Monthly Archives: May 2014

belief, Christian, creation care, green, planet

Living Green

Not the kind of Green I’m talking about in this post…but hey

What is living green?

In short it is making good choices in how you use energy, conserve, and preserve the world around you. It is a topic closely related to creation care. It is a way of living that attempts to care for the planet.

Why is it difficult to go green?

 It is a shame that we live in a world where it is easier and cheaper to purchase products that are wasteful, cheaply made, and easy to discard. Using the best made products and the most energy efficient products can be quite costly. Also, and of great importance, it is a lot of work and most of us are kind of lazy.

What do Christians believe about living green?

Christians believe that this is God’s world and that we have a responsibility to care for it as much as we can. This means conserving energy and preserving natural life on our planet. We are all limited in what we can do by our geographic location, economic status, and the availability of green resources.

A few things anyone can do to go green:

  • Recycle paper and plastic products as well as electronic devices.
  • Turn off lights that are not being used.
  • Turn down the AC when you are not home.
  • Water in the early hours of the day and and for shorter periods to avoid runoff.
  • Only purchase things that are useful to you.
  • Only replace things when they are worn out.

I am sure you can all think of other ways to conserve. The main thing is that as Christians we are to do what we can within our means to care for God’s world.

God, Hate, Hospital, Love, Sin

Why does God hate sin?

Why does God hate sin? Is it because it is rebellious? Is it because God is controlling? Is it because God does not want you to have any fun?

I propose that God hates sin, because he loves us. God desires what is best for his creation. He knows the pain and sorrow that accompany our bad choices. He sees how lives are shattered by sin and he wants to protect us from the ill effects of it.

Sure, sin is rebellious, but the rebellious nature of sin pales in comparison to the depth of God’s love.

It is wrong to cheat and lie and steel, because those actions result in pain. They cause hurt to others and to ourselves.

From this proposition, I conclude then, that believers should hate sin because they are also to love people.

This means that we do not need to focus on sin for the sake of cleansing impurity from the midst of our culture. We do not need to act like judges of moral absolutes. We do not need to make a habit of condemning all that we can.

Instead, we as the church need to be seen as a beacon of hope…a light for those suffering  from the ill effects of sin. We need to embrace sinners and help them back on their feet. We need to love so deeply that we wish to help others overcome sin. We also need to rest knowing that when we fall, the church will be there to help us pick up the pieces.

The church should be a place where sinners can openly walk through the door and find grace, mercy, forgiveness, and the love of God. It needs to be a place for the healing of broken spirits. The church is a rehab center, a hospital, an emergency room. It is not a court room. We must be more about the business of loving sinners and hating sin and less about hating sinners if we are to help heal the hurting world all around us.

adultery, affair, bible, cheating, Christian, ethics

Adultery

From The Passion of the Christ

What does the Bible say about adultery?

Proverbs 6:32 states, “He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.”

In other words, it is foolish and it ruins lives.

Hebrews 13:4 reads, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”

God expects believers to honor their marriages by remaining faithful.

In Matthew 5:28, Jesus says, “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Jesus expects believers to control their minds and their bodies.

So what is adultery?

Adultery is voluntarily cheating on a spouse with someone else to whom you are not married. It is typically defined as sexual cheating, but really involves doing anything with another person that should be reserved for your spouse alone.

God desires what is best for his children and he knows that adultery is hurtful to us. Here are a few reasons why it is so hurtful:

  1. If there are children involved, it is devastating to their lives.  There may even be some long term problems they face as a result of what a parent has done.
  2. It breaks apart homes that took so much work to build and cultivate.
  3. There is emotional stress and trauma involved for all parties.
  4. It destroys trust.
  5. It destroys healthy relationships with friends, co-workers, employers, and family members.
  6. With adultery comes guilt and shame.
  7. It never leads to complete happiness.
  8. It does not make other problems in life go away.
  9. It plays upon your conscience.
  10. The consequences are long lasting, and sometimes they lead to results that you would never have wished for.

How should Christians react to someone who has committed adultery?

If you know someone who has committed adultery and has repented, you should forgive the person and move past it. If you know someone who is currently committing adultery, you should confront the person and encourage him or her to repent. If the person refuses, take 2 or 3 with you to confront the individual again. If the person still refuses, take it to the church. If the person does repent, the married couple should seek counseling to work out the issue. The goal is getting the person to turn from the error and to again be faithful. If the person is unwilling to repent, then the other spouse may ask for a divorce and should not be judged for doing so.

How should Christians react to someone who has been a victim of an extramarital affair?

Christians should support the victim and encourage both parties in the relationship to seek counseling. They should refrain from judging the victim, but should work to help the couple reconcile if possible.

What if I have cheated on my spouse?

If you have cheated, you should seek forgiveness and repent of your actions. You should also seek counseling and marital counseling if you can. If you cheated in the past and your relationship crumbled, if you repent now it may be too late to save what was lost, but God can still use you going forward. If God has forgiven you, you can move on and choose to live differently now. God can even take your broken life and mend it back together if you will let him.

What if I have been cheated on?

If you have been the victim try to mend things with your spouse. If it is too late for that or your spouse is not willing, know that your life is not over. God can mend your heart and help you move on. I would still recommend counseling to help with working through the issues. If you are still married and your spouse is willing to work through the issues with you, remember that it will take time to rebuild your relationship. Be patient and kind with one another throughout the process.

Conclusion

Divorce is never easy. All relationships have struggles. It is important to remember that we should seek to put the needs of our spouse ahead of our own. When we focus too much on our own needs, we tend to lose sight of what really matters in marriage. If you have cheated you should repent. If you have been cheated on, you must learn to forgive. If the marriage is over, God can still mend your heart. If it is not over and their is hope for restoration, ask God to guide you towards that light.

If you have been divorced and you wish to re-marry, make sure that you put some guidelines in place to keep from finding yourself in the same situation again. Most importantly, ask God to direct your relationships moving forward, and seek to place God first in your life so that he can more readily direct your path.

For anyone wants to see some additional Scripture on this issue, you may look at Deuteronomy 5:18, Exodus 20:14, 22:16-17, Leviticus 18:20, Matthew 5:27, 5:32, Mark 10:11, and Romans 7:3.

bible, doctrine, hell, intermediate state, judgment, second coming

Judgment and Hell

What does the Bible say about judgment?

Romans 8:1 teaches that there is no condemnation for those in Christ. In other words, there will be no punishing judgment for believers.

The Great White Throne Judgment mentioned in the book of Revelation is a punishing judgment; therefore, believers will not go through this judgment.

Believers who stand before the judgment seat of Christ should know that this will be a judgment of reward. Romans 4:9-10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 both mention this judgment seat. 1 Corinthians 3 does not mention the judgment seat, but it explains it well. Verse 15 states that this judgment does not deal with salvation, but with reward. It will be a review of worthy and unworthy attempts to serve God. There may be some embarrassment or tears for a loss of reward, but it is a reward judgment.

Some will receive recognition and some will not. There will not be punishment for those who do not receive rewards at this judgment.

Righteousness and eternal life are rewards that all believers receive when they are given salvation. The rewards at the judgment seat of Christ may have something to do with the level of responsibility we receive in the eternal state.  A parable used to support this would be “The Parable of Money Usage” in Luke 19:11-27. The servants were given charge of cities because they handled the money well.

The exact nature of the rewards believers will receive in heaven is not very clear.

The Great White Throne Judgment will be reserved for non-believers, and it will be a time when there will be great weeping and gnashing of teeth. Those who have rejected Christ will be cast into the eternal lake of fire at this judgment. No one’s works will be worthy of exemption from this judgment, because no one is capable of doing enough good to satisfy or avert the wrath of God.

The concept of eternal judgments should call us to do two things. First, it should motivate us to share the Gospel with nonbelievers because we should not desire that anyone be cast into the eternal lake of fire. Second, it should motivate us to further the kingdom of God now, causing us to work diligently for the Lord. We should not set our hopes on recognition of men, but so that God will reward us in heaven for doing things for His glory now.

What does the Bible say about believers receiving Crowns?

Many people think that the rewards we get are crowns. However, crowns as rewards seem to be symbolic language. James 1:12 states that we receive the crown of life. 1 Peter 5:4 states that we will receive the crown of glory. In 2 Timothy 4:8, Paul states that the crown of righteousness is in store for him. Paul also considers other believers to be his crown (1 Thessalonians 2:19, Philippians 4:1). 1 Corinthians 9:25 notes that we strive for a crown that will last forever. Taken as a whole, these passages suggest that our crown is eternal life. In eternal life we will have glory, righteousness, and community. I am not convinced that actual crowns will be our rewards, but the imagery of receiving crowns is helpful for us to keep in mind.

What does the Bible say about Hell?

For unbelievers, the Final State is described as the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:7).  In the Bible, four different Greek words are translated into the English as Hell, but only the Lake of Fire is the place of eternal punishment (2 Peter 2:9).  The Beast and the false-prophet will be the first cast into the pit of Hell, followed by those in Hades.  This will take place at the Great White Throne Judgment as described in the book of Revelation.  Hell is a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked.  It is real, and it is not temporary.  Today, those who die apart from God are not in Hell, but where they currently reside is unpleasant (Lazarus and the Rich Man).  This brings up the question, “Where are the dead?”

Where do the dead reside now according to the Bible?
 
What happens between death and the Second Coming of Christ?  Where are the dead? Read 2 Corinthians 4:16 and 2 Corinthians 5:7-8, and 11:24-29. For believers, there is a separation at death between the body and the soul.  When we are absent from the body, we are incomplete; while it may be better than living in a corrupted fallen state, it is not perfect.  Jesus told the thief that “today” he would be in paradise.  That very day, the bodies of Jesus and the thief were still in the grave. 

The soul leaves the body and goes into the presence of the Lord.  The body is buried and eventually turns to dust.  The soul is instantaneously in the presence of God.  When the body dies, the soul still functions. 

Now, what about the unbelievers?  They go to Hades or Sheol, the place of the dead (Luke 16).  For unbelievers, this is a place of punishment and fire.  Hades is not a euphemism for Hell.  There is a great gulf fixed between Heaven and this place called Hades.

Matthew 25 says that Hell was originally created for Satan and his demons.  There is no doctrine in the Bible for Purgatory.

Do you have further questions about Hell or judgment? If so, put them in the comments section of this post and I will answer them all personally. If you don’t want your comments to be made public, send them to me in an email to drscottshiffer@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.

bible, Christian, ethics, money, possessions

Material Possessions

How are Christians to think about having material possessions?

Some people believe that Christians should not own material possessions. Others believe Christians should only have the minimum amount of possessions necessary in order to have their basic needs met.

Others argue that it is acceptable for Christians to have nice things. Still others argue that God desires to make people rich.

What does the Bible say about having material possessions?

1 Timothy 6:10 reads, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Here Christians are told not to love money, but they are not told that money itself is evil.

Hebrews 13:5 states, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Again we are told not to “love” money, but here we are also told to be content with what we have. Consequently, if you are content with what you have, you clearly have some possessions.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 reminds us that money cannot satisfy our souls. “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”

Matthew 6:19-21 reads, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The idea surrounding this verse is that some things in life are more important than material wealth. We as Christians need to focus on what really matters.

Luke 12: 15 states, “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

When we allow greed to set in and we desire what others have, it pulls are hearts away from God. We must love him above all else.

A few basic principles:

  1. It is important for believers to live within their means.
  2. Those with wealth must use it responsibly.
  3. It is important to give some wealth away.
  4. We are to love Go more than we love money and things.

Possessions can draw people away from the Lord, but they can also be used for the good of God’s kingdom. We should not be afraid of possessions or of owning them, but many times God’s blessings do not come in the form of material possessions.

It is acceptable to have nice things, but we must remember that there is no point to storing up things just for the sake of having “stuff.”

In the Bible when people store up to much it rots before it becomes useful. When buying possessions, we need to make sure that they are things that will be useful to us. When the things we purchase are for pleasure, we need to make sure that we will enjoy them fully.

We need to use wealth responsibly. We should not buy what we cannot afford and we should not purchase things for which we have no use.

How we think about possessions effects what we do with our money. When we think too highly of possessions, we run the risk of allowing things to become idols that will take our focus off of the Lord. When we think to little of possessions we will not appreciate what we have.

When we rightly think of possessions we can properly focus on God and our possessions can be properly enjoyed. When God is our main focus, we can also more easily hear the convictions he gives us regarding what and when to give to Kingdom Work.

bible, Christian, ethics, vocation, Work

Work

All careers are a calling: becoming a doctor, a painter, a lawyer, a construction worker, a peace officer, a soldier, a mother, etc. God provides everyone with opportunities and possible career paths.

What does the Bible say about vocations?

Colossians 3:23 states, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

From this passage we learn that we are to work for men as if we are working for God. This means we are to do are best at whatever job we have.

 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 reads, “And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

Not being dependent on others means being responsible and providing for your own needs.

We also know that God created work and sees it as good. Genesis 2:15 reads, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

God desired for man to work in the garden before the fall. At the fall, work became toilsome.

Finally, know that all vocations are a calling from God. 1 Corinthians 7:17 states, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.”

Paul expected the believers to lead the life assigned to them. This means that he expected them to do their jobs. He then states that those are the jobs that God has called them to. 

A few principles about vocation:

  1. God expects everyone to work.
  2. Work is a calling.
  3. We are to gloriy God in our work.
  4. We are to work with integrity.
  5. Work involves toil because our world is fallen and in need of repair.
  6. We should use our work to share the goodness of God’s Kingdom and his love with others.
  7. We are to be the best we can be in our respective careers.

bible, end times, eschatology, judgment, second coming, tribulation

The End Times

As promised, here is what I believe about the end times.

I believe that the tribulation and last days have been going on since the ascension of Christ back into heaven. I believe that just before the return of Christ will come an escalated time of tribulation.

I believe that Jesus will return after this time of tribulation and that the dead will be resurrected and the believers of every age will receive their new bodies and remain on the earth with Christ for his millennial reign.

After this reign, there will be a time of judgment. The unbelievers, the devil, and fallen angels will be thrown into hell. Believers will be judged in a separate judgment where they will receive rewards or responsibilities.

After judgment, the old earth and heaven will pass away and the New Heavens and Earth will be re-fashioned from the current ones. Then we will live for eternity in the presence of God and his angels. This will be a time of joy, hope, worship, responsibility, and productiveness.

I believe that the unbelievers will be removed from the earth when Christ returns at the end of the tribulation because Matthew 24:36-44 states that when Christ returns it will be like the days of Noah. When Noah was on the ark, he remained on the earth and the wicked of the earth were removed. In Matthew it uses similar imagery by noting that two will be in a field, one will be taken and one will be left.

I also believe believers will live through the tribulation because Paul states that Christ will not come back until after the Anti-Christ is revealed in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. In context, Paul refers to Christians watching for this sign, but we know that the last Anti-Christ will not be revealed until half way through the escalated time of tribulation (Daniel and Revelation).

The passage in Thessalonians also mentions the restrainer that is keeping the Anti-Christ from coming into power. I believe that the restrainer of sin mentioned in this passage is government. Governments keep the world from drifting into chaos.

So in a nutshell, those are my beliefs. Let me know if you have any questions, comments, or challenge questions!!!

bible, child death, Christian, die, ethics, infant death, miscarriage, SIDS

Child Death

What happens to young children, infants, and unborn children when they die?

As much as we hate to think about it happening, many children do not survive the womb. Given all the technology and medical advancements that we have in the world today, many children also die shortly after being born due to SIDS or other complications. In our world we also see infants and children die as the result of accidents or other medical emergencies.

We have known friends who have experienced the pain of having a miscarriage and we ourselves have also experienced this pain. We have also had friends who had to tell their new baby goodbye hours after it was born. We have also had friends who lost a child between the ages of 2 and 5.

These kinds of experiencing lead to many questions.

Why did God not allow our child to live? Why did he not prevent the accident that took my child’s life? Where is my child now? Is it with God? What happens to babies that die? What about children? How do we reconcile the Gospel with their ability to understand it or even hear it?

To answer these questions I would first like to look at Scripture itself.

What does the Bible say about child death?

2 Samuel 12:23 states, “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

Here David is morning the loss of his son who died only a few days after being born. He states that he will go to his son. This suggests that David believed that he would see his child again in heaven. Because this passage expresses David’s beliefs it can be said that it is just a hope that David has, but because it is included in our Bible we can infer from it that he would in fact see his child in death. This means that we can also believe that God preserved the life of this child just as he can preserve the life of other children that die.

Psalm 139:13-16 reads, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

Here we see that God forms each new life in the womb. He plans out the life of each person as well.

Jeremiah 1:5 states, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

If God had plans for Jeremiah before making him in the womb, shouldn’t we conclude that he also has plans for the rest of us? And if God numbers the days of those he creates even before there are any days, then shouldn’t we conclude he even numbers the days of those who do not live into adulthood?

If God numbers the days of all he creates, it makes sense then to suggest that for those who die in the womb, in infancy, or in the early days of childhood, that God has a plan for those lives.

If that plan is not here on earth, it makes sense to believe that the plan for them is in heaven.

For the child that dies in the womb, we may not see him or her here, but perhaps that is because God already needed the child for something in his presence. We will go to that child when we die and we will be able to see what God has had them doing and has them doing even now, in heaven.

Conclusion

For those of you who have lost a child, know that the loss does not detract from the goodness of God. Know that there is a reason, even if you do not know what it is. Know that God grieves with you for the loss and for not being able to hold that new life now. Also know that God has plans for all the souls he brings into existence. Know that your child is with the Lord and that he or she is doing something now in Heaven according to the plans of God. Be encouraged, you will see the child when your soul goes to be with the Lord. When that day comes, you can hold your child in your arms and they can tell you what God needed them to do.

abuse, addiction, alcohol, beer, bible, Christian, drinking, ethics, wine

Drinking

A Horse Drinking Water

Should Christians drink alcohol?

The question often arises as to whether or not it is wrong to drink.  Some have argued foolishly that when Christ turned the water into wine that he actually just turned it into grape juice.  Others have argued that the wine from the Biblical period contained less alcohol than the beverages we indulge in today (this argument has merit but it really depends on the drink, some alcoholic beverages have less alcohol).

It is certainly wrong to drink underage, and it is always and in every circumstance wrong to get drunk, but it cannot be argued from Scripture that it is wrong to drink.  If Christ, who never sinned drank alcohol, then it must not be a sin.  However, Christians who contemplate drinking should consider the social situation they are in.  We should not do anything to ruin our witness with those who are watching us to see if our faith is genuine.  If drinking causes someone else to stumble, then we should not do it in that circumstance, if it does not, then we should still be careful not to drink more than we should.

I choose not to drink because I do not want to cause others to stumble or have a part to play in someone going down the wrong track with alcoholism.

Should Christians drink alcohol? No, but they can. In other words, it is not a requirement for all adult Christians to consume alcohol, but if they choose to do so it is admissible.

What does the Bible say about drinking?

Psalm 104:14-15 reads: “You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.”

The Bible states that God gave humanity wine in order to gladden the heart. This verse does more than simply hint at an intrinsic goodness in alcoholic beverages.

Isaiah 5:11 states, “Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!”

Here we see that people are not to live for wine, always looking for that next drink. This verse speaks to an addiction with alcohol. Those who are addicted to alcohol should avoid it altogether.

I Timothy 3:8 reads, “Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.”

Here we see that leaders in the church are not to be addicted to much wine. This implies that drinking some is acceptable so long as the person does not have a reputation whereby he is known for his love of alcohol.

When is it ok to drink?

It is acceptable to drink when it is legal, when you can control yourself (specifically how much you drink), and when you do not drink too much.

When is it not ok to drink?

It is not ok to drink when you cannot control yourself, it is illegal (usually in regards to age), and when doing so might cause others to stumble. Fore example, if you are having dinner with a recovering alcoholic and he orders a soda and you order a beer, your actions could easily lead him back down the path of insobriety.

How should Christians respond to someone with a drinking problem?

Christians should offer hope, forgiveness, and love to those with drinking problems. They should help them get involved in support groups and help keep them accountable for staying sober. They should realize that addictions take time to break and that those who struggle with this kind of a problem should not be shunned or condemned for their actions. Instead they should be encouraged and equipped to overcome.

If you need help with a drinking problem or for more information on alcohol abuse, visit the sites below:

Abuse or Addiction

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/alcohol_abuse_alcoholism_signs_effects_treatment.htm 

Treatment

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/alcohol_abuse_alcoholism_help_treatment_prevention.htm

Hope

http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/how-can-i-help-my-problem-drinker-quit-drinking 

Statistics on Drinking

http://www.sadd.org/stats.htm

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics

bible, Christ, end times, eschatology, heaven, hell, judgment, new earth, rapture, second coming

The End Times

What do Christians believe about the end times?

There are actually several theories concerning the end times that propose different timelines of the events of Christ’s return, the tribulation, and the millennium. However, even if all Christians do not agree on exactly how things will be ordered, all Christians believe several important things about the last days.

  1. Christians believe that Christ will return physically and that when he comes he will judge the world.
  2. Christians believe that the judgment will include believers and non-believers. The judgment of believers will be centered on reward. The judgment of non-believers will focus on the punishment of sin.
  3. Those who believe in Christ will receive a new physical body that can no longer be subject to death. Those who do not believe will be cast into Hell or the Second Death.
  4. All of creation will be reshaped into the New Heavens and Earth.
  5. Believers will live for eternity in the presence of the Lord.

What about the Tribulation and the Rapture?

  1. Some Christians believe that Christ will “rapture” believers (remove them from the earth) before a period of 7 years of harsh punishments that will be poured out on the earth.
  2. Some Christians believe that Christ will “rapture” believers 3 years into the 7 year tribulation.
  3. Some believe that believers will endure the tribulation on the earth. These believers either hold to a literal 7 year tribulation, or believe that the 7 year tribulation is a symbolic number. Those who hold the latter view believe that the tribulation has been going on since Christ first ascended back into heaven after his resurrection from the dead. 

Those who believe in a rapture before the end of the tribulation see a difference between the rapture event and the Second Coming of Christ after the tribulation. Those who believe that Christians will endure the tribulation believe that there is no separate rapture event before the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the tribulation.

What about the Millennium?

  1.  Some Christians believe that Christ will spend 1,000 years on earth after the tribulation reigning in a time of peace.
  2. Some Christians believe that the millennium mentioned in the Book of Revelation is symbolic and that Christ has been in his millennial reign from Heaven since he first ascended back into heaven.

What about Judgment?

  1. Some Christians believe that hell will be a place of eternal punishment following the judgment. In this belief, Hell is a conscious place where non-believers will remain.
  2. Some Christians believe that non-believers will be annihilated after the judgment. In this view, Hell is seen as the end. Those who are in Hell cease to exist.

 What about the Eternal State?

Christians believe that the Eternal State or Heaven will be a place where Christians will live in the presence of God for eternity. It will be a time of worship, of productivity, of joy, happiness, truth, love, and light. In this place there will be no more suffering, no more sorrow, no more pain.

Why the differences in beliefs?

We have not yet lived through the events of the end, as a result, it is difficult to predict exactly how things will turn out. Some issues in the Bible are more clear than others, but the Bible does not give us exhaustive details about all the events leading to the end. It is ok for Christians to have multiple views on this subject, because it has not happened yet. But it is important to know what we each believe about the events of the end times.

This week think about what you believe and be sure to consult Scripture when determining your beliefs. Next week, I will post my specific beliefs concerning the end times based on what I believe the Bible most clearly teaches.