FURTHER STUDY: Read Revelation 21, 22; "God's People Delivered," "The Controversy Ended," The Great Controversy, pp. 633- 632, 674-678.
The end is near, even at the door. It is time to lift up our eyes, for our redemption draws near (Luke 21:28). We prepare for heaven by focusing on Christ and on the homeland He is preparing for us. What will heaven be like? As our minds attempt to take in the reality, our affections will be set on things above instead of on things of earth.
Ellen White described what heaven is like. "I seemed to be there where all was peace, where no stormy conflicts of earth could ever come--heaven, a kingdom of righteousness where all the holy and pure and blest are congregated, ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, living and walking in happy, pure intimacy, praising God and the Lamb who sitteth on the throne.
"Their voices were in perfect harmony. They never do each other wrong. Princes of heaven, the potentates of this mighty realm, are rivals only in good, seeking the happiness and joy of each other. The greatest there is least in self-esteem, and the least is greatest in his gratitude and wealth of love.
"There are no dark errors to cloud the intellect. Truth and knowledge, clear, strong, and perfect, have chased every doubt away, and no gloom of doubt casts its baleful shadow upon its happy inhabitants. No voices of contention mar the sweet and perfect peace of heaven. Its inhabitants know no sorrow, no grief, no tears. All is in perfect harmony, in perfect order and perfect bliss." --Last Day Events, p. 296.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
SUMMARY: The coming of Jesus is the glorious hope of His church. When Jesus comes the second time, He will resurrect the righteous dead, translate all the righteous to heaven, and make an end of sin and sinners. With His coming so near,