Will We Read the Bible in Heaven
We know that threescore-6 books, those that comprise the Bible, volition exist in Heaven—"Your Discussion, O Lord, is eternal; information technology stands house in the heavens" (Psalm 119:89). Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, simply my words will never pass away" (Matthew 24:35). Presumably, we will read, written report, contemplate, and discuss God'due south Word.
There are as well other books in Heaven: "I saw the dead, dandy and small, continuing before the throne, and books were opened. Another volume was opened, which is the volume of life. The dead were judged co-ordinate to what they had done as recorded in the books" (Revelation 20:12).
What are these books? They appear to contain documentation of everything e'er done past anyone on globe. To say the to the lowest degree, they must be extensive.
While some people take these books figuratively, to represent God's omniscience, nosotros should not assume these aren't real books. It would take been easy to tell usa "the all-knowing God judged everyone."
The other book is the Book of Life, in which the names of God'south people are written. John mentions it throughout the book of Revelation (Revelation 3:five; 13:8; 17:8; twenty:12, xv; 21:27). Information technology's mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures every bit well (Exodus 32:32-33; Daniel 12:1). It's also referred to in later literature, such as the book of Jubilees and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The apostle Paul refers to information technology in Philippians 4:3.
Other passages describe a gyre in Heaven. Jesus opens a nifty scroll (Revelation 5:1, 5), and an angel holds a trivial curlicue (Revelation ten:2). The psalm writer David said, "Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record?" (Psalm 56:8). He asked that his tears be kept in Heaven's permanent record.
Malachi 3:sixteen-eighteen is a remarkable passage that tells us God documents the true-blue deeds of his children on Earth: "Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A curlicue of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his proper name. 'They will exist mine,' says the Lord Almighty, 'in the day when I brand upwards my treasured possession. I will spare them, only equally in compassion a homo spares his son who serves him. And yous will once more see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, betwixt those who serve God and those who do not.' "
God is proud of his people for fearing him and honoring his name, and he promises that all volition encounter the differences between those who serve him and those who don't. Those distinctions are preserved in this scroll in Heaven.
The king ofttimes had scribes record the deeds of his subjects so that he could remember and properly reward his subjects' expert deeds (Esther 6:one-11). While God needs no reminder, he makes a permanent record so that the entire universe will one day know his justification for rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked.
There's no hint that God will destroy any or all of the books and scrolls presently in Heaven. It'southward likely that these records of the faithful works of God'southward people on Earth will be periodically read throughout the ages.
The books contain detailed historical records of all of our lives on this earth. Each of u.s. is part of these records. Obscure events, words heard by merely a handful of people will exist known. Your acts of faithfulness and kindness that no ane else knows are well-known past God. He is documenting them in his books. He will reward you for them in Heaven.
How many times take nosotros done small acts of kindness on Earth without realizing the effects? How many times accept we shared Christ with people we idea didn't take it to middle but who years afterwards came to Jesus partly because of the seeds we planted? How many times accept we spoken upward for unborn children and seen no result, but every bit a result someone chose non to have an abortion and saved a child's life? How many dishes take been washed and diapers inverse and crying children sung to in the center of the night, when we couldn't see the impact of the love we showed? And how many times have nosotros seen no response, simply God was still pleased by our efforts?
God is watching. He is keeping rails. In Heaven he'll advantage us for our acts of faithfulness to him, correct downwards to every cup of common cold water we've given to the needy in his name (Mark 9:41). And he's making a permanent record in Heaven'south books.
Will There Be Other Books besides God's?
I believe that on the New Earth, we'll also read books, new and erstwhile, written by people. Because we'll have potent intellects, smashing curiosity, and unlimited fourth dimension, information technology's probable that books volition have a greater role in our lives in Heaven than they practise at present. The libraries of the New Earth, I imagine, will be fantastic.
Nosotros'll take no lack of resources to study and empathize. I once helped a young friend search for her biological mother, going through old court records, looking for simply the right inkling. Nosotros finally found information technology. I had the privilege of introducing them to each other. It was a taste of Heaven—where not all reunions will happen all at once, I imagine, but as eternity unfolds.
Will we search for data and do research on the New Earth? Why not?
Unlike the histories we read on Earth, Heaven'due south books will be objective and accurate. No exaggeration or overstatement, no spinning to make certain people await improve and others worse. We will be able to handle the failings of our ancestors, just as they'll accept the right perspective on ours.
Every biblical genealogy is a testimony to God'southward involvement in history, heritage, and the unfolding of events on Earth. Will God lose involvement in Earth? Volition we? No. The New Globe's history includes that of the old Globe. Only a new history will be congenital and recorded, a new civilisation, wondrous beyond imagination. And we who know the Rex will all exist function of information technology.
Books are part of culture. I wait many new books, great books, volition be written on the New World. But I too believe that some books volition endure from the old World. Any volume that contains falsehood and dishonors God will take no place in Heaven. Just what about slap-up books, nonfiction and fiction? Volition nosotros detect A. W. Tozer's The Cognition of the Holy , J. I. Packer's Knowing God , John Piper'southward Desiring God , John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress , and Charles Sheldon's In His Steps on the New World? I'll exist amazed if we don't find them at that place, but as I'll exist amazed if no one sings John Newton's "Astonishing Grace" in Heaven.
Perhaps those of the states who are writers will go dorsum to some of our published works and rewrite them in light of the perspective we'll gain. Mayhap we'll expect at our other books and realize they're no longer important—and some of them never were. The New Earth, I think, will confirm many things I've written in this volume. It will completely dismantle others. "What was I thinking?" I'll ask myself. (If I knew which parts those were right now, I'd cut them out!) And I'll marvel at how much ameliorate the New Earth is than I ever imagined.
Volition What Was Written on Globe Survive?
On the New Globe, volition you encounter once more the letter of encouragement you wrote to your teenage son? Or the letter you wrote sharing Christ with your begetter? Or the life-changing words you jotted on a pupil's paper? Many such things written in this life may prove more important than books.
Some former books may be republished in the New Jerusalem. Or if God desires, he could preserve the original or printed copies from this world. I wonder if John Wycliffe himself will hold over again his Bible manuscripts. Will Harriet Beecher Stowe see again her pages of Uncle Tom'south Motel? Will Tolkien'southward The Lord of the Rings endure the burn? Volition we read again a version of C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity or The Chronicles of Narnia?
Will God preserve some books from our present lives? Will they be kept on the New Earth in museums and libraries? Will the God who resurrects people and animals and stars and rivers and trees likewise resurrect certain personal possessions, including books, which are first burned, then restored? C. Due south. Lewis portrayed it this way:
My friend said, "I don't see why there shouldn't be books in Heaven. Merely you will notice that your library in Sky contains simply some of the books you had on world." "Which?" I asked. "The ones you gave abroad or lent." "I promise the lent ones won't yet have all the borrowers' dirty pollex marks," said I. "Oh yep they volition," said he. "But but every bit the wounds of the martyrs will have turned into beauties, so you will find that the thumb-marks have turned into beautiful illuminated capitals or exquisite marginal woodcuts."xvii
xviiC. S. Lewis, God in the Dock (K Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970), 216.
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Will We Read the Bible in Heaven
Source: https://www.epm.org/resources/2011/Sep/12/will-we-find-books-heaven/