By Jim Mettenbrink

Before we consider the actual entrance into Jesus’ radical kingdom, we briefly review this multi-year series which began with the biblical foundation of the USA, going back years before 1776, we have considered the ups and downs of the citizenry’s faith in God and Jesus as the divine Messiah. That this occurred in any nation at all shores up the necessity of the 1st amendment to the US constitution. At least until now, we can debate any religion with our fellows without fear of government reprisal. However, the more folks trust themselves, the less God is allowed into all aspects of their lives.

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By Jim Mettenbrink

In trying to discover what heaven is like, we learn there is little described in the Bible – no marriage, no sadness, no sin, Christians are called the bride of the Lamb, the Lamb is the light, no other light, no darkness. There is one more feature, the most important one. In heaven, Christians will be together, but never alone. Like much good writing, the best is saved til the end. Here’s the back story.

Although after wrestling with a Man (considered a Christophany), Jacob said, “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved” (Genesis 32:30). Yet this was not the actual face of God.

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By Jim Mettenbrink

Last week was our first look into what the Bible says about heaven, the place of eternal bliss that is not on earth or this universe. Not much. In fact, regarding our current abode, Peter, the apostle, wrote, “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men…. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:7, 10). The eternal heaven where God dwells is in a place other than this material universe. That heaven is not of this world is implied by “There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun….” (Revelation 22:5).

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By Jim Mettenbrink

In our consideration of what happens after death, we read that a person’s spirit goes to a place called Hades (Greek, meaning the unseen) (Luke 16:19-31) awaiting the judgment day (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10; 2 Peter 2:9) to be conducted no less than Jesus Himself (Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16). Tragically by far, most folks have chosen the road to hell (Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23), the hardly imaginable place where one’s spirit will suffer the torment of regret eternally for refusing to become a Christian and to live faithfully for Jesus.

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By Jim Mettenbrink

Last week, we considered how Jesus gave us a glimpse of hell, the eternal destiny of those who choose not to become a Christian. To illustrate hell, He used the Valley of Hinnom on the southern edge of Jerusalem, the perpetually burning garbage dump, including the remains of animal sacrifices at the Jewish temple. Imagine a south wind bathing the city with that foul odor. That His metaphor for hell was never-ending fire indicates the excruciatingly unbearable physical pain to which we can relate. However, the Bible does not state that people in hell will have bodies, only those resurrected to eternal life in heaven have that promise of an eternal body (1 Cor 15; 1 Jn 3:2). So what about the dead who have chosen hell? Yes it is a choice!

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By Jim Mettenbrink

Last week, we observed that the PEW poll ( 2021) revealed that 31% of folks in mainline churches deny the existence of hell and that such belief is a result of one’s pride, the root of all sin. Nonetheless, the Bible gives us a glimpse of what hell is like.

Although the Old Testament refers to hell 19 times, translated from the Hebrew word Sheol which refers to the grave, some of the verses seem to point to other than the grave. However, in the New Testament reference to hell is more descriptive, of which 12 times gehenna, the Greek word is translated as hell and referred to by Jesus alone as a metaphor – the Valley of Hinnom (gehenna) to describe hell. That valley was Jerusalem’s garbage dump and burned perpetually 24/7/365. One can only imagine the constant malodorous reminder of not only the garbage but of the carcasses of dead animals, some of which, if not many, were sin offerings not burned on the altar at the temple (Leviticus 4:12, 21; Hebrews 13:11). Who would want to live near this unbearable gehenna, let alone live in it? Hell! And that is just its smell!

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By Jim Mettenbrink

We have been considering what happens to a person when he dies. Some opine that one simply becomes 7lbs of dirt and minerals. The end! Others hope there is more because we have this innate desire to continue to live. The Bible reveals the dead go to a place called Hades (literally “unseen”) implying that man is more than dirt (Luke 16:19-31; Thessalonians 5:23), and awaiting the resurrection. The Bible also reveals Jesus will return to conduct judgment, meaning some will go with Him and some will not (1 Thess 4:15–18; Matthew 7:21-23). Where will they go?

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By Jim Mettenbrink

Obituaries have often been prefaced with, she “changed her address to be with her Lord on Monday”, “passed into her heavenly home Wednesday”, “left this world for her heavenly home”, etc. When the family member is asked how he knows that, the answer is merely wishful thinking. In discussion with one person, the answer was because Jesus loves her. My response was Jesus loves everyone, so is Adolf Hitler saved? Response – a long string of vile language. People do not want to accept the possibility that a loved one will not be in heaven. Folks appeal to emotional desire but not to the Bible to show how they know the departed is resting in bliss. However, a recent obit said he “walked into eternity.” Whether intended, that is correct. When we die, we enter eternity.

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By Jim Mettenbrink

Last week, we concluded that Hades (and death), the place where people’s spirits go when they die, will be destroyed on judgment day (Revelation 20:13-14). So what and where will be the existence of people’s spirits? The apostle Paul implied that a Christian will be alive and reside in a body – “may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). What will be the body for a person’s spirit?

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