, Esau and Jacob, and through Jacob, whom God renames Israel, the nation of Israel is born.
Before there is the nation, however, Jacob — who stole the birthright of first-born twin-brother Esau — is sent to his mother Rebekah’s homeland to escape the wrath of Esau. Jacob meets Rachel and falls in love with her. To marry Rachel, Jacob agrees to work seven years for Rebekah’s brother Laban, in the Mesopotamian town of Haran. When the seven years pass, Laban deceives Jacob, and sends his older daughter Leah to be Jacob’s wife. Jacob works another seven years to make Rachel his wife. There is rivalry between the two sister-wives. For a time, Rachel is barren. Leah has sons. Rachel sends her maid to Jacob as a surrogate. Leah sends her maid as a surrogate. Then Rachel has a son, Joseph, who becomes his father Jacob’s favorite. Meanwhile, God has blessed Jacob who tended Laban’s flocks with many herds of his own. Jacob, guided by God, decides to return to his homeland in Canaan, and to his father Isaac, and mother Rebekah. On the way, Rachel dies as she gives birth to her son Benjamin. The two sisters and their surrogate maids give Jacob 12 sons, and there is one daughter.
Jacob, homeland bound, fears his brother Esau will attack his family and band of servants. Instead, Esau welcomes his brother.
Isaac lived 180 years. His sons Jacob and Esau buried him. The Old Testament does not reveal Rebekah’s age at death, but does record that she died before Isaac and was buried in a cave.
Jacob is blessed with many herds and wealth. While favorite son Joseph and youngest son Benjamin are kept home, the 10 older sons are in the fields tending the family’s numerous herds. Jacob sends Joseph to check on them. The jealous brothers first plan to kill Joseph, then choose to sell him into slavery. In Egypt, Joseph rises from slave to high ruler because he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream revealing seven years of plenty and seven years of famine for Egypt. Joseph, whom Pharaoh named ruler, stored food during the plenty, and had food to sell during the famine.
Jacob’s family did not escape the famine. So his 10 older sons made their way to Egypt. And after some payback, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and sent for his father Jacob, his brother Benjamin, and all the brothers’ families. The Israelites would live 400 years in Egypt, where they were first welcomed, then later made slaves.
Egypt became overpopulated. A new Pharaoh ordered that all Israelite baby boys had to die at birth.
The Israelite baby Moses was spared. His mother made a floating cradle for him, and he was found by an Egyptian princess who raised him. As part of a royal family, Moses was highly educated. As part of God’s plan, he was chosen to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and to the Promised Land! God introduced himself to Moses through a burning bush, saying, “I AM That I AM.”
Moses complained. He wasn’t the man for the job! So God chose Moses’ brother Aaron to assist him. The brothers went before Pharaoh seeking release of the Israelites. Pharaoh refused! God sent plagues against the Egyptians. The last plague — death of firstborn — secured freedom for the Israelites. They began their journey to the Promised Land. However, Pharaoh had a change of heart and sent his army to force their return. As the Israelites were crossing the Red Sea, and Pharaoh’s army was closing in, God held the waters back and the Israelites crossed on dry land. When the Egyptians followed, God returned the waters, and many of Pharaoh’s army drowned.
The Israelites praised God. Then as their journey became difficult, they grumbled and complained. They said they were better off in Egypt. When God performed miracles for them, they shouted praise. When the journey was hard, they railed against Moses. This did not please God.
Some three months into their journey, and as the Israelites camped at Mount Sinai, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. And while Moses was with God, the Israelites made their own “god,” in the image of a golden calf. It took Moses 40 years to get the “stiff-necked” Israelites to the Promised Land.
During this time, God spent 40 days with Moses on Mount Sinai, where God himself wrote — on two tablets of stone — the Ten Commandments that His People were to live by. However, Moses broke these in anger over the “golden calf” and God spoke His words to Moses who wrote them on two other tablets of stone.. These were placed in the Ark of the Covenant that the Israelites carried with them. Moses also received God’s instructions that filled the first five books of the Old Testament. These five books of Moses, called the Torah, were written on scrolls in the Hebrew language.
Don’t go negative by the “shall nots” of the Ten Commandments. These Commandments are based on love — love for God, love for one another. Centuries later, Jesus would make this clear when he instructed: “Thou shalt love thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” — Matthew 22:37-40
Moses led the Israelites to The Promised Land. He did not enter it however. God forbid it because Moses had failed to follow God’s instructions in providing water while the Israelites were in the desert of Zin. Moses died. Joshua, who led the Israelites in many battles, led the children of God into The Promised Land. For some 300-plus years judges ruled the people of Israel. At times, the people served God; At times they turned to other gods. Then, they wanted a king to rule them. God gave them a king! Kings ruled for more than 500 years. Israel at first was united. Saul was the first king. He did not please God. Under kings David and Solomon Israel prospered. After Solomon’s death the United Kingdom split into the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah. The Kingdoms warred with their neighbors; The Kingdoms warred with each other. In all, 42 kings reigned: United Kingdom, 3; Israel, 19; Judah 20, one of which was a queen. Most all of the Royal Rulers were bad. They led the Israelites into worshipping other gods. (For more information see: https://www.bibleinsight.com/kings-chronology.html)
Some 600 years before Christ, the children of Israel lost their Promised Land. They had time after time rebelled against God. God no longer protected them.
In 586 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar II (Babylonian Empire) defeated the Kingdom of Judah when he captured Jerusalem, and destroyed the Temple built by Solomon. (See 2 Kings 25:8-12). The Kingdom of Israel had been conquered in 722 BC.
“I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.
Hosea 13:11
600 Years: No Kings, No Prophets
For some 600 years God sent no messengers to the people of Israel. They had refused to listen to His prophets. They had trurned away from Him, and now He turned from them.
In 586 BCE the southern kingdom of Israel (Judea) was conquered by the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar. Most of the captive Israelites were exiled to Babylonia. Under the rule of Cyrus, they were allowed to return to the Land of Israel (538-515). In 332 BCE Israel was conquered by Alexander the Great. In 63 BCE Rome won control.
The prophet Malachi wrote the last book of the Old Testament. In this book God answers those of Israel who question His love for them. God says, “I have loved you … “ (Malachi 1:2) It is their love for Him that is questioned. And yet, God promised a new messenger.
In 6CE the son of King Herod the Great became ruler of Judea.
And Jesus, the son of God, was born in Bethlehem, in Judea.
See: https://jcpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/TimeLine.pdf
See: https://www.britannica.com/place/Jerusalem/Roman-rule
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14
Each of us enters this world as result of a union between a father and mother. We form in a sea of amniotic fluid in our mother’s womb, and when we are delivered into this world, we draw our first breath: We live! How long we live is not guaranteed; how we live after coming of age is our choice. And for sure, one day we will draw our last breath. Will that breath — that living soul — return to God? Will our soul be with Him in Heaven, or with the Devil in Hell? Or is eternal darkness, eternal nothingness, our final destination?
God & Heaven
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:16-17
God Speaks From Heaven
The Bible that serves as a testimonial of man’s relationship with God his Creator, begins with: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Both the Old and New Testaments record words spoken by God. Moses writes that God spoke the Ten Commandments, and wrote them on tablets of stone. (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21). Matthew, Mark and Luke write of the Father speaking when Jesus was baptized:
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. — Luke 3:21-23
During the transfiguration when Jesus and Moses appeared to Peter, James and John, Peter said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. — Matthew 17:4-6
The biblical writings of the Transfiguration are found in Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:28-36. The event is also mentioned in 2 Peter 1:16-18.
When the crucifixion of Jesus was near, Jesus said, “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.” — John 12:27-30
From the first verse in Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation, heaven is spoken of as a place created by God, a place where God dwells. And His son, Jesus, has promised to prepare a place for those who believe with faith in the Father and the Son:
I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. — Jesus, John 14
The Lord’s Prayer contains the promise that God is in heaven. Jesus said: When you pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. — Luke 11:12
We are told to store our treasures in heaven:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. — Matthew 6:19-21
Jesus:
“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Luke: 23:42-43
Heavenly Mysteries
We have yet to understand all the mysteries of the earth, so the mysteries of heaven must wait. For example, Paul speaks of a third heaven, which he also calls Paradise. Does this mean there are multiple degrees of heaven? In Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy we are taken through nine circles of hell!
Jesus told those who harassed him:
Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. — John 3:11-13
Jesus said to Nathanael, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” — John 1:50-61
It is written that after Jesus died on the cross. the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” — Matthew 27:52-54
The Place Called Paradise
Various religions have various explanations for “Paradise.” Paradise, however, is mentioned in three scriptures only (King James Version):
The thief on the cross said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” — Luke 23:42-43
Paul said, It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man–whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows — how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. –2 Corinthians 12:1-5
The writer of Revelation records: But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. — Revelation 2:6-7
The Good News is that Jesus tells the thief on the cross that one doesn’t have to wait for Paradise. Paradise awaits when one who turns to God departs from earthly life. And Jesus, in his telling of the beggar Lazarus and the rich man who ignored the suffering beggar, says the rich man woke from death to the torments of hell. And from hell, the rich man saw the beggar “in the bosom of Abraham.”
Jesus:
… (W)hoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Matthew 18:17
Heavenly Justice
Jesus says that many of the “first” on earth will go to the end of the line in heaven:
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 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 5:18-20
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. — Matthew 18:2-5
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 19:12-14
For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
Mark 12:25
Relationships Different In Heaven
Jesus tells religious leaders they are mistaken in their teachings of the afterlife. In Luke 20:35-37 he says, But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Matthew 25:42-45
Not All Are Heaven Bound
Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then will I profess unto them, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” — Matthew 7:21-23
And Matthew 8:11-12 records Jesus: “I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”
Mark 16:19
Christ Returns to Heaven
After Jesus was raised from the dead, he spent many days on earth before his return to heaven. When it was time for him to leave, he assembled with his followers:
“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” — Mark 16:19-20
Luke in 24:50-52 writes, “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
Acts 1:8-11 records Jesus telling his disciples, “… (Y)ou shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.”
Isaiah 11:6
New Heavens, New Earth
Both the Old and New Testaments speak of new heavens, new earth: creations:
GOD: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.” — Isaiah 65:16-18
“For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord, “So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord. — Isaiah 66:22-23
In Second Peter it is written, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” — 2 Peter 3:9-13
John writes: “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ ” — Revelation 21:2-4
Christ to return to earth
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven. — Mark 13:26-27
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. — 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
Note: Scriptures about God and Heaven came from the King James version of the Bible.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
Ezekiel 18:32
Heaven: Some Thoughts
Years ago, I taught a Sunday-school class of high school-age girls. One Sunday, the question was posed, “What do you think about heaven?” This brought the comment: “If heaven is like Sunday morning church, not sure I want to go there.”
There were nods of agreement.
Perhaps the response came from the teenage desire to shock adults. Perhaps it came because “church” was failing to meet their needs, or “church” had become a routine of life instead of a joy of life.
I examined my own thoughts about heaven. I hadn’t given heaven much thought for a long, long time. The first memory I have about Heaven is associated with the funeral of my maternal grandmother. I must have been about 4 when she died. Mother had told me that Grandmother had gone to Heaven and was happy with the angels. Yet, the grown-ups cried as the song, “In the Sweet By and By,” was sung at her funeral. I laughed because grownups were crying. I didn’t understand their tears. Perhaps I was frightened by them. I quickly learned that my laughter was inappropriate
Later, I understood their tears. My dog died. After that, my cat. More dogs. More cats. I had funerals for them. I cried rivers of tears. My beloved pets were no longer with me. I did hold on to the hope that pets and other animals, too, go to Heaven.
Even now, I can’t picture Heaven without animals. Isn’t there a verse about a sparrow not falling without God being aware of its fall.
In my pre-teen years, my ideas about Heaven expanded. Heaven was a place where I wouldn’t have to do the dishes every day! Heaven was a place where little boys didn’t clip clothespins on cats’ ears, or shoot birds with a BB gun, or leave fishing poles out with baited hooks so cats would get caught on the hooks.
My teen years brought both doubt and hope. Doubt, because I could provide no proof of what I professed to believe. Hope, that in Heaven, questions that had no answers here would be answered. There would be love and joy and peace. God would be there. Jesus would be there. Understanding would come at last.
Later, when I began to lose those I love, Heaven took on new meaning. I can bear my sorrow only by believing that in time we will all be together again. My family. All families. And we will all become God’s family.
I picture Heaven as a place where there is no hate or bickering or strife between people — only kindness and overwhelming love. There is no hunger, no sickness, no sadness, no wars, no death. People will be filled with the love of God, and love for one another. And music! If I could hear the sound of the most perfectly-pitched instruments and most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard, and magnify that voice by the thousands, that’s how music must sound in Heaven.
And there will be no tears in Heaven, only joy. There will be no envy, no jealousy, no competitions to win domination over others.
As Scripture says, Now we see as through a glass darkly, but then we shall see face to face.
I envision being able to say with overwhelming gratitude, “Thank you, Lord. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for the love you give all of us!”
For Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you, and when I have prepared that place for you, I will come again and receive you, that where I am, ye may be also.”
I believe that He continues to expand that dwelling place and is urging us to be ready for it.
I can almost hear Him saying to God, “Father, I am standing outside their doors; I have knocked, but there is no answer. Father, I know that someone is inside, for I hear the television loudly playing and I hear the sound of angry voices. Father, I will knock louder still. Perhaps one of them will open the door.”
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 21:4
Words of God
And the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
GENESIS 2:7
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Revelation 21:6
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6
For ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:12
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 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.
Revelation 3:20-21
Love Defined
If I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
And if I bestow all my goods to feed ‘the poor” and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
Love suffereth long, ‘and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Love never faileth: but whether ‘there be’ prophecies they shall be done away; whether ‘they be’ tonques, they shall cease; whether ‘they be’ knowledge, it shall be done away.
For we know in part; but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I thought as a child; now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things.
For now we see in a mirror darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I was fully known.
But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13 / ASV
Faith Defined
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen…
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of GOD, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
By faith Abel offered unto GOD a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, GOD testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because GOD had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased GOD. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to GOD must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:1-7
Satan & Hell
“And there was war in heaven:
Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
Revelation 12:7-9
Satan and Job
In the Book of Job, Satan challenges God that he can turn Job — who is faithful to God — away from God.
Job is described as “perfect and upright, and one who feared God, and eschewed evil.” He had seven sons and three daughters. He was a man of great substance (Job 1:3).”
While there is dispute over this book — who wrote it, was there even a man called Job – this book tells us much about God, Satan, and mankind. Satan, the devil who was cast out of Heaven, remains at war with God. He seeks to make human souls his followers in his battle to prove himself above God.
Job finds himself tested as the Devil attempts to turn him against God. And despite all the suffering the Devil brings upon him, Job remains loyal to God.
Job’s Children Die
Job’s sons feasted in their houses, every one on his day. Their three sisters came to eat and drink with them.
When the days of their feasting were over Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
On a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan came also. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Satan answered, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. The LORD said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Satan answered, the LORD, “Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.”
And the LORD said unto Satan, “Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.”
So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD (Job 1:6-12).
When Job’s sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Another messenger came saying, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Then another came, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
While he was yet speaking, another came saying: Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
In Job 2, Satan again appears with the sons of God who present themselves before the Lord. God asks Satan, “From whence comest thou?” And Satan answered, “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”
God again speaks of Job.
Satan tells God that if Job suffers in bone and flesh, he will curse God.
God allows Satan to test Job.
Satan smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
Job’s pain was great. He used a potsherd (a piece of broken pottery) to scrape himself; he sat among the ashes.
His wife said, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips (Job 2:9-10).
Job’s friends come to console. The Book of Job is filled with their thoughts and understandings of God. They attempt to convince Job that his suffering was caused because he had sinned. Job steadfastly holds to his integrity.
Job doesn’t understand the suffering that has come upon him. He questions God, and God answers. However, His answer seems to be that He, as Creator, is not obliged to answer to man.
God, however, speaks eloquently and informatively out of a whirlwind with the voice of truth.(God’s Voice Out of the Whirlwind is found in Job 38-41)
Satan triumphed not over God.
It’s interesting that the word GOOD describes GOD while the word EVIL describes DEVIL!
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
Job 38:2-36
A Place Called Hell
“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 10:28
Hell has many names: inferno, abyss, hades, the pit. Whatever it is called, it is defined as the place of punishment for the wicked after death.
Jesus says of hell, “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.” (Luke 13:28). He speaks again of hell in his telling of the rich man, the beggar Lazarus, and father Abraham. Both the beggar and the rich man died — Lazarus being carried by angels into the bosom of Abraham, and the rich man to the torment of hell. From his place in hell, the rich man sees Lazarus with Abraham, and calls upon Father Abraham for mercy, asking that Lazarus be sent with a drop of water to cool his tongue. He cries out, “I am tormented in this flame.” But Abraham tells him such is not possible. He says, “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (Luke 23).
The Son of God, who came from heaven to live among us, then returned to heaven, tells us that a rich man, who did not merit heaven, was taken to hell upon his death. And he tells of the rich man bemoaning the torments of hell.
In Revelation 20:12, it is written, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
In the Old Testament, God says, “For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains (Deuteronomy 32:22).”
The words “lowest hell” confirms degrees of hell, and that the most evil are punished the most severely.
Surely, no one wants to go to hell. But many will make the choice that puts them there. For they will choose Satan instead of God.
There are truly evil people in the world; people who justly deserve to spend eternity in the lowest part of hell. These are the evil ones who take great pleasure in killing, torture, taking by force or great cunning whatever they want.
Many others, while less evil, are wrongdoers. If they think about right or wrong at all, they think that whatever is good for them is right for them. They don’t think about an afterlife; they think only of the “now” life.
Still others live what they believe to be a good life. They work. They play. They take care of themselves and their families. Many go to their churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship. But they go not to worship God. They go to be seen of others; to be thought “well of” by others; to be entertained; to be fed. They give money so “others can do God’s work;” so their places of worship are made beautiful and comfortable; so they can “feel good” about themselves.
Others don’t bother with religious pretenses. They think of themselves as good people, even if they lie and cheat — on wives; on husbands; in business dealings; in the games they play; on their taxes; etc. They see such choices as essential to their survival, their happiness, and therefore acceptable. They often, however, are first to condemn others who make the same choices they do!
The “me first” philosophy of life harms self and others. It ignores the Golden Rule to treat others as you wish to be treated. And it ignores God’s commandments of love — Love Him and love others as you love yourself.
And yes, there are those who are morally good, but do not think of God as creator, as real. Or if they consider the possibility of God, they see him as cruel, not loving.
When God created mankind, He gave the gift of choice — to obey Him, or disobey; to do good, or do evil.
Jesus said, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matthew 12:34-37).”
There are many Bible scriptures defining evils that will separate mankind from God:
- Paul wrote: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).”
Now many use this scripture and others like it in a crusade against those born sexually different. Be advised: Adultery is the sin whether committed by “straight” or “gay.” Fornication is the sin whether committed by “straight” or “gay.” It seems highly likely that God will render judgment more harshly upon those who eagerly condemn a sin in another while ignoring their own sin.
- Jesus said that those who call another a “fool,” is in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:22)
- James writes about the damning words we say in anger: “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. … But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.James 3:6;8-1
Many Names of Satan
Satan has many names. Among them:
- Abaddon: Revelation 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
- Angel of the bottomless pit: Revelation 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
- Beelzebub: Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
- Dragon: Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
- Father of lies: John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
- Leviathan: Isaiah 27:1 In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.
- Power of darkness: Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
- Prince of the devils: Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
- Satan: 1 Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
- Serpent: Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
- Tempter: Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
- The god of this world: 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
- Unclean spirit: Matthew 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
- Wicked-one: Matthew 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Source: https://www.bible-topics.com/Titles-and-Names-of-the-Devil.htm
Satan Tempts Jesus
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
Luke 4:1-13
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20
Greater Hell Awaits Religious Hypocrites
“… (W)oe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever swears by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, swears by it, and by all things thereon.
And whoso shall swear by the temple, swears by it, and by him that dwells therein.
And he that shall swear by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him that sits thereon.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
–Matthew 23:13-33
YOU CANNOT DANCE WITH THE DEVIL AND WALK WITH GOD
Me And The Devil
I met the Devil in a dark closet when I was very young. I was learning to talk and eager to learn new words.
It happened this way: At the coaxing of an uncle, and despite Mother’s warning not to heed him, I said the nasty four-letter word my mother’s brother urged me to say.
My uncle laughed. Mother grabbed me, washed my mouth with Octagon soap and led me to the bedroom closet. As I crouched in the darkness, the Devil was suddenly beside me. Dressed in flaming red from head to foot, he was terrifying!
My screams brought Mother.
The Devil in that closet was very real to me. I still feel the hairs rise on the back of my neck when I recall my closet monster. And that four-letter word never again escaped my lips.
I don’t argue with anyone who says my “Devil in the closet” was my imagination gone wild. It likely was sparked by the image of a red devil on a can of lye that was found in households in the days when clothes were scrubbed on washboards.
I’m sure Mother had told me, “Be good, or the Devil will get you!”
As I’ve grown older, I’ve discovered the Devil seldom comes to us in such a frightening form. No, he comes dressed to impress.
The Devil uses our vanities to make us feel entitled to whatever our hearts desire. He seduces us with visions of pleasure, power, riches, and fame. He urges us to seek ten-fold revenge on our enemies, to take the things we want, even if they belong to others, and he may urge us to commit acts of cruelty to show power over others.
The Devil might approach us when we are angry, or sad, or hurt, or lonely. He will tell us that it is OK to use wrongful means to achieve what we perceive as rightful results for ourselves.
He may say to us, “If God really loved you, he wouldn’t let bad things happen to you.” Or, he might whisper seductively, “I can make all things right for you. Come, dance with me and I will show you endless delights.”
It’s tempting “to kick up our heels,” and dance with the Devil!
How easy it is to forget we can’t dance with the Devil, and walk with God. (This is not to suggest that dancing is evil. It’s the Devil who is evil. Remember that David danced with joy before the Lord –2 Samuel 6:14.)
Most of the Devil’s pleasures quickly end, and the search for new pleasures begin. And when each pleasure glow fades, we are left with a painful emptiness that demands refilling. The Devil then lures us into believing that our pain and longing will go away if we dance just one more dance with him.
A dance with the devil begins with the dance of delight, then becomes the dance of addiction — like the addiction to drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, achieving fame, fortune, or power. Lastly there is the dance of death, and the Devil’s laughter over claiming our soul.
Throughout our lifetime, there will be moments of temptation. Satan, that ever-young evil Devil, beckons. He makes sin seem exciting! He tempts us to surrender our soul to his magical spell, a magical spell that ends in eternal hell.
The worldly riches and worldly power the Devil falsely promises don’t compare to God’s treasures: the peace in believing in God’s power, God’s goodness, God’s mercy.
While the Devil spawns hate, misery and pain, God bestows love, contentment, and the joy that comes when good is done and justice prevails.
The Devil in that closet was very real to me. In my lifetime, there have been many times when I’ve chosen to yield to the Devil’s temptations. I’ve always been regretful for the wrong choices I’ve made. I don’t want the Devil in charge of my life, in charge of my soul. I hate the evil he loves.
And when I encounter someone who says, “There is no Devil,” I think, “They’ve never been next to him in a dark closet.”
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.
Revelation 20:10
The Devil & Jesus' Disciples
Of the 12 disciples, two yielded to Satan.
Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He hanged himself. (Matthew, chapters 26, 27)
Peter betrayed Jesus three times with curses and claims he didn’t know Jesus when he fled after Jesus was arrested. (Mark, chapter 14)
Afer his resurrection, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Lovest thou Me?”
Peter answered “yes,” the third time saying, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
–John chapter 21
Sin Simply Defined:
Sin is anything that harms
others or self!
WHEN YOU HARM ANOTHER YOU HARM YOURSELF; YOU SCAR YOUR VERY SOUL.
Each of us is endowed with the knowledge of good and evil. That small, quiet inner voice that comes from a place called conscience leaves no doubt about which is which, no matter how hard we may try to distort truth!
To make it simple, good equates to love; evil equates to hate. Love enriches life. Hate destroys life.
Goodness of soul is more precious than gold, more precious than the world’s finest jewels. Goodness is its own reward. None other is needed.