Heaven
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1. Kingdom Mindset and Eternal Rewards
Focusing on heaven and God’s purposes. Theme: Living with an eternal perspective; seeking heaven’s priorities and rewards. Chapter (10) Eternity, Legacy, and Society Bible Verses: 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay…
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18: The Holy Spirit and New Covenant
1. Theme Overview This theme focuses on the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding, empowering, and sanctifying God’s people, and the establishment of the New Covenant through Jesus Christ. The New Covenant replaces the old Mosaic covenant, fulfilling God’s promise to write His law on hearts and to bring…
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19: Church and Community
1. Theme Overview This theme focuses on the biblical vision of the Church as God’s people, living in communal fellowship, worship, service, and mission. It emphasizes the importance of unity, accountability, and mutual edification, portraying the Church as both local congregations and the universal body of Christ. Key Concept: Core…
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20: New Heaven and New Earth
1. Theme Overview This theme explores the biblical vision of the renewed creation at the end of history, where God restores all things, removes sin and suffering, and establishes eternal fellowship with His people. It encompasses eschatological hope, justice, and the fullness of God’s kingdom. Key Concept: Core Theological Insight:The…
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68. Heaven
Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Exodus 20:22 22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 1 Kings 8:30 30 And hearken thou to…
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The Final Doctrine: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of All Things
The Council That Never Was – Volume IV Prologue: The Last Horizon The great forum stood silent. No neon. No machine. No marble. Just horizon. Above, stars burned as if freshly made. Below, an abyss rumbled—not with fire, but with grief. And between them: a narrow path. Here the council…
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Part V: The Last Things – Heaven, Hell, and All in Between“Eternity Is Not a Doctrine. It Is a Face.”
The Council of Minds: A Theological Novel Chapter 16: The Shaking of the Earth The hall trembled. The great table cracked down its centre, not in division, but in revelation. One side showed light—clouds, trumpets, thrones. The other darkness—fire, gates, weeping. Between them hovered a scroll, unopened, marked only with…
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The Parable of the Sower
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Sower 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Kingdom of God / Heaven; Reception of the Word; Spiritual Growth and Fruitfulness 4. Parable Summary The Parable of the Sower presents a sower scattering seed across four types of ground: the path, rocky…
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The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Tares)
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Tares) 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Kingdom of God / Heaven; Coexistence of Good and Evil; Final Judgement 4. Parable Summary Jesus tells of a man who sowed good wheat seed in his field. While he…
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The Parable of the Mustard Seed
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Mustard Seed 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Kingdom of God / Heaven; Small Beginnings and Great Expansion; Divine Sovereignty 4. Parable Summary Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed — a seed known for its minute size…
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The Parable of the Leaven
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Leaven(also known as The Parable of the Yeast) 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Kingdom of God / Heaven; Hidden Transformation; Spiritual Influence 4. Parable Summary Jesus likens the Kingdom of Heaven to leaven (yeast) that a woman takes and mixes…
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The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Hidden Treasure 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Kingdom of God / Heaven; Joyful Discovery; Costly Discipleship; Eternal Value 4. Parable Summary Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to treasure hidden in a field. A man finds it, hides it again,…
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The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price(also known as The Pearl of Great Value) 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Kingdom of God / Heaven; Sacrificial Discipleship; Recognition of True Worth 4. Parable Summary Jesus tells of a merchant in search of fine pearls…
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The Parable of the Growing Seed
1. Introduction The Parable of the Growing Seed, found only in Mark’s Gospel (Mark 4:26–29), is one of Jesus’ shortest and most under-discussed parables. Yet it offers profound insights into the nature of God’s Kingdom as a divine process that operates beyond human comprehension. The image of a seed growing…
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The Parable of the Dragnet
1. Title of the Parable The Parable of the Dragnet(also known as The Net) 2. Scripture Reference(s) 3. Thematic Category Kingdom of God / Heaven; Final Judgment; Separation of the Righteous and Wicked 4. Parable Summary Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a dragnet that is cast into the…
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Heaven, God’s Kingdom, and God’s Presence (Contents)
Heaven, God’s Kingdom, and God’s Presence in Biblical Theology Heaven and Ethical Living – Shaping Character through Eternal Perspective Kingdom Ethics – Living Justly under God’s Rule Practising God’s Presence – Daily Discipleship and Moral Formation Early Christian Theologians on Heaven, God’s Kingdom, and God’s Presence Medieval Theologians on Heaven,…
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Heaven, God’s Kingdom, and God’s Presence in Biblical Theology
1. Introduction In biblical theology, the themes of heaven, the Kingdom of God, and God’s presence are conceptually distinct yet deeply interwoven. These motifs lie at the heart of Christian doctrine, shaping understandings of divine sovereignty, eschatological hope, and the relational dynamics between God and humanity. While heaven is portrayed…
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Heaven and Ethical Living – Shaping Character through Eternal Perspective
1. Introduction The doctrine of heaven has long served as a beacon of hope within Christian theology, portraying the final state of redeemed humanity in eternal communion with God. However, heaven is not merely a future destination but also a transformative vision that informs and shapes moral conduct in the…
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Early Christian Theologians on Heaven, God’s Kingdom, and God’s Presence
1. Introduction The early Church Fathers laid the foundations for Christian theological reflection on heaven, the Kingdom of God, and God’s presence. Drawing on Scripture, Greek philosophical traditions, and ecclesial experience, figures such as Augustine of Hippo, Origen of Alexandria, and Gregory of Nyssa offered interpretations that shaped Christian thought…
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Medieval Theologians on Heaven, God’s Kingdom, and God’s Presence
1. Introduction The medieval period (c. 500–1500 AD) represents a pivotal era in the development of systematic theology, marked by the synthesis of biblical doctrine, patristic legacy, and classical philosophy, particularly Aristotelian and Neoplatonic frameworks. During this era, theologians such as Thomas Aquinas, Anselm of Canterbury, and Hildegard of Bingen…
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Reformation Theologians on Heaven, God’s Kingdom, and God’s Presence
1. Introduction The Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century marked a watershed in Christian theology, reorienting the Church’s understanding of heaven, the Kingdom of God, and God’s presence. Reformers such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli dismantled aspects of medieval scholasticism, advancing doctrines grounded in Sola Scriptura (Scripture…
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Modern Theologians on Heaven, God’s Kingdom, and God’s Presence
1. Introduction Modern theology, emerging in dialogue with historical criticism, philosophical modernity, and socio-political concerns, presents a nuanced engagement with the doctrines of heaven, the Kingdom of God, and divine presence. Influenced by biblical scholarship, ecological awareness, and the traumas of history, theologians such as N.T. Wright, Jürgen Moltmann, and…
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Biblical Ethics in Daily Life: Applying Heaven, God’s Kingdom, and God’s Presence
1. Introduction Biblical ethics serve as a moral compass for Christian living, rooted not in abstract rules but in the dynamic relationship between theological truth and daily practice. The doctrines of heaven, God’s kingdom, and His presence are not merely eschatological or metaphysical; they profoundly influence how believers live, relate…
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Chapter 3 – Pre-Material Creation Phase
Heaven as the First “Place” Created Biblical Basis: The Creation of the Invisible and Visible Realms The biblical account of creation begins with the profound declaration: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). The Hebrew word for “heavens,” shamayim (שָּׁמַיִם), appears in the plural form…