Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah

David Jeremiah - A Body For Heaven

October 5, 2025 | 58:20

In heaven our bodies will be like Christ's body after resurrection -- reconginizable and free from earthly limitations.

#WordofGod #Meditation #Destiny #Resurrection #Transformation #Revelation #Eternity #Doubt

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Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah | David Jeremiah - A Body For Heaven | October 5, 2025

...
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Male announcer: be inspired to walk as jesus walked
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In the coming year with "turning point's" 2026 calendar,
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"following in his footsteps."
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Through 12 beautiful, frameable images.
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And focus on a different aspect of christ's character
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With a monthly theme and encouraging thought,
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Plus a daily bible reading plan.
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Follow in christ's footsteps each day of the coming year.
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Request your calendar or a five-pack to give as gifts
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Announcer: there's a home that calls to every human heart,
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A promise of something better waiting on the other side
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Of this life.
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Some call it a great light, others the great beyond.
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But for god's children, it's heaven and our forever home.
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A place to put down eternal roots, where you'll find life
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That never fades, and your every need fulfilled.
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Where every tear is wiped away, no more sorrow, no more pain,
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No more goodbyes.
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In their place, peace that flows like the river of life,
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And joy running deeper than any earthly current.
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All things will be renewed, including your body and strength
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And every one of your steps taking you further into eternity
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To the throne of the one who knows you completely
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And who welcomes you home.
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In his presence, you'll be reminded,
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This is where you belong.
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This is the promise of heaven.
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Announcer: coming up on "turning point."
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Dr. david jeremiah: people want to know, what is my new body
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Going to be like?
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And there's no passage in the scripture that says,
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Here's what the new body of a christian will look like.
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But we have almost the same thing,
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Because if we're going to have bodies like the lord jesus,
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If we study the lord jesus after his resurrection,
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We'll discover what kind of bodies we're going to have,
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Because we're going to have bodies just like him.
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Announcer: coming this fall in dr. david jeremiah's new book,
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"the promise of heaven," he uncovers the biblical answers
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To your biggest questions about your eternal home.
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These short, powerful chapters will not only change the way
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You think about heaven, but also transform how you live today.
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"the promise of heaven" by dr. jeremiah
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Releases worldwide october 7th,
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But you can pre-order your copy today
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For a gift of any amount.
00:02:29.289 --> 00:02:30.924
Or for your gift of $75 or more, pre-order
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"the promise of heaven" set,
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Which contains dr. jeremiah's new book,
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His complete teaching series on cd or dvd,
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A correlating study guide,
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A special interview with sheila walsh on dvd,
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And the "10 things you may not know about heaven" bookmark.
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Plus, when you pre-order from "turning point,"
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You'll instantly receive these exclusive digital bonuses:
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Early access to "the promise of heaven" teaching series
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And study guide, and two extra chapters
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Written by dr. jeremiah, not included in his new book.
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Pre-order "the promise of heaven" book or set
00:03:01.588 --> 00:03:03.423
When you contact "turning point" today.
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Announcer: and now, here is dr. jeremiah with his message,
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"a body for heaven."
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Dr. jeremiah: there aren't many normal days on the site
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Of camp 3 near the summit of mount everest.
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The camp is usually set up at an elevation of around 24,500 feet,
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Which is within the death zone caused by frigid temperatures
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And significantly reduced oxygen.
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So every person there is literally
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Taking their life in their hands.
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On a particular day, back in 2007,
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Everyone stood in slack-jawed amazement
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As a singular climber entered the camp.
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That climber's name was wim hof, and in many ways, he was similar
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To the other adventure seekers looking to summit
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The world's highest mountain, bold, courageous,
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Open to the risks others preferred to avoid.
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But there was one key difference about wim: his clothing.
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While every other climber and every other member of the sports
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Staff was decked out in the latest cold weather gear,
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Including performance jackets, gloves, and latest boots,
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And many other layers,
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Mr. hof wore a pair of shorts, open-toed sandals,
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Had no shirt, no hat, no socks,
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Nothing to stand between his body and the merciless cold.
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Known throughout the world as the iceman,
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Hof has become a legend
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For his ability to thrive in severe cold.
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Scientists are baffled by his ability
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To endure extremes that would mean certain death
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For any other person.
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The iceman attributes his extraordinary feats
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To what he calls the wim hof method,
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Which seems to be a combination of breathing techniques,
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Exposure, meditation, and chutzpah.
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I have no idea whether mr. hof is a once-in-a-lifetime
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Physical specimen.
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He may be just a motivational genius, a charlatan,
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Or something completely different.
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But i do know that his ideas remind me of a truth
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I have been pondering for a long time.
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Human beings are destined for more than we
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Currently experience.
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The limitations on our body are temporary limitations
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If we're christians.
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I'm talking about the physical transformation of all followers
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Of jesus, and we're going to experience that moment
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At the resurrection, at the time of the rapture.
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The resurrection is more than resuscitation, friends.
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It's transformation.
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We're gonna be changed.
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Three people rose from the dead in the old testament,
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And jesus raised three people from death during his ministry:
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A boy in the town of nain, a girl in capernaum,
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And his friend lazarus.
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Both peter and paul brought back some people from death,
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But each of those examples were temporary resurrections.
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And i always felt bad for lazarus.
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He had to die twice.
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They became sick or suffered, had an accident,
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Once again they passed away.
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Christ arose in a different way.
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The essence of his physical body was changed.
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It was glorified.
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It was rendered everlasting, imperishable, and improved
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With various skills and abilities to enjoy forever.
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After his transformational resurrection,
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He would not and could not ever die again.
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The resurrection of jesus christ from the dead provides the proof
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And the pattern for what's ahead for all of his children.
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In philippians 3:21, we're told that christ
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"will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be conformed
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To his glorious body."
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In 1 john 3:2, we read: "it has not yet been revealed
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What we shall be, but we know that when he is revealed,
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We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."
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Now, let's explore what that means.
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People want to know, what is my new body going to be like?
00:07:12.104 --> 00:07:14.540
And there's no passage in the scripture that says,
00:07:14.540 --> 00:07:18.077
Here's what the new body of a christian will look like.
00:07:18.077 --> 00:07:20.246
But we have almost the same thing, because if we're going to
00:07:20.246 --> 00:07:24.116
Have bodies like the lord jesus, if we study the lord jesus
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After his resurrection, we'll discover what kind of bodies
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We're gonna have because we're gonna have bodies
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Just like him.
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First of all, our new bodies will be incarnate,
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And the word "incarnate" means in the flesh,
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A real physical bodily existence.
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We're not gonna have spirit bodies as some people teach.
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I don't even know if there is such a thing.
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I think that's an oxymoron, isn't it, a spirit body?
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That's why we say our new bodies will be incarnate.
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We won't be floating spirits.
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We'll have real physical bodies just like the resurrected lord.
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And if we're gonna have a glorious body, like the body
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Of the resurrected lord, then what does that mean?
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Well, we can't know all that it means.
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We can get some ideas by watching the lord
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As he walked on earth in his resurrection body.
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He was on earth in his resurrection body for 40 days.
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And in those 40 days, he showed us some examples
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Of how our resurrection bodies will function in heaven.
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First of all, jesus said his body was real:
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"behold my hands and my feet,"
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Luke 24:39, "that it is i myself.
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Handle me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh
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And bones as you see that i have."
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Jesus, he hit that one right in the head, didn't he?
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He says, "you know, spirits don't have flesh and bones
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Like i have.
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I'm not a spirit body.
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I'm a real body."
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Jesus wanted his disciples to know
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That this wasn't a dream or a vision.
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He had really and physically risen from the dead,
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And his resurrection wasn't just spiritual,
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It was flesh and bones real.
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Here's something that'll make all of you really happy
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And some of you happier than others.
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Jesus ate on at least two occasions after he came back
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From the dead.
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Luke 24 says: "they gave jesus a piece of broiled fish
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And some honeycomb.
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And he took it and ate it in their presence."
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John 21 says: "jesus said to them, 'come and eat breakfast.'
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And none of the disciples dared ask him, 'who are you?'--
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Knowing that it was the lord.
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And jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them,
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And likewise the fish."
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More than a few people have suggested that in heaven
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We will be able to eat without any of the negative effects.
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Can i get a witness?
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We will eat without gaining weight.
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We will eat and taste food like never before.
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Chocolate will have no greater effect
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On your waistline than vegetables.
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How about that?
00:10:10.182 --> 00:10:14.987
So jesus said his body was real on two occasions.
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He ate, so in our resurrection bodies,
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We can assume that we'll be able to do that as well.
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And then he also told thomas to touch his body.
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Remember that?
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"he said to thomas, 'reach your finger here,
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And look at my hands;
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And reach your hand here, and put it in my side.
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Don't be unbelieving, but believing.'"
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Jesus had real scars on a real body.
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His body was glorified, but it was still recognizable
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And touchable.
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He retained the scars in his resurrection body
00:10:46.752 --> 00:10:49.221
To prove his identity and to remind all of us
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Throughout eternity of the cost of our salvation.
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Did you know that jesus is gonna be in heaven in his body?
00:10:55.294 --> 00:10:59.165
He didn't go back to a spirit being after his incarnation.
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He went back to heaven in his body, and we're going to see him
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In his body with the wounds in his hands, in his side,
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And in his feet throughout all eternity.
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And every time we see that, we're gonna be reminded
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That's how we got there.
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That's why we're there.
00:11:17.616 --> 00:11:20.286
It is possible that jesus might be the only one whose scars
00:11:20.286 --> 00:11:23.489
Remain because they tell a story that no one else can tell.
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And then one other thought about his resurrection body.
00:11:29.261 --> 00:11:32.732
Do you remember when jesus told mary not to hold on to him?
00:11:32.732 --> 00:11:37.136
John 20:17: "jesus said to her, 'do not cling to me,
00:11:37.136 --> 00:11:40.906
For i have not ascended to my father.'"
00:11:40.906 --> 00:11:43.676
This shows us that jesus had a real body you could touch,
00:11:43.676 --> 00:11:46.545
He was getting ready to go back to heaven,
00:11:46.545 --> 00:11:48.447
And one day we'll have new bodies like his,
00:11:48.447 --> 00:11:51.250
And we won't need to cling to him
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Because we'll be with him forever and ever.
00:11:52.752 --> 00:11:56.222
And he won't leave us.
00:11:56.222 --> 00:12:00.226
So the first thing about our new bodies
00:12:00.226 --> 00:12:01.894
Is they will be incarnate, flesh and bones bodies,
00:12:01.894 --> 00:12:05.598
And they will also be identifiable.
00:12:05.598 --> 00:12:08.367
A lot of people worry about that.
00:12:08.367 --> 00:12:10.236
You will still be you, and everyone will recognize you.
00:12:10.236 --> 00:12:14.006
You'll instantly know your loved ones.
00:12:14.006 --> 00:12:17.009
On two occasions after his resurrection,
00:12:17.009 --> 00:12:19.278
People were confused about the lord's identity.
00:12:19.278 --> 00:12:22.248
The first was at the tomb when mary magdalene
00:12:22.248 --> 00:12:24.016
Thought jesus was the gardener.
00:12:24.016 --> 00:12:26.152
Remember that?
00:12:26.152 --> 00:12:27.486
But her eyes were filled with tears
00:12:27.486 --> 00:12:28.821
And she quickly recognized him.
00:12:28.821 --> 00:12:31.524
The other was on the emmaus road when two travelers
00:12:31.524 --> 00:12:33.893
Thought he was a stranger,
00:12:33.893 --> 00:12:35.361
But that's because the bible says their eyes were restrained
00:12:35.361 --> 00:12:38.998
So that they would not know him.
00:12:38.998 --> 00:12:40.833
On every other occasion, people identified jesus
00:12:40.833 --> 00:12:44.170
And called him by name.
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And they will call you by name, too.
00:12:46.038 --> 00:12:48.841
The apostle paul said of that day,
00:12:48.841 --> 00:12:50.976
"now i know in part, but then i shall know
00:12:50.976 --> 00:12:54.814
Just as i also am known."
00:12:54.814 --> 00:12:57.950
In describing the moment of our resurrection
00:12:57.950 --> 00:12:59.952
In 1 thessalonians 4,
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Paul told the people not to grieve beyond measure
00:13:02.354 --> 00:13:05.157
Over those who had passed away.
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He said, "for we will see them again and be caught up
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Into the heavens with them,"
00:13:09.728 --> 00:13:12.031
1 thessalonians 4:17,
00:13:12.031 --> 00:13:13.933
"and thus we shall always be with the lord."
00:13:13.933 --> 00:13:18.404
Three men in jesus's story about the afterlife,
00:13:18.404 --> 00:13:20.739
Abraham, the beggar lazarus, and the rich man in hades,
00:13:20.739 --> 00:13:24.710
All recognized each other.
00:13:24.710 --> 00:13:28.247
At the transfiguration of christ in matthew 17,
00:13:28.247 --> 00:13:30.983
Peter, james, and john recognized elijah, moses,
00:13:30.983 --> 00:13:35.354
And the brilliantly illuminated jesus.
00:13:35.354 --> 00:13:39.191
Here we have three men whose earthly lives were separated
00:13:39.191 --> 00:13:42.228
By 1400 years, and yet they all knew each other.
00:13:42.228 --> 00:13:49.235
They were standing there physically,
00:13:49.235 --> 00:13:51.370
Fellowshipping with and talking together.
00:13:51.370 --> 00:13:53.272
Can you imagine having a discussion
00:13:53.272 --> 00:13:55.474
With abraham or isaac or daniel?
00:13:55.474 --> 00:13:58.344
And it's like yesterday talking to your friend downtown.
00:13:58.344 --> 00:14:02.982
Moses and elijah were known by their same names,
00:14:02.982 --> 00:14:05.417
But they were glorified.
00:14:05.417 --> 00:14:06.752
They were energized.
00:14:06.752 --> 00:14:08.087
They were wrapped in light.
00:14:08.087 --> 00:14:09.955
Perhaps the best answer is the one i heard years ago.
00:14:09.955 --> 00:14:12.491
An old lady approached her pastor and said,
00:14:12.491 --> 00:14:14.693
"dr. jones, will i know my daughter when i get to heaven?
00:14:14.693 --> 00:14:18.697
She's there waiting on me."
00:14:18.697 --> 00:14:21.333
Dr. jones said, "my dear, did you recognize her on earth?"
00:14:21.333 --> 00:14:24.837
Yes.
00:14:24.837 --> 00:14:26.272
"well, we aren't gonna be less aware in heaven
00:14:26.272 --> 00:14:27.973
Than we are on earth, are we?
00:14:27.973 --> 00:14:29.975
We'll actually be smarter and our memories will be keener.
00:14:29.975 --> 00:14:32.978
Yes, you will instantly recognize your sweet daughter."
00:14:32.978 --> 00:14:37.316
Missionary amy carmichael wrote these words.
00:14:37.316 --> 00:14:40.085
She said, "shall we know each other in heaven?
00:14:40.085 --> 00:14:42.922
Shall we love and remember?
00:14:42.922 --> 00:14:45.157
I don't think anyone need wonder about this or doubt
00:14:45.157 --> 00:14:47.493
For a single moment.
00:14:47.493 --> 00:14:49.261
For if we think for a moment, we know.
00:14:49.261 --> 00:14:51.563
Would you be yourself if you did not remember?
00:14:51.563 --> 00:14:55.501
We are told that we shall be like our lord jesus,
00:14:55.501 --> 00:14:57.836
And does he not know and love and remember?
00:14:57.836 --> 00:15:01.507
He would not be himself if he did not,
00:15:01.507 --> 00:15:03.509
And we should not be ourselves if we did not.
00:15:03.509 --> 00:15:07.112
We're gonna be like jesus."
00:15:07.112 --> 00:15:09.181
Our new bodies will be incarnate in the flesh.
00:15:09.181 --> 00:15:12.284
You'll be able to identify them, and they will be,
00:15:12.284 --> 00:15:15.120
Here you go, indestructible.
00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:18.223
1 corinthians, paul wrote: "the body is sown in corruption,
00:15:18.223 --> 00:15:22.628
But it is raised in incorruption."
00:15:22.628 --> 00:15:26.465
The word "sown" refers to the argument paul made earlier in
00:15:26.465 --> 00:15:29.268
The chapter about being afraid of death, and he said,
00:15:29.268 --> 00:15:33.105
"foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies."
00:15:33.105 --> 00:15:38.510
And the picture is of a seed being planted in the soil,
00:15:38.510 --> 00:15:41.080
Then germinating and then sprouting into something new,
00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:44.917
And the same path we follow when we die.
00:15:44.917 --> 00:15:47.920
We are sown in corruption, and then we are raised
00:15:47.920 --> 00:15:50.756
In incorruption.
00:15:50.756 --> 00:15:52.391
What is corruption?
00:15:52.391 --> 00:15:53.826
It is what happens to our old bodies that suffer strokes,
00:15:53.826 --> 00:15:57.563
Heart attacks, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, migraines,
00:15:57.563 --> 00:16:01.000
And all of the rest.
00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:03.068
And the bible says: "our outward man is perishing."
00:16:03.068 --> 00:16:07.206
Anybody here doubt that?
00:16:07.206 --> 00:16:09.575
Well, just wait a couple years and you'll get there.
00:16:09.575 --> 00:16:13.245
From the instant of our resurrection,
00:16:13.245 --> 00:16:15.347
Our new bodies will never wear out or never grow old.
00:16:15.347 --> 00:16:20.619
They will be totally resistant to deterioration or decay.
00:16:20.619 --> 00:16:24.390
Your new body will be designed for eternity.
00:16:24.390 --> 00:16:26.692
It will not be subject to accidents,
00:16:26.692 --> 00:16:29.194
Diseases, aging, or death.
00:16:29.194 --> 00:16:32.131
It will be pain-free and disease-free.
00:16:32.131 --> 00:16:34.600
It will never wear out.
00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.968
It will never die.
00:16:35.968 --> 00:16:38.737
And the exclamation point to this truth
00:16:38.737 --> 00:16:40.439
Is found in romans 6:8-9,
00:16:40.439 --> 00:16:43.409
Which describes the resurrection body of jesus:
00:16:43.409 --> 00:16:46.745
"now if we died with christ, we believe
00:16:46.745 --> 00:16:49.081
That we will also live with him.
00:16:49.081 --> 00:16:50.883
For we know that since christ was raised from the dead,
00:16:50.883 --> 00:16:54.186
He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him,"
00:16:54.186 --> 00:16:58.791
And that will be true of all of us too.
00:16:58.791 --> 00:17:01.193
Death has no mastery over us in our resurrection bodies.
00:17:01.193 --> 00:17:04.196
These words about our savior, "he cannot die again."
00:17:04.196 --> 00:17:08.434
His glorified body is imperishable,
00:17:08.434 --> 00:17:10.803
It's indestructible, and this is the model
00:17:10.803 --> 00:17:13.338
For the bodies we're going to have when we go to heaven.
00:17:13.338 --> 00:17:17.443
So our bodies will be incarnate in the flesh.
00:17:17.443 --> 00:17:20.446
They will be identifiable, we'll know each other.
00:17:20.446 --> 00:17:23.415
They'll be indestructible, nothing could ever happen
00:17:23.415 --> 00:17:25.317
To them.
00:17:25.317 --> 00:17:26.785
Here's one that i was surprised to find out when i studied this.
00:17:26.785 --> 00:17:30.089
Our new bodies will be illuminated.
00:17:30.089 --> 00:17:34.226
You know, everybody wants to have that glow about them.
00:17:34.226 --> 00:17:38.831
You're gonna get that glow one of these days.
00:17:38.831 --> 00:17:42.367
1 corinthians 15:43 says our body "is sown in dishonor,
00:17:42.367 --> 00:17:47.439
And it is raised in glory."
00:17:47.439 --> 00:17:50.409
And the word "glory" here is a word which means brilliance.
00:17:50.409 --> 00:17:54.480
And it's not really surprising if you go back and study
00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:57.749
The bible because, remember, something unusual
00:17:57.749 --> 00:18:00.652
Happened to moses when he spent time with the lord.
00:18:00.652 --> 00:18:02.988
Remember that?
00:18:02.988 --> 00:18:04.323
His face was radiant and began to shine.
00:18:04.323 --> 00:18:07.326
Same thing happened to jesus on the mount of transfiguration.
00:18:07.326 --> 00:18:10.796
And in revelation 21, we're told the entire city of new jerusalem
00:18:10.796 --> 00:18:14.466
Will be luminescent, illumined by the light that radiates
00:18:14.466 --> 00:18:17.803
From the resurrected christ.
00:18:17.803 --> 00:18:19.438
There won't be sun or moon or anything.
00:18:19.438 --> 00:18:21.507
All the light will come from christ.
00:18:21.507 --> 00:18:23.609
And we're gonna be reflectors of that light.
00:18:23.609 --> 00:18:25.777
We're gonna have a little shine around us as we move about.
00:18:25.777 --> 00:18:32.618
Our bodies will shine with light like moses's face did
00:18:32.618 --> 00:18:36.188
After being with god and like jesus did on the mountain.
00:18:36.188 --> 00:18:39.725
Psalm 34, verse 5 says: "they looked at him
00:18:39.725 --> 00:18:42.361
And they were radiant."
00:18:42.361 --> 00:18:44.830
By the way, shouldn't our faces exhibit a foretaste of that now?
00:18:44.830 --> 00:18:48.100
I mean, shouldn't we have
00:18:48.100 --> 00:18:49.434
A little bit of that glow even now?
00:18:49.434 --> 00:18:51.203
The scripture says: "and we all, who with unveiled faces
00:18:51.203 --> 00:18:54.673
Contemplate the lord's glory, are being transformed
00:18:54.673 --> 00:18:58.310
Into his image with ever-increasing glory,
00:18:58.310 --> 00:19:00.846
Which comes from the lord, who is the spirit."
00:19:00.846 --> 00:19:03.248
Now, i don't know if that gets through to you,
00:19:03.248 --> 00:19:05.184
But what that says is we have a little bit of that glory now,
00:19:05.184 --> 00:19:08.086
But when we go to heaven,
00:19:08.086 --> 00:19:09.421
We're gonna go from glory to glory.
00:19:09.421 --> 00:19:11.757
And i want to tell you, some of us
00:19:11.757 --> 00:19:13.091
Are gonna have farther to go than others.
00:19:13.091 --> 00:19:17.362
I know christian people, some older christian people, who just
00:19:17.362 --> 00:19:22.167
Always seem to have a special, i don't know if it was a glow,
00:19:22.167 --> 00:19:25.504
Just a sense about them that was different.
00:19:25.504 --> 00:19:28.707
So, your face will reflect your anticipation for heaven.
00:19:28.707 --> 00:19:32.778
Did you know that?
00:19:32.778 --> 00:19:34.146
When people look at you, do they see the glow of god's goodness
00:19:34.146 --> 00:19:36.815
And mercy and love?
00:19:36.815 --> 00:19:38.750
Somebody said, "how are you doing?"
00:19:38.750 --> 00:19:40.085
"i'm doing fine."
00:19:40.085 --> 00:19:41.453
"you need to tell your face,"
00:19:41.453 --> 00:19:44.590
Because your face is your identification, amen?
00:19:44.590 --> 00:19:50.696
So our resurrection bodies will be indestructible, identifiable,
00:19:50.696 --> 00:19:55.234
Incarnate, illuminated, but they will also be incredible.
00:19:55.234 --> 00:19:58.270
What do i mean by that?
00:19:58.270 --> 00:19:59.838
Well, listen to paul's words once again
00:19:59.838 --> 00:20:01.974
From 1 corinthians 15.
00:20:01.974 --> 00:20:03.675
He says our human body "is sown in weakness,
00:20:03.675 --> 00:20:08.080
But it is raised in power."
00:20:08.080 --> 00:20:11.917
Most of my life, i've made it a point to try to get to the gym.
00:20:11.917 --> 00:20:14.987
I've got a couple of machines in my garage, and i've switched
00:20:14.987 --> 00:20:19.057
The types of exercises i do in a given week.
00:20:19.057 --> 00:20:22.728
But you know what?
00:20:22.728 --> 00:20:24.062
No matter how hard i try at maintaining my physical health,
00:20:24.062 --> 00:20:28.166
I can't deny that my body today is weaker
00:20:28.166 --> 00:20:30.269
Than when i was in my 20s and 30s.
00:20:30.269 --> 00:20:33.205
I'm older, i'm more fragile, i'm a little worn down.
00:20:33.205 --> 00:20:38.577
Do you know what comes to mind when i ponder the reality
00:20:38.577 --> 00:20:41.346
Of my resurrection body?
00:20:41.346 --> 00:20:43.849
Thank god i won't have to drag this current frame
00:20:43.849 --> 00:20:46.084
Into eternity.
00:20:46.084 --> 00:20:53.125
I'm ready for something new, something powerful,
00:20:53.125 --> 00:20:56.128
Something incredible, something that doesn't fall down
00:20:56.128 --> 00:20:58.997
Indiscriminately when you least expect it to.
00:20:58.997 --> 00:21:02.701
Our resurrection bodies will be astonishing.
00:21:02.701 --> 00:21:05.671
They'll be full of energy, bursting with enthusiastic
00:21:05.671 --> 00:21:08.273
Power, and perhaps capable of extraordinary functions.
00:21:08.273 --> 00:21:13.645
If the glorified body of christ could pass through walls
00:21:13.645 --> 00:21:17.049
And travel by impulses of thought,
00:21:17.049 --> 00:21:20.285
Maybe we'll be able to do the same thing.
00:21:20.285 --> 00:21:23.822
Finally, our new bodies will be infinite.
00:21:23.822 --> 00:21:27.292
The bible says: "it is sown a natural body,
00:21:27.292 --> 00:21:30.762
It is raised a spiritual body.
00:21:30.762 --> 00:21:33.165
There is a natural body, and there's a spiritual body.
00:21:33.165 --> 00:21:36.535
And so it is written, 'the first man adam
00:21:36.535 --> 00:21:38.904
Became a living being.'
00:21:38.904 --> 00:21:40.305
The last adam became a life-giving spirit."
00:21:40.305 --> 00:21:43.575
And, you know, you have to ask this question.
00:21:43.575 --> 00:21:45.410
What did paul mean by a spiritual body?
00:21:45.410 --> 00:21:47.446
That almost sounds like a contradiction.
00:21:47.446 --> 00:21:49.848
We've already said our bodies aren't immaterial,
00:21:49.848 --> 00:21:53.385
But the word "spiritual" implies that our bodies
00:21:53.385 --> 00:21:57.089
Will be existing on a higher plane.
00:21:57.089 --> 00:22:00.592
The basic difference between a natural body
00:22:00.592 --> 00:22:02.861
And a spiritual body is that the formal body
00:22:02.861 --> 00:22:05.897
Is suited for life on our current earth,
00:22:05.897 --> 00:22:08.734
But our spiritual bodies will be suited for life
00:22:08.734 --> 00:22:11.069
In heaven for eternity with god.
00:22:11.069 --> 00:22:14.406
Including the new heavens and the new earth
00:22:14.406 --> 00:22:16.641
In our current bodies, we could never function
00:22:16.641 --> 00:22:19.745
In the new heaven and the new earth.
00:22:19.745 --> 00:22:21.246
We couldn't function in a multi-leveled heaven
00:22:21.246 --> 00:22:24.483
Called the city of jerusalem.
00:22:24.483 --> 00:22:26.885
But god's gonna give us new bodies that will be like the
00:22:26.885 --> 00:22:30.322
Ones we have now but completely made over, transformed, and
00:22:30.322 --> 00:22:33.525
Capable of living in both the seen and the unseen realms.
00:22:33.525 --> 00:22:38.530
In hollywood, actors often try to create a new body
00:22:38.530 --> 00:22:42.000
For themselves to get a role.
00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:44.569
Kumail nanjiani wanted to star in a superhero movie
00:22:44.569 --> 00:22:48.807
Called "the eternals."
00:22:48.807 --> 00:22:51.109
He worked every day for a solid year.
00:22:51.109 --> 00:22:53.945
He avoided every bit of pizza, donuts, and refined sugar.
00:22:53.945 --> 00:22:57.749
He ate very few carbs.
00:22:57.749 --> 00:22:59.484
In the end, he became ripped with killer muscles,
00:22:59.484 --> 00:23:02.287
A rock-solid body, and the physique of a superhero.
00:23:02.287 --> 00:23:06.191
But according to nanjiani, the moment filming ended,
00:23:06.191 --> 00:23:09.227
He started eating all kinds of unhealthy food again.
00:23:09.227 --> 00:23:13.865
There's a better way to get a new body, my guys,
00:23:13.865 --> 00:23:16.835
And it's a body that will be there for you
00:23:16.835 --> 00:23:19.571
From now on, forever and ever.
00:23:19.571 --> 00:23:21.640
You don't get it until you really need it,
00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:23.809
So you're gonna have to deal with what you got right now.
00:23:23.809 --> 00:23:26.812
Keep trying to make it a little stronger,
00:23:26.812 --> 00:23:28.380
A little better, a little more resilient.
00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:31.750
But wherever you are on the body cycle, just remember,
00:23:31.750 --> 00:23:34.419
God's got something special waiting
00:23:34.419 --> 00:23:37.122
For all of us when we go to heaven.
00:23:37.122 --> 00:23:42.727
So, what have we learned today?
00:23:42.727 --> 00:23:45.831
We've seen that the resurrection body of jesus
00:23:45.831 --> 00:23:48.133
Is the pattern for our bodies.
00:23:48.133 --> 00:23:50.635
It was physical and real.
00:23:50.635 --> 00:23:52.971
He could be touched.
00:23:52.971 --> 00:23:54.372
He ate with his disciples.
00:23:54.372 --> 00:23:55.907
He spoke to them.
00:23:55.907 --> 00:23:57.309
But his body was also glorified, no longer subject to pain,
00:23:57.309 --> 00:24:01.012
Weakness, or death.
00:24:01.012 --> 00:24:02.481
He could appear in distant places
00:24:02.481 --> 00:24:04.416
And pass through locked doors.
00:24:04.416 --> 00:24:06.384
His body was transformed, and one day ours will be too.
00:24:06.384 --> 00:24:11.256
But perhaps the most remarkable truth is this.
00:24:11.256 --> 00:24:14.125
Jesus was recognized not only by his face,
00:24:14.125 --> 00:24:18.563
But he was also recognized by his personality.
00:24:18.563 --> 00:24:23.001
And men and women, that will be true for us.
00:24:23.001 --> 00:24:26.004
We won't lose our identity.
00:24:26.004 --> 00:24:28.273
We'll finally be fully ourselves as god designed us to be.
00:24:28.273 --> 00:24:32.444
And that brings us to an important reality.
00:24:32.444 --> 00:24:36.214
The bible teaches that all will be raised,
00:24:36.214 --> 00:24:38.683
Believers to eternal life, unbelievers to judgment.
00:24:38.683 --> 00:24:44.055
Just as heaven is real and physical, so is hell.
00:24:44.055 --> 00:24:49.361
That's why the gospel is so important.
00:24:49.361 --> 00:24:51.129
The question is not whether you will live forever,
00:24:51.129 --> 00:24:53.665
Because everybody in this room is gonna live forever.
00:24:53.665 --> 00:24:56.334
The real question is, where are you gonna live forever?
00:24:56.334 --> 00:24:59.938
Not whether you'll have a body after death,
00:24:59.938 --> 00:25:02.107
But where that body will dwell.
00:25:02.107 --> 00:25:04.342
Will you be with christ in joy or apart from him in judgment?
00:25:04.342 --> 00:25:09.281
Heaven is about putting your trust in jesus christ
00:25:09.281 --> 00:25:12.484
And in him alone.
00:25:12.484 --> 00:25:17.088
When you do that, you don't have to guess about heaven anymore.
00:25:17.088 --> 00:25:20.926
When you put your trust in jesus christ, you can know right now
00:25:20.926 --> 00:25:24.629
That you're gonna spend eternity in heaven with him.
00:25:24.629 --> 00:25:28.600
I told everybody when i started to do this study on heaven,
00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:31.736
"it's not my goal to make everybody smarter about heaven.
00:25:31.736 --> 00:25:36.074
It's my goal to take as many people to heaven as i can."
00:25:36.074 --> 00:25:39.244
I want you to know--i want you to know how wonderful heaven is
00:25:39.244 --> 00:25:44.716
Because i want you to be there and enjoy the blessings
00:25:44.716 --> 00:25:48.787
That god has prepared for those who love him.
00:25:48.787 --> 00:25:51.423
And you know what the bible says?
00:25:51.423 --> 00:25:53.091
The bible says: "eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
00:25:53.091 --> 00:25:56.828
The things which god has prepared."
00:25:56.828 --> 00:25:58.263
So i've just touched the hem of the garment here,
00:25:58.263 --> 00:26:01.466
Just a little bit of some of the cool things
00:26:01.466 --> 00:26:03.168
About going to heaven in your super-body.
00:26:03.168 --> 00:26:06.438
It's gonna be way better than that, way better than i can
00:26:06.438 --> 00:26:08.406
Describe, and i don't even know the nuances to go there
00:26:08.406 --> 00:26:11.776
Except to tell you this is what god's word says.
00:26:11.776 --> 00:26:14.746
And i'm excited one day i'm going to get a new body.
00:26:14.746 --> 00:26:17.349
Announcer: dr. jeremiah will return
00:26:19.384 --> 00:26:21.052
With one more inspirational word to close today's program,
00:26:21.052 --> 00:26:24.389
Right after this.
00:26:24.389 --> 00:26:26.424
Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
00:26:27.626 --> 00:26:29.628
In appreciation of your gift of any amount in support
00:26:29.628 --> 00:26:31.963
Of this program, dr. jeremiah will send you his new book,
00:26:31.963 --> 00:26:34.866
"the promise of heaven," upon its release on october 7th.
00:26:34.866 --> 00:26:38.069
Or for a gift of $75 or more, pre-order
00:26:38.069 --> 00:26:41.106
"the promise of heaven" set,
00:26:41.106 --> 00:26:42.707
Containing dr. jeremiah's new book, teaching series,
00:26:42.707 --> 00:26:44.976
Study guide, special interview dvd,
00:26:44.976 --> 00:26:47.512
And the "10 things you may not know about heaven" bookmark.
00:26:47.512 --> 00:26:50.582
Plus, when you pre-order from "turning point,"
00:26:50.582 --> 00:26:52.450
You'll instantly receive these exclusive digital bonuses:
00:26:52.450 --> 00:26:55.654
Early access to "the promise of heaven" teaching series
00:26:55.654 --> 00:26:57.789
And study guide and two extra chapters written
00:26:57.789 --> 00:27:00.659
By dr. jeremiah, not included in his new book.
00:27:00.659 --> 00:27:04.329
Thank you for your support of this program.
00:27:04.329 --> 00:27:06.331
Pre-order "the promise of heaven" resources
00:27:06.331 --> 00:27:08.199
From "turning point" today.
00:27:08.199 --> 00:27:09.768
Announcer: and now, here is dr. david jeremiah.
00:27:12.203 --> 00:27:15.273
Dr. jeremiah: "the promise of heaven" is a great comfort to us
00:27:15.340 --> 00:27:18.677
As we go through this life.
00:27:18.677 --> 00:27:21.146
But the fact is, there is only one way to gain entrance.
00:27:21.146 --> 00:27:25.517
We can't get to heaven by being nice people.
00:27:25.517 --> 00:27:28.720
We can't get there by doing more good than bad.
00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:32.424
We can't get there by rites or rituals.
00:27:32.424 --> 00:27:35.794
You see, the only way to heaven is through jesus christ
00:27:35.794 --> 00:27:39.264
And accepting him as lord and savior of your life.
00:27:39.264 --> 00:27:43.201
If you have made the decision to follow jesus christ today
00:27:43.201 --> 00:27:46.905
Or you would like to know how to take your first steps of faith,
00:27:46.905 --> 00:27:50.608
Please allow me to send you two free resources.
00:27:50.608 --> 00:27:54.145
One is a booklet called "your greatest turning point,"
00:27:54.145 --> 00:27:57.449
Which will help you begin your faith journey with christ.
00:27:57.449 --> 00:28:00.719
And the second is our monthly devotional magazine,
00:28:00.719 --> 00:28:03.655
"turning points," to encourage you with daily devotions
00:28:03.655 --> 00:28:07.258
And encouraging readings.
00:28:07.258 --> 00:28:09.360
We will gladly send these resources to you completely free
00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:13.431
If you'll just contact us here at "turning point" today.
00:28:13.431 --> 00:28:16.601
Announcer: if you enjoyed today's message, watch the
00:28:20.305 --> 00:28:22.040
Entire "the promise of heaven" series on turning point+.
00:28:22.040 --> 00:28:26.377
Start streaming this series today
00:28:26.377 --> 00:28:28.346
Along with more than 1200 messages
00:28:28.346 --> 00:28:30.081
From dr. jeremiah's 4 decades of broadcast ministry.
00:28:30.081 --> 00:28:33.551
On turning point+,
00:28:33.551 --> 00:28:34.886
You'll find dr. jeremiah's bible-strong teaching,
00:28:34.886 --> 00:28:37.522
Original programming, plus special collections
00:28:37.522 --> 00:28:39.991
And playlists, all on demand and on any screen.
00:28:39.991 --> 00:28:43.595
Visit turningpointplus.org to get started today.
00:28:43.595 --> 00:28:46.631
Announcer: coming up on "turning point."
00:28:49.067 --> 00:28:50.568
Dr. jeremiah: the character of god lays the foundation for the
00:28:51.803 --> 00:28:54.305
Realization that children who cannot understand the gospel
00:28:54.305 --> 00:28:58.276
Are enveloped within the grace and mercy of the lord.
00:28:58.276 --> 00:29:01.813
And on them god has a tender heart.
00:29:01.813 --> 00:29:04.449
On them his compassion reigns.
00:29:04.449 --> 00:29:07.285
Announcer: stay tuned for another message
00:29:08.453 --> 00:29:09.954
From dr. jeremiah's series, "the promise of heaven,"
00:29:09.954 --> 00:29:13.224
Coming up right now, here on "turning point."
00:29:13.224 --> 00:29:15.360
Announcer: there's a home that calls to every human heart,
00:29:19.497 --> 00:29:22.934
A promise of something better waiting on the other side
00:29:22.934 --> 00:29:26.237
Of this life.
00:29:26.237 --> 00:29:27.772
Some call it a great light, others the great beyond.
00:29:27.772 --> 00:29:31.543
But for god's children, it's heaven and our forever home.
00:29:31.543 --> 00:29:37.081
A place to put down eternal roots, where you'll find life
00:29:37.081 --> 00:29:40.885
That never fades and your every need fulfilled.
00:29:40.885 --> 00:29:46.057
Where every tear is wiped away, no more sorrow, no more pain,
00:29:46.057 --> 00:29:51.062
No more goodbyes.
00:29:51.062 --> 00:29:52.831
In their place, peace that flows like the river of life and joy
00:29:52.831 --> 00:29:57.302
Running deeper than any earthly current.
00:29:57.302 --> 00:30:00.705
All things will be renewed, including your body and
00:30:00.705 --> 00:30:03.842
Strength, and every one of your steps taking you further
00:30:03.842 --> 00:30:07.345
Into eternity to the throne of the one
00:30:07.345 --> 00:30:10.915
Who knows you completely and who welcomes you home.
00:30:10.915 --> 00:30:15.687
In his presence, you'll be reminded,
00:30:15.687 --> 00:30:18.656
This is where you belong.
00:30:18.656 --> 00:30:22.160
This is the promise of heaven.
00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:24.596
Announcer: and now, here is dr. jeremiah with his message,
00:30:28.733 --> 00:30:32.103
"what about the children?"
00:30:32.103 --> 00:30:33.538
Dr. jeremiah: on the morning of november 10, 2013,
00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:39.344
A youth pastor named cameron cole stumbled into what he
00:30:39.344 --> 00:30:41.980
Later called "the most magical conversation of my life."
00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:46.885
A lost lego propelled cameron and his 3-year-old son, cam,
00:30:46.885 --> 00:30:50.722
Into a discussion that changed both of their lives forever.
00:30:50.722 --> 00:30:55.727
During that conversation, little cam,
00:30:55.727 --> 00:30:57.629
A bright-eyed, curly-haired boy,
00:30:57.629 --> 00:30:59.264
Told his father to get in the car
00:30:59.264 --> 00:31:01.566
So they could go see jesus.
00:31:01.566 --> 00:31:04.302
His father explained that they wouldn't see jesus
00:31:04.302 --> 00:31:06.204
Till they were in heaven, and naturally,
00:31:06.204 --> 00:31:08.373
The little guy started asking questions about heaven.
00:31:08.373 --> 00:31:11.709
And the conversation ended with cam professing his faith
00:31:11.709 --> 00:31:14.946
In christ with childlike simplicity.
00:31:14.946 --> 00:31:18.383
That night, cam mysteriously died.
00:31:18.383 --> 00:31:22.453
No medical reason was apparent for his death.
00:31:22.453 --> 00:31:24.923
The doctors listed it as sudden, unexplained death in childhood.
00:31:24.923 --> 00:31:29.327
For cam's parents, cameron and lauren,
00:31:29.327 --> 00:31:32.430
This was the start of a journey into their worst nightmare,
00:31:32.430 --> 00:31:37.602
Their descent into a dark, sad valley.
00:31:37.602 --> 00:31:43.141
Cameron later wrote in the book that he wrote called,
00:31:43.141 --> 00:31:45.910
"heavenward," he said, "amidst the sorrow and grief
00:31:45.910 --> 00:31:49.180
Of my child's death, something radically new happened
00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:52.951
In my daily mindset.
00:31:52.951 --> 00:31:55.486
Heaven became an almost present part of my perspective.
00:31:55.486 --> 00:31:59.657
This transformation made sense.
00:31:59.657 --> 00:32:01.292
This is where my firstborn child now lived."
00:32:01.292 --> 00:32:04.996
As the sorrow of grief subsided, he continued,
00:32:04.996 --> 00:32:07.632
"heavenwardness, provided richer fellowship with jesus.
00:32:07.632 --> 00:32:11.769
I had more perspective and hope.
00:32:11.769 --> 00:32:14.305
I had more comfort and more patience.
00:32:14.305 --> 00:32:17.308
Though i was suffering deeply from the loss of my son,
00:32:17.308 --> 00:32:21.279
God was blessing my inner life in a unique way."
00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:26.951
One of the most frequent asked questions that i get
00:32:26.951 --> 00:32:30.588
About heaven is also one of the hardest.
00:32:30.588 --> 00:32:33.992
What happens to children who pass away?
00:32:33.992 --> 00:32:38.363
It's not a new issue.
00:32:38.363 --> 00:32:39.697
Both the nation of israel in the old testament and the gospel
00:32:39.697 --> 00:32:42.700
Story in the new testament open on that particular note.
00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:47.638
The story of the exodus begins when pharaoh orders the deaths
00:32:47.638 --> 00:32:51.042
Of all baby boys among hebrew slaves in egypt.
00:32:51.042 --> 00:32:55.413
And the gospel of matthew begins with king herod sending his
00:32:55.413 --> 00:32:58.483
Soldiers to kill the baby boys in bethlehem in an attempt
00:32:58.483 --> 00:33:02.153
To destroy the little one whom the magi
00:33:02.153 --> 00:33:04.622
Called the king of the jews.
00:33:04.622 --> 00:33:07.558
The death of children has been one of the world's greatest
00:33:07.558 --> 00:33:10.962
Sorrows throughout history, both biblical and secular,
00:33:10.962 --> 00:33:14.966
And in the personal histories of millions,
00:33:14.966 --> 00:33:16.968
Including probably some of you here today.
00:33:16.968 --> 00:33:21.005
Others have grieved miscarriages or stillbirths.
00:33:21.005 --> 00:33:25.209
Untold millions of pre-born children
00:33:25.209 --> 00:33:27.078
Have been lost through abortion.
00:33:27.078 --> 00:33:29.747
Some children have been slain in wars or horrendous acts
00:33:29.747 --> 00:33:32.884
Of violence.
00:33:32.884 --> 00:33:35.553
As a lifelong pastor, i've stood beside small caskets,
00:33:35.553 --> 00:33:40.058
Trying to comfort others when my own heart was broken
00:33:40.058 --> 00:33:42.794
Over the scene before me.
00:33:42.794 --> 00:33:45.329
But i praise the lord because through the tears
00:33:45.329 --> 00:33:47.598
There's a sunbeam of hope.
00:33:47.598 --> 00:33:50.001
Scripture gives us reasons to trust that infants
00:33:50.001 --> 00:33:53.237
And young children are not lost forever.
00:33:53.237 --> 00:33:56.741
Instead, they are given the gift of bypassing the sorrows of this
00:33:56.741 --> 00:33:59.944
World and are instantly transported to heaven where
00:33:59.944 --> 00:34:03.381
We'll meet them and enjoy their fellowship throughout eternity.
00:34:03.381 --> 00:34:07.518
So what exactly does the bible say about this incredible hope?
00:34:07.518 --> 00:34:12.223
I'm gonna give you several truths that i think will help.
00:34:12.223 --> 00:34:15.093
First of all, let's talk for a moment
00:34:15.093 --> 00:34:17.295
About the compassion of jesus.
00:34:17.295 --> 00:34:20.231
When you read the stories of jesus in the gospels,
00:34:20.231 --> 00:34:23.301
We discovered that our lord had an incredible love
00:34:23.301 --> 00:34:25.670
For children,
00:34:25.670 --> 00:34:27.371
And he demonstrated that love on many occasions.
00:34:27.371 --> 00:34:29.841
One example is so important that it is recorded
00:34:29.841 --> 00:34:32.610
By three of the gospel writers, matthew, mark, and luke.
00:34:32.610 --> 00:34:36.514
Here's matthew's account: "then little children were brought
00:34:36.514 --> 00:34:39.584
To him that he might put his hands on them and pray,
00:34:39.584 --> 00:34:43.254
But the disciples rebuked them.
00:34:43.254 --> 00:34:45.223
But jesus said, 'let the little children come to me, and do not
00:34:45.223 --> 00:34:48.659
Forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'"
00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:53.464
We also have a wonderful passage in matthew's gospel that is as
00:34:53.464 --> 00:34:57.401
Definitive as any verse in the bible on the eternal love
00:34:57.401 --> 00:35:00.605
That jesus has for children.
00:35:00.605 --> 00:35:02.507
Here it is, matthew 18:14: "even so it is not the will
00:35:02.507 --> 00:35:07.545
Of your father who is in heaven that one of these little ones
00:35:07.545 --> 00:35:12.116
Should perish."
00:35:12.116 --> 00:35:13.618
Have you ever read that verse?
00:35:13.618 --> 00:35:15.620
There you have the strong, unambiguous statement
00:35:15.620 --> 00:35:18.623
Of the savior.
00:35:18.623 --> 00:35:20.691
He's not willing that one of these little ones should perish.
00:35:20.691 --> 00:35:24.262
If that's all i had, if i didn't have anything else to tell you,
00:35:24.262 --> 00:35:27.198
That would be enough.
00:35:27.198 --> 00:35:28.833
And i could build my hope on all of this just on that one verse.
00:35:28.833 --> 00:35:32.603
The lord jesus has compassion for little children and infants,
00:35:32.603 --> 00:35:36.674
And he is not willing that even one of them should perish.
00:35:36.674 --> 00:35:41.078
What about babies that are never born because of miscarriages
00:35:41.078 --> 00:35:44.382
Or abortions?
00:35:44.382 --> 00:35:46.350
Here we must be very clear.
00:35:46.350 --> 00:35:48.486
I believe, as do all who accept the authority of god's word,
00:35:48.486 --> 00:35:52.590
That a child is a person from the moment of conception.
00:35:52.590 --> 00:35:57.128
Since that is true, all pre-born babies who perish
00:35:57.128 --> 00:36:00.431
Whether through miscarriage, abortion, or tragic accidents
00:36:00.431 --> 00:36:04.535
Go straight to heaven.
00:36:04.535 --> 00:36:06.904
If you had an abortion, i want to tell you that god knows
00:36:06.904 --> 00:36:09.273
How to pour his forgiveness and healing into your life
00:36:09.273 --> 00:36:12.743
Through the merits of christ.
00:36:12.743 --> 00:36:14.545
Abortion is not the unpardonable sin.
00:36:14.545 --> 00:36:18.049
God not only forgives you, he goes far beyond that.
00:36:18.049 --> 00:36:20.885
Because of his mercy, that little one now lost
00:36:20.885 --> 00:36:23.988
Will be waiting for you in heaven and you will enjoy
00:36:23.988 --> 00:36:26.791
An eternity of loving fellowship with that precious child.
00:36:26.791 --> 00:36:30.728
Jesus loves you, and he loves every child from conception.
00:36:30.728 --> 00:36:34.298
In fact, he loves us, the bible says,
00:36:34.298 --> 00:36:37.535
From before time ever began.
00:36:37.535 --> 00:36:41.305
So that's the compassion of jesus.
00:36:41.305 --> 00:36:43.107
Let me talk to you for a moment about the character
00:36:43.107 --> 00:36:45.042
Of the father.
00:36:45.042 --> 00:36:46.744
The bible is full of information about the nature of god,
00:36:46.744 --> 00:36:50.047
His personality, and his attributes.
00:36:50.047 --> 00:36:53.351
Scripture calls him father, and that ought
00:36:53.351 --> 00:36:55.486
To tell you something.
00:36:55.486 --> 00:36:57.021
I always love to remind people of that on father's day, and i
00:36:57.021 --> 00:37:00.391
Like to repeat what jesus heard from his father when the father
00:37:00.391 --> 00:37:03.828
Said, "this is my beloved son, in whom i am well pleased."
00:37:03.828 --> 00:37:07.698
We should repeat that as often as we can to our children
00:37:07.698 --> 00:37:10.501
Any way we know how.
00:37:10.501 --> 00:37:12.770
He isn't simply a distant force in the universe.
00:37:12.770 --> 00:37:15.873
He is, as jesus put it, our father in heaven.
00:37:15.873 --> 00:37:20.678
There's a passage describing god's fathering love
00:37:20.678 --> 00:37:23.781
In the book of deuteronomy.
00:37:23.781 --> 00:37:26.250
Deuteronomy 1:29-31: "do not be terrified, or afraid of them.
00:37:26.250 --> 00:37:31.589
The lord your god, who goes before you,
00:37:31.589 --> 00:37:33.824
He will fight for you,
00:37:33.824 --> 00:37:35.293
According to all he did for you in egypt before your eyes,
00:37:35.293 --> 00:37:38.929
And in the wilderness where you saw how the lord your god
00:37:38.929 --> 00:37:42.133
Carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you
00:37:42.133 --> 00:37:47.138
Went until you came to this place."
00:37:47.138 --> 00:37:49.373
Isn't that a great picture?
00:37:49.373 --> 00:37:51.242
The lord god carries us like a father carries his son
00:37:51.242 --> 00:37:54.879
Because god is full of compassion.
00:37:54.879 --> 00:37:56.747
He's full of tenderness and mercy, and he just carries us
00:37:56.747 --> 00:38:00.084
Through the tough patches like a father carrying his son.
00:38:00.084 --> 00:38:03.521
This is a consistent theme, especially in the psalms.
00:38:03.521 --> 00:38:07.825
Psalm 86:15, for instance, says: "but you, o lord, are a god full
00:38:07.825 --> 00:38:12.396
Of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant
00:38:12.396 --> 00:38:16.534
In mercy and truth."
00:38:16.534 --> 00:38:18.436
Psalm 145, verse 9 says: "the lord is good to all,
00:38:18.436 --> 00:38:22.340
And his tender mercies are over all his works."
00:38:22.340 --> 00:38:26.344
So let me say this out loud today in front of all of you and
00:38:26.344 --> 00:38:28.946
All who are watching and listening: god is a good god.
00:38:28.946 --> 00:38:35.286
He is good to all, and he certainly is good to children.
00:38:35.286 --> 00:38:40.858
He knows that little children cannot comprehend
00:38:40.858 --> 00:38:43.227
The truth of the gospel, yet god loves them deeply.
00:38:43.227 --> 00:38:46.864
He loves the pre-born and the newborn.
00:38:46.864 --> 00:38:48.733
He loves the infant and the toddler.
00:38:48.733 --> 00:38:52.103
There are some incidents in the old testament that help us
00:38:52.103 --> 00:38:54.338
Wrap our minds around all of this.
00:38:54.338 --> 00:38:57.375
For instance, when the children of israel were denied entrance
00:38:57.375 --> 00:39:01.312
Into the promised land because of the unbelief of the people,
00:39:01.312 --> 00:39:05.416
The children were not held responsible,
00:39:05.416 --> 00:39:07.418
And god allowed them to enter.
00:39:07.418 --> 00:39:09.720
Here you see the principle of god applying his grace
00:39:09.720 --> 00:39:12.390
To those who cannot believe.
00:39:12.390 --> 00:39:14.325
Here you see god treating children in a unique manner.
00:39:14.325 --> 00:39:18.028
Deuteronomy 1:39: "moreover your little ones and your children,
00:39:18.028 --> 00:39:22.466
Who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good
00:39:22.466 --> 00:39:26.270
And evil, they shall go in there; to them i will give it,
00:39:26.270 --> 00:39:30.374
And they shall possess it."
00:39:30.374 --> 00:39:33.144
The word "children" appears nearly 100 times
00:39:33.144 --> 00:39:36.514
Just in the gospels alone.
00:39:36.514 --> 00:39:39.316
The bible teaches that god knows children, he loves children
00:39:39.316 --> 00:39:42.319
With special, tender care.
00:39:42.319 --> 00:39:44.121
Our heavenly father and his justice provides for children
00:39:44.121 --> 00:39:47.825
Who are not old enough to comprehend the gospel.
00:39:47.825 --> 00:39:50.594
In fact, ezekiel tells us that almighty god considers
00:39:50.594 --> 00:39:54.265
All children his children.
00:39:54.265 --> 00:39:57.034
"moreover you took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore
00:39:57.034 --> 00:39:59.737
To me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured."
00:39:59.737 --> 00:40:04.275
No, my friends, the character of god provides a special grace
00:40:04.275 --> 00:40:07.578
For those who cannot believe.
00:40:07.578 --> 00:40:10.080
On a number of occasions, god refers to these little ones
00:40:10.080 --> 00:40:13.117
As innocents, i-n-n-o-c-e-n-t-s, innocents.
00:40:13.117 --> 00:40:19.690
Jeremiah 2:34: "also on your skirts is found the blood
00:40:19.690 --> 00:40:24.028
Of the lives of the poor innocents."
00:40:24.028 --> 00:40:27.398
Jeremiah 19:4: "and have filled this place with the blood
00:40:27.398 --> 00:40:31.702
Of the innocents."
00:40:31.702 --> 00:40:34.138
Although they are sinful creatures just like all of us,
00:40:34.138 --> 00:40:37.808
They are not responsible in the same way as those sins
00:40:37.808 --> 00:40:41.545
Which are committed in a willful and premeditated way,
00:40:41.545 --> 00:40:45.416
Because god understands the difference.
00:40:45.416 --> 00:40:47.751
The character of god lays the foundation for the realization
00:40:47.751 --> 00:40:51.021
That children who cannot understand the gospel
00:40:51.021 --> 00:40:54.225
Are enveloped within the grace and mercy of the lord.
00:40:54.225 --> 00:40:57.928
And on them, god has a tender heart.
00:40:57.928 --> 00:41:00.431
On them his compassion reigns.
00:41:00.431 --> 00:41:04.335
So reason number one is the compassion of jesus,
00:41:04.335 --> 00:41:08.372
And reason number two is the character of the father.
00:41:08.372 --> 00:41:12.142
And reason number three is the condition of death.
00:41:12.142 --> 00:41:15.312
There's another observation we can make based on the story
00:41:15.312 --> 00:41:18.215
Of a 12-year-old child mentioned in the gospels.
00:41:18.215 --> 00:41:22.286
She's known as the daughter of jairus.
00:41:22.286 --> 00:41:25.422
This little girl had died, and her family
00:41:25.422 --> 00:41:27.358
And friends were inconsolable.
00:41:27.358 --> 00:41:29.927
So jesus visited the home and heard mourners wailing loudly,
00:41:29.927 --> 00:41:33.564
And he told them, "do not weep.
00:41:33.564 --> 00:41:36.133
She is not dead, but she is sleeping."
00:41:36.133 --> 00:41:40.037
They jeered him, but he took the parents to the room
00:41:40.037 --> 00:41:42.506
Where the girl's body was residing.
00:41:42.506 --> 00:41:45.109
He took her hand and he said, "little girl, arise."
00:41:45.109 --> 00:41:49.113
Her spirit returned, she arose at once,
00:41:49.113 --> 00:41:51.148
And jesus told them to give her something to eat.
00:41:51.148 --> 00:41:54.518
Those words of jesus, "she is not dead,
00:41:54.518 --> 00:41:57.254
She is sleeping," they weren't just spoken to jairus.
00:41:57.254 --> 00:42:00.624
They are for every mom and dad or grandparent
00:42:00.624 --> 00:42:04.328
Who has ever lost a little one.
00:42:04.328 --> 00:42:07.097
The miscarried child, the stillborn baby,
00:42:07.097 --> 00:42:09.833
The aborted infant,
00:42:09.833 --> 00:42:11.168
The child who dies of sids or perished in a car accident
00:42:11.168 --> 00:42:14.905
Or in a natural disaster, they're not dead,
00:42:14.905 --> 00:42:17.841
They're just sleeping.
00:42:17.841 --> 00:42:19.743
This is biblical terminology.
00:42:19.743 --> 00:42:22.580
When we die in christ, our spirits go at once to be with
00:42:22.580 --> 00:42:25.950
The lord, and our bodies go to sleep until awakened
00:42:25.950 --> 00:42:29.053
And glorified at the rapture.
00:42:29.053 --> 00:42:31.922
The daughter of jairus is a prototype of every child who
00:42:31.922 --> 00:42:35.192
Dies, who falls asleep in jesus, and whom the lord will raise up
00:42:35.192 --> 00:42:40.197
With resurrection glory.
00:42:40.197 --> 00:42:43.000
Pastor richard hipps and his wife patricia faced the serious
00:42:43.000 --> 00:42:45.869
Illness and death of their little girl, alex.
00:42:45.869 --> 00:42:49.373
Their dear friend john h. hewitt
00:42:49.373 --> 00:42:51.175
Walked through the sorrow with them,
00:42:51.175 --> 00:42:53.210
And he later applied the words of jesus a bit differently
00:42:53.210 --> 00:42:56.614
But meaningfully.
00:42:56.614 --> 00:42:58.415
He said, "i live in the confidence that shortly after
00:42:58.415 --> 00:43:01.552
5 that winter morning, alex heard the jesus
00:43:01.552 --> 00:43:05.889
She had already spied in her hospital room say,
00:43:05.889 --> 00:43:10.160
'little girl, arise,'
00:43:10.160 --> 00:43:12.630
And what a welcome that must have been,
00:43:12.630 --> 00:43:14.431
Heavenly hosts flocking to greet a new saint
00:43:14.431 --> 00:43:16.533
Of god with a white robe and a lot of laughter."
00:43:16.533 --> 00:43:21.505
So you have the compassion of jesus,
00:43:21.505 --> 00:43:23.841
The character of the father, the condition of death.
00:43:23.841 --> 00:43:26.977
But my favorite reason, because i think it's the most powerful,
00:43:26.977 --> 00:43:29.847
Is what i have called the confidence of david.
00:43:29.847 --> 00:43:34.251
There is a story in the life of king david that is fundamental
00:43:34.251 --> 00:43:38.155
To the question we're answering today.
00:43:38.155 --> 00:43:40.958
If you had your bibles, i'd have you turn to 2 samuel chapter 12.
00:43:40.958 --> 00:43:45.396
This section of scripture records the events that happened
00:43:45.396 --> 00:43:48.599
In the life of david immediately after he was confronted
00:43:48.599 --> 00:43:52.369
By the prophet, nathan.
00:43:52.369 --> 00:43:54.571
As you will remember, nathan was appointed by god to go
00:43:54.571 --> 00:43:57.675
And confront david because of his adultery with bathsheba
00:43:57.675 --> 00:44:01.345
And the murder of her husband, uriah the hittite.
00:44:01.345 --> 00:44:04.715
Among other things, nathan told david that the child
00:44:04.715 --> 00:44:08.652
That he and bathsheba had brought into the world
00:44:08.652 --> 00:44:11.121
Would be taken away in death.
00:44:11.121 --> 00:44:14.224
So we pick up this story from 2 samuel chapter 12, verse 14,
00:44:14.224 --> 00:44:19.430
And i'm going to read it right from the bible.
00:44:19.430 --> 00:44:21.598
Here we go.
00:44:21.598 --> 00:44:23.000
"'however, because by this deed you have given great occasion
00:44:23.000 --> 00:44:26.036
To the enemies of the lord to blaspheme,
00:44:26.036 --> 00:44:29.173
The child also who is born to you will surely die.'
00:44:29.173 --> 00:44:34.178
And nathan departed to his house.
00:44:34.178 --> 00:44:36.780
And the lord struck the child that uriah's wife bore to david,
00:44:36.780 --> 00:44:40.317
And it became ill.
00:44:40.317 --> 00:44:41.719
And david therefore pleaded with god for the child.
00:44:41.719 --> 00:44:45.022
And he fasted and he went in and lay all night on the ground.
00:44:45.022 --> 00:44:49.259
So the elders of his house arose and went to him,
00:44:49.259 --> 00:44:51.528
To raise him up from the ground.
00:44:51.528 --> 00:44:52.996
But he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
00:44:52.996 --> 00:44:55.833
And on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died.
00:44:55.833 --> 00:45:00.304
And the servants of david were afraid to tell him
00:45:00.304 --> 00:45:02.372
That the child was dead.
00:45:02.372 --> 00:45:03.974
For they said, 'while the child was alive, we spoke to him,
00:45:03.974 --> 00:45:06.710
He wouldn't even heed our voice.
00:45:06.710 --> 00:45:08.345
How can we tell him that the child is dead?
00:45:08.345 --> 00:45:10.748
He may do some harm!'
00:45:10.748 --> 00:45:13.417
When david saw that his servants were whispering,
00:45:13.417 --> 00:45:15.619
He perceived that the child was dead.
00:45:15.619 --> 00:45:17.588
Therefore he said to his servants, 'is the child dead?'
00:45:17.588 --> 00:45:22.159
And they said, 'he is dead.'
00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:24.828
So david rose from the ground, washed and anointed himself,
00:45:24.828 --> 00:45:28.732
And changed his clothes;
00:45:28.732 --> 00:45:30.934
And he went into the house of the lord and worshiped.
00:45:30.934 --> 00:45:34.505
Then he went to his own house; and when he requested,
00:45:34.505 --> 00:45:39.109
They set food before him, and he ate."
00:45:39.109 --> 00:45:42.379
And i want to put in here my own translation,
00:45:42.379 --> 00:45:44.381
And it freaked his servants out.
00:45:44.381 --> 00:45:47.818
I mean, "then his servants said to him,
00:45:47.818 --> 00:45:49.686
'what is this that you have done?
00:45:49.686 --> 00:45:52.356
You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive,
00:45:52.356 --> 00:45:55.559
And when the child died, you arose and he ate food.'
00:45:55.559 --> 00:45:59.496
And he said, 'while the child was alive, i fasted and wept;
00:45:59.496 --> 00:46:04.401
For i said, "who can tell whether the lord
00:46:04.401 --> 00:46:06.436
Will be gracious to me, that the child may live?"
00:46:06.436 --> 00:46:10.908
But now he is dead; why should i fast?'"
00:46:10.908 --> 00:46:14.478
Here's the key phrase.
00:46:14.478 --> 00:46:16.180
"'can i bring him back again?
00:46:16.180 --> 00:46:18.916
I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.'"
00:46:18.916 --> 00:46:23.921
That last sentence in that passage in 2 samuel 12:23,
00:46:23.921 --> 00:46:28.192
Is arguably the greatest sentence in the bible
00:46:28.192 --> 00:46:31.395
On the subject of what happens to a child when they die
00:46:31.395 --> 00:46:36.333
Or when the rapture happens.
00:46:36.333 --> 00:46:38.802
It was this thought of a reunion with his dead child
00:46:38.802 --> 00:46:41.839
Which cheered david.
00:46:41.839 --> 00:46:43.540
But where did he think that reunion would be?
00:46:43.540 --> 00:46:45.642
In the grave?
00:46:45.642 --> 00:46:46.977
In hell?
00:46:46.977 --> 00:46:48.312
In heaven?
00:46:48.312 --> 00:46:49.646
He believed that he himself would go to heaven after death
00:46:49.646 --> 00:46:52.616
And consequently meant to express the belief
00:46:52.616 --> 00:46:55.252
That his child had but gone on before him
00:46:55.252 --> 00:46:58.088
To that blessed place.
00:46:58.088 --> 00:47:00.657
The idea of meeting his child in the unconscious grave
00:47:00.657 --> 00:47:03.827
Could not have rationally comforted him at all,
00:47:03.827 --> 00:47:07.164
Nor could the thought of meeting him in hell
00:47:07.164 --> 00:47:09.800
Have cheered his spirit, but the thought
00:47:09.800 --> 00:47:11.802
Of meeting his child in heaven had in itself
00:47:11.802 --> 00:47:15.339
The power of turning his weeping into joy.
00:47:15.339 --> 00:47:19.343
David knew what i've been trying to tell you
00:47:19.343 --> 00:47:21.311
Throughout this message.
00:47:21.311 --> 00:47:23.247
When little ones die or the rapture happens before
00:47:23.247 --> 00:47:26.183
They understand the gospel, they go straight to heaven.
00:47:26.183 --> 00:47:31.889
Now, i know i haven't answered all the questions.
00:47:31.889 --> 00:47:34.391
In fact, i am pretty sure i've created some new ones
00:47:34.391 --> 00:47:37.194
You never had before you came to this session.
00:47:37.194 --> 00:47:40.464
So let me grab hold of a couple of them that have come to me as
00:47:40.464 --> 00:47:43.667
I have preached this message.
00:47:43.667 --> 00:47:46.169
One of them is, what about the age of accountability?
00:47:46.169 --> 00:47:50.440
Are little children innocent until they reach a certain age?
00:47:50.440 --> 00:47:54.144
In our attempt to bring comfort to those who mourn, we must not
00:47:54.144 --> 00:47:57.180
Deny the truth of god's word, no one is truly innocent.
00:47:57.180 --> 00:48:01.618
Jesus's statements about children being innocents does
00:48:01.618 --> 00:48:04.254
Not mean they are without sin.
00:48:04.254 --> 00:48:06.723
It means that they were not responsible for their sin.
00:48:06.723 --> 00:48:09.459
The bible teaches that all of us are sinners.
00:48:09.459 --> 00:48:12.496
And from the very beginning, psalm 51:5:
00:48:12.496 --> 00:48:15.232
"behold, i was brought forth in iniquity,
00:48:15.232 --> 00:48:18.035
And in sin my mother conceived me."
00:48:18.035 --> 00:48:21.138
Or psalm 58:3: "the wicked are estranged from the womb;
00:48:21.138 --> 00:48:24.374
They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies."
00:48:24.374 --> 00:48:30.180
No, innocence doesn't mean sinless.
00:48:30.180 --> 00:48:33.984
There are no sinless people.
00:48:33.984 --> 00:48:37.487
All of us are born with a sin nature.
00:48:37.487 --> 00:48:39.523
Even though we have not yet done anything wrong,
00:48:39.523 --> 00:48:41.725
Our nature is sinful.
00:48:41.725 --> 00:48:44.061
Every baby needs a savior just like every adult does.
00:48:44.061 --> 00:48:48.365
But at what age does a child become responsible
00:48:48.365 --> 00:48:51.501
For his relationship with god?
00:48:51.501 --> 00:48:53.870
Is there an age of accountability?
00:48:53.870 --> 00:48:56.540
Isaiah refers to such a time in the life of a child.
00:48:56.540 --> 00:49:00.077
He says, "for before the child shall know to refuse the evil
00:49:00.077 --> 00:49:03.213
And choose the good.'"
00:49:03.213 --> 00:49:05.449
The important thing to remember here is that the bible
00:49:05.449 --> 00:49:07.684
Does not make any reference to a particular age
00:49:07.684 --> 00:49:11.021
Of accountability, but there is a time
00:49:11.021 --> 00:49:13.824
In the life of every child
00:49:13.824 --> 00:49:15.993
When they are able to understand god's love
00:49:15.993 --> 00:49:18.395
And when they comprehend what it means to be a sinner.
00:49:18.395 --> 00:49:22.399
For some children, that knowledge comes
00:49:22.399 --> 00:49:24.167
At a very early age.
00:49:24.167 --> 00:49:25.702
For others, it may take more time because the age
00:49:25.702 --> 00:49:28.338
Of accountability is not a chronological measurement,
00:49:28.338 --> 00:49:32.042
It's a reckoning of spiritual understanding:
00:49:32.042 --> 00:49:35.312
How old is this child when he comprehends the gospel?
00:49:35.312 --> 00:49:38.548
And that would be different, perhaps, for every child.
00:49:38.548 --> 00:49:42.252
So, i somewhat answered that question,
00:49:42.252 --> 00:49:44.221
And then somebody says, "okay, jeremiah,
00:49:44.221 --> 00:49:46.523
How old are children gonna be in heaven?"
00:49:46.523 --> 00:49:50.560
Well, there are differing views about that question,
00:49:50.560 --> 00:49:52.996
And there's no absolute answer in scripture.
00:49:52.996 --> 00:49:56.133
Some people believe that when we are in heaven,
00:49:56.133 --> 00:49:58.068
We will all be mature in body, mind, and spirit.
00:49:58.068 --> 00:50:01.371
The thought is this: if babies cannot fully enjoy this life,
00:50:01.371 --> 00:50:04.941
How could we expect them to fully enjoy eternal life
00:50:04.941 --> 00:50:07.444
With god?
00:50:07.444 --> 00:50:09.279
One proponent of this view argues that the book
00:50:09.279 --> 00:50:11.882
Of revelation describes worship in heaven
00:50:11.882 --> 00:50:14.418
As involving every single person.
00:50:14.418 --> 00:50:16.887
Therefore, whoever is in heaven will have to be of such an age
00:50:16.887 --> 00:50:19.890
As to be able to participate in the eternal worship
00:50:19.890 --> 00:50:22.292
Of almighty god.
00:50:22.292 --> 00:50:24.394
Alistair mcgrath supports this view.
00:50:24.394 --> 00:50:26.363
He says, "as each person reaches their peak of perfection around
00:50:26.363 --> 00:50:29.766
The age of 30, they will be resurrected as they would have
00:50:29.766 --> 00:50:33.103
Appeared at that time, even if they had never lived
00:50:33.103 --> 00:50:36.273
To reach that age.
00:50:36.273 --> 00:50:38.041
The new jerusalem will thus be populated by men and women
00:50:38.041 --> 00:50:40.911
As they would appear at the age of 30,
00:50:40.911 --> 00:50:43.580
But with every blemish removed."
00:50:43.580 --> 00:50:45.749
Now, that's one idea.
00:50:45.749 --> 00:50:47.684
Some have increased the age to 33 because that's how old christ
00:50:47.684 --> 00:50:51.321
Was when he was crucified.
00:50:51.321 --> 00:50:53.857
Others hold that children will be allowed to grow up in heaven.
00:50:53.857 --> 00:50:57.627
In support of this view is the reference to the condition
00:50:57.627 --> 00:51:00.530
In the millennium.
00:51:00.530 --> 00:51:02.265
If the millennium is the prelude to heaven,
00:51:02.265 --> 00:51:05.135
Then there must be children in heaven.
00:51:05.135 --> 00:51:06.703
For isaiah describes this period of the millennium like this:
00:51:06.703 --> 00:51:10.607
"and a little child shall lead them, and the nursing child
00:51:10.607 --> 00:51:14.744
Shall play by the cobra's hole, and the weaned child shall put
00:51:14.744 --> 00:51:18.682
His hand in the viper's den."
00:51:18.682 --> 00:51:22.352
You know, if i have to put my emphasis on one or another,
00:51:22.352 --> 00:51:27.090
I believe there'll be children in heaven.
00:51:27.090 --> 00:51:29.192
I don't know all the answers to how that works out.
00:51:29.192 --> 00:51:32.062
There will not be any procreation in heaven.
00:51:32.062 --> 00:51:34.297
Children won't be born in heaven,
00:51:34.297 --> 00:51:35.899
But children in heaven will mature.
00:51:35.899 --> 00:51:38.368
J. vernon mcgee, who's one of my old friends who's in heaven now,
00:51:38.368 --> 00:51:42.706
He said, "i believe with all my heart that god will raise the
00:51:42.706 --> 00:51:46.810
Little ones such that the mother's arms who have ached
00:51:46.810 --> 00:51:50.080
For them will have the opportunity of holding them.
00:51:50.080 --> 00:51:54.084
The father's hand, which never held the little hand,
00:51:54.084 --> 00:51:56.353
Will be given the privilege.
00:51:56.353 --> 00:51:58.255
I believe that little ones will grow up in heaven in the care
00:51:58.255 --> 00:52:01.191
Of their earthly parents if they are saved."
00:52:01.191 --> 00:52:05.061
On the basis of the compassion of jesus, the character of god,
00:52:05.061 --> 00:52:10.934
The condition of death, and the confidence of david,
00:52:10.934 --> 00:52:14.104
I can say with authority that the unborn and little children,
00:52:14.104 --> 00:52:18.542
When they die, go straight into the arms of jesus in heaven.
00:52:18.542 --> 00:52:24.114
There was a family whose baby boy had died.
00:52:24.114 --> 00:52:28.618
The little girl came to the mother and asked
00:52:28.618 --> 00:52:31.454
Where her brother was, and her mother said,
00:52:31.454 --> 00:52:35.592
"he's gone to be with jesus."
00:52:35.592 --> 00:52:37.894
Which, by the way, is the best answer you can ever give
00:52:37.894 --> 00:52:39.863
To that question.
00:52:39.863 --> 00:52:42.098
A few days later, the mother was visiting a friend and said,
00:52:42.098 --> 00:52:45.502
"i am so grieved to have lost my baby."
00:52:45.502 --> 00:52:49.973
And the little girl, overhearing that remark, came to her mother
00:52:49.973 --> 00:52:52.909
And said, "mama, is something lost when you know where it is?"
00:52:52.909 --> 00:52:57.447
Isn't that a wonderful truth to remember?
00:52:57.447 --> 00:53:00.650
If we know where they are, they're not lost.
00:53:00.650 --> 00:53:03.520
We're just waiting for the time when we will be reunited
00:53:03.520 --> 00:53:06.790
In the future.
00:53:06.790 --> 00:53:08.225
Remember cameron cole, who i told you about
00:53:08.225 --> 00:53:10.894
At the beginning of the message?
00:53:10.894 --> 00:53:13.363
He said this in regard to his son's passing:
00:53:13.363 --> 00:53:17.167
"i have often thought that cam and i are both hugging
00:53:17.167 --> 00:53:20.804
The same massive oak tree.
00:53:20.804 --> 00:53:24.274
He stands on one side and i stand on the other.
00:53:24.274 --> 00:53:28.111
The girth of the tree is so big that we cannot see each other.
00:53:28.111 --> 00:53:32.415
Nevertheless, we grip the oak tree with the same joy,
00:53:32.415 --> 00:53:36.052
Affection, and pleasure.
00:53:36.052 --> 00:53:38.221
In reality," he said, "the oak tree is jesus."
00:53:38.221 --> 00:53:42.726
[audience applauds]
00:53:42.726 --> 00:53:45.662
Dr. jeremiah: cameron went on to say,
00:53:45.662 --> 00:53:47.497
"i miss him and i yearn to be with him.
00:53:47.497 --> 00:53:49.532
My heart and mind naturally turn upward.
00:53:49.532 --> 00:53:52.569
My son's life and glory has put my heart and mind
00:53:52.569 --> 00:53:56.206
On a heavenly swivel."
00:53:56.206 --> 00:53:59.109
So if you've lost a little one,
00:53:59.109 --> 00:54:00.844
Let your heart and mind turn upward.
00:54:00.844 --> 00:54:03.446
Put your head on a heavenly swivel.
00:54:03.446 --> 00:54:06.216
Let the soon approaching joys of your coming reunion
00:54:06.216 --> 00:54:09.552
Lift your mind to jesus, who never saw a child
00:54:09.552 --> 00:54:13.356
He didn't love enough to die for.
00:54:13.356 --> 00:54:16.893
They are all safe and happy in his heavenly home,
00:54:16.893 --> 00:54:20.397
And to that we can all say, hallelujah.
00:54:20.397 --> 00:54:23.066
[audience applauds]
00:54:23.066 --> 00:54:29.205
Announcer: dr. jeremiah will return
00:54:29.272 --> 00:54:30.740
With one more inspirational word to close today's program,
00:54:30.740 --> 00:54:34.144
Right after this.
00:54:34.144 --> 00:54:35.712
Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
00:54:37.447 --> 00:54:39.349
In appreciation of your gift of any amount in support of this
00:54:39.349 --> 00:54:41.718
Program, dr. jeremiah will send you his new book,
00:54:41.718 --> 00:54:44.721
"the promise of heaven," upon its release on october 7th.
00:54:44.721 --> 00:54:48.058
Or for a gift of $75 or more, pre-order
00:54:48.058 --> 00:54:50.927
"the promise of heaven" set,
00:54:50.927 --> 00:54:52.329
Containing dr. jeremiah's new book, teaching series,
00:54:52.329 --> 00:54:55.065
Study guide, special interview dvd,
00:54:55.065 --> 00:54:57.200
And the "10 things you may not know about heaven" bookmark.
00:54:57.200 --> 00:55:00.403
Plus, when you pre-order from "turning point,"
00:55:00.403 --> 00:55:02.305
You'll instantly receive these exclusive digital bonuses:
00:55:02.305 --> 00:55:05.475
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00:55:05.475 --> 00:55:07.644
And study guide, and two extra chapters
00:55:07.644 --> 00:55:10.280
Written by dr. jeremiah, not included in his new book.
00:55:10.280 --> 00:55:13.917
Thank you for your support of this program.
00:55:13.917 --> 00:55:16.186
Pre-order "the promise of heaven" resources
00:55:16.186 --> 00:55:18.021
From "turning point" today.
00:55:18.021 --> 00:55:19.789
Announcer: and now, here is dr. david jeremiah.
00:55:22.058 --> 00:55:25.161
Dr. jeremiah: the promise of heaven is a great comfort to us
00:55:25.161 --> 00:55:28.498
As we go through this life.
00:55:28.498 --> 00:55:31.000
But the fact is, there is only one way to gain entrance.
00:55:31.000 --> 00:55:35.405
We can't get to heaven by being nice people.
00:55:35.405 --> 00:55:38.541
We can't get there by doing more good than bad.
00:55:38.541 --> 00:55:42.345
We can't get there by rites or rituals.
00:55:42.345 --> 00:55:45.548
You see, the only way to heaven is through jesus christ
00:55:45.548 --> 00:55:49.152
And accepting him as lord and savior of your life.
00:55:49.152 --> 00:55:53.056
If you have made the decision to follow jesus christ today or you
00:55:53.056 --> 00:55:56.993
Would like to know how to take your first steps of faith,
00:55:56.993 --> 00:56:00.397
Please allow me to send you two free resources.
00:56:00.397 --> 00:56:04.033
One is a booklet called "your greatest turning point,"
00:56:04.033 --> 00:56:07.404
Which will help you begin your faith journey with christ.
00:56:07.404 --> 00:56:10.540
And the second is our monthly devotional magazine,
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Watch the entire "the promise of heaven" series
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Announcer: next time on "turning point."
00:56:55.151 --> 00:56:57.787
Dr. jeremiah: the bible says that when we get our crowns in
00:56:57.787 --> 00:56:59.689
Heaven, we're going to go to jesus and cast them down
00:56:59.689 --> 00:57:02.792
Before him as an act of worship.
00:57:02.792 --> 00:57:05.361
You say, "well, i guess it won't make that much difference
00:57:05.361 --> 00:57:07.263
If i don't have one, then, if that's all we're going to do
00:57:07.263 --> 00:57:08.998
With them."
00:57:08.998 --> 00:57:10.400
No, it'll make a big difference.
00:57:10.400 --> 00:57:11.734
Frankly, i don't want to be in the line of people
00:57:11.734 --> 00:57:13.203
With no crowns.
00:57:13.203 --> 00:57:14.537
I want to be in the line waiting to cast my crowns
00:57:14.537 --> 00:57:16.706
To the feet of jesus.
00:57:16.706 --> 00:57:19.008
Announcer: thank you for being with us today.
00:57:19.075 --> 00:57:21.044
Join dr. jeremiah next time for his message, "five crowns,"
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Here on "turning point."
00:57:26.916 --> 00:57:26.916

David Jeremiah - A Body For Heaven

October 5, 2025 | 58:20

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