In Terms of Eternity :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard
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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