grieve as do the rest who have no hope . For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again , even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus . For this we say to you by the word of the Lord , that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord , will not precede those who have fallen asleep . For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout , with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God , and the dead in Christ will rise first . Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air , and so we shall always be with the Lord . Therefore comfort one another with these words .
Kelinda : What do you hope people will remember most from reading A Place Called Heaven ?
Dr . Jeffress : Heaven is an amazing place , but Scripture tells us that many will be turned away at Heaven ’ s gates — and not just atheists and devil worshipers . Those turned away will include religious people who consider themselves Christ-followers because of the many good works they performed in the name of Jesus . In fact , they will use their righteous acts as an argument for why they should be allowed into God ’ s presence :
Many will say to me on that day , “ Lord , Lord , did we not prophesy in Your name , and in Your name cast out demons , and in Your name perform many miracles ?” ( Matt . 7:22 )
The only “ document ” that allows us entry into God ’ s presence for eternity is one that is stamped “ Forgiven ,” and it is given to us the moment we trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation . My hope is that readers who have not placed their trust in Jesus Christ will be moved to do so and be allowed entry into our eternal home on the day of judgment .
Dr . Robert Jeffress is senior pastor of the 13,000-member First Baptist Church in Dallas , TX . His daily radio program , Pathway to Victory , is heard on more than 900 stations nationwide , and his weekly television program is seen on more than 10,000 cable systems and stations in the USA and in nearly 200 countries around the world .
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