Heaven? Not Interested.
- Thread starter Webers.Home
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Hello! All the good things in this world that you speak of were created by God. All the beauty you see, the work of this awesome creator. There will be a new heavens and earth, better by far, made by the same hand. If you love some of the creation here just wait until you see what's coming. God Bless You 
That is kind of strange to have that attitude when a Christian should want to leave this world to be with Jesus.
Jesus said to put Him before your family, and anything else in the world.
Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Php 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
The only reason a Christian should want to stay on earth, and not go to be with Christ is to help other people find the truth in the Lord, and to help them with their walk with Christ.
Not to do, and enjoy anything else of the world besides that.
Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
But you do not have to worry about missing the things of the earth, and your family, and friends, and that heaven will be alien to you for you will not remember that you were on earth, and you will not remember any people you knew on earth, and you will not remember anything you did on earth for you will not know about the earth and that you were there.
God is creating a new heaven and earth, and the former heaven and earth will not be remembered, nor come to mind, for it is associated with sin and rebellion which the saints will never know there.
The new heaven and earth is a place wherein dwells righteousness, where sin has never been, and sin will never be, and sin, and rebellion will never raise its ugly head again.
You will not even know anybody in heaven that you knew on earth, or anything you did because then you would know about earth, and the sin, and rebellion of it which God does not want you to know.
You could be standing next to your father and not know it was your father from earth, for the angels, and people, will not remember anything prior to the New Jerusalem, the new heaven, and earth, and they will feel like they have always been there and nowhere else.
Which also cuts out the crying, and sadness, that they would feel for their family, and friends, that did not make it.
But you will remember the earth initially being caught up to Jesus, and being on earth during the millennial reign of Christ, but after that you will not remember anything about earth, and anything prior to being at the New Jerusalem.
Jesus said to put Him before your family, and anything else in the world.
Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Php 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
The only reason a Christian should want to stay on earth, and not go to be with Christ is to help other people find the truth in the Lord, and to help them with their walk with Christ.
Not to do, and enjoy anything else of the world besides that.
Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
But you do not have to worry about missing the things of the earth, and your family, and friends, and that heaven will be alien to you for you will not remember that you were on earth, and you will not remember any people you knew on earth, and you will not remember anything you did on earth for you will not know about the earth and that you were there.
God is creating a new heaven and earth, and the former heaven and earth will not be remembered, nor come to mind, for it is associated with sin and rebellion which the saints will never know there.
The new heaven and earth is a place wherein dwells righteousness, where sin has never been, and sin will never be, and sin, and rebellion will never raise its ugly head again.
You will not even know anybody in heaven that you knew on earth, or anything you did because then you would know about earth, and the sin, and rebellion of it which God does not want you to know.
You could be standing next to your father and not know it was your father from earth, for the angels, and people, will not remember anything prior to the New Jerusalem, the new heaven, and earth, and they will feel like they have always been there and nowhere else.
Which also cuts out the crying, and sadness, that they would feel for their family, and friends, that did not make it.
But you will remember the earth initially being caught up to Jesus, and being on earth during the millennial reign of Christ, but after that you will not remember anything about earth, and anything prior to being at the New Jerusalem.
Another view...
Hellbound Train
A Texas cowboy lay down on a barroom floor,
Having drunk so much he could drink no more;
So he fell asleep with a troubled brain
To dream that he rode on a hell-bound train.
The engine with murderous blood was damp
And was brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp;
An imp, for fuel, was shoveling bones,
While the furnace rang with a thousand groans.
The boiler was filled with lager beer
And the devil himself was the engineer;
The passengers were a most motly crew—
Church member, atheist, Gentile, and Jew,
Rich men in broadcloth, beggers in rags,
Handsome young ladies, and withered old hags,
Yellow and black men, red, brown, and white,
All chained together—O God, what a site!
While the train rushed on at an awful pace—
The sulphurous fumes scorched their hands and face;
Wider and wider the country grew,
As faster and faster the engine flew.
Louder and louder the thunder crashed
And brighter and brighter the lightning flashed;
Hotter and hotter the air became
Till the clothes were burned from each quivering frame.
And out of the distance there arose a yell,
"Ha, ha," said the devil, "we're nearing hell!"
Then oh, how the passengers all shrieked with pain
And begged the devil to stop the train.
But he capered about and danced for glee,
And laughed and joked at their misery.
"My faithful friends, you have done the work
And the devil never can a payday shirk.
"You've bullied the weak, you've robbed the poor,
The starving brother you've turned from the door;
You've laid up gold where the canker rust,
And have given free vent to your beastly lust.
"You've justice scorned, and corruption sown,
And trampled the laws of nature down.
You have drunk, rioted, cheated, plundered, and lied,
And mocked at God in your hell-born pride.
"You have paid full fair, so I'll carry you through,
For it's only right you should have your due.
Why, the laborer always expects his hire,
So I'll land you safe in the lake of fire,
"Where your flesh will waste in the flames that roar,
And my imps torment you forevermore."
Then the cowboy awoke with an anguished cry,
His clothes wet with sweat and his hair standing high
Then he prayed as he never had prayed till that hour
To be saved from his sin and the demon's power;
And his prayers and his vows were not in vain,
For he never road the hell-bound train.
Hellbound Train
A Texas cowboy lay down on a barroom floor,
Having drunk so much he could drink no more;
So he fell asleep with a troubled brain
To dream that he rode on a hell-bound train.
The engine with murderous blood was damp
And was brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp;
An imp, for fuel, was shoveling bones,
While the furnace rang with a thousand groans.
The boiler was filled with lager beer
And the devil himself was the engineer;
The passengers were a most motly crew—
Church member, atheist, Gentile, and Jew,
Rich men in broadcloth, beggers in rags,
Handsome young ladies, and withered old hags,
Yellow and black men, red, brown, and white,
All chained together—O God, what a site!
While the train rushed on at an awful pace—
The sulphurous fumes scorched their hands and face;
Wider and wider the country grew,
As faster and faster the engine flew.
Louder and louder the thunder crashed
And brighter and brighter the lightning flashed;
Hotter and hotter the air became
Till the clothes were burned from each quivering frame.
And out of the distance there arose a yell,
"Ha, ha," said the devil, "we're nearing hell!"
Then oh, how the passengers all shrieked with pain
And begged the devil to stop the train.
But he capered about and danced for glee,
And laughed and joked at their misery.
"My faithful friends, you have done the work
And the devil never can a payday shirk.
"You've bullied the weak, you've robbed the poor,
The starving brother you've turned from the door;
You've laid up gold where the canker rust,
And have given free vent to your beastly lust.
"You've justice scorned, and corruption sown,
And trampled the laws of nature down.
You have drunk, rioted, cheated, plundered, and lied,
And mocked at God in your hell-born pride.
"You have paid full fair, so I'll carry you through,
For it's only right you should have your due.
Why, the laborer always expects his hire,
So I'll land you safe in the lake of fire,
"Where your flesh will waste in the flames that roar,
And my imps torment you forevermore."
Then the cowboy awoke with an anguished cry,
His clothes wet with sweat and his hair standing high
Then he prayed as he never had prayed till that hour
To be saved from his sin and the demon's power;
And his prayers and his vows were not in vain,
For he never road the hell-bound train.
And a third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand, he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. (Rev 14:9-10)
.
Steve Jobs once said (in so many words) that people don't know what they
want till it's shown them. Steve may not've been as expert with electronics
as his pal Woz, but I gotta say: Jobs was one heck of a promoter.
People penned up in the wrong side of the netherworld may or may not be fully
aware of all they've lost. Many are doubtless aware of at least their loss of
creature comforts; but I'm not so sure they know about the bulk of their loss
because not even that many Christians are aware of all they've gained by
their unity with Christ.
The "my church" spoken of by Matt 16:18 is very fortunate because it's a
joint-heir (a.k.a. heir in common) with God's ranking son. (Eph 1:11 and
Rom 8:16-17)
A joint-heir is different than a regular heir. Regular heirs are apportioned an
individual percentage of their benefactor's estate. But joint-heirs inherit, not
a percentage, but the entire estate, as community property, i.e. whatever
the Father bequeathed Christ, that He also bequeathed everyone unified
with Christ.
For example: supposing a benefactor's estate totals 60 acres of land, 18
gold bars, a fleet of antique cars, plus a hedge fund worth 12 million US
Dollars; and he left it all to six heirs in common. In that situation; the heirs
are corporately one beneficiary instead of six; viz: all six inherit all the land,
all the gold, all the cars, and the entire fund as if each one were the only
heir. (1Cor 3:21-22)
The extent of the Father's estate is astonishing. It encompasses not only all
that is in Heaven, but also all in the entire universe, plus whatever pertains
to the new cosmos spoken of in Isa 66:17, 2Pet 3:13, and Rev 21:1; and I
don't know what else.
● John 3:35 . .The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his
hand.
● John 16:15 . . All things that the Father has are mine
Point being: folks stuck in perdition are wretched paupers in the afterlife,
whereas those unified with Christ are wealthy and privileged beyond imagination.
_
Steve Jobs once said (in so many words) that people don't know what they
want till it's shown them. Steve may not've been as expert with electronics
as his pal Woz, but I gotta say: Jobs was one heck of a promoter.
People penned up in the wrong side of the netherworld may or may not be fully
aware of all they've lost. Many are doubtless aware of at least their loss of
creature comforts; but I'm not so sure they know about the bulk of their loss
because not even that many Christians are aware of all they've gained by
their unity with Christ.
The "my church" spoken of by Matt 16:18 is very fortunate because it's a
joint-heir (a.k.a. heir in common) with God's ranking son. (Eph 1:11 and
Rom 8:16-17)
A joint-heir is different than a regular heir. Regular heirs are apportioned an
individual percentage of their benefactor's estate. But joint-heirs inherit, not
a percentage, but the entire estate, as community property, i.e. whatever
the Father bequeathed Christ, that He also bequeathed everyone unified
with Christ.
For example: supposing a benefactor's estate totals 60 acres of land, 18
gold bars, a fleet of antique cars, plus a hedge fund worth 12 million US
Dollars; and he left it all to six heirs in common. In that situation; the heirs
are corporately one beneficiary instead of six; viz: all six inherit all the land,
all the gold, all the cars, and the entire fund as if each one were the only
heir. (1Cor 3:21-22)
The extent of the Father's estate is astonishing. It encompasses not only all
that is in Heaven, but also all in the entire universe, plus whatever pertains
to the new cosmos spoken of in Isa 66:17, 2Pet 3:13, and Rev 21:1; and I
don't know what else.
● John 3:35 . .The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his
hand.
● John 16:15 . . All things that the Father has are mine
Point being: folks stuck in perdition are wretched paupers in the afterlife,
whereas those unified with Christ are wealthy and privileged beyond imagination.
_
-
1
- Show all
F
😁you are thinking of fallen earth though friend . Here is a glimpse of restored creation animals. We have nothing to worry about for velociraptors or any former predator animal. It’s going to be different that’s for sure.
“The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.”
Isaiah 11:7 NIV
“The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.”
Isaiah 11:7 NIV
.
I am not anxious to depart and relocate to Heaven, but I am very anxious
for the millennium to begin because it's to take place right here on the
existing Earth during Messiah's 1,000 year administration wherein I can visit
all the places to which I have never gone, do all the things I've never done,
see all the things I've never seen, and hear all the sounds I've never heard.
The new cosmos won't be constructed till after Messiah's millennial rein is
completed, and the great white throne event wraps. Which is fine with me
'cause there's a lot left on my bucket list that I won't get around to in this life.
I plan on making very good use of those thousand years to explore every
square inch of this planet-- on land and sea.
Can you just imagine having free rein on Earth with an immortal body and
perpetual youth, and no fear of war, violence, poisonous snakes, toxic insects,
or wild animals!? I can hardly wait. One of the first things I want to do in
Messiah's kingdom is hike the triple crown: the Pacific Coast Trail, The
Continental Divide Trail, and the Appalachian Trail; yeah, Cirque of the Towers
here I come!!!
_
I am not anxious to depart and relocate to Heaven, but I am very anxious
for the millennium to begin because it's to take place right here on the
existing Earth during Messiah's 1,000 year administration wherein I can visit
all the places to which I have never gone, do all the things I've never done,
see all the things I've never seen, and hear all the sounds I've never heard.
The new cosmos won't be constructed till after Messiah's millennial rein is
completed, and the great white throne event wraps. Which is fine with me
'cause there's a lot left on my bucket list that I won't get around to in this life.
I plan on making very good use of those thousand years to explore every
square inch of this planet-- on land and sea.
Can you just imagine having free rein on Earth with an immortal body and
perpetual youth, and no fear of war, violence, poisonous snakes, toxic insects,
or wild animals!? I can hardly wait. One of the first things I want to do in
Messiah's kingdom is hike the triple crown: the Pacific Coast Trail, The
Continental Divide Trail, and the Appalachian Trail; yeah, Cirque of the Towers
here I come!!!
_
-
1
- Show all
.
Some years ago, a two-bit substitute Sunday school teacher wasted the hour
by sitting us thru a Hollywood movie based upon the life of Joseph. At the
conclusion of the "show" I raised my hand and asked the teacher if he
thought Joseph was born again.
I wish you could've seen the look on his face as his mind instantly went into
oscillating vapor lock trying to understand what I meant. He was baffled by
my question.
Well; I explained, Jesus said that no one can enter the kingdom of God sans
the Spirit birth he spoke of at John 3:3-7. The language and grammar of
his statement strongly suggests there are no exceptions, viz: the birth
isn't optional, rather, it's mandatory-- not just mandatory for some, but for
everyone.
One day I asked an experienced Jehovah's Witness if he was born of the
Spirit. He answered no, and added that he did not expect to undergo a Spirit
birth in either this life or the next because his hope isn't in Heaven.
The JW was somehow unaware that Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus
wasn't about things in Heaven, rather, things on Earth.
● John 3:12 . . . If I have told you earthly things and yet you do not believe,
how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
In other words: the kingdom of God, and the Spirit birth requirement,
pertain to Messiah's theocratic world down here on the ground rather than
the supreme being's world up in the sky.
It's both tragic and ironic that the Watchtower Society's rank and file
missionaries go worldwide advertising a kingdom that they themselves will
never be allowed to enter: not because they didn't work hard enough to
deserve it, but simply because they were led to believe themselves exempt
from the Spirit-birth requirement.
_
Some years ago, a two-bit substitute Sunday school teacher wasted the hour
by sitting us thru a Hollywood movie based upon the life of Joseph. At the
conclusion of the "show" I raised my hand and asked the teacher if he
thought Joseph was born again.
I wish you could've seen the look on his face as his mind instantly went into
oscillating vapor lock trying to understand what I meant. He was baffled by
my question.
Well; I explained, Jesus said that no one can enter the kingdom of God sans
the Spirit birth he spoke of at John 3:3-7. The language and grammar of
his statement strongly suggests there are no exceptions, viz: the birth
isn't optional, rather, it's mandatory-- not just mandatory for some, but for
everyone.
One day I asked an experienced Jehovah's Witness if he was born of the
Spirit. He answered no, and added that he did not expect to undergo a Spirit
birth in either this life or the next because his hope isn't in Heaven.
The JW was somehow unaware that Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus
wasn't about things in Heaven, rather, things on Earth.
● John 3:12 . . . If I have told you earthly things and yet you do not believe,
how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
In other words: the kingdom of God, and the Spirit birth requirement,
pertain to Messiah's theocratic world down here on the ground rather than
the supreme being's world up in the sky.
It's both tragic and ironic that the Watchtower Society's rank and file
missionaries go worldwide advertising a kingdom that they themselves will
never be allowed to enter: not because they didn't work hard enough to
deserve it, but simply because they were led to believe themselves exempt
from the Spirit-birth requirement.
_
-
1
- Show all
.
Back in the decade of the 1960s, while still a young guy in his twenties, it
occurred to me that even if I managed to live a pious enough life to make
the cut for Heaven, I was pretty sure I couldn't keep up the piety forever.
Sooner or later I'd show my true colors and get thrown out.
It occurred to me that if I were as normally and naturally pleasing to God as
His son Jesus always is, then it would be not only be very easy to attain
Heaven but just as easy to stay there. Well; God must's read my thoughts
because in the course of time, I ran across a passage in the book of Ezekiel
that goes like this:
"I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your
land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth
will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give
you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in
you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient
heart. And I will put My spirit in you so you will obey My laws and do
whatever I command. (36:24-27)
That promise was made to the Jews so of course and I, being a Gentile,
couldn't expect God to let me in on it. But just think of the tremendous
advantage that passage speaks of. Whereas I am normally and naturally
impious, with that promise in hand I could become just the opposite, viz: I
could become normally and naturally pious. That passage in Ezekiel really
perked me up and lifted my spirits because it gave me a light at the end of
the tunnel whereas before then, I had none.
● Jer 13:23 . . Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard
remove its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you always do evil.
Eph 2:11-22 tells how that God has a way for Gentiles to share in the Jews'
benefits. The light at the end of the tunnel spoken of above is available to
everyone on Earth regardless of age, race, color, or gender; which the
apostle Peter sums up by saying:
● 2Pet 1:2-4 . . Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us
everything we need for life and piety through our knowledge of Him who
called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His
very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate
in the divine nature.
I suspect that given the choice, most folks would prefer to keep their human
nature; mostly because they're so used to it. But if divine nature is what it
takes to get into God's world and stay in God's world, then of course there's
no contest.
_
Back in the decade of the 1960s, while still a young guy in his twenties, it
occurred to me that even if I managed to live a pious enough life to make
the cut for Heaven, I was pretty sure I couldn't keep up the piety forever.
Sooner or later I'd show my true colors and get thrown out.
It occurred to me that if I were as normally and naturally pleasing to God as
His son Jesus always is, then it would be not only be very easy to attain
Heaven but just as easy to stay there. Well; God must's read my thoughts
because in the course of time, I ran across a passage in the book of Ezekiel
that goes like this:
"I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your
land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth
will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give
you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in
you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient
heart. And I will put My spirit in you so you will obey My laws and do
whatever I command. (36:24-27)
That promise was made to the Jews so of course and I, being a Gentile,
couldn't expect God to let me in on it. But just think of the tremendous
advantage that passage speaks of. Whereas I am normally and naturally
impious, with that promise in hand I could become just the opposite, viz: I
could become normally and naturally pious. That passage in Ezekiel really
perked me up and lifted my spirits because it gave me a light at the end of
the tunnel whereas before then, I had none.
● Jer 13:23 . . Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard
remove its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you always do evil.
Eph 2:11-22 tells how that God has a way for Gentiles to share in the Jews'
benefits. The light at the end of the tunnel spoken of above is available to
everyone on Earth regardless of age, race, color, or gender; which the
apostle Peter sums up by saying:
● 2Pet 1:2-4 . . Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us
everything we need for life and piety through our knowledge of Him who
called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His
very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate
in the divine nature.
I suspect that given the choice, most folks would prefer to keep their human
nature; mostly because they're so used to it. But if divine nature is what it
takes to get into God's world and stay in God's world, then of course there's
no contest.
_
-
1
- Show all