There are many more images of the Apocalypse than images of heaven. The enclosed image of heaven is painted by a 12 year old girl, Akaine.
Mark 13:14-27
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version
14 "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. 20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
24 "But in those days, following that distress,
" 'the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'
26 "At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
Hmmm, lots of hits to this particular Scripture verse. Given 2011 has been interesting in a sad, macabre way with massive die fish, bird and cattle die offs. And the riots of the people across the world.
What did the Lord tell us?
Luke 21:7
They asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"
Matthew 24:36
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only
Did Jesus say anything else? Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, Revelation 6 to name more. And He definitely said this is the answer for Christian eschatology:
Acts 1:7
He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
What Jesus said applied to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, when he would have died a natural death. It will apply again when He comes in glory.
It will apply to your life when your time on earth ends. The second coming of Christ is accompanied by signs, but when Christ returns to the earth will He find faith? Will anyone even be concerned what the signs were? We don't know. Jesus asked the same questions during His time on earth.
People have said during the plagues, it was the end. People believed the printing of the Bible was the end. People have created religions on the end. People believed Martin Luther was the end. People said Hitler was the end. People say the increase of earthquakes indicate the end.
If anyone tells you they have a complete handle on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Flee. The most wonderful prophets knew of Isaiah. The entire country of Israel heard the Words read in reverence in God's own Temple. Everyone expected a king born in a palace. A crusader, warrior king to set Israel on high. God's plans are His own.
But you know, it could be tomorrow..... Your own personal view of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:52
in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
And the best question is, the only question is: "Where will you be? Do you know Jesus?" He loves you. All of the Scriptures, all of the prophets, all of it point to Jesus Christ. History. The count down of BC to AD is Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ came to save you.
Start at the earliest BC.
Moses was told. "I am".
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
John 6:51:"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;"
John 8:12: Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
John 10:9: "I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."
John 10:11: "I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:36: 'I AM the Son of God'
John 11:25: Jesus said to her, "I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
John 14:6: Jesus said to him, "I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 15:1: "I AM the true vine, and My Father is the gardener.
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." AND THIS IS THE WORD THAT WAS PREACHED TO YOU.
Romans 8:19
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God!
Romans 10:13
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Revelation 21:1-6
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version
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, "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. 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."
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."
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