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[[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2010_05_28|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]]
[[topics_collection_ii|| Topics Collection ii ]]
======Heaven 2 - Reality of Heaven ...======
Friday, May 28, 2010. Is heaven just a nice dream? Is it just a goal? Is
it like some ethical ideal? What is the biblical idea of heaven and what
is reality?
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**Heaven in the bible**
We have already looked into the vision of heaven in Isaiah. Mankind and
animals are reconciled in a way we could not imagine. But in particular the
New Testament knows a lot about heaven. Jesus talks about it. The apostles
talk about it in a particular way. Heaven is strongly present in the
New Testament texts! What is heaven?
Jesus sees heaven realized in his presence. He points the people around him
to the miracles, to his power, to his words, to his mission and role.
"But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of
God has come to you." (Luke 11, 20). He sends his disciples to tell people:
the kingdom of heaven is near! The kingdom of heaven is driven by forgiveness ...
There are a lot of discussions between the apostles and his contemporaries about
the validity of the biblical message. The confirm many times: we believe in
the resurrection of the dead! Heaven is coming, time is close. The events
around Pentecost, the gift of the Holy Spirit, is a sign of heaven on earth.
Heaven has come already, but has not been completed. Heaven has started in and
among us, but its full power is still not finished with its work.
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**The Reality of Heaven**
How real is heaven? We might even like Jesus, think he is a good guy, and still
be far from heaven. Heaven is much more than just a state in the future. It is
not only something which will come. It is not just an external power. Heaven
concerns the full range of human feelings, goals, experiences - our whole
existence.
Heaven has started already. It is a reality today. In this time, it starts in
our hearts, it is the force which governs our spirit. Heaven starts with the
reconciliation between you and God. It starts with the forgiveness which you receive
and which changes your life. It starts with the power which governs your goals,
your emotions, your days.
But heaven is more than that. It is a "hard" reality. The world will change,
in the way the visions tell us. There will be no tears any more, no violence.
There will be joy and trust, in a world which is even richer than our current
wonderful environment. For us the resurrection of the dead is a hope, for God
is is already like a fact. We need to enter faith, to see what is! The bible
invites us: Open your heart and your mind and realize: heaven is real.
[[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_ii|... more texts]]