Luke 12:13-21, Mark 9:43-48, Luke 16:19-31, Hebrews 9:27, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:11-15, John 5:28-29, John 3:16

Summary: The Bible teaches that after death (Hebrews 9:27), we will face judgment and enter eternity, either heaven or hell. Consider what that means and how it should motivate us to spread the Gospel in these last days.

The Bible teaches that from the moment we are conceived, we are destined to live forever (Psalm 61:7; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46: Romans 2:7). The LORD God Almighty saw fit to create us, give us meaning, a purpose, and conscience to use for His glory and our benefit (Psalm 73:25-28; Romans 11:35; 1 Corinthians10:3; 1John 1:3-4). We are aware, even though many want to deny it, that this life as we know it cannot just end with our last breath and be placed in a grave to become dust and assigned to oblivion (Romans 1:20). The reprobates of history who have brought untold suffering to individuals, and nations must be held accountable for their crimes. The evil that people do must be judged, and victims across the realm of civilization need to receive justice and closure.

If this life is the sum total of our existence, then the concepts of justice and reward are nothing more than futility and hopelessness. This is the dystopian ideal produced from the minds of skeptics, atheists, and those who proclaim that we are the sum total of all reality and that eternity, or any supernatural idea, is nonsense. Ironically, the Bible speaks of such unbelief and rebellion that mark the end of days as we know them (Isaiah 5:20-21; Matthew 24:37-39; Romans 1:32, 3:10-18; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Peter 3:1-9; Revelation 16:11, 21).

There is life beyond this realm, and the reality of eternity hangs over each one of us whether we believe it or not. Eternity is a frightening concept, and true followers of the Lord Jesus Christ must understand the seriousness of it. The idea that we will live forever in either heaven or hell should get us out of our “comfort zone” and get serious about the need to share the Gospel with as many people as possible before it is too late.

What does “eternity” mean? The 1828 Webster’s online dictionary defines it as “Duration or continuance without beginning or end. It is perpetual, never ceasing, and continued without intermission. “The very idea of “eternity” is something that we really cannot understand or comprehend in our finite minds, yet God has ordained that we will spend forever somewhere, and not as eternal flower fertilizer that unbelievers hope will happen. Such thinking is in vain. Despite our arrogant, reprobate attitudes and inner desire to be freed of God (Psalm 14:1; 53:1) and wish Him out of existence, He will still be around, and we will appear one day before Him, either with joy or trepidation (Luke 12:13-21, 16:19-31; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27).

I want to present what the Bible says about eternity in terms of what the believer in Christ will experience, and the horror that awaits all those who reject His offer of forgiveness and salvation. Eternity means that we are not to hold on to anything that the world has to offer us, as all of this is temporal and will be destroyed by God (Matthew 16:26; 1 John 2:15-17; 1 Timothy 6:7; 2 Peter 3:1-9). The “stuff” willed to us by family members, the degrees we earned in school, the fame or notoriety that we may have obtained, and the wealth we earned or inherited will mean nothing in terms of what awaits the true follower of Jesus Christ within the glory of heaven.

We will have new bodies free from the curse of sin, sickness, age, death, or disability. There will be no need for medicine, surgeries, transplant, dialysis, chemotherapy, or any type of medical treatment anymore. We will be in an eternal state of perfection. We will be with the Lord Jesus for all time. We will see Him and have fellowship with Him. We will be with our loved ones who were followers of Jesus. We will have meaningful and productive work and responsibilities. Everything in heaven will be perfect in design, purpose, meaning, and rationality. We will have the ability to think and reason to our fullest capacities, possibly given new senses and experience additional spectrums of color.

The animal kingdom will be at rest with humanity, and children will play with the beasts of the field that would have devoured them in this present world. It is possible that we will be reunited with those pets that meant so much to us here on earth. The streets will be made of pure gold, and the foundations of the New Jerusalem adorned with precious jewels. There will be food as the Bible describes the fruit of the trees along the shore of crystal-clear water that represents the Living Water given by the Lord Jesus Christ to all who thirsted for grace and mercy while living in this present world (Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-9; Luke 10:20, 22:30; John 14:1-3; Philippians 3:20; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 21:1-7, Chapter 22).

The new heaven and earth will be free forever from the presence and evil of Satan, his angels, along with every man and woman throughout history who followed and worshipped him. Full justice will be served and finalized at the Great White Throne Judgment, presided over by the Lord Jesus Christ, and no one will be exempt. They’ll be without excuse (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:11-15). Those public officials who evaded justice in this life will have no place to hide and no means of getting off on some kind of “technicality,” threat, bribe, or cover from others (Luke 12:2; Revelation 6:16). Those who preyed on innocent children will be forever punished for their perversions, and the victims of occultic abuse will witness their murderers receive the due punishment they evaded in this present world (Matthew 18:6).

What awaits those who reject, revile, and ignore the free offer of salvation by Jesus Christ is more horrendous than we can possibly imagine (Matthew 5:22, 29; Mark 9:43; Luke 16:19-31). Here is where the reality of eternal hell should shake us to the core and rescue the perishing before it is too late and they enter this place of terror and torment, never to be let out nor have any kind of rest or relief for their souls. Let it sink in. This is FOREVER, NEVER ENDING, WITH NO WAY OUT, and PERMANENT!

For anyone who still wants to put off, demean or ridicule what I’ve written, hear me out!! THIS COULD BE YOUR FINAL WARNING!! My friend, you are NOT going to die and then “party with your buddies” and enjoy some eternal “kegger.” You WILL be alone, surrounded in darkness, torment, forever in the midst of evil, cruelty, maliciousness, and horror that will NEVER END! However, you can avoid it.

How do you do that?

Repent of your sins and trust in Jesus NOW (Act 4:12; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 6:2). He will give you peace, grace, and mercy (Isaiah 53:5; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 1:20). He will save you (Luke 19:10) from having to endure what awaits the unbelieving, rebellious majority of humanity in these final hours before His glorious return to take His people home and bring due judgment to this wicked world. For those of you who claim to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, what more do I have to say in order to wake you up and realize the ETERNAL fate awaiting your family and friends who are lost? (Ezekiel 3:18-20).

Stop being silent, afraid or intimidated (Mark 8:38; Romans 1:17). If you are truly saved and you know someone who isn’t, then I close this message with the following words I say at the end of all my “Reality City Review” broadcasts: YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!

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There are so many negative actions taking place in this world that sometimes it’s hard just to take the next step. There are wars and rumors of wars, changes in weather patterns, pestilences, earthquakes in various places, and just plain evil worldwide. Hate for anything pertaining to our Lord and Savior is everywhere. All the “abomination” groups are offended that we don’t accept their lifestyles, so we are labeled as “haters.” They don’t realize we love them for their immortal souls but don’t have to accept what our Father said we aren’t to participate in. As an example, Jesus loved all the religious leaders, but He did not like their policies and actions, and did not fail to tell them so. (ESV – all emphasis is mine)

It is very obvious that we are rapidly heading for a major change above and beyond all that we’ve seen so far. Up until about ten years or so ago, there were issues of crime, hate and a certain amount of mayhem, but not to the degree that we are presently seeing.

Open satanic worship was something unheard of. That was an activity kept behind closed doors, rarely out in the open. Now, we have “churches of Satan” in numerous places around the United States. We even have them in the East Texas Area. There are false prophets in pulpits of some previously Bible-based evangelical churches, just as Jesus, Paul, John, and others said there would be near the end of this age. They “preach” ear-tickling messages to make the congregation feel good; it’s just not Biblical. Their goal is not to save souls but to keep seats and collection plates full.

All the so-called “gender identity” issues, drag queen activities including “story time for kids,” and parents being threatened to lose their children if they don’t allow them to participate in this garbage are rapidly gaining ground. It has almost become epidemic. In some countries, parents actually face jail time if they refuse, and there are some states here that are trying to implement such laws right now.

Once the tribulation/wrath starts, the whole wide world will go through a time such as never seen before. Our Father has warned us in several places of His Holy Word that the world population will suffer a tremendous number of deaths. In Zechariah 13:8, we’re told that two-thirds of the Jewish population that are here will be killed. Only one-third will remain, and we’re told all of them will finally believe that Jesus is their true Messiah.

For all true believers right now, we are promised we will not enter that awful time period (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 and Revelation 3:10). Yes, we face harassment and some persecution right now, but when the Trumpet of God sounds, and there is a shout from an archangel, we won’t be here for the antichrist’s appearance. Our Rapture takes place before he can come out (2 Thessalonians 2).

In the meantime, we need to stay close to our Savior and Heavenly Father through prayer and reading His word daily. In the United States, we are still free to do so, mostly without fear. In some areas of the world, there are people who are being martyred just for possessing a Bible, or declaring they have become a Christian. This even applies to their children.

If we have Jesus as our Savior, we have the Holy Spirit within us. We need to know and believe that the word of the Father is righteous and true, and hold on to the hope this gives. We need to “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand.”

This happens to be the title of a well-known Christian Hymn written by Jennie Bain Wilson around 1904. As with Fanny Crosby, Ms. Wilson was handicapped. She survived typhoid fever as a child, but it left her spine damaged, and she was bound to a wheelchair. As with Ms. Crosby, she wrote many hymns while she was on this earth. This featured hymn is an inspiration for everyone.

1.) Time is filled with swift transition; naught of earth unmoved can stand. Build your hopes on things eternal; hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Ref.) Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand. Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand. Build your hopes on things eternal; hold to God’s unchanging hand.

2.) Trust in Him who will not leave you, whatever years may bring. If by earthly friends forsaken, still more closely to Him cling. (ref)

3.) Covet not this world’s vain riches that so rapidly decay. Seek to gain the heavenly treasures; they will never pass away. (ref)

4.) When your journey is completed, if to God you have been true, fair and bright the Home in Glory, your enraptured soul will view. (ref)

One theme of this song is the phrase “Unchanging Hand.” Our Father does not change, and He is the same today as He has always been and always will be. We know God cannot lie, as given in Titus 1:2. Through His Word, we see He has always loved His creation, even though we have sometimes disappointed Him.

For all who will receive and accept His Son Jesus as their Savior, He has promised us eternity in Heaven with Him. The steps are simple as “ABC.” Admit we are sinners, as we all are (Romans 3:23). Believe Jesus is truly the Son of God and that His pure, sinless blood sacrifice will take away our sins when we become a part of His precious flock. Finally, Call out to the Savior to forgive you and be your Savior forever. This is found in Romans 10:9-13.

There is another side, and it applies to all who refuse to receive and accept Jesus. There are those who believe there are many ways to be saved other than through Jesus. That’s one of Satan’s biggest lies. There are those who say they believe in God, and that’s all they have to do. That’s another of the evil one’s lies.

John 14:6 sets the record straight for all who will accept it. “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” There’s a period after this as no other conditions exist.

Also, it’s a free-will choice that will not be forced on anyone by the Father. All who truly call out to be saved will be accepted.

Someone has said that they know they cannot live a “perfect life” and will be condemned for that. God has promised that we can be forgiven of all our sins when we confess them to Him and ask His forgiveness. That’s 1 John 1:8-10. He knows we will never be perfect in this human form, and as long as Jesus is in our hearts, we are His.

Please remember, throughout the history of this earth, from the Garden of Eden to today, there has been only one “human” that lived a fully sinless life. That “human” shed His blood on a cruel cross so you and I could be seen as worthy to the Father. Not by anything we could do but by what Jesus did for us as a free gift. All who reject Jesus will answer for every sin they will ever commit on this earth. That will be at the White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15.

Those are the only two paths to eternity. Life in Heaven with our Savior, or condemnation in hell with Satan and his demons. No other option is available, no matter what any false prophet may tell you.

For now, in these uncertain times, put your faith in our Savior, and definitely “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand!”

Hope to see you at Home soon!

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