Five Minutes in Heaven

“He that has been in heaven but five minutes knows more than the general assembly of divines on earth.” – C.H. Spurgeon

I heard an expert on artificial intelligence on the Glenn Beck radio program a few weeks ago, and he shared some disturbing news. “AI is advancing at such a rapid pace,” he said, “that within five years it will possess more knowledge than the collective wisdom of every person on earth.”

That’s all the facts, figures, experiences, and know-how of 8 billion people collected in one data source. Scary, isn’t it? Especially when you start wondering who will have access to that treasure trove of information… and how they will use it.

I am not a doomsday prophet, but it doesn’t take a crystal ball to see that if such information fell into the wrong hands – such as an evil dictator or a rogue nation – it could be catastrophic. And if you are the least bit familiar with the Book of Revelation, you know that the Antichrist, the Beast, and the False Prophet will control the world’s financial system during the End Times. Unless you receive the mark of the beast on your hand or your forehead, you will be unable to buy or sell anything. That includes food, clothing, shelter, and the other necessities of life.

Thankfully, those of us who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior will be long gone by then, taken up to meet Him in the air as described in Matthew 24, I Corinthians 15 and I Thessalonians 4-5. Yes, I am a Pre-Tribber (see Revelation 3:10).

Regardless of your eschatological viewpoint, several indisputable facts remain: (1) Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6); (2) Jesus is coming back and His return is imminent (James 5:8 and Revelation 22:20); and (3) once we arrive in heaven and receive our glorified bodies, we will know more than AI (see I John 3:2 below).

To whet your appetite for heaven even more, here are some closing words from Charles Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers”, who held a post-tribulation position…

“We have many unfulfilled desires at present, but soon every wish shall be satisfied, and all our powers shall find the sweetest employment in that eternal world of joy… Within a very little time you will be rid of all your trials and your troubles. Your eyes now suffused with tears shall weep no longer. You will gaze in ineffable rapture upon the splendor of Him who sits upon the throne. Better still, you shall sit upon His throne. The triumph of His glory shall be shared by you; His crown, His joy, His paradise – these will be yours, and you will be co-heir with Him who is the heir of all things.”

“…we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” I John 3:2b (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President