Christianity
asserts that every individual human being is going to live forever, and this
must be either true or false. Now there are a good many things which would not
be worth bothering about if I were going to live only seventy years, but which
I had better bother about very seriously if I am going to live forever. C S Lewis
We are learning much
about the events of the end of the age, and of the times and details that will
take place just before and during the tribulation. Our knowledge of these
things is increasing. The words of Jesus are especially significant because he
told us that we could have eternal life. In other words, we could live forever.
What we get hung up on is our physical body. We are three part beings; spirit,
soul, and body. Once our bodies’ die we still have life, but where we have life
depends on what choices we made while alive on earth. There is consciousness in
death, just as there is consciousness in life, and there will be a time for
those who are redeemed and atoned to receive new bodies. Once again, as we
previously studied, the redeemed will have bodies that are not bound by four
dimensions, just like Jesus’ resurrected body. Our choice to make while on earth
is for either eternal life or eternal punishment.
Eternal values, not temporal ones, should
become the deciding factors for your decisions. Rick Warren
In Genesis, we see
God’s concern if Adam were to eat of the
tree of life, he would live forever in a fallen state which means he would live
out of the sight of God forever. That was not God’s plan. Before Genesis was
ever written, the story of redemption and salvation was written in the stars.
The heavenly story was passed down from Adam to Abraham, and Abraham brought
that story everywhere he went. As Josephus tells us, Abraham brought that story
to Egypt, which is where Moses learned it, and many people from various nations
understood and believed in the coming Messiah. Each constellation and each
decan explains the story of a Messiah who would be born on earth, become a sacrifice,
pour out the Holy Spirit, gather the redeemed, and rule on earth. That was the
first gospel ever written, and that was Adam’s hope after the fall.
Gen
3:22-23 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of
us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also
of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever [5769]:23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to
till the ground from whence he was taken.KJV
OT:5769 owlam (o-lawm'); or `olam (o-lawm');
from OT:5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing
point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically)
eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix)
always:KJV - alway (-s), ancient (time), any more,
continuance, eternal, (for, [n-]) ever (-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long
(time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world (+without
end). Compare OT:5331, OT:5703.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
While Adam did not
have eternal life on earth, he died; he will rise from the dead to eternal life
in the Messiah. That was the hope of all the patriarchs, and they looked
forward to a Messiah who would come. They were redeemed and atoned for by that
belief in the future. The patriarchs also looked forward to the day the Messiah
would rule from earth, and they knew there was a process involved. Daniel gives
everyone a look into the future as he was conversing with the angel; the angel
gave him a 400 year preview of events that would take place (Daniel 10-12). The
angel had already given the exact date the Messiah would be hailed as king,
which was the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey (Daniel 9). So the
angel wraps up his preview of events by explaining everlasting life, or
everlasting contempt. The comparison made by the angel was just before he told
Daniel to seal up the book until the knowledge of the end should be increased.
Dan
12:1-4 And at
that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the
children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was
since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people
shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.2 And many of them that sleep in
the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting [5769] life, and some to
shame and everlasting[5769]contempt.3 And they
that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn
many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the
words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and
fro, and (the) knowledge shall be increased.KJV
Now that
we are in the times of the end where
the knowledge of the end times is increasing, we should look at the choice we
have and what it means. The Greek word for eternal,
or everlasting, means perpetual. This
tells us that either life or punishment will not end; they will be a continuous
cycle. The idea is that for the redeemed, life will continue always. We may
lose our physical body, but our spiritual life will never end. Let’s look at
the words for eternal/everlasting, and for life.
NT:166 aionios (ahee-o'-nee-os); from NT:165;
perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well):KJV -
eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
NT:165 aion (ahee-ohn');
from the same as NT:104; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by
implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or
future):KJV - age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more),
[n-] ever, (beginning of the while the) world (began, without end). Compare NT:5550.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:104 aei (ah-eye');
from an obsolete primary noun (apparently meaning continued duration);
"ever," by qualification regularly; by implication, earnestly; KJV -
always, ever.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:5550chronos (khron'-os);
of uncertain derivation; a space of time (in general, and thus properly
distinguished from NT:2540, which designates a fixed or special
occasion; and from NT:165, which denotes a particular period) or interval; by extension, an
individual opportunity; by implication, delay:KJV - years
old, season, space, (X often-) time (-s), (a) while.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
NT:2222 zoe (dzo-ay'); from NT:2198; life
(literally or figuratively):KJV - life (-time). Compare NT:5590.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:2198 zao (dzah'-o);
a primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively):KJV - life
(-time), (a-) live (-ly), quick.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers
and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003,
2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:5590 psuche (psoo-khay');
from NT:5594; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit,
abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus
distinguished on the one hand from NT:4151, which
is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from NT:2222, which
is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond
respectively to the Hebrew OT:5315, OT:7307
and OT:2416): KJV - heart
(+-ily), life, mind, soul, us, you.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
Matt
19:28-30 And Jesus
said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the
regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also
shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.29 And every one that hath
forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or
children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall
inherit everlasting[166] life[2222].30 But
many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.KJV
Humans
are amphibians - half spirit and half animal. As spirits they belong to the
eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time. CS Lewis
The
things that make you you, your heart,
your soul, your mind, will live forever if you follow Jesus. You will be
conscious forever, whether you will have life or punishment is the key.
Matt
25:41-46 Then
shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into
everlasting [166] fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:42 For I
was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:43 I was a
stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in
prison, and ye visited me not.44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw
we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison,
and did not minister unto thee?45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.46 And
these shall go away into everlasting [166]
punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
KJV
"But," a man said to me, "no
one has come back, and we don't know what is in the future. It is all dark, and
how can we be sure?" Thank God! Christ came down from heaven, and I would
rather have Him coming as he does right from the bosom of the Father, than any
one else. We can rely on what Christ says, and He says, "He that believeth
on Me shall not perish, but have everlasting life." Not that we are going
to have it when we die, but right here to-day. D.L. Moody
In this
section for comparison, fire means fire, and punishment means punishment, or
torment. Jesus was not telling everyone of a cheery, happy gospel only. He very
clearly warned of eternity, your mind, heart, soul, your total consciousness,
receiving fire and torment. That is what the rich man in Jesus’ story said
about Hades. Now the choice is ours, we can choose life or torment. Jesus made
it clear.
John
3:15-16 That
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal [166] life [2222]. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting [166] life [2222].KJV
This is
what one has to do to receive eternal life, believe in Jesus. The reason God
gave his son as a sacrifice is so that we would not perish. John the Baptist
testifies.
John
3:31-36 He that
cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and
speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.32 And what he hath seen and heard,
that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.33 He that hath received his
testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.34 For he
whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by
measure unto him.35 The
Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.36 He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting [166] life [2222]: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see
life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.KJV
Again,
the choice is life or wrath. The water Jesus gave the Samarian woman at the
well was life giving water. The Holy Spirit is known in the heavens as
Aquarius, the water bearer. Here Jesus uses the constellation as a description
of what happens when we believe in Jesus. We are filled with the Holy Spirit
when we believe in Jesus, and we have everlasting life.
John
4:13-15 Jesus
answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall
thirst again:14 But
whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but
the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up
into everlasting [166] life [2222].15 The woman
saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither
to draw.KJV
Jesus
says we pass from death to life when we believe in Him and His Father. Jesus
even tells us that the dead shall hear his voice.
John
5:24-25 Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent
me, hath everlasting[166] life [2222], and
shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.25 Verily,
verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall
hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.KJV
We know
Jesus witnessed to the imprisoned spirits; the ones that heard His voice received
everlasting life. Those were the redeemed who died before Jesus came, who were
in Abraham’s bosom (bay or creek), who were held by the devil in that portion
of Hades, but they were not supposed to be there. As we studied, that was part
of what Jesus had to accomplish, going into hell to set the captives free.
Obviously, for the dead to hear
something, they must have sensory perceptions. And as we know from Jesus’
story, the rich man had consciousness, and conversations, and knew what was
going on in the grave. The next comparison Jesus makes is with working for
meat. While we have jobs to provide physical meat for us to eat, Jesus says we
should work for meat that gives eternal life, which is to believe on Him.
John
6:27-29 Labour
not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto
everlasting [166]
life [2222],
which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.28 Then said
they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?29 Jesus
answered and said unto them, This is the
work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.KJV
Jesus is
our entrance to everlasting life. While some people would try to eliminate
Jesus from holidays and keep His story out of our schools, it is our
responsibility to simply share Jesus with others. Jesus is not shy about
reiterating that He is the one we are to believe in for everlasting life.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him
that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may
have everlasting [166] life [2222]: and I
will raise him up at the last day.KJV
It is the
will of the Father that no one would receive everlasting punishment, and yet no
one has ever seen the Father. No man has ever seen the Father.
John
6:45-48 It is
written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man
therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.46 Not that any man hath seen the
Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.47 Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that believeth on me hath everlasting [166] life [2222].48 I am that bread of life.KJV
With that
in mind, who was Abraham speaking with as a friend when negotiating over
Sodom? Who was Moses speaking with, and
whose glory did he see? No one, no man, has seen the Heavenly Father. Here is
the broader perspective of Elohim being plural in the Hebrew, meaning three or
more. Who were Abraham and Moses conversing with, not the Father, but the Son
who came from heaven.
John
6:51-64 I am
the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he
shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will
give for the life of the world.52 The Jews
therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh
to eat?53 Then
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the
Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and
drinketh my blood, hath eternal[166] life [2222]; and I will raise him up at the last day.55 For my
flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.56 He that
eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.57 As the
living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me,
even he shall live by me.58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as
your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall
live for ever.59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in
Capernaum.60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this,
said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?61 When
Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?62 What
and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?63 It is
the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak
unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.64 But
there are some of you that believe not. For
Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should
betray him.KJV
Jesus
says he came from heaven, he is the food that gives eternal life, not like
manna that the exodus people ate. Jesus then says, ‘what if you see me go up to
where I came from?’ Many of them saw Jesus in his resurrected body, and some of
them saw him ascend to heaven, ten days before the Holy Spirit was poured
out.
John
17:1-3 These
words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father,
the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:2 As thou hast given him power
over all flesh, that he should give eternal [166] life [2222] to as many as thou hast given him.3 And
this is life [2222] eternal [166], that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom thou hast sent.KJV
In Jesus’
prayer, he states the Father gave Jesus power over all flesh so that he could
give eternal life. With eternal life, we will know the Father and the Son. We
cannot erase Jesus, he is the giver of everlasting life. Without Jesus, the
other option, which is also reserved for the devil and his angels, is eternal
fire and torment. Once our physical shell has died, our soul, heart, and mind
will live on somewhere. This idea that Jesus came from heaven to earth bringing
eternal life bothered the Jews because they saw him physically. He didn’t glow
or have a halo over his head. Angels didn’t sing every time Jesus spoke, he
looked like a man. Because of their unbelief, Paul points out that they were
judging themselves unworthy of eternal life.
Acts
13:45-49 But when
the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against
those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed
bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been
spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting [166] life [2222], lo, we turn to the Gentiles.47 For so hath the Lord commanded
us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles (nations), that thou
shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.48 And when the Gentiles heard this,
they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were
ordained to eternal[166] life [2222] believed.49 And the
word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.KJV
As we
know, the Greeks did not have a word for themselves as non-Jews, so the word Gentile is actually nations. Paul and Barnabas brought the message of everlasting life
to the nations. The Jews were judging themselves as not suitable, or not
deserving of eternal life. Everyone is deserving of eternal life if they
believe in Jesus. It is by grace that righteousness leading to eternal life is
given by Jesus.
Rom
5:20-21 Moreover
the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace
did much more abound:21 That as
sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness
unto eternal[166] life [2222] by Jesus Christ our Lord.KJV
When you transfer into eternity, you will
leave everything else behind. All you're taking with you is your character. Rick Warren
We have the fruit of everlasting life.
Rom
6:19-23 I speak
after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have
yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity;
even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.20 For when ye were the servants of
sin, ye were free from righteousness.21 What
fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of
those things is death.22 But now
being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto
holiness, and the end everlasting [166] life [2222].23 For the
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.KJV
The law
came so that sin would abound, and the payment of sin is death. However, while
sin was thriving grace flourished more, it is a gift leading to eternal life.
We have to hold on to eternal life.
1 Tim
6:12 Fight the
good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal[166] life [2222], whereunto thou art
also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.KJV
God hath given to man a short time here
upon earth, and yet upon this short time eternity depends. Jeremy Taylor
Again we
are to lay hold of eternal life, and to work to lay a good foundation for
ourselves and others.
1 Tim
6:17-19 Charge
them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in
uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to
enjoy;18 That they
do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to
communicate;19 Laying up
in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they
may lay hold on eternal[166] life [2222].KJV
Eternal
life is our hope, which God promised before the world began. How did he
communicate that? He wrote the message in the story of the constellations, the
Mazzaroth. Now His word is preached to the nations.
Titus
1:2-3 In hope
of eternal[166] life [2222], which God, that cannot lie, promised before the
world began;3 But hath
in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me
according to the commandment of God our Saviour; KJV
He who lays up treasures on earth spends
his life backing away from his treasures. To him, death is loss. He who lays up
treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity; he's moving daily toward his
treasures. To him, death is gain. He who spends his life moving toward his
treasures has reason to rejoice. Are you despairing or rejoicing? Randy Alcorn The Treasure
Principle
Simply,
John tells us that those who hate do not have eternal life. One cannot hate,
and walk in love as Jesus did, at the same time.
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a
murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal[166] life[2222] abiding in
him.KJV
John
makes it very simple, qualifying what Jesus said, that if we have Jesus, we
have eternal life; if we don’t have Jesus, we do not have eternal life. It
doesn’t matter if someone is a good person, or believes in something or someone
else; if one has Jesus, they have eternal life, but if they do not believe in
Jesus, they do not.
1 John
5:11-13 And this
is the record, that God hath given to us eternal [166] life [2222], and this
life is in his Son.12 He that
hath the Son hath life[2222]; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life
[2222].13 These
things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that
ye may know that ye have eternal[166] life[2222], and that ye may believe on
the name of the Son of God.KJV
And John
puts it another way, knowing the Son of God has come to earth; if we know him
we have eternal life.
1 John
5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an
understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is
true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal[166] life
[2222].KJV
And, sir, when we think of eternity, and of
the future consequences of all human conduct, what is there in this life that
should make any man contradict the dictates of his conscience, the principles
of justice, the laws of religion, and of God? William Wilberforce
Jude gives us some direction as John did. We are to live the love
of God.
Jude 21 Keep yourselves in the love of
God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal [166] life
[2222].KJV
If we
truly know Jesus, we will honestly walk in love, and we will have eternal life.
After Jesus died and ascended to heaven, he told John of the apocalypse; Jesus
showed John what things had been hidden and stolen by a kleptomaniac, the devil.
One of the revealings Jesus gave John
was about Himself. Jesus revealed that he was dead and now he is alive forever
and ever, and that he has the keys to hell and death. The King James Version as
well as some other versions, do not translate both words for eternal. Maybe they thought it was
redundant. Let’s look at the interlinear.
Rev 1:18
|
18
|
kai\
CCK 2532 kaí |
o(
AMSN he that 3588 ho |
zw=n,
V__PAPMSN liveth, 2198 zœ¡n, |
kai\
CCK and 2532 kaí |
e)geno/mhn
V1SAMI was 1096 egenóm¢n |
nekro\$
JMSNX dead; 3498 nekrós |
kai\
CCK and, 2532 kaí |
|
i)dou\ I behold, 2400 idoú |
zw=n
V__PAPMSN alive 2198 zœ¡n |
ei)mi
V1SPAI I am 1510 eimi |
ei)$
PA for 1519 eis |
tou\$ ai)w=na$
AMPA NMPA evermore, 3588 165 toús aiœ¡nas |
tw=n
AMPG 3588 tœ¡n |
|
ai)w/nwn NMPG 166 aiœ¡nœn |
kai\
CCK and 2532 kaí |
e&xw
V1SPAI have 2192 échœ |
ta\$
AFPA the 3588 tás |
klei=$
NFPA keys 2807 kleís |
tou=
AMSG of 3588 toú |
qana/tou
NMSG death. 2288 thanátou |
kai\
CCK and 2532 kaí |
|
tou= AMSG of 3588 toú |
a%|dou.
NMSG hell 86 hádou. |
(Interlinear Transliterated Bible. Copyright © 1994-2011 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved. [For more detail see the full copyright page.])
This would read: I am for the age the age; or, I am for the eternal
the eternity. Here are some translations that express the idea of both words
used eternal.
Rev 1:18 And the Ever-living One [I am
living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive
forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).
AMP
Rev
1:17-18 I am
the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the
keys of death and the grave.* Holy Bible, New Living
Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
Rev 1:18 and the living one: and I became
dead, and behold, I am living to the ages of ages, and have the keys of death
and of hades. Darby
Rev 1:18 and he who is living, and I did
become dead, and, lo, I am living to the ages of the ages. Amen! and I have the
keys of the hades and of the death.YLT
Jesus is
alive forever and ever, from the ages to the ages, living in eternity of the
eternities. He and the Father would like us to join them. Jesus was alive on
earth, and now he lives forever, just as he promised us. Jesus is the
everlasting and the eternal. We have been given everlasting, eternal, life when
we believe in Jesus. We are worthy to receive everlasting life. Jesus has the
power of eternal life or eternal punishment. He has the keys to hell and death,
so as much as societies around the world try to erase Jesus, one day everyone
will be subject to His decisions. He will be crowned King of kings and Lord of
lords, and he has made a way out of sin and death to live eternally with Him.
It is the earthly choice we are allowed to make.
If
we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy, also we
should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world. CS Lewis
