July 14, 2024, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, "Six Questions" (Live, No Music)

[Let us first consider heaven.]
2 Corinthians 12:2-4, the 3rd heaven is where God currently is, and the 3rd heaven is also where paradise currently is
Genesis 1, the 1st (atmosphere) and 2nd heaven (space) created

[1. Can those in heaven see us?]
Answer: No
Hebrews 11, the hall of faith, from Abel all the way to the prophets of the Old Testament
Hebrews 12:1, 'wherefore' the cloud of witnesses refers to the pattern of faith revealed in Hebrews 11, as it is the faith that testifies of God and heaven, and not the human sinner (the sinner did not reach heaven by being themself, but they reached heaven through faith)

[2. Will those in heaven know each other?]
Answer: Yes
Genesis 25:8, Genesis 35:29, reveals that Isaac and Jacob were gathered back together with their families in heaven
2 Samuel 12:23, David confirms that he will see (and recognize) his son in heaven
Matthew 17:3-4, implies that strangers in heaven will also be recognizable (ex: new Christians will recognize the Old Testament saints)
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18, implies that all believers will have fellowship with each other in heaven

[3. Is there marriage in heaven?]
Answer: No
Mark 12:18-25, marriage eventually comes to an end in heaven. Marriage was a picture of Christ and the Church coming together (the wedding of the Lamb, etc.), which will have been fulfilled in the near future. Will the tradition of marriage temporarily return during the 1000 year reign on earth?

[4. If a child dies, will the child go to heaven?]
Answer: Yes*
*Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:14, 'for such is the kingdom of God'. Specifically refers to the 'little children'* who cannot be held accountable for things and thoughts NOT committed. Implies that children who have committed sin are not 'little children'. Sin is known through the law.

[5. Can a person die and then come back to life to testify of heaven?]
Answer: No
Hebrews 9:27, with the exception of Lazarus, all people die once (and the 2nd death is mentioned in Revelation, reserved for a specific set of people)
John 11:43-44, Christ raising Lazarus from death. The actual primary subject of this story was Christ and not Lazarus, as it was His miracle that was performed. God does not need NDE people to testify of Him.
Luke 16:22-31, Jesus plainly stated: even if people rose from the dead to testify of God, their testimony would be ineffective

[6. Does one who commit suicide go to heaven?]
Answer: Depends (example: a murderer will NOT go to heaven, and intentionally murdering oneself is an example of bad suicide)
2 Samuel 17:23, Ahithophel was a type of Judas, and he murdered himself (hung himself) after failing to execute his plot against David. Judas also hung himself after failing to execute his plot against Jesus, without ever coming back to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and repentance
Exodus 20:13, thou shalt not kill (murder)
Colossians 2:13-14, all sins of the believer were nailed to the cross, so that the believer will no longer practice sin
Romans 8:38, Jude 1:24, Christ will present a true believer and follower as faultless
Matthew 7:23, those who continue to practice sin were never believers to begin with
Romans 5:2-5, Proverbs 23:7, one who continuously plots and meditates suicide will not make it to heaven, as they are continuously practicing sin
2 Corinthians 13:5, qualified believer or not

[Coming to Christ.]
Matthew 11:28-30

[songselect.ccli.com songs]
2298355, Open The Eyes Of My Heart
3148428, Forever
1558110, How Deep The Father's Love For Us