Dr Paul Allen

Author: Randy Alcorn. Jonathan Edwards said, “It becomes us to spend this life only as a journey toward heaven . . . to which we should subordinate all other concerns of life. Why should we labor for or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end and true happiness?” In his early twenties, Edwards composed a set of life resolutions. One read, “Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can.” Unfortunately, many believers find no joy when they think about heaven. A pastor once confessed to me: “Whenever I think about heaven, it makes me depressed. I’d rather just cease to exist when I die.” “Why?” I asked. “I can’t stand the thought of that endless tedium. To float around in the clouds with nothing to do but strum a harp . . . it’s all so terribly boring. Heaven doesn’t sound much better than hell.” Where did this Bible-believing , seminary-educated pastor get such a view of heaven? Certainly not from Scriptu...

When the New Testament came around, it’s fairly logical to think that this kingdom mentioned in the OT was the expectation, right? Let’s look at the New Testament usages of “kingdom” and explore what is said. The Kingdom: NT Usage - 1. Human empires & reign (national) or Satan ’s empire and reign on earth. Matt. 4:8, 12:25-26, Mark 6:23, 11:10, 13:8, Luke 1:33, 4:5, 11:17-18, 21:10, Heb. 11:33; Rev. 11:15, 26:20. a. In Rev. 11:15 when the heavenly voices say “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ , and he shall reign forever and ever”, that’s saying that the earthly kingdom (i.e. all of the kingdoms of mankind summarized in the phrase “the kingdom of the world”) has become his kingdom. This is a blatant statement that he will have an empire and reign on earth as opposed to in heaven. 2. God’s universal empire and rule. Matt. 6:10, 26:29; Luke 11:2 a. Matt. 6:10 (“your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”) suggests that Christians ...

Corcovado jesus (Photo credit: @Doug88888 ) “Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” ( Matthew 24:26 ) The above warning was given by Christ in His famous Olivet discourse about His future second coming, right after He had predicted that many “false Christs” would first come, deceiving many (v. 24). That prediction has been fulfilled many times during the following centuries, but He Himself has not yet returned, in spite of the claims of these latter days. However, His present location is no secret. After His resurrection and final instructions to His disciples, “he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God ” ( Mark 16:19 ). We must remember that He arose bodily from the grave, then ascended bodily to God’s throne , and that “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven” ( Acts1:11 ), will return. Until He returns, therefore, He is seated bodily at the ...

"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle." ( Revelation 14:14 ) This is the last of some 87 New Testament references (84 in the four gospels, one in Acts, none in the epistles, two in Revelation) to Christ as the Son of man. Here we see the Son of man coming on a white cloud from heaven (just as He had ascended into heaven after His resurrection) as the conquering King of all the earth. What a contrast is this to the first New Testament reference to the Son of man. "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head" ( Matthew 8:20 ). From humility and poverty on Earth to power and riches in heaven, and for all eternity—this was His journey when Christ left His heavenly glory to join the human family. In between the poverty and the power lay the whole human experience, for He "was...

ANGELICO, Fra Resurrection of Christ and Women at the Tomb Fresco, 189 x 164 cm Convento di San Marco, Florence (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The Resurrection of Christ (Kinnaird Resurrection) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) A savior who can never die again.  "For we know that Christ being raised from the dead  will never die again. " Romans 6:9 Repentance . "The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior ,  to give repentance to Israel."  Acts 5:31 New birth.  "By his great mercy we have been  born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ  from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3 Forgiveness of sin .  " If Christ has not been raised , your hope is futile and  you are still in your sins. "  1 Corinthians 15:17 The Holy Spirit .  "This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the righ...

Image via Wikipedia "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." ( Psalm 16:11 )   The 16th Psalm contains the Bible's first reference to the resurrected Christ at the "right hand" of His heavenly Father , and this is important, for there are 20 other such references that follow this one. "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool" ( Psalm 110:1 ). This latter verse is quoted no less than five times in the New Testament ( Matthew 22:44 ;  Mark 12:36 ; Luke 20:42-43 ;  Acts 2:34-35 ;  Hebrews 1:13 ).   Then there are seven references to Christ being at God 's right hand in Paul's epistles ( Romans 8:34 ;  Ephesians 1:20 ;  Colossians 3:1 ;  Hebrews 1:3 ;  8:1 ;  10:12 ;  12:2 ), and seven in other books of the New Testament ( Matthew 26:64 ;  Mark 14:62 ;  16:19 ;  Luke 22:69 ; ...