At Heaven's Door: A Bible Study to a Christian's Heavenly Call from Life to Life.

At

Heaven’s

Door

A Bible Study to a

Christian’s Heavenly Call

from Life to Life.

David R. Rosen

Copyright © 2022 David R. Rosen.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8256-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8257-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8255-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022920262

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/17/2022

CONTENTS

Ten Key References

Dedications

Appreciation

And to a Few of Sandy’s Lifetime of Friendships

My Purpose in Writing

Introduction

Sandy, Mom … Grammy

To my Grandchildren, How Grammy and I Met.

God Works in Unexpected Ways.

The Call.

And Finish. Finish Strong; Finish Well!

Field of Scriptures

The Path of Life.

Born of the Spirit. (Born Again)

The Days of Life on Earth

Our Tent, Citizenship, The Resurrection.

Tent – Our Mortal Bodies.

Citizenship is in Heaven.

Spiritual Bodies.

Resurrection

The Tent of God.

Heaven.

Visions into Heaven.

By Steven.

By John.

By Isaiah.

By Ezekiel.

By Jesus

By Paul

By the Author of Hebrews.

The Inhabitants of Heaven.

God.

Jesus.

Holy Spirit.

The Seraphim.

Angels.

Archangels.

The Four Living Creatures.

The Twenty-four Elders.

The Saints now in Heaven.

Satan and his angels.

The Divided Heaven.

One of Paradise.

Jesus’s Second Coming.

New Heavens, Earth and New Jerusalem.

Chapter 1 Backgrounder

A Quick Overview to Set Us in Motion.

Jesus at Creation.

Earth.

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life.

Two Observations.

Summary.

Heaven.

The Visual Appearance of Heaven.

The Bifurcated Heaven.

Thus, Satan is Still Inhabiting Heaven – for Now.

Therefore, Heaven is Corrupted by Sin.

The Future Eternity: New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem

The Need for a Savior.

Chapter 2 Pressing Forward

Chapter 3 Saying Goodbye.

When Jesus Raises the Dead.

As Jesus tells Nicodemus,

SIDEBAR One: Peter Has the Keys?

Chapter 4 At Our Last Breath

Will There Then - be Fear?

Steven’s Homecoming.

In the Last Days, others will lose their lives for Christ’s sake.

Getting to Our Last Breath.

Absent From the Body; Present With the Lord.

Chapter 5 What did Sandy Experience Next?

So First Things First. Praise and Adoration.

My Imagination.

Looking Through Sandy’s Eyes.

Chapter 6 Life Places; Life Stages.

Spiritual Body - A Secret and Hidden Wisdom of God Revealed through the Spirit.

Life Places: Earth – Heaven – New Earth.

Life Stages: Perishable – Spiritual – Eternal.

Mortal Body to Spiritual Body to Resurrected Body.

Starting From Mortal to Spiritual.

Then Spiritual to Immortal.

Mortal Body to Immortal Body. (The Rapture)

SIDEBAR Two – Jesus within Us.

At the time of the Rapture.

Chapter 7 Is it Possible to Know…

Is There Community in Heaven and if so, What is Life Like in Heaven?

Heaven is Life Eternal with Jesus.

And, of course, we will be singing praises!

What Does Heaven look like?

Rabbit Trail One: John 14.

Heaven, in many ways, is also another ‘world.’

That We Will Be Known? Luke 16

Rabbit Trail Two: On Earth, In Heaven.

Will we have or maintain our emotions in Heaven?

So then, if what I present is correct, some might see a potential conflict within Revelation 21 regarding our not remembering our life on earth. Or do we?

Who are the ‘their eyes’ and the ‘they’? And who are ‘His people?

Can those in Heaven see those of us who remain on Earth?

So this begs my next question. Can the saints in Heaven see current actions of life happening on Earth?

Every Family in Heaven and on Earth.

Is there Marriage in Heaven? Matthew 22

When God saves a family on Earth and when they die, will the family relationship still be known in Heaven?

Taking a closer look at Hebrews 12:23-24.

In Heaven will each day be remembered?

Who are the Occupants of Heaven?

Chapter 8 First Fruits, Rapture, Resurrection.

First Fruits

SIDEBAR Four – Seeds.

Rapture.

Pretribulation as Told by Dr. David Jeremiah.

The Moody Bible Institute.

Resurrection.

SIDEBAR Five - Flesh and Bones.

Chapter 9 The Body of Christ – First Fruits of the Resurrection

Jesus.

We who believe. And who belong to Christ!

Chapter 10 What Happens Next - After the Rapture?

So, Who is the Bride of Christ?

Chapter 11 Is Saved Israel the Bride?

Ephesians 5:31-32 Revisited.

How then does Ephesians 5:31-32 fit or relate to Revelation 21:9-14?

Rabbit Trail Five: Ephesians 5 Deeper Dive.

Chapter 12 The Parable of the Wedding Feast.

Chapter 13 The Bride of Christ Summary

Chapter 14 So How do I Close?

Appendixes

Book Outline

Parking LOT 01- The Rapture

My Research for The Pretribulation Two Returns of Jesus

The Coming of the Lord

Full Quote: Moody Bible Institute

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: What is the Rapture

Robert Van Kampen: The Sign – The Rapture

Parking LOT 02 – The Bride of Christ

So is the Church the Bride of Jesus?

All right then, What About 2 Corinthians 11:2?

Jews for Jesus Statement of Faith: Israel

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem:

Parking LOT 03 – Other Questions

Questions that didn’t make the cut or fit well into the central body of work.

Parking LOT 04 – Mourning The Loss of a Loved One.

About the Author

Other Books by David Rosen

Presented Through the Remembrance

of My Beloved Wife, Sandy

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:1

TEN KEY REFERENCES

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:3-14

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going. Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.

John 14:1-7

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

John 11:25

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 8:18-25

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:11

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:3-4

But he [Steven], full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.

Acts 7:55-56

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Philippians 3:20 - 4:1

These ten scripture references assembled above are the basis for this bible study lesson of life to life in Christ.

For our salvation is for God, of God, by God, in God, through God, because of God, and for the glory of God, lest any man would boast. And to seek and understand that our life is not our own.

These verses are just a start, for as you read, I pray that you will see that life in and through Jesus is the epitome of who we are. That at death, true life begins for all who believe in Jesus.

Father, glorify yourself and your Son as we study your word, and may you change our hearts to see you in all splendor and glory. In Jesus’s name, I ask, Amen.

DEDICATIONS

To my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He revealed Himself to me when I was 14 years old and enabled me to believe that He died for me and to show the sin within me and my need for Him.

To my wife, Sandy. Who is now with Jesus after suffering an unexpected fatal heart attack on November 29, 2021.

To my son Chris, my daughter Ashley, her husband Nick, and their daughters Hailey, Aubrey, Savannah, and Olivia. To offer you comfort through God’s word that we will see mom again. And there is hope for us to the day God calls each of us home.

And to the reader of this book. For you to know that faith in Christ brings us eternal life realized at our last breath.

I pray that as I study and search the Word of God, I find and then share my heart of this study with those who are like-minded in wondering about life-to-life for those who believe.

Jesus doesn’t speak of dying, but of sleeping for those who believe in Him. But, as we will learn, this body we now occupy is corrupted by sin. But the Holy Spirit within us is our surety towards our Heavenly bodies. And our spiritual bodies will one day be joined with our new resurrected immortal bodies when Christ returns.

So be of good cheer, for this world is not our home, for we are just passing through!

APPRECIATION

First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For everything, For life, physical and eternal. For a life lived. Here and now, and one day before You in glory. All things are for you, Lord, and I praise you for revealing Yourself and enabling me to see You and to believe! All glory and honor are Yours!

After my salvation, I thank you, Jesus, for giving me Sandy as my wife for a season of life on this Earth. And to our children, she bore, and for the next generation of grandchildren. Our prayer Father, Lord Jesus, is that you will continue to glorify yourself within the family legacy you have started in us, and that You will save each generation from Sandy and me, trusting that this is within your will.

And again, Lord, to the people you have placed before me as I write about You, my Lord, Savior, and my life! I appreciate the friendships and the common bond of Christ with my proofreaders.

To Don Lind. Who has journeyed with me in each book I have written. I am using a few business terms as you have been my trusted advisor. My sounding board to the proof of concepts. My friend. Thank you, Don, for your support. For being there as I write. For being there when a trial hits me, and for your advice. Also, for having a good ear for listening. Thank you!

To Tom Kreider. The bond with Tom has many links, dating back to the season of our church time at Bible Baptist. Tom’s wife, Meladee, and another lady at church, Marsha Ellis, became close friends through our family’s church relationships.

Sandy, Meladee, and Marsha. As you also know, Tom, our wives, grew close during this time. But you probably didn’t know that I called them The Three Musketeers when Sandy would tell me about their shopping adventures.

So within the providence of God, the other fiber that connects Tom and me is that Tom’s wife, Meladee, preceded Sandy’s passing by about 2-3 years. And in Sandy’s death, God has brought you and me together, for each of us to bear one another ’s burdens and sorrow. So thank you, Tom, for our enduring friendship, now strengthened further in God’s grace through the loss of our wives, and I appreciate your insights and feedback on the experiences and emotions we have in common.

To my sister Barb. God called mom home in 2017. Then, two years later, dad also went home. Now, in mid-2021, God has called home our last surviving uncle. And in November, He also brought Sandy home. And as I wrap up this book, our last surviving aunt went home to be with the Lord in May. These last six years have witnessed God’s love within our family of the grace through faith He has blessed our family with - now being made complete as He called our loved ones home. So, Sis, you and I have moved up to the pole position. [Add your favorite smiley emoji here.]

Although we have been miles apart, I appreciate your taking the time to help review my writings. I hope this study has been as joyous for you as it has been for me.

To my mother-in-law, Nola. It’s been hard losing a wife for me, but losing a daughter is equally difficult for you, mom. Life order assumes that the young will grow old, and then when we are ‘old,’ we will go home to Heaven. There is a unique hurt when a child dies before a parent, and I felt your pain when Sandy died, but I praise God for you and your strength in recovering. Sandy loved you, as you know. And she would do anything and everything she could because of her love for you. Life is not a box of chocolates; for we know that the reward with Christ is much better. (But Sandy and you do like your chocolates.)

As you have read the manuscripts for my first two books, your support for this book holds more value. I praise God for how close we have become, seeing a relationship of mother-in-law as another mom to me stepping in. Thank you, mom, for being Sandy’s mother and my mother-in-law and for our prayer times and bible studies together. I chuckle every night after our prayer time that you say, If the Good Lord is willing, I’ll talk to you tomorrow, or if not you, then to Sandy, and for the reader, at the time of this writing, I wrote this when mom recently turned 89.

And to a Few of Sandy’s Lifetime of Friendships

Next, it is of value to my family to mention our mom’s friendships over the years. In life, we all have a journey and path to travel, and the following folks came into an intersection with mom and me as we did life together with other people. As you continue the journey of life that God has given you, maybe remembering Mom’s path and how God used her to touch others can help us not forget her and be better aware of God’s role in our lives. To love God and to love people.

To start, I want to thank the sales team at the local neighborhood furniture store, where Sandy was employed before she died. To Jerry Palmer, the Store Manager. To Portia Evans, the Sales Manager. And to the staff of Danielle Beighley, Megan Moran, Kayla Payne, Bill Ruether, Janeth Stang, and Lori Stillwagon. What a blessing you were and are to Sandy and me.

You became a family to us as you integrated Sandy’s return into the workforce in 2018 after being a stay-at-home wife and mom for 30 years. Sandy would come home from work every night and share her day with me. And to hear about her client’s needs, both in furniture and life, how she enjoyed working with you, and the company she loved to represent. Each night she would tell me all the stories and antics of living life together each day within the store - it was a joy for me to experience secondhand as well. Thank you for taking the job and turning it into a blessing for us both. And also, know that you all were in our prayers each night. And know that through and in Jesus, we will one day see her again.

And to Sandy’s auction friends, Joan Voegtly and Linda Stoffel. Oh, the laughter you shared - and the dry humor. Sandy loved your craziness and the times you shared.

And to her crafting group. She loved you ladies and the times of crafting together, even when you met in our garage. What a sight you all were in your Covid masks as you met at our home during Covid-19. As if nothing was different at all! She so enjoyed you, crafting, and the times together.

And to her special individual friendships. To Sandy, she