Eternal Life
Please also see: ‘Born Again.’ ‘Death.’ ‘Heaven.’ ‘Jesus’ Return.’ ‘Life or Death.’ ‘Relationship with GOD.’
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
As I have said elsewhere, only perfection can enter heaven, and it is impossible for any human to be perfect, irrespective of how many ‘good’ things you have done, and how good you may think you are. The only way is for GOD to see you through Jesus – if you have made Jesus the Lord of our life.
Jesus as Himself - Man and GOD - was the only perfect human on Earth.
Eternal life is incomparably and infinitely more magnificent than this life on Earth; there is literally no comparison. Your life right now might seem really good to you; or maybe just all right; or maybe just tolerable; or maybe miserable; however with a meaningful relationship with GOD and Jesus, you can be assured of a magnificent eternal life beyond imagination, after this one.
In truth when you are born again, you have virtually stepped into eternal life, and death is only a temporary interruption before our resurrection and fullness of permanent entry into eternal life.
The parting of death, will only seem momentary, then like waking from a sleep, the time dissolves, and the future will be forever in our new GOD - given, perfect, eternal bodies.
Eternity is infinite - unending. It is a state of forever-ness which is not subject to the restrictions and limitations of time. It is a state of always-will-be, beyond measurement.
It should ideally be every person’s strongest desire to qualify – be eligible – enabled – to be resurrected by Jesus to attain eternal life. Magnificent beyond imagination.
Romans 10:9-13 ‘If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that GOD raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.”
Genesis 3:22-24 ‘And the LORD GOD said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the LORD GOD banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.. After HE drove the man out, HE placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.’
This was the loss of eternal life, and only GOD can restore it, as a gift, to each person who qualifies.
James 4:14b ‘What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.’
After this relatively short life, in which you might feel happy and fulfilled, or unhappy and unfulfilled; you are dead and gone and ultimately forgotten. How tragic this is, unless you choose to have and develop relationship with GOD and then to be able to look beyond this very compromised temporary existence, towards eternal life in the CREATOR’S perfect kingdom; which is a magnificent hope and expectation. Your spiritual eyes can look towards eternal life in GOD’s eternal Kingdom.
Eternal life is a free unmerited gift from GOD, however, understandably, it has obligations and conditions, but they are not difficult.
GOD, through Jesus, invites us to choose life; meaning eternal life. Life which ends in death cannot be life; it is only a temporary existence. GOD invites us to true LIFE.
This is why Jesus came to earth; to teach us the conditions of qualifying.
Eternal life is fully available to your choice. GOD has made it possible through Jesus. GOD does not decide who deserves it; HE has offered it as the magnificent gift that it is; so please choose eternal life, because not doing so, is rejecting it, which results in eternal death; (eternal non-existence).
There is no measurable comparison between eternal life and eternal death, because both involve endlessness in opposite directions.
When we have the awareness and expectation of an endless life of eternal perfection, which GOD has promised, and which becomes our focus and vision; everything changes. The perspective, values and priorities of this life are changed forever. This life becomes a schoolroom and a road to GOD’S eternal kingdom. That is why Jesus pointed out that we are in the world, but not of the world. We must avoid Satan’s influence. Satan is ruler (not owner) of this world, and his ways are the ways of this world.
Whatever we gain in this life, whatever we accomplish, whatever we make for ourselves; is all temporary, it will not last, it will eventually vanish forever.
On the other hand what we gain through Jesus is eternal life in a new heaven and a new earth; and is worth infinitely more than anything and everything that this world could ever offer. Material possessions are so temporary, where-as relationship with GOD is permanent, and ultimately is all that really matters.
Pride and independence can keep you away from seeking, acknowledging, and forming a relationship with GOD; and having assurance of resurrection and eternal life.
You can enter GOD’S kingdom in your heart right now. Don’t gamble with time, you cannot be sure of the future beyond this moment.
Many people do not want to acknowledge that this world is disintegrating; physically, socially, politically, and internationally. There are pockets of good, but overall, any objective observer can see that the picture is not good. If people do not acknowledge a condition, they cannot prepare to cope with the consequences.
In spiritual terms, if people die without a close loving relationship with GOD, their eternal non-existence is sealed, where-as, if they die having a close relationship with GOD, they are merely asleep and assured of being resurrected into new, perfect, immortal bodies when Christ returns to take GOD’s children home to heaven, as members of HIS eternal family. People will still recognize each other.
Jesus opened the door to eternal life for us; the choice is ours as to whether we receive it. Satan’s counterfeit offer is to convince people that they have an immortal soul and that death is not real.
There is a path to heaven, and only Jesus can lead us there. People often use the old saying “All roads lead to Rome;” however All roads do NOT lead to heaven, by any means. There is only one road.
Christ extends to all the world the invitation to turn to Him and be saved from eternal death. He commissions and directs His angels to render Divine help to every soul that comes to Him in contrition and repentance. Jesus comes personally by His Holy Spirit, and every soul that is fully yielded to Christ is kept in possession by the heavenly realm, and becomes protected and impregnable to Satan’s assaults.
Christ became ‘one flesh’ with us, in order that we might become ‘one spirit’ with Him. It is through this union that we are to come forth from the grave, not merely as a manifestation of GOD’s power, but because through faith, Christ’s life has become ours. Whoever sees Christ as who He is, and receives Him into their heart, has everlasting life. It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of GOD, which we are free, by faith, to invite to dwell in our heart, is the ‘beginning of eternal life.’
This physical life that we are living now, is not eternal (immortal,) which it was when we were originally created, it is now temporary because of Satan’s deceiving Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Humankind does not have control over life. Jesus has eternal life and He chose to lay it down for us, and after three days to pick it up again.
When you are ‘Born Again’ and have the reality of eternal life in your heart; your own pride, selfishness, and self-worship cannot exist any longer. When you have the full appreciation of Jesus’ love and how He expressed it for us, your thoughts will be elevated, your heart purified, and character and values transformed.
The whole relativity, perspective, meaning, and value of life take on unlimited proportions. Transitory worldly pleasures, which fill us up without satisfying us, are replaced by a new abundant life which includes one’s whole being -- heart, mind, and soul.
Psalm 23:4&6 ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me; YOUR rod and YOUR staff, they comfort me.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.’
Psalm 27:4 ‘One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, tp gaze upon the beauty of the LORD ant to seek HIM in HIS temple.’
Psalm 37:29 ‘The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.’
Isaiah 25:8A ‘GOD will swallow up death forever. The sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces.’
Isaiah 51:6 ‘Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But My salvation will last forever, My righteousness will never fail.’
Daniel 2:4 ‘In the time of those things, the GOD of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.’
Daniel 4:34 (last bit) ‘His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation.’
Daniel 7:18 ‘The saints (true Christians) of the Most High (GOD) will receive the Kingdom and will possess it forever; yes, for ever and ever.’
Matthew 6:19-21. ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’
Let your heart be filled with things of GOD and eternity, Do not allow yourself to be attached to temporary things such as acquiring, collecting or amassing possessions, property, valuables and investments in this life. These allow a cord of attachment to bind your heart to earth. By all means have whatever enables a decent, healthy, debt free life, but keep it in perspective. Let your heart be filled with relationship with Jesus and GOD, and stay focussed on HIS eternal kingdom and your future eternal life in heaven, followed by life on the new earth.
Matthew 7:13-14 ‘Jesus said “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life (meaning real life = eternal life,) and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:21 Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does the will of My FATHER who is in heaven.”
Matthew 19:17 “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only ONE who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
(‘Life’ means eternal life.)
Matthew 24:36 ‘No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the FATHER.’
Matthew 25:34 ‘Then the King will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed by My FATHER; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
Mark 12:27a ‘Jesus said “GOD is not the GOD of the dead, but of the living.”
Luke 10:28b ‘Jesus said “Do this and you will live” (meaning eternal life).
John 1:1-5 ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD. He was with GOD in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’
Jesus was and is the Word.
John 1:12 ‘Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of GOD.’
John 3:3 ‘Jesus said “I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of GOD unless he is born again.”
John 3:15 ‘Everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.’
John 3:36 ‘Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for GOD’s wrath remains on them.’
John 5:24-29 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My (Jesus’) Word and believes and believes Him (GOD the FATHER) Who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; that person has crossed over from death to life (eternal). I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of GOD and those who hear will live. For as the FATHER has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself. And HE has given Him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His Voice and come out; those who have done good will rise to live (eternally), and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”
John 5:39-40 “You study the scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me (Jesus), yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.” = eternal life.
Why would people not want this?!!
John 6:40 & 44 ‘Jesus said “For My FATHER’S will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. No one can come to Me unless the FATHER who sent Me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
John 5:19 Jesus said “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of GOD and those who hear will live.”
John 6:46-48 ‘No one has seen the FATHER except the One Who is from GOD; only He has seen the FATHER. I tell you the truth, whoever believes has everlasting life. I am the Bread of Life.”
John 6:53-55 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink.”
John 8:18-21 ‘I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of GOD to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the One who subjected it, (GOD allowed it to happen) in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom with the children of GOD.’
John 8:51 “I (Jesus) tell you the truth, if anyone keeps My word, they will never see death.”
John 10:10 ‘The thief (Satan) comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they (us) may have life, and have it to the full.’
John 10:17-18 ‘The reason my FATHER loves Me is that I lay down My life, only to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from My FATHER.’
Jesus’ original un-borrowed, underived, immortal, eternal life is not inherent in human beings; we can only possess it through Christ. We cannot possibly earn it, it is a free gift from GOD when we believe in Christ as our personal Saviour, in true relationship with Him.
Only the true owner of something can redeem it back into their possession. So only by the fact that Jesus is our Creator, could He also be our Redeemer.
John 10:27-30 ‘Jesus said “My sheep (His followers) listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My FATHER, WHO has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My FATHER’s hand. I and the FATHER are ONE.”
John 11:25-27 ‘Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes Lord,’ she told Him, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of GOD, who was to come into the world.”
John 14:1-3 ‘Jesus said “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in GOD; trust also in Me. In my Father’s house are many rooms (mansions); if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.”
John 14:6 ‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the FATHER except through Me.”
John 17:1-3 ‘After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed: “FATHER, the hour has come. Glorify YOUR Son, that YOUR Son may glorify YOU. For YOU granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those YOU have given Him. Now this is eternal life that they know YOU, the only true GOD and Jesus Christ, Whom YOU have sent.’
This, of course, was Jesus referring to Himself, which also served to describe His GOD-given mission to His disciples.
John 19:10b “I (Jesus) have come that they (us) may have life, and have it to the full.”
‘Full’ means restoration to the inheritance of eternal life, which is ‘real life,’ = ‘full life.’ This means not only that this present life becomes far more meaningful, with this added perspective, but that Christ has opened the door to eternal life; the life that is true life with never-ending abundance. Life that ends in death cannot be true life.
If we repent (turn away) from our fallen worldly way of life and receive Christ as our Saviour and life giver, we become one with Him. Our will then synchronizes with His Divine Will and we become partakers of Christ’s life which is eternal. We inherit immortality from GOD by receiving Christ’s life, for Christ is the fullness and completion of GOD; and this in fact is the complete fulfilment of GOD’s mystical one-ness with humanity.
To reiterate: Eternal life, after resurrection from this temporary life (temporary existence) in this compromised world, is entry to an endless life of magnificent perfection in every possible way, all beyond our present ability to even imagine. ‘Real life’ does not end in death.
Those who die truly believing, and having committed their lives to Jesus, will be raised from death into transformed, glorious new bodies. Believers who are still alive will be changed in an instant, and all will rise into the air, drawn to the glorious light of Jesus’ presence. All these people will journey with Him beyond the stars, through the galaxies to heaven. Jesus will remove all obstacles of distance, black holes etc. GOD will beckon us home, where we will all arrive together. We will stand together on a sea of glass around the throne of GOD.
We will eventually return to a magnificent new, re-created earth, having travelled back through space in the New Jerusalem, a golden city which settles on earth to become our eternal dwelling place. The transparent gold that paves the streets of the New Jerusalem will not wear out, the gates will be made of enormous pearls, and the sapphires and emeralds of the foundations will last forever. The people will be refreshed forever by the river of life that flows through the city; and forever renewed by the tree of life in the city which bears twelve kinds of fruit. This is all described in the Book of Revelation.
Those who keep Christ out of their lives here on earth, have rejected GOD’s invitation to eternal life, and cannot be accepted as a member of His family and dwell with Him in heaven.
Life that is ‘True Life’ is not just a better version of this life, it is a perfect (endless) eternal life in a new perfect, eternal (immortal and everlasting) body, and dwelling in GOD’s perfect, eternal Kingdom, and on the new earth; magnificent beyond our present comprehension.
John 20:30-31 ‘Jesus did many miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book (The Bible). But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of GOD, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.’ (Meaning real life, which is eternal.)
Romans 6:23 ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
Romans 8:11 ‘And if the Spirit of HIM WHO raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, HE WHO raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, HE WHO raised Christ from the dead will also give life (eternal) to your mortal bodies through HIS Spirit, who lives in you.’
Romans 8:12-17 ‘Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation; but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of GOD are the children of GOD. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, FATHER.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are GOD’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of GOD and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.’
Romans 8:16 ‘The Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are GOD’s children.’
Verse 17 in summary says “Therefore we are heirs of GOD and joint heirs with Christ, that we may also share in His glory.’
Romans 12:1b-2 ‘Everyone whose name is found written in the book (of life) will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.’
1 Corinthians 2:9 ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM.’ This is magnificent beyond words.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 ‘Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly: I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.’
This is referring to the eternal worthwhileness of concentrating on pursuing relationship with GOD above all else, and spreading HIS Word.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 ‘I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of GOD, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
2 Corinthians 4:16 - 5:5 ‘Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. Since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
For we know that if the Earthly tent we live in (our body) is destroyed, we have a building from GOD, an eternal house in heaven, (a new eternal / immortal body,) not built by human hands Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the One WHO has fashioned us for this very purpose is GOD, WHO has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.’
Jesus was speaking about attaining ‘real life’ (eternal life) meaning a perfect life in every way, an eternal (endless) life where death does not exist.
In the Book of John there are seventeen scriptures speaking of being ‘raised up’ at the last day, and ‘eternal life’. They are Ch3:15-16, 36. Ch4:14,36. Ch5:24, 39. Ch6:27, 40, 47, 54 68. 10:28. 12:25, 50. Ch17:2-3.
Galatians 4:6-7 ‘Because you are sons, GOD sent the Spirit of HIS Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, FATHER.” So you are no longer a slave, but a child; and since you are a child, GOD has made you also an heir.’
Galatians 6:7-8 ‘Do not be deceived: GOD cannot be mocked. A person reaps what they sow. The person who sows to please their sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the person who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.’
Ephesians 1:4-8 ‘For GOD chose us in HIM before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in HIS sight. In love HE predestined us to be adopted as HIS children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with HIS pleasure and will, to the praise of HIS glorious grace, which HE has freely given us in the One HE loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of GOD’S grace that HE lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.’
Ephesians 4:2-7 ‘Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one GOD and FATHER of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.’
Philippians 3:20 ‘But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.’
Colossians 3:1-6 ‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above (in heaven), where Christ is seated (appointed) at the right hand of GOD (position of authority and privilege). Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden (combined) with Christ in GOD. When Christ who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of GOD is coming.’
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 ‘Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of the people, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord’s word, ewe tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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.’
Titus 1:2 ‘A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which GOD, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.’
Titus 3:4-7 ‘But when the kindness and love of GOD our Saviour appeared, HE saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of HIS mercy. HE saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom HE poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by HIS grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.’
GOD knew long beforehand those who would seek HIM, turn to HIM, accept HIM, want to belong to HIM and to be members of HIS family in eternal life in HIS kingdom, which will be infinitely superior to this life and this world.
Hebrews 12:14 ‘Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.’
1 Peter 1:3-5 ‘Praise be to the GOD and FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade; kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by GOD’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed on the last day.’
1 Peter 5:4 ‘And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.’
2 Peter 1:10-11 'Therefore my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.'
1 John 2:17 ‘The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of GOD lives forever.’
1 John 2:25 ‘And the promise He has promised us is eternal life.’
1 John 5:10-13 ‘Whoever believes in the Son of GOD accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe GOD has made HIM out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony GOD has given about HIS Son. And this is the testimony: GOD has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever who does not have the Son of GOD does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of GOD so that you may know that you have eternal life.’
Jude 21 ‘Keep yourselves in GOD’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.’
Jude 24-25 ‘To HIM WHO is able to keep you from falling and to present you before HIS glorious presence without fault and with great joy; to the only true GOD our SAVIOUR be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord before all ages, now and forevermore. Amen.’
Revelation 20:6-10 ‘Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of GOD and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. ‘When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the Earth – Gog and Magog – and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the Earth and surrounded the camp of GOD’s people, the city HE loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.’
For everyone who is saved forever from death into eternal life, the following scripture is very reassuring and comforting; especially for all who have regrets, sadness, and painful memories:
Revelation 21:4 ‘He (GOD) 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.’
Elijah endured great and severe trials in this life-time, and was taken up to Heaven on a chariot of fire.
Someday, like Elijah, we (who are born again and love GOD,) will be in Heaven and will enjoy GOD’s presence forever.
Jesus has opened the door and issued the invitation for you to inherit eternal life, but you have to accept it; and acceptance has conditions, but they are not difficult, and people cannot inherit something without being eligible to do so.
A mighty blessing is waiting.
The last 14 paragraphs in ‘The Great Controversy’ by Ellen G. White describe life, perspective, and some of the likely conditions of heaven and eternal life.
ISBN 978-1-921292-67-5