Early on in the book of Revelation there are seven historic churches mentioned by name, addressed with specific messages from Jesus. Each of the church had slightly different contexts, but despite their unique settings, Jesus knew their peaks and valleys. Jesus knew the trouble of the churches. Jesus knew that some Christians were dying for […]
What will heaven be like? One word to describe heaven is freedom. Freedom from all sorts of ailments, evils, and features of the present age that will pass away with the great coming of our Lord. Richard Baxter (17th century English theologian and pastor) wrote extensively on Heaven in his masterful work “The Saints’ Everlasting […]
The 17th century puritan pastor Richard Baxter has a beautiful book titled “the saint’severlasting rest”. In chapter 3 of the book Baxter waxes on the particular delight of eternitysecured in Christ. I hope these words stir you this day to hope, joy, faith, and good works: The Purchased Possession It is a most singular honor […]
See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, norwill they come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17 NIV).In Isaiah 65:17 we read an ancient prophet speaking the Word of the Lord to the people of God.Within this passage there is a thematic refrain that sounds very similar to […]
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of therighteous. (Psalm 1:5 NIV) Judgement and Heaven What will judgment day be like? This may not be as common a question as “what will heaven belike,” but thankfully we take our queues not from the commonness of questions but from […]
“Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10b NIV)The day of the Lord will be a mixed day. It will be a day with canyons of difference in experiencefor the righteous and the unrighteous. For those who are against the Lord and his anointed, itwill be a day that begins an eternal […]
Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. TheJudge is standing at the door! (Jas 5:9 NIV) Family Status I’m struck time and time again by how often the daily practical outworking of Christian living isinformed by eschatological realities. James gives a strong prohibition – don’t grumble againstone another. He […]
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor13:13)In what ways is love the greatest of these three that remain? Each of these comes as divinegifts. Each of these comes with blessing, purpose and usefulness in the present life. But not allthree of […]
by Jacob Toman As Christians one of the greatest joys we possess is our hope for the future. It is a hope in things not yet fully realized, but already fully guaranteed. The same covenant keeping God who has kept all of his promises, has promised to return, and to spend eternity dwelling among his […]