What does the word “heaven” mean to you? While the Bible clearly reveals three heavens at the present time, it also speaks of new heavens, a new earth and even a new Jerusalem. When heaven is spoken of in the Bible, it is important to know what is actually being referenced.
Dave Harris
All Joy?
James opens his letter with a statement that is dumbfounding! Here it is: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials…” (James 1:2).
Trials? Rejoice in trials?
This is hard to do, and if you are like me and the countless others who do have trials far more often than we might choose, then you also realize that being tested drives us into some deeply profound soul-searching! And it might just bring us a little bit closer to God.
Jesus suffered. He endured His trials, because He had an ultimate goal that was unshakeable (Compare Hebrews 4:14-15; 12:1-2). A significant part of why He underwent what He did was for us! He is our High Priest and the One who can and who does help us!
Jesus had to have help in His trials. He found it by yielding to His Father’s will and by asking for help, as we read in Hebrews 5:7: “… who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear…”
James adds: “… knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience [endurance or perseverance]” (James 1:3).
It does then seem that our trials can bear a positive outcome, but that “endurance” is the fruit of staying the course of our calling and persevering in the testing of our faith.
Qualitatively, it is our faith in Jesus Christ and in our Father that is being refined and perfected through trials. If we, like Jesus Christ, come to God for help, then we will also endure unto eternal life: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
God’s help in time of need–in times of seemingly unbearable trials–is the greatest assurance we could possibly have, and it is the reason we can count even the testing of our faith with “all joy”!
Restoration
We see that John did indeed fulfill specific scriptures that foretold his Elijah role, but we also see that these same prophecies included events that would happen in the future–far beyond the lifetime of John the Baptist. Who, then, does the Bible reveal as the One Who will accomplish the “restoration of all things”?
Two Prophets
Elijah and Elisha were prophets of God. Their story is used by God to give us understanding about prophetic events that have occurred as well as awesome prophecies that will accompany the end of our own age–when two mighty prophets will fulfill what God has caused to be written in His Word about a yet future “Elijah”!
Why Miracles?
People are very easily swayed by events that might be called miraculous. Is there a purpose for miracles–both those from God and those that Satan is allowed to cause? For Christians, the issue is to NOT let anyone deceive us–and miracles are an area for which we need to be prepared!
The Mystery of the Last Great Day
Of all the Feast Days in God’s plan, this day–the Eighth Day, the seventh feast of God’s annual Holy Days–is the least understood. However, God has revealed to those who obey Him the purpose of this time in His great Holy Day plan of salvation for mankind.
The Biblical Family
We all have been a product of this society–of our own generation with its strengths and its weaknesses. In light of how the structure of family is under assault, we need to know what the family is and what it means from God’s perspective.
When God Rules The World
In the history of Israel, national repentance and a return to God was accompanied with observing the Holy Days commanded by God. Their example—as well as what we are now doing—all point to one of the most significant events in all of creation!
Reaction Time
Hand-eye coordination defines the greatest of athletes in certain sports. For instance, the ability of a batter to see the ball thrown by a baseball pitcher and then hit it consistently has become the stuff of legends.
The split second reaction time of superior athletes in tennis, soccer or any number of other sports is humbling for those of us who are merely capable of being spectators.
But each one of us is called upon to make spontaneous responses in our everyday lives! Not the kind of thing an athlete does; rather, we are confronted with the necessity to choose what we THINK, what we SAY and what we DO!
It all kind of boils down to this: Do we “give as good as we get,” or do we practice what Jesus Christ taught us to do? We really aren’t growing the way we should if we still erupt in foul language; if we try to avenge every slight; if we continue to speak and act before we think it through.
So you see, we Christians have to be concerned with our own reaction times, because this illuminates our progress in conversion. Try taking on an area of your own life in which you know your “reaction time” is faltering. Don’t ignore it—work on it, and ask God to help you overcome your weakness.
In the final analysis, overcoming and doing it right is what our reaction time is all about!
Israel today
Nations in existence in our generation are identified in the Bible as being the modern descendants of the House of Israel. In particular, Great Britain and the United States fulfill the prophetic blessings given to Ephraim and Manasseh. These modern powerful nations are also warned about national punishment for disobedience. There are ways to identify Israel, to find clues and markers that clearly indicate exactly who Israel is–and, most importantly, what God is saying to Israel today!