Q20 Who are the ones who will have the right to eat of this tree?
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life. Revelation 22:14
Q21 What is one very interesting fact about the natural world in the heavenly city?
There shall be no more curse. Revelation 22:3
NOTE: In the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3, God told Adam and Eve that because of their sin a curse would be put on the earth. This meant that their work of gardening and agriculture would be difficult, causing them to sweat as they prepared the ground for their crops. Also it would bring forth thorns and thistles. It is these weeds that make our crop growing difficult even in small gardens. It was to teach them lessons that these things had to be uprooted and kept firmly under control or the earth would become a wild desolation. This taught them that sin is like a weed and if we allow it to get root it will choke our lives and spoil the good fruit. It means daily weeding and co-operating with God. But now in heaven, those lessons do not need to be learned any more, so the curse is lifted and growing things will be a delight. Had you ever thought that when Jesus died He wore a crown of thorns? His sacrifice for sin was to remove sin from our lives, but also to overcome the curse of the thorns and thistles from the earth too.
Q22 In Old Testament times who looked forward to this promised city with foundations?
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:8-10
Q23 How do we know that there were many others who hoped for this city too?
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Hebrews 11:13
Q24 What assurance do we have that their hopes will not be disappointed?
He hath prepared for them a city. Heb 11:16
Q25 What experiences did these men and woman of faith have to go through because they loved God and refused to dishonour Him?
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: Hebrews 11:36-39
Q26 What words of invitation will Jesus give for any today who may have to experience the same trials?
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:34
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