John 14:1-3; “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; also believe in Me. In My Father’s house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also” (ESV – all emphasis mine).

If we could see every beautiful sight this earth contains, we would most likely see ornate cities; lavish castles; beautiful majestic mountains; beautiful wooded areas; rivers; lakes; streams and oceans; and all could be very breathtaking. However, even the most beautiful sight on this earth will pale when compared to what our eternal Home in Heaven will be like.

How the apostles John and Paul could get a glimpse of this magnificent beauty and then come back to this earth to live out the balance of their lives is beyond me. It is my firm belief that when we finally experience the glory of our Heavenly Home, nothing could convince us to return here except to serve our Lord in the Millennial Reign.

The last two chapters of Revelation try to give descriptions that we can attempt to understand. Even so, no matter how descriptive John is, I don’t believe there are adequate adjectives available for us to truly visualize the majesty, splendor, glory, and beauty of what true believers will witness.

First and foremost, we will finally get to see our Heavenly Father on His throne and our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, seated at His right hand. There will be no evil of any kind in our new Home. The old heavens and earth will have passed away. John spoke of a “New Jerusalem” coming down from Heaven for us to dwell in. What the exact location will be, we are not given, but just the size of the City will be more than adequate for all to live there who were saved while on this earth.

The measurements given are in “furlongs” or “stadia” and cubits, but it breaks down that the City is approximately 1,500 miles long, 1,500 miles wide, and 1,500 miles high, with walls approximately 12 feet thick (Revelation 21:16).

As for splendor, the walls are built of pure jasper, and the City is pure gold like clear glass. The wall foundations are adorned with twelve different jewels; jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst. I have to admit, there are a couple of these I am anxious to see what they actually look like (Revelation 21:18-20).

There are twelve gates to the City, and each is made up of a single pearl with streets of gold that are so pure that they appear to be transparent like glass (Revelation 21:21).

We must remember that time as we know it was created at the beginning of earth’s history by God for our purposes (Genesis 1:3-5). He created the seasons and days and years (Genesis 1:14-15). At Home, our Jesus will be our light, and there will be no more night (Revelation 22:5).

There will be a river of the Water of Life flowing from the Throne of God and the Lamb. There will be on either side of it the Tree of Life with different fruits for each month. How we will partake of this remains to be seen, but no matter what, it will excel far above any food and drink we have ever had here (Revelation 22:1-2).

The main point to all of this is our Jesus paid for us to be with Him in this Beautiful Holy City, and our “cost” is to believe in Him and accept His wonderful gift. There is no deity other than our Heavenly Trinity who would ever love us such as this. Man-made gods are created in human minds with human limitations to rule with strict regulations, many works and donations, and whatever. For us to believe we could “earn” one second of time in our eternal Home by our own means would be a great insult to our Creator and especially His Son.

A song by Mrs. A. S. Bridgewater (1873-1957) of North Carolina, published in 1920, is called “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be.”

1.) We read of a place called Heaven; it’s made for the pure and the free. These truths in God’s Word He has given; how beautiful Heaven must be.

Ref) How beautiful Heaven must be; sweet home of the happy and free; fair haven of rest for the weary; how beautiful Heaven must be.

2.) In Heaven no drooping nor pining; no wishing for elsewhere to be. God’s light is forever there shining; how beautiful Heaven must be. (ref)

3.) Pure waters of life there are flowing; all who will drink may be free. Rare jewels of splendor are glowing; how beautiful Heaven must be. (ref)

4.) The angels so sweetly are singing, up there by the beautiful sea. Sweet chords from their gold harps are ringing; how beautiful Heaven must be. (ref)

Now for the downside. This will only be for those who have truly called out and asked to be forgiven by Jesus, and for Him to be our eternal Savior. We realize we have all sinned, and only the pure sinless blood shed by our Jesus at Calvary can cleanse us. There is no other way to have an eternal Home with our Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; John 3:18; and 1 John 5:12 as examples).

To pass from this earth without Jesus as your Savior is the unforgivable sin. The cost will be an appearance in that long line at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15. No member of the flock of our Shepherd will be at this judgment.

There is no pardon, no forgiveness available there, and no suspended sentences. All in that line will be assigned eternal punishment in the lake of fire prepared especially for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).

Even though our messages about being saved, being born again, and having an eternal Home with Jesus are foolishness to the unsaved (1 Corinthians 1:18), we are giving them an opportunity to repent and change their eternal address once and for all. No one will be forced, as some religions try to do to their members, but each person has the ability to choose for themselves who they will worship. Jesus or Satan.

Satan and his demons are working overtime these days. False prophets and antichrists are getting more active daily. Many evangelical churches have turned away from preaching God’s word and are giving ear-tickling, feel-good, and totally unbiblical messages to their members. Everyone is told just how “good” they are, that there are many ways to Heaven, and any “love” lifestyle a person desires is perfectly all right. Sin is conveniently overlooked.

The condition of today’s world is right on schedule with the end of this age’s prophecy. The Father is “setting the hooks,” as given in Ezekiel 38:4. The coalition is primed, and before long, they will try to take out Israel for their abundant wealth. Then, the man with the peace plan will appear, and it will be 7 years of tribulation here.

With that so close, our being called up to meet Jesus in the air is even closer. The Rapture will take place as promised by the Father to keep us from the wrath that is coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

The only question remaining is, which will you choose? Time is rapidly slipping away, and today would not be too soon to follow Romans 10:9-13. Verse 13 is key for all believers; “All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Just think of the beautiful Home waiting if you are part of the Shepherd’s flock. Don’t hesitate, or you may just be too late.

Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus!

huebshman46@gmail.com

Matthew 16:13-19, Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-20, Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 4:15, Colossians 1:18

Summary: Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, and no one else (Matthew 16:13-19). We have strayed from what the Scriptures teach us about the church’s purpose and responsibilities and allowed the world and our opinions to take precedence over what we are to be and do.

When we hear the word “church,” most of us immediately think of a building or membership in a particular denomination, each with a standard of beliefs and guidelines for worship, order, Scripture, and sermons. The problem is that far too many people also see the church as a symbol of religious oppression, or that the idea of faith and belief have no place in a sophisticated society. Reason, logic, and the deity of science have allegedly made these things relics of a bygone “racist” “colonial” era, or whatever terms are relevant in the minds of a secular public.

Those of us who claim to follow Jesus Christ and the Bible have not helped, as there are too many tales of dissension, dislike, “church splits” over what ends up being trivial, or that one church in town has a bad habit of running off pastors. We then learned of cover-ups by denominational leaders concerning sexual abuse and other crimes that were never addressed and have only recently come to light. It is little wonder that our light and salt have become dim, burnt out altogether, and ending up totally unfit to bear the name of Christ (Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34).

If you have walked with the LORD for any length of time, you’re probably aware of these problems and troubles. Perhaps you might wonder what we are really to be and do as Jesus commands and expects. We need to return to the basics of the church’s origins and purpose defined in the word of God, and nothing else. The first issue to address is where the word “church” originated. It comes from the Greek term “EKKLESIA,” meaning “called out,” originally referring to a gathering of citizens to discuss the affairs of state. In the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures known as the Septuagint (LXX), it referred to “the gathering of the people of Israel, or what came to be known as the synagogue.

After the birth of the church, which was established through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, it was then empowered by the Holy Spirit to start its primary work of spreading the Gospel, beginning in the very city where Jesus had been put to death (Acts, Chapters 1-4). The “called out ones” (EKKLESIA) came to mean the whole company of “professed believers,” or those who had been redeemed in Christ (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:22, 5:23; Galatians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:5).

The verb “EK” or “out of” is a small verb of Greek grammar, yet it has a grand meaning and is worthy of our attention. We are “called out” by the Lord Jesus Christ to turn away from a life of sin and to come to Him for true rest and peace (Matthew 11:28-30; John 10:28-30, 14:6). When we come to Him, wretched and stained with sin and confess Him as Lord (Acts 4:12,16:32; Romans 10:9-10, 13), we become a member of His body, “called out” to serve Him and not allow the things of the world to draw us away from His will and direction (1John 2:15-17).

We are also “called out” from the deadness and formality of “religion” that the world tries to use to gain peace or appeasement of their particular deity, performing works that are futile and will not earn anyone true salvation that is offered by the Lord Jesus (Isaiah 53:6, 64:6: John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Romans 5:9, 8:37-39; Ephesians 2:8-9). It’s interesting to know that the Greek term “TEREO” when used with the term “EK” means “KEPT OUT OF.” These two words are used in Revelation 3:10, where the Lord Jesus gives the faithful church at Philadelphia a promise of deliverance: “Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will KEEP YOU” (TEREO EK) from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell upon the earth” (NKJV).

So, what does this imply for us today? Are we going to be part of that promise as well, or do we continue to endure increasing hostility and trouble?

In his commentary on the book of Revelation and sermons dealing with the last days, the noted pastor and teacher John MacArthur declared this verse to be a “pre-tribulation rapture passage.” He, along with other like-minded pastors, teachers, and fellow believers, is convinced that this verse, in addition to John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, all refer to the prophetic event known as the Rapture of the church. This is the sudden “snatching up” of the true “called out ones” by the Lord Jesus Christ, both living and dead, to meet Him in the air, where we will be with Him for all time.

The Rapture could take place at any moment. Are you ready? Are you a true follower of Jesus Christ and part of the “called out” who have trusted in Him alone for salvation and the promise of eternal life? If not, the first step is to admit that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself. Then, believe with all your heart, soul, and mind that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God has raised Him from the dead. Finally, confess Him as Lord, trusting in Him alone to save you from your sins (Romans 10:9-10, 13).

When you do that, you become part of the “called out” body who will be with Him forever. You will be a citizen of the new heaven and earth He promised in accordance with the Scriptures (Revelation 21:1-17, Chapter 22). We want you to be part of the family, so what are you waiting for? The family reunion is about to get started, and for that I say, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.”

donaldwhitchard@gmail.com

www.realitycityreverend.com

My book The Scope of Biblical Prophecy is now available at: www.parsonsporch.com. It is a general look at the role and importance of Bible prophecy, the importance of correct interpretation of the Scriptures, the varied ways of how the last days events are to occur, and that in the end, Jesus wins.

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Donald was born and reared in the authentic “Cajun Country” of southern Louisiana. He is a graduate of Louisiana College (B.A. in History Education/ Biblical Studies, 1984), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. In Christian Education, 1994), and Andersonville Baptist Seminary (Doctor of Ministry, Biblical Exposition, 2000). He has been in the Gospel ministry since 1986, serving as an evangelist, interim and supply pastor, hospital and rescue mission chaplain, high school and college teacher, and pastor in churches in Louisiana and Oklahoma.

In 2018, he began to devote his time to the rich field of internet and social media evangelism and outreach. In 2021 he became a member of the Oklahoma Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists, using his skills as a writer to contribute articles and sermons to websites such as Rapture Ready, Sermon Central, and Inspirational Christian Blogs. He also writes Bible studies and curricula for churches in southeast and central Asia and Africa, the locations of which are anonymous. He can be contacted at: donaldwhitchard@gmail.com for inquiries, information, and speaking/preaching engagements. A copy of his resume is also available upon request.