we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).
• We will recognize our loved ones who died in Christ, and also fellowship with the great Bible saints: "And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah'" (Matthew 17:3–4).
• Heaven's completeness and glories are indescribable: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory. . . . But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him'" (1 Corinthians 2:7, 9).
Billy Graham comments: "Heaven will be a place in which its inhabitants will be freed from the fears and insecurities that plague and haunt us in the present life. . . . We will be free from the economic and financial pressures that burden us down here, free from the fear of personal and physical harm. . . . There will be no fear of personal failure. . . . Our relationship with Him will be intimate and direct. I'm looking forward to that glorious day of going to heaven."
Helping Strategy
1. For the Christian who wants to be reassured about heaven and the future life, share the material in the "Background." Perhaps he or she has lost a loved one; be sympathetic and sensitive to the Holy Spirit as you try to encourage and comfort: "Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Make sure your inquirer is a Christian and is ready for heaven. If needed, refer to "Steps to Peace with God," page 11.
2. For the non-Christian with questions about future events and heaven, share the material in the "Background," turning, if indicated, to the chapter on "Prophecy" for additional help. Share "Steps to Peace with God," page 11.
Scripture
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better" (Philippians 1:21–23).
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).
Other suggested Scriptures:
John 14:1–6
HELL
Background
Hell is not the kingdom of Satan where he will reign over demons and all who are bad. Nor is there anything in Scripture to indicate that hell will be some sort of fellowship of sinners, where life will continue pretty much as it was on earth. The pathetic jokes about plans for "living it up" in hell demonstrate ignorance of its purpose and nature.
There are three Greek words translated hell in our English Bible:
• The word tartaros is found only once in the Bible: "God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell [tartaros] and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment" (2 Peter 2:4). The angels mentioned here refer to those "who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own habitation [in rebellion]" (Jude 6). Tartaros, then, is a place of confinement for the rebellious angels until the time of their judgment.
• The word hades is found ten times in the New Testament (Matthew 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; 16:23; Acts 2:27, 31; Revelation 1:18; 6:8; 20:13–14). Hades is not the final destiny of those who die without accepting Christ, but rather a place of torment until they are resurrected to stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:13–15). Hades is a place of separation from God and of no escape: "Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us" (Luke 16:26).
• The word geenna (transliterated "gehenna") is translated "hell" twelve times (Matthew 5:22, 29–30; 10:28; 18:9; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6). Eleven of the twelve references are from the lips of Jesus Himself. Geenna refers to the valley of Hinnom, a place outside the southern wall of Jerusalem where children were once sacrificed to the god Molech (2 Chronicles 33:1–6). In later days, it was a convenient place for residents to throw their rubbish; even dead bodies of animals and criminals were disposed there. This "city dump" was a place of decomposition and continuous fire (Mark 9:44) and was used by Jesus to teach about the eventual abode of those who reject Him as Savior.
Geenna is also called the lake of fire: "Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).