heaven

©2022 dan bulkley | ask@lifechurchco.com

heaven

section 1

Not all things have not been revealed about Heaven ii corinthians 12:1-4  deuteronomy 29:29 , but the salvation we have been given is revealed to us by the Spirit i corinthians 2:7-12  so that we are not unaware of the goodness of God now and the goodness to come i timothy 4:8 . For now, we are not fully able to comprehend it all or know it all i john 3:2 , but we have been given enough information to give us living hope i peter 1:3-4  even as we look at it through a mirror darkly i corinthians 13:12 .

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reference scriptures

ii corinthians 12:1-4 esv

I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third Heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.

And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

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deuteronomy 29:29 esv

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

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i corinthians 2:7-12 esv

But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him"- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

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i timothy 4:8 esv

for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

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i john 3:2 esv

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.

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i peter 1:3-4 esv

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you...

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i corinthians 13:12 esv

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

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section 2

Though Heaven is truly an other-world life john 18:36  hebrews 11:16 , to think of Heaven simply as a place is to miss the whole point of Heaven. Heaven is not as much a place as a Who psalm 73:24-25, 28 . Heaven with all its fineries would not be Heaven if it were home to wicked beings ephesians 5:5  revelation 22:15 . It is the home of Righteousness…i.e. everything is RIGHT ii peter 3:13 . Yes, our righteousness is a state of being but is as much and more so the relationship we have with Jesus i corinthians 1:30 . So, you could retain all the Heavenly atmosphere, but without God it would not be Heaven. The very reason Heaven as a place is so Heavenly is because it is the expression of the unveiled presence of God Himself. God fills Heaven i kings 8:27 . God is Heaven revelation 21:22-23 !

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reference scriptures

john 18:36 esv

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."

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hebrews 11:16 esv

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a Heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.

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psalm 73:24-25, 28 esv

You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory. Whom have I in Heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.

But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.

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ephesians 5:5 esv

For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

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revelation 22:15 esv

Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

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ii peter 3:13 esv

But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

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i corinthians 1:30 csb

It is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who became wisdom from God for us — our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption —

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i kings 8:27 esv

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest Heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house that I have built!

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revelation 21:22-23 esv

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.

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my notes:

section 3

We have transcendent descriptions of God’s presence that gives us an idea, even if we cannot fully picture it as limited beings job 37:19-21 . These descriptions are literal, but to put such sublime realities into human language only gives us an idea, as glorious as theses descriptions are romans 6:19 . So, remember as earthly descriptions are used for our benefit, we must understand that the parallel of earthly descriptions for Heavenly things is that of a shadow compared to a tree that is casting it hebrews 9:24, 8:5 .

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reference scriptures

job 37:19-21 csb

Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot prepare our case because of our darkness. Should He be told that I want to speak? Can a man speak when he is confused? Now no one can even look at the sun after a wind has swept through and cleared the sky.

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romans 6:19 esv

I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations.

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hebrews 9:24, 8:5 esv

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain."

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my notes:

section 4

In Ezekiel 1 we have a description of God’s Pavilion Throne. His mobile awesome presence that the earthly tabernacle imitated. While Revelation 4 is the Throne in Heaven which was represented by the Temple in Jerusalem. And maybe even bridged in between these descriptions we can look at Isaiah 6 as well. Once again, these lofty descriptions give us an idea of Heaven as a whole for Heaven is the throne of God matthew 5:34 .

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reference scriptures

matthew 5:34 esv

But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by Heaven, for it is the throne of God...

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my notes:

my notes:

the thrones of God

ezekiel 1
tabernacle / pavilion
isaiah 6:1-5 revelation 4
temple / throne

royal attendants

cherubim
ezekiel 10:14-15
seraphim
isaiah 6:2
four living creatures
revelation 4:6-8
twenty four elders
revelation 4:4
  thrice- HOLY
isaiah 6:3
thrice- HOLY
revelation 4:8
whirling wheels
ezekiel 10:13
   
seraphim / lightning
ezekiel 1:13
psalm 104:4
seraphs
isaiah 6:2, 6
seraphim / lightning
revelation 4:5
chariot of God
i chron 28:18
psalm 18:10
temple throne
isaiah 6:2, 6
 
mirror-like platform
ezekiel 1:22
  sea of mirrored glass
revelation 4:6
rainbow halo
ezekiel 1:28
  rainbow halo
revelation 4:3
the One on the throne
ezekiel 1:26-27
  the One on the throne
revelation 4:3

section 5

We also have the majestic description of Heaven in Revelation 21:1-22:5. In this passage you have various aspects of Heaven magnified for us. God’s Dwelling: that is His intentional, perpetual, gracious, relational and all-encompassing presence with us revelation 21:1-7 . The old order is done away with, exemplified by no more tears, death, mourning, crying or pain revelation 21:4 . Everything will be forever fresh revelation 21:5  because we have a perfect relationship with God our Creator and Sustainer revelation 21:3 . Here, finally, is perfect fellowship with our Father.

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reference scriptures

revelation 21:1-7 esv

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

And He who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also He said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

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section 6

Then there is the Holy City revelation 21:9-27 . With the richest, purest materials being the building blocks of our gathering together (city) we can understand that nothing impure will ever mare our relationships again as previous human gatherings had always devolved into genesis 11:1-4 . It is a city of inexplicable, emanating light revelation 21:23 , a multitude of colors reflecting and refracting revelation 21:18-21 . With staggering sizes of familiar things: the city itself would roughly cover the distance from Denver to DC cubed revelation 21:16 , the walls are there-abouts 200 feet thick revelation 21:17 . The gates are not pearly. Each of the gates are a giant, single pearl revelation 21:21 . There, interaction between peoples will not be fearful or limited but rather ever on-going in peace revelation 21:24 . There will be no more night revelation 21:25  i thessalonians 5:7-8  john 3:19-21 , but only walking in the light i john 1:7 . Here, finally, is perfect fellowship with each other.

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reference scriptures

revelation 21:9-27 esv

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

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revelation 21:15-27 esv

And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.

But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

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genesis 11:1-4 esv

Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth."

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revelation 21:23 esv

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

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revelation 21:18-21 esv

The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

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revelation 21:16 esv

The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal.

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revelation 21:17 esv

He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement.

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revelation 21:21 esv

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

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revelation 21:24 esv

By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it...

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revelation 21:25 esv

...and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.

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i thessalonians 5:7-8 esv

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

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john 3:19-21 esv

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

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i john 1:7 esv

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

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romans 5:1-2 esv

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

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my notes:

ephesians 2:13-19 esv

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, Who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God...

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my notes:

section 7

And finally there is the Garden of the Holy City revelation 22:1-5 . It harkens back and better fulfills the garden of Eden hebrews 12:26-28  hebrews 8:5-7 . Here, we have free access to the tree of life revelation 22:2  genesis 3:22-24 . There is no curse to mare our life revelation 22:3  genesis 3:17-19 . We will fellowship with God freely as was always meant to be revelation 22:3-4  genesis 3:8-10 . We shall be like Him with no corruption to His image in us because of our perfect fellowship with Him revelation 22:4  i john 3:2  genesis 1:27 , and therefore reign with the Lord as princes of His creation revelation 22:3, 5  genesis 1:26-29, 2:15 . Here, finally, is perfect fellowship with all of God’s creation

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reference scriptures

revelation 22:1-5 esv

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.

And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

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my notes:

hebrews 12:26-28 esv

At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."

This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe...

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hebrews 8:5-6 esv

They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain."

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant He mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

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revelation 22:2 esv

...through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

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genesis 3:22-24 esv

Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—" therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

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revelation 22:3 csb

...there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship Him.

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genesis 3:17-19 esv

And to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

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revelation 22:3-4 csb

...there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.

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genesis 3:8-10 esv

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"

And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."

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revelation 22:4 esv

They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.

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i john 3:2 esv

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.

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genesis 1:27 esv

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

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revelation 22:3, 5 csb

and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will worship him.

Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever.

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genesis 1:26-29, 2:15 csb

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth." So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.

God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth."

God also said, "Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you...

The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.

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section 8

Heaven at its essence is the perfected relationships God created us for, that being perfect fellowship with creation, each other, and the Lord Himself hebrews 12:22-24 ; Heaven can only be described in nullifying-of-the-curse terms and exalted terms that we have only possibly experienced the outer fringe of in our life here job 26:6-14 . With God, each other, and a perfect creation we have the paradise of God revelation 2:7  with Whom there is no limit to the perfection God’s fellowship creates psalm 119:96 :

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reference scriptures

hebrews 12:22-24 esv

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in Heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mMediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

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job 26:6-14 niv84

Death is naked before God; Destruction lies uncovered. He spreads out the northern [skies] over empty space; He suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in His clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading His clouds over it. He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness.

The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at His rebuke. By His power He churned up the sea; by His wisdom He cut Rahab to pieces. By His breath the skies became fair; His hand pierced the gliding serpent.

And these are but the outer fringe of His works; how faint the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?"

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revelation 2:7 esv

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

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psalm 119:96 csb

I have seen a limit to all perfection, but Your command is without limit.

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section 9

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revelation 7:16 esv

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.

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no hunger / no thirst / no oppressive weather

revelation 7:17 esv

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

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revelation 21:4 esv

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

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my notes:

no tears, but only comfort / no death /no mourning / no crying/ no pain

psalm 84:10-12 esv

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in You!

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no good thing withheld

hebrews 12:22 esv

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering...

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revelation 5:11-14 esv

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"

And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.

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my notes:

festive gatherings

isaiah 65:17-19 esv

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.

I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.

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places will cause rejoicing / people will be a delight

isaiah 33:16 esv

he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.

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freedom from worry / full Provision

isaiah 33:17 esv

Your eyes will behold the king in His beauty; they will see a land that stretches afar.

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beholding God’s glorious beauty / breathing room

isaiah 33:18 esv

Your heart will muse on the terror: "Where is he who counted, where is he who weighed the tribute? Where is he who counted the towers?"

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freedom from fear / freedom from taxes

isaiah 33:19 esv

You will see no more the insolent people, the people of an obscure speech that you cannot comprehend, stammering in a tongue that you cannot understand.

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freedom from troubling people / freedom from separation

isaiah 33:20 esv

Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken.

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freedom from trouble

isaiah 33:21 esv

But there the LORD in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can pass.

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freedom from invasion

isaiah 33:24 esv

And no inhabitant will say, "I am sick"; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.

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my notes:

freedom from illness / freedom from guilt

psalm 16:11 esv

You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

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fullness of joy / pleasures evermore

revelation 21:5 esv

And He Who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also He said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

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romans 6:4 esv

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

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newness of everything

romans 12:2 csb

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

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matthew 6:10 esv

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

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my notes:

good, perfect and pleasing will of God

ephesians 1:19 esv

and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might

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immeasurable power

philippians 4:7 esv

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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peace beyond understanding

i peter 1:8 csb

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy...

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inexpressible, glorious joy

ephesians 3:17-19 esv

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

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my notes:

love surpassing knowledge

philippians 3:8 niv84

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

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heaven is the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus

ephesians 3:20 esv

Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us...

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heaven is beyond what we could ask for or imagine; so, if you can imagine it, Heaven is better!

my notes:

section 10

Our bodies must be fitted for the Heavenly realms i corinthians 15:51-53  ephesians 2:4-6  so that our corrupt bodies i corinthians 15:50  will be replaced with glorious, spiritual bodies ii corinthians 5:1-4  i corinthians 15:42-44  that unlike our naturally subjected, craving bodies ii peter 2:18  i peter 2:11  will be in harmony with eternal life and the freedom of being children of the resurrection romans 8:21, 23  psalm 119:45 . We will become like the angels in that we will no longer be subject to nature as our bodies will no longer be subject to death romans 6:9  luke 20:34-36  or the corruption of the sin nature romans 8:5-6  jude 24 , but we shall live like Jesus over the elementary principles of creation i john 3:2  philippians 3:21 .

Do not worry, while there is no need for marriage in Heaven i corinthians 7:2-9  malachi 2:15 , that does not mean we will somehow lose the relationships we developed here on earth luke 16:9 . Rather, they shall be the purified, magnified reward for the sincere love of God and others i thessalonians 2:19-20  philippians 4:1  ii corinthians 1:14  i corinthians 3:10-16  psalm 16:3 .

It is for this very reason that we should make every effort to grow in our faith as to express itself in love for God and others galatians 5:6  so that we will be filled with great confidence that we will receive a bountiful, enthusiastic, familial welcome into Heaven ii peter 1:5-11 . For it is our inheritance of God’s saints ephesians 1:18 , our perfect fellowship, that makes the Kingdom of Light such a reward colossians 1:12-14 . Heaven has room for you so that every believer will be with each other and with Jesus Himself john 14:1-3 . But it is only the believers who are walking with Him now who enjoy the confidence and peace of this sure destiny i john 5:13, 2:3-8  i peter 1:3-9 .

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my notes:

reference scriptures

i corinthians 15:51-53 esv

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

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ephesians 2:4-6 nlt

But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) for He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

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i corinthians 15:50 esv

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

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ii corinthians 5:1-4 esv

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

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my notes:

i corinthians 15:42-44 esv

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

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ii peter 2:18 esv

For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.

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i peter 2:11 csb

Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.

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romans 8:21, 23 csb

...the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.

Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits — we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

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psalm 119:45 nlt

I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

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romans 6:9 esv

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.

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my notes:

luke 20:34-36 csb

Jesus told them, "The children of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to take part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. For they can no longer die, because they are like angels and are children of God, since they are children of the resurrection.

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romans 8:5-6 esv

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

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jude 24 esv

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy...

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i john 3:2 esv

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.

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philippians 3:21 esv

Who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.

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i corinthians 7:2-9 esv

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.... But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

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malachi 2:15 nlt

Didn’t the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are His. And what does He want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.

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luke 16:9 csb

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of worldly wealth so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings.

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i thessalonians 2:19-20 esv

For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.

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philippians 4:1 esv

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

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ii corinthians 1:14 esv

...that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.

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i corinthians 3:10-16 esv

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

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psalm 16:3 esv

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

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galatians 5:6 csb

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.

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ii peter 1:5-11 niv84

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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ephesians 1:18 esv

...that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints...

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colossians 1:12-14 esv

...giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

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john 14:1-3 esv

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.

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i john 5:13, 2:3-8 esv

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

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i peter 1:3-9 csb

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

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my notes:

section 11

Heaven truly is being in perfect fellowship with the Lord. We are with Him forever; that is Heaven i thessalonians 4:17 . As such we get to appetize ourselves ephesians 1:14  romans 8:23  ii corinthians 1:22  by partaking of the Heavenly realms now ephesians 2:4-7  john 5:24  as we learn to fellowship with Him more and more philippians 3:12-14  hosea 6:3 . We share in Christ’s sufferings colossians 1:24  philippians 1:29  acts 9:4  psalm 68:19  i peter 4:1-2  so that we might also fittingly share in the glory from those sufferings as well romans 8:17  i ii corinthians 1:5  philippians 3:10-11 . We should then keep in mind that the present sharing in suffering isn’t just something we go through; sharing in Christ’s suffering is actually producing the glory of fellowship with God that is beyond comparing to this temporary time of suffering romans 8:18  ii corinthians 4:17-18  romans 5:1-5  luke 6:22-23 . We get to participate WITH Jesus ii peter 1:4 !

In keeping with this hope we should set our hearts and minds on the Truth of Jesus that is revealed in Scripture and to be fully revealed when He appears again colossians 3:1-4  ii peter 3:13-14 . For those who have this hope become more and more a "share-holder" of the life to come i timothy 6:18-19 . Where your treasure is there your heart is as well; as you think in your heart so you are luke 12:31-34  proverbs 23:7 . In light of this certain hope of glory what comparison is there between what you want now and what you want most hebrews 11:25, 12:16  proverbs 11:23  proverbs 4:18  isaiah 50:10-11  romans 8:28-29 ?

reference scriptures

i thessalonians 4:17 esv

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

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ephesians 1:14 csb

The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.

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romans 8:23 esv

...we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

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ii corinthians 1:22 csb

He has also put His seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.

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ephesians 2:4-7 esv

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

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john 5:24 niv84

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him Who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

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philippians 3:12-14 esv

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

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hosea 6:3 esv

Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; His going out is sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."

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colossians 1:24 esv

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church,

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philippians 1:29 esv

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake...

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acts 9:4 esv

And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

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psalm 68:19 csb

Blessed be the Lord! Day after day He bears our burdens; God is our salvation. Selah

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i peter 4:1-2 esv

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

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romans 8:17 esv

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.

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ii corinthians 1:5 nlt

For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.

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philippians 3:10-11 esv

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

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romans 8:18 esv

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

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ii corinthians 4:17-18 csb

For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

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romans 5:1-5 esv

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

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luke 6:22-23 esv

"Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in Heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

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ii peter 1:4 niv84

Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

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colossians 3:1-4 esv

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ Who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

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ii peter 3:13-14 esv

But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

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i timothy 6:18-19 esv

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

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luke 12:31-34 esv

Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

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proverbs 23:7 nas

For as he thinks within himself, so he is.

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hebrews 11:25, 12:16 esv

choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

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proverbs 11:23 esv

The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

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proverbs 4:18 esv

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

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isaiah 50:10-11 esv

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.

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romans 8:28-29 niv84

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.

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