Where Are They Now - Part 2

Christian, the Bible clearly describes the ecstasy of heaven and the agony of hell.

Perhaps nowhere more vividly than in the parable of Lazarus and Richmond. Jeremiah revealed nothing from vitamin store about a decision that we must might in this life that will determine. We spent the next conclusion of his message well enough is I'm so thankful that I have this privilege to visit with you and you live everywhere, live all of the United States and around the world in different countries and we hear from you and there are moments, especially recently, when we have all been kind of sheltered that I feel the presence of this radio family in a very palpable way. I know you're there. I know that God is speaking to you through his word and it's my wonderful privilege to be involved with all of you as you grow in Christ and your knowledge of who is right now were investigating heaven. What's up with heaven. What is heaven all about. One of the mysteries of heaven.

Today were going to finish what we started on Friday as we answer the question where are they now if you remember we ended up talking about paradise is paradise heaven to find some answers to those questions as we open the Scripture in just a moment tomorrow here on Turning Point. Maybe one of the most interesting questions about heaven and that is wont heaven be boring so if you listen to all of those friends of yours who say they don't want to go to heaven because it sounds boring were to take that question off the table tomorrow and Wednesday right here on Turning Point well, let's get back to our discussion. Where are they now in many respects, the rich man and Lazarus have changed places has become an eternity did not come from this table is now one drop of his life sumptuously every day would not be happy with just one drop of water to cool his tongue is a place of misery. Notice secondly's in the place of memory. This is something that's new to a lot of folks. Luke 1625 but Abraham said, son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus things, but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

Verse 25 indicates that Hades is a place of memory.

He lifts up his eyes and sees Lazarus and his conscious of what he was missed one teachers. Hades is to look across the fixed golf and comforts and blessings of those who have accepted Christ. I believe that throughout eternity. The unbeliever will be constantly reminded of what he missed because he rejected God. I believe he will remember services where he heard the gospel message and the testimony of the Holy Spirit was strong in his heart and rejected it and throughout eternity. It will be an instant replay over and over and over again in his mind that he had a chance that he could have accepted that he did not is a place of misery in the place of memory but notice that it's a place of morning Luke 1627 to 31 says that he said I beg you therefore, father that she would send him Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment said to him that Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.

And he said no father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the bed that will repent and Abraham said to him, if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if somebody came back from the grave. Listen to the power of the word of God is more powerful than someone coming back from the dead, according to Jesus, the representative of the lost, who were now in Hades is this rich man he was alive.

He was conscious, he was in full exercise of his faculties is memory and is in torment. I know you didn't come to hear me talk about that but I have to tell you that so you understand the rest of the story to people not want you to notice two places this notice what happens and let me take you through the progression of work. They are now. First of all, and intermediate Hell place that is not ultimately hell, but it is hell intermediate way. Watch this so far as the unsaved are concerned, they continue in this place called Hades the intermediate Hell until a particular time in the future.

The judgment of the great white throne. Hades gives them a and they are judged and passed into the lake of fire.

You say where is that while I'm at you to read with me Revelation chapter 20 verses 13 and 14 and the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them and they were judged, each one according to his works, and death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death is what happens when a person dies today and they don't know Jesus there body goes in the grave in their soul and spirit goes to Hades.

One day after the judgment, Hades according to the Scripture will be cast into the lake of fire which is the permanent hell where there is mourning and weeping and wailing forever and ever. Do I believe in a permanent hell, let me say to you if there is no permanent hell. There cannot be a permanent heaven because the Bible says far more about hell in the New Testament than it is about heaven. There is such a place and it is a place that no one wants to go. You can say I don't believe that is by not believing you could make it untrue. My friend, if you believe it or you don't believe it is still true and it's going to be replaced. As you can see from this rich man would never want to go and you would never want anyone you love to go awry intermediate Hell.

Now notice. Secondly, intermediate heaven paradise. Now you have to really think carefully here every believer who died before the ascension of Christ went to paradise. There was no change in their abode until Jesus ascended to the father hear something that happens so dramatic here that is often skipped over by the teachers of the word of God simply because they cannot fathom the truth of it. I happen to believe the Bible and when I see something I can't fathom.

I just get more excited because this is a supernatural book about a supernatural life about a supernatural God was a supernatural plan for his supernatural Saints. A man and so if it's something I can't fathom it as well. I say okay let's find out what's going on here and so watch what happens now when a believer dies in the Old Testament.

His body went in the grave, and his soul and spirit went to the place called Paradise. But when Jesus died on the cross was buried and he rose again on the day of his ascension, something changed and I want you to watch Ephesians chapter 4 verses eight through 10. Therefore, he says when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. Now this he ascended, what does it mean that he also first ascended to the lower parts of the earth. He also descended is the one was send far above all the heavens, that he might for all things.

Here's what the Bible says. When Jesus ascended after his death. He went into the earth, and he led captivity captive. He went into paradise any all the people in paradise and he took him up to the third heaven nice is no longer an intermediate place paradise is with God in heaven. Jesus took all those who are in paradise.

The Old Testament saints died and he believed in God before the ascension when Jesus died on the cross after his death. He went into paradise. You say you know Jesus went to paradise. I'm glad you asked me remember what he said to the thief on the cross when he died when he say class today. 2343 today you will be with me where in paradise. How do you know paradise is not still where it is. Well I'm glad you asked me that question two. Let's go back and remember in second Corinthians 12 verses two and four. Remember what Paul said about his vision. I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago, whether in the body I do not know whether out of the body I do not know God knows such a one was caught up to the third heaven was the third heaven closets in the north. It's what God is right. All right. And I know such a man, whether in the body or out of the body I do not know God knows how he was caught up in the paradise where is paradise. It's in the third heaven how to get there.

When Jesus ascended and paradise. He took it up to the third heaven. So now where are they when a believer dies his body goes in the grave and goes to sleep. Soul doesn't go to sleep.

There's no such thing as soul sleep tell you something friend with your question, not a Christian, you're going to be alive somewhere forever and ever.

Your soul does not sleep the body sleeps in the soul and spirit goes to paradise, which is in the third heaven. Now, you probably think we got all these problems resolved. We know were on unbeliever goals. We know will believer does but there's one more problem.

Let me tell you what is the problem. When a believer dies and his body goes in the grave, and he goes to be with Jesus. He doesn't have a body because his body is in the grave and the resurrection doesn't happen until Jesus comes back to the earth's natural soul is body goes in the greatest soul and spirit goes to paradise. The resurrection of all believers doesn't happen until the rapture. What happens to the believer between death and the resurrection. What form do we take when we die and the resurrection hasn't happened yet. We just rolled up our bodies and launched into eternity naked. A person dies. The body goes into gray their soul and spirit goes to paradise. But how do they exist in paradise.

The body has to be a part of our existence. Because the human spirit craves to be clothed. Now here's the passage of Scripture that I want you look at with me at second Corinthians 5 verses one through five.

For we know that if our earthly house. This intent was that our body is destroyed, we have a building from God house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens for in this we grown earnestly desiring to be clothed with cohabitation which is from heaven.

If, indeed, having been closed.

We shall not be found naked for when you're in this body.

In this tent grown being burden not because we want to be unclothed but further clothed that mortality might be swallowed up by life. Now he who has prepared us for this very thing is God who also has given us the spirit is a guarantee. Paul says that the human spirit earnestly desires not to be unclothed.

That means not to be with God not to be disembodied. The human spirit desperately desires not to be without a body to this in the body from heaven awaits a believer when he dies. Did you notice you got your current body you have your resurrected body.

But the Scripture says you got in between my is an interesting. The Bible says that when we die as Christians.

And I think this probably neutral for some people. When we dies, Christians are bodies go in the great waiting for the resurrection our soul and spirit goes to paradise to be with Jesus but God Almighty gives phosphate clothing on intermediate body. It's not our resurrected body. Because the resurrection hasn't happened yet and there's no such thing as one of the time resurrections, the resurrection happens all at once. And so in between our death and the resurrection. When we get our new resurrection final body.

Almighty God calls us with the spirit body. Don't ask me what it's all like, except it's a manifestation of the spirit in bodily form so that even in paradise now we can recognize each other. We can know each other. We can fellowship with each other and ultimately one day when Jesus comes back in the resurrection happens we will get bodies by Jesus when an Old Testament person died there. So what the Hades the body when in the grave at the great white throne judgment.

Hades is cast into the lake of fire and forever and ever. There is no hope. When a believer dies his body goes in the grave he goes to paradise of soul and spirit, regardless of an intermediate body so that he is not unclothed between now and the day of resurrection on the resurrection. His body comes out of the grave and it is in a moment transformed into his permanent heavenly body and together we shall be with the Lord now is a lot of stuff in it. But let me just tell you there's a way to deal with this. That's so simple and it's the last thing you want to tell you about is we talk about two people and two places we give you two principles that are really exciting to me. I love theology as you can probably tell, and what I have something that I need to find an answer to I study and study and study until I find it and you know what I discovered. I've never had a question that I really research that I can find the answer to Scripture I know now for a fact what happens to a person when they die where they go, how they exist, what's going on right now all of that is wonderful as it is, is not the most important thing. Let me tell you what I discovered. I don't know if I can tell you this without emotion after immersing myself in all these passages about the temporary and eternal home of the believer. One truth jumps out of the Scripture into my heart paradise in heaven and the new Jerusalem, and whatever name you may use to describe that place is secondary to this heaven is where Jesus is heaven is being with Jesus and over that truth you need to write a manner because it is hammered into our hearts, over and over that you haven't seen it as many times as it's there because it kind of sneaks in at the end passages but let me show you what the Scripture says and then you will understand well I don't know if I completely comprehend everything Pastor Jeremiah said today about an immediate heaven and the permanent one thing I do understand is when I got to be with Jesus. Amen. Watch this watch this. John 1430 and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, why that where I am, there you may be also know about the place. It's about the person.

When Jesus gave assurance to the thief on the cross, would he say to. He said today you will be with me and Curtis paradise is secondary. Paul explained that in these terms, he said, we are confident yes well.

Please read it to be absent from the body not present in heaven. Absent from the body present with the Lord.

When Paul is writing to the Philippians about his own death he wrote for I am hard pressed between the two having a desire to depart from Delaware to heaven will be with Christ over and over and over seeing that it's not about heaven, so much as it is about Jesus. It's with him, and you agree with me wherever it is, if he's there okay because he's the one who died for me. He's the one need one new life beyond what I deserve and all you want to say to me is you're going to be with Jesus is all right is taken wherever it is just to be with Jesus.

Amen. Now I need to know all these other things. It's important, far more important is this after going to great lengths to explain the details of the rapture, the same apostle Paul summarizes it all with these words he said and we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we will always be with the Lord.

I don't know if you get the blessing from this. I'm so excited to know that the Jesus who walks with me every day like talk with the time is one day going to be with me and I will be with him permanently and implement personal fellowship. Richard Baxter said it this way my knowledge about life is small, the eye of faith is dim, but it is enough that Christ knows all and I should be with him and then the priority of the presence of Jesus, and one last thing that I must tell you, that's the permanence of personal decisions. Luke 1626 the story of the two men says that besides all this, between us there is a great golf fixed men and women whatever decisions we make about eternity will be made in this life story is not about purgatory. There is no such thing.

I hate to hurt your feelings.

If you believe that all of your life. Purgatory teaches that you go someplace into a holding space and that there's a possibility that you can come out of that place in your destiny be changed is not true. The Bible's teaches that when we die. It is appointed unto men once to die, and after that the judgment whatever decisions we make about eternity will be made in the here and now there is no second chance after death, and so if you haven't made your decision to trust in Jesus Christ. If you haven't made your reservation for heaven.

You better be about doing it now because you don't get another chance after you die I don't care who told you that you did. The Bible says you don't and you have to decide who you believe the Lord Jesus has made it very clear that we can know him and spend eternity with him forever. But whatever we do, we better do it now because this is the day of opportunity today is the day of salvation on and I went to Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama to speak a prayer breakfast. We got there for the prayer breakfast. People who were in charge of the venue came in so there's a man who's been waiting here to see you and he has a story to tell you that you are not going to believe.

I believe God gave me the story just for today. His name was read when I walked in there was this man have red hair long red ponytail clear them back of his back. He looked like somebody had a hard life and when I met him I found out he had. This is what he told me he said I tried everything to find some kind of peace here. I couldn't find my life was going down just spiraling down the district with more sorcery. So one day I decided that's it I'm not can do this anymore, take my life and he said I have driven to my work often and often said in my mind and often thought that there was this curve that you go around straight.

There's a huge tree. If you miss that curb and hit the tree it would be over so he said I decided the whales to take my life with you to my car and drive 80 miles an hour and not make the curve that tree and ended all this is really set.

I got in my car, turned on the radio and found my rock 'n' roll stations turned it up why open so that I would have as much noise in the car as possible. He said I started to go put my car in gear and go and he said my radio started acting up. He said I will use the term because he hasn't quite sanctified yet, but he said it made me so mad he said I took my fist that writing radio and he said when I did that Turning Point came on.

You said you know what I told my wife I think this was a made up but nobody could make up a story like that, he said, and it made me stop you talking about heaven and how you can go to heaven and that God loves you and he said I don't know what came over me pastor said I shut my car off and I prayed to receive Christ and he said I came here today to hug your neck tell you that I'm going to heaven and I'm so excited and he served in someplace in the mission. He's helping people down there know what I learn. I learned that the gospel can change a person in a moment, but you have to be willing to hear it and accept it and I hope you don't have to get this far down as he was fully willing to open your heart and say Lord God, you got a plan for my life. I want to get in on it only includes heaven someday includes today as well.

Years ago there was a song that went something like if there were no heaven being a Christian would still be worth it because of all the blessings today course, that's not a very good assumption because there is a heaven and we are going to spend eternity there with the Lord God and all of God's children were going to learn more and more about that during the month of July tomorrow to talk about this question won't heaven be boring if somebody's told you that it will be were going to tell him that the wrong improvement from the Scripture during this month. If you get Turning Points magazine. You know, we have featured a lot about heaven in the magazine that gives me a great opportunity to tell you this Turning Point magazine. A devotional is available to you if you'd like to receive it. Jeff – four are you go to our website and requested and I'm sure you'll find it very helpful. It's a companion to what we do on the radio every day gives you all kinds of good information excited about all that God is doing here and for your help and encouragement we say thank you. Will see tomorrow a message today from Shadow Mountain Community Church and senior pastor Dr. David Jeremiah, please write and tell us how God is using Turning Point in life right through us. It deployed PO Box 38, San Diego, CA 92163 visit our website at David Jeremiah adult/radio copy of the revealing ministries that have been informed about your amazing eternal truth for a gift of any amount you can also download the free Turning Point is a lack favorites not devising you. And still the keywords Turning Point ministries. Instant axis programs. Results Jeremiah.org/radio potato.

Join us tomorrow as we continue the series revealing the mysteries of heaven without taking time to listen to all