NATURE OF HEAVEN AND HELL.

About heaven and hell, everyone has an opinion about both Heaven and Hell. All have felt the reality of a little bit of hell. There is the “emotional and mental hell you’ve put me through”, when a person grieves over broken relationships or when a loved one dies. It is felt when mental and emotional anguish is so great that they wish death instead of losing their minds or feeling their minds going off. Some people believe that this is the only hell ever faced: hell on earth. But the Bible clearly states the reality of a place called Hell that is in store for those who refuse Jesus’ salvation. It is an eternal place. The Scriptures say: “ Hell and Destruction are never full.” Proverbs 27: 20; “ …to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9: 43-44. So the reason for us to weep and pray for the lost souls in the world!

Of course, there are some people who believe that there is a place called ‘purgatory’, some might call it ‘Sheol’, where people who did not make it to heaven might have still a chance to go there! There is a good book by C.S. Lewis called ‘The Great Divorce’ that gives a very picturesque description of such a place: his premise seems to be that if they did not get saved on earth, it is very difficult for them to believe in heaven now, even if given a chance while at purgatory! The reason for the urgency to take the gospel throughout the earth!

Heaven, on the other hand, is also a very real place. A person talks about “being in heaven” when they experience joys like love or finding themselves in the presence of the Lord. There is also an actual place called Heaven according to Scriptures: ” Thus says the Lord: Heaven is My throne and earth is My footstool.” Isaiah 66:1. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. “ John 14:2. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelations 21 : 3-4.

Jesus describes the two kingdoms . In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says what the kingdom of Heaven is like. He says that it is like the most beautiful pearl, the most wonderful treasure, or the most wonderful pictures of what it is like. He also describes Satan’s kingdom as divided against itself and not being able to stand. He describes it as a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. In the last few years I have been getting real impressions of what heaven is like: beautiful blue oceans, with green hills and pastures , cascades of waterfalls with beautiful rainbows, blue skies where our mansions are located. And there is infinite many of these for all that are and will be there! Something to look forward for a believer’s eternal future! Like the most beautiful places here on earth but everywhere in Heaven and with no decay! With Heaven being outside of this universe! A real place!

It is up to a person to choose the kingdom they want to be in: the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of hell. To choose Heaven, all you need to do is say and believe the following: “ Jesus, come into my heart. Be the Lord of my life. I believe You died and rose again just for me.” Jesus says that He knocks at the door of your heart: “ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelations 3: 20. “ Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9. If you refuse Jesus’ invitation then your choice is Hell!

KESULAMATAN LEWAT YESUS KRISTUS!

Bak watée seujarah Kristen teungoh meukeumang, nan ‘Isa’ jituri sibagoe ‘Yahweh na kheueh Keuseulamatan’. Nibak peundapat-peundapat lam Peujanjian Jameun keuhai Tuhan, Peuteubiet, Peubeubaih, Allah, makna-makna nyoe geupinah ubak Isa dan pakriban ureueng-ureueng Kristen jimeuiman ubak Gobnyan. 1 Teuntée, dudoe, tanyoe takalon jinoenyoe Isa sibagoe Peubeubaih dan Peuteubiet nibak desya dan seupôt rohani, nyang geupeutron darah bak kayée saleb keue geubayeue desya-desya tanyoe, meunyoe tanyoe meuiman! Dan bahwa Gobnyan kheueh saboh-saboh jih jalan ubak Po teu Allah! Teuma Gobnyan kheueh Juru Seulamat geutanyoe!

Tanyoe jinoenyoe peureulee na pengalaman lahe lom teuma mangat na hubongan ngon Gobnyan! Lam Yohanes 3:3,16 na teutuléh: “ ‘Isa geujaweueb ubak gobnyan, ‘Ulôn peugah ubak gata: meunyoe ureuëng hana lahé lom teuma, ureuëng nyan hana hase jikalon Keurajeuen Allah’….’Sabab Allah that-that geugaséh keu Allah. donya nyang geubri le Gobnyan keu Aneuëk Gobnyan nyang tunggai, mangat soe mantong nyang meuiman ubak Gobnyan hana binasa, teuma meuteumé udeb seujati dan keukai.’ 25-26 na teutuléh: “ Isa geupeugah ubak inong nyan, ‘Ulôn kheueh nyang peubeudôh dan udeb. Ureuëng nyang meuiman ubak Ulôn, bah kheueh maté, ureuëng nyan teuma udeb. Dan ureuëng nyang udeb dan meuiman ubak Ulôn, siumu masa hana maté. Peu kheueh gata tapeucaya keu hai nyoe?’ “

Jadi geutanyoe peureulee tapeucaya dan tapeutobat nibak desya-desya geutanyoe mangat jinoenyoe na hubongan ngon Allah nyang hanya teuka rot pengalaman lahe lom teuma ngon Isa Juru Seulamat dan Tuhan geutanyoe! “Awai udeb Kristen peureulee pengakuan keuhai desya droe dan tekad keu geutinggai cara udeb nyang meupusat bak droe.”2.

CATATAN

1Sinklair B. Ferguson, Daud F. Wright ngon J.I. Packer, eds., kamus teologi baroe, (Downers grove: percetakan antar perguruan tinggi, thon 1988), 610.
Millard J. Erickson, teologi kristen, 959.

PEUGAH DOA-DOA NYOE KEU KEU LAHE KEULAI:
“Isa lon peucaya Droeneueh mate ateueh kayée saleb,
meuturôh darah Droeneueh keu teupeu amphon desya-desya ulôn ;
Dan geubeudôh lom teuma bak uroe nyang keu lhée!
Ulôn kuteupeue ulôn nyoe ureuëng meudesya. Neupeu amphon kheueh ulôn nibak desya-desya lôn;
Neujak tamong lam até ulôn!
Teuka kheueh dan jeuet keu Juru Seulamat dan Tuhan udeb ulôn!
Teurimong Geunaseh Isa”