Eternity Is Going To Be Fun!

[Dennis1209]

4 hours ago, kwikphilly said:

I dont know about " fun" in Eternity but I Know about Joy.... I have the Joy of the Lord now in spite of all situations in a corrupt, dying world- I cannot imagine the Joy in His Presence and in a Perfect world!

What a wonderfully heartwarming story about your dad. Thank you for sharing.

At my age, I think more about Selah7 topic than ever before. Be it the Rapture or the Lord calling me home, first, I know there are not too many ticks on the clock left before I meet the Lord face to face. The following are some thoughts about Heaven that deeply concern me. Perhaps my understanding of scripture is in error?

It is shameful and embarrassing, but I choose to be open about my failures and my past as a testimony of what the Lord has done for me. It is best to admit our failures and faults to one another after we confess them and ask forgiveness from the Lord and repent of those sins. Having skeletons in your closet is no fun.

Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Most of us have heard about people squirming on the pew listening to the message in church. I am one of them, if I am not squirming, I am evidently not listening. Before long, I will be standing before Jesus at the Bema seat, giving a complete account of my life. It will not be a joyful occasion, but shame, sorrow, and no defense or excuses for decades of squandered opportunities and wasting most of my life. If there were a stronger word than regret, I would use it.

It seems that our eternal state will not start with peace, joy, happiness, and bliss. Giving a complete account of my life’s failures, squandering, wastefulness, and neglected opportunities presented to me will take longer than most and painful. At this time, I suspect the tears will be flowing like a river. Realizing I was presented with many opportunities to plant the seed of the Gospel in many people’s lives and kept my mouth shut. I was continuing my pursuits, enjoying my sin and rebellion. Perhaps we are given a glimpse of where they are right now in pain and torment?

It stands to reason that standing before the Bema Seat of Christ; this has not happened yet:

Revelation 21:4 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.

Death, hell, and Satan is not cast into the Lake of Fire until the end of the millennium, and I think Rev. 21:4 all co-occurs. Who is this group of people that waits until entering eternity to have their sorrow, crying, and pain removed?

We will not be standing before the Lord for eternal judgment but to confess, give an account, and explain our actions and inactions. For me, this is tough to look forward to.

Our sins are forgiven under the blood of Christ. What about the effects of our sins of commission and omission on others and their lives? They are not covered.

As I inferred, I never thought about these things until the twilight of my life. Unfortunately, I cannot go back in history and right my wrongs, there is now only the present I can act upon, tomorrow will take care of itself. I know we are not to dwell on the past but go forward. But the day we give our account to the Lord Jesus is the past, and that is frightening and shameful to me.

[kwikphilly]

Blessings BRother

41 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

As I inferred, I never thought about these things until the twilight of my life. Unfortunately, I cannot go back in history and right my wrongs, there is now only the present I can act upon, tomorrow will take care of itself. I know we are not to dwell on the past but go forward. But the day we give our account to the Lord Jesus is the past, and that is frightening and shameful to me.

You are not alone-Yes,let us confess to  one another and remind each other we are "BLAMELESS,spotless, without stain ,wrinkle or blemish!!!!

   I think of those things too but even more than that I think "Am I Ready,How far IN the world am I & distracted"   I think of those things as I ,like you,squirm in the pew.....wondering"How many more songs do I have to hear before we get to Gods Word?"or "Why is the music so loud,they can hear it in the 3rd Heaven perfectly without blasting my eardrums!" And then how many times do I choose to watch a movie because I'm just plain bored,instead of talking with God or really dont feel like praying?

 Gee,I believe there is constant Praise,Worship & Music up in Heaven .....what would make it any different then,am I fit for Heaven,ready for Him ?Sometimes I think I have 1 foot in the world & the other in Spirit and I need to get it right ALL the time.....Anyway,the devil is a liar                    Praise Jesus!

                                                           With love -in Christ<Kwik

[B-B]

59 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

What a wonderfully heartwarming story about your dad. Thank you for sharing.

At my age, I think more about Selah7 topic than ever before. Be it the Rapture or the Lord calling me home, first, I know there are not too many ticks on the clock left before I meet the Lord face to face. The following are some thoughts about Heaven that deeply concern me. Perhaps my understanding of scripture is in error?

It is shameful and embarrassing, but I choose to be open about my failures and my past as a testimony of what the Lord has done for me. It is best to admit our failures and faults to one another after we confess them and ask forgiveness from the Lord and repent of those sins.

Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Most of us have heard about people squirming on the pew listening to the message in church. I am one of them, if I am not squirming, I am evidently not listening. Before long, I will be standing before Jesus at the Bema seat, giving a complete account of my life. It will not be a joyful occasion, but shame, sorrow, and no defense or excuses for decades of squandered opportunities and wasting most of my life. If there were a stronger word than regret, I would use it.

It seems that our eternal state will not start with peace, joy, happiness, and bliss. Giving a complete account of my life’s failures, squandering, wastefulness, and neglected opportunities presented to me will take longer than most and painful. At this time, I suspect the tears will be flowing like a river. Realizing I was presented with many opportunities to plant the seed of the Gospel in many people’s lives and kept my mouth shut. I was continuing my pursuits, enjoying my sin and rebellion. Perhaps we are given a glimpse of where they are right now in pain and torment?

It stands to reason that standing before the Bema Seat of Christ; this has not happened yet:

Revelation 21:4 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.

Death, hell, and Satan is not cast into the Lake of Fire until the end of the millennium, and I think Rev. 21:4 all co-occurs. Who is this group of people that waits until entering eternity to have their sorrow, crying, and pain removed?

We will not be standing before the Lord for eternal judgment but to confess, give an account, and explain our actions and inactions. For me, this is tough to look forward to.

Our sins are forgiven under the blood of Christ. What about the effects of our sins of commission and omission on others and their lives? They are not covered.

As I inferred, I never thought about these things until the twilight of my life. Unfortunately, I cannot go back in history and right my wrongs, there is now only the present I can act upon, tomorrow will take care of itself. I know we are not to dwell on the past but go forward. But the day we give our account to the Lord Jesus is the past, and that is frightening and shameful to me.

…too me this shows such humility. A broken and contrite heart the Lord will not despise ..

I suppose some of us may not even have tomorrow… today could be our very last day here in these mortal bodies, whatever our physical age…some die young, some not so young.

May we long to hear those words…Well done.. good & faithful servant. May we pursue obedience.

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

 

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already [e]attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

 

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 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.

Philipians 3

Edited May 24, 2022 by B-B

[Selah7]

@Dennis1209

Regarding your post above about SIN.

Our salvation is the most certain thing we can have because it is Christ who saves us, and it comes through faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross, which includes His death and resurrection. He did all of this to pay the price for each and every sin that we have committed. However, those sins are only forgiven by Him through our repentance to God, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are made righteous and are welcomed into His family, adopted as God's sons and daughters, and we are made co-heirs with Christ in God's kingdom.

Now in Romans 3:25, notice it says “sins that are past.”  I believe that repentance is a continuous thing we do daily (each time we sin or are aware of sin) because we all fall short of the glory of God every day since we are still in the flesh.

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

- Romans 3:22-26 (KJV)

Hope this helps.

in CHRIST, Selah 

 

 

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by Selah7

[JohnD]

On 5/21/2022 at 3:48 PM, Selah7 said:

Here’s something to pause and meditate upon …. selah  

I don’t think any of us have any idea how much fun eternity is going to be.  I wonder just what kind of excitingly awesome things our Father has planned for His kids.  Now I don’t imagine we’ll be floating around on fluffy white clouds playing little harps, though it might be fun for a while; but before long, we’d get totally bored because the eternity is an extremely long period of time!  So what does God have in store for us?  Eternity will undoubtedly exceed our wildest dreams because …

Thus saith the Lord: 

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

- 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)

So, what do you think we’ll be doing in the Eternity?

in Christ, Selah 

In this life there is a certain forever temporality to everything we do and are. A surge of joy when we are blessed. An underlying knowing that it's not forever (even if we hope it will be at the time).

When we are in eternity, will it be the yippee / excitement of the moment felt forevermore? Or the peace that knowing (truly knowing) our joy and peace will be forever and ever and forever...

Fun... sure. Doing what we were made to to rather than making do. The proper use of the mallet and chisel rather than a hammer and screwdriver in woodworking...

Being centered, focused, happy, assured, blessed...

and more than anything having a purer sense of the access we have to God.

There have been some earthly pictures painted of how heaven will be with temple and animal sacrifice in a required periodic reporting to New Jerusalem by all... I won't say that will not happen (I'm not in charge God is) but that sounds more anthropomorphic (using terms humans understand) than prophetic IMHO. I'll go with 1 Corinthians 2:9. 

Jesus said there are many mansions in his Father's house and he went to prepare a place for us. Some add that he's been building that place ever since. I rather think the focus was on his reason for going itself making way for the Holy Spirit to reign on Earth until he returns, and the place he prepared for us could be a reference to the Church / Church Age / or by his ascent to the throne in heaven making a reservation in heaven for us (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Or... he could have made whatever abodes for us but I imagine One capable of creating the universe in a day (day 4 in Genesis 1) could manage to accomplish whatever this is in a thought.

God wants us to trust him in all things not just at the cross.   

[Dennis1209]

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

I believe New Jerusalem is physical and will be our eternal dwelling place, our Father’s house. There are too many precise details, and even the dimensions are given to be anything else.

One day I studied John 14:2 and the related subject matter, and I had thoughts and visions in my mind of castles, royalty, and huge mansions. In our English language, mansions could be better translated as rooms, apartments, dwelling places, a place to stay, or abodes.

New Jerusalem will be square (foursquare); depending on the length of an ancient furlong, we can say the dimensions are roughly 1,500 x 1,500 x 1,500 miles. Have you ever heard of the Drake Equation? It is an equation with unknown numbers inserted and the wildest guesses based on no facts or data.

The Bible does not indicate we get a private hotel room or apartment as I had previously imagined. If we did, I wondered how big the room (mansion) would be? I enter my own Drake Equation plugging in unknown numbers with nothing solid with nothing better to do.

The best guess science has is that 108 billion people have lived on this earth.

Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

These numbers I inserted are undoubtedly deeply flawed (thus my own Drake Equation). The number I used for “few” was 10% of the best guess of how many people lived who had faith (saved). I calculated the volume of New Jerusalem.

Long story and calculation-less short: If each person were to receive their own space in New Jerusalem, measured in cubic feet, it would come out to the size of a standard master- bedroom.

I went on this fruitless adventure, wasting my time because I had it in my mind, we were getting personal abodes. I had wondered why we needed privacy or a place to rest, get out of the weather, entertain, or whatever?

Restudying the scriptures, I still do not know why I pictured a personal dwelling space? Had I not tinkered and played around with numbers and studied scripture again, I would still envision having individual rooms. There are many rooms; it is not said we each get one individually, and I could not understand why we would need a private space or room.

Your thoughts?

 

[Starise]

On reading these posts my thoughts race and much like Dennis I am very apprehensive about standing before an Almighty Holy God to give an account of myself. I know Jesus paid the price for our sins, even so I am utterly awed and somewhat fearful of standing before such a being that would require the blood of His own Son to cover our sins 

This God is awesome in power and pulls no punches. Mere humans outside of the Spirit cannot stand in his presence and live..even for a second. 

I know nothing I can do qualifies me to even be there. Only Jesus.

To Him I am forever indebted. Only to Him all glory goes.

Any fun He allows me to have will be a further testament to His mercy and Love. Every day in heaven will be another day to praise Him. Praise His holy name forever 

[Dennis1209]

On 5/23/2022 at 5:34 PM, OneLight said:

A very long time ago, when I was first saved, I was told by this older person that we will be able to travel at the speed of thought.  We will also be able to communicate with animals.  Both of these suggestions allowed me to sit back and exercise my imagination a whole lot, and that in of itself was exciting and fun!

Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Wow! Prayers answered before they even finished praying.

[Sower]

On 5/24/2022 at 8:05 AM, Dennis1209 said:

Our sins are forgiven under the blood of Christ. What about the effects of our sins of commission and omission on others and their lives? They are not covered.

I have had similar thoughts, Dennis.
I repeat this scripture throughout the day to reprogram (renewing) my mind with God's promise.     "be renewed in the spirit of your minds"

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
'and' to cleanse us from    all     unrighteousness"

  God is Light. His promises are true.
 

 

[kwikphilly]

6 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

I believe New Jerusalem is physical and will be our eternal dwelling place, our Father’s house. There are too many precise details, and even the dimensions are given to be anything else.

One day I studied John 14:2 and the related subject matter, and I had thoughts and visions in my mind of castles, royalty, and huge mansions. In our English language, mansions could be better translated as rooms, apartments, dwelling places, a place to stay, or abodes.

New Jerusalem will be square (foursquare); depending on the length of an ancient furlong, we can say the dimensions are roughly 1,500 x 1,500 x 1,500 miles. Have you ever heard of the Drake Equation? It is an equation with unknown numbers inserted and the wildest guesses based on no facts or data.

The Bible does not indicate we get a private hotel room or apartment as I had previously imagined. If we did, I wondered how big the room (mansion) would be? I enter my own Drake Equation plugging in unknown numbers with nothing solid with nothing better to do.

The best guess science has is that 108 billion people have lived on this earth.

Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

These numbers I inserted are undoubtedly deeply flawed (thus my own Drake Equation). The number I used for “few” was 10% of the best guess of how many people lived who had faith (saved). I calculated the volume of New Jerusalem.

Long story and calculation-less short: If each person were to receive their own space in New Jerusalem, measured in cubic feet, it would come out to the size of a standard master- bedroom.

I went on this fruitless adventure, wasting my time because I had it in my mind, we were getting personal abodes. I had wondered why we needed privacy or a place to rest, get out of the weather, entertain, or whatever?

Restudying the scriptures, I still do not know why I pictured a personal dwelling space? Had I not tinkered and played around with numbers and studied scripture again, I would still envision having individual rooms. There are many rooms; it is not said we each get one individually, and I could not understand why we would need a private space or room.

Your thoughts?

 

 

Blessings Brother

Im just smiling, chuckling at your calculations and deep considerations...... Yes,sometimes I just smile when listening to you think out loud.... It all comes from your heart, so refreshingly honest, candid.

 No, no thoughts..... Ive said many times that I'd be thrilled to be a janitor sweeping the streets paved in gold as long as Im there !

 And as for a " private room",I'll take a stall and rest on some hay next to Jesus' white steed so I could see Him and go riding with Him ....... Ive not even considered if we would need to sleep at all.... God never sleeps or slumbers, why should we in a glorified body like Jesus?

In Christs love, Kwik