A 5-Week Study of

What Happens After We Leave This Life

AFTERLIFE

Outline for the Study

This study is designed as a follow-up to the Sunday morning sermons listed below. You can go through a whole lesson in one day or break it up throughout the week. These questions follow the structure of the book Heaven, by Randy Alcorn. If you are interested in this topic, we would highly recommend this book! Week 1: October 14 – 20 This is Not the End Week 2: October 21 – 27 Final Destination – Part 1 Week 3: October 28 – November 3 Final Destination – Part 2 Week 4: November 4 – 10 Afterlife F.A.Q. Week 5: November 11 – 17 By Invitation Only

What happens one second after you leave this life? For centuries people have wondered about life after death. Countless books record near-death experiences with vivid descriptions of the afterlife. Movies illustrate a tranquil journey into a divine light. Other religions teach reincarnation, and still some believe this life is all we have. With all the mixed messages and mystery that surround the afterlife, it’s difficult to know what to think. So we are left with our questions -- What happens after I die? Where do we go? What will I look like? Who will be there? How long will it last? The Scriptures speak with great clarity about the place we will spend the rest of our existence. The answers will excite and maybe even surprise you. It is my prayer that as you journey through this series, you will begin to see how awesomely creative our God is in designing our eternal destinies to complete His purpose and fulfill our every desire.

~Tom Harland – Family Pastor Intern

Week One/ October 14 - 20 / This is Not the End

Prayer: Ask God to remove any blinders of preconceived ideas about heaven so we can understand Scripture. Are You Looking Forward to Heaven?

List some common ways in which people picture heaven. Do you know which of these views are Biblical? List your beliefs about heaven and hell. What are heaven and hell like? How long are you there? Who goes

where? What do you do there? Do you know if these views are Biblical? Read John 8:44 and Revelation 13:6. What does this tell us about where all the incorrect views of heaven

come from?

Is Heaven Beyond Our Imagination? Read 1 Corinthians 2:9. What does this seem to tell us about heaven? What does it really mean if you keep

reading verse 10? Read Colossians 3:1-2. Why would we be told that we should do this?

Is Heaven Our Default Destination…or Is Hell? Less than 1% of Americans who believe in an afterlife believe that they are going to hell. How does this

compare to Matthew 7:13-14? Read Matthew 10:32; Revelation 3:5; and Revelation 20:12-15. Who is destined for hell? Read Matthew 13:40-42; Matthew 25:41; Matthew 13:50; Luke 13:28. Using these passages, describe what

hell is like. How does this differ from how it might be described in popular culture? What is our proper response to the Scriptural view of hell? If hell is viewed as a place that’s not that bad or we believe that everyone ends up going to heaven, how

does that make us think differently of Christ’s death and resurrection? If the consequence for rejecting God, the King over all creation, is an eternity in hell, what does that tell us

about the hugeness of his holiness? What does that tell us about the gift of salvation through Christ?

The Temporary Nature of the Intermediate Heaven What do you think of the idea of an intermediate Heaven, a place to live prior to the resurrection? Is this a

new thought to you? Read Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 16:22-31; Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; and 2 Corinthians 5:8. Describe what

happens immediately when we die. Have you ever tried to reconcile the fact that we are with God immediately when we die, yet we won’t have

our resurrection bodies until Christ returns? Reflect on the idea that we are only complete when our spirit and bodies are united. What does this tell us

about the fact that when we die, our “spirit” is removed from our body?

Week One/ October 14 - 20 / This is Not the End (cont’d) Many Bible scholars point to the fact that the early church was influenced by Plato, who believed the spirit

was good and material things (i.e., the body) were bad. In Christianity, this had the effect of people assuming that the spirit left the body and went to a purely spiritual realm. In other words, they believed that heaven is filled with spirits and “spiritual” things only—there are no physical things in heaven. But is that really the view we get from Scripture?

Read Revelation 7:9; 19:14; 8:13. Does this suggest a physical or spiritual nature of things in

heaven? Read Hebrews 8:5. What does it mean that the sanctuary is a shadow of what is in heaven? What does Revelation 21:1-4 teach us about the New Earth? What is the particular significance of

verse 3 as it relates to where Heaven (God’s dwelling place) will be located? Where is the New Jerusalem now? Where will it be in the future? If the New Jerusalem will be a physical city when it comes down to earth, what do you think it suggests that it is like in heaven before coming to earth?

In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the word “pairidaeza” (translated paradise) is used to

describe the Garden of Eden. In Luke 23:43, Jesus tells the thief on the cross, “Today, you will be with me in paradise”. Why do you think Jesus chose that word? Read Revelation 2:7 and Genesis 3:24. Reflect on the comparison between the Garden of Eden and heaven.

What is Life Like in the Intermediate Heaven?

Read Revelation 6:9-11. This describes souls of believers in the intermediate heaven (before Christ comes back to earth and the bodily resurrection of believers). What does this passage tell us about:

Their consciousness?

Their memories?

Their awareness of what’s happening on earth?

Their hopes?

Their relationship with God?

Their emotions?

Is there anything else you notice that might be important?

Week Two // Final Destination – Part One // October 21 – 27

Is This World Really Our Home? “God will make the new earth his dwelling place…Heaven and earth will then no longer be separated as they are now, but they will be one. But to leave the new earth out of consideration when we think of the final sate of believers is greatly to impoverish biblical teaching about life to come” ~ Anthony Hoekema

Read John 14:2-3. Now read Revelation 21. When you put these two passages together, what does it

suggest is our eternal home? Read Hebrews 11:10; 13:14. What do these two verses suggest about heaven?

If heaven is described as a city, what do you think God is communicating? What might the people be doing? Might there be art, music, goods and services, etc.?

In his book, “Heaven”, Randy Alcorn discusses the fact that God doesn’t promise us a non-earth. He

promises a New Earth. Do you think we can expect to find the types of things that we have on earth now in Heaven, such as water, trees, mountains, people, and houses? Read chapters 21 and 22 of Revelation. What does that suggest?

Now that you have read Revelation 21-22, read Genesis 1-2. Do you see how Revelation completes the

story? To understand how heaven fits in with the rest of the Biblical story, look at the chart below (from Heaven, by Randy Alcorn):

3 Eras of Mankind on Earth

Past: Genesis 1-2 Present: Genesis 3 – Revelation 20

Future: Revelation 21-22

Original mankind Fallen mankind; some believe and are transformed

Resurrected mankind

Original Earth Fallen Earth, with glimmers of the original

New (resurrected) Earth

Mankind given dominion, with intended stewardship of Earth

Mankind’s dominion thwarted, frustrated, and twisted

Mankind’s dominion fulfilled, redeemed stewardship of Earth

God in Heaven, visiting Earth God in Heaven, separate yet active (indwells believers by His Spirit)

God living forever with mankind on the New Earth

No curse Sin and the curse No more curse

No shame Shame No shame

Tree of Life in Eden (mankind can eat)

Tree of Life in Paradise (man cut off from)

Tree of Life in New Jerusalem mankind can eat again forever)

No death Death permeates all Death forever removed

Paradise Paradise lost; glimmers seen Paradise regained and magnified

Abundant food and water Hunger and thirst, toil for food and water

Abundant food and water

Serpent, Satan on Earth Serpent, Satan judged, but still on Earth

Serpent, Satan removed from Earth, thrown into eternal fire

God walking with humans in the garden

Humans cut off from God God dwells face-to-face with humans

Week Two // Final Destination – Part One // October 21 – 27 (cont’d) Earth’s Redemption and God’s Plan

Since we know that our bodies are destroyed, yet God will raise them into new bodies, does it make sense that though the Earth will be destroyed, God will raise it into a New Earth? Is this a new idea for you?

God promises to make the Earth new, just as, through Christ, he makes people new. Read Isaiah 65:17;

Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1. What is something you look forward to when the earth is made new?

You will find all these words used to describe what is happening or will happen to God’s creation: reconcile,

redeem, restore, recover, return, renew, regenerate, resurrect. The “re” prefix suggests a return to an original condition. What does this tell you about God’s plans for creation?

What Type of Hope Does the Old Testament Point To?

Read Isaiah 9:7; 11:1-10. What types of things are happening when the Messiah is reigning on His throne in the New Earth?

Read Isaiah 65:17-25. Would an ancient Israelite living before Christ have pictured an eternal spiritual future

or an eternal physical future? Read Zechariah 9:10. Where were God’s people expecting the Messiah to reign?

What Will Happen to the Old Earth? Read Psalm 102:25-26; Luke 12:33; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 21:1. Is the earth as it is now eternal? At a

casual reading, what does it look like will happen to it? Read 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; Revelation 14:13. Describe this refining process. What survives? What is de-

stroyed? Reread 2 Peter 3:10. If you are reading the King James or American Standard translation, it says that the

earth and the works in it will be burned up. However, in the original language, the word used there has more of a nuance of being exposed, uncovered, or found, as is translated in the NIV and ESV translations. How does this change the meaning? What does it mean that the earth and the works on it are exposed or laid bare? Does this translation make it appear that the Old Earth will be completely destroyed?

Pastor and author John Piper is helpful when trying to understand how all this fits together. He says, “When

Revelation 21:1 and 2 Peter 3:10 say the present earth and heavens will ‘pass away’, it does not have to mean that they go out of existence, but may mean that there will be such a change in them that their present condition passes away. We might say, ‘The caterpillar passes away, and the butterfly emerges.’ There is a real passing away, and there is a real continuity, a real connection.”

Read Acts 3:21. Heaven must receive Jesus until it is time for God to do what?

If you were restoring a house or a painting, what would that involve? Could you describe it as “being made new”? Would it involve complete destruction of the old?

Week Three // Final Destination – Part 2 // October 28 – November 3

What Will it Mean to See God? Read Revelation 22:4 and Exodus 33:18-23. Why would seeing God’s face have been so shocking to anyone

who really understood the Old Testament?

Read Hebrews 10:19 and 4:16. How will we be able to approach God and see his face? How does this show just how much God loves us?

Read John 14:9 and Hebrews 13:8. Eighteenth century pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards points out the importance of this relating to Christ’s return: “The seeing of God in the glorified body of Christ is the most perfect way of seeing God with the bodily eyes that can be; for in seeing a real body that one of the persons of the Trinity has assumed to be his body, and that he dwells in forever as his own in which the divine majesty and excellency appears as much as ‘tis possible for it to appear in outward form or shape.”

Read Jeremiah 31:34. What do you think it means to really “know” God?

Fourth Century church father Augustine wrote in The City of God, “We shall in the future world see the material forms of the new heavens and the new earth in such a way that we shall most distinctly recognize God everywhere present and governing all things, material as well as spiritual.” Let your imagination run wild for a minute. What would that look like to see God’s reign over everything? What would it look like to see God governing over all nations? The environment? Manufacturing?

What Will it Mean for God to Dwell Among Us?

Read Leviticus 26:11-12; Ezekiel 37:27; and 2 Corinthians 6:16 and notice the theme of the promise of God dwelling with us throughout Scripture. What does it tell us about God that He would dwell with us? What would it mean for us to have God dwelling with us?

Can you think of any movies or books that portray a heaven without God? A heaven without God would be hell! God’s very presence is where goodness and love come from.

Read Philippians 1:23. Did Paul desire to be with Christ or go to heaven? What does this tell us about the importance of God dwelling with us?

How Will We Worship God?

Read Revelation 5:13-14 and 7:9-12. Take a minute to reflect on this. What do you think this will look like? Who will be there? Describe what you think your emotions would be like.

Worshiping God will be more awe-inspiring, fascinating, and inspiring than anything you have ever experienced. Describe some of your favorite memories, some times when you have been the most fascinated or awe-inspired. If worshiping God is more amazing than that, can you even begin to imagine what it will be like?

We must not forget that worship involves more than singing, bowing down, etc. Read Romans 12:1-2. Worship here involves your whole being, everything you do. Therefore, everything you do in heaven is worship. Scripture that we have already looked at, and will look at later in this study, show that in heaven people travel in and out of the city, gather at feasts, eat and drink, and reign with Christ, just to name a few activities.

What kind of intimacy will we have with Christ in heaven? Read Revelation 19:7-9. Have you really reflected on the honor of being invited to the King’s wedding? Not only that, but we are the bride!

It is the Bridegroom’s (Christ’s) work that allows the bride (the Church) to enter the presence of the Groom. According to verse 8 though, what is the “wedding dress” made from? What does that tell us of the importance of the work we do now?

Week Three // Final Destination – Part 2 // October 28 – November 3 (cont’d) What Does God’s Eternal Kingdom Involve?

Read Revelation 3:12. Now read Psalm 8:6; Psalm 24:1; Psalm 25:13; Isaiah 49:8; and Isaiah 57:13. How important is the earth to God?

Read Ephesians1:10; Colossians 1:20; and Revelation 11:15. If the Kingdom of God equals God’s reign over everything, how will things change when His eternal kingdom is completely in effect?

Will We Actually Rule with Christ?

Read these Scriptures about the reign of Christ: Psalm 72:8,11; Daniel 2:35, 44; Daniel 7:14; Zechariah 9:9-10; Revelation19:11-16; and Zechariah 14:9. Is there any question that Jews would have expected a powerful king to rule over the earth?

Read the following Scriptures about how God’s people will rule: Luke 19:17; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 2 Timothy 2:12; Rev. 2:10; 2:26; 3:11; 3:21; 4;10; 5:9-10; 22:5. What are some key words in these passages that show our authority? Who will reign? Where will they reign? Over who and what will they have authority?

Read Romans 8:16-17. What does it mean to be co-heirs with Christ? What are we inheriting?

How Will We Rule God’s Kingdom? Read Genesis 1:26-28. What was God’s original intention for humans?

Read James 4:4; Romans 12:2; and 1 Corinthians 3:19. What is the difference between the world as it is now, under the curse from Genesis 3, and what it was originally, and what it will be?

What does Daniel 7:13-14 tell us about God’s kingdom? Reading it in context, does it seem like this is a kingdom in a completely different realm or the same realm as the previous kingdoms mentioned?

Read Matthew 5:5. Is there any reason why this should not be taken literally? In other words, is there any figurative language being used here, any analogies, etc.? What would it mean to “inherit the earth”?

We were created to have dominion, to rule, to build, to create. What happens when we do these things without God? Now imagine humans being given full dominion to do these things with Christ as our co-ruler. Let you imagination run wild. What might that look like?

What Will The Resurrected Earth Be Like?

Read Genesis 2:8-9. Imagine God planting a garden. How beautiful, how perfect would that garden be? Now read John 14:2-3. Christ is preparing a place for us. Can we assume this place is at least as good as Eden? Why might it be even better? Should we assume good things that humans have developed since then (the wheel, musical instruments, other technological advances) would not be there?

The New Jerusalem

Read Luke 19:12; Hebrews 11:14-16; Hebrews 12:22; 13:14; Revelation 21:2. How is heaven described in these passages?

In Revelation 21 and 22, the place that God and His people will live together is called a city fifteen times.

In Revelation 21:17, what are the dimensions given for the city? This equals approximately 1400 miles in length, width, and height! Even if these dimensions are not

meant to be taken literally, John is communicating the fact that this city is HUGE!

What other things do we learn about the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 and 22?

Week Four // Afterlife F.A.Q // November 4 – 10

What Will Our Lives Be Like? Read Job 19:26-27; Luke 24:39. We cannot understand what our lives will be like until we begin to

understand the nature of our resurrected bodies. What are some things you notice about these two passages?

Read Luke 16:25; Matthew 8:11. What do you think is the significance of the fact that people are still known by their names in heaven?

You will still be you, and that’s an important concept to understand. As C.S. Lewis puts it, we become “bent” (sinful, twisted) versions of what God intended. Your deceitfulness, laziness, lust, deafness, disability, and disease are not the real you. They are temporary perversions that will be eliminated. They are the cancer that the Great Physician will surgically remove. His redemptive work is such that never again will they return. When you are on the New Earth, for the first time, you’ll be the person God created you to be.

A common misconception of heaven is that humans become angels. How do Hebrews 1:14 and 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 show that this is not the case? Throughout Scripture, angels are described as separate distinct beings from humans. Angels are always angels and humans are always humans. They are different species! What do you think is the cause of this misunderstanding that we become angels when we die?

Read Revelation 6:10 and 7:10. Will we experience emotions in heaven? Read 1 Corinthians 35-44. What do you learn about our bodies? Be careful when reading that our bodies are

raised as “spiritual bodies” to not think our bodies are merely spirit. It has been shown throughout this study that our bodies will be physical bodies.

Much of our knowledge about what our resurrected bodies might be like comes from the only human that is in His imperishable resurrected body—Jesus! Read Luke 24:42-43; Luke 24:39; Matthew 28:9; and John20:27. What clues do these passages give us about our resurrection bodies?

Read Luke 22:18; Revelation 19:9. Imagine your favorite meal. Might that meal taste even better in a body that hasn’t been affected by sin? What meal would you most like to sit down and have with Christ?

Will We Be Able to Sin in Heaven? Read Revelation 21:4 and Romans 6:23. What does this tell us about sin in heaven? Read Hebrews 10:14. Will we be able to sin? Just in case you are still wondering if there might be a possibility of sinning in heaven…read

Matthew 13:41-43; and 1 Corinthians 15:52.

Will We Learn in Heaven? Read Ephesians 2:6-7. When God shows us the incomparable riches of his grace, do you think that will be

revealed to us all at once or on an ongoing basis? Matthew 11:29. Picture Jesus’ disciples, sitting at His feet, learning from Him. Now, picture yourself sitting

at Jesus’ feet on the New Earth. Do you think you will still have something to learn? Reflect on the fact that we all have different gifts and skills now. Is there any reason to think that those gifts

and skills will not be part of who we are on the New Earth? If so, might we be able to continue to learn from each other on the New Earth?

Imagine sitting down in heaven with one of your favorite people from history. What would you talk about? What would you like to learn from them?

God is more creative than you, and has designed a place where you will be busy—but you’ll be loving it!

Week Four // Afterlife F.A.Q // November 4 – 10 (cont’d)

What Will Our Daily Lives Be Like? Read Hebrews 4:1-11. What do you think it means to enter rest in heaven? Read Genesis 2:15. There was work in Eden before the Fall. What does that tell you about the probability of

work in heaven? Read Genesis 3:17-19. Work itself is not part of the curse. The curse makes work menial, tedious and frustrating. Read Revelation 22:3.

Read Matthew 25:23. What will part of our work include? Here, once again, it is fun to use our imagination, and there is nothing wrong with that! Since we know we

will be in physical bodies and have physical things around us, imagine what you might be doing. You could be writing a song with Beethoven, building a cabinet with Jesus, tending sheep with David—who knows!? So, let your imagination run wild. What do you hope you will be doing?

What Does The Bible Teach about Reunion in Heaven? Read 1 Thessalonians 2:8, 17-20. Paul here hopes to present the Thessalonians before Christ at His second

coming. His hope is to be reunited with those He taught. Who are the people with whom you most look forward to being reunited?

What Will We Remember? Revelation 6:9-11 and Luke 16:25 suggest that we will remember what we suffered, but we will be

comforted. Read John 20:24-29. What will seeing Jesus’ nail-scarred hands and feet cause us to remember? Revelation 21:12-14 describes memorials to the 12 tribes and the apostles on the New Earth. How does this

relate to memory? If we do not remember our sins, can we fully appreciate His grace? The happiness of heaven is not

dependent on us forgetting everything from the past. Our seeing and knowing things as never before will give us a new perspective and cause us to be even more appreciative of God’s grace.

Will There Be Marriage? Read Matthew 22:30. Look at the context of this verse. What is Jesus’ purpose in saying this? Read Ephesians 5:31-32. What does this tell us about the institution of marriage? Earthly marriage is to be

a signpost to get us ready for the ultimate marriage between Christ and his church. We get the idea from Scripture that this heavenly marriage will be so fulfilling, we’ll have no desire for our earthly mar-riage. However, does the fact that your earthly marriage won’t follow you into heaven mean that you won’t still enjoy the company of your spouse? Absolutely not! You will be able to enjoy your relation-ship without any of the effects of sin. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Will There Be Animals? Although Scripture does not explicitly state that there will be animals in heaven, there is no reason to think

that there won’t be. After all, God declared them good (Genesis 1:25) and gave them the breath of life (Gen 1:30; 2:7; 6:17; 7:15, 22). They are NOT like humans (they were not created in God’s image), but God cares for them greatly, as we see though all of Scripture. If they are considered good on the earth, why would they not be part of the New Earth?

What Many Assume About Heaven What the Bible Says About Heaven

Non-Earth New Earth

Disembodied Spirits Resurrected People

Foreign Home

Neither old (like Eden) nor new and earthly; just strange and unknown

Both old and new

Nothing to do; floating on the clouds A God to worship and serve; a universe to rule; purposeful work to accomplish; friends to enjoy

Boring Fascinating

Loss of Desire Continuous fulfillment of desire

Week 5 // By Invitation Only // November 11 – November 17

Heaven As Our Home Author Randy Alcorn, in his book Heaven, says, “When it comes to our eternal home, we often fail to think

biblically in two ways. First, we imagine we won’t be fully human and our ultimate home won’t be physical and earthly. Second, we imagine that this world as it now is, under the Curse, is our ultimate home.” Are you more inclined to believe the first or second view? What is it about a physical and earthly eternal home that you look forward to? What is it about the fact that this earth, under the Curse, is not our home that causes you to rejoice?

What are the dangers of believing in a heaven in which there is just a spiritual existence?

Read Luke 15:10. Can you imagine that party in heaven, rejoicing over repentant sinners? What type of party can you imagine when a new person enters heaven? Randy Alcorn describes another party—a party on the New Earth. He asks his readers to imagine being in a resurrected body on a resurrected Earth in resurrected friendships, enjoying a resurrected culture with the resurrected Jesus. Now THAT’S a party!

Something that points to the idea of heaven is our desire for something better, to realize that somehow, something better is in store for us. To understand that things are not the way they are supposed to be. Describe these feelings and desires—what types of “eternal” longings do you have? What things do you experience that are not the way they are supposed to be?

The Great Adventure

To a Christian, the idea of imminent death should be like Christmas Eve. The unknown, the surprises, the good things that are in our future should excite us. Not only should it excite us, it should influence the way we live.

Read Job 19:26-27. List some of Job’s heartaches. According to Job 19:26-27, what was it that brought him comfort?

At the same time, we know death as something that is not natural, that causes suffering and grief. Jesus did too (John 11:35). We must not forget that death is the enemy. Read 1 Corinthians 15:25-26. Remember that death was never part of the plan. Death is something that is not the way it is supposed to be.

Read Isaiah 25:7-8; 1 Corinthians 15:54-55; and Romans 8:35, 38,39. How comforting are these Scriptures?

We should not let a day go by where we do not long for that better country described in Hebrews 11:16. What effect does it have on our lives when we allow ourselves to long for heaven? At the same time, we are to make the most of our life on this earth. While on this earth, what can you do in response to God’s loving kindness? How can you best represent Him while you are here?

If we have a Biblical view of heaven, it should cause us to ask these questions. Do I daily reflect on my own morality? Do I daily realize there are only two destinations—Heaven or Hell—and that I and every person I

know will go to one or the other? Do I daily remind myself that this world is not my home? Do I daily recognize that my choices and actions have a direct influence on the world to come? Do I daily realize that my life is being examined by God, the Audience of One, and that the only

appraisal of my life that will ultimately matter is His? Do I daily reflect on the fact that my ultimate home will be the New Earth, which will reflect God’s

creativity?

Week 5 // By Invitation Only // November 11 – November 17 (cont’d)

Of course, this study would be not be complete without an understanding of how one’s name ends up in the Book of Life, which gives them a “ticket” to the New Earth as their final destination. God makes it simple. Submit to God in the following ways.

BELIEVE that Jesus alone can rescue you from your sin. No matter how good a life we try to live, we still fall miserably short of being a good person. That is because we are all sinners. We all fall short of God’s desire for us to be holy. The Bible says, “No one is righteous (perfect in God’s ways)—not even one” (Romans 3:10). We cannot become who we are supposed to be without Jesus Christ.

REPENT or turn from your sin. The Bible tells us to “repent and turn to God that your sins may be wiped out and times of refreshing may come from the Lord…” (Acts 3:19). The word “repent” means to change our direction in life. Instead of running from God, we run toward Him.

CONFESS that Jesus Christ died on the cross and came back to life for you. The Bible tells us to “Confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord (He calls the shots in our life) and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead…” (Romans 10:9). This is the Good News—that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place when we least deserved it. It is vital to confess who Jesus Christ is and what He has done.

BE BAPTIZED and take on the new life Jesus promised. The Bible says, “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4). There is nothing special or magical about the water…it is the step of faith and the power of Christ’s resurrection that saves you (I Peter 3:21).

If you would like to have a relationship with Christ, you can start by simply praying this prayer of repentance and confession from your heart:

Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I need you. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and invite You into my heart. I believe You died on the cross and rose from the dead. I confess you as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. In Christ’s name. Amen.

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

There is a lot to read and reflect upon in this study. If you want to review some of the Scriptures which give us the best view of heaven and the resurrection, here they are:

Isaiah 11:6-9; 25:6-8; 60:1-22; 65:17-25; 66:22-23 Matthew 19:28 Luke 13:29-30 John 5:28-29; 14:2-4 Acts 3:19-21 Romans 8:18-23 1 Corinthians 15:12-28; 15:35-49 Philippians 1:21-23 Colossians 3:1-4 Hebrews 11:16 2 Peter 3:10-13 Revelation 5:9-13; 6:9-11(temporary/intermediate heaven); 7:13-17; Chapter 21; 22:1-5