Here is a shorter version of "Our Glorious Future" by Stanley Clark

Feel free to print this out!
Thank you Stan for writing this and sharing it.

What Happens When We Depart This Life?

John 14:1 – 2 Jesus has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that where I am you may be also.

Luke 16:19 - 22 There is reason to believe angels will escort us to heaven

In the story of the rich man and Lazarus “It came about that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom”¹

II Corinthians 5:6 – 8 We will be with Jesus Himself

We know that as long as we are in our earthly bodies we are absent from the Lord . . . But we would prefer to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.²

Luke 23:42 - 43 We will be in His presence immediately

When the thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus said, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" Jesus replied, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

Philippians 3:20 - 21 Jesus will give us new, glorious bodies

Our citizenship is (actually) in heaven. We eagerly await a Savior (to come) from there, the Lord Jesus Christ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.³

Revelation 21:3 - 7 Heaven will fulfill our longing for a better world

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is among the people now and He will dwell with them. They will be His people. 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!” Furthermore, He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

⁶ “It is finished. 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.

Revelation 22:3 – 5 All the effects of the fall will be gone

(In heaven there will) no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There won’t be anymore night. His people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

I Thessalonians 4:13 – 18 Our Christian family and will friends join us later

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you won’t grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For because we believe that Jesus died and rose again we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

I Corinthians 3: 11 – 14 Rewards await those who have lived for Christ

No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.⁴

All verses are from the NIV. Some have been paraphrased for the sake of clarity.

1 “Abraham’s bosom” was a Jewish term for the place of bliss and blessing in eternity.

2 Further, we will never be separated from Him; I Thessalonians 4:17c.

3 See also I Corinthians 15:49.

4 Part of this reward for faithfulness is to get to share in Christ’s reign! See Revelation 22:5c and 2:26-27.