Getting to heaven and Revelation 21:5-8?

Question

Take a look at Revelation 21:5-8.

What does that passage mean to you? In particular, what does "he who overcomes" mean to you in this context?

Attached is a link to Bible Gateway.org for this scripture.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021:5-8;&version=31;

Answer 1

Jesus will complete the work and plan of God. He gives everlasting life to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; but these must show that they do indeed thirst for his righteousness by overcoming the self (which can be categorized as sins of: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life), overcoming Satan (his deceptions, ways and wiles), and overcoming the world (its many errors in lifestyle, goals, motivations and philosophies).

Those who thus overcome, will be the sons (and daughters) of God, living eternally with him in the Kingdom of God on the earth, in a universe that has been washed clean and renewed of all the corruptions from sin. They shall inherit all things in Christ, and they shall be like Christ in power and glory.

Those who loved their lifestyles, their selves, their pleasures, their anti-christian and ungodly philosophies, fallacies, etc., will be destroyed utterly when the universe is consumed in the burning renewal. From the second death, there is no resurrection. They will be as though they never had existed.

Answer 2

1John Chapter 1 explains that if you say you are a follower of Christ but yet you don't obey the commandments you are a liar.

What the passage in revelation is saying is that if you live outside of the Love of God and think you can just do whatever you want never thinking about the consequences, you will not be with God and Christ in the afterlife. You have chose your own path and that path is the path to your second death (1st one is physical and the 2nd is the death of your soul).

If you still live in sin and feel sad about it at times, than you have not completely turned away from God. IF this is the case, you must start asking God for forgiveness of your past and the strength and direction to live within his boundaries. This doesn't necessarily come overnight, but it's a start. God wants us to humbly accept and own our sinful nature and humbly ask Him to show us the way. That's called trying to do God's will, not our own. Slowly but surely , if you stay humble, you will get there.

Answer 3

If you want to get to Heaven - listen to Jesus and His teachings in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. He explains what is needed - Revelations was written to the seven churches in the province of Asia who were being persecuted for being Christians. Revelation has a lot to teach us - but Jesus came and told us how to reach Heaven. Please check out my site for more learning - there are lessons from the pulpit that teach on Heaven.