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Lesson 8 - What Will the Next Life Be Like?Introduction: Many people picture heaven as an imaginary cloud carrying imaginary spirits who are listening with imaginary ears to imaginary music from imaginary harps-and then we wonder why some people are not excited about going there! Today we will see what heaven is really like. 1. Where did the human race come from? Gen. 1:26-28 [The Further-study verse is Ps. 8:4, 5] (Genesis 1:26-28 NKJV) "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." {27} So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. {28} Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."" 2. What kind of world did God create for our happiness-a real, tangible world; or a makebelieve, invisible world? Gen. 1:1, 11, 20, 24 (Genesis 1:1 NKJV) "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:11 NKJV) "Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so." (Genesis 1:20 NKJV) "Then God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens."" (Genesis 1:24 NKJV) "Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind"; and it was so." [Note: Our streams today are from the very waters God created; our trees are from the seeds of the trees He made. Rev. 4: 11] 3. What did God think of His creation? Gen. 1:31 [James 1:17, 18] (Genesis 1:31 NKJV) "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day." 4. God made the human family to enjoy this world forever if they would be loyal and trustworthy. But, since Satan had already rebelled in heaven, what provision for free choice did God give our first parents? Gen. 2:8, 9, 15-17 (Genesis 2:8-9 NKJV) "The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. {9} And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." (Genesis 2:15-17 NKJV) "Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. {16} And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; {17} "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."" [Note: Some understand this to mean that as soon as Adam and Eve sinned, they would come under the sentence of death. The KJV margin says: "dying thou shalt die." On the other hand, if God had not implemented the plan of salvation immediately, Adam and Even would have died at once. Rom. 6:23] 5. Our first parents failed, and what was the result? Rom. 5:12 [Gen. 3:6] (Romans 5:12 NKJV) "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned;" 6. God created a perfect world for human beings to enjoy eternally, but through sin they lost that inheritance. Who provided them a second chance to obtain that eternal inheritance again? 1 Peter 1:3, 4, 18, 19 [Isa. 53:4-6] (1 Peter 1:3-4 NKJV) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {4} to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you," (1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV) "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, {19} but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 7. What kind of life has Jesus promised to give back to us? John 10:10 (John 10:10 NKJV) ""The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." [Note: Jesus promised a MORE abundant life (one of reality such as He created for us to enjoy in Eden, and which He said was "very good"), not a LESS abundant life. This not only applies to life in heaven, but to our present life as well. Right now God promises to give us peace, joy, and meaning to life. John14:1-3; Isa. 45:18; Mark 10:29, 30] 8. How long will this "more abundant" life last? John 10:27, 28 [John 3:16] (John 10:27-28 NKJV) ""My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. {28} "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." 9. We have seen that God made man a tangible being to enjoy things, and God said it was "very good" (Gen. 1:31). What will the next life be like? Isa. 65:17, 21, 22, 25 [Rev. 21:4; 22:1-3] (Isaiah 65:17 NKJV) ""For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind." (Isaiah 65:21-22 NKJV) "They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. {22} They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." (Isaiah 65:25 NKJV) "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain," Says the LORD." 10. Since "it is appointed for men to die," and to lay to rest these tangible bodies (Heb. 9:27), how will we become "real" people again? 1 Thess. 4:15-18 [John 5:28, 29; 6:39, 40; 11:24] (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 NKJV) "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. {16} For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. {17} Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. {18} Therefore comfort one another with these words." 11. How do we know that we will be resurrected to a new life? Who went through the portals of the tomb and was resurrected as an assurance to us that we will be resurrected too? 1 Cor. 15:20-23 [Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5; Phil. 3:10, 11; 1 Cor. 15:12-19] (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NKJV) "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. {21} For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. {22} For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. {23} But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming." 12. Since we will be resurrected as Jesus was, what was He like after His resurrection? Luke 24:33-43 [Matt. 26:29; I Cor. 15:17-23; Phil. 3:20, 21] (Luke 24:33-43 NKJV) "So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, {34} saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" {35} And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. {36} Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." {37} But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. {38} And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? {39} "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." {40} When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. {41} But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" {42} So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. {43} And He took it and ate in their presence." 13. Will we know each other after our resurrection? 1 Cor. 13:12 (1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV) "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." [Note: The soldiers recognized Jesus after His resurrection. When Mary first met Him after that event, her eyes were too tearfilled to see, but she recognized His voice. Jesus hid His identity from the two men on the road to Emmaus so He could teach them truth, but they recognized His mannerisms when He blessed the food. The disciples and all others recognized Him when they saw Him. He was the "same Jesus" (Acts 1:11)! We, too, will be the same people when we are resurrected, and we will be recognized by our friends. Luke 24:3032; John 20: 16, 1929; Isa. 66:22] 14. It took Jesus' death to provide this abundant, real, eternal life. What does it take on our part to receive this treasure? Matt. 13:44 [Matt. 16:24-26] (Matthew 13:44 NKJV) ""Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." Commitment: God made us real human beings, to enjoy a real creation. Jesus came to restore this abundant life to us; but the parable in Matthew 13:44 says it takes all to buy the field. The field containing the treasure represents the Holy Scriptures, within which are hidden the treasures of the gospel-Jesus Christ and eternal life. The Bible teaches that it takes all to become a follower of Jesus, but this treasure is worth far more than everything we have. Will you make an entire surrender of your life to Jesus today that you may obtain this treasure?
Further Study VersesQuestion 1 - Further Study (Psalms 8:4-5 NKJV) "What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? {5} For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor." -->Back to Study Question 2 - Further Study (Revelation 4:11 NKJV) ""You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."" -->Back to Study Question 3 - Further Study (James 1:17-18 NKJV) "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. {18} Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." -->Back to Study Question 4 - Further Study (Romans 6:23 NKJV) "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -->Back to Study Question 5 - Further Study (Genesis 3:6 NKJV) "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate." -->Back to Study Question 6 - Further Study (Isaiah 53:4-6 NKJV) "Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. {5} But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. {6} All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." -->Back to Study Question 7 - Further Study (John 14:1-3 NKJV) ""Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. {2} "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (Isaiah 45:18 NKJV) "For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other." (Mark 10:29-30 NKJV) "So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, {30} "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life." -->Back to Study Question 8 - Further Study (John 3:16 NKJV) ""For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." -->Back to Study Question 9 - Further Study (Revelation 21:4 NKJV) ""And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."" (Revelation 22:1-3 NKJV) "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. {2} In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. {3} And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him." -->Back to Study Question 10 - Further Study (John 5:28-29 NKJV) ""Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice {29} "and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." (John 6:39-40 NKJV) ""This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. {40} "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."" (John 11:24 NKJV) "Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."" -->Back to Study Question 11 - Further Study (Colossians 1:18 NKJV) "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Revelation 1:5 NKJV) "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood," (Philippians 3:10-11 NKJV) "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, {11} if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (1 Corinthians 15:12-19 NKJV) "Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? {13} But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. {14} And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. {15} Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up; if in fact the dead do not rise. {16} For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. {17} And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! {18} Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. {19} If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable." -->Back to Study Question 12 - Further Study (Matthew 26:29 NKJV) ""But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."" (1 Corinthians 15:17-23 NKJV) "And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! {18} Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. {19} If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. {20} But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. {21} For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. {22} For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. {23} But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming." (Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV) "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, {21} who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." -->Back to Study Question 13 - Further Study (Luke 24:30-32 NKJV) "Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. {31} Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. {32} And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"" (John 20:16 NKJV) "Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher)." (John 20:19-29 NKJV) "Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." {20} When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. {21} So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." {22} And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. {23} "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." {24} Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. {25} The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." {26} And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" {27} Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." {28} And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" {29} Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."" (Isaiah 66:22 NKJV) ""For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain." -->Back to Study Question 14 - Further Study (Matthew 16:24-26 NKJV) "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. {25} "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. {26} "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" -->Back to Study
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