Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - Afterlife

February 24, 2026 | 27:29

Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Afterlife | February 24, 2026

...
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Greg laurie: hi, i'm greg laurie,
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And i'm so glad you've joined us
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Because god's word is full of promises.
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It's alive, it's powerful, and it can change your life.
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So, let's get started.
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♪ this is the day, ♪
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♪ the day when life begins ♪
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♪ this is the day, ♪
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♪ the day when life begins ♪♪
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Greg: the story is told of billy graham
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Going to a city to hold one of his great crusades.
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And billy wrote a letter to his wife, ruth,
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To tell her how things are going,
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But he didn't know where the post office
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Was in this particular town.
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He saw a young man standing on a street corner,
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And he called out to him,
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"young man, where's the post office?"
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And so, the young boy told billy graham
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Where the post office was.
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And then billy said to that young guy,
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"hey, you want to come to this stadium tonight
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And hear me preach?
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I'm gonna tell people how to get to heaven."
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The little guy said,
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"how would you know how to get to heaven?
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You don't even know how to get to the post office."
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Well, sooner or later, if you're a christian,
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You're gonna enter the afterlife.
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And if you put your faith in christ,
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You're going to go to heaven.
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What a great hope that is.
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The bible says to be absent from the body
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Is to be present with the lord.
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You'll close your eyes on earth,
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And you'll open them in heaven.
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So, we have basic two modes of transportation to get us
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To the afterlife if we're a believer.
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It's either gonna be death or the rapture.
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And i'm gonna talk a little bit about the rapture
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In this message.
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I'm gonna tell you what it is, why there is a rapture,
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When it would potentially happen,
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And a little bit more.
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Let's read revelation chapter 4, verses 1 to 2.
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Remember john's on the island of patmos.
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He's been catapulted into the future
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In kind of a spiritual time machine.
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I don't think it was a delorean.
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And he seen things that are to come
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And he writes about it now in revelation 4:1.
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He says, "after these things," you might underline that phrase.
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"after these things," john says, "i looked,
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And behold, a door standing open in heaven.
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And the first voice which i heard
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Was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying,
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'come up here, and i will show you things
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That will take place after this.'"
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You might underline those words: "after this."
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And john says, "immediately i was in the spirit;
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And behold, a throne set in heaven,
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And one sat on the throne."
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So, let's talk about the next event
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On the prophetic calendar.
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I already mentioned it. it's called the rapture.
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What is the rapture?
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Listen very carefully.
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The rapture is a future event
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When christ will descend from heaven and resurrect
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The bodies of believers who have died.
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Their spirits have gone to heaven,
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But their bodies are still here in the earth in the grave.
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At the same time, we who are alive,
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If it happens in our lifetime,
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We will be caught up together with them.
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With who?
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With those others
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Who are having their resurrection bodies
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Given to them.
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We'll be caught up together with them in heaven.
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It'll be a great reunion.
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Is it spoken of elsewhere in scripture?
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Answer, yes.
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Jesus spoke of it in john chapter 14.
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He said, "at my father's house there are many mansions.
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If it were not so, i would have told you.
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I go to prepare a place for you.
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And if i go and prepare a place for you, i will come again and
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Receive you unto myself that where i am, you may be also."
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Jesus also mentioned this event in what we sometimes call the
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Olivet discourse found in matthew 24.
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He says there in verse 42, "men will be in a field.
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One will be taken and the other left.
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Two women will be at a handmill.
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One will be taken and the other left.
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So be watching, you don't know what day your lord will come."
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So, some are in the field, some are working, some are sleeping,
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So it's a global event that will happen in a moment that you
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Can't even really measure in time.
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Point number two, why is there a rapture?
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This is very important.
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Paul was writing to the believers
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There in thessalonica,
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And they had loved ones who had died.
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And they were wondering
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If they would ever see those people again.
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So, he wrote these words, inspired by the holy spirit,
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To calm their hysteria and to bring them perspective.
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He's saying you are gonna see them again,
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Going back to 1 thessalonians 4, verse 13.
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Paul says, "i don't want you to be uninformed, brothers,
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About those who have died,
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So that you will not grieve as those who have no hope."
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This is interesting, he says, "i don't want you to be
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Uninformed."
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And this sort of addresses the question of why should we study
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Bible prophecy?
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Some would say you can't understand it.
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No, you can understand it.
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Let me take it a step further.
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You need to understand it.
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The more we know about the afterlife will better enable us
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To live a good life here on earth.
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And so, it's very important how we view these things, because it
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Will affect us.
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And so, paul is saying, "i don't want you to grieve as those that
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Have no hope."
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Listen, when a christian loses a loved one,
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When a loved one dies, we grieve.
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And i bring this up
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Because sometimes well-meaning christians
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Will say to someone who's lost a loved one,
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"well, don't cry. they're in heaven."
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Excuse me, i will cry. i must cry.
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My sorrow is an indication of my love.
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So, paul's not saying, "don't grieve."
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He's saying, "don't grieve as those who have no hope."
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He's saying don't grieve hopelessly, grieve hopefully.
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Yes, you can miss them. yes, you can be sad.
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But remind yourself of this fact:
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You will see them again.
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And so, that's what he's saying to the believers there
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And, really, in effect, to all of us today.
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Now, here's the big question,
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The one that's asked more than any other:
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When is the rapture?
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And i'm gonna give you the answer, so get ready for it.
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Get out your pen. get ready to write it down.
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When is the rapture? answer: any time.
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It can happen today. it could happen tonight.
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It could happen tomorrow. we don't know.
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The bible says, "no man knows the day or the hour
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When the son of man will return."
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So, here's john on the lonely island of patmos
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Writing these words, and he's concluded again,
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With the words of jesus, standing at the door, knocking.
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Now a door is open for john in heaven,
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And he's hurtled into the afterlife.
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Revelation chapter 4, verse 2, john writes,
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"immediately i was in the spirit;
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And behold, a throne set in heaven,
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And one sat on the throne.
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And he who sat there was like a jasper
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And sardius stone in appearance;
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There was a rainbow around the throne."
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I find that interesting,
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A complete circular rainbow around the throne.
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"in appearance like an emerald.
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Around the throne were twenty-four thrones,
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And on the thrones i saw twenty-four elders sitting,
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Clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold
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On their heads.
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And from the throne proceeded lightnings,
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Thunderings, and voices.
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Seven lamps of fire burning before the throne,
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Which are the seven spirits of god.
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Before the throne," verse 6,
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There was a sea of glass, like crystal.
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And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne,
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Were four living creatures full of eyes in front and back.
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The first living creature was like a lion,
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The second living creature like a calf,
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The third living creature had the face of a man,
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And the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
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And the living creatures, each having six wings,
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Were full of eyes around and within.
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And they don't rest day and night, saying:
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'holy, holy, holy, lord god almighty
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Who was, who is, and who is to come!'"
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John is now in the afterlife.
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And what does john see in heaven?
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First of all, he sees the lord seated on his throne.
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You know, that's a phrase we use often as christians.
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"well, god's on the throne."
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And that's our way of saying god's in control,
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And indeed he is.
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John sees the lord sitting on his throne
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In control of all things, and it's beautiful to behold.
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Now, john's trying to describe these things.
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He says in verse 3, they were like, were like.
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You know, it's not like the way a teenager says it.
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You know, and they'll say, "like, i'm all,
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And she's all, and he's like, and i'm like,"
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And i'm like, "hey, shut up."
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You know, it's not that kind of thing.
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It's--john is trying, to the best of his ability
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With 1st century language, to describe this amazing thing
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He has seen.
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How can he describe heaven?
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The apostle paul was caught up to heaven,
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The third heaven.
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And he said, "what i saw was indescribable.
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There's hardly even words i can use to explain it to you."
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But paul said, "it was like a paradise."
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Imagine trying to describe paradise
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To someone who's never seen it.
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Imagine trying to describe the island of maui
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To a two year old.
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How are you gonna convey that information?
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So, here is john trying to convey to us
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What he has seen as he is taken
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Into the afterlife.
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But he sees the lord on his throne.
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Also, verse 4, he sees 24 elders.
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Who are these elders? nobody knows.
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They could be angelic beings.
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Perhaps it's 12 patriarchs from the old testament
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And 12 apostles from the new testament,
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But they're given crowns,
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And we know already that there are rewards promised
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To us who faithfully serve the lord and their crowns.
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The bible speaks of a crown of life
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And a crown of rejoicing, and more.
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And so, the elders are given crowns,
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But this is what's important.
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What do the elders do with the crowns?
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They cast their crowns down before the lord.
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So, when we're in heaven,
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We're not gonna be walking around, say,
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"hey, check out all my crowns, man.
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You know, check out all the medals and the ribbons."
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I have a friend who's been in so many track meets
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And other athletic events.
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He has so many ribbons.
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I don't think i won a single ribbon or award
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Throughout my childhood, but this guy has so many.
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And i say, "you ought to just put them all on at one time,
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Just hang them around your neck
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And wear them all out."
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Well, that would be a little ridiculous.
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So, no one's gonna be walking around with heaven saying,
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"hey, look at all my rewards."
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You know, otherwise, a guy like billy graham,
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Man, who can touch him?
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It's not about that.
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We take these things
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That we've done for god on earth,
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And we present them back to the lord in heaven.
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In heaven, there are also ominous storm warnings.
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Look at verse 5.
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John writes, "from the throne proceeded lightnings,
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Thunderings, and voices.
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Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne,
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Which are the seven spirits of god."
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This is all symbolic of judgment in scripture.
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From the safety of heaven, john can see that a storm
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Is brewing on earth.
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He is in a shelter from the storm.
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But ominous things are coming to planet earth,
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Which, of course, will be the great tribulation period.
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Now, i already pointed out earlier,
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God has promised to keep his children
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From the great tribulation period.
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Because remember, earlier we read
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In revelation 3:10,
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"because you have kept my command to persevere,"
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Jesus says, "i'll keep you from the hour of trial,
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Which will come upon the whole world
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To test those that toil in the earth."
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God will preserve us.
00:12:26.255 --> 00:12:27.923
He will deliver us before this time of tribulation
00:12:27.923 --> 00:12:32.361
That is coming upon the earth.
00:12:32.361 --> 00:12:35.498
And it's interesting to think about the simple fact
00:12:35.498 --> 00:12:38.267
That when we're in heaven, we're gonna know so much more
00:12:38.267 --> 00:12:41.470
Than we know now.
00:12:41.470 --> 00:12:43.205
You know, you ever seen those little bobblehead dolls and the
00:12:43.205 --> 00:12:46.375
Head's really big and it kind of moves around, you know?
00:12:46.375 --> 00:12:48.611
And it's not like we're gonna be bobbleheads in heaven, "oh, i
00:12:48.611 --> 00:12:51.413
Know so much."
00:12:51.413 --> 00:12:52.748
But it's interesting, because the bible says we'll continue to
00:12:52.748 --> 00:12:55.284
Learn in heaven.
00:12:55.284 --> 00:12:57.419
But we're told in 1 corinthians 13,
00:12:57.419 --> 00:12:59.421
We will know as we are known.
00:12:59.421 --> 00:13:01.290
So, many mysteries will be revealed to us.
00:13:01.290 --> 00:13:04.093
Many problems will be solved.
00:13:04.093 --> 00:13:07.062
Many questions, if not all, immediately will be answered.
00:13:07.062 --> 00:13:11.066
But then we'll spend the rest of eternity just discovering
00:13:11.066 --> 00:13:14.336
More about the lord, more about his glorious nature
00:13:14.336 --> 00:13:19.842
And his plan, et cetera.
00:13:19.842 --> 00:13:22.077
But in heaven, you're also remembering earth.
00:13:22.077 --> 00:13:26.382
I think sometimes people think
00:13:26.382 --> 00:13:28.050
That we have sort of a brain wipe.
00:13:28.050 --> 00:13:29.819
You remember that movie "men in black"
00:13:29.819 --> 00:13:31.520
And people would see an alien,
00:13:31.520 --> 00:13:33.656
So they'd do that little thing where they--
00:13:33.656 --> 00:13:35.391
Their memory would be erased?
00:13:35.391 --> 00:13:36.926
And people think their memory will be erased in heaven.
00:13:36.926 --> 00:13:39.528
Because they'll say,
00:13:39.528 --> 00:13:40.863
"well, we can't remember what happened on earth
00:13:40.863 --> 00:13:42.531
Because we'll be so sad."
00:13:42.531 --> 00:13:44.166
That's not true.
00:13:44.166 --> 00:13:45.501
The bible never says that, actually.
00:13:45.501 --> 00:13:47.403
Because the fact is in heaven, you will have perspective.
00:13:47.403 --> 00:13:51.106
You'll see things the way god sees them.
00:13:51.106 --> 00:13:53.642
As an example, in heaven you're aware of the passing of time,
00:13:53.642 --> 00:13:57.546
Because over in revelation 6:10 we have those folks that have
00:13:57.546 --> 00:14:03.185
Come out of the tribulation period saying, "how long, o
00:14:03.185 --> 00:14:05.988
Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on
00:14:05.988 --> 00:14:09.758
Those that dwell on the earth?"
00:14:09.758 --> 00:14:11.460
So, they're remembering earth.
00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:14.096
How could you have a reward for something you did on earth in
00:14:14.096 --> 00:14:17.766
Heaven if you had no recollection of what you did?
00:14:17.766 --> 00:14:21.036
"what's this ribbon for, this crown?
00:14:21.036 --> 00:14:23.138
Why do i have it? i don't remember anything."
00:14:23.138 --> 00:14:25.040
No, you'll remember, but with perspective.
00:14:25.040 --> 00:14:28.110
Now, do people in heaven know what is going on on earth?
00:14:28.110 --> 00:14:31.747
Immediately, people say, "no, they're oblivious to it."
00:14:31.747 --> 00:14:34.183
I don't know that that's completely true.
00:14:34.183 --> 00:14:37.019
They may know some things that are going on on earth.
00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:40.623
As an example,
00:14:40.623 --> 00:14:41.957
Every time a person comes to christ on earth,
00:14:41.957 --> 00:14:45.294
There's a party in heaven, right?
00:14:45.294 --> 00:14:47.196
Jesus said, "i tell you, there's joy in heaven
00:14:47.196 --> 00:14:49.932
In the presence of the angels
00:14:49.932 --> 00:14:51.467
Over one sinner that comes to repentance."
00:14:51.467 --> 00:14:54.003
So, that shows a direct connection
00:14:54.003 --> 00:14:55.938
Between an earthly event and a heavenly awareness.
00:14:55.938 --> 00:14:59.575
So, we need to expand our thinking about heaven,
00:14:59.575 --> 00:15:03.145
And we have a lot of unbiblical ideas,
00:15:03.145 --> 00:15:06.515
And we're gonna know more than we know now.
00:15:06.515 --> 00:15:08.884
That is for sure,
00:15:08.884 --> 00:15:10.286
And we'll see it with perspective.
00:15:10.286 --> 00:15:12.254
Here's the big question.
00:15:12.254 --> 00:15:13.722
What are we going to be doing in heaven?
00:15:13.722 --> 00:15:16.292
This is important because sometimes
00:15:16.292 --> 00:15:18.027
People think heaven is gonna be boring.
00:15:18.027 --> 00:15:21.597
It's gonna be a drag.
00:15:21.597 --> 00:15:22.998
We're gonna just sit around on fluffy clouds
00:15:22.998 --> 00:15:25.567
And pluck harps and just sleep.
00:15:25.567 --> 00:15:28.671
Now, actually, some people might find that very appealing,
00:15:28.671 --> 00:15:31.807
Like a long nap.
00:15:31.807 --> 00:15:33.242
But we're gonna be doing a lot of things in heaven,
00:15:33.242 --> 00:15:35.377
Starting with worship.
00:15:35.377 --> 00:15:37.046
We'll be worshiping the lord in heaven.
00:15:37.046 --> 00:15:39.281
Look at verse 10 here in revelation 4.
00:15:39.281 --> 00:15:42.751
"the twenty-four elders fell down
00:15:42.751 --> 00:15:45.054
Before him who sits on the throne,
00:15:45.054 --> 00:15:47.389
And they worship him who lives forever and ever.
00:15:47.389 --> 00:15:49.658
They cast their crowns before him."
00:15:49.658 --> 00:15:51.260
Listen to what they say.
00:15:51.260 --> 00:15:52.761
"you are worthy, o lord,
00:15:52.761 --> 00:15:54.096
To receive glory and honor and power;
00:15:54.096 --> 00:15:56.398
You created all things
00:15:56.398 --> 00:15:58.400
For by your will they exist and were created."
00:15:58.400 --> 00:16:02.304
So, they are giving honor to god,
00:16:02.304 --> 00:16:05.607
And we will be worshiping the lord.
00:16:05.607 --> 00:16:07.576
So, get in the practice now.
00:16:07.576 --> 00:16:10.579
Be a worshiper of the lord because this is something
00:16:10.579 --> 00:16:14.149
We'll be doing a lot of in heaven.
00:16:14.149 --> 00:16:15.584
But we're not gonna just sit around
00:16:15.584 --> 00:16:17.286
And have one long church service.
00:16:17.286 --> 00:16:19.121
I think that's how some people envision it.
00:16:19.121 --> 00:16:21.123
"oh, it's like church on sunday when it goes too long."
00:16:21.123 --> 00:16:23.759
No, no, there'll be worship.
00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:25.861
And you'll see the lord in his glory,
00:16:25.861 --> 00:16:27.730
And you'll want to worship.
00:16:27.730 --> 00:16:29.298
But listen, you'll be doing things as well.
00:16:29.298 --> 00:16:32.368
You'll be busy serving the lord.
00:16:32.368 --> 00:16:35.304
Revelation 22:3 says his servants
00:16:35.304 --> 00:16:37.673
Will serve him, will serve him.
00:16:37.673 --> 00:16:40.709
So, there'll be tasks for us to accomplish.
00:16:40.709 --> 00:16:43.479
Can you imagine the lord saying,
00:16:43.479 --> 00:16:44.813
"would you go do something for me right now?"
00:16:44.813 --> 00:16:47.216
"yes, lord. what can i do?"
00:16:47.216 --> 00:16:49.418
"anything you want."
00:16:49.418 --> 00:16:51.353
We're told in revelation 7:15 that we're gonna be serving him
00:16:51.353 --> 00:16:55.424
Day and night in his temple.
00:16:55.424 --> 00:16:57.793
I mean, i'm looking forward to rest,
00:16:57.793 --> 00:17:00.195
But i can only rest for so long.
00:17:00.195 --> 00:17:02.564
I like to get out and do things,
00:17:02.564 --> 00:17:04.733
And i even like to accomplish things.
00:17:04.733 --> 00:17:08.070
You wonder, "will we be able to accomplish
00:17:08.070 --> 00:17:11.306
Some things in the afterlife
00:17:11.306 --> 00:17:13.675
We were not able to complete in this life?"
00:17:13.675 --> 00:17:17.546
You know, we all have dreams and aspirations,
00:17:17.546 --> 00:17:20.916
Things we wished we could have done
00:17:20.916 --> 00:17:23.285
Or maybe our dreams were shattered.
00:17:23.285 --> 00:17:26.021
And i think sometimes people act as though everything
00:17:26.021 --> 00:17:29.825
That can be done must be done in this life.
00:17:29.825 --> 00:17:32.394
And if it's not done in this life, then that's it.
00:17:32.394 --> 00:17:35.197
There's no other chances.
00:17:35.197 --> 00:17:36.999
Now, i think it is important to do what we can
00:17:36.999 --> 00:17:39.668
With our life on earth.
00:17:39.668 --> 00:17:41.403
We certainly don't want to waste our life.
00:17:41.403 --> 00:17:44.740
It was corrie ten boom who wrote,
00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:46.408
"a life is not measured by its duration
00:17:46.408 --> 00:17:49.678
But by its donation."
00:17:49.678 --> 00:17:51.880
We all want to make a donation with our life.
00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:54.683
But what if a life was cut short through disease or a disability,
00:17:54.683 --> 00:18:00.289
Or that life was shorter than we hoped it would be
00:18:00.289 --> 00:18:03.292
Because they died as a young man or a young woman?
00:18:03.292 --> 00:18:06.762
They had no control over those circumstances.
00:18:06.762 --> 00:18:09.698
That doesn't seem fair.
00:18:09.698 --> 00:18:11.867
So, do they just lose and that's it?
00:18:11.867 --> 00:18:13.602
"too bad, you died younger
00:18:13.602 --> 00:18:15.437
And that's the way it goes for you."
00:18:15.437 --> 00:18:18.173
And then you see other people living long lives--
00:18:18.173 --> 00:18:21.343
Sometimes, honestly, long, wicked lives,
00:18:21.343 --> 00:18:25.447
Long, wasteful lives.
00:18:25.447 --> 00:18:27.616
And then you see someone that had so much promise
00:18:27.616 --> 00:18:30.185
And so much potential.
00:18:30.185 --> 00:18:32.287
I think of my own son, age 33,
00:18:32.287 --> 00:18:34.490
Just such a wonderful young man,
00:18:34.490 --> 00:18:36.959
So full of talent and vision and plans for his future.
00:18:36.959 --> 00:18:42.831
And he was taken to be with the lord at 33.
00:18:42.831 --> 00:18:45.901
But why do we think everything that can be accomplished
00:18:45.901 --> 00:18:48.871
Can only be accomplished on earth?
00:18:48.871 --> 00:18:51.039
There are things that we will do in the afterlife as well.
00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:55.377
And now as we close this message,
00:18:55.377 --> 00:18:57.479
The elders give us an insight as to why we exist.
00:18:57.479 --> 00:19:01.550
'cause this is a question that is often asked,
00:19:01.550 --> 00:19:03.986
"why am i here on earth?
00:19:03.986 --> 00:19:06.455
What is the meaning of life?
00:19:06.455 --> 00:19:08.524
Why was i placed here?"
00:19:08.524 --> 00:19:09.958
These elders in heaven tell us why we are here on earth.
00:19:09.958 --> 00:19:15.364
Let's go back to revelation 4, verse 11.
00:19:15.364 --> 00:19:19.434
They say, "you are worthy, o lord to receive glory,
00:19:19.434 --> 00:19:22.137
Honor, and power; you created everything
00:19:22.137 --> 00:19:24.740
And it's for your pleasure
00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:26.742
That they exist and were created."
00:19:26.742 --> 00:19:30.012
Why do i exist? why do you exist?
00:19:30.012 --> 00:19:32.814
Why was they put here? here's the answer.
00:19:32.814 --> 00:19:35.918
I exist and i was created
00:19:35.918 --> 00:19:37.853
To bring glory and pleasure to god.
00:19:37.853 --> 00:19:42.558
I was not created to bring glory and pleasure to myself.
00:19:42.558 --> 00:19:47.796
But there are people that dedicate their entire life
00:19:47.796 --> 00:19:50.365
To the pursuit of pleasure.
00:19:50.365 --> 00:19:53.101
The bible even tells us in the last days,
00:19:53.101 --> 00:19:55.571
People would be lovers of pleasure
00:19:55.571 --> 00:19:57.739
Rather than lovers of god.
00:19:57.739 --> 00:20:00.409
In 1 timothy 5:6 we're told, "she that lives
00:20:00.409 --> 00:20:04.947
For pleasure is dead while she lives."
00:20:04.947 --> 00:20:08.717
Listen to this.
00:20:08.717 --> 00:20:10.052
Living for pleasure is one of the most unpleasurable things
00:20:10.052 --> 00:20:14.122
You can do.
00:20:14.122 --> 00:20:15.757
Let me say that again.
00:20:15.757 --> 00:20:17.092
Living for pleasure is one of the most unpleasurable things
00:20:17.092 --> 00:20:21.396
You can do.
00:20:21.396 --> 00:20:22.731
It's been said the best cure for hedonism
00:20:22.731 --> 00:20:25.634
Is an attempt to practice it.
00:20:25.634 --> 00:20:28.136
Just go for it.
00:20:28.136 --> 00:20:29.738
You're saying, "so, greg, are you saying
00:20:29.738 --> 00:20:31.073
That we can't experience pleasure as christians?"
00:20:31.073 --> 00:20:32.908
No. i'm saying don't live for it.
00:20:32.908 --> 00:20:35.711
Don't make that the pursuit of your life, because if you do,
00:20:35.711 --> 00:20:38.513
You'll never find it.
00:20:38.513 --> 00:20:39.848
However, the bible says,
00:20:39.848 --> 00:20:41.383
In his presence there is fullness of joy.
00:20:41.383 --> 00:20:43.986
And on his right hand, there are pleasures forevermore.
00:20:43.986 --> 00:20:48.423
Jesus said in john 10:10,
00:20:48.423 --> 00:20:50.092
"i have come that you might have life
00:20:50.092 --> 00:20:52.594
And that more abundantly."
00:20:52.594 --> 00:20:55.130
So, oh yes, you can experience pleasure,
00:20:55.130 --> 00:20:58.700
But you experience it not by living for pleasure
00:20:58.700 --> 00:21:01.270
But by living for god.
00:21:01.270 --> 00:21:03.872
My friend randy alcorn put it this way, and i quote.
00:21:03.872 --> 00:21:08.343
"if we come to see the purpose of the universe as god's
00:21:08.343 --> 00:21:11.847
Long-term glory rather than our short-term happiness, then we
00:21:11.847 --> 00:21:17.085
Will undergo a critical paradigm shift in tackling the problem of
00:21:17.085 --> 00:21:21.923
Suffering," end quote, well said.
00:21:21.923 --> 00:21:24.559
If i understand
00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.894
That the ultimate goal of my life
00:21:25.894 --> 00:21:27.696
Is bringing glory to god, it changes everything.
00:21:27.696 --> 00:21:30.699
Here's the bottom line.
00:21:30.699 --> 00:21:32.034
When you seek to fulfill
00:21:32.034 --> 00:21:33.368
The purpose you were created for,
00:21:33.368 --> 00:21:35.103
Which is to know, glorify, and worship god,
00:21:35.103 --> 00:21:38.040
You will find the happiness you've been seeking in life.
00:21:38.040 --> 00:21:41.943
You won't find the happiness you want in life by seeking it.
00:21:41.943 --> 00:21:45.914
You'll find the happiness you want in life by seeking him
00:21:45.914 --> 00:21:49.318
Because the bible says,
00:21:49.318 --> 00:21:51.353
"happy are the people whose god is the lord."
00:21:51.353 --> 00:21:54.790
Yes, god created you for his own glory.
00:21:54.790 --> 00:21:58.527
Isaiah 43:7, the lord says,
00:21:58.527 --> 00:22:02.164
"everyone that i've created, i've created for my glory."
00:22:02.164 --> 00:22:07.069
Then 1 corinthians 10:31, paul says,
00:22:07.069 --> 00:22:09.571
"whatever you do, do it for the glory of god."
00:22:09.571 --> 00:22:13.575
Here's what it means.
00:22:13.575 --> 00:22:14.910
Whatever you're doing in life, whatever your career path
00:22:14.910 --> 00:22:16.945
Or if you're a student or a husband or a wife
00:22:16.945 --> 00:22:19.748
Or a parent or whoever you are,
00:22:19.748 --> 00:22:22.751
Whatever you're doing, do it for the glory of god.
00:22:22.751 --> 00:22:27.322
And if you can't do it for the glory of god,
00:22:27.322 --> 00:22:28.990
Maybe you shouldn't be doing it anymore.
00:22:28.990 --> 00:22:31.793
Jesus taught us in the lord's prayer to pray,
00:22:31.793 --> 00:22:34.996
"hallowed be thy name."
00:22:34.996 --> 00:22:37.032
If you can't write, "hallowed be his name or honored be his name"
00:22:37.032 --> 00:22:40.769
Over what you're doing, then don't do it.
00:22:40.769 --> 00:22:43.472
Do what you can ask god's blessing on,
00:22:43.472 --> 00:22:46.375
And do it for his glory, why?
00:22:46.375 --> 00:22:49.811
Because life is preparation for eternity.
00:22:49.811 --> 00:22:53.915
We were made by god.
00:22:53.915 --> 00:22:55.517
We were made for god.
00:22:55.517 --> 00:22:57.319
And god wants us to practice on earth
00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:59.454
What we will do forever in eternity.
00:22:59.454 --> 00:23:01.990
So, let me close with this. are you ready for the afterlife?
00:23:01.990 --> 00:23:06.561
You cannot escape it. it is there.
00:23:06.561 --> 00:23:10.031
You're gonna get there, if you're a christian,
00:23:10.031 --> 00:23:11.800
By death or by rapture.
00:23:11.800 --> 00:23:13.735
But non-believers are gonna enter
00:23:13.735 --> 00:23:15.404
The afterlife too.
00:23:15.404 --> 00:23:16.738
They, of course, would not go via rapture,
00:23:16.738 --> 00:23:19.107
But they will go via death.
00:23:19.107 --> 00:23:21.777
And life here will end for some sooner than later.
00:23:21.777 --> 00:23:26.481
And we all have an appointment
00:23:26.481 --> 00:23:27.949
With the afterlife.
00:23:27.949 --> 00:23:29.684
I decide, in this life,
00:23:29.684 --> 00:23:32.454
Where i will spend the afterlife.
00:23:32.454 --> 00:23:35.590
Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart,
00:23:39.494 --> 00:23:42.664
And you have seen your need for jesus christ.
00:23:42.664 --> 00:23:46.134
Jesus christ is the son of god, who came from heaven
00:23:46.134 --> 00:23:50.005
To this earth.
00:23:50.005 --> 00:23:51.339
He was born in a manger.
00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:53.408
He died on a cross.
00:23:53.408 --> 00:23:55.043
He rose again from the dead, why?
00:23:55.043 --> 00:23:57.045
Because he loves you,
00:23:57.045 --> 00:23:58.480
And he wants a relationship with you.
00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:00.582
Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
00:24:00.582 --> 00:24:03.118
I don't want to be a religious person,
00:24:03.118 --> 00:24:04.786
I don't think you want to be one either.
00:24:04.786 --> 00:24:06.655
I'm talking about relationship with god.
00:24:06.655 --> 00:24:10.392
Jesus, who died and rose again, stands at the door of your life
00:24:10.392 --> 00:24:14.229
And he knocks.
00:24:14.229 --> 00:24:15.564
And he says, if you'll hear his voice
00:24:15.564 --> 00:24:17.599
And open the door, he will come in.
00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:19.634
Question, have you asked jesus christ
00:24:19.634 --> 00:24:22.003
To come and live inside of you?
00:24:22.003 --> 00:24:23.672
You might say, "well, i think so.
00:24:23.672 --> 00:24:25.006
I'm not sure."
00:24:25.006 --> 00:24:26.341
Hey, if someone moved into your house
00:24:26.341 --> 00:24:27.709
In the middle of the night,
00:24:27.709 --> 00:24:29.544
Do you think you would be aware of it?
00:24:29.544 --> 00:24:31.079
I'm sure you would.
00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:32.714
And in the same way, if christ has come to live inside of you,
00:24:32.714 --> 00:24:35.750
You will know.
00:24:35.750 --> 00:24:37.085
And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in yet.
00:24:37.085 --> 00:24:40.755
He's just a prayer away.
00:24:40.755 --> 00:24:42.457
All you need to do is say,
00:24:42.457 --> 00:24:43.792
"jesus, i want this relationship with you.
00:24:43.792 --> 00:24:46.661
I want you to forgive me of my sin.
00:24:46.661 --> 00:24:48.797
I want to go to heaven when i die."
00:24:48.797 --> 00:24:50.899
Would you like to do that?
00:24:50.899 --> 00:24:52.300
Would you like christ to come into your life?
00:24:52.300 --> 00:24:54.903
If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
00:24:54.903 --> 00:24:57.973
You can pray it out loud or you can pray it
00:24:57.973 --> 00:25:00.408
In the quietness of your heart.
00:25:00.408 --> 00:25:02.544
But this is a prayer where you're asking jesus christ
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To be your savior and lord.
00:25:05.347 --> 00:25:07.115
Pray this with me now.
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"lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner,
00:25:08.450 --> 00:25:11.953
But i know that you're the savior,
00:25:11.953 --> 00:25:14.556
Who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.
00:25:14.556 --> 00:25:18.159
Now come into my life.
00:25:18.159 --> 00:25:20.896
I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
00:25:20.896 --> 00:25:25.367
Thank you for hearing this prayer
00:25:25.367 --> 00:25:27.402
And answering this prayer, in jesus's name, amen."
00:25:27.402 --> 00:25:32.107
Did you just pray that prayer with me?
00:25:32.107 --> 00:25:34.409
If so, i want you to know, in the authority of scripture,
00:25:34.409 --> 00:25:37.145
That christ himself has come to live inside of you.
00:25:37.145 --> 00:25:40.515
And i would love to send to you, at no charge,
00:25:40.515 --> 00:25:43.618
Something called "the new believer's bible."
00:25:43.618 --> 00:25:46.254
It's a very friendly translation of the new testament
00:25:46.254 --> 00:25:49.090
You'll find very understandable.
00:25:49.090 --> 00:25:51.326
And it's filled with hundreds of notes that i wrote
00:25:51.326 --> 00:25:54.462
That will encourage you in this commitment
00:25:54.462 --> 00:25:56.431
You've just made to follow jesus.
00:25:56.431 --> 00:25:58.700
Let me send that to you at no charge.
00:25:58.700 --> 00:26:01.169
And let me be the first to say to you, congratulations,
00:26:01.169 --> 00:26:05.140
And welcome to the family of god.
00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:07.576
Greg: you know, we say to a new believer, "start reading the
00:26:07.642 --> 00:26:11.179
Bible," but they don't know where to start, do they?
00:26:11.179 --> 00:26:14.249
So, we have a special edition of the bible called
00:26:14.249 --> 00:26:18.153
The new believer's bible.
00:26:18.153 --> 00:26:20.121
I wrote thousands of notes for it, and i sort of see it as what
00:26:20.121 --> 00:26:24.759
I would do if i was sitting down with a person over a cup of
00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:27.829
Coffee and explaining the basics of the christian life to them.
00:26:27.829 --> 00:26:32.601
We have personally given out 700,000 of these at no charge to
00:26:32.601 --> 00:26:37.806
People to help them in their spiritual journey.
00:26:37.806 --> 00:26:41.776
So we need your help to keep doing this.
00:26:41.776 --> 00:26:44.713
So, let's invest in the spiritual future of people that
00:26:44.713 --> 00:26:48.717
Are going to come to christ, who will get a copy of
00:26:48.717 --> 00:26:51.586
The new believer's bible for themselves.
00:26:51.586 --> 00:26:53.922
Thank you for your financial support.
00:26:53.922 --> 00:26:55.957
Together we can change lives.
00:26:55.957 --> 00:26:57.826
Female announcer: jesus says that where two or three are
00:27:00.228 --> 00:27:02.631
Gathered in my name, there i am in the midst of them.
00:27:02.631 --> 00:27:07.068
We are all different.
00:27:07.068 --> 00:27:08.436
We have different interests, different personalities,
00:27:08.436 --> 00:27:11.573
Different upbringings, and different ways we do life,
00:27:11.573 --> 00:27:15.510
But here, we have a deep connection,
00:27:15.510 --> 00:27:19.047
And you are welcome here.
00:27:19.047 --> 00:27:23.151
This is harvest.
00:27:23.151 --> 00:27:23.151

Greg Laurie - Afterlife

February 24, 2026 | 27:29

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