When Jesus Comes To Get Us, What Will Happen To Earth And Everyone Else?

Answer: When Jesus comes back to rescue all who believe in him, several things will happen:

•  Jesus will bring life on earth to an end.
•  Jesus will judge everyone.
•  Jesus will create a new heaven and new earth.
•  We will begin eternal life with God.
•  The devil, his demons, and all unbelievers will begin their eternal death in hell.

Key verse: Then I saw a new earth and a new Heaven.

The first earth and Heaven had disappeared. And there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1)

Related verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 21:1-22:21

Related questions: In the new Jerusalem will I be Jewish? Will God still be making things in heaven?

Who’s the archangel who blows the trumpet? Jesus said he wouldn’t destroy the earth by rain anymore, but could he destroy it by fire?

When Will Jesus Come Back?

Answer: No one knows when Jesus will come back, not even the angels. God has chosen not to tell us.

God has also warned us not to listen to people who say they know when Jesus will return.

The day of Christ’s return will come “like a thief in the night,” when no one is expecting it.

People who say they know the date of Christ’s return are just trying to trick you.

You don’t have to worry about missing Jesus when he returns.

When Jesus comes back, it will be obvious to everyone. All people all over the world will know.

Key verse: No one knows the date and hour when the end will be. Not even the angels know this. No, not even God’s Son knows this. Only the Father knows. (Matthew 24:36)

Related verses: Matthew 24:23-24, 36-44; Luke 21:8- 9; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-6; 1 Peter 4:7

Related questions: When will the world see God? Will Jesus be able to see everyone at once when he comes back?

Does Jesus know when he’s coming back? Will everyone see Jesus when he comes back?

How could we see Jesus if he comes back on the other side of the earth?

Will we hear something when Jesus comes back so we’ll know to look up in the sky?

Do Angels Go To Work?

Answer: The word angel means “messenger.” Angels don’t have jobs where they work for pay, the way people do.

Instead, they serve God. Angels do nothing but what God wants them to do all the time, without ever getting tired or grumpy.

They’re happy to do it. They do a lot of work, but they don’t “go to work” like your mom or dad does.

Key verse: The angels are spirits who serve God. They are messengers sent to care for those who will receive [Christ’s] salvation. (Hebrews 1:14)

Related verses: Luke 4:10; 16:22; Revelation 4:8; 7:15

Related questions: What does my angel do? Can angels build things? Why does God use angels-why doesn’t he do everything?

Do Angels Watch Television?

Answer: Angels spend all their time doing what God wants them to do and praising him.

They don’t take time to relax or do things “just for fun.” Keep in mind that angels don’t need to relax, because they don’t get tired.

And they enjoy their service to God so much that stopping to do something else wouldn’t be “fun” for them anyway.

Why would angels want to watch the stuff on TV when they can see the stars up close, fly through the universe doing errands for God, and watch God doing miracles in people’s lives?

Angels have much better things to do than watch TV-they help us!

Key verse: These Living Beings… didn’t rest day or night. They said, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! He was, and is, and is coming.” (Revelation 4:8)

Related verses: Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 7:11-12

Related questions: What do angels do all day long when they are not protecting people from getting kidnapped? Can angels get bored?

Does Each Angel Belong To A Person?

Answer: The Bible says that angels help people, but it doesn’t say each angel watches over a certain person like a bodyguard.

You may have heard people say that God assigns an angel to watch over each person, but we don’t know whether that’s true.

We only know that God gives angels the job of helping and protecting us. We don’t know how they divide that job.

Key verse: Be careful that you don’t look down upon a single one of these children.

For I [Jesus] tell you that in Heaven their angels can speak directly to my Father. (Matthew 18:10)

Related verses: Psalm 34:7; 91:11; Ezekiel 28:14; Hebrews 1:14

Related questions: Does every person have a guardian angel? Do I have a guardian angel?

Note to parents: There is a Jewish tradition that angels look like the person to whom they are assigned.

Are There Angels In This Room With Us?

Answer: Angels aren’t everywhere, so we shouldn’t expect them to be with us at every moment, the way God is.

But angels may be in the room with you right now. Angels can be with us without our knowing about it.

In the Bible story about Balam (Numbers 22:21-41), Balam didn’t know there was an angel with him until God allowed him to see the angel.

Angels are invisible spirits, so we never know exactly where they are.

Key verse: Don’t forget to be kind to strangers. Some who have done this have served angels without knowing it! (Hebrews 13:2)

Related verses: Numbers 22:22-35; 2 Kings 6:16-17; Hebrews 1:14

Related question: Why are angels kept in heaven?

Do Angels Stay In The Car Or Fly Beside?

Answer: God watches over us, using angels as his servants. If God wants an angel to be with you in the car, that is where the angel will be.

If God wants the angel to be outside the car and moving along at sixty-five miles per hour, that’s where the angel will be.

Angels go wherever God tells them to go.

Key verse: Shall I look to the mountains for help? No! My help comes from the Lord. (Psalm 121:1-2)

Related verse: Matthew 28:20

Related questions: Do angels protect us all the time? If angels are always around us, how come some people die?

Do Angels Sin?

Answer: We don’t know if angels can sin anymore. Human beings sin because they have a desire to sin.

That is because after Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, every person ever born has been born a sinner.

Angels are not like human beings, and they don’t have a desire to sin. So it is not natural for angels to disobey God.

The Bible hints that they may be able to do wrong. Satan was once an angel who was thrown out of heaven because he wanted to take God’s place.

And other angels sinned then by following Satan. But can other angels sin now? We don’t know.

We know only that heaven cannot have any sin in it; if it did, it would not be perfect.

Key verse: God cannot even trust his own messengers. Even angels make mistakes! (Job 4:18)

Related verses: Job 15:15; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6

Related questions: Does God like it when people say to you, “Oh, you are a little angel”?

Do angels do what they are supposed to do by themselves, or does God have to tell them what to do?

How do angels know to obey God? If angels were bad once, can they still be bad?

Can An Angel Be Your Friend And Tell You That He Is Your Angel?

Answer: In the Bible, we learn that God wants to be good friends with people.

He doesn’t give that job to angels. God called Abraham his friend. God spoke to Moses in the way that a man would speak to a friend.

That’s what he wants with us, too. God’s angels do his work, but they don’t try to become friends with us because the one looking for our friendship is God.

If God has given you an angel, you won’t see that angel or talk to him.

Key verse: I [Jesus] no longer call you slaves. For a master doesn’t confide in his slaves.

Now you are my friends. This is proved by the fact that I have told you all that the Father told me. (John 15:15)

Related verse: Exodus 33:11

Related questions: Can I talk to angels? Can you play with angels? Can you have a relationship with an angel?

Do Angels Just Appear For An Instant One Minute And Then Disappear?

Answer: Angels are not ghosts, gods, or superheroes. They serve God and always follow his directions, so they go wherever he says and appear however he tells them to.

They appear to us the way they need to appear to do God’s work.

In the Bible we sometimes read of angels coming and going quickly, but they never did it to show off.

In fact, usually no one saw them appear or disappear.

Key verse: Suddenly, the angel was joined by a great crowd of others. All the armies of Heaven were there! They were praising God. (Luke 2:13)

Related verses: Luke 2:8-15

Note to parents: Some children may ask this question because they think they may have seen an angel, and they want to know if it is possible.

Others may ask this because of the way angels are pictured in movies and television shows.

Emphasize the fact that the only reliable source for our information about angels is the Bible.

Can An Angel Bea Person To Us Like A Real Person?

Answer: Sometimes angels have made themselves look like humans and have appeared to people, That’s how they appeared to Abraham one day.

Abraham was sitting outside his tent when three men walked up and greeted him.

As far as he knew, they were men, perhaps travelers looking for a place to stay.

But in fact, they were angels. That’s why the Bible urges us to be kind and neighborly to visitors.

You never know when a visitor might be an angel. It is possible that you have met an angel and did not know it.

But don’t go looking for angels. Angels almost always stay invisible.

Key verse: Don’t forget to be kind to strangers. Some who have done this have served angels without knowing it! (Hebrews 13:2)

Related verses: Genesis 18:1-2

Related questions: Can we talk to our angels, to the ones who protect us? Does everyone have their own personal angel?

Why Do People Die?

Answer: People die because of sin. When God created the first human beings, they weren’t supposed to die.

They would never grow old or wear out. But then they disobeyed God, and sin and death entered the world.

From that point on, every person bom has been born a sinner into a sinful world.

With sin came death, and so plants, animals, and people started to die.

Every person has to die. But people can live eternally, in heaven with God, if they trust in Christ and ask God to forgive their sins.

In heaven we aren’t broken anymore. There is no sickness or pain or dying there.

Key verses: You may eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the Tree of Conscience. You must not eat from that tree.

For its fruit will open your eyes. It will make you aware of right and wrong, good and bad.

If you eat its fruit, you will be doomed to die. (Genesis 2:16-17)

Related verses: Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 9:27; James 1:15

Related questions: What is death? Why do I have to die? Why do some people die when they’re young and not just when they’re old?

If God wants everyone to live, why do babies die? Do you grow older when you go to heaven?

Note to parents: This question often comes up when a relative or a pet dies.

It is a good question and an important one for you to answer because it creates a “teachable moment.”

Answering it will probably lead to several more questions about salvation, eternal life, and heaven, so be prepared!

Does Your Body Stay In The Grave When You Go To Heaven?

Answer: The body you have here on earth is a physical, imperfect, short-term holding place for your soul.

It’s not made to last. When it’s dead, it will decay. The real you is your soul, not your body.

But in heaven you will be given a new body, a body that will last forever.

This is known as the resurrection. The physical body will die, but the spiritual body will last forever.

What happens to your body on earth or in the grave will not affect your eternal life in any way.

Key verse: For you [God] will not leave me among the dead. You will not let your loved one rot in the grave. (Psalm 16:10)

Related verses: Psalm 49:15; 1 Corinthians 15:35, 42-44

Related questions: Will we be able to breathe in heaven? Does your spirit have clothes on when it leaves your body, or is it naked?

What does it feel like when your spirit leaves your body? When you die are you automatically in heaven?

Will I Go To Heaven When I Die?

Answer: Every person who trusts in Jesus gets to go to heaven.

If you have asked Jesus to take away your sins, then you will go to heaven, too.

That’s God’s promise. And nothing can take away God’s promise of heaven.

When you die as a Christian, you go straight to live with God-you don’t need to be afraid of dying.

Key verse: It is God’s will that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me. It is his will that I should raise them to eternal life at the Last Day. (John 6:39)

Related verses: Isaiah 12:2; Romans 8:38-39; Hebrews 2:14; 6:11; 10:19-22; 2 Peter 1:10-11; 1 John 5:13

Related questions: What if I die when I’m six or seven or eight? When will I die? When will we be dead? When I die, will I go straight to heaven?

Note to parents: Many children have a profound fear of death.

They may have nightmares about it. But they may also hesitate to talk about it with you, so you may not hear them ask about it.

Reassure them: Jesus defeated death. He made it possible for us to live forever in heaven. We don’t need to fear death.

Is There Any Other Place You Can Go To Besides Heaven Or Hell When You Die?

Answer: You may have heard people talk about purgatory, limbo, or some other in-between place where people go after they die.

But the Bible does not teach anything about a place like that. The Bible does teach, however, that death is the final cutoff point.

People do not have a second chance after they die. There is no opportunity after death to undo the bad things a person did while alive.

The Bible also makes it very clear that Christians immediately go to be with God after they die.

Key verse: Jesus replied, “Today you will be with me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise.” (Luke 23:43)

Related verses: Psalm 86:13; Proverbs 1:12; Luke 23:40-43; Hebrews 9:27

Related question: Does your soul stay in your body until you are buried or just until you die?

Can God Take You To Heaven If You’re Not Dead Yet?

Answer: God can do anything. He can take a person to heaven anytime he likes, even if that person has not died.

And in fact, the Bible tells about two people who had that privilege: Enoch and Elijah.

God took them directly to heaven before they died.

The Bible also tells us that someday Jesus will come back and take all his people to heaven, even those who have not died yet.

Key verse: When [Enoch) was 365, he disappeared. God took him away! (Genesis 5:24)

Related verses: 2 Kings 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Related questions: Why did Elijah get taken into heaven by a whirlwind when he hadn’t died yet? Will we go to heaven in a fiery chariot?

Why Are Cemeteries So Creepy?

Answer: Death is a scary thing because it is final. After a person dies, that person does not come back to earth ever again.

It’s not like going on a trip and then coming back. It’s like going on a trip and never coming back.

Death also scares us because it can happen so suddenly. One second the person is here, awake and talking.

Then he or she is dead, unable to talk or live with us ever again. That’s why cemeteries are so creepy.

No one wants to die, and cemeteries are where dead bodies are buried.

Also, television and movies show cemeteries as places where ghosts and other spooky things hang out.

Because most people fear death, a cemetery can be a scary place.

But Christians don’t have to be afraid of death because they know that they will go to heaven when they die and that scary things are just made up by people who make movies and TV shows.

Key verses: Even now, just as in the past, I hope that I will be an honor to Christ. This is true whether I live or die. For to me, living is Christ, and dying-well, that’s better yet! (Philippians 1:20-21)

Related verses: Proverbs 10:24; Luke 8:49-56; Romans 8:38-39; 1 Corinthians 3:22

Related questions: Why is everybody buried together in a cemetery instead of by themselves? How can they make room in the cemetery for everyone who is dead?

Note to parents: Help your children develop a healthy attitude about death. Say positive things as you pass a cemetery; don’t jokingly say things that foster a fear of death.

Why Did God Take Grandpa To Heaven?

Answer: We don’t like to think about this fact, but it is true-eventually every person has to die.

Sometimes people die when they are young, through accidents, diseases, or other tragedies.

But even the healthiest person will die someday. As we get older, our bodies get weaker and weaker and then finally wear out.

No one wants a grandfather or grandmother to die, but that’s part of God’s plan right now: We get old and our bodies die. Certainly it is better to be with God in heaven than to be on earth.

If our grandparents believe in Jesus, then someday we will see them again.

Key Verse: (God’s] loved ones are very special to him. He does not lightly let them die. (Psalm 116:15)

Related verses: Proverbs 16:31; 20:29

Related questions: When I go up to heaven will I see my grandma? Will God let me visit Grandpa in heaven?

If a whole family dies on earth, like in a fire, will they be together in a house in heaven?

How Can Jesus Resurrect Bodies That Have Been Burnt To Ashes?

Answer: God will have no trouble finding everyone’s molecules.

He created people in the first place, so why wouldn’t he be able to put them back together?

It doesn’t matter what happens to a person’s body-God can put anyone back together.

Whether the person’s body was burned, separated for organ donations, or decayed in the ground, God will make it new and immortal.

The earth and sea will give up their dead, and God will resurrect us despite the fact that we “returned to dust.”

Key verses: When Jesus comes back, God will bring back with him all the dead Christians….

The believers who are dead will be the first to rise to meet the Lord.

Then we who are alive and remain on the earth will be caught up with them.

We will go to the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. We will stay with him forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:14, 16-17)

Related verses: Psalm 90:3; Ecclesiastes 3:20; Revelation 20:12-13

Related questions: How can Jesus resurrect your body if it’s turned to compost?

If people have been dead for a long time, do they turn to compost?

If someone hurts you really bad, like a bad person cuts off your head, and God really loves you, will he give you a new body?

Isn’t it gross to have worms chewing your body after you’re dead?

Why Do People Believe In Reincarnation?

Answer: Reincarnation is the belief that people come back to life after they die.

They never really die once and for all but keep coming back as something else or as someone else.

This belief says that people come back to earth as different creatures after they die.

Some people believe in reincarnation because their religion, such as Hinduism or Buddhism, teaches it.

Some believe in reincarnation because they want to believe that they will get a second chance on earth to be better people.

But the Bible does not teach reincamation. The Bible teaches that we have one life and then we face judgment.

Key verse: It is planned that men die only once. And after that comes judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

Related verses: Luke 16:19-31

Related questions: Does born again mean reincarnation? Is reincarnation replanting carnations?

If you die, can you come back as a different person? What does the Bible say about reincarnation?

Note to parents: Some children misinterpret the term born again to mean reincarnation.

You can explain that being born again means to be bom into God’s family, not to come back as a different person later.

Being born again happens when we trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. It’s not reincarnation.

Will Still Have Feelings In Heaven?

Answer: Yes! People in heaven have lots of feelings-all good ones. People in heaven are filled with joy! You will be busy smiling, whistling, and singing for joy.

When you are not doing that, you will be kicking your heels and jumping. Occasional high fives will interrupt the joviality.

The timing will be perfect, and you’ll love it. You will be happy because you will be with God and because all sin, death, and sadness will be gone forever.

And think of the joy when you see your family and friends. Heaven will be a place of great joy and gladness-great feelings all around.

Key verse: You will give me back my life. You will give me great joy in your presence. (Acts 2:28)

Related verses: Jeremiah 31:13; Matthew 25:34; John 16:20-22

Can We Still Have Birthdays In Heaven?

Answer: The great thing about birthdays is the parties. In heaven, we won’t grow old, but we will have lots of parties.

The biggest party will be the celebration of “the wedding feast of the Lamb,” when we celebrate our new life in heaven with Jesus.

It will be ten times more fun than any birthday you’ve ever had.

The things we enjoy here on earth are like appetizers. They give us only a taste of what heaven will be like.

The things you enjoy here on earth will only be better and greater in the presence of God.

Key verse: And the angel spoke to me. He said, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:9)

Related verses: Isaiah 25:6-8

Note to parents: Heaven lacks a lot of the things that kids enjoy-toys, television, and games.

This confuses many kids because they think they need these things to be happy.

They don’t realize that enjoyment of kid things depends on their being kids.

In heaven they won’t be kids anymore-they’ll be perfect, so they’ll enjoy different things.

What will make us happy in heaven will match who we will be then, and that’s something we can’t see very well right now (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Will You See Your Great-Great-Grandparents In Heaven?

Answer: All people who have ever believed in Jesus, no matter how long ago, will be in heaven.

If your great-great-grandparents believed in Jesus, they will be there.

Even though you have never met your great-great- grandparents, you will be able to meet them there.

But not every person who ever lived has believed, so not every person will be there.

Key verse: God has reserved for his children the priceless gift of eternal life.

It is kept in Heaven for you. It is pure and spotless.

It is beyond the reach of change and decay. (1 Peter 1:4)

Related verses: Romans 16:26; Hebrews 12:22-24; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2 Peter 1:11; Revelation 7:9

Note to parents: This kind of question could mean,

“In heaven, will we see all people who have ever lived?” The answer is, “No, only those who have trusted in Christ as Savior.”

Or it could mean that your child is curious about past relatives whom he or she has never met.

If great-great-grandparents and others were believers, this would be a great time to tell about your family’s heritage of faith.

Does Jesus Live With God In Heaven, Or Does He Live By Himself?

Answer: When Jesus left the earth, he went to heaven to live with God the Father.

That’s where he is right now. He sits at the Father’s right hand, the place of highest honor.

The Bible says he talks to God about us (1 John 2:1).

Key verse: Now I am leaving the world, and leaving them behind.

And I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your own care.

Keep all those you have given me. May they be united just as we are. (John 17:11)

Related verses: John 17:5; Acts 7:55-56; Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 10:12

Related questions: Will Jesus do miracles in heaven? Is Jesus happy in heaven?

When God is in heaven, is he always thinking of people down here on earth?

Does God take care of his angels the way he takes care of his people?

Is God like the president of the United States in heaven?

Why Doesn’t God Take Us To Heaven As Soon As We Get Saved?

Answer: God doesn’t take his people to heaven right away because he wants them to grow in their faith.

He also wants them to tell others about Christ, to help others, and to make the world better. God has work for his people to do.

Key verses: So now go and make disciples in all the nations.

Baptize them into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Related verses: John 9:4; 2 Peter 3:9

What If I Don’t Want To Leave My Friends And Family To Go To Heaven?

Answer: It’s OK to not want to go to heaven right now.

God has given you a place to enjoy right here and now your home and your family and friends.

You don’t have to go to heaven right away.

But heaven will be a happy place, not a lonely or a sad place.

Once you’re in heaven you won’t feel afraid of it you will be glad that you are there.

And if your family and friends know Jesus, too, you all will be in heaven together.

You will be together with your family again.

Key verse: Be sure of this thing! I am with you always, even to the end of the world. (Matthew 28:20)

Related verses: Revelation 21:3-5

Related questions: Will I be able to play with my friends up in heaven? How can you get out of heaven?

What will my friend do when he goes to heaven? Do they have sports in heaven?

Note to parents: Don’t be appalled if your child says he or she is afraid of heaven or doesn’t want to go.

Some kids fear going to heaven because it seems faraway and mysterious.

All they can imagine is being taken away from their families and going to a cold and impersonal place where they don’t know anyone.

Assure your child that heaven is a warm and happy place.

What’s A Casket?

Answer:A casket is a metal or wooden box in which a dead body is placed.

Usually a casket is buried in the ground in a cemetery.

Putting a body in a casket is a very old custom and is a way of showing respect for the dead person.

Also, it is part of the custom of mourning the person’s death.

Key verse: It will be an honor to have you [Abraham] choose the finest of our tombs, so that you can bury [Sarah] there. (Genesis 23:6)

Related verses: Genesis 50:26; Amos 2:1; Mark 15:46; Romans 12:15

Related questions: How can people be cremated? How can adults be cremated when they’re so big?

Why Do People Cry At Funerals?

Answer: People cry at funerals because they are very sad. They miss the person who has died.

Even when people know that their family member or friend is now in heaven with Jesus, they cry because they miss their loved one.

The purpose of funerals is to say good-bye to the dead person, to show respect for the person and his or her family, to cry and be sad, and to remember what the person meant to everyone.

Key verses: Tears came to Jesus’ eyes. “They were close friends,” the Jewish leaders said. “See how much he loved him.” (John 11:35-36)

Related verses: Mark 5:38-39; Luke 7:11-15; Romans 12:15

Related question: Why do we have funerals?