Whatever Happened to Heaven? | Lesson 12

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.  -Luke 21:28

[Here's your PDF copy to add to your study binder]

I love shopping at thrift shops, yard sales, and antique shops.  I love the looking for a treasure.  I don't always find one; but that doesn't stop me from from looking.  I don't always have something in mind, either; but I know that when I find that 'something', I'll know it.

Yesterday was my birthday and my sweet husband took me out to lunch and a treasure hunt.  We looked at several shops and I was really getting a little disappointed that I hadn't found a single thing. One of the hindrances was that the prices seemed to be over the norm for thrift shopping.

 I looked at the craft section, the housewares, the furniture, and then over to the books.  As I was getting disgusted at the pagan books masquerading as Christian .. there it was.. a treasure! The title intrigued me.  The publishing date surprised me. The price was just right.  And after reading the back cover, I knew that this treasure had to be a part of our home library.   Whatever Happened to Heaven?

Here's the back cover for you to read:

The overwhelming emphasis in the New Testament is upon heaven.  This vision has been largely lost in the church today.  The purpose of this book is to restore that vision.

 During the 1970's when The Late, Great Planet Earth was outselling everything, the rapture was the hot topic.  Pastors preached about heaven, and Christians eagerly anticipated being taken up at any moment to meet their Lord in the air.  When Christ didn't return and the 40 years since the establishment of a new Israel in 1948 expired without the fulfillment of prophesied events, disillusionment began to set in.

Today, a growing number of Christians are exchanging the hope for the rapture for a new hope...that Christians can clean up society and elect enough of their own candidates to political office to make this world a "heaven on earth". 

Bestselling author Dave Hunt probes that question thoroughly and provides an easily understandable explanation of all the many issues and beliefs.  Hunt shows us that heaven really is our home and brings a fascinating new clarity to how we lost that hope and how it can be regained.  --

Want to know when this book was written?  I thought maybe in the 2000's or maybe 5 to 7 years ago. Wow! I was surprised to read ... published 1988 .. Really?! Wow!

How loudly the false teachings have taken over the church .. to the degree that I have met people who are regular church attenders, say they are Christians, and yet have NEVER heard of the rapture..the catching away of the Bride of Christ to meet the Lord in the air.  I honestly thought that when these Christians told me they didn't know about the rapture, that maybe it was a local thing...because we've only lived in our current state for just under 8 years.

But no!  This sinister deception was actually gaining a foothold in the church 27 years ago! Oh how I grieve for those who are not expectantly watching and waiting to meet their Saviour, Redeemer, and Bridegroom -- Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

In our text of this study, we read on page 37 the Ninth evidence of Living Water that flows from the belly of those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  -----  WATER SUPPLY

There floweth from this fear of God a readiness or willingness, at God’s call, to give up our best enjoyments to his disposal.

READ Matthew 13, Matthew 25,  Revelation 3

What do the current news headlines concerning California, Lake Mead, and  Brazil have in common?

This is the earth showing in a very physical way what is happening to the Church, the Body of Christ. -- a lack of water.   Do Christians want to meet Jesus?  Shouldn't the bride be in an attitude of high hopes and delighted expectation to meet her Bridegroom?

If we are in the fear of God, we read his written word to us and discover that this world is not our home.  Those who fear God have a desire to be with the Lord where he is.. in heaven.  This world is full of corruption, perversion, godlessness; why would we want to stay in a place that is more and more evil? 

I truly believe that those born after 1948 will be those who get to be caught up in the air to meet our Lord...in a twinkling of an eye.  Yes, there are many who will meet the Lord because their life was required of them and they died.  Yet there are thousands of Christians around the world who are watching and praying for the return of our Bridegroom.  As the Lord tarries in sending Jesus to catch us away, let us stand at the ready.

Sad and exciting are the days today when we look around and see Genesis 6 taking place again...just as Jesus said it would.  Even those who call themselves Christians do not think it necessary to be ready for Jesus. Why should they?  They believe that they can cheat death by being nutrition and/or fitness nuts.  They feel like they are still young.  They say like those in II Peter 3:4  "And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. "

.... why watch? the Lord hasn't come yet.. besides, I'm super busy.  I've got my own passions, dreams, and bucket list to pursue.

Or my personal favorite (with complete sarcasm) We just need to get some solid conservatives into leadership and turn this country around. 

WHY DON'T CHRISTIANS WANT TO BE WITH JESUS where he said he was going to PREPARE A PLACE FOR US??????

READ Luke 17:26-37, JOHN 14:1-4

DEFINE:

• STAND
• READINESS
• WILLINGNESS
• EAGER
• APATHY
• LUKEWARM

Would you view the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to catch away his Church as an inconvenience to your ministry? to your calendar of events? or to your life? 

The water supply is running low.  Not that God is running out of living water; but rather that Christians are no longer relying on God's supply to fill them up.  They are going to artificial sources.  As a result of no living water, the Church is drying up.  Especially in the USA, Christians are not willing to put forth effort to be ready for her Bridegroom.  May we wake up, and hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church...

Lord, give us the 'want to' wait on you, be ready for you, and hope in your mercy.

 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  -Revelation 22:17