You have probably heard it said: What we think about eternity will determine how we live today. The Old Testament prophets predicted the first arrival of the Messiah. Everything they foretold came to pass to fulfill God’s plan. This is why I believe what the Bible teaches about Christ’s second return will be exactly as predicted.

We are told that heaven is a temporary holding place for the souls of believers until Jesus returns. After 1000 years on this earth with Christ, we will be transported to a new heaven and a new earth that is indescribable and beautiful. There we will live with God and Christ as the angels have lived for ever.

Matthew 24:4 – 25 warns us to let no one deceive us. We will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation. There will be famines and earthquakes. We will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death. We will be hated by all nations because of our belief in Christ. There will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now and will never be equaled again. There will be false prophets. They will perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the strongest and most faithful Christians. II Peter 3:17 – “Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.”

I Thessalonians 4:16 – 18 – “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (This has been called the rapture.) I Corinthians 15:52 – “For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (We are told we will have an imperishable body, will become immortal and will have the mind of Christ.”) 1 John 3.2b – “But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

Revelation 21:1 – 4 – “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’”

God says He is making everything new. Those who are victorious will inherit all these blessings and He will be their God and we will be His children. Those who do not accept Christ as their Savior will spend eternity separated from God.

As we read on there are far greater promises. I don’t know about you but there is nothing I would trade here on this earth for the promises of the future and life after death. How much are we willing to sacrifice in order to live a pure and holy life? How important is it to live as the world lives if it means missing heaven? Is living a disciplined life, saved, totally surrendered, having repented and committed to Christ worth forever and ever?