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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - How Can I Know I'm Going To Heaven When I Die? (Part 2) | February 19, 2025
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- Announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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- Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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- With dr. robert jeffress.
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- Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress and welcome
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- Again to "pathway to victory."
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- It's been said that in this world, nothing is certain except
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- Death and taxes, and while most of us deal with our taxes in
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- April, the fact is nobody gets out of this life alive.
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- So, what's going to happen to us after we die?
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- Although we experience the same fate, death, the bible teaches
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- That we're going to experience one of two very different
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- Destinations, and today i'm going to share with you five
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- Biblical facts about heaven and how to get there.
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- My message is titled, "how can i know i'm going to
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- Heaven when i die?"
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- ♪ music ♪
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- Announcer: it's okay to have questions about your faith,
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- But you need answers you can trust.
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- In his book "how can i know?"
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- Dr. robert jeffress addresses seven of life's
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- Most important questions.
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- If you've ever wondered how you can know the bible is true or
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- How you can know if you're going to heaven,
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- This book makes a compelling case for answers you
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- Can embrace with confidence.
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- Request your copy of "how can i know?"
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- When you give a generous gift to support the ministry
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- Of pathway to victory.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- Jeffress: it was the patriarch job who asked perhaps the most
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- Consequential question of life.
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- If a man dies, will he live again?
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- Is this life all there is, or is there something that awaits us
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- Beyond the grave?
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- The answer to that question has grave, so to speak, implications
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- For every one of us.
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- If there is an existence after the grave, then what is it and
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- How do we conform our beliefs and behavior in a way to ensure
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- Our well-being and that existence after the grave?
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- That's what we're looking at right now in our
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- Series "how can i know?"
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- Last time we began looking at the question, how can i know i'm
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- Going to heaven when i die?
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- Jesus and the other new testament writers had
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- A lot to say about heaven.
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- Interestingly, jesus talked more about hell than he did about
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- Heaven, but he did teach about heaven, and although the
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- Information we have is accurate, it's not complete.
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- Jesus doesn't tell us everything we wanna know about heaven.
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- Sometimes i wonder why that is.
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- I think if we really knew what awaited us as christians, there
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- Probably would be mass suicides.
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- We would all want to get there as quickly as we possibly could,
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- And if not, at the very least, it would be a distraction to us
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- If we really knew what was waiting for us in heaven.
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- We'd be like the little boy who was told by his parents to eat
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- His meat and vegetables, but he had a hard time doing that
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- Because there was also an ice cream sundae in front of him.
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- He couldn't get past the sundae in order to concentrate on his
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- Meat and vegetables.
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- I think that's the way we would be.
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- We'd find it very hard to fulfill our responsibilities
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- Here on earth if we understood the truth about heaven.
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- Nevertheless, jesus gave us just enough information about heaven
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- To whet our appetites.
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- And tonight--this morning what i wanna do is look at five truths
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- That the bible teaches us about heaven, the kind of heaven
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- You're going to experience if you know jesus as your savior.
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- First of all, the bible teaches heaven is an actual location.
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- John 14, beginning with verse 1, jesus said, "do not let your
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- Heart be troubled; believe in god, believe also in me.
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- In my father's house are many dwelling," what, "places."
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- Underline that word places.
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- "if it were not so, i would have told you; for i go to prepare
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- A," there it is again, "a place for you.
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- And if i go and prepare a," there it is again, "place for
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- You, i will come again and receive you unto myself."
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- Three times in three verses, jesus uses the word place.
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- That word is topos in greek.
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- It literally means a geographical location.
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- Heaven is an actual location.
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- Secondly, heaven is both an immediate and an
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- Ultimate destination.
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- It's both an immediate and an ultimate destination.
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- Let me explain what i mean.
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- We saw last time when we looked at the rich man, the bible says
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- He was in hell.
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- Some versions say he was in hades.
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- It tells us, among other things, that when a non-christian dies,
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- He doesn't cease to exist, he doesn't go into some waiting
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- Station, he doesn't go into soul sleep.
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- An unbeliever begins suffering immediately in a very real
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- Place, but it's only a temporary place.
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- An unbeliever doesn't go to the lake of fire.
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- He goes to hades.
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- The hades is the waiting place of the unsaved dead.
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- It's a place of immediate torment and pain as jesus
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- Described, but it's not the forever destination of
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- The unbeliever.
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- The unbeliever is in hades awaiting what?
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- That great final white throne judgment in revelation chapter
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- 20 when all people whose names are not written in the book of
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- Life will be deposited into the lake of fire.
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- The ultimate destination for unsaved people is the lake of
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- Fire, gehenna, where they will also be tortured and suffer day
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- And night, forever and ever.
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- We use the term hell as a catch-all term to describe both
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- The immediate place of the unsaved dead and the ultimate
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- Place, the lake of fire.
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- In the same way, heaven we use as a generic term.
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- It describes where christians go immediately when they die, but
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- Where they go immediately is not where they will go ultimately.
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- Thirdly, the bible says heaven will be primarily a
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- Re-created earth.
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- When we talk about this fourth heaven, this ultimate
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- Destination that we're going to spend eternity in, what does the
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- Bible teach us about it?
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- Well, it will primarily be a recreated earth.
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- You know, one of the biggest misconceptions about heaven is
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- That when we die, we become these disembodied spirits that
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- Just float around up there somewhere
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- In a galaxy far, far away.
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- Dr. criswell used to say, "if i felt like i was gonna spend
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- Eternity on some distant rotating ball billions of miles
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- Away, one that i'm not familiar with, i wouldn't get excited
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- About heaven at all.
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- I like this earth.
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- I like everything about this earth except the sin, the
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- Sickness, and the sadness of it, and that will be gone forever."
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- Ladies and gentlemen, we were made not for another world, we
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- Were made for this world, and that's why the bible says
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- Ultimately our ultimate destiny--destination is not up
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- There somewhere, it's right here on the recreated earth.
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- Now if you think i'm making that up, just jot down these
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- Scripture verses, psalm 37, verse 9.
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- "but those who wait upon the lord shall inherit the,"
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- What, "earth."
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- Earth, our inheritance is the earth, or 2 peter 3:13, "but
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- According to god's promise we are looking for new heavens and
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- A new earth, in which righteousness dwells."
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- That shouldn't surprise us, that god is going to recreate
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- This world.
- 00:08:02.939 --> 00:08:04.273
- Remember that god originally created man to be perfect and to
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- Enjoy perfect fellowship with a perfect god and he made a
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- Perfect earth for man to dwell in, but sin ruined all of that,
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- At least temporarily.
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- Not only did the fall of adam and eve, not only did it result
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- In the corruption of man, but it corrupted the earth as well.
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- Paul writes about that in romans 8.
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- He said the whole creation is
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- Groaning right now, longing to be released from the curse.
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- Look, our eternity is not a case of us going up
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- Someplace unidentified.
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- That's not what heaven is.
- 00:08:44.246 --> 00:08:45.982
- It's not our going up there.
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- The new heaven and the new earth is god coming down to where
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- We are.
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- We are not going up to dwell with him.
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- He's coming down to dwell with us.
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- The full meaning of the word emmanuel, "god is with us."
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- He is coming down and will rule over us forever and ever, and
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- That leads to a fourth truth about heaven.
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- Heaven is a continuum of our earthly existence.
- 00:09:10.206 --> 00:09:15.511
- It is a continuum of our earthly existence.
- 00:09:15.511 --> 00:09:18.280
- This is one of the most frequent misconceptions people have about
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- Life after death.
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- They think our life after death has nothing to do, no
- 00:09:23.119 --> 00:09:26.689
- Connection, with our life on earth, but nothing could be
- 00:09:26.689 --> 00:09:30.359
- Further from the truth.
- 00:09:30.359 --> 00:09:32.161
- Our existence is a continuing between now and eternity.
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- For example, there's a continuity between the present
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- Earth and the new earth.
- 00:09:40.336 --> 00:09:42.371
- Notice in revelation 21 verses 1 to 3, the descriptions of this
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- New earth that god gives us.
- 00:09:47.410 --> 00:09:49.345
- Just enough detail to whet our appetite.
- 00:09:49.345 --> 00:09:52.048
- He said, "then he showed me a river of the water of life,
- 00:09:52.048 --> 00:09:55.317
- Clear as crystal, coming from the throne of god and of
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- The lamb.
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- And in the middle of the street there was a tree of life,
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- Bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month;
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- And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
- 00:10:07.363 --> 00:10:11.400
- What is the new earth going to be like?
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- It's gonna have trees and rivers and water and mountains.
- 00:10:13.903 --> 00:10:18.441
- I mean, just think of the most beautiful place that you have
- 00:10:18.441 --> 00:10:23.079
- Ever gone here on earth.
- 00:10:23.079 --> 00:10:25.448
- That's only a pencil sketch of what heaven is gonna be like and
- 00:10:25.448 --> 00:10:29.552
- The new heaven and the new earth, but it's gonna contain
- 00:10:29.552 --> 00:10:32.922
- Those things that we're gonna be familiar with, and by the way, i
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- Think part of that new heaven and new earth are gonna
- 00:10:36.792 --> 00:10:39.228
- Be animals.
- 00:10:39.228 --> 00:10:40.563
- God included animals in the garden of eden, why not think
- 00:10:40.563 --> 00:10:44.400
- He's going to do the same now, and i'm not saying it's gonna be
- 00:10:44.400 --> 00:10:46.969
- Your pet fido, but i'm saying there are going to be animals,
- 00:10:46.969 --> 00:10:51.340
- Most likely, in the new earth that god creates.
- 00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:55.277
- Secondly, there's a continuity between our earthly bodies and
- 00:10:55.277 --> 00:10:59.615
- Our eternal bodies.
- 00:10:59.615 --> 00:11:02.451
- A continuity between our earthly bodies and eternal bodies.
- 00:11:02.451 --> 00:11:05.654
- You know, people ask me all the time about heaven.
- 00:11:05.654 --> 00:11:08.791
- Will we know one another in heaven?
- 00:11:08.791 --> 00:11:11.260
- Will we all be the same in heaven?
- 00:11:11.260 --> 00:11:13.162
- Will we eat in heaven?
- 00:11:13.162 --> 00:11:14.964
- What exactly is going to be our existence like in heaven, and
- 00:11:14.964 --> 00:11:18.667
- Interestingly, the bible gives us a lot of detail about that.
- 00:11:18.667 --> 00:11:22.671
- If you want to know what your body is gonna be like in the new
- 00:11:22.671 --> 00:11:26.342
- Heaven and new earth, just look at jesus's resurrection body.
- 00:11:26.342 --> 00:11:30.713
- Remember, after he was raised from the dead, he spent 40 days
- 00:11:30.713 --> 00:11:34.250
- On earth interacting with his disciples and other people.
- 00:11:34.250 --> 00:11:38.988
- Interestingly, his disciples recognized him, though not
- 00:11:38.988 --> 00:11:42.391
- Always immediately.
- 00:11:42.391 --> 00:11:44.059
- They weren't expecting to see him, but then when they realized
- 00:11:44.059 --> 00:11:47.062
- Who he was, they recognized him.
- 00:11:47.062 --> 00:11:49.865
- He bore similarities in his new body and his first human
- 00:11:49.865 --> 00:11:54.503
- Body that he had.
- 00:11:54.503 --> 00:11:55.838
- And thirdly, there's a continuity between our present
- 00:11:55.838 --> 00:11:58.741
- Choices and our future existence, and this is what is
- 00:11:58.741 --> 00:12:03.312
- So important to understand.
- 00:12:03.312 --> 00:12:05.648
- As brief as our life here on earth is, the choices we make
- 00:12:05.648 --> 00:12:11.387
- Impact us forever and ever and ever.
- 00:12:11.387 --> 00:12:15.024
- In the same way the decision an unbeliever makes in this life to
- 00:12:15.024 --> 00:12:19.261
- Reject or simply neglect the gospel of jesus christ has
- 00:12:19.261 --> 00:12:24.400
- Eternal ramifications.
- 00:12:24.400 --> 00:12:26.802
- Revelation 20:15 says, "if any man's name was not found written
- 00:12:26.802 --> 00:12:31.507
- In the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
- 00:12:31.507 --> 00:12:37.279
- Do you know, to me one of the most horrible aspects of hell is
- 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:41.917
- Not just the fact of the physical suffering, the
- 00:12:41.917 --> 00:12:45.521
- Eternality of suffering, the forever destination, it's the
- 00:12:45.521 --> 00:12:49.825
- Fact that in hell people will have the opportunity to remember
- 00:12:49.825 --> 00:12:55.130
- Their earthly existence.
- 00:12:55.130 --> 00:12:57.666
- Remember what abraham said to the rich man who was in agony in
- 00:12:57.666 --> 00:13:03.105
- The flames.
- 00:13:03.105 --> 00:13:04.473
- He said, "'child, remember that during your life you received
- 00:13:04.473 --> 00:13:09.078
- Your good things, and likewise lazarus bad things; but now he
- 00:13:09.078 --> 00:13:14.116
- Is being comforted here, and you are in agony.'"
- 00:13:14.116 --> 00:13:17.186
- Abraham was simply saying, remember, you had many
- 00:13:17.186 --> 00:13:20.189
- Opportunities while on earth to thank god for your provisions,
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- To acknowledge his sovereignty over your life, remember.
- 00:13:23.959 --> 00:13:28.564
- An unbeliever who ends up in hell will be able to remember
- 00:13:28.564 --> 00:13:32.401
- Those opportunities to receive christ, when a friend invited
- 00:13:32.401 --> 00:13:36.672
- Him to church or shared the gospel with him, but it will be
- 00:13:36.672 --> 00:13:40.643
- Too late.
- 00:13:40.643 --> 00:13:42.011
- There's a continuity between life here on earth
- 00:13:42.011 --> 00:13:44.613
- And life in heaven.
- 00:13:44.613 --> 00:13:45.948
- Remember, when you die, it's not somebody else who goes to heaven
- 00:13:45.948 --> 00:13:49.551
- Or to hell, it is you.
- 00:13:49.551 --> 00:13:52.588
- Randy alcorn writes it this way about that continuity.
- 00:13:52.588 --> 00:13:56.458
- Earth leads directly into heaven just as it leads directly
- 00:13:56.458 --> 00:14:01.697
- Into hell.
- 00:14:01.697 --> 00:14:03.165
- Life here is a running start into one place or the other.
- 00:14:03.165 --> 00:14:08.404
- Heaven and hell are both retroactive to earth.
- 00:14:08.404 --> 00:14:12.541
- The best of earth is a glimpse of heaven and the worst of earth
- 00:14:12.541 --> 00:14:17.813
- Is a glimpse of hell.
- 00:14:17.813 --> 00:14:19.982
- Earth is the in-between world, touched both by heaven and hell,
- 00:14:19.982 --> 00:14:25.521
- Affording a choice between the two.
- 00:14:25.521 --> 00:14:29.091
- And that leads to the final truth about heaven, and that is
- 00:14:29.091 --> 00:14:32.494
- Heaven is reserved for those who trust in christ.
- 00:14:32.494 --> 00:14:38.133
- If you believe that there is life after death and if you
- 00:14:38.133 --> 00:14:43.605
- Accept that jesus is probably the best authority to tell--tell
- 00:14:43.605 --> 00:14:47.843
- Us about heaven and hell, then it only makes sense that we
- 00:14:47.843 --> 00:14:52.147
- Would trust what he said is the way to heaven.
- 00:14:52.147 --> 00:14:56.552
- How can i know i'm going to heaven when i die?
- 00:14:56.552 --> 00:15:00.055
- What did jesus say about that?
- 00:15:00.055 --> 00:15:02.791
- Jesus linked our entrance into heaven to what we believe.
- 00:15:02.791 --> 00:15:09.031
- Belief and salvation are inseparably linked to
- 00:15:09.031 --> 00:15:12.368
- One another.
- 00:15:12.368 --> 00:15:13.702
- In john 6:40, jesus said, '"truly, truly, i say unto you,
- 00:15:13.702 --> 00:15:17.473
- He who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has
- 00:15:17.473 --> 00:15:20.843
- Eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed
- 00:15:20.843 --> 00:15:24.113
- From death into life."'
- 00:15:24.113 --> 00:15:25.814
- He who believes.
- 00:15:25.814 --> 00:15:27.182
- Or john 6:40, '"for this is the will of my father, that everyone
- 00:15:27.182 --> 00:15:31.086
- Who beholds the son and believes in him will have eternal life,
- 00:15:31.086 --> 00:15:37.259
- And i myself will raise him up on the last day."'
- 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:40.863
- Or jesus said in john 11, "'i am the resurrection and the life;
- 00:15:40.863 --> 00:15:44.767
- He who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he
- 00:15:44.767 --> 00:15:48.303
- Live again.'"
- 00:15:48.303 --> 00:15:49.905
- It's clear, only those who believe in christ will be saved
- 00:15:49.905 --> 00:15:54.543
- By christ.
- 00:15:54.543 --> 00:15:55.878
- But here's the $64,000 question.
- 00:15:55.878 --> 00:15:58.747
- What does it mean to believe in jesus?
- 00:15:58.747 --> 00:16:01.417
- If you don't hear another word i say today, hear this.
- 00:16:01.417 --> 00:16:05.621
- To believe doesn't mean to agree with a certain amount of facts
- 00:16:05.621 --> 00:16:09.725
- About jesus.
- 00:16:09.725 --> 00:16:11.226
- To believe in jesus doesn't mean to believe, well, i believe, i
- 00:16:11.226 --> 00:16:15.964
- Agree that he is the son of god.
- 00:16:15.964 --> 00:16:18.867
- I believe that he died on the cross for the sins of the world.
- 00:16:18.867 --> 00:16:22.538
- I believe that he was raised from the dead on the third day.
- 00:16:22.538 --> 00:16:26.208
- I believe, i believe in these facts about jesus.
- 00:16:26.208 --> 00:16:29.945
- That won't get you into heaven.
- 00:16:29.945 --> 00:16:32.548
- You know how i know that?
- 00:16:32.548 --> 00:16:34.483
- Because the demons, even satan themselves, believe all of
- 00:16:34.483 --> 00:16:39.888
- Those facts.
- 00:16:39.888 --> 00:16:41.790
- Did you know that the devil and his demons believe that jesus is
- 00:16:41.790 --> 00:16:45.461
- The son of god?
- 00:16:45.461 --> 00:16:47.062
- They were always saying, the demons, "who are you, son of
- 00:16:47.062 --> 00:16:49.698
- God, to do this to us?"
- 00:16:49.698 --> 00:16:51.366
- They recognized him.
- 00:16:51.366 --> 00:16:53.168
- They believed that he died on the cross
- 00:16:53.168 --> 00:16:55.170
- For the sins of the world.
- 00:16:55.170 --> 00:16:56.505
- They were there that friday afternoon, they watched it.
- 00:16:56.505 --> 00:17:00.776
- They know that jesus was raised from the dead, but does anybody
- 00:17:00.776 --> 00:17:05.614
- Want to argue that they're gonna be in heaven.
- 00:17:05.614 --> 00:17:08.584
- No, they believe those things.
- 00:17:08.584 --> 00:17:09.952
- In fact, they believe them more than you do and i do because
- 00:17:09.952 --> 00:17:12.821
- They were there to witness those things, but intellectual belief
- 00:17:12.821 --> 00:17:16.592
- Is not enough.
- 00:17:16.592 --> 00:17:18.127
- No, to believe in the bible, that greek word means to trust
- 00:17:18.127 --> 00:17:22.030
- In, to depend upon, to lean upon, to put your whole
- 00:17:22.030 --> 00:17:26.235
- Weight upon.
- 00:17:26.235 --> 00:17:27.569
- It means to come to that point that you say, "god, i know i'm
- 00:17:27.569 --> 00:17:30.906
- A sinner.
- 00:17:30.906 --> 00:17:32.274
- I know i deserve your punishment, but i am trusting
- 00:17:32.274 --> 00:17:35.277
- And believing and depending on what jesus did for me to save me
- 00:17:35.277 --> 00:17:40.382
- From my sins."
- 00:17:40.382 --> 00:17:42.084
- Jesus said it this way, "for god so loved the world, that he gave
- 00:17:42.084 --> 00:17:46.321
- His only son, that whoever believes in jesus shall not
- 00:17:46.321 --> 00:17:51.960
- Perish, but shall have everlasting life."
- 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:56.098
- To illustrate what it means to believe in jesus, i like to use
- 00:17:56.098 --> 00:18:00.669
- This illustration.
- 00:18:00.669 --> 00:18:02.838
- Men, just imagine you want to take your wife out to a nice
- 00:18:02.838 --> 00:18:06.141
- Restaurant here in dallas, an expensive restaurant, and you
- 00:18:06.141 --> 00:18:10.979
- Arrive at the restaurant, you're in nice but casual clothes,
- 00:18:10.979 --> 00:18:16.051
- You're ready to be seated, but the host said, "sir, i'm sorry,
- 00:18:16.051 --> 00:18:19.755
- But," and he points to a sign, "jackets are required for
- 00:18:19.755 --> 00:18:23.825
- Our establishment.
- 00:18:23.825 --> 00:18:25.260
- You have to be wearing a jacket."
- 00:18:25.260 --> 00:18:26.962
- And you get frustrated and mad.
- 00:18:26.962 --> 00:18:29.097
- You say, "well, that is so out of date.
- 00:18:29.097 --> 00:18:30.699
- Nobody requires that any longer."
- 00:18:30.699 --> 00:18:32.868
- You can say, "well, i didn't know about this requirement.
- 00:18:32.868 --> 00:18:35.070
- It's unfair that you would make me follow this," and the host
- 00:18:35.070 --> 00:18:39.474
- Said, "you know, you're not the first person who's come in here
- 00:18:39.474 --> 00:18:42.110
- With that same problem, and that's why we keep a spare
- 00:18:42.110 --> 00:18:45.280
- Jacket in the back.
- 00:18:45.280 --> 00:18:46.748
- Let me go get it."
- 00:18:46.748 --> 00:18:48.116
- He comes out with this jacket.
- 00:18:48.116 --> 00:18:49.851
- He said, "now, if you want to put it on, you're welcome to
- 00:18:49.851 --> 00:18:52.888
- Come into the restaurant."
- 00:18:52.888 --> 00:18:55.023
- You've got a choice to make.
- 00:18:55.023 --> 00:18:57.292
- You can continue to protest of how fine your clothes are and
- 00:18:57.292 --> 00:19:01.330
- How unfair this law is, and you'll be turned away and miss a
- 00:19:01.330 --> 00:19:06.201
- Great meal, or you can humble yourself, put on the jacket, and
- 00:19:06.201 --> 00:19:11.740
- Enjoy an unforgettable evening.
- 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:15.544
- Did you know god has a dress code for heaven?
- 00:19:15.544 --> 00:19:21.350
- Not our physical clothing, but our spiritual clothing.
- 00:19:21.350 --> 00:19:25.320
- He demands, for entrance into heaven, you have to be
- 00:19:25.320 --> 00:19:29.391
- Absolutely perfect, perfect.
- 00:19:29.391 --> 00:19:33.662
- "well, pastor, nobody can be perfect."
- 00:19:33.662 --> 00:19:36.965
- Exactly, and that's why god sent jesus.
- 00:19:36.965 --> 00:19:41.603
- 2 corinthians 5:21 says, "god made him," jesus, "who knew no
- 00:19:41.603 --> 00:19:47.743
- Sin to become sin for us, that we might become the
- 00:19:47.743 --> 00:19:51.246
- Righteousness of god in him."
- 00:19:51.246 --> 00:19:53.348
- When jesus died on that cross, he took all of our sins.
- 00:19:53.348 --> 00:19:58.887
- God placed all of our sins and wrapped them around jesus so
- 00:19:58.887 --> 00:20:03.258
- That jesus became the recipient of the punishment we deserve
- 00:20:03.258 --> 00:20:07.095
- From god.
- 00:20:07.095 --> 00:20:08.430
- He took our unrighteousness and wrapped it around jesus and he
- 00:20:08.430 --> 00:20:12.768
- Took the perfect righteousness of jesus and wrapped it around
- 00:20:12.768 --> 00:20:16.772
- Us so that when god looks at us, he doesn't see our soiled and
- 00:20:16.772 --> 00:20:22.644
- Imperfect garments of sin that we wear.
- 00:20:22.644 --> 00:20:25.847
- He sees the perfection of his son.
- 00:20:25.847 --> 00:20:30.118
- See, the bible says in isaiah 64:6, the best we can do, our
- 00:20:30.118 --> 00:20:34.056
- Righteousness is like a filthy garment to god.
- 00:20:34.056 --> 00:20:39.194
- So we've got a choice.
- 00:20:39.194 --> 00:20:41.063
- When we approach god, we can take a chance and just see if
- 00:20:41.063 --> 00:20:45.534
- Our garments, our behavior, are good enough to get into heaven.
- 00:20:45.534 --> 00:20:50.605
- If we take that chance, we're gonna lose because nobody's
- 00:20:50.605 --> 00:20:54.509
- Perfect enough to go to heaven, or we can wrap ourselves in that
- 00:20:54.509 --> 00:20:58.947
- Perfect garment of righteousness, jesus christ.
- 00:20:58.947 --> 00:21:03.685
- You know, the apostle paul had to make that decision.
- 00:21:03.685 --> 00:21:07.456
- He described himself before he became a christian as the hebrew
- 00:21:07.456 --> 00:21:11.093
- Of the hebrews, the jew of the jews.
- 00:21:11.093 --> 00:21:13.528
- I was righteous in my mind.
- 00:21:13.528 --> 00:21:16.131
- I kept the law, but that encounter with jesus on the road
- 00:21:16.131 --> 00:21:20.335
- To damascus changed everything, and suddenly paul saw his
- 00:21:20.335 --> 00:21:24.406
- Sinfulness and his need for a savior, and that's why in
- 00:21:24.406 --> 00:21:27.909
- Philippians 3:9 he prayed, he said, "my prayer is that i might
- 00:21:27.909 --> 00:21:32.314
- Be found in christ, not having a righteousness of my own derived
- 00:21:32.314 --> 00:21:38.120
- From the law, but that righteousness that comes from
- 00:21:38.120 --> 00:21:41.456
- Christ on the basis of faith."
- 00:21:41.456 --> 00:21:45.293
- Let me ask you, when that day comes that you meet god face to
- 00:21:45.293 --> 00:21:50.198
- Face, do you want to be found wrapped in your righteousness or
- 00:21:50.198 --> 00:21:56.004
- Do you wanna be found wrapped in the righteousness of jesus?
- 00:21:56.004 --> 00:22:00.175
- If you wait until you die to make that choice, you will have
- 00:22:00.175 --> 00:22:04.279
- Waited too long.
- 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:06.848
- Only those who trust in christ in this life
- 00:22:06.848 --> 00:22:11.386
- Can know for sure they're going to heaven when they die.
- 00:22:11.386 --> 00:22:15.457
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:22:15.457 --> 00:22:21.096
- There's no response more appropriate right now,
- 00:22:21.096 --> 00:22:24.232
- And nothing more urgent than saying yes to god's invitation.
- 00:22:24.232 --> 00:22:29.204
- Go ahead, trust in his provision,
- 00:22:29.204 --> 00:22:31.740
- And put on the garment of god's love and forgiveness.
- 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:36.011
- Now, as we conclude today,
- 00:22:36.011 --> 00:22:37.612
- I want to share a note from jim in texas.
- 00:22:37.612 --> 00:22:40.482
- He wrote, "i haven't been to church in about nine years.
- 00:22:40.482 --> 00:22:44.486
- When you teach, i know the word of god is taught properly
- 00:22:44.486 --> 00:22:48.089
- And not watered down.
- 00:22:48.089 --> 00:22:49.891
- I'll admit, my life isn't where it needs to be,
- 00:22:49.891 --> 00:22:52.928
- And i'm not walking right,
- 00:22:52.928 --> 00:22:54.896
- But god is working through your program
- 00:22:54.896 --> 00:22:57.265
- To help bring me back to him."
- 00:22:57.265 --> 00:23:00.368
- Well, jim, that's a wonderful encouragement to me.
- 00:23:00.368 --> 00:23:03.538
- I love your honesty and your transparency.
- 00:23:03.538 --> 00:23:06.875
- And to everyone who supports pathway to victory,
- 00:23:06.875 --> 00:23:09.778
- It's your generosity
- 00:23:09.778 --> 00:23:11.146
- That makes testimonies like jim's possible.
- 00:23:11.146 --> 00:23:14.316
- We're deeply grateful for every person
- 00:23:14.316 --> 00:23:16.751
- Who is part of this ministry's impact,
- 00:23:16.751 --> 00:23:19.154
- Helping us touch lives across the country
- 00:23:19.154 --> 00:23:21.990
- And around the world.
- 00:23:21.990 --> 00:23:23.625
- Now, stay right there,
- 00:23:23.625 --> 00:23:25.193
- I'll be back with more pathway to victory in just a moment.
- 00:23:25.193 --> 00:23:29.364
- [narrator] if a friend
- 00:23:29.865 --> 00:23:31.233
- Or one of your children came up to you and asked,
- 00:23:31.233 --> 00:23:33.001
- "how do you know christianity is the right religion?"
- 00:23:33.001 --> 00:23:36.104
- Could you give a clear and credible answer?
- 00:23:36.104 --> 00:23:38.840
- We'd like to send you a book from dr. robert jeffress,
- 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:41.676
- Containing answers to life's seven most important questions.
- 00:23:41.676 --> 00:23:45.547
- It's titled, "how can i know?"
- 00:23:45.547 --> 00:23:47.749
- If we're honest,
- 00:23:47.749 --> 00:23:49.117
- Every one of us has questions about our faith,
- 00:23:49.117 --> 00:23:51.319
- Questions like, "how can i know the bible is true?"
- 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:54.689
- Or, "how can i know god exists?"
- 00:23:54.689 --> 00:23:57.425
- In my book, "how can i know?"
- 00:23:57.425 --> 00:23:59.528
- I tackle seven important questions
- 00:23:59.528 --> 00:24:02.063
- And provide biblically-based answers
- 00:24:02.063 --> 00:24:04.666
- You can embrace with confidence.
- 00:24:04.666 --> 00:24:06.668
- [narrator] seven straightforward answers
- 00:24:06.668 --> 00:24:08.436
- To seven pressing questions.
- 00:24:08.436 --> 00:24:10.405
- The book, "how can i know?" is yours today
- 00:24:10.405 --> 00:24:12.807
- When you give a generous gift to support
- 00:24:12.807 --> 00:24:15.176
- The ministry of pathway to victory,
- 00:24:15.176 --> 00:24:17.379
- Or when you sign up to become a pathway partner.
- 00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:20.482
- And when your gift is $75 or more,
- 00:24:20.482 --> 00:24:23.685
- You'll also receive the complete series
- 00:24:23.685 --> 00:24:25.854
- On dvd and audio disc, with newly updated content for 2025.
- 00:24:25.854 --> 00:24:31.126
- It's not a sin to have doubts.
- 00:24:31.760 --> 00:24:34.129
- Sometimes doubt is a prerequisite to genuine faith.
- 00:24:34.129 --> 00:24:38.633
- [narrator] thank you for investing financially
- 00:24:38.633 --> 00:24:40.936
- In pathway to victory.
- 00:24:40.936 --> 00:24:42.470
- Your partnership will help
- 00:24:42.470 --> 00:24:43.972
- Our ministry broadcast god's truth on television,
- 00:24:43.972 --> 00:24:47.042
- On radio, and online, addressing doubts, clearing confusion,
- 00:24:47.042 --> 00:24:51.680
- And transforming lives through the bold,
- 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:54.149
- Biblical teaching of god's word.
- 00:24:54.149 --> 00:24:58.553
- Today, we've learned that heaven is a real place,
- 00:24:59.554 --> 00:25:02.557
- Prepared by god for those
- 00:25:02.557 --> 00:25:04.225
- Who put their trust in jesus christ.
- 00:25:04.225 --> 00:25:07.562
- Our present choices have eternal consequences,
- 00:25:07.562 --> 00:25:11.366
- And the single most important decision any of us can make
- 00:25:11.366 --> 00:25:14.703
- Is to accept god's free gift of salvation
- 00:25:14.703 --> 00:25:17.906
- Through faith in his son.
- 00:25:17.906 --> 00:25:20.208
- But that leads to another crucial question
- 00:25:20.208 --> 00:25:22.644
- That many people struggle with.
- 00:25:22.644 --> 00:25:24.546
- If god is so good that he prepared heaven for us,
- 00:25:24.546 --> 00:25:27.782
- Why does he allow suffering in this world?
- 00:25:27.782 --> 00:25:31.119
- Well, next time we'll discover
- 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:32.587
- How to reconcile god's goodness
- 00:25:32.587 --> 00:25:35.390
- With the reality of evil and pain.
- 00:25:35.390 --> 00:25:38.026
- Stay tuned for a preview
- 00:25:38.026 --> 00:25:39.561
- Of what's coming up next in our series, how can i know?
- 00:25:39.561 --> 00:25:43.565
- Have you ever heard anybody ask the question,
- 00:25:44.532 --> 00:25:46.601
- "how can i know god is good
- 00:25:46.601 --> 00:25:48.903
- With all the porcupines in the world?"
- 00:25:48.903 --> 00:25:52.340
- I mean, porcupines do not represent a threat
- 00:25:52.340 --> 00:25:55.977
- To the goodness of god,
- 00:25:55.977 --> 00:25:58.146
- But the existence of evil in the world does.
- 00:25:58.146 --> 00:26:02.250
- Why is that?
- 00:26:02.250 --> 00:26:03.718
- It's because evil seems to contradict everything else
- 00:26:03.718 --> 00:26:06.488
- We know about god.
- 00:26:06.488 --> 00:26:08.289
- [narrator] set your dvr
- 00:26:08.289 --> 00:26:09.457
- And join us next time for the message,
- 00:26:09.457 --> 00:26:11.459
- How can i know god is good
- 00:26:11.459 --> 00:26:13.428
- With all the suffering in the world?
- 00:26:13.428 --> 00:26:15.296
- Here on pathway to victory.
- 00:26:15.296 --> 00:26:17.132
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:26:17.132 --> 00:26:20.201
- If you could go back in time
- 00:26:20.802 --> 00:26:22.337
- And walk with the apostle, paul, on one of his journeys,
- 00:26:22.337 --> 00:26:25.340
- Would you do it?
- 00:26:25.340 --> 00:26:26.608
- This may, let's go together
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- On the life-changing pathway to victory,
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- Walk with me and other believers
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- In the very places where god's word was written.
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- Join us as we study his word together.
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- Surrounded by natural beauty,
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- We will seek our creator in his creation.
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- Journeys of paul, mediterranean cruise.
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- Call 888-280-6747, or visit ptv.org.
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