Having been a member of Satan’s family for the first 22 years of my life, you live like most of the world lives. Having spent four years in the Navy, member of Satan’s family live a completely different life from those who belong to God’s family. Non-believers have a different concept of what life is all about.

While serving in the Navy, I spent time on Kwajalein, Pearl Harbor, on different ships patrolling off the coast of South Korea during the Korean War. I spent a few months in Japan as a radio instructor. I have seen all aspects of human behavior. Anything was permissible; as long as you did not get caught doing what was unlawful. There was a seeming lack of any morality. People were envious of others and no matter how much they had it was never enough. It was mostly about the “me” attitude and what gave most the greatest pleasure? It seemed almost impossible to keep everyone happy and pleased. There was always something they were looking for to satisfy whatever they didn’t have.

As I have studied the Old Testament women and children were treated as property. King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Nations raided each others for whatever they needed. The King then writes later in life, that life was meaningless, like chasing after the wind. Nothing seemed to fill the void in one’s life. (Ecclesiastes 1:14) His life was meaningless.

When I became a Christian and found the difference between Hell and Heaven, I knew that Heaven is where I wanted to live out eternity. I began reading the Bible and what Heaven was like; I began to make sure I knew what was necessary to get to Heaven. I read what God promises.

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.”

The old world and all of its evil are gone forever. A new kind of heaven and a new kind of earth is created. It must be different to allow a person’s body to last through eternity. Our diets will be different as we eat fruit from the Tree of Life. The same tree that Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat. It is believed that many things on earth will be similar to the old earth but the main differences are: There will be no sun, Satan is defeated, sin is banished, people live with God, the curse is removed, and all sin, tears and sorrows are gone. The main thing is, death is defeated and believers live with God forever. We are back at the beginning of the cycle when God had a relationship with Adam and Eve. As God provided everything for them, the same will be provided for believers.

I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. Christ promised to go and prepare a place with many mansions and He has. John gives a description of the city. We have to believe this is a literal city and not something symbolic having another meaning.

In the Garden of Eden God walked with Adam and Eve. He will do the same with believers by walking among them. (Leviticus 26:11 and 12). This same relationship will occur in the new earth as it did with Adam and Eve. With the great physician available, death would be rare to impossible and sickness would come from a cursed world. To have no stress or pain, to live a life of peace, joy and opportunity will be different from the old world. Verse 21:4 says there will be no more death. There will be death during the 1000 years but not on the new earth. Keep in mind; this is the new earth that is being talked about. Heaven is not necessarily paved with streets of gold. In heaven, it doesn’t talk about eating or describe how we will live. Rev. 2:3 says there “No longer will there be any curse.”

I then read about those who were not accepted into God’s family. Revelation 20:11–13 “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.” John 5:25 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

All who were not raised in the first resurrection, the non-believers, will be raised in the second one to stand at the Great White Throne Judgment and any who died sinners during the 1000 years will be there also. Jesus will judge them and this includes everyone from Cain to the 1000-year end. They will be judged and if their names are not in the Book of Life, they will be cast into the ‘Lake of Fire’. “Earth and sky fled” could mean the end of heaven and earth. Many Scriptures relate that there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Matthew 24:35 – Heaven and earth will pass away. Isaiah 51:6 – “Heaven will vanish like smoke and the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants will die like flies.” 2 Peter 3:7 – God commanded that the heavens and the earth would be consumed by fire on the Day of Judgment when ungodly people will perish. Every unrighteous person will stand before the Great White Throne when Christ is there to judge the sinner.

Saved believers will have their names in two books. They will stand in Judgment before Christ to receive a reward for their works, deeds or service. (I Corinthians 3 and II Corinthians 5:10) In the Book of Life it has only believer’s names. The Book of Deeds, Scriptures say your deeds are being kept tract of and there is continual writing going on.

As the books are opened, every righteous believer will be judged by their deeds. Works do not save us but our works indicate our relationship with Christ. There is no indication that anyone standing before Christ’s Judgment, having their name in both books, will be cast into the ‘Lake of Fire’. Believers will be rewarded by how they handled their gifts, opportunities and responsibilities. God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of faithful obedience and service. We must live each day knowing that God’s book is open. (Rev. 20:12) “The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. Verse 13 says: “Each person was judged according to what he had done.”