Where do we go from here?

Where do we go from here?

Heaven & Hell

Jean Fouquet,

The Blessed Virgin and the Trinity

15th Century

And I thought church

was boring!

The blessed in adoration of the Trinity, 1569

Maerten van Heemskerck

Does my

bottom

look big in this?

If the choice is between being bored in heaven or burning in hell; I’m opting

out now!

Where do we go from here?the view from the Old Testament

• ‘In the beginning’ – earth is home

• Personal hope after death?– Sheol– Resurrection?

• National future hope?– ‘The meek shall inherit the land’

• Global future hope– Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Habakkuk 2:14

There’s a new world a-comin’

6 The wolf will live with the lamb,the leopard will lie down with the goat,the calf and the lion and the yearling together…

9 They will neither harm nor destroyon all my holy mountain,for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORDas the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11

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New New EarthEarth

Three views from the time of Jesus…

Saducees: The soul perishes with the body

Pharisees: God’s going to boot out Israel’s enemies and re-establish Israel in her own land. The ‘faithful dead’ may participate in the future renewal”

Essene’s: Your body rots, but your soul rises, released from its prison in the body to a place of refreshment beyond the oceans

Jesus on the future…return to earth

31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats

Matthew 25


30“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

Matthew 24


10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 1

Jesus on the future…the renewal of all things

28Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Matthew 19

Jesus on the future…rewards from heaven

19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Matthew 6

Jesus on the future… rewards from heaven

19“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

21“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’

23“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Matthew 25

Jesus on the future… rewards from heaven

12“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

Revelation 22

Jesus on the future…resurrection day

26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

28“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his when all who are in their graves will hear his voice voice 2929and come out—those who have done and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.done evil will rise to be condemned.

John 5John 5

Jesus on the future…removal of faithless

47“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 4949This is how it will be at the This is how it will be at the end of the age.end of the age.

Matthew 13

Jesus on the future… removal of faithless

36“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,£ but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.

Matthew 24

Paul on the future…

18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Romans 8

Paul on the future…

16For by [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together… 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Colossians 1

Peter on the future…

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed (dissolved) by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare (discovered).

11Since everything will be destroyed (dissolved) in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction (disintegration) of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

2 Peter 3

John on the future…

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea...

3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

6He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

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the way to the future…22“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried

him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 2323In hades, where he was in tormentIn hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

Luke 16

the way to the future…39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him:

“Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,”

he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”in paradise.”

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(world of departed spirits)

PARADISE

(with Jesus)

HADES

(anticipating Judgement)

JUDGEMENT

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New New EarthEarth

Fire alarm!Fire alarm!

Hell = ‘Gehenna’ (not Hades)Hell = ‘Gehenna’ (not Hades)

11 times in Gospels; once in James; 11 times in Gospels; once in James; never contrasted with ‘heaven’never contrasted with ‘heaven’

a place associated with evil in Old a place associated with evil in Old Testament days, and in Jesus’ days, Testament days, and in Jesus’ days, the smouldering rubbish dump outside the smouldering rubbish dump outside JerusalemJerusalem


77By the same word the present heavens By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.destruction of ungodly men.

2 Peter 32 Peter 3

Fire alarm!Fire alarm!11 The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;

let the distant shores rejoice.let the distant shores rejoice.22 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;Clouds and thick darkness surround him;

righteousness and justice are the foundation of righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.his throne.

33 Fire goes before himFire goes before himand consumes his foes on every side.and consumes his foes on every side.

44 His lightning lights up the world;His lightning lights up the world;the earth sees and trembles.the earth sees and trembles.

55 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,before the Lord of all the earth.before the Lord of all the earth.

Psalm 97Psalm 97

Fire alarm!Fire alarm!4141“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart

from me, you who are cursed, from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 4242For I was hungry and you gave me nothing For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, to drink, 4343I was a stranger and you did not I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’…did not look after me.’…

4646“Then they will go away to eternal “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Matthew 25

•77When the thousand years are over, Satan will be When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison released from his prison 88and will go out to deceive and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth… to gather the nations in the four corners of the earth… to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. the seashore. 99They marched across the breadth of the They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. devoured them. 1010And the devil, who deceived them, And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.ever and ever.


Fire alarm!Fire alarm!• 1111Then Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it.

Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.them. 1212And I saw the dead, great and small, standing And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. recorded in the books. 1313The sea gave up the dead that The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had doneaccording to what he had done. . 1414Then Then death and death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.of fire is the second death. 1515If anyone’s name was If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20

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PARADISE

(with Jesus)

HADES


JUDGEMENT

New New EarthEarth

HELLHELL

GehennaGehenna

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So, if heaven isn’t going to bemy home…

–what is it?–why does the bible talk about it so much?

–why will there be ‘new heavens’ as well as a new earth?

• Heaven and Hell are never contrasted in the Bible; ‘Heaven’ is always contrasted with ‘earth’

• Heaven is never promised as the future home of Christians

where do we go

from here?

Understanding Heaven

• The Christian Understanding of Reality

RealRealityity

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Perceived Perceived by science by science

and and reasonreason

Perceived Perceived by sense by sense

and and revelationrevelation

The EarthThe Earth

The The HeavensHeavens


God’s God’s homehome

22 Do not be quick with your mouth,Do not be quick with your mouth,

do not be hasty in your heartdo not be hasty in your heart

to utter anything before God.to utter anything before God.

God is in heavenGod is in heaven

and you are on earth,and you are on earth,

so let your words be few.so let your words be few.


God’s God’s homehome

“‘“‘Our Our Father in heaven,Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,hallowed be your name,


A world A world at warat war

1212For our struggle is not For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the authorities, against the powers of this against the powers of this dark world and against dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly in the heavenly realms.realms.


A world A world at warat war

““Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding that you set your mind to gain understanding

and to humble yourself before your God, your and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in words were heard, and I have come in

response to them. response to them. 1313But the prince of the But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one

days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.there with the king of Persia. 1414Now I have Now I have

come to explain to you what will happen to come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision your people in the future, for the vision

concerns a time yet to come.”concerns a time yet to come.”

The world The world of the deadof the dead


HADES


PARADISE

(with Jesus)

HADES



• The Christian Understanding of Reality

RealRealityity

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Sp

iritual w

orld

Perceived Perceived by science by science

and and reasonreason

Perceived Perceived by sense by sense

and and revelationrevelation

The EarthThe Earth


God

Good / evil spirits

Hades/ Paradise

The three-storied universe

The Heavenly Places

(principalities and powers)

Hades / Paradise

God’s ThroneGod’s Throne


A world to A world to be renewedbe renewed

1313But in keeping with his But in keeping with his promise we are looking promise we are looking

forward to forward to a new heavena new heaven and a new earth, the home and a new earth, the home

of righteousness.of righteousness.


A world to A world to be renewedbe renewed

1010And And the devilthe devil, who deceived them, was , who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, thrown into the lake of burning sulphur,

where the where the beast and the false prophetbeast and the false prophet had had been thrown. They will be tormented day been thrown. They will be tormented day

and night for ever and ever.and night for ever and ever.

1414Then Then death and Hadesdeath and Hades were thrown into were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the

second death. second death. 1515If If anyone’s name was not anyone’s name was not found written in the book of lifefound written in the book of life, he was , he was

thrown into the lake of firethrown into the lake of fire.


A world re-A world re-integratedintegrated

33And I heard a loud voice from the And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God the dwelling of God

is with men,is with men, and he will live with them. and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself They will be his people, and God himself

will be with them and be their God. will be with them and be their God. 44He He will wipe every tear from their eyes. will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death or There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old mourning or crying or pain, for the old

order of things has passed away.”order of things has passed away.”


The Christian Understanding of Renewed Reality

RealReal ityity

Mat

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PeoplePeople

ThingsThings

GodGod

Spirits (good)Spirits (good) The The HeavensHeavens

The EarthThe Earth

The New The New EarthEarth PhysicalPhysical

Resurrection Resurrection bodiesbodies

PersonalPersonal

RelationshipsRelationships

AnimalAnimal

Re-created not Re-created not resurrectedresurrected

InternationalInternational

Racial harmony in Racial harmony in diversitydiversity

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PARADISE

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HADES


JUDGEMENT

New New EarthEarth

HELLHELL

GehennaGehenna

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The BIG picture show

God’s plans spoilt by human rebellion

Jesus came on a mission to secure the recovery of what was lost - a worldwide family of people who love God,

love one another and love God’s planet

The Church is left on the earth to be a people who point towards Jesus and the renewal of all things, inviting

people to experience that renewal now

God gets what He wants - a worldwide family of people who love Him, love one another

and love His planet

God’s desire for a worldwide family of people who love Him, love one another and love His planet

Questions, questions, questions…

• Is the prospect of eternal life on a new earth more attractive than eternal life in a ‘spiritual heaven’?

• If eternal life is ‘physical’ what difference does that make to the way we view life now?

• What biblical references can you think of which do not appear to fit with a ‘new earth’ view of the future?

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New New EarthEarth

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• Five Contemporary Views:– Eternal Conscious Torment– Eternal Conscious Spiritual Torment– Eternal Separation from God– Conditional Immortality– Annihilationism


Documents

Where do we go from here?