2.24.2008

Will we know each other in Heaven?

I will offer some Scriptures and comment’s that may help with the answer. (Most are New Living Translation)

No. 1 1 John 3:1-3
Let me first ask a question? How will we know Jesus?
Simple, we will see Him as He is (or as he was on earth). Nail prints, hands and feet, spear mark in his side just as he was seen after the resurrection.
V-2 Says we will be like him or in a body like his Glorious body, but similar to the body we have now. Jesus did not loose His identity, and we will not either!

No. 2 Matt. 8:1-12
V-11 Says many shall come from the east and the west and sit down with who? Ghosts, strangers; no, but with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven! They still have their identity in Heaven and we will also!
No. 3 Matt. 17:1-6
Moses and Elijah could be seen and they talked with Jesus. Peter, James and John saw and heard the whole thing. Moses and Elijah both had been dead or in Heaven for many years, even hundreds of years but they had not lost their identity.

No. 4 Matt. 19:27-29
The twelve will surely know each other and their identity will be clear as to who they are. They will also see Jesus and know him just as we will know him! They will also perform the task that Jesus said they will do. There may be things for all believers to do, not just sat under a shade tree for the next million years.

No. 5 John 11:38-43
Lazarus was dead for four days; where was he? He was in Heaven or Paradise! His earthly body was decaying but when Jesus called him out of the grave he was whole again and even though he was gone for four days he did not loose his identity.
Absent from the body is to be present with the Lord!

No. 6 Luke 16:19-31
Notice the account of the rich man and Lazarus [the begger] (not the same Lazarus as in no. 5). In verse 23 & 24 the rich man could see, talk, could reason or think, remember, feel, and Lazarus had fingers because the rich man wanted Lazarus to dip his finger into water and cool his tongue. V-25 Lazarus is in comfort. V-27-28 The rich man must have remembered Lazarus and could see it was the same person that sat outside of his gate begging. Now the rich man begs for Lazarus to be sent to his brothers.
If Lazarus was not the same person or was a ghost, or changed totally into some other creature, the rich man would not have asked for him to be sent to his brothers. His brothers might have known Lazarus also, and they would only respond to some one they could recognize. It would also just scare the brothers, but no mention that he is any different then he was in this life as far as his identity.

No. 7 (KJV) 1 Cor. 13:12
This verse is thought by some to also give some light on the subject. The last part “But then shall I know even as I am known.” Indicating we will know as we are known now!
Note: There are many questions about the Glorious changes that await us when we pass through the pearly gates. The most important thing for us is to make sure everything is settled here and now. The time is near even at hand!

Wishing you could go will not make it happen. A person must accept the work that Jesus did on the Cross for mankind's sins. Romans 10:9,10 gives the way to go. Read it, believe it, and you are started on your way. Don't forget to go to Church and share with others your experience.
Love you, Dave E-mail http:///


Is There A Halo In Your Future?

Yesterday, as you gave thought about your future, did you ever consider that your future would be today? Most of us think it will be somewhere far down the road of life. With this in mind we just slide on day by day hoping that our future will somehow suddenly "Pop up" bringing us something great.

"Future" for most of us, is determined by the choices we make day by day. The success of our choice will depend upon (for the most part) how much we commit towards it. It will call for a person to set aside some things that they would like to do. Some things must be sacrificed for the choice.
Choices can be anything! Dedication and determination to make our choice happen, will postpone many things that are thought to be pleasures, etc. If you want money, position, lands, houses, businesses, and any number of other things you can usually have them if you strive towards that choice.

Hero's are often looked at as though they just happened, this is not totally true. If one will look back they will usually see some events or actions that have been outstanding in the life of the hero.

We heap all kinds of awards and other recognition on these people. However, they themselves will be quick to tell you, in most cases, that they did not have time to think about doing what they did. It almost seemed like a supernatural force or drive caused them to react. Does this mean we should place a halo over their head, or place them on a pedestal, or worship them, or idolize them like a god?

Halo's? Let's look at halos for a few minutes. First of all the Dictionary tells us that a halo is a disk or circle of light appearing to surround a luminous body, Symbols, or Glory of the body. We see halo's placed around angels, the baby Jesus, and other pictures. Most always we see them connected with Spiritual or Biblical scenes. If however we look in the Bible we will notice that the word "Halo" does not appear anywhere in Scripture. But I want to add quickly that there is some places that seem to indicate something like the description given in the dictionary.

Let's look at a few!

Revelation 4:2,3 Here is a picture of God Almighty sitting in Heaven on His Throne. He is like Jasper which is semi-transparent (Luminous) with a reddish tint, sardine stone. Then we see a rainbow (halo) green in color, Emerald. God's Glory is a radiating luminous that fills Heaven and Earth, and all of space. The green rainbow may seem to large for us to call a halo, however if we would just remember how BIG GOD is, we can see the size is about right. Next:

Matthew 17:2,5 Jesus is up in a high mountain with Peter, James, and John and suddenly he is transfigured: his face shined like the sun and his clothes were white as light (luminous). While he talked a bright cloud overshadowed them. This is no doubt the Glory of God and could be understood as a halo.

Acts 6:15 Stephen was stoned to death for the witness of Jesus Christ. Notice in this verse, those in the council were amazed as they looked on Stephen because his face looked like the face of an angel. What did they see? Angels were thought even in those days to have halos, but also they had a radiance glowing or shinning forth. Stephen displayed these characteristics.

Exodus 34:29,30,33-35 Moses came down from the mountain after he had been with God for forty days. His face shined so bright that no one could look at him or come close. He had to put a Vail over his face in order to speak to the people but when he went and prayed to the Lord he took off the Vail.

Our luminous future is yet before us if we have not made a commitment to Christ. The Bible says we will be like Him when we see Him. His Glory is the Father's Glory and we will share that Glory. If you have not made your peace with God through Jesus Christ please don't wait any longer. Remember your future is tomorrow! What about your halo? If Jesus has one we will probably have one also. Make sure your heart is right with God. Jesus died shedding His Blood for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead for our redemption. Let's all go to Heaven!

This article is about the greatest choice of all time!
What about your choice for the future? Let it be Jesus Christ and Lord of your life.

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