Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

Christians get a little squirmy about the topic of receiving REWARDS in heaven. That is understandable because the unmerited favor of God gets them there in the first place.

God is less squirmy. He is just. He changes hearts, and those changed hearts CHANGE BEHAVIOR. Some of that is to be REWARDED. He may be handing out CROWNS in heaven.  The big question is, if you get one, WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH IT?  Listen just 7 minutes to hear a suggestion. bewithme.us to subscribe apple podcast and spotify are also good

John addresses two big concepts as he wraps up Revelation. The first is: Are these words TRUE and if so does RELYING on them mean? If this revelation is not a Revelation from God then it should not affect us in the least. He charges us to KEEP these Words and continue in them with strength.

The second concept is TIME. He repeatedly reminds us that TIME IS SHORT, or at least YOUR time is short. So then, if my known time is coming to an end, how shall I live?  If you wonder, see point #1 about putting your weight on the promises.

Bewithme.us Google podcasts and spotify 

I cannot help but mention the evil NAZI Major Arnold Toht whose face melted when opening the ark in the Indiana Jones movie.  Today's passage is exactly the opposite of death and face melting.  

God grants a new privilege for believers in heaven: it is the ability to SEE HIS FACE and not die. We were originally designed for such intimacy.  It has been absent since we got kicked out of the Garden of Eden.  Listen to 7 minutes and enjoy the thought of such access to God Himself. bewithme.us Apple Podcasts spotify

Do you ever wonder what is on the LAST PAGE OF THE BIBLE? Do you ever want to turn there and see how it ends? Join me for 7 minutes as we literally do so.

We will find that:

1. Heaven is going to last forever--the tree of life tells me so
2. Heaven is going to be INTERESTING--the tree of life tells me so
3. Heaven is going to fix all wrongs of the earth--the tree of life tells me so
4. Heaven is designed as a place for God (&people)--the tree of life tells me so

bewithme.us to subscribe to the last page and whatever comes next. Apple Podcasts

In heaven, there will be a permanent change in the way we get LIGHT. If you think seeing an eclipse is upending, pay attention to this: the GLORY OF GOD is the light of heaven.  There will be no need for the sun, for God's presence will be there full time.

There will be nothing detestable either inside or outside the walls of heaven. It is a place of security where we enjoy the permanence of His presence. Join me there. To start, download a few podcasts at bewithme.us or on Apple Podcasts. Then listen. 

Heaven is a physical, protected, secure place where your identity will be preserved.  It is rich with the history of God's interaction with mankind, as well as God's actual PRESENCE with mankind.

It is a place of superb value.  He made it for people, but He also made it FOR HIMSELF. Don't forget, HE lives there forever too. It is not inappropriate to dwell in our heads and in our hearts this wonderful place that someday we will actually dwell.

Bewithme.us google podcasts, Spotify and others.

Ancient Kings demonstrated their greatness by crowns of gold and jewels. The jewels tell us a lot. They tell us HOW FAR he went to get it, for certain jewels only come from specific places. He'd be saying: I possess the impossible! I exchanged my valuable things at great distance to obtain this precious gem.

We are the jewels of God. He went to great "distance" to get us: all the way from the land of sin and rebellion. And, He paid the highest price, the blood of Jesus, in exchange for us.  Listen and see if the walls of the new heaven on the new earth will someday represent that truth. Apple Podcasts, Spotify and google podcasts or write at bewithme.us@gmail to subscribe.

God tells His people to be PREPARED for heaven; to make ourselves READY for it. One of the ways we can to that is to KNOW that it is real and IMAGINE it as real.  

We can be blessed NOW by the thinking about THEN. He's given us lots to chew on: It is  a physical place of the home of God and people who receive Him.  It is permanent, secure, protected and PLEASANT. The PERSON of God is residing there with the PEOPLE of God. I cannot wait.

To get ready tomorrow too, subscribe at bewithme.us

Someday, there will be heaven on earth. You may ask, "how did that exactly happen?" Our passage today tells us: Heaven comes to earth. Heaven descends to a renewed earth. 

Who made it? What is it like? Who occupies this new real estate? How are the occupants referred to? 

John doesn't see a pie-in-the-sky dream, he sees a REALITY that God shares with us for a purpose. Listen 7 minutes and let's get started. bewithme.us Google podcasts.

So a future hell isn't much fun to talk about:

• It is AWAY from the PRESENCE of God. IMHO this will be the biggest regret for all the sentient people in hell
• It is WITH all the unfaithful, rebellious, sinful humans.  I'm not sure how much communication goes on, but these people are not your friends.
• It is with all the bad guy EVIL SPIRITs including the Beast, the false prophet, and Satan.  This is the terrifying part. They are still evil.  How'd you like to be in the same room as Satan for a minute, much less a decade.
• The Lake of Fire burns. Every word of this topic points to a physical suffering. As if the above characteristics aren't  enough.
• God is sovereign and you get a choice just because you read this.

 Listen 7 minutes to help. bewithme.us Apple Podcasts