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This is an Israel friendly site!
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The Millennium and Beyond
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Revelation 21: "The Holy City"
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Link to Printer Ready PDF Version of this document. |
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Chapter Highlights
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Chapter Aids
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Topical Index
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We have looked at the Church Age, the Tribulation Period, and the Millennium. Now we turn to what lies beyond. Is heaven a real place? Is there evidence of a better life for the human race? What about eternity? These are the questions we will now see answered.
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Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
Here John glimpsed the new heaven and new earth (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13). He noted that they will replace this present heaven and earth, and one of its features will be the absence of large bodies of water.
Bible experts believe there will no longer be large bodies of water to allow for:
- more room for people
- to change the climate, reduce storms
- eliminate social barriers.
Key Symbols:
- New Heavens and New Earth
- will replace the present heaven and earth
Remember This…
- Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them (Revelation 20:11).
What Others are Saying:
- John Hagee: This world will not continue forever. The Second Law of Thermodynamics, otherwise known as the Law of Entropy, declares that all organized systems tend to disorder after time. Like all things, the earth, along with this physical universe, will wear out. 21-1
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Revelation 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Here the Church will spend eternity. We have learned about the wedding of the Lamb (the marriage of Jesus and his Church). We have also learned that there will be a great marriage supper here on earth when Jesus comes back. Now we will look at the bride's new home (John 14:2, 3). It will be a Holy City (Hebrews 11:13-16). A city separated unto God for a special purpose. A city without sin. It will be called the New Jerusalem because Jerusalem has always been the City of God (Psalm 87:2, 3). God is the source of this city and it will be fresh, elegant, radiant, and adorned like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Key Symbols:
Remember This…
- I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God (Revelation 3:12).
What Others are Saying:
- Hal Lindsey: The new earth as a whole will not be the principal residence of the believers, though they will have free access to it. The New Jerusalem is where Jesus has been preparing mansions for his own and is the capital from which he will rule. 21-2
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Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
Currently, the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 6:19) in the hearts of all believers, but when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven things will change. A loud voice will announce that God will dwell with his people instead of in his people. God will actually live in the New Jerusalem where he will establish a fixed and permanent relationship with his Church.
What Others are Saying:
- Arno Froese: This heavenly Jerusalem, "the Holy City," "the Holy Jerusalem," is the ultimate dwelling place of God with man. 21-3
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Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He will wipe every tear from their eyes does not mean crying will occur in the heavenly city. It means things will be so different that there will be no need for tears, because there will be no death, loneliness, depression, pain, or suffering.
The old order of things has passed away is a reminder that God will bring an end to sin and death. Everything associated with human sorrow will pass away.
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Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Following the Millennium, Jesus will not fix or repair this old creation. He will recreate everything. This is more than a verbal promise because he says, Write this down. It is a divine declaration from one who cannot lie.
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Revelation 21:6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
The new creation is inevitable because it is the spoken Word of Jesus. He proved his power to create when he fashioned all things at the beginning of creation. As the Alpha and Omega, he is the first and last word in all things. All authority is his. What he declares will be done.
All who thirst after God (Matthew 5:6) will be given the privilege of freely drinking (John 7:37, 38) from the water of life. Their thirst for God will be abundantly satisfied (John 4:13, 14).
Remember This…
- "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8).
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Revelation 21:7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. All true Christians are overcomers. God is their God. They are his children (1 John 3:2) and joint heirs (Romans 8:16, 17) with Jesus.
What Others are Saying:
- Tim LaHaye: One of the most wonderful concepts in the Bible is the father-son relationship between God and a Christian. This verse indicates that it will go on forever in heaven as on earth. 21-4
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Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars — their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
The list of those who will not enter the heavenly city includes:
- the cowardly, those who are too embarrassed, ashamed or afraid to accept Jesus as Lord
- the unbelievers, those who reject Jesus
- the vile, those who defile themselves with abominable sins such as stealing, taking the Mark of the Beast, taking drugs, and drunkenness
- the sexually immoral, fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals, and rapists
- those who practice magic arts, astrologers, Satan worshipers, witches, and warlocks
- idolaters, those who worship anyone or anything other than God
- liars, those who deceive the lost, falsely accuse Christians, falsely claim to be a Christian, or add to or take away from the Bible
Key Point:
- All unbelievers will be cast into the fiery lake of burning sulfur which is the second death.
What Others are Saying:
- J. Vernon McGee: The Lake of Fire is eternal, for it is the second death, and there is no third resurrection. 21-5
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Revelation 21:9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
God's nature has more than one characteristic. He loves and judges; saves and condemns. Both of these characteristics are demonstrated here. Imagine, one of the same angels who poured out a bowl of God's wrath is now inviting John to see God's love for his Church.
We already have established that the bride is the Church, but here the angel refers to the city as the bride of the Lamb. In God's eyes, the Holy City and the Holy People are synonymous. The physical identity of the Holy City will include rivers, trees, streets, and mansions, but the true identity of the city will be the Lamb and his bride.
Remember This…
- A special union (Revelation 19:7) will exist between Jesus and the Church similar to the union that exists between a bridegroom and bride upon their marriage.
Key Point
- God loves and judges; saves and condemns.
Key Symbols:
- The Holy City
- his holy people
- physical identity
- rivers, trees, streets, and mansions
- true identity
What Others are Saying:
- Wim Malgo: It is simply because of all the saints and glorified ones who dwell in it. Without these saints this city would not be the bride of the Lamb. 21-6
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Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
While John was in the Holy Spirit (Revelation 1:10; 17:3), the angel carried him away to a great mountain where he could have a clear view of this marvelous city. It is being built in heaven, but God will cause it to descend to the new earth. How far it will descend is a matter of debate. Nothing is said about it coming to rest on the new earth. It may do that, but it also may remain suspended above. One thing is for sure: what goes on in the Holy City will be more important than what takes place on the new earth. The Holy City will be the headquarters of the new creation.
Key Symbols:
What Others are Saying:
- Rick Joyner: Trances can range from those that are rather mild, so that you are still conscious of your physical surroundings, and can even still interact with them, to those where you feel like you are literally in the place of your vision. This seems to be what Ezekiel experienced rather frequently (Ezekiel 1:3; 24:26), and what John probably experienced when he had the visions recorded in the book of Revelation. 21-7
Remember This…
- John was in the Spirit (an ecstatic spiritual state) which put him in close touch with God and made him able to see visions.
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Revelation 21:11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
The presence of God in the Holy City will cause it to shine with his glory. His pure light (John 9:5) will burst forth in brilliance like the sparkle of a large and expensive jewel. What kind of jewel is not said, but it will look like jasper (Revelation 4:3; opal, diamond, or topaz) and be crystal clear. Jasper is the first stone in the breastplate of the High Priest. It is opaque and translucent like a diamond, and is a symbol of purity and holiness.
Key Symbols:
- Holy City
- shone with the glory of God
- brilliance like a precious jewel., clear as crystal
What Others are Saying:
- J. Vernon McGee: The diamond seems to fit the description better than any other stone known to man. 21-8
- Hal Lindsey: The glory and brilliance of Christ and the Father are all that's needed to illumine the entire universe. 21-9
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Revelation 21:12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The Holy City will be surrounded by a thick, high wall with twelve gates. I'm sorry, but Saint Peter won't be standing at the gates, angels will. The name of each of the twelve tribes of Israel will be written on a gate.
The wall will be for security. The same can be said of the angels guarding the gates. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel will be a reminder that the Messiah, the Scriptures, and salvation came through the Jews. Without them the Holy City would not be needed, and the Gentiles would be without hope.
Why does the Holy City need security? No one knows the answer. Some suggest it is a symbol that not everyone has access to God. Only God knows.
Key Point
- Salvation and the Bible came through the Jews.
Key Symbols:
- The Holy City
- great high wall
- twelve gates (angel at each)
- name of each tribe of Israel on a gate
Remember This…
- Satan tries to copy everything God does. This explains why the rebuilt city of Babylon will have the names of blasphemy written on it.
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Revelation 21:13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.
The wall will have four sides with three gates on each side.
Key Symbols:
- The Holy City
- three gates on the east
- three on the north
- three on the south
- three on the west
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Revelation 21:14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The city will have twelve foundations. Some experts say these foundations will be stacked on top of each other and will encompass the base of the city. Others speculate that they will be large columns extending down to the new earth like legs or posts.
Each foundation will have the name of one of the twelve apostles of Jesus on it. This is significant because the Bible tells us that the Church is being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). It says Jesus gave instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen (Acts 1:1, 2). With the help of the Holy Spirit the apostles preached the gospel, won converts, organized congregations, wrote the Scriptures, selected deacons, and taught their followers. They relinquished everything for Jesus and his Church, and were threatened, beaten, imprisoned, and killed. They earned the right to have their names inscribed on the foundations of the Holy City.
Key Symbols:
- The Holy City
- twelve foundations
- each foundation with the name of an apostle
What Others are Saying:
- J. Vernon McGee: On the human level, the Church was in the hands of these twelve men. 21-10
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Revelation 21:15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates, and its walls.
A measuring stick in John's day was approximately ten feet long, and the most common material used in heaven seems to be gold. The same angel who talked with John took a golden measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its walls.
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Revelation 21:16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long.
The Holy City will be laid out like a square. Its length will be the same as its width, and its height will equal its length. Some suggest that this will be a pyramid, but others think it will be a cube. Not enough information exists to prove either view.
However, everyone agrees that the Holy City will be enormous. 12,000 stadia is about 1,500 miles (approximately the distance from New York City to Dallas, Texas). A city 1,500 miles long and 1,500 miles wide will be larger than anything the world has ever seen. A city towering 1,500 miles high is almost incomprehensible, but the Carpenter of Israel is building many mansions (John 14:2).
Key Symbols:
- The Holy City
- laid out like a square, as long and high as it is wide
- 12,000 stadia in length
What Others are Saying:
- Tim LaHaye: Thus the city itself would stretch from about the eastern seaboard of the United States to the Mississippi on one side and from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico on the other. 21-11
- Hal Lindsey: This covers a lot of territory, and it implies that millions upon millions of redeemed saints will be there. 21-12
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Revelation 21:17 He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using.
The wall around the Holy city will be 144 cubits (216 feet) thick. It does not matter whether one uses God's measurements or man's measurements, the result will be the same. This thick wall will provide plenty of protection.
Key Symbols:
- The Holy City
- its walls will be 144 cubits thick
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Revelation 21:18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.
In verse 11, we noted that the jasper could be an opal, diamond, or topaz. Although we don't know which one of these it will be, we do know the wall will be made of a gem that is beautiful, hard, and transparent. People will be able to see through it into the Holy City, and the light of God will beam out of the city. The city itself will be made of gold as pure as glass.
Key Symbols:
- The Holy City
- wall of jasper
- city of pure gold, as pure as glass
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Revelation 21:19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
Each one of the twelve foundations of the city walls will be different. The first four will be:
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jasper—a crystal clear gem that could be a massive diamond
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sapphire—a clear blue gem similar to a diamond in hardness
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chalcedony—a greenish agate with possibly a few stripes of other colors mixed in
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emerald—a bright green stone
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Key Symbols:
- The Holy City
- wall foundations decorated with every kind of precious stone
Remember This…
- And the one who sat there (on the throne) had the appearance of jasper and carnelian (Revelation 4:3).
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Revelation 21:20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
The next eight foundations will be decorated with:
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sardonyx—a reddish white onyx similar to the color of healthy fingernails
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carnelian—a fiery red or blood-colored stone from Sardis
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chrysolite—a transparent golden-yellow stone
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beryl—a sea green emerald lighter in color than the third foundation
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topaz—a transparent greenish-yellow stone
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chrysoprase—a yellowish pale green stone similar to the modern aquamarine color
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jacinth—a violet hyacinth-colored gem
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amethyst—a purple-colored stone
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A brilliant rainbow would be just a pale glimmer compared to what these foundation stones will look like. God is light (1 John 1:5), and his light passing through these many different colored stones will be breathtaking.
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Revelation 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.
With only twelve gates to this extensive city, and each gate being more than 300 miles apart, we know the gates will need to be huge. And each gate will consist of a single gigantic pearl. This emphasizes the great wealth and generosity of God.
The great street is a mystery. Will this city, with a circumference of 1,500 miles long, 1,500 miles wide, and 1,500 miles high have only one street or will one of the streets be called the great street? We don't know, but we do know it will be made of pure gold.
Key Symbols:
- The Holy City
- twelve gates were twelve pearls
- street of pure gold, like transparent glass
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Revelation 21:22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Because of sin on earth, God withdrew his presence from mankind. He had Moses and others build a tabernacle (Exodus 25:9), and later he had Solomon build a Temple (2 Samuel 7:5, 13) where the people would go to worship. He separated himself from them by residing in the Holy of Holies (Leviticus 16:2; and having priests serve as mediators.
After the Millennium, however, things will be different. A temple will not be needed since sin will not be present in the Holy City. God will have no need to separate himself from his people (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Mediators will not be necessary. The glorious presence of the Father and the Son will permeate the entire city.
The Bible is filled with truths that are difficult to understand but wonderful to speculate on. One of them is the fact that when he appears, we (believers) shall be like him (1 John 3:2). We will have great insight, great love, and everything else that Jesus has. Also, we will not have a sin nature that could separate us from him.
Key Point
- The glorious presence of the Father and the Son will permeate the entire city.
Key Symbols:
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Revelation 21:23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
The Father and Son are the source of physical light (Isaiah 60:19, 20; John 1:3-5; 8:12). They spoke light into existence when they created the sun, moon, and stars (Genesis 1). But they will do away with these when they create the new heaven and earth because their presence in the Holy City will eliminate the need for other heavenly lights.
Think about this. It means we can be in the Holy City, several hundred miles from God and not need a light. The light of God will cover an area almost as large as the eastern half of the U. S., and it will even be visible in outer space.
Key Symbols:
- The Holy City
- glory of God gives it light
- the Lamb is its lamp
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Revelation 21:24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
The new earth will be populated with the children of Israel, and the descendants of those who did not follow Satan in his final rebellion after the Millennium. Nations and leaders already will be on the new earth when the Holy City comes out of heaven. They will walk in the light coming from that city instead of the light of the sun and moon.
The inhabitants of the new earth will travel to the Holy City, not to live but to worship. The Holy City will be the future home of the Church. The new earth will be the future home of Israel and all others who will be saved after the Rapture.
Key Symbols:
- The Holy City
- home to the Church, the Old Testament Saints, and the Tribulation Saints
- The New Earth
- home to Israel, and those saved after the Rapture
Something to Ponder
- I believe the Jews lost their right to dwell in the Holy City because they rejected the Messiah. The nation and their priests failed, so God established a new priesthood, the Church. We will be the priests in heaven. It was done to make Israel jealous and to remind her of her sin.
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Revelation 21:25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.
The people of some ancient cities opened their gates during the day and closed them at night. The continuous presence of God in the Holy City will mean the continuous presence of light. Darkness will not be known, thereby eliminating any need to shut the gates (Isaiah 60:11).
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Revelation 21:26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.
Visitors will go to the Holy City to give glory and honor to the Lord.
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Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
When God created Adam and Eve he placed them in his perfect creation, the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8). Then he allowed Satan to enter and tempt them (Genesis 3:1-6) and they fell. God will never allow this to happen again. He will never allow any impure thing to enter the Holy City. Only those with their names found in the Lamb's Book of Life will be permitted to enter.
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- Why do you think John was told to write this down, these words are trustworthy and true?
- Why do you think Jesus can give the water of life?
- When will the Holy City with the streets of gold come down to earth, and how far down will it come?
- What is the significance of having the names of the twelve tribes of Israel on the twelve gates of the Holy City?
- Why will nothing impure, shameful or deceitful be allowed to enter the Holy City?
Go to Answers
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- God will create a new heaven and new earth because the old ones will pass away. (Revelation 21:1)
- God will send the Holy City, New Jerusalem, to the new earth. He will dwell among his people and wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 21:2–4)
- Everyone who rejected God during their lifetime will be cast into the Lake of Fire which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
- New Jerusalem will be built on twelve foundations and have twelve gates. It will be laid out like a square and be made of pure gold and precious stones. (Revelation 21:9–21)
- New Jerusalem will not have a temple because God and Christ will be the temple. Likewise, the city will not need a sun because the Father and Son will be the light. (Revelation 21:22–25)
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Time is running out, folks!
From the beginning, God gave man an extremely volatile asset, freedom of choice. Nothing has changed since the original working model took his first breath. The design specifications included not only a brain, but the inherent ability to use it. God designed man to live forever. That being the case, where do you plan to spend for ever (as in eternity)?
As it was then, and always will be, the choice is yours... choose wisely!
 Up, or Down? 
If you haven't yet chosen to secure the "Up" option for your eternity (accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior), may we suggest that you do so... ASAP! To find out what you must do to be saved, please go here!
Hopefully, we'll see y'all topside! :-)
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Link to Printer Ready PDF Version of this document. |
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