Lesson 9 for May 30, 2009

It’s commonly believed that our

souls go to Heaven just when
we die.

Nevertheless, the Bible states a

different thing on the the dead
The dead have no thoughts, feelings or
any activity at all.
“For the living know that they will die; but the
dead know nothing, and they have no more
reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.
Also their love, their hatred, and their envy
have now perished; nevermore will they have a
share in anything done under the sun…
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with
your might; for there is no work or device or
knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you
are going.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, 10)
 It’s commonly believed that our
souls go to Heaven just when
we die.

Nevertheless, the Bible states a

different thing on the the dead
The dead cannot come back from the
grave. They cannot go to Heaven or visit
the alive.

“As the cloud disappears

and vanishes away, so he
who goes down to the
grave does not come up.”
(Job 7:9)
 It’s commonly believed that our
souls go to Heaven just when
we die.

Nevertheless, the Bible states a

different thing on the the dead

The dead cannot praise God:

“For in death there is

no remembrance of
You; in the grave who
will give You thanks?”
(Psalm 6:5)
 “My Father’s house
has many rooms… I
am going there to
prepare a place for
you. And if I go and
prepare a place for
you, I will come back
and take you to be
with me that you
also may be where I
am.”
John 14:2-3; NIV
 The dead non-
The dead believers remain
believers are in their graves.
resurrected.

The alive The alive non-

believers are believers die
transformed. with the
brightness of
His Coming.

The believers ascend to Heaven The non-believers remain in

with Jesus where they will reign their graves until a thousand
for a thousand years. years later.
 The destiny of the believers is Heaven,
so...
What is the destiny of the non-believers?

“And do not fear those who kill the body

but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear
Him who is able to destroy both soul and
body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
After a thousand years, the
New Jerusalem will descend
to Earth. A second
resurrection will take place:
The non-believers will be
resurrected.
They and Satan and his
angels will be judged
and destroyed in a lake
of fire.
They will be
condemned to be
separated from
God forever.
They will no
longer exist.

“And
“And the
the dead
dead were
were judged
judged according
according toto their
their works,
works, by
by the
the
things
things which
which were
were written
written in
in the
the books…
books… And
And anyone
anyone not
not found
found
written
written in
in the
the Book
Book of
of Life
Life was
was cast
cast into
into the
the lake
lake of
of fire.”
fire.”
Revelation 20:12, 15
Will we remember the trials of this world?

“We tried to call up our greatest trials, but they looked so

small compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory that surrounded us that we could not speak them out,
and we all cried out, ‘Alleluia, heaven is cheap enough!’ ”
(Early Writings, p. 17)

Which is the joy of the redeemed?

“There the redeemed shall ‘know, even as also they are

known.’ The loves and sympathies which God Himself has
planted in the soul shall there find truest and sweetest
exercise. The pure communion with holy beings, the
harmonious social life with the blessed angels and with the
faithful ones of all ages who have washed their robes and
made them white in the blood of the Lamb, the sacred ties
that bind together ‘the whole family in heaven and earth’—
these help to constitute the happiness of the redeemed.”
(The Adventist Home, p. 544)
 Will we keep our individual personality?
“Our personal identity is preserved in the resurrection, though
not the same particles of matter or material substance as went
into the grave. The wondrous works of God are a mystery to
man. The spirit, the character of man, is returned to God,
there to be preserved. In the resurrection every man will have
his own character. God in His own time will call forth the dead,
giving again the breath of life, and bidding the dry bones live.
The same form will come forth, but it will be free from disease
and every defect. It lives again bearing the same individuality
of features, so that friend will recognize friend.” (Maranatha, October 20)

Will we recognize one another?

“We shall know our friends, even as the disciples knew Jesus.
They may have been deformed, diseased, or disfigured, in this
mortal life, and they rise in perfect health and symmetry; yet
in the glorified body their identity will be perfectly preserved.
Then shall we know even as also we are known. 1 Corinthians
13:12. In the face radiant with the light shining from the face
of Jesus, we shall recognize the lineaments of those we love.”
(The Desire of Ages, p. 744)
 Will be there order in Heaven?

“God is a God of order. Everything connected with heaven is in

perfect order; subjection and thorough discipline mark the
movements of the angelic host. Success can only attend order
and harmonious action.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 376)

Will the New Earth be beautiful?

“Let all that is beautiful in our earthly home remind us of the

crystal river and green fields, the waving trees and the living
fountains, the shining city and the white-robed singers, of our
heavenly home—that world of beauty which no artist can
picture and no mortal tongue describe. Let your imagination
picture the home of the saved, and remember that it will be
more glorious than your brightest imagination can portray.”
(Maranatha, December 13)
Will we grow in Heaven?

“All blemishes and deformities are left in the grave. Restored

to the tree of life in the long-lost Eden, the redeemed will
“grow up” (Malachi 4:2) to the full stature of the race in its
primeval glory. The last lingering traces of the curse of sin will
be removed, and Christ’s faithful ones will appear in “the beauty
of the Lord our God,” in mind and soul and body reflecting the
perfect image of their Lord.” (The Great Controversy, p. 644)

Will be there a tree of good and evil?

“Not all the conditions of that first school of Eden will be

found in the school of the future life. No tree of knowledge of
good and evil will afford opportunity for temptation. No
tempter is there, no possibility of wrong. Every character has
withstood the testing of evil, and none are longer susceptible
to its power.” (Education, p. 301)
Will we need to rest?

“None will need or desire repose. There will be no weariness in

doing the will of God and offering praise to His name. We
shall ever feel the freshness of the morning and shall ever be
far from its close.” (The Great Controversy, p. 676)

Will we marry and have children?

“There are men today who express their belief that there will
be marriages and births in the new earth, but those who
believe the Scriptures cannot accept such doctrines. The
doctrine that children will be born in the new earth is not a
part of the “sure word of prophecy.” The words of Christ are
too plain to be misunderstood. They should forever settle the
question of marriages and births in the new earth. Neither
those who shall be raised from the dead, nor those who shall
be translated without seeing death, will marry or be given in
marriage. They will be as the angels of God, members of the
royal family.” (Maranatha, December 27)
Will be there a sea like the seas we know today?

“The sea divides friends. It is a barrier between us and

those whom we love. Our associations are broken up by the
broad, fathomless ocean. In the new earth there will be no
more sea, and there shall pass there “no galley with oars.” In
the past many who have loved and served God have been
bound by chains to their seats in galleys, compelled to serve
the purpose of cruel, hardhearted men. The Lord has looked
upon their suffering in sympathy and compassion. Thank God,
in the earth made new there will be no fierce torrents, no
engulfing ocean, no restless, murmuring waves.” (Maranatha, December 9)

Will be there law in Heaven?

“I was shown that the law of God would stand fast forever,
and exist in the new earth to all eternity.”
(Early Writings, p. 217)
Which will be the joy of the redeemed?
“Everything in heaven is noble and elevated. All seek the
interest and happiness of others. No one devotes himself to
looking out and caring for self. It is the chief joy of all holy
beings to witness the joy and happiness of those around
them.” (Last Day Events, p. 296)
Will be there any trace of evil?
“There, when the veil that darkens our vision shall be
removed, and our eyes shall behold that world of beauty of
which we now catch glimpses through the microscope; when we
look on the glories of the heavens, now scanned afar through
the telescope; when, the blight of sin removed, the whole
earth shall appear in ‘the beauty of the Lord our God,’ what a
field will be open to our study! There the student of science
may read the records of creation and discern no reminders of
the law of evil. He may listen to the music of nature’s voices
and detect no note of wailing or undertone of sorrow. In all
created things he may trace one handwriting—in the vast
universe behold ‘God’s name writ large,’ and not in earth or
sea or sky one sign of ill remaining.” (Education, p.. 303)
What will we study in the New Earth?

“All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study

of God’s children. With unutterable delight we shall enter into
the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. We shall share
the treasures gained through ages upon ages spent in
contemplation of God’s handiwork. And the years of eternity,
as they roll, will continue to bring more glorious revelations.”
(Education, p. 307)

Will we meet our guardian angel?

“Every redeemed one will understand the ministry of angels in
his own life. The angel who was his guardian from his earliest
moment; the angel who watched his steps, and covered his
head in the day of peril; the angel who was with him in the
valley of the shadow of death, who marked his resting place,
who was the first to greet him in the resurrection morning—
what will it be to hold converse with him, and to learn the
history of divine interposition in the individual life, of
heavenly co-operation in every work for humanity!” (Education, p. 305)
“As through Jesus we enter into
rest, heaven begins here. We
respond to His invitation, Come,
learn of Me, and in thus coming
we begin the life eternal.
Heaven is a ceaseless
approaching to God through
Christ. The longer we are in the
heaven of bliss, the more and
still more of glory will be
opened to us; and the more we
know of God, the more intense
will be our happiness.”

Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 331)

 “Now to the
“…And King eternal,
immortal,
invisible, to
thus we God who
alone is wise,
shall always be honor and
glory forever

be with the and ever.

Amen.”

Lord.”1 Thessalonians 4:17

1 Timothy 1:17