HEAVEN IS FOR REAL
Answering Common Questions about Up There
Pastor Gary Moritz
pastor@cityunited.church
INTRODUCTION
Heaven is for real! It seems nowadays everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to go now. Eternity is an uncertainty for many people, and the fear of death can be overwhelming. “What happens when I die?” is a common question in our culture today because many people don’t know their eternal destination.
On a positive note, the subject of Heaven has so many questions that the Bible answers.
But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ 10But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” —I Corinthians 2:9-10
This teaching series will focus on answering the common questions people ask when it comes to Heaven, the destination they desire to go to.
October 6 What Is Heaven?
October 13 How Do We Get to Heaven?
October 20 Does Heaven Immediately Follow Death?
October 27 How Do We Prepare Now for Heaven?
November 3 What Will Heaven Be Like?
November 10 Can People in Heaven Observe Life on Earth?
November 17 What Will Our Relationships Be Like in Heaven?
November 24 Will Animals Be in Heaven?
TEXT: Psalm 73:24, 25; Hebrews 9:27
TODAY’S TAKEAWAY:
We don’t know when we will die,
but we can be ready for what follows.
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL WEEK 3:
DOES HEAVEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW DEATH?
I. THE
ANSWER—YES
A. Believers immediately go to
“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24“Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
27“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’” —Luke 16:19-29
B. Believers can be
“So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” —2 Corinthians 5:6-8
C. Other
“Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” —2 Kings 2:11
“And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” —Luke 23:43> “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”57Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” —Acts 7:55-60> For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” —Philippians 1:21-23
II.
ANSWERS ABOUT DEATH
A.
The word “sleep” is used in Scripture as a synonym for
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.” —Daniel 12:2
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.” —1 Thessalonians 4:14The term “sleep” in this context refers to the
The word “
B.
“In this state of purgation we make up for our sins by growing in love. While Christ has made up for our sins, we yet have the need of doing something about them ourselves, as when we offend anyone we love. We experience this painful purgation because we have not loved enough on earth. This is only reasonable. Most people realize that they have not made up for all their sins, that they still are clinging to some faults, and therefore could not expect to be perfectly happy immediately after death with the all-perfect God (“But nothing unclean shall enter …”—Revelation 21:27). On the other hand, they know that they are not evil enough to be damned forever. It is only logical, then, to believe in this state of purgation.” —-Christ Among Us: A Modern Presentation of the Catholic Faith by Anthony Wilhelm
“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,” —Romans 4:5
CONCLUSION: WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN YOU DIE?
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