The rain reminds us of our Father’s Love,
When He washes away all evil from above!
It’s like tears falling from His loving eyes,
Because of our sins that makes Him Cry!

The rain makes everything gloomy, seem fresh,
Because God gives the greatest and nothing less!
Just as our lives that become so very dry,
However God sends His rain from the sky!

The rain causes you to lay down and sleep,
Because of His love that is always very unique!
Reminding You that He loves You so much,
That you can even feel His warm touch!

The rain causes even a rainbow to appear,
To assure that His favor and love is near!
Understand the tears that falls from His eyes,
Because He’s pouring out His mercy and Grace from the Sky!

The rain is so refreshing in its own way,
Therefore, allow it to fall all over you, today
It removes the burdens, the stress and pain,
So, let’s come together and receive the rain!

 

You started by being part of the sand on a beach or in a desert, before you found God.

Jesus wanted to use you for something better and decided to drive a steel rod into the sand.

God sent lightning down from heaven to strike the rod.

The sand was then instantly molded,

molded into a perfect stone that looked like beautiful glass.

God and Jesus, being pleased with the stone,

Picked it up out of the sinking, sandy ground and placed the stone (you) on the unmovable foundation which is Jesus Christ.

At last, the question for you to ponder is

“Do you want to be a beautiful stone for God to use or a shattered pot amongst the bed of thorns?

Written by Gary Dolan; Inspired by God

 

 

Man Of God Will You Ever Take A Stand,

So, We Will Obediently Take Hold Of Your Hands?

We’re So Confused, Without You Taking the Lead

Because We’re Very Entangled in Lust and Much Greed!

Man Of God Will You Ever Kneel Or Stand To Pray,

Your Family Needs You, What Else Can I Say?

Knowing That God’s Blessing Comes Through You,

Therefore, Man Up and Do What You’re Called to Do!

Man Of God Will You Ever Lift Up You’re Bold Voice,

Because We Have the Desire to Make the Right Choice?

Knowing You’re Our Protector, Provider and The Head,

But You’re Slothfulness Has Cause Us Somehow to Be Misled!

Man Of God Will You Ever Direct And Also Instruct,

Because We Want to Finally Get Out of This Rut?

Knowing God Has Truly Blessed You in So Many Ways,

Will You Impart Blessings, That We’ll Have Blessed Days?

Man Of God Will You Ever Include Us In Your Life,

Because We’re Very Tired of All Chaos and Strife?

God Shall Correct You with His Staff and His Rod,

But Are You Willing to Stand and Be the Man of God?

By Stephen Romero Gray
1Corinthians 15: 57-58
2-21-18

 

Buried Alive In This Evil Place Called The Pen,

Where It’s Very Hard To Find A Honest Friend!

Most Of The Men Are Out To Get Whatever The Can,

And Will Lie , Deceive And Step On Any Man

Buried Alive Around So Many Men Without Any Hope,

Because Everyday They’re Striving To Get More Dope!

They Will Do Anything In Order To Get Them High

If They Have To Tell Their Own Family A Lie!

Buried Alive And Feels As If They Don’t Need Christ

And Also Believe That They Are Already Living Right.

Satan Has So Many Men Blinded And Very Deceived

While Jesus Christ Simply Wants All To Believe!

Buried Alive And Have No Desire To Invite Jesus In,

But Trusting Others And Self While In This Pen!

The World Moves On While We’re In This Place,

And All We Can Remember Is The Look On Their Faces!

Buried Alive So Brother What Are You Going To Do,

Because Only In Christ Will You Be Able To Come Through!

The Fear, The Stress Are Evident In Your Eyes,

Therefore, Wake Up, Because You’ve Been Buried Alive!

2-27-18 by S.R. Gray

“CRY OF A CHILD”

Can You Hear the Cry of Your Child
While in The Pen and Living So Foul?
Not Being the Father You’re Supposed to Be
Is It Because Of You Not Being So Free?

Can You Hear the Cry of Your Child,
And Can You See the Tears in Their Eyes?
Needing Your Love and Shoulder to Lean On,
But What Are You Doing to Hurry Back Home?

Can You Hear the Cry of Your Child,
While Your Absence Has Removed Their Smile?
With So Much Sorrow and So Much Needless Pain,
Wondering Will Your Ways Ever Change?

Can You Hear the Cry of Your Child,
Although, You’re Separated by So Many Miles?
While You’re Doing the Most and Chasing Drugs,
And We’re at Home Missing You and Your Love!

Can You Hear the Cry of Your Child
As You’re Given into The Devil’s Wiles?
Will You Ever Wipe the Tears from Our Eyes,
Or Can You Even Hear the Cry of Your Child?

By Stephen R Gray
11-13-2017

According to Carl Sagan, the universe (cosmos) “is all that is or ever was or ever will be.” However, the idea that the universe is all is not a scientific fact, but an assumption based upon materialistic naturalism. Since Carl Sagan’s death in 1996, new discoveries in physics and cosmology bring into questions Sagan’s assumption about the universe. Evidence shows that the constants of physics have been finely tuned to a degree not possible through human engineering. Five of the more finely tuned numbers are included in the table below.

Fine Tuning of the Physical Constants of the Universe
Parameter	Max. Deviation
Ratio of Electrons:Protons	1:1037
Ratio of Electromagnetic Force:Gravity	1:1040
Expansion Rate of Universe	1:1055
Mass Density of Universe1	1:1059
Cosmological Constant	1:10120
These numbers represent the maximum deviation from the accepted values, that would either prevent the universe from existing now, not having matter, or be unsuitable for any form of life.

 

 

Degree of fine tuning

Recent Studies have confirmed the fine tuning of the cosmological constant (also known as “dark energy”). This cosmological constant is a force that increases with the increasing size of the universe. First hypothesized by Albert Einstein, the cosmological constant was rejected by him, because of lack of real world data. However, recent supernova 1A data demonstrated the existence of a cosmological constant that probably made up for the lack of light and dark matter in the universe.2 However, the data was tentative, since there was some variability among observations. Recent cosmic microwave background (CMB) measurement not only demonstrate the existence of the cosmological constant, but the value of the constant. It turns out that the value of the cosmological constant exactly makes up for the lack of matter in the universe.3

 

The degree of fine-tuning is difficult to imagine. Dr. Hugh Ross gives an example of the least fine-tuned of the above four examples in his book, The Creator and the Cosmos, which is reproduced here:

 

One part in 1037 is such an incredibly sensitive balance that it is hard to visualize. The following analogy might help: Cover the entire North American continent in dimes all the way up to the moon, a height of about 239,000 miles (In comparison, the money to pay for the U.S. federal government debt would cover one square mile less than two feet deep with dimes.). Next, pile dimes from here to the moon on a billion other continents the same size as North America. Paint one dime red and mix it into the billions of piles of dimes. Blindfold a friend and ask him to pick out one dime. The odds that he will pick the red dime are one in 1037. (p. 115)

 

Journey Toward Creation DVDThe ripples in the universe from the original Big Bang event are detectable at one part in 100,000. If this factor were slightly smaller, the universe would exist only as a collection of gas – no planets, no life. If this factor were slightly larger, the universe would consist only of large black holes. Obviously, no life would be possible in such a universe.

 

Another finely tuned constant is the strong nuclear force (the force that holds atoms together). The Sun “burns” by fusing hydrogen (and higher elements) together. When the two hydrogen atoms fuse, 0.7% of the mass of the hydrogen is converted into energy. If the amount of matter converted were slightly smaller—0.6% instead of 0.7%— a proton could not bond to a neutron, and the universe would consist only of hydrogen. With no heavy elements, there would be no rocky planets and no life. If the amount of matter converted were slightly larger—0.8%, fusion would happen so readily and rapidly that no hydrogen would have survived from the Big Bang. Again, there would be no solar systems and no life. The number must lie exactly between 0.6% and 0.8% (Martin Rees, Just Six Numbers).

Fine Tuning Parameters for the Universe

1. strong nuclear force constant
   if larger: no hydrogen would form; atomic nuclei for most life-essential elements would be unstable; thus, no life chemistry
   if smaller: no elements heavier than hydrogen would form: again, no life chemistry
2. weak nuclear force constant
   if larger: too much hydrogen would convert to helium in big bang; hence, stars would convert too much matter into heavy elements making life chemistry impossible
   if smaller: too little helium would be produced from big bang; hence, stars would convert too little matter into heavy elements making life chemistry impossible
3. gravitational force constant
   if larger: stars would be too hot and would burn too rapidly and too unevenly for life chemistry
   if smaller: stars would be too cool to ignite nuclear fusion; thus, many of the elements needed for life chemistry would never form
4. electromagnetic force constant
   if greater: chemical bonding would be disrupted; elements more massive than boron would be unstable to fission
   if lesser: chemical bonding would be insufficient for life chemistry
5. ratio of electromagnetic force constant to gravitational force constant
   if larger: all stars would be at least 40% more massive than the sun; hence, stellar burning would be too brief and too uneven for life support
   if smaller: all stars would be at least 20% less massive than the sun, thus incapable of producing heavy elements
6. ratio of electron to proton mass
   if larger: chemical bonding would be insufficient for life chemistry
   if smaller: same as above
7. ratio of number of protons to number of electrons
   if larger: electromagnetism would dominate gravity, preventing galaxy, star, and planet formation
   if smaller: same as above
8. expansion rate of the universe
   if larger: no galaxies would form
   if smaller: universe would collapse, even before stars formed
9. entropy level of the universe
   if larger: stars would not form within proto-galaxies
   if smaller: no proto-galaxies would form
10. mass density of the universe
    if larger: overabundance of deuterium from big bang would cause stars to burn rapidly, too rapidly for life to form
    if smaller: insufficient helium from big bang would result in a shortage of heavy elements
11. velocity of light
    if faster: stars would be too luminous for life support if slower: stars would be insufficiently luminous for life support
12. age of the universe
    if older: no solar-type stars in a stable burning phase would exist in the right (for life) part of the galaxy
    if younger: solar-type stars in a stable burning phase would not yet have formed
13. initial uniformity of radiation
    if more uniform: stars, star clusters, and galaxies would not have formed
    if less uniform: universe by now would be mostly black holes and empty space
14. average distance between galaxies
    if larger: star formation late enough in the history of the universe would be hampered by lack of material
    if smaller: gravitational tug-of-wars would destabilize the sun’s orbit
15. density of galaxy cluster
    if denser: galaxy collisions and mergers would disrupt the sun’s orbit
    if less dense: star formation late enough in the history of the universe would be hampered by lack of material
16. average distance between stars
    if larger: heavy element density would be too sparse for rocky planets to form
    if smaller: planetary orbits would be too unstable for life
17. fine structure constant (describing the fine-structure splitting of spectral lines) if larger: all stars would be at least 30% less massive than the sun
    if larger than 0.06: matter would be unstable in large magnetic fields
    if smaller: all stars would be at least 80% more massive than the sun
18. decay rate of protons
    if greater: life would be exterminated by the release of radiation
    if smaller: universe would contain insufficient matter for life
19. 12C to 16O nuclear energy level ratio
    if larger: universe would contain insufficient oxygen for life
    if smaller: universe would contain insufficient carbon for life
20. ground state energy level for 4He
    if larger: universe would contain insufficient carbon and oxygen for life
    if smaller: same as above
21. decay rate of 8Be
    if slower: heavy element fusion would generate catastrophic explosions in all the stars
    if faster: no element heavier than beryllium would form; thus, no life chemistry
22. ratio of neutron mass to proton mass
    if higher: neutron decay would yield too few neutrons for the formation of many life-essential elements
    if lower: neutron decay would produce so many neutrons as to collapse all stars into neutron stars or black holes
23. initial excess of nucleons over anti-nucleons
    if greater: radiation would prohibit planet formation
    if lesser: matter would be insufficient for galaxy or star formation
24. polarity of the water molecule
    if greater: heat of fusion and vaporization would be too high for life
    if smaller: heat of fusion and vaporization would be too low for life; liquid water would not work as a solvent for life chemistry; ice would not float, and a runaway freeze-up would result
25. supernovae eruptions
    if too close, too frequent, or too late: radiation would exterminate life on the planet
    if too distant, too infrequent, or too soon: heavy elements would be too sparse for rocky planets to form
26. white dwarf binaries
    if too few: insufficient fluorine would exist for life chemistry
    if too many: planetary orbits would be too unstable for life
    if formed too soon: insufficient fluorine production
    if formed too late: fluorine would arrive too late for life chemistry
27. ratio of exotic matter mass to ordinary matter mass
    if larger: universe would collapse before solar-type stars could form
    if smaller: no galaxies would form
28. number of effective dimensions in the early universe
    if larger: quantum mechanics, gravity, and relativity could not coexist; thus, life would be impossible
    if smaller: same result
29. number of effective dimensions in the present universe
    if smaller: electron, planet, and star orbits would become unstable
    if larger: same result
30. mass of the neutrino
    if smaller: galaxy clusters, galaxies, and stars would not form
    if larger: galaxy clusters and galaxies would be too dense
31. big bang ripples
    if smaller: galaxies would not form; universe would expand too rapidly
    if larger: galaxies/galaxy clusters would be too dense for life; black holes would dominate; universe would collapse before life-site could form
32. size of the relativistic dilation factor
    if smaller: certain life-essential chemical reactions will not function properly
    if larger: same result
33. uncertainty magnitude in the Heisenberg uncertainty principle
    if smaller: oxygen transport to body cells would be too small and certain life-essential elements would be unstable
    if larger: oxygen transport to body cells would be too great and certain life-essential elements would be unstable
34. cosmological constant
    if larger: universe would expand too quickly to form solar-type stars

 

Jody and I sell real estate, and we advise buyers on how to choose a home, mostly of course according to location, how it fits into their lifestyle, and according to their budget, and future plans.

We advise sellers on how to prepare their home to sell, what it’s value is, and what it should sell for, and how much it should be listed for, and all three could be different figures.

It’s the same with our final, eternal home. How do we choose which home would be best for us, how does it fit into our lifestyle, and what are we doing to prepare for that big day.

One of the major things in purchasing real estate is the advice I give them in observing the potential neighborhood. A potential buyer should visit the neighbors, deciding where the best neighborhood is according to the current residents.

I advise them to visit at various times of the day and night, who knows maybe the people right next door party loud and long every night, and that is something that could ruin your life.

If you choose the wrong place for your eternal life, that will definitely ruin your life, your eternal life, so we need to choose very carefully which place we really want to move on to when this life is over.

The other, and most important part of our advice giving, is the preparation given to become a homeowner vs a renter, In fact I have automatic emails that go to people we are trying to help that cover a period of three years. It can take that long to prepare for the purchase of a home, getting financing ready, and learning how to make the right choice.

Everyone here tonight knows how to choose where we are going for eternity, and we do the choosing, not God.

Heaven; you might be surprised who lives there, remember the thief on the cross? At the very last moment of his life he chose paradise. There is another famous person who apparently chose paradise at the last moment; Jeffery Dahmer.

Apparently, he had been raised as a Christian, obviously fell away, but when in prison, he repented and returned to his Christian faith, so it’s very possible you will have him for a neighbor if you choose heaven, and on the other hand, if you choose hell, again, he may be your neighbor because his repentance may not have been a true repentance but you won’t know it, you will be alone in the dark, in pain, regretting that decision for all eternity. The point is, we can’t choose by who our neighbors will be, remember the verses:

Matthew 7:22 – 23 ” Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23″And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

Matthew 25:40 – 41…  40 “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ 41″Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;…

So again we choose heaven or hell, not by our neighbors, not by our preferences, but by our lifestyle and choices we make.

How do we choose Heaven?

 

Matthew 4:10

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'”

I really could stop here, there is only one way and that is to serve God

 

The Greek word here is λατρεύω (latreuō ) to serve, especially for hire, but also of service with or without pay. To render service to God, especially with reference to sacrifice; hence, to worship

Want to go to heaven? Let’s make one thing perfectly clear, we cannot earn our way into heaven, it is a free gift from God, through the work of the cross, if we accept it by the evidence of our actions.

I think grandma Bond said it best, and I loosely quote “Do not to pay any attention to what a person says, but to his actions, which speaks volumes”.

But does scripture confirm that?

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

However, listen to this final verse:

10  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

1 John 2:4   He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Matthew 28: 18 – 20  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Serve God, and that means follow His commands, know His word, Share His word, and Defend His Word.

We do it voluntarily, with or without pay, we do it with a true heart and true desire to serve Him, and Him only …  EVEN if it means living in rags, earthly comfort has no meaning, no importance, where we serve also has no meaning nor importance, as long as we choose to serve God, whether it be in Nirvana or Nineveh.

Nirvana is a place of Bliss, joy, pleasure, such as a paradise, however Nineveh the place Jonah was commanded by God to go was the place of a horrible people known as the Assyrians:

We go where we are called, not because it looks like a nice save vacation spot, nor because we might make money, we go, do, and say what God instructs us to do, and don’t worry, He will direct your paths if you allow Him to do so.

2 Timothy 1:     

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

 

And continuing in 2 Timothy 1

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

 

Mark 9:43

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

 

How do we choose Hell?

 

Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Matthew 7:23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Matt 25:41 – 46

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:       

42 For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.      

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.,

 

Romans 1: 19 – 25

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.       

23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:  

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:             

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.        

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

So we choose heaven or hell by our actions and lifestyle, and with that understood, and understanding how we make the choice, exactly what is the choice?

The descriptions of heaven and hell in the bible are symbols, or symbolic of a thing greater than we can imagine.

Now let me offer one example of a symbol, this ring I wear on my finger represents a commitment of loyalty to my wife, but it also is symbolic of my love for her, but it is nowhere near the reality of the truth.

So when we read of heaven, these are symbols to help us understand it is a desirable place, but nowhere begins to describe the reality of heaven, it is beyond our ability to imagine it. And it is the same with the symbolic references to hell, we cannot imagine, it is humanly impossible to imagine it’s genuine horror.  Just the idea alone that we would know for eternity, a conscience thought for eternity, that we are there by choice, we made the decision, we had the information available to us, but chose to ignore it, and this decision would haunt us every moment without cease for all eternity. No wonder there is great weeping and biting of nails. No sleep from it, no rest from those thoughts, just on going forever and forever and forever.

 

HEAVEN

 

Heaven is a real place where the people of God will live one day. In fact, heaven is where God and the angels live. John 14:1-3 even says that Jesus is in heaven preparing us a place to live.

Let me just describe it by reading from scripture:

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. 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. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”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.”6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”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.” 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. 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. 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. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 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. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 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 agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 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. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 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.

 

Footnotes:

 

Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17

Revelation 21:4 Isaiah 25:8

Revelation 21:16 That is, about 1,400 miles or about 2,200 kilometers

Revelation 21:17 That is, about 200 feet or about 65 meters

Revelation 21:17 Or high

Revelation 21:20 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain

 

HELL

Luke 16:24

So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

 

 

What is Hell?

 

Matthew 25: 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:    

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—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

2 Thessalonians 1:9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Matthew 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

SO WHAT IS HELL LIKE?

 

There are two descriptions of hell in the Bible. One is of a burning fire. Jesus often used the word GEHENNA to describe hell. Gehenna was the dump outside Jerusalem that was always on fire. Jesus said hell was a place of worms, maggots, fire, and trouble. From that we get the image of a lake of fire and the concept of perpetual burning. The evil ones there are full of remorse and torment (see Mark 9:43-48).

Jesus also said that hell would be “outer darkness.” He said that some in His day “will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12, see also Matthew 22:13). Here the image is one of terrible loneliness. There will be separation from God and man. Those who are consigned to hell will be put out into the inky blackness of eternity, with nobody to turn to, nobody to talk to, and they will be constantly alone. They will suffer the remorse of knowing they had the opportunity to come into heaven with God but turned it down.

The Bible speaks of a lake of fire reserved for the devil and his angels (see Matthew 25:41). Human beings were never intended to go into hell. But the ones who choose to reject God will one day follow Satan right into hell.

There will be no exit from hell, no way out, no second chance. That is why it is so important in this life to receive the pardon that God extends to all men through the cross of Jesus Christ.

So those are our choices

 

There are only two, the path to each are very clear, and laid out for us, we choose each and every moment of our lives which path we will continue on…

Think long and hard…no more pain, no more tears, no more growing old, walking on streets of pure Gold…  or…

Eternal shame and regret in pure blackness and in pure misery, and pain, forever, and ever and ever

As the song says; what will you choose?

You are very blessed, for you have heard the truth, you know the way, and the ultimate reward or punishment of your choice, and if  you aren’t on the right path, you can get on it right now, you can start tonight, if you haven’t already made the correct choice, you can come forward and we will pray with you if you’re unsure.

 

 

 

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