Reserve Your Place In Heaven

[NyawehNyoh]

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A reservation can be roughly defined as an arrangement to have something (such as a hotel room, a rental car, a camp site, an RV hook-up, or a restaurant table) held for one's use.

Note the grammatical tense of the statement below: it's past rather than future; indicating that early Christians were registered in the kingdom of God before they passed away.

● Col 1:12-14 . . Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son He loves.

In other words; their homes in Heaven were a foregone conclusion for early Christians whereas quite a number of the Christians that I encounter online aren't sure what to expect when they cross over to the other side.

● Col 1:3-5 . .We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. of which you previously heard in the word of truth: the gospel.

The Greek word for "hope" in Paul's greeting pertains to anticipation (usually with pleasure) and to expect with confidence. Note the elements of anticipation, expectation, and confidence.

Here it is again:

● 1Pet 3:15 . . Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

In other words: the gospel's hope is a know-so hope rather than a cross your fingers hope. So, unless someone knows for proof-positive, beyond even the slightest glimmer of sensible doubt, that they have the kingdom of God locked in, then of course it is impossible for them to comply with Peter's instructions seeing as they would not yet have the kind of hope about which he and Paul preached.

● Rom 12:12 . . Rejoice in the hope.

When people are praying for the best, while in the back of their mind dreading the worst, they have absolutely no cause for rejoicing; but they do have plenty of cause to fear the unknown.

Hope is one of the three primary elements of Christianity. (1Cor 13:13)

It's also a calling. (Eph 4:4)

So then people waiting to find out at the moment of death whether they're on track for Heaven are very likely headed in the wrong direction; sort of like a blindfolded kid spun around in a piñata party

● John 5:24 . . I tell you the truth: whoever hears my word, and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life and will not be condemned-- he has crossed over from death to life.

Note the grammatical tense relative to eternal life: it's present rather than future, indicating that folks who take Jesus seriously possess eternal life now-- no delay and no waiting period.
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[NyawehNyoh]

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