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Sermon Outline

On Death, Dying, and the Future Hope

All Things New

Lesson #14 for December 31, 2022

Scriptures:2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:3,5,22; 22:3-5; 1 John 3:2-3; 1 Peter 1:22; Isaiah 25:8.

  1. Does the picture of heaven suggested by Scripture seem too good to be true? Could the second coming of Jesus Christ, leading us to that “wonderland” actually happen in our lifetimes? What would be included in “a new heaven and a new earth”? Does it mean that God will remake the entire universe? (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1)

2 Peter 3:3-7: 3First of all, you must understand that in these last days some people will appear whose lives are controlled by their own lusts. They will mock you 4and will ask, “He promised to come, didn’t he? Where is he? Our ancestors have already died, but everything is still the same as it was since the creation of the world!” 5They purposely ignore the fact that long ago God gave a command, and the heavens and earth were created. The earth was formed out of water and by water, 6and it was also by water, the water of the flood, that the old world was destroyed. 7But the heavens and the earth that now exist are being preserved by the same command of God, in order to be destroyed by fire. They are being kept for the day when godless people will be judged and destroyed.?American Bible Society. (1992). The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation* (2nd ed.,2 Peter 3:3-7). New York: American Bible Society [abbreviated as Good News Bible].†‡

  1. How do you picture heaven? What will it be like to dwell in the very presence of God?
  2. Ancient pagan Greek philosophy taught that anything that was material or that one could actually touch or feel was bad or evil while spiritual things were untouchable and invisible. This idea was first spread by Plato. This idea has spread to Christianity to the point that people have spoken about heaven as if we will be sitting on clouds and playing harps. The Bible speaks about heaven in very concrete terms. ReadIsaiah 65:17-25.

Isaiah 65:17-25: 17 The LORD says, “I am making a new earth and new heavens. The events of the past will be completely forgotten. 18Be glad and rejoice for ever [sic] in what I create. The new Jerusalem I make will be full of joy, and her people will be happy. 19I myself will be filled with joy because of Jerusalem and her people. There will be no weeping there, no calling for help. 20Babies will no longer die in infancy, and all people will live out their life span. Those who live to be a hundred will be considered young. To die before that would be a sign that I had punished them. 21–22People will build houses and live in them themselves—they will not be used by someone else. They will plant vineyards and enjoy the wine—it will not be drunk by others. Like trees, my people will live long lives. They will fully enjoy the things that they have worked for. 23The work they do will be successful, and their children will not meet with disaster. I will bless them and their descendants for all time to come. 24Even before they finish praying to me, I will answer their prayers. 25Wolves and lambs will eat together; lions will eat straw, as cattle do, and snakes will no longer be dangerous. On Zion, my sacred hill, there will be nothing harmful or evil.”?Good News Bible.*†‡

  1. Think of the implications of this section of Isaiah as outlined in the Bible study guide.
  2. The new earth is God’s unique creation (Isa. 65:17). God intervenes and creates it because He is the Creator.
  3. The sinful past will no longer burden God’s servants (Isa. 65:17).
  4. Jerusalem will be a place of joy and happiness (Isa. 65:18).
  5. There will be no weeping and crying in Jerusalem (Isa. 65:19).
  6. No infant mortality or miscarriages will occur (Isa. 65:20, 23).
  7. Longevity of the faithful is guaranteed (Isa. 65:20, 22), but before life on the new earth commences, sinners will die prematurely (Isa. 65:20).
  8. Creative work will prevail (Isa. 65:21–23): houses will be built and vineyards planted.
  9. Peace and prosperity will be secured (Isa. 65:22). There will be no threats of war or destruction.
  10. People will enjoy life under God’s presence and blessings (Isa. 65:23).
  11. Prayers will be immediately answered by God (Isa. 65:24).
  12. New conditions of life in nature will be created (Isa. 65:25).
  13. Inhabitants will experience the reversal of the covenant curses into abundant blessings, as indicated by the theology of this passage in comparison to the Deuteronomic blessings and curses (Deuteronomy 27; Deuteronomy 28; compare with Leviticus 26).?Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* 184-185.
  14. A careful reading ofIsaiah 65:17-25 and all of the rest of the Bible makes it quite clear that Isaiah was prophesying what Israel could have been like if they had carefully followed God’s plans for their lives. These prophecies should be compared with the blessings and curses described in Deuteronomy 28. There is a very close parallel. However, Israel did not follow God’s plan. Therefore, Isaiah’s original prophecies could not come true.
  15. So, what was God’s response? God transferred His special blessings and care from the nation of Israel to the Christian church. See especially the book of Acts.

Matthew 28:18-20: 18Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”?Good News Bible.*

1 Peter 2:9: But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvellous light.?Good News Bible.*

2 Peter 3:13: But we wait for what God has promised: new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will be at home.?Good News Bible.*

[From the writings of Ellen G. White=EGW:] In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called “a country.”Hebrews 11:14-16. There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. The tree of life yields its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the service of the nations. There are ever-flowing streams, clear as crystal, and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon the paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord. There the wide-spreading plains swell into hills of beauty, and the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. On those peaceful plains, beside those living streams, God’s people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home.—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy* 675.1.

  1. Can you imagine what the future looks like to those who do not believe in heaven? Could it ever be possible that the current conditions in this world will be transformed into righteousness? Many Christians believe that will happen!
  2. God has a very clear plan for His faithful followers.

[EGW:] Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children. Godliness—godlikeness [sic]—is the goal to be reached.—Ellen G. White, Education* 18.4.†‡

  1. Seventh-day Adventists have built much of their theology around the idea that there is a throne room and a sanctuary in heaven. What do we know about that temple of God?

Revelation 15:5,8: 5 After this I saw the temple in heaven open, with the Sacred Tent in it.… 8The temple was filled with smoke from the glory and power of God, and no one could go into the temple until the seven plagues brought by the seven angels had come to an end.?Good News Bible.*

[From the Bible study guide=BSG:] CompareRevelation 7:915 withRevelation 21:3, 22. How can we harmonize the description of the great multitude of the redeemed serving God “ ‘day and night in His temple’ ” (Rev. 7:15, NKJV) with the statement that John “saw no temple” in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:22, NKJV)??Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Monday, December 26.‡§

Revelation 7:9-15: 9 After this I looked, and there was an enormous crowd—no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. 10They called out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb!” 11All the angels stood round the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Then they threw themselves face downwards in front of the throne and worshipped God, 12saying, “Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God for ever [sic] and ever! Amen!” [Why were they falling face downwards?]

13 One of the elders asked me, “Who are these people dressed in white robes, and where do they come from?”

14 “I don’t know, sir. You do,” I answered.

He said to me, “These are the people who have come safely through the terrible persecution. They have washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb. 15That is why they stand before God’s throne and serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will protect them with his presence.”?Good News Bible.*†‡

Revelation 21:3,22: 3I heard a loud voice speaking from the throne: “Now God’s home is with human beings! He will live with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God….”

22 I did not see a temple in the city, because its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb.?Good News Bible.*[Notice the term in the city.]

  1. How can both of these prophecies be true?
  2. Look at this interesting quotation from Ellen Harmon’s (Ellen G. White’s maiden name) first vision in which she “traveled” to heaven.

[EGW:] Then we began to look at the glorious things outside of the city.… Mount Zion was just before us, and on the Mount sat a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies, and I saw the little ones climb, or if they chose use their little wings and fly to the top of the mountains, and pluck the never fading flowers.—Ellen G. Harmon [White], The Day-Star,* January 24, 1846, par. 1.†‡ [Notice the term, outside of the city. This essay was not written for publication but was for the encouragement of all who may see it and be encouraged by it.]

  1. Clearly, in the book of Revelation, the focus is on the One to whom our worship is directed as opposed to some kind of building or temple. (Revelation 5:13; 7:10)
  2. However,Revelation 7:14 describes the terrible time of persecution that will precede our inheritance of heaven. Why is that necessary? We need to see Satan’s kingdom demonstrated and God’s people vindicated. Numerous passages in Scripture describe the ideal situation when God will dwell with His people, and they will belong to Him. (Revelation 21:3; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27; Zechariah 8:8; Hebrews 8:10)
  3. Adam and Eve walked comfortably with God in His very presence. But, God told Moses that no one could see Him and live! (Exodus 33:18-23) (CompareJohn 1:18; 1 John 4:12.) What happened to us between the days of Adam and Eve and Moses that made it impossible for us to see God without perishing? Has God’s attitude toward us changed? Or, have we changed? And if we have changed, what has sin done to us?
  4. But, the day will come when we will be able to clearly see God.

Matthew 5:8: “Happy are the pure in heart;

they will see God!”?Good News Bible.*

1 John 3:2-3: 2My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is. 3Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps himself pure, just as Christ is pure.?Good News Bible.*[GC 665-668 says that everyone will see Him crowned!]

Revelation 22:3-4: 3Nothing that is under God’s curse will be found in the city.

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.?Good News Bible.*

  1. Do you look forward to seeing the face of God the Father? Will we be able to give Him a hug? What about the Holy Spirit?

[EGW:] The people of God are privileged to hold open communion with the Father and the Son. “Now we see through a glass, darkly.”1 Corinthians 13:12. We behold the image of God reflected, as in a mirror, in the works of nature and in His dealings with men; but then we shall see Him face to face, without a dimming veil between. [1 Corinthians 13:12] We shall stand in His presence and behold the glory of His countenance.—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy* 676.4-677.0.

  1. Matthew 5:8 and1 John 3:3 suggest that we must be pure before we can see God. What does that mean?

1 Peter 1:22: Now that by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves and have come to have a sincere love for your fellow-believers, love one another earnestly with all your heart.?Good News Bible.*

  1. Life can sometimes be very discouraging, very hard, and almost intolerable! However, we have promises that things will be very different in the future.

Isaiah 25:8: The Sovereign LORD will destroy death for ever! [sic] He will wipe away the tears from everyone’s eyes and take away the disgrace his people have suffered throughout the world. The LORD himself has spoken!?Good News Bible.*

Revelation 21:4: [The voice from the throne of God said:] “He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared.”?Good News Bible.*†‡

[BSG:] If the theory of an eternal burning hell were true, then the “second death” would not eradicate sin and sinners from the universe but only confine them in an everlasting hell of sorrow and crying. And further: in this case the universe would never be fully restored to its original perfection. But praise the Lord that the Bible paints a completely different picture!?Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Wednesday, December 28.

  1. Do you believe that God’s judgment will be fully transparent? And completely fair? Would it be fair to condemn someone who had lived a careless life on this earth for a few years to an eternity of ever-burning hell? The good news is that after the events of the third coming, death itself will perish forever.
  2. Why do we believe that God’s judgment will be perfectly fair? Because each person will judge himself/herself. Notice these very important statements about the attitudes of the wicked toward God and His future kingdom.

[BSG:] We can trust that in the final judgment God will treat every single human being with fairness and love. All our loved ones who died in Christ will be raised from the dead to be with us throughout eternity. Those unworthy of eternal life will finally cease to exist, without having to live in an “unpleasant” heaven or in an ever-burning hell.?Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Wednesday, December 28.†‡

  1. Do we understand clearly that everyone who would be comfortable in heaven will be there?

[EGW:] Satan sees that his voluntary rebellion has unfitted him for heaven. He has trained his powers to war against God; the purity, peace, and harmony of heaven would be to him supreme torture. His accusations against the mercy and justice of God are now silenced. The reproach which he has endeavored to cast upon Jehovah rests wholly upon himself. And now Satan bows down and confesses the justice of his sentence.?Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy* 670.2.†‡

[EGW:] A life of rebellion against God has unfitted them [the wicked] for heaven. Its purity, holiness, and peace would be torture to them; the glory of God would be a consuming fire. They would long to flee from that holy place. They would welcome destruction, that they might be hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them. The destiny of the wicked is fixed by their own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is voluntary with themselves, and just and merciful on the part of God.?Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy* 542.2-543.0.†‡ [SeeRevelation 6:16.]

  1. Again, in effect, each person will judge himself/herself!
  2. Why did God say inIsaiah 65:17 that “the former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind”? (Isaiah 65:17, NIV*)
  3. A number of passages suggest that not even God will choose to remember the bad things. That does not mean that the plan of salvation or the great controversy will be forgotten. It will be our study throughout eternity.
  4. People will say: “Why should we talk about those past problems when we can talk about all of the wonderful things that we are experiencing here in heaven?”

[EGW:] The plan of salvation, making manifest the justice and love of God, provides an eternal safeguard against defection in unfallen worlds, as well as among those who shall be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Our only hope is perfect trust in the blood of Him who can save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him.?Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times,* December 30, 1889, par. 4; 5SDABC* 1132.9.†‡

[EGW:] Satan’s rebellion was to be a lesson to the universe through all coming ages, a perpetual testimony to the nature and terrible results of sin. The working out of Satan’s rule, its effects upon both men and angels, would show what must be the fruit of setting aside the divine authority.… Thus the history of this terrible experiment of rebellion was to be a perpetual safeguard to all holy intelligences, to prevent them from being deceived as to the nature of transgression, to save them from committing sin and suffering its punishments.?Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy* 499.1.†‡

[EGW:] The cross of Christ will be the science and the song of the redeemed through all eternity. In Christ glorified they will behold Christ crucified. Never will it be forgotten that He whose power created and upheld the unnumbered worlds through the vast realms of space, the Beloved of God, the Majesty of heaven, He whom cherub and shining seraph delighted to adore—humbled Himself to uplift fallen man; that He bore the guilt and shame of sin, and the hiding of His Father’s face, till the woes of a lost world broke His heart and crushed out His life on Calvary’s cross. That the Maker of all worlds, the Arbiter of all destinies, should lay aside His glory and humiliate Himself from love to man will ever excite the wonder and adoration of the universe.—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy* 651.2.†‡ [We will not be accusing Eve for leading us into sin!]

  1. What kind of people will inherit the kingdom of God? Let us read again this key text from Revelation 22.

Revelation 22:3-5: 3Nothing that is under God’s curse will be found in the city.

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5There shall be no more night, and they will not need lamps or sunlight, because the Lord God will be their light, and they will rule as kings for ever [sic] and ever.?Good News Bible.*†‡

  1. Think of all that God has done to try to save as many of His children as possible.

[BSG:] At the center of the plan of salvation is the promise of eternal life, based on the merits of Jesus, to all who accept, by faith, the great provision supplied at the cross. Before the cross, after the cross—salvation has always been by faith and never by works, however much works are an expression of our salvation.

Paul wrote about Abraham, who existed long before the coming of Christ, as an example of salvation by faith: “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness’ ” (Rom. 4:2, 3, NKJV). How do these verses help us understand what salvation by faith is all about??Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Thursday, December 29.†‡§ [Compare these verses in the Good News Bible.]

Romans 4:2-3: 2If he was put right with God by the things he did, he would have something to boast about—but not in God’s sight. 3The scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous.”?Good News Bible.*

[BSG:] Thus, we can have the assurance of salvation if we have accepted Jesus, have surrendered to Him, and have claimed His promises, including those of a new life now in Him, and if we lean totally on His merits and nothing else. Abraham believed, and it was accounted to him as righteousness; it works the same with us.

This, then, is what it means to have His name written on our foreheads. If we have it written there now and don’t turn away from Him, then it will be written there in the new heavens and the new earth, as well.?Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* for Thursday, December 29.†‡

  1. What does it mean to lean totally on His [Christ’s] merits and nothing else?
  2. To have His name written on our foreheads means to think and act like God!

[BSG:] It is noteworthy to observe that Isaiah repeatedly declares that God creates heaven and earth, and he pairs these two key words, even though sometimes quite loosely (seeIsa. 1:2; Isa. 13:13; Isa. 24:4, 18, 21; Isa. 37:16; Isa. 40:12, 22, 26–28;Isa. 42:5; Isa. 44:23, 24; Isa. 45:8, 12, 18; Isa. 48:13; Isa. 49:13; Isa. 51:6, 13, 16; Isa. 55:9).… Only two times in the Hebrew Bible is it stated that the Lord creates “the new heavens and the new earth,” and it is only in Isaiah (Isa. 65:17,Isa. 66:22). The other reference is in the New Testament book of Revelation (Rev. 21:1).

The crucial question is whether the above description ofIsaiah 65:17–25 is a depiction of the eschatological new heavens and new earth. It becomes clear that Isaiah 65, 66 does not describe the eschatological picture as described in Revelation 21, 22, because death, sin, curse, marriage, and the birth of babies are included. To what situation or event, then, doesIsaiah 65:17–25 refer?

Isaiah 65:17–25 paints the new conditions that will exist in Israel should the people of God live according to God’s Word. God’s miniature model of His kingdom would be manifested in Israel. Subsequently, the knowledge about the true God would grow, and the possibility of accepting the Messiah would expand. Jerusalem would become a megacapital city. Nations would stream to the temple of God to learn about the true living Lord in order to serve and worship Him (see, for example,Isa. 2:2–4,Isa. 56:3–8,Mic. 4:1–3). The “new heavens and a new earth” is a hyperbolic expression, which means, in its context, new conditions of life on earth and points to the restoration of Judah after returning from the Babylonian captivity. This expression describes the ideal conditions for God’s people in their land of that time. Isaiah 65 is a pre-picture, foretaste, or type of the antitypical new heavens and new earth, certainly. But what can be applied from it to the description of the eschatological new earth? One needs to implement three principles to discover the correct application.?Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* 185-186.†‡§

  1. In order to clearly understand these last two chapters of Isaiah, we need to keep in mind three key interpretive principles.
  2. God’s ideal plan was that the children of Israel should live so well in cooperation with Him that they would create a little heaven on earth and would later be able to go to heaven in that condition. This, of course, did not happen. Isaiah’s prophecies, especially in Isaiah 65 and 66, then give us an idea of what that ideal kingdom might have been like. So, how much of it will apply to the earth made new when Christians and others who have followed God’s way in their lives reach heaven?

Principle #1: Much of what Isaiah talked about such as joy, happiness, security, peace, prosperity, and creative work will definitely be in heaven as well. We will have new relationships with the animal world. Crying, pain, sorrow, and suffering will be banished.

  1. However, there are other aspects of that ideal Israelite kingdom that will not be found in heaven.

Principle #2: When other writers later in the Bible say they will not be found in heaven, then these must be left out. There will be no death, no sin, sinners, or curses. These are mentioned or implied in Isaiah 65 and 66. Revelation tells us of other things that will not be found in heaven.

Revelation 21:8,27: 8 “But cowards, traitors, perverts, murderers, the immoral, those who practice magic, those who worship idols, and all liars—the place for them is the lake burning with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.”…

27But nothing that is impure will enter the city, nor anyone who does shameful things or tells lies. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of the living will enter the city.?Good News Bible.*

  1. Jesus said that marriage and birth of children will not be found in heaven.

Matthew 22:29-32: 29 Jesus answered them, “How wrong you are! It is because you don’t know the Scriptures or God’s power. 30For when the dead rise to life, they will be like the angels in heaven and will not marry. 31Now, as for the dead rising to life: haven’t you ever read what God has told you? He said, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is the God of the living, not of the dead.”?Good News Bible.*

[EGW:] There are men today who express their belief that there will be marriages and births in the new earth; but those who believe the Scriptures cannot accept such doctrines. The doctrine that children will be born in the new earth is not a part of the “sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19). The words of Christ are too plain to be misunderstood. They should forever settle the question of marriages and births in the new earth. Neither those who shall be raised from the dead, nor those who shall be translated without seeing death, will marry or be given in marriage. They will be as the angels of God, members of the royal family. [Manuscript 28, 1904]?Ellen G. White, Selected Messages,* Book 1, 172.3.†‡

  1. Principle #3: There are some other things that Isaiah did not talk about which will be found in the new kingdom.
  • The New Jerusalem will descend from heaven. (Revelation 21:2-3)
  • God Himself will come down with the city to live on this earth. (Revelation 22:1,3)
  • God’s physical presence will be visible to all of us, and He will dwell with His people. (Revelation 22:4-5)
  1. Isaiah ends with a somewhat puzzling passage.

Isaiah 66:22-24: 22 “Just as the new earth and the new heavens will endure by my power, so your descendants and your name will endure. 23On every New Moon Festival and every Sabbath, people of every nation will come to worship me here in Jerusalem,” says the LORD. 24 “As they leave, they will see the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me. The worms that eat them will never die, and the fire that burns them will never be put out. The sight of them will be disgusting to the whole human race.”?Good News Bible.*

  1. However, we should notice carefully that this passage followsIsaiah 66:18-21, an intensive evangelistic campaign.

Isaiah 66:18-21: 18 “When they come together, they will see what my power can do 19and will know that I am the one who punishes them.

“But I will spare some of them and send them to the nations and the distant lands that have not heard of my fame or seen my greatness and power: to Spain, Libya, and Lydia, with its skilled archers, and to Tubal and Greece. Among these nations they will proclaim my greatness. 20They will bring back all your fellow-Israelites from the nations as a gift to me. They will bring them to my sacred hill in Jerusalem on horses, mules, and camels, and in chariots and wagons, just as Israelites bring grain offerings to the Temple in ritually clean containers. 21I will make some of them priests and Levites.”?Good News Bible.* [Could Gentiles become priests or Levites?]

  1. Clearly, these passages are referring to the ideal Jerusalem that Isaiah saw in vision that could have happened in ancient times if the Israelites had followed the instructions God gave them through His prophets.
  2. There are many other passages that give us some details of what that heavenly kingdom will be like. For example, compare Daniel 2; Daniel 7-9; Isaiah 24-27; Ezekiel 38-39; Ezekiel 40-48; Joel 3; Micah 4; and Zechariah 14.
  3. Notice this brief story that might give us a clue of what that future kingdom will be like.

[BSG:] Beloved author and preacher Dean Frederic Farrar was a personal friend of, and honorary chaplain to, Queen Victoria in the 1870s.

“One day the chaplain . . . preached a sermon on the second coming of Christ. As he spoke of that glorious event, he noticed tears in the eyes of the queen. After the service, he approached her, and asked: ‘Why did Your Majesty weep as I spoke to-day?’

“ ‘Oh,’ said she, ‘because I do hope that He will come in my day!’

“ ‘Why does Your Majesty desire that He should come in your day?’ the chaplain asked.

“ ‘Oh, sir, that I may lay my crown at His feet!’ ”—H.M.S. Richards, Signs of the Times, December 1, 1931, p. 10.?[as quoted in Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide* 187].

  1. Will you be there to “throw your crown at the feet of Jesus”? Did you learn anything new about heaven in this lesson?
  2. Did you find this series of lessons on Death, Dying, and the Future Hope to be helpful? Enlightening? And inspiring?

©2022, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged. *Electronic version. Bold type is added. Brackets and content in brackets are added. §Italic type is in the source.                                                                                 Info@theox.org

Last Modified: December 15, 2022