HEAVEN

 

The MOST IMPORTANT thing about heaven…be sure you are there!!! Do you meet all the ‘qualifications’ to enter heaven? If you were to die this evening, would you be headed for heaven….without a doubt?   If you are not sure…????

 

What do you already know about Heaven? Who will be there? Who won’t? What does it look like? What will we do there? Etc….

 

 

STOP!!

Read Rev. 4 and 5; 20:11-15 and Rev. 21.These are the primary chapters where concentrated information about Heaven is located. Just read for general information.

Read and List all words/sentences that ‘explain:’

 

 

Where else in Scripture do you find mention of Heaven?

 

 

LOOK!

Read Rev. 4 and 5; 20:11-15 and Rev. 21 again. These are the most concentrated verses that tell us about heaven. These can be considered ‘precepts’ – direct facts. What did you learn about heaven from these verses?

 

 

 

Other verses scattered through out Scripture give us more insight:

Mt 6:9

Mt 5:12

Lu 10:20

Heb. 12:23

1 Pet. 1:4

Heb 11:10,16

Heb 13:14

Eph. 5:5

Gal. 5:21

John 14: 2-3

Phil. 1:23

AND MANY MORE.

 

 

LISTEN!!

SO WHAT!!!! The most important thing to take away from this lesson is…..

 

Scripture has basically  said:

• You cant get to heaven by being good
• You cant buy your way into heaven
• You can’t get to heaven by just attending a church
• You can’t get to heaven because your family has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.
• You can’t get to heaven by being baptized.
   
   
   
  Do you know for sure that you are going to heaven? If you are not sure, speak to your pastor or another Christian who you trust. DO IT TODAY!!! You CAN be sure you are going to heaven. Have NO doubt.
   
   
  Also…what about your family and friends?  Have you helped them find their assurance of salvation and an eternity with Jesus??  !!!!! If not DO IT…also….if you need help with this see your pastor  how to …or ask a trusted Christian friend to help you with this.
  DO IT TODAY!!
   

Introduction to Prophecy

Prophecy – Introduction Answer these questions....from your own opinion or from Scripture. If you find Scripture, be sure to note it so we can read it too 1. What is the 'end times'? What is 'end times prophecy?' 2. As you begin to think of this study - it covers many many topics ....end times prophecy covers topics such as what might be happening today....the book of Daniel, the book of Joel, the book of Revelation, the rapture..etc....what specifically would you like to study? Don't say 'all'....give me specific concepts related to the 'end times.' 3. One big question....why study this? This is not for entertainment! What does God want us to get out of this study? 4. SO WHAT???? Once we have this knowledge...so what...how does it impact our lives? We should be able to apply all we study to our lives today.. how???? 5. Look and listen to the news. Come to group prepared to briefly discuss what is going on in the news that MIGHT have something to do with the end times. 6. What resources are you going to use for this study....yes...'study' is hard work...what will you use to find your answers? Lets always remember that for every topic in 'prophecy' there are many interpretations. I am not an expert....and neither are you, probably. In group we will study basic, proven, techniques to help us study and interpret prophecy...to get a more accurate understanding of the symbols, types, etc.... We will NOT name the antichrist. We will not set a date for the Rapture, or for the Second Coming of Christ ! We will see what Jesus, Himself, had to say about end time events. Next week I will give you a list of suggested resources - in print, and on the internet that you will find helpful as we go on.

Additional Thoughts

I have used this site for several months for my notes on the study of the Gospel of John from my Sunday group, but if you are interested in some of my 'general thoughts' about things spiritual go to my blog www.biblestudy2women.blogspot.com once in a while.

John 20:19-31- Part 3 - We Serve a LIVING God!

A quote from John McArthur” Now it's interesting also that when Jesus appears in all of these eleven that we know about, He appears only to His own. He never appears to unbelievers. He never appears to the scribes and Pharisees and says, "Ha, I told you, here I am, you didn't believe." He never does that. He appears only to those who are His own.”


Some of the key things to focus on:

Why did Jesus show Himself? Was it necessary? Did he ever show Himself to unbelievers?

“Peace” vs 19, 21, 28. What type of peace?

Jesus shows His physical body – He is not returned in spirit form.

Notice emotions…fear… ‘were glad’, etc…

Vs 22 – Have you ever heard a sermon on this verse? What is this ‘breathed on them”?

Vs 23 Have you ever heard a sermon on this verse? What is the ‘forgiveness’? As humans, do we really have the authority to forgive anyone?

VS 30-31…are key verses….why John wrote the book….what might he have left out?

Think about Thomas - was his disbelief a sign of lack faith? Would you have believed the story of Jesus bodily return if you had been Thomas, and not seen it for yourself? Perhaps Thomas is an example of some of us who take longer, or need more to come to saving/believing faith.


ADDITIONAL

THE APPEARANCES OF JESUS – We serve a LIVING GOD!

To Mary Magdalene

To the 12 and Thomas – John 19, 1 Cor 15:4

To the seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee

To 500 in Galilee….1 Cor. 15:6

To James in Jerusalem and Bethany 1 Cor 15:7

To many at the ascension Acts 1:3-12

To Steven when he was stoned to death Acts 7:55

Paul near Damascus - Acts 9:3-6; 1 Cor 15:8 (many scholars believe that Paul spend a lengthy time with Jesus (personally) right after he was commissioned by Jesus – perhaps in the desert)

To John the writer, at Patmos Rev. 1:10-19

John 20 - part 2

John 20: 1:11-18
Remember to record the resources that you used as you studied.

Use your Stop! Look! Listen! technique. Read the verses with new eyes, slowly and several times, look for words you might not understand, etc…

There always seems to be some question/confusion about the women and Mary coming to the tomb. Mary sees Jesus when she is alone. The women see Jesus and it does not seem that Mary is there…. Do some research to figure this out….why? People will always point to ‘inconsistencies’ in Scripture – and you will be able to answer this one. (See below)

Jesus calls Mary "woman" and then by her name...why?


What are some reasons that she did not recognize Him?

What did Jesus mean when He spoke about ‘do not touch me’…later He would let Thomas touch Him>

LISTEN -
What if this part of the story had been left out of Scripture….what would we have missed out on? Why do we need all this detail?
What is God trying to teach us?
How will the study of these verses impact my view of ‘Easter”?

One probable answer to the ‘confusion of the women’ verses:
Mary goes and sees the two angels and the empty tomb.
She runs to tell the men
On the way she passes the women who are coming and tells them about the empty tomb
Mary goes on to tell the men…..The women get to the tomb and see the angels
Mary tells Peter and John and the men run to the tomb.
Mary goes back later and sees the Risen Lord – He tells her He has risen.

John 20 Part 1

Basic Outline Questions

John 20: 1-10 (and Luke 24:9-12)


Notice the same story in Luke 24:9-12 – different details…..why the difference?

Notice the characters involved.( not just Mary Magdalene ….Mary Magdalene goes back and sees Jesus…we will study that next week) – the women….Mary Magdalene, Joanna(hmmmm who is this??) , Mary the mother of James (not of James and John, but James” the less or younger”), “and the other women with them.) (Women were important in Gods plan to show that Jesus had risen – and to go and tell) See if you can find any resources that show the relationship between all these people…..

Use your Stop! Look! Listen! technique. Read the verses with new eyes, slowly and several times, look for words you might not understand, etc…

Vs 2,3,4,8 etc… who is this unnamed disciple? Why does the writer, John, just come right out and identify this man?

Where were the followers of Jesus during this time?

Write out verse 8 for emphasis

LISTEN -
What if this part of the story had been left out of Scripture….what would we have missed out on?
What is God trying to teach us?
How will the study of these verses impact my view of ‘Easter”?

Next week we will study vs 11-18 and focus in on Jesus and His appearance to a women, Mary Magdalene, before any of the men…

John 19 Part 2 and 3

Part 2 John 19: 31 - 42
Remember to record the resources that you used as you studied.

Follow your Stop! Look! Listen! outline…

Note the titles or names given to Jesus – given by others, and Himself. What does each one mean?


Where were the followers of Jesus during this time?

I might want to know about the ‘broken legs’ and the soldiers casting lots for the clothing. Why would John/God have wanted us to have this information?


Vs 35 -37 are important ‘because” verses. What information do they give us?(Remember John’s theme/purpose for writing)

Vs 38+ Who were Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus? What do I need to know about them?

Notice that John’s description of the last days of Jesus are somewhat different in detail than the other gospels. He leaves some things out, and adds others. Always remember the purpose of John in his writing…how does he accomplish his purpose by telling the details that he did include?

Did John accomplish his purpose in this section?

LISTEN

What is God trying to teach us in these verses?

How does 2 Tim 3:16 apply to these verses?

How can I apply these verses to my life today?

John 19: 17-30

Remember to record the resources that you used as you studied.

Follow your Stop! Look! Listen! outline…

Note the titles or names given to Jesus – given by others, and Himself. What does each one mean?

Vs 20 states that the sign over Jesus was in three languages…why Greek? Why Latin?
Vs 22 why might Pilate have refused to change the sign over Jesus?
Vs 23 – 24 why would John have included this information?

Where were the followers of Jesus during this time?

Vs 25-26 Think about the three women mentioned. We know quite a bit about Jesus’ mother, and Mary Magdalene…what about the other Mary? Who is the ‘disciple that Jesus loved best?’

Vs 28… notice ‘ knowing that all these things were accomplished…’

Vs 30 What is “finished?”

Where were all the other followers/supporters of Jesus?

Notice that John’s description of the last days of Jesus are somewhat different in detail than the other gospels. He leaves some things out, and adds others. Always remember the purpose of John in his writing…how does he accomplish his purpose by telling the details that he did include?

As a side study read Psalm 22 and Is 53….not only are these verses very descriptive of what is taking place in chapters 19 and 20, but they also show us prophecy coming true. We will look at them in class during these weeks leading up to Resurrection Sunday.

LISTEN
A forth gospel…how is this different, and if it had not been written what would we have missed out on?

What is God trying to teach us in these verses?

How does 2 Tim 3:16 apply to these verses?

How can I apply these verses to my life today?


PART 2
John 19: 17-30
Remember to record the resources that you used as you studied.

Follow your Stop! Look! Listen! outline…

Note the titles or names given to Jesus – given by others, and Himself. What does each one mean?

Vs 20 states that the sign over Jesus was in three languages…why Greek? Why Latin?
Vs 22 why might Pilate have refused to change the sign over Jesus?
Vs 23 – 24 why would John have included this information?

Where were the followers of Jesus during this time?

Vs 25-26 Think about the three women mentioned. We know quite a bit about Jesus’ mother, and Mary Magdalene…what about the other Mary? Who is the ‘disciple that Jesus loved best?’

Vs 28… notice ‘ knowing that all these things were accomplished…’

Vs 30 What is “finished?”

Where were all the other followers/supporters of Jesus?

Notice that John’s description of the last days of Jesus are somewhat different in detail than the other gospels. He leaves some things out, and adds others. Always remember the purpose of John in his writing…how does he accomplish his purpose by telling the details that he did include?

As a side study read Psalm 22 and Is 53….not only are these verses very descriptive of what is taking place in chapters 19 and 20, but they also show us prophecy coming true. We will look at them in class during these weeks leading up to Resurrection Sunday.

LISTEN
A forth gospel…how is this different, and if it had not been written what would we have missed out on?

What is God trying to teach us in these verses?

How does 2 Tim 3:16 apply to these verses?

How can I apply these verses to my life today?