Heaven on Earth


Book Description

The future hope of heaven is pulled into the here-and-now in this illuminating description of the kingdom of God. Popular teacher and author R. Alan Streett exposes half-truths about the kingdom that many believers have unwittingly accepted. He contrasts these with the testimony of Scripture: Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God on the earth—it has already begun. As ambassadors of the kingdom, we are to fulfill our responsibilities and enjoy its benefits here and now. Salvation does not culminate with the soul escaping the body and living forever in heaven. Our bodies will eventually be transformed, and we will live with God on a restored earth. The church is like an embassy of heaven in a foreign country. In their life together, believers demonstrate kingdom realities to the world. Readers will find hope and direction in this fresh presentation of the historic teaching on the kingdom.




God's Kingdom on Earth and in Heaven


Book Description

If Jesus of Nazareth is the Jewish Messiah, then where is his messianic kingdom? According to the Old Testament prophets, the Messiah was supposed to rule as King of kings over Israel and the whole world, establishing a kingdom on earth characterized by peace, justice, righteousness, and prosperity. Instead, Jesus Christ was crucified, and after being resurrected, ascended to heaven without establishing his reign. The current fallen world remains under Satan's dominion where systemic strife, war, injustice, evil, and poverty continue. Does Christ have to return again to this earth in order to remove Satan and establish his 1,000-year messianic kingdom? Could it be that the kingdom of the triune God manifests itself as two kingdoms: one being the Son's messianic kingdom on this earth when it is restored to an Edenic paradise achieved through the "first resurrection" of the natural body of the departed saints; and the other being the Father's eternal kingdom in heaven achieved when Christ comes again, raptures the saints, destroys this Genesis creation, and takes the immortal sons of God to the new heavens and new earth (Rev. 20:4-5, 12)? This book explores the possibility that instead of Christ returning to this earth to establish his millennial kingdom, Christ remains in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father when he rules the world. He is God, after all. As such, he has a divine right to rule over his restored creation.




Listening to Your Life


Book Description

Daily meditations taken from the works of an acclaimed novelist, essayist, and preacher who has articulated what he sees with a freshness and clarity and energy that hails our stultified imaginations.




Heaven Misplaced


Book Description

Though most Christians refrain from predicting exactly when our world will end, many believe that when earth's finale does arrive, it will be a catastrophe. They expect that before Christ comes back to reclaim His own, Satan will escape his chains and return to wreak havoc on our planet. Details vary, but the general assumption is the same: things will get much, much worse before they get better. But is this really what the Bible teaches? Leaving aside the theological terms that often confuse and muddle this question, Douglas Wilson instead explains eschatology as the end of the greatest story in the world - the story of humanity. He turns our attention back to the stories and prophecies of Scripture and argues for "hopeful optimism": the belief that God will be true to His promises, that His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven, and that the peace and good will we sing about at Christmas will one day be a reality here on earth.




What on Earth is Heaven?


Book Description

What happens to us when we die? Will heaven be a place of fluffy clouds, angels and cherubs playing harps? Is the Christian faith just about securing a place in heaven when we die? In What on Earth is Heaven? James Paul explores the radical truth of what the Bible says about heaven and the afterlife, and its relevance for your life here and now on earth. Unpacking the biblical story of the separation and reunion of heaven and earth, he shows that heaven isn't a place somewhere 'out there' but a dimension of reality - the dimension where God's will is done. The Good News isn't that we get to escape to heaven, but that God invites us to be a part of his plan to bring the kingdom of heaven to our square inch of the earth. Insightful and accessible, What on Earth is Heaven? is a book for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of the Bible's teaching on heaven, or anyone who has wondered about the true meaning of finding heaven on earth. Life-affirming and uplifting, this book will fire your imagination as to how you can be a part of bringing heaven to the world around you.




Jesus the Prophet


Book Description

R. David Kaylor believes that Jesus' vision of a just society and his prophetic engagement with social, political, and economic conditions led to his execution by the Romans. Here, he presents Jesus' message of a just society based on Israel's covenant tradition. He shows the prophetic background and social content of Jesus' ethical teaching and demonstrates that the parables (especially those with economic and agricultural associations) critiqued the social conditions and called for a restructuring of community life. He provides evidence that Jesus' vision remains, offering criticism of the present and promise of a future.




On Earth as in Heaven


Book Description

Today’s leading Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and acclaimed author N. T. Wright returns with a collection of pastoral excerpts, carefully curated from his widely celebrated books, that will inspire those wanting to cultivate a life “on earth as it is in heaven.” Modern pastors and their flocks have long considered N. T. Wright a role model for being a thoughtful Christian in today’s world. His bestselling books, including Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, Simply Jesus, and After You Believe, have guided Christians in their belief and practice of the faith. Now, Christians can rely on his wisdom to guide them through each day of their lives with this thoughtful book of daily meditations, featuring short selections from his classic works. With reflections on themes such as faith, mission, character, and God’s work in the world, these daily meditations will invigorate and uplift Christians in their search to live their faith authentically and biblically in today’s world.




The Late Great Planet Earth


Book Description

The impact of The Late Great Planet Earth cannot be overstated. The New York Times called it the "no. 1 non-fiction bestseller of the decade." For Christians and non-Christians of the 1970s, Hal Lindsey's blockbuster served as a wake-up call on events soon to come and events already unfolding -- all leading up to the greatest event of all: the return of Jesus Christ. The years since have confirmed Lindsey's insights into what biblical prophecy says about the times we live in. Whether you're a church-going believer or someone who wouldn't darken the door of a Christian institution, the Bible has much to tell you about the imminent future of this planet. In the midst of an out-of-control generation, it reveals a grand design that's unfolding exactly according to plan. The rebirth of Israel. The threat of war in the Middle East. An increase in natural catastrophes. The revival of Satanism and witchcraft. These and other signs, foreseen by prophets from Moses to Jesus, portend the coming of an antichrist . . . of a war which will bring humanity to the brink of destruction . . . and of incredible deliverance for a desperate, dying planet.




The Age of Promise


Book Description

The past provides a blueprint for the present and promises hope for the future. Many Christians struggle to understand Old Testament teachings. We look at the laws and rituals and wonder how those long-ago practices could possibly be relevant to our lives now. Randy Robison believes they are not only necessary but are, in fact, vital to a closer walk with Jesus. In The Age of Promise, Robison introduces us to ten foundational promises made in the Old Testament and transformed in Christ, ten mysteries now revealed in Jesus that offer us a deeper, more powerful relationship with the Father. These ten promises, which bring God’s intricate plan of redemption to fulfillment, include: The promise of deliverance The promise of the chosen people The promise of the temple And much, much more! When we learn from the past and apply it to the present, we determine our future. The Age of Promise invites us to uncover the glorious riches of our heritage of faith and experience real transformation in our everyday lives. With the light of Christ shining on the shadows of the past, we develop a more complete perspective and discover a deeper, more powerful relationship with the eternal Father who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.




Heaven on Earth


Book Description

This book is a treatise on the Kingdom of God and the need for the Church to forcefully advance it across the earth. No longer can the businessman sit back in the pew and expect the pastor to do all the work. No longer can the lonely widow or single mom wallow in insecurity and condemnation. Heaven comes to earth when individual believers begin to understand their sphere of authority. Â The self-righteous will no longer be able to sit in judgment of the world, for they will come face to face with what God has forgiven them of and what He is calling them to. We have both the ability and the responsibility to transform society. Don t like the world in which you live? Then come to faith, obey the Word, and allow the Holy Spirit to release the power of the Kingdom through you.