Heaven by Randy Alcorn

1
Heaven by Randy Alcorn

• Understanding
• the
• Present Heaven

2
What is the Present Heaven?

• 1 Thes 413, 17-18
• What do you think of the concept that there is an
  intermediate Heaven where we live between our
  death resurrection?

3
Does Heaven Really Change?

• Revelation 211
• Revelation 2014-15

4
What is the difference between the Present
Future Heavens?

• Revelation 211-3
• Revelation 221

5
Do we remain conscious after death?

• Ecclesiastes 127 and the dust returns to the
  ground it came from, and the spirit returns to
  God who gave it.
• Luke 1622-32 Lazarus rich man were
  conscious.
• Luke 2343 Thief on the cross, today
• Philippians 123 to die was to be w/ Christ
• 2 Corinthians 58 Paul says to be absent from
  the body is to be present w/ the Lord
• Revelation 69-11 martyrs in Heaven crying out
  to god to bring justice on Earth

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Will we be judged when we die?

• 1st Judgment
• 2nd Judgment
• Romans 1410-12
• 2 Corinthians 510
• 2 Corinthians 313-14
• Revelation 2011-13

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Is the Present Heaven Part of our Universe or
Another?

• Acts 755-56
• 2 Kings 615-17
• So where do you think Present Heaven is?
• What about near death experiences are these
  glimpses into Present Heaven?

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Is the Present Heaven a Physical Place?

• Why are we resistant to the idea that Heaven
  could be physical?
• Why do we believe that it is a spirit realm?

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Heaven as Substance Earth as a Shadow

• What do you think of John Miltons quote from
  Paradise Lost?
• What if Earth be but the shadow of Heaven,
• and things therin each to other like, more then
  on Earth is thought?

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Heaven as Substance Earth as a Shadow

• Rev 158 temple filled w/ smoke
• Rev 79 scrolls, elders, clothes, palm branches
  in hands
• Rev 86 musical instruments
• 2 Kings 211/Rev 1914 horses
• Rev 813 eagle flying
• Heb 85 sanctuary that is a copy shadow of
  what is in Heaven

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Heaven as Substance Earth as a Shadow

• C.S. Lewis
• the hills and valleys of Heaven will be to
  those you now experience not as a copy is to an
  original, nor as a substitute to the genuine
  article, but as the flower to the root, or the
  diamond to the coal

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Does Paradise suggest a physical place?

• Luke 2343
• Rev 27
• Genesis 324
• Could it be that the original Eden may be a great
  park at the center of the New Jerusalem?

13
Do people have intermediate bodies in the Present
Heaven?

• 2 Corinthians 123 when Paul sees Heaven he was
  not sure if he had a body or not
• Acts 111 Jesus resurrected body dwells in
  Heaven
• Genesis 524 Hebrews 115 Enoch
• 2 Kings 211-12 Elijah
• Luke 928-36 Moses Elijah at Transfiguration

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What is life like in the Present Heaven?

• Read Revelation 69-11
• Died on earth they relocated to Heaven
• Continuity between identity on Earth Heaven
• People in Heaven will be remembered for their
  lives on Earth
• Ability to express themselves
• Raise their voices
• Heaven a place of unity
• Conscious, rational, and aware of each other,
  God, events on earth

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What is life like in the Present Heaven?

• Ask God to act on their behalf
• Desire understanding
• Know whats happening on Earth
• Concern for justice retribution
• They remember their lives on Earth
• See pray for those on Earth
• See Gods attributes
• They are distinct individuals

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What is life like in the Present Heaven?

• Possible physical forms of bodies
• Communication from God
• Anticipate future fulfillments of Gods promises
• There is time in the Present Heaven
• A strong familial connection w/ those on Earth
• God knows the last detail of what is happening on
  Earth.

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Do Heavens inhabitants remember life on Earth?

• Revelation 6 the martyrs
• Luke 1625 implies memory
• 2 Corinthians 510, Matthew 1236

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Do people in Present Heaven see what is happening
on Earth?

• Revelation 69-11
• 1 Samuel 2816-19
• The Transfiguration
• Are they praying for those on Earth?
• Christ is interceding for those on Earth-
• Romans 834
• Rev 610 martyrs
• Rev 58 prayers of saints

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Do people in Present Heaven see what is happening
on Earth?

• Why is it hard for us to imagine people in the
  Present Heaven seeing praying for those on
  Earth?
• Would awareness of what is happening keep them
  from being happy? Why or why not?

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Conclusion

• After todays questions, there is speculation but
  how does it make you fell about those that are in
  Present Heaven right now, loved ones?
• 1 Thessalonians 413, Paul tells us when we as
  Christians lose our loved ones we are not to
  grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope