Setting Sail on a Quest(ion) about Heaven and Hell – “Angels Long to Look” (Part XII)

Sermon Title: Setting Sail on a Quest(ion) – “Angels long to look!”

Good News Statement: God invites us to be curious

Preached: Sunday, August 24^th, 2025 at Dogwood Prairie and Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSVUE): 1 Peter 1:10-13 Heaven and Hell: two words that have captured the curiosity, imagination, and wonder of millions of people across several centuries. One of those words brings forth comfort and peace, an image of green pastures and still waters, and hope and eternal salvation. The other word subjugates fear, darkness, and a feeling of being at the lowest point. Today, we are given a choice. May the hearing and understanding of this scripture add a blessing to your life.

 

1 Peter 1:10-13

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace intended for you made careful search and inquiry, ¹¹ inquiring about the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings intended for Christ and the subsequent glory. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look!

A Call to Holy Living

¹³ Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.

 

This is the Word of God for the People of God. And all God’s People said, “Amen.”

 

The following Sermon Series will be drawn from the words of Biblical Scholar, Alan W. Gomes, who explores 40 Questions about Heaven and Hell in his book 40 Questions about Heaven and Hell.

Alan W. Gomes (edited by Benjamin L. Merkle), 40 Questions About Heaven and Hell, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 2018.

 

 

Introduction:

In the ethereal[1] expanse of the cosmos, there exists a realm beyond mortal comprehension: it’s known as heaven. It is not a place dictated by religious dogma or mythical tales but rather a destination for all souls after their mortal journey concludes. In this celestial sanctuary, souls find themselves liberated from the constraints of physical existence: those who were tired, weak, and carrying heavy burdens have found rest (Matthew 11:28). They are met with an abundance of peace, harmony, and boundless opportunities for growth and fulfillment. Yet, amidst this infinite splendor, a conflict simmers—one not of divine decree, but of existential choice. Among the myriad of souls that populate Heaven, there exists a divergence in belief regarding its nature. Some perceive Heaven as a utopia, a paradise where individual desires reign supreme, and personal satisfaction is paramount. Others hold a different perspective. They believe that Heaven’s true essence lies in collective goodwill, in the shared bonds of love, empathy, and compassion. Is that really what Heaven is like?

For some, the opposite of this heavenly celestial sanctuary is Hell: the abode of the “unredeemed dead.”[2] In its archaic sense, the term Hell refers to the underworld, a deep pit or distant land of shadows where the dead are gathered. From the underworld its most terrible precincts sinners pay—some say eternally—the penalty for their crimes. The underworld is often imagined as a place of punishment rather than merely of darkness and decomposition because of the widespread belief that a moral universe requires judgment and retribution—crime must pay. More broadly, Hell figures in religious cosmologies as the opposite of heaven, “the nadir[3] of the cosmos,”[4] and the land where God is not. Hell itself is the preeminent symbol of evil, alienation, and despair. Is that really what Hell is like?

Heaven and Hell: two words that have captured the curiosity, imagination, and wonder of millions of people across several centuries. One of those words brings forth comfort and peace, an image of green pastures and still waters, hope and renewal, grace and eternal salvation, empathy and compassion. The other word subjugates fear, worry, devastation, darkness, despair, and a feeling of being at the lowest point—walking in the shadows of the valley of death. These two words have caught the attention of both religious and non-religious persons throughout the ages: asking what is heaven like and what is hell like? Even those who have chosen to believe in the words of Jesus Christ wonder about heaven and hell: asking what do I need to do to be in heaven and what do I need to do to avoid hell?

For the next few weeks, with the help of Alan W. Gomes, a professor of theology at Talbot School of Theology, we will be taking time to examine both Heaven and Hell from a biblical perspective. In his book, 40 Questions about Heaven and Hell, Gomes asks questions such as: “What should we conclude about those who claim to have seen heaven or hell?, What will the resurrected body be like?, What is hell like?, What is heaven like?, and How can a God of love send people to an eternal hell?” Most of us are familiar with the concepts of Heaven and Hell, but yet we still have questions. The time has come to examine a few of those questions as we explore the celestial sanctuary and dive into the abode of the unredeemed.

 

Body:

Have you ever found yourself being curious? Curious in how someone feels? Curious about one’s life? Curious about something you heard or saw? Curious about how something is made or how something works? Being curious—having a strong desire to learn or know something, to explore and discover new things—is about being inquisitive, asking questions, and seeking to understand the world around you. Being curious is part of life: you don’t go a day without being curious about someone or something; and you certainly don’t go a day without asking some sort of question. Research has suggested that the average adult will ask anywhere from 25-30 questions a day while a young child will ask hundreds of questions daily. Let’s face the facts: we are curious people.

We, as humans, are so curious that in 2001 a television program premiered focusing on how certain things are made. On January 6, 2001 on the Discovery Channel/USA Network in Canada, and later on the Science Channel in the United States, MAJ Productions released the Canadian documentary titled How It’s Made. During the span of 19 seasons, the show documented how everyday items (such as clothing and accessories, food, industrial products, musical instruments, electronics, and sporting goods) are manufactured. The show also featured the restoration processes of old items in some episodes, as well as other industrial processes, such as sorting mail, processing wastewater, packaging fruit, and recycling metal. Each episode featured three or four products divided by segments, with each product getting a demonstration of approximately five minutes. Some episodes dedicated two 5-minute segments to more complex manufacturing processes. Overall, How It’s Made appeal lies in its ability to make viewers curious about the creation of common items. It was so popular that it drew an average of over 100 million viewers per week until the final episode on March 24, 2019.[5]

Like I said, we, as humans, are curious. We want to know how things work; we want to know how things are made; we want to know where things come from; we want to know how someone feels or is doing; we want to explore and discover new things; we want to know what others don’t know; what to know what others are thinking. We are curious. Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not. Could our curiosity get us into trouble? Absolutely it could. However, we are called to be curious.

For the past several weeks, I have been inviting you to be curious. Specifically, I have been asking you to be curious about two places: heaven and hell. Not so much on how they are made, but what they are and what they offer. Although our sermon series on heaven and hell ends today, your curiosity shouldn’t stop because there are still many things, many questions, to be curious about when it comes to the afterlife. We will never know everything there is about heaven or hell, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t be curious while we live on this earth. So, for our last message on this subject, I challenge you to be curious for the sake of your faith.

 

Movement One: What We Have Been Curious About…

Before we get into the scripture for today, let’s just take a few minutes to remind ourselves of where we have been: the things we have been curious about regarding heaven and hell.

Two weeks ago, we were curious whether or not there are animals in heaven. After looking at a few passages found in scripture that hint at the possibility of animals in heaven (such as Genesis 6:19-21, Isaiah 11:6-9, Isaiah 65:25, 2 Kings 6:17, Revelation 4:6-8, and Revelation 19:11-14), we realized that there is a possibility that there might be animals in heaven. If the Bible mentions 81 different animals, and if God is willing to save at least two of every animal from the flood, and if God commands the sacrifice of animals in the Old Testament for the forgiveness of sins, then why wouldn’t God allow animals in heaven? God’s animals were created by God, saved and cared for by God, and gave God’s people life. However, we won’t really know if there are animals in heaven until we get there.

We were also curious to know whether or not Jesus actually descended into hell. For this we looked at Paul’s words to the Ephesians and the words of Peter’s first epistle. In Ephesians 4:9-10, Paul wrote, “(When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.).” Peter wrote, “But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does” (1 Peter 4:5-6).  According to both Paul and Peter, there is a good chance that Jesus descended to hell to preach the gospel to those who had not yet heard it. For some, Jesus did physically and spiritually descend down into the lower parts of the earth. For others, Jesus’ descent into hell is merely a metaphor—an image—for what Jesus is willing to do for those in his life. I like what Adam Hamilton says about Jesus descending into hell. He stated in his book, Creed: What Christians Believe and Why, Exploring the Apostles’ Creed, “I think there is great power in the image of Christ descending to the realm of the dead, tearing the doors off their hinges, and offering salvation and life to those who had died from the beginning of the human race up until his time. In this image, Christ is seen as triumphantly defeating death itself.”^[6] The idea of Jesus descending into hell is proof of his victory over death and the grave. As Revelation 1:18 asserts, “I have the keys of death and the grave,” states Jesus. However, did Jesus actually descend into hell? We will have to ask him when we get to heaven.

We then asked, “If people in heaven only see the goodness of creation?” Hebrews 12:1 refers to “a great cloud of witnesses” surrounding believers, which is interpreted by some as referring to deceased saints who are now in heaven, watching and encouraging those on earth. In Luke 15:7, Jesus speaks of “rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents.” This implies that those in heaven are aware of people repenting of their sins on earth. Revelation 6:10 shows martyred saints in heaven asking God to judge those on earth who persecuted them, which suggests they are aware of the injustices they faced on earth and the lack of judgment. In Luke 9:30-31, Moses and Elijah, long departed from earth, appeared to Jesus and seemed aware of what was transpiring on earth, and quite possibly informed Jesus that because of the great sins on earth that he would be crucified to save humanity. It is apparent that those in heaven know what is happening on earth based upon these scripture passages. And I believe that if those in heaven can see what is happening on earth, than they must see both the good and bad, but we won’t know until we get to heaven.

We spent two weeks asking the question “If Jesus’ resurrected body revealed the holes in his hands and side, will our own scars be seen on our resurrected body?” Jesus, in his resurrected body, showed his disciples his hands and feet to show them the holes that were created when he was nailed to the cross (Luke 24:40). In the Gospel of John, we read that Thomas will not believe that Jesus was resurrected unless he sees and touches the wounds on Jesus’ hands and side. So, when Jesus appears in his resurrected body, Jesus invites Thomas to touch his wounds (John 20:24-29). The scars which Jesus endured during his crucifixion are more than just scars: they speak of the greatest love ever (John 15:13). Does this mean that scars are allowed in heaven? Does this mean our scars will be see in heaven? If we are to be resurrected to resemble the man of heaven, and if the man of heaven has scars, then will we have scars in heaven?

If we have scars in heaven, then why? Why in a place where there is no pain, or suffering, or imperfections, do we have scars? Maybe the scars we have, either physical, emotional, or mental, are a reminder to us of the life that we were given. Maybe the scars we have are part of what it means to be made in the image of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Maybe the scars we have represent those moments in which we got closer to Christ. Maybe we won’t have scars in heaven since we will be made new in the image Christ: we will have a new name in glory, be given a resurrected body that is perfect and flawless. After all, in the Book of Revelation we are told that God will wipe every tear from our eyes, death will be no more, suffering and crying and pain will be no more, and former things have passed away (Revelation 21:4). Scars represent a past life, a former life, not the current life we have in heaven. I guess we will find out when we get there.

Lastly, we began this sermon series be looking at how scripture describes heaven and hell. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, hell is “the dwelling place of the dead; the abode of departed spirits; the infernal regions regarded as a place of existence after death; the underworld; the grave; Hades.”[7] Biblical scholar Gomes goes so far as to state that hell is the place of the “wicked.” In the Bible, “hell” is often associated with words such as sheol, grave, hades, gehenna, the Lake of Fire, tartarus, the place of the beast, and where flames continually burn but never consume. Hell, whether Sheol, the grave, gehenna, the Lake of Fire, or Tartarus, is a place of punishment for the wicked who are either human or angelic in form. Hell is the place that we, as Christians, strive to avoid throughout our life, but yet is on our mind when we feel distant from God. Hell is out there but should not be within us.

As for heaven, the Bible speaks a great deal about heaven. Sometimes it does so using words in the original biblical languages that we translate explicitly with our English word “heaven.” In other instances, the biblical writers use synonyms for heaven, which we render with words or expressions such as “paradise” or “Abraham’s bosom.” Yet at other times, the Bible describes “heaven” as the sky or atmosphere[8], as the place where the celestial bodies are located[9], as “God’s abode,” and as the “New Jerusalem.” We read in Revelation 21 of a New Jerusalem, a place where the twelve gates were of twelve pearls and the street of the city was pure gold, as pure as transparent glass (Revelation 21:21); a place of green pastures and still waters (Psalm 23); and a place where there is no suffering or pain or tears of sadness or death.

The Bible speaks a great deal about heaven. But what is heaven? Based upon what we have heard so far, heaven is around us, heaven is above us and out there, heaven is God’s abode, heaven is inhabited by angels, heaven is where Jesus descended from and ascended to, heaven is a place where the departed saints await their resurrection, heaven is Abraham’s bosom, heaven is associated with the New Jerusalem, and heaven is paradise extended to all people. Heaven is the location in which the believer seeks to be in because it is where God directly manifests His presence and in which He reigns. In the words of Todd Burpo, “Heaven is for real.” Heaven is for real, but what will it really look like when we get there?

 

Movement Two: A Breakdown of 1 Peter 1:10-13…

What we have been talking about the last few weeks barely scratches the surface of what we can know about heaven and hell. We can’t know everything about heaven and hell while we live on this earth. If we knew everything, especially about heaven, then our knowledge would take away the glory and perfection and great reward and awe of heaven that we are promised. I guess we will find out when we get there what it is really like.

This realization that we don’t know everything about heaven leads us into our scripture passage for today. In our scripture passage, Peter notes something rather extravagant that is often overlooked. Let’s break down the text…

Peter states in verses 10-11, “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace intended for you made careful search and inquiry, inquiring about the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings intended for Christ and the subsequent glory.” The Holy Spirit had revealed this much to the Old Testament prophets, namely, that this divine salvation would be accomplished by Christ, the promised Messiah. In order to gain this salvation for his people, Christ would have to undergo a great deal of suffering (note Peter’s use of the plural, “the sufferings of Christ”). The Holy Spirit had also made known to the Old Testament prophets that faithful endurance of those sufferings by the Christ would be followed by an abundance of glory. The prophets of old searched diligently with care for what we receive every day of our life: grace and salvation. Both of these things were promised by God but filled by Jesus Christ, who physically walked this earth after the prophesying of the Old Testament prophets. Essentially, they searched and we have found.

Peter continues in the next verse, “It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look!” (1 Peter 1:12). In response to the prophets’ intense interest and inquiry concerning these things—grace and salvation—it was further revealed to them that they were not ministering to themselves, but to us who live in the New Testament era. That is to say, the prophets were informed that they themselves would not see the fulfillment of these things in their own day. On the contrary, they were prophesying about events that would happen in the relatively distant future from their time in history (Daniel 12:8-9, 13). Although the Old Testament prophets would not see the fulfillment of this great salvation in their day, they will share in it at the end of the age (Daniel 12:13).

Consider Moses: Moses lead the enslaved Israelites through the wilderness for forty years toward the Promised Land, but when they got there Moses could only see it but would never experience it. Moses did what God called him to do at the burning bush for the Israelites and for the future of God’s people, but Moses, himself, did not experience what God promised the people. The prophets of old, Moses included, did what they did back then for the people of tomorrow knowing that there was a chance that they would be able to reap the full benefits.

Think of it this way: Many of you put money aside for future trips, for things you want to purchase, for family members, or even for investment purposes. You put money aside so that at some point in the future you can enjoy it. However, there may be a chance that what you do today may not be experienced tomorrow by you but by someone else. The money you have put away may not be used for its full potential until after you are gone. What the prophets of the Old Testament saved up, we now get to experience through the grace and salvation of Jesus Christ. The prophets of old have done their time, invested so much in their faith, so that we can continue what they started. But are we willing to continue living out what they diligently searched and worked for? Are we willing to be curious with finding ways to continue the story?

The second half of verse twelve is where we land. Peter states, “…things into which angels long to look!” The Message Bible paraphrases Peter’s words: “Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!” Peter tells us that this great salvation we possess as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ is something that the angels desire to examine and experience. The Lord has granted to his angels very great and awesome privileges. But there is one thing to which the angels have not been permitted access: the blessing of sonship, the very blessing that is ours by means of the great salvation that has been accomplished by Jesus the Messiah. Not even angels have been given what we have been given through Christ.

We are fortunate: we are fortunate to receive the free gift of grace; we are fortunate to be given the chance to be saved every day; we are fortunate to know that there is victory in Christ, that we are given a new name in glory; and we are fortunate knowing that no matter what happens in our life, a man died on the cross for our sins. What the angels want in on is what we have been given. We have been given Jesus Christ. However, just because we have been given Jesus Christ—who abides in us as we abide in him—doesn’t mean we can’t be like the angels. As followers of Christ we must continue to have the urge to “long to look,” to be curious with how to deepen our faith for Christ. We are fortunate; but being fortunate doesn’t mean that our work is done.

 

Movement Three: “Angels Long to Look”…

When it comes to being curious for Christ, we sort of touched on this when we asked ourselves what we need to do to get into heaven. Several weeks ago, I shared the following: if you want to get to heaven, then take note of what scripture tells you. Luke 4:18 states, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed…” If you want to get into heaven, Jesus invites you to take care of those who are less fortunate than you. If you want to get into heaven, then you must be like “little children”—curious, not claiming to know everything about life, God, or Jesus, to look at life with wonder and amazement, to be willing to learn something new, to make the commit to explore your faith (Luke 18:15-17). If you want to get into heaven, then follow the words of Isaiah 1:17 which states, “…learn to do good; seek justice; rescue the oppressed; defend the orphan; plead for the widow.”

[10]If you want to get into heaven, then “pray without ceasing [and] give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:17—18).  If you want to get into heaven, then do what Jesus told his disciples: “do not worry about your life” (Luke 12:22) and “come and follow me.” As Proverbs 3:5 reminds us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” If you want to get into heaven, then submit your life to the Lord. Furthermore, if you want to get into heaven, then fully embrace the words of Paul who wrote to the Ephesians, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).[11]

If you want to get into heaven, seek repentance of your sins, ask for forgiveness, and let go of those things that are keeping you from experiencing the fullness of Christ. If you want to get into heaven, then do what you can today to make sure that your faith is strong enough to make you well, that your faith is committed enough to lead to salvation, and that your faith is hopeful enough to get you to other side. If you want to get into heaven, then take time to be holy, worship the Lord, be in fellowship, and find ways to be the church—the hands and feet and body of Christ. If you really want to get into heaven, then do what you can every day to live out the two greatest commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mark 12:30-31).

Scripture informs us on how to get to heaven, but are we curious enough to pursue what we are told to do? Are we willing to have a longing to look for what we don’t know and what we can do? We need to be curious when it comes to our faith. We need to let God know that we are still interested in developing our faith, wanting to find ways to get into heaven. I had a seminary professor once tell the class, “What I appreciate about being a Methodist is that I am encouraged to ask questions. I am not pushed to the side because of my questions. I am not shunned for asking questions. Rather my questions have drawn me closer to Christ because I am allowing my faith to guide me towards his answers.” Church, friends, be curious. If you weren’t curious, would you have the faith that you have today?

You know, throughout scripture, we are invited to be curious through a simple yet powerful word. That word consists of two letters: an ‘i’ and an ‘f’. The word is ‘IF.’ Jesus repeatedly uses the word ‘if’ to indicate to us that we are going to have to make decisions in our life: we are going to have to ask questions and we are going to have to be curious. For example, John 14:23: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.” 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Galatians 6:9: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” In essence, the word ‘if’ in the Bible is a powerful reminder that our choices and actions have consequences, and that our relationship with God is often defined by the choices we make in response to His word and commands.

That ‘if’, although has consequences, is a reminder that God wants us to be curious. God wants us to ask those “what if” questions because it gets us thinking about the future. God wants us to take risks. God wants us to be uncomfortable at times. God wants us to see how our messes are turned into messages, how our trials our turned into triumphs, and how our failures can be turned into acts of faith. God wants us to take that leap of faith, whatever it may be. But we have to be curious. We have to have the will to long to look at what God has put before us, even if we don’t know all the answers.

We have the blessing of knowing what those of the past did not know: we are fortunate to have Jesus in our life, the grace we need and the salvation we seek so that we can be curious. Are you curious enough to ask questions, to think about the future in the present, to see that ‘if’ as an opportunity of exploration? We aren’t meant to know everything there is about God’s creation; but, we are meant to be curious about God’s creation.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion…

To bring this message to a close, I simply ask you: “Are you willing to be curious?” Are you willing to be curious for your faith? In 2001, the Discovery Channel found a way to channel the curiosity of millions of people through its show How It’s Made. We, as humans, are curious of the world we live in. We, as Christians, are curious of the life that God has called us to live. We, as followers of Christ, are curious of the things that have yet to be revealed to us. We are like the disciples who constantly asked Jesus when he would return to restore Israel (Acts 1). We want to know things because that is the world we live in. Is that wrong? Absolutely not. However, just because we don’t know the answer doesn’t mean we should give up on searching for the answer.

We will never know everything there is about heaven until we get there. We will never know everything that God is calling us to do. We will never know everything that Jesus needs us to do. But what we do know is that in order to truly be a faithful disciple and church of Jesus Christ, we must “long to look” for the things we don’t know today so that we can be prepared for tomorrow, to see where we can do some work.

What are you curious about? Church is there something that God is calling us to be curious about? Are there avenues or paths that are in need of our ministerial presence? Are there “what if” questions that we should be asking but haven’t asked yet? Church, you have asked a lot of “what if” questions since I have been here and even more before I got here, and some of the answers that you have been given have led to new ministries, new possibilities, taking new leaps of faith, trying new things, and some of them have even led to growing the church and taking care of the needs in our pews. I’m inviting you today to not stop asking “what if” and to be curious of things you don’t know. Because it’s through our curiosity that our faith becomes made, that we truly begin to rely on the hope and promises of Jesus Christ.

The point of this sermon series was (1) to explore a topic that many people want to know more about, (2) to help us think about what we need to do today to make sure that we have a chance of getting into heaven tomorrow, and (3) to remind us that we aren’t meant to know everything but rather are called to ask questions and to be curious about the faith that has come to change our life. So, promise me, you won’t stop being curious in your faith. Let It Be So…

 

 

Closing Prayer:

Let us Pray… Dear God, help us to be curious, open our heart and mind to ask questions and to not be afraid to ponder the “what ifs” in our life especially if what we ask and are curious about leads us closer to you. In your name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

We will never know everything there is about heaven until we get there. But until that day comes, keep being curious about heaven and keep asking questions about your faith. You might be surprised with the answers God gives you! May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go forth living as if heaven is in your heart today. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] Ethereal: extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.

[2] Carol Zaleski, “Hell,” Britannica Online, updated 16 May 2025 and accessed 28 May 2025: https://www.britannica.com/topic/hell/Greece-and-Rome

[3] Nadir: the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization

[4] Carol Zaleski, “Hell,” Britannica Online, updated 16 May 2025 and accessed 28 May 2025: https://www.britannica.com/topic/hell/Greece-and-Rome

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_It%27s_Made

[6] Adam Hamilton, Creed: What Christians Believe and Why, Exploring the Apostles’ Creed, Nashville, Tennessee: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2017, pg. 70.

[7] “hell: noun & interjection,” https://www.oed.com/dictionary/hell_n?tl=true

[8] For example the Bible refers to “the birds of the heavens” (1 Kings 21:24), “the rain from heaven” (Deuteronomy 11:11; Acts 14:17), and also snow (Isaiah 55:10), dew (Daniel 4:23), frost (Job 38:29), wind (1 Kings 18:45; Psalm 78:26), clouds (Psalm 147:8), thunder (1 Samuel 2:10), and hail (Revelation 16:21) from heaven.

[9] Passages found in Genesis 1, Jeremiah 33, Nahum 3, Acts 7, and Hebrews 11 illustrate this use. In Psalm 8:3, the psalmist wrote, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place…”

[10] If you want to get into heaven, then remember what the author of Hebrews tells us about God’s word: “the word of God is living and active…” (Hebrews 4:12). This means we are not only called to read and study God’s word, but are also called to live out God’s word in our life—doing what God would do.

[11] Prior to this verse, Paul tells the Ephesians, “…put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Essentially, shed the ways of the flesh and put on the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-23): be made new in likeness of God.