Having an eternal vision will transform your life! To be able to see the realities of eternity in your own heart is a treasure which will give you strength to endure problems in this temporary realm. This book aims to give details of the reality of the eternal consequences to how we live our lives on earth. Not primarily a discussion on heaven or hell, but the differences in heaven between different saints. Gripped with the reality of endless suffering for souls who die without Christ, the church has successfully preached the gospel and won masses. However, having failed to see the infinite differences between believers in heaven so far, we have not made much progress towards the maturity of being filled with the fullness of the Son of God. Even as a believer, even after salvation, even once your destiny in heaven is secure, there are still eternal consequences to your responses to God. Hopefully after reading this book, you will never again say, “It is not worth it!” in the middle of your efforts. You will see how each tiny act of kindness, discipline and labour in the LORD is not in vain but unimaginably rewarded, certainly ‘worth it!’ Rewards, positions, authorities in heaven are unchangeable once we arrive. They are forever settled here, i.e., determined by our performance in this life, once saved. A believer with little responsibility in heaven because of his unfaithful, lazy life here cannot, despite endless ages, change his eternal rank or title. That which is declared by the judge on the first day in Heaven at judgment remains fixed for the next thousand, million years and forever. The Christian who perseveres in this life, despite hell’s unrelenting bombardment, receives grace and benefits which will never be taken away through all eternity! Where is your focus going to be? Having a great or famous ministry here or there? Do you primarily have earthly goals or heavenly goals? Tele-visions or Heavenly Vision?
No book or preacher has ever or will ever be able to begin to describe the unique privileges in heaven for the saints who have pleased the LORD with their lives. However, the Holy Spirit wants to give us a revelation more real than anything that could be written. Therefore, in the scriptures he has given us clues to inspire us with some of the principles of eternity:
However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit (I Cor 2:8,9)
Without these truths our lives will shake in the coming storms since they are meant to be part of the very foundation of Christianity (Heb 6:1,2). Perhaps the most neglected truth in the earth today is eternal judgment. Since Jesus is the Judge we should lovingly desire to learn the truth of how he will make the decisions which will affect the rest of eternity. Again, I emphasize I am not just talking about the sheep and the goats or wheat and weeds, but differences between the wheat. We must know all aspects of our just Savior: the Good Shepherd and the Serious Judge, even if this ‘meat’ is a little hard to digest at first. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God (Rom 11:22). Only this revelation will produce in us the pure and holy fear of the Lord which is essential to keep us on the path of life. You can’t fear anything that’s not going to affect you. When you grasp how much your life now determines your eternal destiny, your perseverance will multiply. When you see that your judgment is real with real consequences, even in heaven, you will add to your love of the King, fear. Respect is not enough. Respect is enough for earthly authorities but not for heavenly authorities - Show proper respect to everyone: love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king (1 Pet 2:17). Truly fearing God is not condemnation, but it always leads us to beg for mercy which is ours in abundance when we ask.
Important Questions
Do saints in heaven have different qualities of relationship with the LORD? Are some closer than others? How about the parable of the workers who started at a different time but all got the same reward? On what basis will God judge us? (we are in for a few surprises!) Does he take our circumstances into account? Is it possible for us to win all the prizes, be fully rewarded? Will many people do this? Are we not just judged for the good we have done and not the bad? Does he judge every one the same way? How can there be sadness and crying in heaven if we’re judged for the sins which we did not deal with through the cross? Are the foolish virgins in heaven or hell? Do all the saints marry the LORD? Is the whole heavenly church the bride of Christ or a small part? Is it possible to sin in heaven? Can we see hell from heaven? Why? How can a loving God send most of his creation to hell? Since He knew they would reject Him why did He make them since they will be in agony forever?
These and other questions will be carefully studied from the scriptures with some surprising answers. Just about all of the truths will amaze you and ignite a vision of eternity in your hearts.
