Is There an Afterlife?
Part I
Are You Good Enough For Heaven?
by Mihran Kulhanjian
My Dear Friends,
In life we ask ourselves many questions. The most important questions that you may have asked yourself are “Is there an afterlife and am I a good enough person for heaven?” As we know, ten out to ten people die. And there are only two types of people who get to heaven: perfect (sinless) people and forgiven people. The Bible says, true Christians, believers in Jesus Christ, who obey God die once; we die once in this life. However, nonbelievers [those who have rejected Jesus as their Lord and Savior] will die twice. The second death is hell after their stay in Hades [a type of hell which is a holding place for unforgiven sinners]. God, our Creator has given all authority to His Son, Jesus to judge us. A believer in Jesus Christ goes to heaven to be in the presence of God and to receive His blessings. And there are different rewards for the believer in heaven. There is no pain or suffering or illness; but there is joy, peace, splendor and holy love in heaven. Nonbelievers go to Hades, a temporary hell where there is separation from God, and tremendous pain and suffering, weeping and gnashing of teeth [Matthew 8:12]. Many billions of people, young and old play ignorant of God’s sovereignty because of their puffed up pride and arrogance toward God; they will spend eternity in hell. Contrary to what many believe, God does not send any one to hell; they send themselves. And they deserve to go there. Someday, all nonbelievers will believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, but it will be too late. Everyone in hell believes in Jesus; even the devil and his demons believe and tremble [James 2:19].
Yes, many have created an image of a god in their own minds, which is not the God of the Bible. Have you created a god to suit yourself? This is called idolatry. Is he a nice god who accepts everybody? If you have this god, you are in for a big surprise. Idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God [Corinthians 6:9). God warns us about idolatry in the Second Commandment [Exodus 20). Yes, God is love, but God is also holy and just and His wrath will come down on the lawless. You will be judged for not believing in the only Son of God (Jesus Christ). You will be judged for your sins. And since you are not a believer in the truth your sins will send you straight to hell. Perhaps you believe lots of good works will get you into heaven. Wrong! You do not know your Bible, nor do you know God.
Are you ready to die? A true Christian is. Do you know God? Did you ever spend the time to know Him? Did you know there is only one God? He is the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is the Father of Jesus, His beloved Son who He is well pleased with. Christians call Him Father, and Christians are called the children of God. Did you know that God in one who exists in three persons: God the Father, the Son [Jesus Christ], and the Holy Spirit. Christians have the Holy Spirit live in them once they believe and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The gate is narrow to heaven and few will get to heaven and many more will go to hell where wide is the path that leads to death (Matthew 7:13-14). The Bible warns us of this. The Bible also tells us that hell is a terrible place of torment where the sinful, the unrepentant, lawless, unbelievers are sent for eternity. Hell is God’s prison for sinners. They are sent there for punishment, banishment and destruction. Do you know where you will be going? “Wait a minute,” you might say. “I don’t believe in God, heaven or hell.” Whether you believe in God or not, the fact is, you are still going to die one day, and you will be judged. There is a Creator because everything (you, earth, the universe, oceans, sky, moon, hummingbirds, giraffes, an atom, a single cell organism), could not have been created from nothing. From every creation there is a creator. We know a wristwatch was created by a watchmaker. We know a building was created by a builder; and a boat was made by a boat builder. A butterfly with wings and four legs produces a caterpillar with over a twenty legs and feet and a month later, this strange worm like insect becomes a flying butterfly. Where did his twenty legs and feet go? How does the butterfly get wings? The complexity of this metamorphosis can only be created by an extremely intelligent, creative and powerful God. There is no other explanation. Man does not know truth until man realizes that God is truth. Therefore, man and woman were created by a creator. Where there is creation there is a Creator, and the Creator is God of the Bible.
Many people believe that good deeds, being helpful and kind to others and doing all kinds of good works will get them into heaven. But, the Bible DOES NOT say this. God’s standard of good is based on the Moral Law. The Moral Law is the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 of the Bible. Jesus said there is no one good except God (Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19). “Good” means moral excellence. “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). We all fall short of God’s standard of good. We are all under God’s judgment and if we have broken just one of the laws and sinned against God we are guilty. Just like in any court of law you are guilty when you break the law. When you break the law you must be punished. An honest and just judge passes a sentence of punishment on you. As your human father or mother punished you when you were disobedient as a child, God, your creator also draws down punishment on you for your disobedience. Your punishment is hell. God is just, as any good judge in a court of law or as a just parent.
According to the Bible “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). So what is sin and how do you find out if you are guilty? Sin is a transgression of the law. Sin is lawlessness; it is breaking God’s Law. Sin is disobedience to God. You may feel that, “Well, I am not that bad of a person and I am better than most people. I have never killed anyone or hurt anybody very badly and I have only stolen small things, and I do not lie as much as I used to.” But in God’s eyes it is more serious than that. According to God, to be good means to be perfect. God’s standard for good is very high. None of us are perfect, and we all fall short of God’s standard. God will judge us according to the Moral Law. God gave us a conscious and down deep we know what is right and we know what is wrong. Sadly, we have turned from our conscious, we have turned from God because we are in darkness and love our sin more than we love God, and our hearts have become hardened to a point that we pay little attention to what our conscience tells us. We are born with a sin nature and we cannot save ourselves from damnation in hell; only God can save us.
When asked “which is the greatest commandment?” Jesus said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:36-39).
If you love God you will obey Him and live by these two commandments. But since you do not know God how can you love Him. Do you know God? The Bible says that the people are blind. This is called satanic blindness—it is a complete hardening of the heart to God. We must soften our hearts for God. You do not know God because God does not speak to you. Why is this? God speaks to you when you read the Bible. Do you read the Bible, the words of God? We do not have to go to hell. Hell is for lawbreakers, those who break God’s law, for the unforgiven. But God did something wonderful for us because He loves us and is merciful and does not want us to go to hell; He wants to have fellowship with us. Now, God offered us a way out. But, before we get into God’s offer to escape the judgment of hell, let’s set the groundwork examining ourselves first by going through the Moral Law: (As with most of us, it is not unusual that we have broken many of God’s laws. In fact, we have broken all of them).
- YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.
The First Commandment says that God should be number one in our lives. Jesus commanded that we love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. Do you love God more than anything in life? You must love the creator more than the creation because God created everything you have: your parents, siblings, your puppy, the earth, everything. If you have not placed God first then you have broken the First Commandment.
- YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FOR YOURSELF ANY GRAVEN IMAGE.
Have you created a god to suite yourself? Perhaps you believe your god wants everybody to be happy. Have you said, booze and smoking pot are okay with my god. This is not the God of the Bible. Have you made a special type of god in your own mind or made one out of an object? This is called idolatry and it is an offense to a Holy God. Idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD IN VAIN.
The Bible says “The Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) Out of surprise or disgust have you ever said “Oh my G… (OMG)? Have you ever used Jesus’s name as a cuss or curse word? This is called blasphemy and it is a serious offense against God who gave you life. Would you use your mother’s name as a cuss word?
- REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY.
This is the only Commandment where the word “Remember” is used. This is because many do not remember or ignore the Sabbath Day. Honor God and give one day to him. This was under the Mosaic Covenant. God created the heavens and earth and man in six days. He rested on the seventh. We honor God by giving the seventh day to Him. This law was for the Israelites. Jesus said: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man [Jesus] is Lord of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28). Christians are not required to keep the Sabbath. Christians have Sunday set as worship day. This is called “The Lord’s Day.” Early Christians met on Sunday because Sunday was the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Our peace and rest is in Jesus Christ. Christians, under the New Covenant, are not commanded to attend a church on Sunday, but it is helpful for fellowship and gaining knowledge.
- HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.
Honoring your parents is respecting them because they are your parents. Would God be pleased with you or have you dishonored your parents? Do you remember the sins of your youth? Even if your parents are not perfect and you do not agree with them on many issues, political or religious, God wants you to respect and honor them.
- YOU SHALL NOT MURDER.
The Bible says “whoever hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15). By the spirit or by the letter we can transgress God’s law. We know that murder is wrong. If we have hatred for someone, God sees this as murder. Murderers cannot enter the kingdom of God. You must forgive anybody who has ever hurt you in anyway and remove anger and your indwelling hatred for anyone.
- YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.
Whether you commit adultery in your mind (secret thoughts) or by the letter you have broken the Seventh Commandment. In Matthew 5:28 Jesus says, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
- YOU SHALL NOT STEAL.
We know that to take something that does not belong to us is wrong. To steal is a sin punishable by death according to God’s Law. Have you ever stolen anything, regardless of its value? You are a thief. The Bible says that a thief cannot enter the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9, 10)
- YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS.
How many lies have you told in your life? God is holy and cannot lie. He commands all to be truthful. The Bible says that liars are an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 12:22) and that liars will have their part in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8). Lying is serious to God.
- YOU SHALL NOT COVET.
To covet is jealous desire. Have you ever wanted something that was not yours? This covers all things including people and objects. Do not covet your neighbor’s house, his wife, his property, anything.
The first four of the Commandments deal with loving God. The next six Commandments deal with the love you should have for all people. The Bible says, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). How many of the Ten Commandments have you already broken in your life? As you may now realize we are all under God’s wrath because all of us have broken these Commandments more than once. Jesus said that even if you have looked and lusted for a woman you have committed adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:28). And if you have had hate in your heart for your brother, it is the same as murder (hatred for brothers and sisters in Christ see 1 John 3:15). Whether by the letter or by the spirit, you are guilty in God’s eyes. This is serious to God. God is Holy and He is all powerful beyond our conception. God knows everything about us and He knows our thought life. We cannot get away from God. God is omnipresence, omnipotent, and omniscient. He knows us whether we want to believe it or not.
God gave us free will. He did not want us to be robots programmed to love Him. He wants you to choose Him over sin.
When we compare ourselves to others we don’t appear too bad, but when we compare ourselves to God’s Law, even in our righteousness we are filthy rages. “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness’s are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). Heaven is for the righteous. Heaven is a holy place. Only perfect people and forgiven people are accepted into heaven. Heaven is eternal life. Since we are not perfect (no one is or was perfect [sinless] except Jesus, the Lamb of God), we must be forgiven to enter heaven and have eternal life. Without Jesus we are all condemned.
The Bible says we die once and then we are judged (Hebrews 9:27). Will you be innocent or guilty? You will be guilty. And as a guilty person in any court of law you will have to pay the wages of your crime. You must be punished. I just and honest judge will cast your sentence. In our civil courts if you rob a bank a judge with not let you off the hook. You can tell the judge that it is the only crime you ever did and that you give to the poor and help orphans and that you are really a good person. But an honest judge will still punish you for robbing the bank. You will have to pay the fine or do the time. God also hands down justice for your crimes against his laws. He [Jesus] is the judge, as His Holy Father appointed Him to be.
Born of the Spirit
You must be born again (John 3:3-6), the Lord says. Born again is to become a new person in Christ, to leave your old sinful ways, to accept Jesus' sacrifice on the cross that paid the price for your sins. Being born again means being born from above, by the Spirit [Holy Spirit] of God. We are born of water (the first fleshly birth and cleansing) and spirit (new birth). Jesus was perfect. He was sinless, and He was the Sacrificial Lamb of God for us, offered to give all salvation for those who believe in Him. He took the punishment that was rightly for us. He did this out of his love for us and by obeying the will of His Father in heaven. But we must obey his commandments, confess our sins, ask our Holy Father for forgiveness and repent (turn away from our transgressions and stop sinning). And hereafter, sin no more. Repentance and asking God for forgiveness should not be done lightheartedly. You must have sincere sorrow for offending God, your creator, and understand the gravity of sin. We must humble ourselves to God. When you pray, remember you are talking to God. He is holy beyond our comprehension. With deep sorrow that we have offended God, by acknowledging our sins to God, we may cry in your prayer, and we may moan in our prayer. This is the beginning in our walk with Christ. Jesus commands that we ought to be holy (1 Peter 1:14) and perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. He cannot command anything less. So, we must examine ourselves daily to keep in the word, to obey His commandments. The gate into the kingdom of God is narrow. We must not deceive ourselves believing that God accepts many into His kingdom. He clearly states few will enter through the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14). When we receive Jesus, God sees us in His [Jesus’] perfection. We are only perfect and made right in the sight of God through Jesus.
When you accept Jesus into your life, He will send you a Helper (John 14:16-17). The Helper is the Holy Spirit. Now Jesus lives in you and you are a NEW person in Jesus Christ. You take on His name and are now called a Christian. You can now be called a child of God. God the Father has adopted you. You can look to Jesus as your big brother. He is your Lord and Savior.
The old sinful person you were before does not exist if you do not want it to; the Holy Spirit, indwelling in you, will guide you, but you must also cooperate. You take on the family traits. You obey your Heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit is “sealed” in you. You turn from sin. Does this mean you will never sin again? No. You must examine yourself daily, moment by moment. You may sin accidentally (ask for forgiveness when this happens) but you will stop willful and premeditated sinning: no more lying; stealing, sexual sin, you will obey the commandments of God. You will love God with all your heart, mind, and soul and love your neighbor as yourself. You will be tempted to sin, but you must fight it off. Get your mind on Jesus and get busy. Remove temptation by praying to remove the temptation immediately. It is very important that you read your Bible daily to stay in the word. The Bible will give you the guidance you need and it will also motivate you to follow your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Look at the Bible as being your instruction manual for this life and life eternal. Do not get discouraged when bad times happen or prayers seem to not get answered. You must be faithful. God’s ways are not our ways: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).
You obey God because you love Him and you are grateful for all He has done for you. He created everything including you. He loved you first. And now it is time for you to love him. You love God by obeying his commandments. And when you obey Him and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior you will see the kingdom of God. The alternative, hell, is horrifying and it is eternal torment.
Soften your heart today, destroy your pride and humble yourself to God and He will transform you into a new person who understands sin, its consequences, and its harmful effects on you and the people around you. Build a new life without sin. Jesus said be perfect and sin no more. Jesus cannot lie, so when he says sin no more, He is saying you do not have to sin. You have control with Jesus in you of your sin. This means you do not willfully sin anymore once you become a born again and follow Christ (John 3:3). Trust in Him who died for you and took the sins of the world upon Himself. Jesus took the punishment for you.
Accept Jesus and Obey Him
Yes, Jesus was brought into the world as man so that we might know Him and live. He was the atonement for our sins. He was the sinless, perfect, Passover Sacrificial Lamb. Accept Jesus and obey his word. He is God, the only begotten Son who promises to send a”Helper” (the Holy Spirit) to dwell in you when you accept Him. Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit and He will. The God head is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit that will dwell in you. There is but one God existing as three persons.
When you become a Christian Jesus is in you and you are in Him. Abide in Him and He will abide in you. If you love Him you will obey his commandments and His Father will love you.
Jesus Promises Another Helper
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:15-18).
Indwelling of the Father and the Son
“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me (John 14:19-24).
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
Remember what God did for you. John 3:16-18—For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Romans 10:9 says, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Christ’s death satisfied the demands of God’s justice. Christ’s perfect life satisfied the demands of God’s holiness.
God Loved You First
More importantly than anything is this world is the world in which we will be sent after we die. We will either go to heaven or hell. You have an option. You do not have to go to hell. God gave you a way out and all you have to do is accept His offer. Accept His Son, Jesus Christ who died on the cross, He shed his blood, He paid the price in full for your sins—all of your sins, past, present and future. Put all of your trust in Jesus, surrender your life to Him and have him come into your life.
God loved you first. Don’t you think it is time that you love Him in return? Are you not grateful of what God has done for you? Love what God loves and hate what God hates and you will secure peace knowing exactly where you will be going when you die. Read your Bible daily. Stay in the word of God and watch your life transform. You can become holy if you want to be. You can please God if you want to.
Part II
The Afterlife: Heaven and Hell
There is a heaven and there is a hell. They are real places and they are not of this earth. What is heaven? Heaven is where God dwells—it’s where Jesus is, but He is not confined there, neither is God the Father. Jesus is at the right hand of God in heaven. The righteous, the children of God (believers in Jesus Christ the begotten Son of God), are received (in spirit) into heaven when they die; life continues. The Bible mentions heaven about six hundred times and it is very clear that only the righteous will be there. Heaven is for holy people who believe in and obey the commands of God. Jesus has all authority to judge who will be accepted into heaven.
Hell is for transgressors of God’s law, sinners who have turned away from God and rejected Him. The hell bound are those who have rejected Jesus Christ as the only Son of God. Sinners are called the children of wrath they are also called the children of their father the devil. Many people believe that Jews, being God’s chosen people, automatically go to heaven. This is not biblical. Jews who do not accept and believe in Jesus Christ (their Messiah) will go to hell as all nonbelievers. There is no free pass to heaven.
There is only heaven or hell. We have a choice. Jesus does not send anyone to hell; they send themselves for not believing in the only Son of God (John 3:18) and obeying his commands.
Hell is a terrible place of pain and suffering and of wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50). Hell is forever punishment for the sins of the wicked and those there are eternally separated from God and the glories of heaven and being in the presence of God. Many more people end up in hell than in heaven because they refuse to accept and follow Jesus Christ, the living God and the only Savior of man. He came for one purpose: so that we might know Him and be saved from the eternal death. It is by God’s good grace that we are saved by faith in Him, not by any works that we do (Ephesians 2:8-9). When one rejects Jesus, one rejects life and everything He did to preserve life after physical death. The spiritual death is far worse than the physical death. Christians have one physical death, but sinners, not in Christ, will have a second death in hell.
Wickedness thrives in those without concern, and with contempt for God; they are condemning themselves. Many have spiritual blindness; a hardening of the spirit. This is also called satanic blindness. To them wrong is right and right is wrong, calling what is good evil and evil good. You have seen this with people who support Marxist organizations like Black Lives Matter (a deceptive name for an organization promoting lies, chaos and anarchy for the end result of communism), people who support abortion (murder of the innocent) and homosexual pride parades, homosexual marriage and other biblically abominable perversions and sins against God, will not inherit the kingdom of God [1 Corinthians 6:9]. God haters will be in hell, where they deserve to be with all the other reprobates.
You have also seen the spiritually blind in government officials, persons in Congress and in the United States Senate behaving as children [raging heathens] and endorsing or non responsive to violence and unbiblical, ungodly policies. They behave in all freshly manner as the natural man instead of spiritual holiness. They are controlled by the flesh; they are of the devil. There is no spiritual discernment in them. They are prideful, selfish, arrogant and self-serving in every way. This is contrary to God’s character and holiness. Only when we stop comparing ourselves to others and start comparing ourselves to God do we begin the transformation towards the evolution of becoming a child of God. A child of God inherits the kingdom of God.
How Do We Get to Heaven?
There are but two types of people who get to heaven: (1) perfect [sinless] people; or (2) believers in Christ who are forgiven of their sins.
Perfect People: There are no perfect people, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, no, not one’ (Romans 3:10). Jesus, who lived as man 2021 years before was perfect—the only one.
Believers in Christ who are Forgiven of Their Sins: Believe in Jesus. Follow Him. When you ask God to forgive you of your sins and you become a new creature in Christ (born again), and you obey His commands, you become a child of God, a member of the family. You will now inherit the kingdom of God. Be an overcomer and perseveres to the end and you will see the kingdom of God.
There Are Different Heavens
The Bible shows us that there are indeed different heavens: (1) The Atmospheric Heaven; (2) The Planetary Heaven; and (3) The Third Heaven.
The Atmospheric Heaven
The first heaven is the one we see when we look up. It is the space of sky where clouds canvass the sky, and birds and planes fly. This space is called the Atmospheric Heaven, in Genesis it is call the firmament.
Genesis 7:11-12 : In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.
Psalm 147:8: Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
Acts 14:17: Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
The Planetary Heaven
The second heaven is where the planets and stares exist. This is called outer-space by most people. The galaxies exist here. Genesis 1:14-17, Numbers 10:10; 28:14, Ps. 19:1-4, Jer. 31:35, 31:37, Matt. 24:29, Rev. 6:12-17
The Third Heaven (Paradise)
The thirst heaven is where God is. This is the heaven were Christians go when they die. We go to be with God, in His presence. The third heaven is noted in scripture in many places: 2 Corinthian 12:2-4, Ps. 103:19, Matt. 6:9, Rev. 4:2, Rev. 4:8, Rev. 21:10-13, 21:3-7, Acts 1:11, Acts 7:56, Psalm 110:1, Hebrews 9:24, Luke 10:20, Phil. 3:20, Matt 5:12, Luke 16:22.
But this third heaven is a temporary place, until the New Heaven and New Earth are ready for us.
The Fourth Heaven is the New Heaven and New Earth. This is our [the Christian’s] final destination. This is the future heaven. In Revelation 21-22 the final destination, the fourth heaven is described by John, the one that Jesus loved. This heaven is also called the New Jerusalem. This is where believers will live with Jesus for eternity.
God originally created us to live forever with real bodies. In the new heaven, the fourth heaven, we will have new bodies and live forever in the presence of God. Heaven is for the righteous and in the righteous there is no evil, no pain or suffering or anything that is contrary to holiness and goodness. The new earth is a physical place described in Revelation.
What Are The Rewards in Heaven? What are The Five Crowns of The Believer?
When a believer enters heaven (the third heaven) there will be rewards given. However, when a nonbeliever dies he gets his one-way ticket to hell. Jesus will judge all: the righteous and the unrighteous. This is called the judgment seat of Christ. All believers will enter into heaven, but believers will be rewarded differently depending on what they did for Christ on earth. “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).
There are five Heavenly Crowns mentioned in the New Testament: (1) The Imperishable (Victory) Crown; (2) The Crown of Exultation (Rejoicing); (3) The Crown of Righteousness; (4) The Crown of Life; and (5) The Crown of Glory. The crowns are rewards in heaven for faithful servants of Jesus in this life. Whether these rewards are actual crowns placed on one’s head or an acknowledgment of faithfulness, it is unknown.
1. The Imperishable or Victory Crown
In 1 Corinthians 9:25 the Apostle Paul said “Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” Paul said the “prize is temperate” He is referring to the Greek games where the winner is rewarded with a wreath on his head. This is a temporary award. But the Christian’s reward (his crown) is imperishable.
In the games in Greece the athlete must train and be disciplined for a temporary prize. A motivated believer practices discipline, self-control and lives a spiritually driven life enduring to the end whereby receiving the crown of victory.
2. The Crown of Exultation or Rejoicing
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). Paul spoke to the Thessalonians telling them what the reward or crown of exultation is about. It is a crown for the evangelists, the disciples of Jesus who are telling people, the lost, about Jesus. The reward belongs to believers who witness to others. These people are not pastors of churches or ministers or priests, but they are believers who are living for God and share the Good News with others in their walk with the Almighty.
3. The Crown of Righteousness
In the second letter to Timothy Paul wrote “Finally; there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). Paul is telling that he is ready to die for Christ so that he could be with Him, that he is ready for heaven. This reward is for people who live obediently for the return of the Lord.
4. The Crown of Life
If we love the Lord we will not deny Him under persecution, trials and temptations. “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). The crown of life is for those who endure suffering for God; they are steadfast in faith even through torture and death.
5. The Crown of Glory
This crown, The Crown of Glory, is for leaders who are faithful shepherds. “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (1 Peter 5:4). This crown is awarded to not only pastors or ministers who lead a congregation week after week but for all who lead groups, small or large. The leader is the “Chief Shepherd. He looks after his flock, he prays for them and cares for them and teaches them. The crown of glory is for the “Chief Shepherd.
Regardless of rewards, heaven is a place of great joy, peace and harmony. In heaven there is no sorrow, no crying, no pain, no gnashing of teeth. But most importantly, we will be the presence of God, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, our Lord.
The rewards noted as the five crowns are only a glimpse of what heaven will be for believers. Believers will have different experiences in heaven. Each of us will have different positions, responsibilities (Matthew 25:21; Luke 19:11-27), privileges (2 Peter 1:11) (Revelation 2:7) (Luke 12:37) and honors in heaven. In Luke 16:10-12 we learn that a good steward of God’s property in this life is rewarded in heaven.
When we enter heaven the most cherished words any obedient believer would here from Jesus is “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).
Another great reward in heaven is when we get to see the number of people who were saved because of your witness through prayer, evangelism, giving out gospel tracts or any unselfish action taken by you to spread and share the good news of Jesus Christ our Lord. We can refer to Philippians 4:1 and 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20. In Philippians 4:1 we see that Paul had great joy for the converts of Philippi and that he looked forward to receiving a crown in heaven. The crown is an accolade, a wreath placed on the head as a Greek athlete would receive sets as an example. In 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 we see Paul rejoicing in his converts of the Thessalonians and looks forward to his crown in heaven when he sees the people that are in heaven because of his witness.
Parting Thoughts on Rewards in Heaven
Good works will not get us into Heaven. Only by God’s grace, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will we see the kingdom of God, through our faith in Him. In this life, we do not do the things of good works to be saved, or to get crowns in heaven; we do these things because we have the spirit of God in us. Yes, we are saved for good works not because of good works. We have the fruit of the spirit, a contrite heart, a compassionate heart that leads us to help and warn unbelievers and to encourage and support believers. Be careful and examine yourself that you are not doing the things you are doing good works without the Holy Spirit, simply to achieve crowns. You cannot fool God. God knows your heart. Pray to God to fill you with the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Our greatest reward is God Himself, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Let us get close to God by reading His word and spending time daily in prayer. When we pray, we speak to God. And when we read the Bible, God speaks to us. Listen and obey what God says. Do good and obey God’s commands and witness because you love Him.
Is Heaven the Same as Paradise?
When most people talk about heaven they are referring to the current heaven, it is the third heaven which was covered earlier in this chapter. When a believer dies his spirit is taken to the third heaven. This is the heaven where Jesus is and it is also called “paradise” (Luke 16:22; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4).
Hell
Most people have a concept of hell; and it is not a good place. There is no party when you are on fire. Most people probably do not understand that the majority of people will likely go to hell because the Bible says the road to hell is wide and narrow is the gate that leads to life eternal, heaven (Matthew 7:13-14). In fact, perhaps as high as 90% of all the people who have ever lived will be home bound for hell. Included are professing Christians who are false, unrepentant, and lukewarm (Matthew 7:21-23, Revelation 3:16). “For many are called but few are chosen” declared Jesus (Matthew 22:14). This includes the Jews—everyone. Where else could the children of iniquity go?
Hell was created for Satan and his demons, and those who are the children of wrath will follow in their father’s footsteps into their eternal home, hell. If this does not frighten you to turn to God and to know Him and follow Him, then your heart is possibly hardened beyond change. Perhaps pride has consumed you. Perhaps it is a reprobate mind that has eaten your conscience and spewed you into the pit of hell and eternal torment. Each of us knows why we turn to God or turn away from God; and naturally, God knows. Satan is full of pride. Are you?
In Proverbs we know that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). The Bible also says a fool says “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1).
The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.
The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one. (Psalm 14:1-3)
There are lots of unbelievers, the unrepentant in this world and there are lots of people who profess to be Christians, but are not; they are false Christians; they are pretenders because they have formed an image of god in their own minds that is not the God of the Bible. God warns about this in the second Commandment regarding idolatry (Exodus 20). They say they believe, but they believe something entirely different from the word of God. False or lukewarm (Revelations 3:16) Christians have formed half truths about God; and they are vomited out of Jesus’ mouth because they are neither cold nor hot. Lukewarm water cannot quench the thirst warm body nor does lukewarm water satisfy a cold body.
Hell is forever. Most of what is said about hell is said by Jesus:
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
“ Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:33).
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched” (Mark 9:43).
In the Old Testament hell is referenced sixty-five times with the Hebrew word sheol. Hell is also referred to at a pit, grave and death. It is not a good place to be.
Souls are Tormented in Hell with Fire
The Bible is clear about hell and the fire that torments forever and ever and ever for the unrepentant. This is serious.
In Matthew 25:41 Jesus says “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” Jesus said “the everlasting fire” indicating that hell is fire. The fire is everlasting. It does not end.
Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). This is a story of a poor beggar [Lazarus] going to Paradise when he died and the other, a rich man, going to Hades [holding place for hell]. This is a true story because Jesus would not have used a real name “Lazarus”, if it were not so.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom [Paradise]. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
“Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, 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.’
“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead’ ” (Luke 16:19-31).
The rich man is in torment in the flames of Hades. There is no escape for him.
In Revelation 14:9-11 John explains “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).
Do not be deceived. Hell is a real place where God haters and unbelievers go.
What Really Happens to Unbelievers When They Die?
When unbelievers die they are sent to Hades. This is the holding place for unbelievers and the wicked that practice lawlessness, transgressing God’s Law. It is a place described by Jesus as a place of pain and agony. Hades is a temporary place until final judgment by Jesus of unbelievers.
Only those whose name is written in the “Book of Life” will be welcomed into heaven (Revelation 3:5).
The great white throne judgment of those in Hades will occur after the Millennium. This is the second death for unbelievers, the unforgiven. In Revelation 20:11-15 Jesus will judge all from the beginning of the earth of those in Hades. And at the second death they shall be cast into the lake of fire.
When we die from this life we will either receive God’s blessing or God’s judgment. We will either be glorified in heaven or tormented in hell. We have a choice on this earth where we will be after we die. God gave us a choice: God’s blessing or God’s judgment. The choice to me seems obvious, but many are too prideful to accept God on His terms; they want to create their own god or none at all.
God loved us first. Why don’t we get to know Him, love Him and spend the rest of eternity with Him in heaven? The First Commandment is to love God. Why would anybody choose hell?
Parting Thoughts
Is there an afterlife? Yes. Are you good enough for heaven? No one is good enough for heaven on their own. This is why Jesus for sent by the Father so that we might know Him and live. We get to heaven not from any good things we do, we get there by God’s good grace. It is by grace we are saved by our faith in Him [Jesus] (Ephesians 2:8-9). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “There is none righteous no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Jesus took the punishment for us and all we have to do is believe in Him, follow Him, obey Him and love Him. God is holy, just, powerful and perfect. We cannot have fellowship with Him without the blood of Christ who took the sin punishment for us. Without Jesus we are all condemned.
In Jesus alone, we are good enough for heaven. Believers are righteous in Him. When God sees believers He sees Jesus. Believers are the adopted children of God and are called the children of God. Believers are perfect and holy and righteous in Jesus. And when believers leave this world they are glorified in the next, heaven.
Do you have the family traits? Is your character being transformed? Are you now doing things that please God. If not, start now. Get to know God. He knows all about you, me, and everyone. He knows everything there is to know. He is omnipotent. He loved you enough to die for you. He accepted the punishment for your transgressions. He is waited for you to come to Him.
Heed these words: