1 Peter 1.3-53Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fadekept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.Scripture Reading

What Is Heaven?

1 Peter 1.3-53Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fadekept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.1 Peter 1, mc 1 Peter 1.3-9, vv 1 Peter 1.3-5

What Is Your Image of Heaven?Is it no more sorrow? (Rev 21.4)Does it have a street of Gold? (Rev 21.21)

No matter what your image isit probably is not what I am going to paintClose Your Eyes

RequirementMake Me Want To Go!One ThingBeing afraid of helldoes not meanyou desire heaven

ResearchHeaven 583x327x OT256x NTHeaven NT144x Gospels112x Rest of NT 24x Acts 32x Romans-Jude 56x RevelationHeavens 133xKingdom of Heaven 32xOnly in Gospel of MatthewWord Search, e-Sword Version 8.0.6

Matthew 5.33"Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5, mc Matthew 5.1-12, vv Matthew 5.3

Matthew 5.1010Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5, mc Matthew 5.1-12, vv Matthew 5.10

Matthew 7.2121"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enterthe kingdom of heaven, but only he who doesthe will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7, mc Matthew 7.15-23, vv Matthew 7.21

Matthew 13.44-4644"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.Matthew 13, mc Matthew 13.1-53, vv Matthew 13.44-46

2 Corinthians 5.1-31Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found [without clothing].2 Corinthians 5, mc 2 Corinthians 4.13-5.10, vv 5.1-3

1 Peter 1.3-53Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fadekept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Next Timewe will look at Johns Image of Heaven in Revelation 211 Peter 1, mc 1 Peter 1.3-9, vv 1 Peter 1.3-5

EndnotesLesson: Heaven, Part 1Presented: May 16, 2010Author: Raymond Harriswww.raymondharris.com

All Scripture Quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version; used from www.biblegateway.com.Bible Verse Citation is provided in a specified format:Book Name, Minimum Verse Context (mc), Specific Verse/Verses (vv)Such as seen in: 1 Peter 1, mc 1.13-25, vv 1.18-21Occurrence and totals for the English word heaven, heavens, and the phrase kingdom of heaven, KJV e-Sword word and exact phrase search, e-Sword version 8.0.6

Image CreditsLesson: Heaven, Part 1Presented: May 16, 2010Author: Raymond Harriswww.raymondharris.com

Bible in Front of Yellow Light unknownTree of Life http://www.heavenlyascents.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/fountain_tree_of_life.jpg First Peter, Gospel of Matthew, First Corinthians http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=3888585 City in the Clouds http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h7jlvB-0-Vc/SZ7Yk766YdI/AAAAAAAAAsM/-tUWd07hnCU/s400/jer.bmp Circled River http://www.truthnet.org/christianity/revelation/revelation22/insideNewjerusalem.jpg Arch Lighted Walk Way http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2554961592_7650f46acd.jpg Street of Bricks http://www.pacificspirit.org/news/uploaded_images/Streets-paved-with-gold-734414.jpg Mountain and Clouds http://files.myopera.com/damioon/blog/heaven_or_hell.jpg Sunlight through the Clouds http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dy6XOZjRmSk/S7ysvCS4GnI/AAAAAAAACIA/mmOVOIZGE4s/s400/heaven.jpg Holy Bible with Concordance unknown