Death of Death - Week 6
Death of Death
Week 5
“Confused about heaven”
“Satan attacks God's people, God's person (trinity), and God's place (which is heaven).” - Randy Alcorn
5 Common Misnomers About Heaven
1) “We become angels when we die.”
2 Corinthians 5:1-5, “1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.”
2) Heaven will be whatever you want it to be.
3) “Our deceased loved ones will look over/after us when they die.”
Psalm 34:18, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
4) Heaven is a boring place where we sit on clouds and play harps in a never ending worship service.
The bible gives us insight into what heaven will be like.
Gods full presence (Rev. 21:3, 22:4)
Jesus (Rev. 21:23)
The Tree of Life (Rev. 22:2)
Eternal Life (no death, dying, or funerals) (Rev. 21:4)
Perfect Peace and Rest (Hebrews 4:9)
Worship and Joy (Rev. 7:9-12)
Saints and Angels (Heb. 12:22)
No curse (Rev. 22:3)
A Holy Radiant City (Rev. 21:10-21)
Light without Darkness (Rev.21:23)
Perfect Knowledge and Understanding (1 Corinthians 13:12)
Glorified Bodies (Philippians 3:21/1 Cor. 15:42-49)
No suffering, no pain, no tears (Revelation 21:4)
Perfect unity with God and others (Rev. 21:3, 1 Thess. 4:17)
Eternal Security (Rev. 21:7)
Revelation 21:3, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
5) “Everyone eventually goes to heaven.”
Popular belief: A loving and good God wouldn’t condemn anyone forever. In the end, everyone—regardless of belief, religion, or moral choices—will make it to heaven.
Biblical truth: While God is infinitely loving, He is also perfectly just. The Bible is clear that not everyone will enter heaven. Entrance is not based on goodness, effort, or sincerity, but solely on faith in Jesus Christ. Those who reject Christ will face eternal separation from God.
Revelation 21:27, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
What about judgment and hell?
Hebrews 9:27, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
Matthew 7:22–23, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Those who reject God’s grace in Christ will not be forced into heaven—they will instead face eternal separation from His presence.
2 Thessalonians 1:9, “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might…”
Matthew 25:46, “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
God's justice and mercy meet at the cross.
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Small Group Discussion Questions
Which of the five misconceptions about heaven have you heard most often? How have these beliefs shaped how people around you view eternity?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:1–5. How does Paul’s description of our future "heavenly dwelling" challenge or encourage your understanding of life after death?
Why do you think the idea of everyone going to heaven is so popular in our culture? How does this belief conflict with Scripture? (Revelation 21:27, John 14:6)
How can an eternal focus—one that’s centered on the joy of being with Christ—impact how we live today? (Consider Philippians 3:20–21 and Colossians 3:1–4)
What are some practical ways to gently correct false views of heaven when friends or family bring them up? How can you speak truth with both conviction and compassion?
3 Day Devotional Guide: "Heaven, Hell, and the Hope of Eternity"
Day 1: A Glorious Home (2 Corinthians 5:1–5)
“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God...”
Reflect: Paul uses imagery to describe our earthly bodies as temporary tents and our eternal bodies as permanent homes. Heaven isn’t about escaping into some ethereal existence; it’s about putting on something more real—our glorified bodies in the presence of God.
Pray: Ask God to fix your eyes on the eternal home He has prepared for you in Christ. Surrender your fears about death, and thank Him for the hope of resurrection.
Respond: Where are you tempted to focus on temporary things? Take one step today to set your mind on things above (Colossians 3:2).
Day 2: Who Gets In? (Revelation 21:27)
“Nothing impure will ever enter it... only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Reflect: Heaven is holy. It's not for “good people,” but for forgiven people—those made pure by the blood of Jesus. God’s grace is inclusive in offer, but exclusive in outcome: only those in Christ will enter.
Pray: Thank God for sending Jesus to make a way into His presence. Ask Him to give you a greater burden for those who do not yet know Him.
Respond: Write down the names of 2–3 people in your life who don’t know Christ. Begin praying for their salvation daily. Look for an opportunity to share your hope.
Day 3: The Joy of Heaven (Revelation 21:3)
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.’”
Reflect: The joy of heaven isn’t in its streets of gold or reunion with loved ones—it’s being fully and forever with God. The greatest reward is relationship. Heaven is the restoration of what was lost in Eden: perfect communion with our Creator.
Pray: Ask God to reorient your heart so that He—not blessings, not comfort, not relief—is your highest joy.
Respond: Spend 10–15 minutes in silent prayer or worship, just enjoying the presence of God. No agenda—just relationship.