The Bird of Paradise flowers are found almost everywhere in the Hawaiian Islands, as landscape plantings for businesses and parks as well as for private homes. I imagine there will probably be various flowers in heaven as well. In the Bible book of Revelation, it speaks of "the Tree of Life": which follows:
"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." - Revelation 22:2
But the main thing to consider about heaven is: God and Jesus will be there! And you too, if you are a true believer in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His shed blood to redeem us and make a way for us to be with Him for all eternity - if we believe He is the Savior, the Son of God, and believe also in His death and resurrection. (Romans 10:9,10,13). And this belief in Jesus is not just intellectual belief - It is a deep, abiding, heartfelt belief that involves a person's entire being.... heart, soul, mind, spirit!
Let's start with a beautiful old hymn that the older generation of today will remember. Hope you younger ones enjoy it as well. It is titled "I'll Be There (When the Roll is Called Up Yonder)"
Many persons (myself included) have always believed that Matthew 24 and 25 pertains to the church, being raptured when the end times signs occur (or begin to occur) in those chapters of Matthew. Actually, I personally believed part of Matthew 24 was for the Gentile Church (Christians) and part was for the Jews, Israel. However, some scholars, including Dr. Tommy Ice in the following 2 videos, stress that Jesus was speaking there concerning Israel only. Tommy Ice in the following video tells us that the Rapture is not in Matthew 24. This 29 minute video is the most recent of the two shared here: it was published by ProphecyWatchers.com on October 10, 2020:
The next video by prophecywatchers.com was published in June of 2020, featuring Tommy Ice again where he discusses 2 Thessalonians 2 and 1 Thessalonians 4 - specifically about the Rapture taking only the Church Age believers, and also about "the apostacy" (or is it the "departure"?). Dr. Ice shows a chart of various Bible translations (of other centuries) and how most of them translated "falling away" - as in the King James Version - as "departure" instead. Interesting and quite informing and eye-opening information in the following 29 minute video!
2 Thessalonians 2:3 (KJV) : "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."
"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (KJV)
It would be wonderful if you read all of 1 Thessalonians, or at least all of Chapter 4 there. Following is another important "Rapture verse" or rather, verses!
"Behold, I shew you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 15:51-58
I included all of that segment of 1 Corinthians 15 for encouragement for you ! And of great encouragement to know, if you follow Bible prophecy and how it is playing out now and coming true right before our very eyes in these last moments of these last days, .... great to know that the Rapture must be very, very soon! Many believers are growing tired and are "battle weary" from these chaotic and stressful times. But most are just longing to be with the good Lord in heaven, our true home and our blessed hope !
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." - Titus 2:13
By the way, Titus 2:13 is one of many scriptures that prove Jesus' deity. But that is a subject for another post another time. Do some research on your own as well concerning His deity.
[Islands Off Lanikai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii]
Just a short note about Dr. Thomas Ice: He is currently (last I checked) the Executive Director of the Pre-Trib Research Center in Washington, DC. He is the author of several books and articles on the subject of the Rapture, and is frequently a speaker at many and various Bible conferences around the world. There are several articles written by him at raptureready.com
The main thing to focus on is to make sure YOU are Rapture Ready! And that your family and friends are as well! Also, to share the Gospel with them and others, as that is our commission from Jesus Himself (Matthew 28:19-20).
Following is a graphic I use frequently which is known as "The Roman Road to Salvation". We have already touched upon the fact that you must have faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior -- a faith and belief that consumes your entire being - all of your heart, soul, mind ! And, if you are truly saved and born again (a spiritual rebirth), the Holy Spirit will come and indwell you and empower you to be a strong and effective follower of Jesus. You will want and desire to please Him/God and it will be as a never ending hunger and thirst for more of Him - to draw ever closer to Him in a strong, loving, trusting, personal, and enduring relationship.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." - John 3 :36
First, you must repent, which is a complete change of mind, a change in heart, involving remorse for your sins, and praying to the heavenly Father for forgiveness.
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38
"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."- Jesus at Mark 1:15
"Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy." - Psalm 109:26
"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) - 2 Corinthians 6:2
"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By Whom also we have access by Faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience, experience, and experience hope." - Romans 5:1-4 (Not exactly salvation verses, but I wanted to include them for encouragement for those already saved, as well as to show unbelievers what consolation can be theirs once they accept Jesus as their Savior).
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father except by Me." - John 14:6
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
When the roll is called up yonder, will you be there?
