Lesson 10
The gospel of the Kingdom of God describes the heavenly city Christians will live in. God will dwell with those who overcome on a peaceful new earth, with Jerusalem as the city of God. Nothing profane will survive. Christians don’t go to heaven, heaven comes to them. When God comes to dwell with mankind we will all have new bodies like Jesus. For more detail, read Revelation chapters 21 and 22 in full.
Revelation 21:1-4 New Testament for Everyone
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven, from God, prepared like a bride dressed up for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne, and this is what it said: ‘Look! God has come to dwell with humans! He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or weeping or pain any more, since the first things have passed away.’
Revelation 21:7-8 New Testament for Everyone
7 The one who conquers will inherit these things. I will be his God and he shall be my son. 8 But as for cowards, faithless people, the unclean, murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars – their destiny will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.’
Revelation 21:27 New Testament for Everyone
27 Nothing that has not been made holy will ever come into it, nor will anyone who practises abomination or who tells lies, but only those who are written in the lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 22:3-5 New Testament for Everyone
3 Nothing accursed is there any more. Rather, the throne of God and of the lamb are in the city, and his servants will worship him; 4 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night, and they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them; and they will reign for ever and ever.
Is heaven where God dwells with his children? Did you think Heaven would be here on the earth? Is the phrase ‘going to heaven’ misleading, if heaven is established on the earth? Does this biblical perspective give you new insight? Will you proclaim the gospel differently? How many lives do those thrown into the fire live, when those fires end in their second death? Who are those not hurt by the second death?