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Passover to glory
These days as I consider what is happening around the world my estimation is that the world is, as in the days of Noah, full of violence and wickedness.
Matthew 24
33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,
This Passover season as Christians remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ it is appropriate to also remember the promises he made before he left his disciples behind.
Where is Jesus now?
Luke 22: 69 JB Phillips
"But from now on the Son of Man will take his seat at the right hand of almighty God.”
Heaven has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.
A day is coming (soon) when the kingdoms of this world will also submit to his authority.
What moves Jesus Christ?
Psalm 116:15 New International Version
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.
As Stephen was being stoned to death he looked up and saw Jesus. Acts 7: 55 Good News Bible
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw God's glory and Jesus standing at the right side of God. 56 “Look!” he said. “I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!”
The death of Stephen prompted Jesus to get up from his throne - where was he going?
When Jesus was on the cross he said to the dying thief as recorded in Luke 23
39 One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: “Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, “Don't you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. 41 Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” 42 And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!” 43 Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.”
The thief who acknowledged Jesus was going to Paradise.
Heaven is home
John 14:3 Expanded Bible
3 ·After if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.
Jesus comes to take up those who die to himself in Paradise. There they will await the resurrection as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 New International Version
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we 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.