Pag-aralan Natin

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COMPARATIVE STUDY: SDA vs IMS

📖 Paksa:
Sino ang Bumubuo ng 144,000?
Literal ba o Simbolikal ang Bilang na 144,000?

Sama-sama nating suriin ang mga Kasulatan at ihambing ang iba't ibang pananaw tungkol sa 144,000 na binanggit sa Apocalipsis 7 at 14.

📚 Batay sa Biblia.
🔍 Masusing pag-aaral.
🙏 Nawa'y ang katotohanan ng Salita ng Diyos ang manaig.



#144000

SIMPLIFIED SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
By Bro. Johnson L. Amican

ENGLISH VERSION WORDS FORMAT
Lesson 13 | June 20–26, 2026
Title for This Week: INTO ETERNITY

MEMORY TEXT

1 John 3:2 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

INTRODUCTION
Brothers and sisters, one of the greatest questions people ask is:
What awaits us in the future?
We do not know what will happen tomorrow.

There may be:
a. trials,
b. sicknesses,
c. problems,
d. sorrows,
e. and things we do not expect.

Sometimes the future can be:
a. exciting,
b. frightening,
c. mysterious,
d. heartbreaking.

But as children of God, there is one thing we know for certain:
Jesus is faithful.
1. He never lies.
2. He never fails.
3. He never breaks His promises.

Whatever happens in our lives, His Word remains true.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Yes, difficult times are still ahead.
Jesus Himself said that before His return, there would be trials and turmoil in the world.

Yet along with that warning, He also gave His promise:
1. He will never leave us.
2. He will never forsake us.

Hebrews 13:5 For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Therefore, while we wait for the return of Christ, our duty is to keep our eyes fixed on Him.

David expressed it this way:
Psalm 25:15 "Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net."

This verse is very important.
When we focus on our problems,
our fears become greater.

When we focus on the world,
our worries increase.
But when we focus on Jesus,
our faith grows stronger.

This week we will study one of the most beautiful subjects in the entire Bible:

The reward of heaven.
We will learn:
a. What awaits God's redeemed people.
b. What the new earth will be like.
c. What will disappear forever from God's kingdom.
d. And above all, how wonderful it will be to live with Jesus forever.

The best part of heaven is not the streets of gold.
It is not the mansions.
It is not even the beauty of the new earth.
Rather, it is the fact that we will be with Jesus forever.

He is the One who:
a. created us,
b. loved us,
c. died for us,
d. redeemed us,
e. and is soon coming back for us.

Therefore, while we wait for that glorious day, the message of this lesson is simple:
Never let go of Jesus.
Whatever we may be going through today,
whatever trial we may be facing,
whatever sickness or burden we may be carrying,
let us remain firmly connected to Christ.

For soon we will see the fulfillment of all His promises.
And when that day comes,
all our tears,
all our pain,
all our struggles,
will be replaced with eternal joy in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

SUNDAY | JUNE 21 LIVING TODAY

Opening Thought
Brothers and sisters, when we look around us, we can see that the things Jesus foretold about the last days are gradually being fulfilled.

We see:
a. wars,
b. rumors of wars,
c. earthquakes,
d. pestilences,
e. unrest in different nations,
f. and even persecution of believers.
Indeed, we are living in serious times.

Because of this, we need a strong and living relationship with God more than ever before.
A one-time prayer is not enough.
A one-time worship experience is not enough.
Simply being a church member is not enough.

What we need is a daily walk with Jesus.

1 Peter 4:7 "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."

EXPLANATION
Peter tells us that because the end is near, we must be serious about our spiritual lives.
This is not the time to be careless.
This is not the time to be complacent.
This is not the time to place Jesus in second place.
This is the time to draw even closer to Him.

OUR LIFE IS SHORT
Another truth we must remember is that life is short.

James 4:13-14 "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

EXPLANATION
Many people make plans for the coming year.
1. Plans for business.
2. Plans for work.
3. Plans for family.

But the Bible says:
We do not know what will happen tomorrow.
Life is like a v***r.
It appears for a little while and then disappears.
Therefore, the most important question is not:
"How much longer will I live?"

But rather:
"Am I ready if God calls me today?"

A PERSONAL PRAYER FOR REVIVAL
In Psalm 80, we find God's people praying for restoration and revival.

Psalm 80:3 "Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved."

Psalm 80:19 "Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved."

EXPLANATION
This prayer is not only for Israel.
It can also be our prayer today.
Perhaps there was a time when:
a. our faith grew cold,
b. our prayer life became weak,
c. our Bible study decreased,
d. or we became too busy with many things.

If so, we too can pray:
"Lord, restore me."
"Lord, let Your face shine upon me."
"Lord, revive my relationship with You."

GOD'S FACE SHINING UPON US
What does it mean when we pray, "Cause Thy face to shine"?
In the Bible, God's shining face is a symbol of:
a. His grace,
b. His acceptance,
c. His presence,
d. and His blessing.

When God's face shines upon us, it means He reveals His love and mercy toward us.
The clearest revelation of this is Jesus Christ.

Through Jesus:
a. our sins are forgiven,
b. we are accepted by the Father,
c. and we are clothed with His righteousness.

We are not saved because we are good.
We are not saved because of the many good works we have done.
We are saved through the righteousness of Christ, which we receive by faith.

FINAL THOUGHT
Brothers and sisters, we are living in serious times.
Life is short.

Jesus is coming soon.
Therefore, the most important thing we can do is remain close to Him.

Every day let us pray:
"Lord, let Your face shine upon me."
"Lord, revive my faith."
"Lord, do not allow me to drift away from You."
For when Jesus is with us, we have hope today and assurance of eternal life.

MONDAY | JUNE 22 FINALLY, FACE-TO-FACE

Opening Thought
Brothers and sisters, ever since Adam and Eve fell into sin, God has had one purpose:

To restore humanity to a close relationship with Him.
In Eden, they freely enjoyed fellowship with God.
There was no sin.
No fear.
No separation.

But when sin entered, that relationship was broken.
Since then, God has been doing everything possible to bring us back to Himself.
That is why He sent Jesus.
That is why there is a cross.
That is why there is the gospel.
That is why there is the plan of salvation.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

EXPLANATION
Salvation is not merely about escaping destruction.
It is about restoring our relationship with God.
The greatest gift of heaven is not the streets of gold.

Not the mansions.
Not even the absence of pain.
The greatest gift is being with God forever.

OUR TRUE CITIZENSHIP
Many people are so occupied with the problems of this world.
Sometimes we forget that this world is not our true home.

Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

EXPLANATION
We are only pilgrims in this world.
We were not created to remain here forever.
God is preparing a better home for His people.

Therefore, even if we face problems today,
even if we experience sickness,
even if we go through sorrow,
this is not the end of our story.
Heaven awaits us.

THE GLORIOUS RETURN OF JESUS
The day will come when the greatest hope of every believer will be fulfilled.
We will see Jesus return.
No longer as a baby in a manger.
No longer as the Man who was crucified.
But as King of kings and Lord of lords.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

EXPLANATION
On that day:
a. God's trumpet will sound,
b. the graves will be opened,
c. the dead in Christ will be resurrected,
d. and the whole world will witness the return of Jesus.

There will be no secrecy.
No uncertainty.
No debate.
Everyone will see Him.

THE GREAT REUNION
What happens next?
1 Thessalonians 4:17 "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

EXPLANATION
This is the great reunion of God's people.
Parents and children separated by death will meet again.
Friends who fell asleep in Christ will see one another again.
But above all,
we will see Jesus.
Not merely through faith.
Not merely through reading the Bible.
Not merely through prayer.
We will see Him face-to-face.

FACE-TO-FACE WITH JESUS
It is difficult to describe how glorious that moment will be.
For many years:
a. we have prayed to Him,
b. trusted in Him,
c. served Him,
d. and waited for Him.

And finally...
we will see Him.

Revelation 22:4 "And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads."

EXPLANATION
This is the ultimate fulfillment of the plan of salvation.
The God who was once separated from humanity because of sin will once again dwell with His people.
No more barriers.
No more sin.
No more death.
No more tears.
Only eternal fellowship with Christ.

EVERYTHING WILL BE WORTH IT
On that day, we will understand that everything was worth it.
Every prayer was worth it.
Every sacrifice was worth it.
Every hardship was worth it.
Every tear was worth it.
Every battle of faith was worth it.

When we see Jesus face-to-face, we will say:
"Lord, every moment of waiting was worth it."

FINAL THOUGHT
Brothers and sisters, the day is near when we will see Jesus.
Not merely through faith.
Not merely in our thoughts.
Not merely in the pages of Scripture.
But face-to-face.

Personally.
In His very presence.
Therefore, while we wait, let us remain faithful.
Let us remain firmly connected to Christ.
For the greatest moment of our lives has not yet happened.
It will come on the day when we see our Savior and hear His voice saying:
"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

TUESDAY | JUNE 23 THE BRIDE

Opening Thought
Brothers and sisters, one of the most beautiful illustrations the Bible uses to describe the relationship between God and His people is the picture of a wedding.
A wedding is filled with:
a. joy,
b. love,
c. anticipation,
d. and new beginnings.

The bride prepares herself.
The groom also prepares.
And everyone waits for the great day when they will be united.
The same is true regarding the return of Jesus.
The greatest wedding in the history of the universe is about to take place.

THE HOLY CITY — THE BRIDE

Revelation 21:9-10 "Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God."

EXPLANATION
In John's vision, he was told that he would be shown the Bride.
But when he looked, he saw the Holy City—the New Jerusalem.
Why?
Because there is a profound connection between God's people and God's city.
The city is the home of the redeemed.
It is the capital of God's kingdom.
It will be the eternal dwelling place of His people.
Therefore, in a sense, both the city and the saints are associated together as the "Bride."

A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING DAY
On a wedding day, all eyes are on the bride.
She becomes the center of attention.
She is beautifully dressed.
Everyone is happy.
The future is filled with hope.
The same will be true for God's people.

After a long history of sin, suffering, tears, and death, the day will finally come when we will be united with Christ forever.
There will be no more separation.
There will be no more sin.
There will be no more death.
We and Jesus will be together forever.

JESUS IS PREPARING A PLACE

John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

EXPLANATION
For nearly two thousand years, Jesus has been preparing a place for His people.

Think about that.
If God Himself is preparing our future home, how beautiful must it be?
How glorious must it be?
How wonderful must it be?
That is why the Bible teaches that human language is insufficient to fully describe the glory of God's paradise.
Our minds are too limited to completely comprehend it.

WHY IS IT HARD TO IMAGINE?

Revelation 21:11 "Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal."

EXPLANATION
It is difficult for us to fully understand heaven because everything we know exists in a world damaged by sin.

What we know is:
a. sickness,
b. weariness,
c. tears,
d. disappointment,
e. death.

We have never experienced a world without sin.
We have never seen a place without death.
We have never beheld the glory of God face-to-face.
Therefore, our ability to imagine the beauty of the new earth is limited.
Yet even though we cannot fully understand it now, God's promises are enough to fill our hearts with hope.

THE WHOLE UNIVERSE WILL WITNESS IT

Brothers and sisters, this great wedding will not take place in secret.
The entire universe will witness it.
The angels will see it.
The unfallen beings from other worlds will see it.
All of God's creation will witness the triumph of the plan of salvation.

And we ourselves will be part of that story.
We who were once sinners.
We who once wandered away.
We who were sought and saved by Christ.
We will be among those who participate in the great wedding of the Lamb.

FINAL THOUGHT
Brothers and sisters, life can sometimes be exhausting.
At times, the waiting seems very long.
Sometimes it feels as though the problems and trials never end.
But let us never forget:
There is a wedding waiting for us.
There is a city being prepared.
There is a home that is coming.
There is a Savior who is about to return.

And on that day, we will understand why every sacrifice and every hardship was worth it.
For we will be with Jesus forever in the New Jerusalem—the holy city prepared by God for His people.

WEDNESDAY | JUNE 24 FOLLOW THE LAMB

Opening Thought
When people are asked what they look forward to most in heaven, the answers vary.

Some will say:
• No more sickness.
• No more death.
• Seeing loved ones again.
• Being with friends forever.

All of these are true and wonderful.
But above all the blessings of heaven, there is one thing even greater:

To see Jesus face-to-face and be with Him forever.
1. Jesus Will Remove All Suffering Forever

Isaiah 25:8 "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it."

Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Simplified
In this world:
• we cry,
• we suffer,
• we become sick,
• we experience the death of loved ones,
• and we face many problems.

But in the new earth:
• there will be no more hospitals,
• no more cemeteries,
• no more depression,
• no more separation,
• no more death.

Every wound caused by sin will be completely removed by Jesus.
He will not only restore our surroundings.
He will also heal our hearts.

2. Jesus Will Personally Care for His People

Revelation 7:17 "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

Explanation
This is a beautiful verse.
Normally, a shepherd cares for the flock.
But here, the Lamb Himself becomes the Shepherd.

Jesus Himself will:
• care for His people,
• teach them,
• strengthen them,
• and guide them.

Throughout eternity, we will never be separated from His presence.

3. Jesus Is the Lamb of God
John 1:36 "And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!"

Explanation
John the Baptist called Jesus:
"The Lamb of God."
Why?

Because Jesus is the sacrifice God provided for our sins.
He is the One who:
• died for us,
• suffered for us,
• and saved us.

Therefore, in heaven, the center of worship will not be us.
Not the angels.
Not the saints.
But Christ, the Lamb who was slain for the salvation of the world.

4. The Redeemed Follow the Lamb

Revelation 14:4 "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."

Explanation
This is the characteristic of God's true people.
They do not merely believe in Jesus.
They follow Jesus.
Not only in heaven,
but even now on earth.

The saved are those who daily follow the Lamb:
• in faith,
• in obedience,
• in trust,
• and in fellowship with Him.

If we desire to follow the Lamb in heaven,
we must learn to follow Him today.

5. Heaven Is About Being With Jesus

Revelation 22:4 "And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads."

This may be the most beautiful promise in the entire Bible.
"They shall see his face."

Right now:
• we pray to Him,
• we believe in Him,
• but we do not yet see Him.

Yet the day is coming when:
• we will see Him,
• we will hear His voice,
• and we will be with Him forever.

His name will be in our foreheads.
This means:
• He fills our minds,
• He is the center of our lives,
• He is our joy forever.

Brothers and sisters,
there are many wonderful things about heaven.
It is beautiful to think that:
• there will be no more sickness,
• no more death,
• no more suffering,
• and we will see our loved ones again.

But the greatest reason we want to go to heaven is not because of the things we will receive.
It is because of the Person we will be with.
Jesus.

The Jesus who:
• created us,
• loved us,
• died for us,
• intercedes for us,
• and is soon coming back for us.

Therefore, while we wait for His return,
let us continue to follow the Lamb.
For those who follow Him now
will be the very ones who will be with Him forever.
Summary
• Jesus will remove all sickness, tears, and death.
• The Lamb will be the Shepherd of His people.
• Jesus is the Lamb of God who died for our salvation.
• The redeemed follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

THURSDAY | JUNE 25 “COME!”

Opening Thought

From Genesis to Revelation, God repeatedly gives the same invitation:
“Come.”
“Draw near.”
“Come to Me.”
God does not push people away.
He does not say:
"Fix your life first before you come."
Instead, He says:
"Come now."

Whatever your condition,
whatever your past,
whatever your shortcomings,
Jesus invites you to come to Him.

1. Jesus Invites the Weary to Come

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Explanation
Many people today are weary.
• weary from problems,
• weary from work,
• weary from sin,
• weary from the struggles of life.

Perhaps there are wounds that others cannot see.
But Jesus says:
"Come unto Me."
He does not say:
"Rest first before you come."
Neither does He say:
"Change yourself first before you come."
Instead, He says:
"Come to Me first, and I will give you rest."

2. The Invitation Is Free

Isaiah 55:1-3 "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."

Explanation
What a beautiful invitation!
Salvation cannot be purchased.
It cannot be obtained through:
• wealth,
• position,
• good works,
• or personal holiness.

God's grace is free.
Christ has already paid the price at Calvary.
Therefore, all a person must do is come and receive God's gift.

3. The Father Draws Us to Jesus

John 6:44 "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."

Explanation
Whenever we feel the desire to come to Jesus,
it is not an accident.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit.

God Himself is working upon the human heart.
When you feel the desire to pray,
to read the Bible,
or to return to God,
it is evidence that the Father is drawing you to Christ.

4. Jesus Will Never Reject Anyone Who Comes

John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

Explanation
This is one of the strongest promises in the Bible.
Sometimes we think:
• "I have been too sinful."
• "I can never be forgiven."
• "God will never accept me."

But Jesus clearly says:
"The one who comes to Me I will never cast out."
No person is too sinful for the grace of Christ.
No one is too far away to be reached by His love.

5. We Must Also Invite Others

Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

God not only invites us.
He also calls us to invite others.
When we have experienced the goodness of Christ,
we should not keep it to ourselves.
We should also tell others:
"Come to Jesus."
• Come to forgiveness.
• Come to peace.
• Come to salvation.
• Come to hope.
This is heaven's final invitation to the world.

6. Jesus Is Coming Quickly
Revelation 22:20 "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

This is one of the final statements in the Bible.
"Surely I come quickly."
It may seem like a long time to us.

But consider this:
When a believer dies,
the next thing he or she will experience is the return of Jesus.
It will seem like only a moment.

Life passes quickly.
Time moves rapidly.
And today we are closer to Christ's return than when we first believed.

Brothers and sisters,
throughout the Bible, God's invitation remains the same:
"Come."
Come even if you are weary.
Come even if you are wounded.
Come even if you have sinned.
Come even if you feel unworthy.

For we are not saved because we are worthy.
We are saved by the grace of Christ.
And as we continue to hear His invitation,
let us not harden our hearts.
Let us come to Him every day.
And while we wait for the day when we shall see Him face-to-face,
may our prayer be the same as John's:
"Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

• Jesus invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him.
• Salvation is a free gift of grace.
• The Father draws people to Christ.
• Jesus will never reject anyone who comes to Him.
• We are also called to invite others to come to Jesus.
• Christ is coming soon; therefore, we must remain ready and faithful until the end.

FRIDAY | JUNE 26 KEEP YOUR EYES ON HEAVEN

Opening Thought
As we come to the close of our study, God wants to remind us of an important truth:

We were not created to remain in this world forever.
We were created for a higher home.
We were created for heaven.
Therefore, as sin continues to increase in the world, let us lift our eyes even more toward Jesus and the home He is preparing for His people.

1. We Must Learn to Love Heavenly Things
Ellen White wrote:
“If we would be accepted as inhabitants of heaven, we must first become acquainted with heaven and breathe its atmosphere by feeding upon the Word of God.”

It is not enough merely to desire to go to heaven.
We must learn to love the things of heaven while we are still on earth.
If our minds are constantly focused on:
• the world,
• fleshly pleasures,
• wealth,
• and worldly pursuits,
it will be difficult for us to appreciate the things of God.

Preparation for heaven begins now.
As we read the Bible,
as we pray,
as we walk with Jesus every day,
He gradually shapes our character for His heavenly kingdom.

2. Heaven Will Be a Perfect Family
Ellen White wrote:
“The nations of the saved will know no other law than the law of heaven. All will be a happy, united family.”

There is so much division in the world today.
There are:
• wars,
• conflicts,
• jealousy,
• discrimination,
• and hatred.

But in heaven, none of these things will exist.
Everyone will be one family.
Everyone will live in love.
There will be no jealousy.
No quarrels.
No wrongdoing.
All will be united in worshiping God and the Lamb.

3. There Will Be No More Sin and Death
Ellen White wrote:
“Sin and sinners are no more. Death shall never again enter God's universe.”

This is humanity's greatest problem:
Sin.
And its result is death.
But the day is coming when both will be removed forever.

There will be no more:
• temptation,
• sickness,
• tears,
• fear,
• or death.

The entire universe will once again be cleansed from every trace of sin.
Righteousness will reign forever.

4. Talk More About Heaven
Ellen White wrote:
“Let us make heaven the theme of our conversation.”

It is easy for us to talk about:
• problems,
• politics,
• money,
• work,
• and life's struggles.

But how often do we talk about heaven?
The more we think about heaven and speak about it,
the stronger our hope becomes.
The deeper our faith grows.
And the lighter the burdens of life seem.
This does not mean our problems disappear.
But it helps us see the bigger picture.

A home is waiting for us.

5. God Will Finish What He Started

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

What a wonderful promise!
God is the One who:
• called us,
• saved us,
• and continues to shape us.

We are not saved by our own strength.
We will not reach heaven because of our own abilities.
We will reach heaven because God is faithful.
What He has begun in us, He will complete.

Therefore, even when we are weak,
even when we stumble,
let us never lose hope.
Jesus continues to hold on to us.

Brothers and sisters,
our study about heaven has come to an end.
But the most important question is not:
“What will heaven look like?”
Rather:
“Am I ready to be there?”

Heaven is not merely a place.
It is eternal fellowship with Jesus.

Therefore, while we wait for His return:
• let us continue praying,
• let us continue studying His Word,
• let us continue trusting in His grace,
• and let us keep our eyes fixed on Christ.

For the day is near when faith will become sight.
We will see Him face-to-face.
And we will hear the voice we have longed to hear:
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant... enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

Summary
• Preparation for heaven begins while we are still living on earth.
• In heaven, all the redeemed will be one happy and united family.
• There will be no more sin and death in the new earth.
• Thinking and talking about heaven strengthens our faith.
• The God who began a good work in us will also complete it.
• While we wait for Jesus, let us continue living by faith and hope until the day we see Him face-to-face.

INSIDE STORY
AMELIA'S PROMISE
Opening Thought
Sometimes the greatest battles are the ones that other people cannot see.
Some people may appear happy on the outside while inwardly they are wounded, exhausted, and losing hope.
This was Amelia's experience.

For many years, she struggled with deep emotional and mental burdens. Because of hurtful words and poor treatment from others, she eventually reached the point where she considered ending her own life.
She felt that she no longer had a bright future.
But in the darkest moment of her life, she remembered the advice of a friend.

A Prayer That Changed Everything
Her friend encouraged her to pray for the people who had hurt her.
At first, it was difficult.
But because she desperately wanted change, she knelt down and prayed.

She remembered God's promise:
Psalm 37:5
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

As she wept, she said to God:
"Lord, I want to serve You. If You help me overcome this struggle, I will do whatever work You entrust to me."
And that was the beginning of God's transforming work in her life.

God Opened a New Door
As bitterness and resentment left her heart, she began to develop a desire to share God's love with others.
Before long, she was invited to become a Global Mission Pioneer and teach at an Adventist school in the mountains.

The location was not easy.
It was remote.
Difficult to reach.
But Amelia was willing to follow God's calling.

Serving in Difficult Places
After teaching at the school, she visited the students and their families.
She conducted worship services not only for Adventists but also for people who had not yet come to know the true God.
Little by little, the influence of the gospel spread throughout the area.
But not everyone was pleased.

Opposition Came
A village leader opposed her work.
He discouraged people from associating with Amelia.
He often attended her meetings simply to cause disturbances.
Some people even claimed that he practiced witchcraft and placed curses on those who opposed him.
Instead of being afraid, Amelia made this man a special subject of prayer.

God Gives Courage
One evening, during a parent-teacher meeting, the village leader appeared again.
He shouted and disrupted the entire gathering.
The people could no longer hear what Amelia was saying.
She ran to the church, knelt down, and prayed:
"Lord, help me. Give me strength and wisdom."
And as in many stories of the Bible, God answered.
He did not immediately remove the problem.
But He gave Amelia peace and courage.
She returned to the meeting with renewed confidence and calmness.

Faithfulness in Uncertain Times
The situation did not change immediately.
The village leader remained opposed.
But Amelia remained respectful, gentle, and steadfast.
Eventually, the parents saw her faithfulness and expressed their support for her.
She did not know what the future would hold.
But she knew one thing:

God is faithful to His promises.
Lessons We Can Learn

1. God Can Heal a Broken Heart
No matter how deep a person's wounds may be, God can heal the heart that fully trusts in Him.

2. Prayer Changes Lives
Amelia's prayer did not merely change her circumstances.
It changed her heart.

3. God Often Uses Our Pain for Ministry
The person who once lost hope became an instrument of hope for others.

4. Opposition Is Not a Sign That God Has Left Us
Sometimes, when we are doing God's work, the trials become greater.
But the Lord never abandons His people.

Final Message
Brothers and sisters, Amelia's story reminds us that God has the power to transform the darkest chapters of our lives.
From wanting to end her life, she became a messenger of life and hope to others.

And if God could do this for Amelia, He can do the same for us.
Therefore, when trials come, when hope seems gone, and when we do not know what step to take next, let us remember God's promise:

Psalm 37:5 "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
The God who guided Amelia is the same God who guides us today.

Brothers and sisters, dear friends,
Throughout this week, we have been reminded again and again of a beautiful truth:
This world is not our home.
This world is still filled with:
• tears,
• pain,
• disappointment,
• death,
• and troubles that we cannot avoid.

But thanks be to God, this is not the end of our story.
A day is coming when our faith will become sight.
We will no longer pray to an unseen God,
for we shall see Him.
We will no longer rely only upon His promises,
for every promise will be fulfilled.
We will no longer weep beside the graves of our loved ones,
for the Lord will open the graves of those who have fallen asleep in Christ.

We will no longer ask why God allowed certain trials,
for we will understand His great plan.
And above all,
we will see Jesus face-to-face.
The hands that were nailed to the cross for us.
The face that was once spat upon for us.
The King of heaven who loved us unto death.
Brothers and sisters,
whatever trial you may be carrying today,
whatever tears you may be bearing,
whatever disappointment you may be experiencing,
do not let go of Jesus.

The day is near when we will hear His voice saying:
"Come, ye blessed of my Father."
The day is near when our struggles will be replaced with victory.
The day is near when faith will become reality.
Therefore, while we wait,
let us continue to pray,
continue to study His Word,
continue to love,
continue to serve,
and continue to share Jesus with others.
For the most beautiful words we can hear in all the universe are these:

"Surely I come quickly."
And may the response of each one of us be:
"Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
Maranatha.