Adapted from “Just What the Bible is all about” © 1979

Christ's Second Coming and Last Things

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

The Bible teaches us our world will not always contin­ue as it now has for so many centuries.  There is a day com­ing when a great event will take place. That great event is the visible and personal return of Jesus Christ.  On that great and final day, Jesus will return to raise the dead, judge the world and destroy the earth.  His second coming will not be a secret or quiet event.  I Thessalonians 4:16 says, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” II Thessalonians 1:7-10 says, “…when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe... in that day.”

SCOFFED AT IN LAST DAYS

II Peter 3:3-4 says, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

CHRIST’S PERSONAL AND VISIBLE RETURN PROMISED

Acts 1:9-11, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, so shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

VISIBLE TO ALL PEOPLE

Revelation 1:7, “Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” 

NO TIME TO REPENT

I Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

TIME OF CHRIST’S RETURN

Even though many would-be prophets have tried to fix the time of Christ’s return, the Bible teaches that it is not known by man.  Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”  The main thing the scriptures stress is to be ready.  Matthew 24:42, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

SURPRISE TO MOST OF WORLD

Matthew 24:37-39, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so also shall the coming of the Son of man be.”  Then I Thessalonians 5:2 says, “the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.”

IT WILL BE THE LAST DAY

II Peter 3:10-12, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.  Wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?"

LAST DAY THE RESURRECTION DAY

I Corinthians 15:21-26, “For since by man [Adam] came death, by man [Christ] came also the resurrection of the dead.   For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  For he must reign, until he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”   Then John 6:39-40 says, “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”  Verse 44, “No man can come to me, except the father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”  Verse 54, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”  Then in John 11:24 “Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 

LAST DAY ALSO THE JUDGMENT DAY

II Timothy 4:1, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.” Jesus says in John 12:48 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

NO TIME OR PLACE FOR AN EARTHLY REIGN

There is no day after the last day and no trump after the last trump.  That Jesus will return as promised is certain.  However, it will not be to set up a literal king­dom and to reign on earth for a thousand years as so many erroneously teach and believe.  As can be seen from the scriptural order of events at His second appearing, there simply will be no time or place for an earthly millennial reign.  For when Christ comes, all the dead will be raised immediately, (John 5:28-29 / Rev. 1:7).   They will be raised by the “trump of God” (I Thess. 4:16) which is the “last trump,” (I Cor. 15:52).  This will be the “last day,” (John 6:39,40,44,54) the resurrection day, (John 11:24) the judgment day, (II Tim .4:1 / John 12:48) and the end of the world, (I Peter 3:10-12).

YES, JESUS IS COMING AGAIN

The scriptures teach us that we are living between two advents of Christ to the world.  At His first advent He came to reveal the way of salvation and to make atonement for sin.  His next coming is to raise the dead, judge the world and destroy the earth.

BE YE READY

The overwhelming warning of the scriptures is TO BE READY!  For there will be no second chance as this is the, LAST DAY and no time to repent for it will happen “in the twinkling of an eye,” (I Cor. 15:52).  He will not be coming the third time to set up a kingdom or offer a second chance.   His kingdom is spiritual and has already been set up.  Nor will He leave the wicked on earth and secretly rapture the saints. As we have shown, the scriptures plainly teach that His second appearing will not be secret or quiet, (I Thess. 4:16). It will be to take vengeance on the disobedient and to be glorified in His saints, (II Thess. 1:7-l0).   Yes, “every eye shall see Him,” (Rev. 1:7).

WE CAN BE READY

Even though this great and eventful day will be a surprise to most, (Matt. 24:37-39 / I Thess. 5:2) it need not overtake as a thief in the night those who are ready, (I Thess. 5-4) for we can be “preserved blameless” at His coming if we are sanctified, (I Thess. 5:23).   Paul teaches in Titus 2:12-13, that if we have been “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts … in this present world” we can be, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”  Paul’s personal testimony is in II Timothy 4:7-8.  “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing.”  John says in: I John 2:28, “And now, little children; abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”   We might point out here that in the next chapter verse six, John says, “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not.”  He goes on to teach in I John 4:17 that we can have boldness in the Day of Judgment if we are Christ-like.

THE RESURRECTION AND OUR IMMORTAL BODY

Acts 26:8, “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?”  II Corinth­ians 4:14, “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.”   The resurrection of Christ is both proof, of the fact, and an example of the nature of our resurrection.  I Corinthians 15:16-17, “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”  Verse 20, “But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”  Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from, the dead dwell in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”   So we see that the power that makes us new creatures in Christ is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and certifies to our future resurrection.  About all religions teach some kind of a future existence but only the Bible teaches the resurrection of the body.

NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION

Our resurrected body will be a material body, even though it will be different from our natural body in that it will be immortal and glorified. When Christ was resurrected he had a material body, as He was seen and even touched.  The resurrected body is not a new creation for it is in some sense identical with the body which is placed in the grave.  The actual body of Christ was raised and so will ours be.   It will be a new body in that it will be radically changed.  I Corinthians 5:52 teaches that those that are living on the resurrection day will be changed and the dead will be raised incorruptible.  Our resurrected body will be similar to Christ’s resurrected body.   Philippians 3:21 tells us Christ, “..... shall change our vile (mortal) body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body...”  We may not understand fully the nature of Christ's glorified body nor in what all respects we shall be like Him, but if we remain faithful, we can say as David said in Psalms 17:15, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when, I awake, with thy likeness.”       

OUR IMMORTAL BODY

Even though our knowledge is limited concerning the exact nature and power of our resurrected body, we do know it will be immortal.   Jesus, in teaching about the resurrection of the dead, says in Luke 20:36, “Neither can they die anymore...”   Paul says in I Corinthians 15:34, “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal, ­shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass ­the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

FIRST RESURRECTION: SPIRITUAL

There are some who misunderstand what the Bible terms the “first resurrection” (Rev. 20:5).  The “first resurrection” is not the resurrection of the body, but is of a spiritual nature; just as the “second death” is not the death of the body but is the eternal separation of the soul from God.  Those who par­ticipate in the first resurrection, those who have been resurrected from being dead in sin, (Eph. 2:1) those who have been born again, avoid the second death.  Jesus teaches that the first resurrection is a spiritual one in John 5:24-25.  He goes on in verses 28-29 to teach the bodily resurrection and affirms it will include all, both good and evil.   A single bodily resurrection of both just and unjust is taught in Acts 24:15, Daniel 12:2, and Revelation 1:7.

SOUL UNITED WITH BODY

When the body is resurrected, is also the time the soul is reunited with the resurrected immortal body.   I Thessalonians 4:16 and I Corinthians 15:23 are two scriptures that verify the resurrection will take place at Christ’s second coming.  Now while these two texts and the whole of the fifteenth chapter of I Corinthians deal particularly with the resurrection of the righteous (as that is the subject being discussed) they can be applied to all that are resurrected, for as has been shown there is but one resurrection of the dead.  From I Thessalonians 4:14-17, we learn that when Christ comes back He will bring the spirits of the departed righteous with Him and their bodies will be resurrected.  The righteous living will be changed and rise to meet the lord in the air.  The resurrection of the righteous dead will occur first; not before the resurrection of the wicked, but before the meeting in the air.  I Corinthians 15:51-53, “Behold I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.   In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

THE GREAT AND FINAL JUDGMENT

Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”   Yes, there is one ap­pointment all will keep.  The rich, the poor, the black, the white, all races, and all classes; both saint and sinner will be there. In Romans 14:10-12 we read, “...we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, as I live, saith the Lord, every tongue shall confess to God.  So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God.”   Then II Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, ac­cording to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”  A very wise man said in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “Let us hear the con­clusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his command­ments: for this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

AN APPOINTED TIME... THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

Acts 17:31, “Because he hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”  Mark 6:11 teach­es it will, “...be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment...” than for those who harden their heart and reject the word of God.  In II Peter 3:7 we learn that, “the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”   Then II Peter 2:9 teaches the unjust are reserved “unto the day of judgment to be punished.”  Then we learn from I John 4:17, that those who are Christ-like in this world “…may have bold­ness in the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world.”  As previously pointed out, this appointed day, this last day, this judgment day, will be at Christ’s second coming.  II Timothy 4:1, “I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.” 

CHRIST WILL BE JUDGE

No mere human mind could be fair in determining the degree of a man’s guilt in the light of influence, human lim­itations, opportunity, understanding, etc.  Christ is perfectly fitted for this task because of His human experience and the fact He is Omniscient and Omnipresent.  Therefore, we know the judgment will be perfectly fair.  There will be no error in judgment, no spite, only justice.  Acts 10:42 teaches us Christ, “…was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick [spiritually alive] and [spiritually] dead.

THE STANDARD OF JUDGMENT

Jesus says in John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and re­ceiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”  All men who have had opportunity are responsible to know, and to obey the gospel.  Those who lived under the law dispensation will be judged by the law, (Rom. 2:12).   Those who have had no revelation of God’s will are responsible to the highest law known.   In each instance the moral law of right and wrong found in human nature will be accorded its place.  The degree of knowledge or comprehension would also be considered of course.  The standards by which men are to be judged would be like the standards by which sin is now imputed.  We might add here that God even knows the thoughts and intents of the heart, so He knows those who are willfully ignorant.  Therefore those who have “avoided” knowing the gospel will be held accountable.

THE PURPOSE OF THE JUDGMENT

First of all, the judgment is not to determine whether or not the individual is guilty.  God already knows this and the person usually knows also in life and will be sure to know immediately after death.  The sinner is now guilty and if he dies without repentance he remains guilty forever.  So the judgment will not be to determine the character of men, but it will be a public manifestation of each one’s standing.   Things that are now covered up will be revealed and justice will publicly be demonstrated.   Yes, the judgment will publicly reveal the justice of God.  The righteousness and justice of the sentence rendered will at that time be evident.  “Every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall con­fess,” will not be a forced acknowledgment, but all men will be constrained to admit the justice of Almighty God’s dealings with them.  Oh how men will wish they had been fair and honest with God on that day!  The great and final judgment therefore will be to make a complete exhibition and proclamation of divine justice toward all moral beings throughout all ages of time, Amen!

MANKIND’S FINAL DESTINY: HEAVEN OR HELL!

Future punishment for the wicked and reward for the righteous have already been at least implied in previous comments.  Because of the importance of this subject it is needful to explain this more fully.

THERE WILL BE FUTURE REWARDS

Romans 2:5-10 tells us God, “…will render to every man according to his deeds.  To them who by patient contin­uance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath; tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil...But glory, honor, and peace to every man that worketh good...”  Then in II Thessalonians 1:6-10 we read, “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels; In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glo­ry of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”

WICKED WILL BE PUNISHED

It is natural to shrink from the very thought of future punishment because of its overwhelming awfulness.   However, it seems like today, that many shut their eyes to the plain teachings of the Bible on the reality of future punishment.  The scriptures just quoted show that God will render everlasting punishment on every disobedient soul.  Many today are under the false as­sumption that God is too good, loving, and merciful to punish the wicked.  The same Bible that tells us of God’s love and mercy also tells us of his great wrath.  Romans 11: 22 says, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God…”  Isaiah 13:11 says, “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity...” II Peter 2:9 tells us, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the un­just unto the day of judgment to be punished.”

DEGREES OF PUNISHMENT

The Bible also teaches there will be degrees of punishment.   Men become more responsible by the light they receive.  This is why Peter teaches in II Peter 2:21, concern­ing backsliders, “It had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment.”  Paul teaches “sorer punishment” for those who sin willfully after having receiv­ed the knowledge of the truth, (Hebrews 10:26-29).  Jesus also teaches some will receive “greater damnation” (Matt. 23:14) and it will be “more tolerable” (Matt. 11:20-24) for some than it will be for others.  These scriptures also teach us that future punishment is not annihilation.  There could be no degrees in punishment if annihilation were the case. 

WICKED WILL BE PUNISHED IN HELL

The scriptures teach the future punishment of the wick­ed as being in a place called “hell”. Granted, hell is a condition, but it is also a place, just as heaven is a place.  Psalms 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”   Mark 9:45-46, “…to be to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.”   Hell is described as a place of torment, of fire and outer darkness, etc.   A prepared place, prepared for the devil and his angels, (Matt. 25:41).  If men choose to serve the devil, they will share his fate and will hear the crush­ing words from Christ: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,” (Matt. 25:41).  The fact that the Bible writers sometimes use figurative or symbolic language, does not deny the actuality of future punishment.  The purpose of different expressions is to teach or represent the awfulness of future punish­ment.  If taken literal, the punishment is terrible, and if taken symbolic, the punishment is worse.

PUNISHMENT TO BE FOREVER

The same Greek words used to describe the endless dur­ation of God, (I Tim. 1:17) of Christ, (Heb. 13:8) and of the Holy Spirit, (Heb. 9:14) are used to describe the duration of the punishment of the wicked.   “Everlasting punish­ment,” (Matt. 25:45) everlasting fire, (Vs. 41) and everlast­ing destruction, (II Thess. 1:9) are all used to show the wicked will be punished forever.  The happiness in the fu­ture life for the righteous is never ending.  Likewise the remorse and torment of suffering for the wicked is also never ending.      

BELIEF OF HELL

Even though people will joke about hell, most do not like to think seriously about it.  Many, who claim they do not believe in hell, do so because they do not want to be­lieve in hell.   Men have devised all kinds of ways and theories in an attempt to “explain away” the awful realities of an everlasting devil’s hell.  True ministers of the gospel believe in hell and try to warn all who will listen to avoid that awful place of torment where there will be “weeping and wailing and gnash­ing of teeth,” (Matt. 8:12, 13:42).  It is not through any hard heartedness or desire to see their fellowman suffer, that the Christians believe in hell.  The true Christian does not serve God on­ly to escape hell but that is surely one of the benefits.  Just to avoid hell may not be a good reason to live for God, but it can be a reason to start to live for God.   This is why Jesus taught so much on hell.

THE WAY OF ESCAPE

To avoid the eternal torment of a devil’s hell and to enjoy the eternal blessings of heaven, one must be willing to forsake his sins, repent and be born again.  This will write your name in the Lamb’s book of life.   If we continue in sin “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,” (Rom. 6:23).  This “death” is not that natural death which comes to good and bad alike, but is spiritual death or separation from God.  The sinner is represented in the Bible as being dead; dead in trespasses and sin, (Eph. 2:5).  Sin separates man from God, (Isa. 59:2) therefore the sinner, because of his sin, is separated from God, hence, spiritually dead.  While he is yet physically alive he can be born again (spiritually resurrected) and avoid the second death (Rev. 20:5) or eternal separa­tion from God.   In Revelation 20:12-13, we read of the dead standing before God on the judgment day.   Then in verses 14-15, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life [is yours?] was cast into the lake of fire.”  Then in Revelation 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore-mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”  Dear reader, if you have read this far and still remain unsaved, won’t you reconsider serving God?   Just think of your latter end and what it will mean to go out into eternity lost and without God.  We have not tried to make hell appear any worse than it really is.  We couldn’t, for words cannot describe this awful place of fire and brimstone where souls “shall be TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER,” (Rev. 20:10).

FUTURE REWARD FOR THE RIGHTEOUS

With all the negative parts of the gospel behind us, let us now look to the positive side.   We have told what one receives for not serving God; so now we will tell what one receives who does serve God.  There is a wonderful happy never ending existence (just think of it!) awaiting the right­eous just as surely as punishment awaits the wicked.  As a child of the Most High God we are in the world, but thank God not of this world.  We are merely “sojourning here” as “strangers and pilgrims,” (I Pet. 1:17, 2:11).   Our citi­zenship is in heaven and we “set our affections on things above; not on things on the earth,” (Col. 3:2).  Yes, for the Christian all his hopes, aspirations and desires are for heaven.

HEAVEN IS A PLACE

Heaven is a condition but also a place.  It is a non-corruptible, “material” place for our “material” yet immortal resurrected bodies.  It will not be the earth re-made; for heaven is now in existence, as God and His angels now dwell there.  The scriptures also teach the righteous will “depart” to be with Christ.   So it is a place, yea a prepared place, for a prepared people.

JOYS OF HEAVEN

It will not be in solitude but in fellowship with all the redeemed of the ages; as well as with God and all the host of heaven.   We will be free from sorrow, pain, death, and temptation.  All the cares and discomforts that beset us here will not be in heaven.  The re-uniting with our loved ones who have died in the faith will take place in heaven.  Heaven is simply indescribable to our finite minds.  Paul says in Romans 8:17-18, “And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not wor­thy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” 

HEAVEN IS FOREVER

In II Corinthians 4:17 we read, “For our light afflict­ion, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”  He goes on in chap­ter 5:1-2 to say, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.”  Then in I Corinthians 15:54-57, “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory?   The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

THE CHRISTIAN’S SURE HOPE

Yes, “…knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better .and an enduring substance,” (Heb. 10:34).  “If in this life only, we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable,” (I Cor. 15:19).  But we have “…the hope which is laid up for you in heaven,” (Col. 1:5).  Yes, we have “…an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,” (I Pet. 1:4).  Praise God,  Bill Roberts

HEAVEN HOLDS ALL TO ME

Earth holds no treasures but perish with using,

However precious they be;

Yet there’s a country to which I am going,

Heaven holds all to me.

Chorus: Heaven holds all to me,

Brighter its glory will be;

Joy without measure,

will be my treasure,

Heaven holds all to me.

Out on the hills of that wonderful country,

Happy, contented and free,

Loved ones are waiting and watching my coming,

Heaven holds all to me.

Why should I long for the world and its sorrows,

When in that home o’er the sea,

Millions are singing the wonderful story,

Heaven holds all to me.

Gospel Truth and Publications, P.O. Box 142, Jackson Center, OH 45334