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The Kingdom of Heaven
Christ Jesus spoke to the people in parables, teaching them about the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said that the kingdom is heaven is valuable, and worth trading all that we have in order to enter in. Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is worth the sacrifice, of giving up what we have, and currently own. So many times people are not willing to make the sacrifice required for salvation. People today are concerned about behaviors and lifestyles, and find themselves unwilling to give up certain behaviors in order to achieve righteousness. Trying to obtain salvation without giving up certain behaviors leaves God to judge your sincerity.
Matthew 13:44
44. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Jesus then said the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who had found a pearl of great price so valuable that he sold all that he owned in order to buy it. The merchant who sold all that he owned believed that the pearl was more valuable than his merchandise. Heaven is so beautiful and so perfect, that sacrificing our bad habits and our bad behaviors is a small price to pay for something so valuable. Keep in mind that Christ Jesus sacrificed his life in order to pay for our sins, purchasing the children of God, which are the pearls that he considered to be valuable.
Matthew 13:45-46
45.Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46.Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Christ Jesus went on to say the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and gathered of every kind, and after the net was full, they went to shore, and gathered the good and tossed away the bad. The entry into the kingdom of heaven is available to all, by believing on Christ Jesus. But in the end, the believers will be separated from the non-believers,who will be tossed into the lake of fire.
Matthew 13:47-48
47.Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48.Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
Christ Jesus warned that in the end, the angels shall come and separate the wicked from the righteous, and will send the wicked into hell, which is the lake of fire. Christ Jesus believes that those for whom he died, and paid such a great price, will choose righteousness, instead of unrighteousness. Christ Jesus believes that his followers will live their lives according to his teachings and will choose to live in righteousness.
Matthew 13:49-50
49.So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50.And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
And just as we would protect something that is precious, choose also to protect your righteousness and your salvation, considering your salvation to be holy and as precious as pearls.
Matthew 7:6
6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
This means, that we should protect our righteousness, even from the wicked, whom seek to tempt us into falling from the grace of God. Protect your gift of salvation and do not toss it before the swine, which are spirits of darkness. The swine will not regard it, and will only turn against you.
So what will heaven be like? John was transported to heaven in order that he would be able to tell us about heaven. John describes in Revelations 21 what he saw and what God said to him. God promised that heaven would be a place of happiness, but also promised that the unbelievers would be cast into hell, which is the lake of fire.
Revelations 21:1-8
1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of water of life freely. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
While the consequences for sin seem severe, remember that God believes that if you are acting on the behalf of the devil, or satan, or acting to carrying the sins encouraged by the devil, then you are guilty of idolatry. The act of listening to the devil, or satan, may be considered worship. The act of consulting sorcerers, and fortune tellers is also considered to be devil worship according to the Bible.
John then describes the new Jerusalem, and tells us that it had 12 gates of pearl, and the walls of the city had twelve layers of precious stone.
Revelations 21:9-27
9. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lambs wife. 10. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13. On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breath: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breath and the height of it are equal. 17. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18. And the building of the wall of it was a jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, and emerald; 20. The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lambs book of life.
To enter into the kingdom of heaven, our name needs to be in the Lambs book of life. Our name is written in the Lamb's book of life when we have repented of our sin and made Christ Jesus the Lord of our life.
In the name of Christ Jesus, I pray that all that exist will believe on Jesus, and have their names written in the Lambs book of life. I pray that all that exist will repent of their sins and strive for righteousness. I pray that all that exist will be grateful for the gift of salvation, and be grateful to Christ Jesus for his sacrifice. I pray that all that exist will protect their righteousness, and make righteous choices in their lives. Amen.
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