In Depth Bible Study: Standing On the Edge of Eternity Lessons 11 and 12

Standing On the Edge of Eternity 

Lessons 11 and 12

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. - Philippians 3:20-21 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians3:20-21&version=NKJV

Ultimately our citizenship is in heaven, not this temporary world. In heaven are many mansions (John 14:3-4). Jesus is at God's right hand in heaven (Acts 7:56). Our hope is laid up in heaven (Colossians 1:5) and we have an inheritance that does not fade away (1 Peter 1:4). 

God, angels, elders, living creatures are in heaven (Matthew 6:9, Matthew 18:10, Revelation chapter 4). 

Persecution brings great reward: heaven if we don't buckle under the pressure (Matthew 5:11-12). Serving God will reward us greatly (Hebrews 10:35-36). So don't cast away our confidence. For in it is great reward (Colossians 3:23-24). 

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.For we walk by faith, not by sight.We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. - 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Corinthians5:1-10&version=NKJV

Our bodies will be changed in heaven. Let's make it our aim to be well pleasing to Him. We will always be with Jesus in heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:17). 

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.When Christ who is  our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. - Colossians 3:1-15 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians3:1-15&version=NKJV

Cast off all sin. Put on the good. Make heaven our goal and aim. Don't lose hope (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). 

Remember Christ came to redeem us (Galatians 4:4-5). Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and  coming in the likeness of men.And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. - Philippians 2:5-8 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians2:5-8&version=NKJV

He indeed was obedient to the point of death. 

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.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.”Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. - Revelation 21:1-27 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation21:1-27&version=NKJV

Think on the glory of heaven: no sin, pain, death, mourning, no crying, no night there. 

We will be at rest in heaven (Revelation 14:13). Therefore be diligent to enter that rest (Hebrews 9:11). Death will be defeated (1 Corinthians 15:50-54), our bodies redeemed (Romans 8:23). 

“For the kingdom of heaven is  like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one,  to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were  faithful over a few things,  I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into  the joy of your lord.’He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’His lord said to him,  ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into  the joy of your lord.’“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You  wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.And cast the unprofitable servant  into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and  gnashing of teeth.’ - Matthew 25:14-30 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew25:14-30&version=NKJV

Use our talents for His glory that we may be rewarded.
By the way heaven will not be on earth. Dispel that myth with Scripture (2 Peter 3:12-13). We will recognize each other in heaven. Consider the Scriptures that confirm this: Matthew 26:29, Hebrews 12:23, 1 Thessalonians 2:19.

Let's keep our eyes on heaven serving God and each other. 

Author's Note: posted the last two videos in this series in one post. In the first video (lesson 11) Benjamin Lee discusses the devil and his angels, God and His holy angels. Goes onto lesson 11 towards the end and on into the last video (lesson 12). Also is discussed questions on heaven.

Next week we begin the study Walking Worthy. Grab your PDF study guide here: https://westmainchurchofchrist.org/bible-resources/workbooks