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Kindle Notes & Highlights
by
John Burke
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October 19 - November 16, 2019
He also saw how his thoughts, words, and actions had positively impacted others.
Jeffrey Long observes that NDErs were typically the ones who judged themselves.
But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:35–37, italics mine).
Ephesians chapter 2 continues: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).
The life review is not either of these judgments. It is simply a clarifying reminder that God knows everything about us, and we will all one day give an account. When
God wants to set us free from proving ourselves, judging ourselves, or comparing ourselves
to each other so we can be free to accomplish the wonderful things he created us to do. At the end of time, there are two judgments, and as we’ll discover in the next chapter, the bema seat judgment that’s coming will not be like a sentencing—it will be like the greatest cosmic awards ceremony ever imagined!
gonna be the most rewarding thing you’ve ever imagined. Isaiah looked forward to it, saying, “See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him” (Isaiah 62:11). Jesus said, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done” (Matthew 16:27). So let’s imagine that day, and live for the things that God rewards.
Whenever you’re struggling or suffering or going through trials, remember—be faithful to God, endure, and he will reward it!
God promises to reward those who diligently seek him, walk by faith with him, and long for him.
Faith is another word for trust.
“If we endure hardship, we will reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:12 NLT). “Do you not know that we will judge [rule] angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:3). Some of us will govern angels, others will rule cities—some
some will be over nations.
And it’s not those wh...
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their way up who will be entrusted with the most important responsibilities, it’s those who humbly served and obeyed ...
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I will also give them the morning star!” (Revelation 2:26, 28 NLT).
“One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4).
there’s no greater reward in the universe than intimacy with God. He’s the highlight of the universe and the longing of every person. He is the Greatest Reward of all. No one ever wants to leave his presence.
Listen again as NDErs describe being with him: I was so consumed by His presence that I dropped to my knees and looked up at Him. He is so glorious, so beautiful. All light inside of Light.7 —Khalida I was filled with awe at His beautiful presence.8 —Gary Seeing the majesty and indescribable beauty of the Lord made me speechless. . . . When I was in His presence, it was all I wanted.9 —Samaa It’s the pinnacle of everything there is. Of energy, of love especially, of warmth, of beauty.10 —anonymous Dutch NDEr
The magnificence of this Person pierced me like a laser . . . all Power, all Wisdom, all Splendor, all Love. . . . Nothing mattered excep...
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The Bright Morning Star
Jesus promised, “To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations. . . . I will also give that
one the morning star” (Revelation 2:26, 28). Why would we want the “morning star” as a reward? Because “I, Jesus . . . am the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16 NLT). He wants to give us the greatest reward of all—himself! Every believer will see God and experience the loving wonders of his presence, but don’t you want to leave this earth with the greatest capacity possible for the greatest r...
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“No!” came Shane’s surprising answer. “Well, why not?” Sam asked, quite shocked at his response. “I’m living right next to God.” Shane got baptized the next day at our church’s baptism, just like he said he would. It would make perfect sense to
me if the Shanes of the world had the most special location in the City of God. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God,” said Jesus (Matthew 5:8). Just imagine
From these NDE witnesses and Scripture, we start to get a picture of this massive wall with a foundation layered with twelve gemstones—1,400 miles long, approximately 200 feet high, and 216 feet thick—and twelve translucent gate-like archways made of
pearlescent material you can pass through to enter the majestic City of God.
how is the City 1,400 miles high if the wall is on...
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protection. And the 1,400-mile-high sides are apparently made of the same transparent gold that you can see, yet also see through.
“The city was pure gold, as clear as glass” (Revelation 21:18 NLT).
The gate wasn’t made of pearls, but was pearlescent—perhaps iridescent may be more descriptive. To me, it looked as if someone had spread pearl icing on a cake. The gate glowed and shimmered. I paused and stared at the glorious hues and shimmering
Imagine the thrill as your new senses come alive with sights, smells,
colors, and sounds of music and light—all alive with love—filling your soul with ecstasy
as you pass through the great hallway of pearlescent material, through the wall, and into...
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The City of God (Pets Allowed)
Everything I saw was bright—the brightest colors my eyes had ever beheld—so powerful that no earthly human could take in this brilliance.
Imagine going through the gate into the City of God.
The gate is two hundred and sixteen (216) feet thick and that makes a nice long hallway.
As you enter the City, the first thing you see is the Tree of Life.
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the
great street of t...
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On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the h...
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“It is possible to move by the speed of thought.
transparent streets, and I could see all the way through them. A NASA scientist later told me there is an impurity in gold, and
when it’s removed, the gold is no longer yellow, it’s crystal clear.”9
Revelation says it, I just couldn’t imagine it before: “The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass” (Revelation 21:21).
The City is expansive according to that measurement—1,400 miles on
each side—which would make it approximately half the size of the United States,
the City’s also 1,400 miles high!
Scripture hints that those in Heaven still have knowledge of earth’s happenings (Luke 15:7; Revelation
