A Glimpse of Heaven | The Return of Jesus | Jentezen Franklin

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: Jentezen Franklin at Free Chapel
Episode: A Glimpse of Heaven | The Return of Jesus | Jentezen Franklin
Date: May 3, 2026
Host: Jentezen Franklin

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Episode Overview

Main Theme:
Pastor Jentezen Franklin delivers a passionate, scripture-rich message centered on the hope of heaven promised to believers, drawing heavily from Revelation 21 and related scriptures. He explains what the Bible says awaits the faithful after death—the reality and beauty of heaven, the assurance of reunion with loved ones, and the necessity of being “born again.” The episode combines biblical teaching, heartfelt encouragement, vivid imagery, and direct appeals for salvation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Biblical Picture of Heaven

• Scripture Foundation: The message begins in Revelation 21, where John describes a new heaven and new earth, emphasizing the promises made to followers of Jesus.
• Main Promise: "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain" [02:58].
• Franklin’s Emphasis:
  • “Pretend you’ve never heard this...Like this is news to you. Because this is God’s promise to every person who will accept his son, Jesus Christ.” [01:53]
  • Heaven is a real, physical place prepared for believers, not just a state of mind or abstract idea [06:14].

2. Three Heavens Explained

• First Heaven: The sky we see by day, home of birds and clouds.
• Second Heaven: The night sky, filled with stars and galaxies.
• Third Heaven: The dwelling place of God, where Jesus resides bodily after his resurrection [08:38].
• Scriptural Proof:
  • Paul’s heavenly vision (2 Corinthians 12): “I saw things that are not lawful to even utter” [05:02].
  • The “sides of the north” in Isaiah 14 identified as heaven’s location [06:14].

3. Immediate Passage to Heaven

• Believers’ Assurance: The saved go to heaven immediately upon death.
• Role of Angels: Angels escort believers' spirits at death into God’s presence [09:10].
• Biblical Examples:
  • Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 7): Saw Jesus standing to receive him [10:10].
  • Paul’s testimony: “To die is gain… it is far better” than anything on earth [11:11].

4. Reunions and Recognition in Heaven

• Biblical Comfort: Families will be reunited; we will know and recognize each other with “full knowledge” [12:42].
• Scriptural Examples:
  • King David’s declaration after losing his child: “I will go to him” [14:31].
  • Patriarchs gathering to their people (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob)—“He was gathered to his people” [16:33].
• Emotional Climax: Franklin emphasizes the joy of family reunions in heaven—"That’s my people" [16:33].
  • “He pulled the covers, threw it up and said he drew his feet up into bed, breathed his last breath, and was gathered to his people.” [20:16]

5. The Joy and Activity of Heaven

• Beyond Stereotypes: Heaven is active, not passive—no “fat, chubby angel babies in diapers floating on clouds” [24:12].
• Joyful and Happy Place: No sadness, no pain—just joy and purposeful service.
• Purposeful Service:
  • “Occupy until I come”—heaven is a place of meaningful activity [24:12].
  • “If you've been faithful down here with a little, I'm going to make you ruler over much up there.” [25:55]
  • Reference to ruling with Jesus, possibly even over cities (parable of the talents) [25:54].

6. Absolute Perfection & The Heart of God

• Heaven’s Nature: “Heaven will be absolute perfection. The presence of all that is good and the absence of all that is evil.” [27:14]
• God’s Intention: Heaven is conceived by God’s heart, mind, and hand—a place of overflowing goodness for His people [28:25].

7. The Only Way: Jesus

• Exclusive Path:
  • “Only the redeemed will go to heaven…If you haven’t been heaven born, you will not be heaven bound.” [31:09]
• Parable of the Gates:
  • Moral man, humanitarian, and religious man all denied entry—“Depart from me, I never knew you.”
  • Only the one who trusts wholly in Jesus, “washed in the blood of Jesus Christ,” is welcomed [34:42].
  • “What is the password? Jesus, worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” [34:53]

8. Salvation Call

• Personal Appeal:
  • Franklin makes a direct invitation: “If the rapture were to take place today, would you be left? Are you a question mark?” [36:12]
  • “Don’t miss heaven, whatever you do, don’t miss heaven.” [36:12]
• Congregational Prayer:
  • Leads listeners in a prayer of surrender to Jesus:
    “Jesus, I surrender my life to you…I receive you as my Savior…because heaven is a person…and that person is you, Jesus.” [40:00-40:28]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying… There shall be no more pain.” — Jentezen Franklin [02:58]
• “Heaven is a real place. Heaven is not a condition. It's not a mindset, it's not a state of mind.” — [06:14]
• “To die is gain… it is far better.” — [11:11]
• “You will know one another in heaven. You will know your family in heaven. You will have full knowledge.” — [12:42]
• “He pulled the covers, threw it up and said he drew his feet up into bed, breathed his last breath, and was gathered to his people.” — [20:16]
• “If you can hold on, there’s a happy day coming. And oh, happy day.” — [24:12]
• “Heaven is the presence of all that is good and the absence of all that is evil.” — [27:14]
• “Only the redeemed will go to heaven… If you haven’t been heaven born, you will not be heaven bound.” — [31:09]
• “What is the password? Jesus, worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” — [34:53]
• “Heaven is a person, and that person is you, Jesus. I want to see you face to face.” — [40:28]

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Key Timestamps

• [00:33] — Introduction to Revelation 21 and setting the scriptural foundation
• [02:58] — Reading of Revelation 21’s promise: no more suffering, ultimate hope for believers
• [05:02] — Paul’s “trip to heaven” and the mystery of what awaits
• [06:14] — Explanation of the “three heavens”
• [09:10] — Angels’ role at death and the believer’s immediate transition to God’s presence
• [11:11] — “To die is gain”—the hope and superiority of heaven over earthly life
• [14:31] — David and reunion with his child in heaven; “I will go to him”
• [16:33] — The “gathering to your people” theme; promise of reunions
• [20:16] — Jacob’s passing and “gathered to his people” explained
• [24:12] — Heaven as a place of joy and meaningful activity; debunking heaven’s stereotypes
• [25:54] — Parable of talents/Ruling with Christ in the age to come
• [27:14] — Heaven as absolute perfection
• [31:09] — “Heaven born, heaven bound” teaching; exclusivity of Christ for salvation
• [34:53] — the “password” at heaven’s gate: Jesus
• [36:12] — Call to decision and prayer for salvation
• [40:28] — Prayer of surrender to Christ; “heaven is a person”
• [41:50] — Final blessing and sending

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Summary Flow & Tone

The episode maintains Jentezen Franklin’s signature impassioned, urgent, and encouraging tone. Biblical teaching is interwoven with vivid imagery, practical application, and heartfelt, sometimes humorous, anecdotes. Franklin frequently addresses the congregation directly, challenging them to believe anew, to celebrate the hope of heaven, and to respond decisively to the gospel message.

The overall flow:

• Scripture reading > Theological explanation > Vivid illustration > Personal application > Invitation & prayer.
  The listener is left with unmistakable clarity: heaven is real, indescribably wonderful, reserved for the redeemed, and absolutely worth any earthly sacrifice.

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For further spiritual growth, the call is clear: trust in Jesus, rejoice in the hope of heaven, and live with assurance of eternal life and reunion with loved ones in the presence of God.

Transcript

[A]

Hello, this is Jensen Franklin and thank you so much for joining us for this week's podcast. Our goal is to provide you with biblically based teachings that will challenge, inspire and equip you to live for Jesus. If you haven't already, I'd love for you to go ahead and subscribe today to this podcast so you can get the latest updates from us and you don't ever have to miss a new message.

[B]

Let's go right into the service.

[A]

Record it at Free Chapel. I believe it's going to bless you today.

[B]

If you have your Bibles, I would like for you to open them with me for just a few moments to the Book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation, chapter 21. The Book of Revelation, chapter 21. Thank you, musicians. I want you to go with me. We have been preaching on the coming of the Lord. And for the past two weeks we focused on on what is known as the Rapture, the catching away of the church. And then last week I preached on the Great Tribulation. What will happen the day after the Rapture? What does the Bible teach? Not my theory or somebody else's theory, but what does the Bible say? And then today I want to Preach from Chapter 21. What awaits the believer? What awaits those that are ready for the coming of the Lord and those who have preceded us in death. I want you to see chapter 21. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a voice from heaven say, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men. And he will dwell with them. And they shall be his people. God himself, God himself will be with them and be their God. And I want you to hear this, read this like you've never heard it before. Like these are. This is news to you. Because this is God's promise to every person who will accept his son, Jesus Christ. Life is hard. Life is at times overwhelming. But listen to this great promise and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

[C]

There shall be. Now pretend you've never heard this.

[B]

You're going somewhere that God has prepared.

[C]

And there shall be no more death,

[B]

no more sorrow, nor crying. You're not doing it. You don't believe that.

[C]

There will never be another thing to shed a tear. There will never be a tear of sorrow. You'll never need your tear ducts again. There shall Be no more pain.

[B]

None. No pain. Thank you, Jesus. I'm reading it like I've never read it before. For the former things have passed away. And he who sat on the throne said, behold, I make all things new. And he said to me, write, for

[C]

these words are true

[B]

and they are faithful. He said to me, it is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

[C]

I will give of the fountain of

[B]

the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things. I will be his God, and he shall be my child. Clap your hands and rejoice. The Bible leaves us in breathless wonder of what awaits us in a place that is called heaven. In the Bible, we're told that Paul in 2nd Corinthians 12 took a trip by God. He was taken. And he said, whether I went in the spirit or I went in the

[C]

body, I cannot tell.

[B]

Which is an amazing little insight there. That people can go to heaven in their spirit, of course, when they die, goes to heaven. But people also can be taken by God of physical body to heaven and have an insight like he got. And he said, I went to heaven. I saw it. I saw things. And then he made this statement. I saw things that are not lawful to even utter. I saw and I was forbidden by the angel. You are not to tell this and you're not to write this. God has some sacred secrets that, that he's holding back in the place called heaven. And he said, I want to surprise them. I don't want them to have a clue. I'll let you see some of the things that I'll show you. But I want you to know that some of the things up here, it's not lawful. But Paul said, all I can tell you is my eyes have not seen,

[C]

my ears have not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man

[B]

what God has prepared for them who love him. You see, there are more facts about heaven than we realize. Heaven is a real place. Heaven is not a condition. It's not a mindset, it's not a state of mind. Paul said, I was caught up into paradise, which is the third heaven. You see, the third heaven is in reference to where heaven is. Heaven is northward. It says in Isaiah 14. Lucifer was in heaven, in the throne room of heaven, which sits in the sides of the north of heaven. Throughout the Scriptures, the Bible tells us that the position, the north star, the highest star, and it is the fixed position. It's interesting that God dwells in the north in the heavens and the third heaven is a description of where Jesus in his physical body resides. Even as I speak, you see, the north is found over and over in scriptures. The Bible said, for example in Leviticus, chapter 1, in verse 11, when they were commanded to offer the sacrifice, even under the old covenant, they were to kill the sacrifice northward toward the Lord. Psalm 75 says, Promotion does not come from the east, from the south, or from the west. But notice it doesn't say not from the north, but it comes from God. There are three heavens. The first heaven is where the birds fly. It's what we see when we walk out on a beautiful day, like we're seeing here. And you look up into the sky and you can see all the blue sky as far as your eye can see. That's the first heaven. The second heaven is the stars of heaven. It's where the moon is and the stars, the galaxies. But there is a third heaven, and that third heaven is the abode of God. Jesus is there on a throne, bodily. The Bible teaches this.

[C]

Bodily. He rose from the dead, bodily.

[B]

And he said, my body is there

[C]

with scars and wounds as proof of the covenant that bought you at Calvary.

[B]

And he is there. And the first heaven we see by day, it's everything you can see in the sky as far as you can see it. The second heaven we see by night, like last night, that beautiful moon. I don't know if you saw it, but I saw it, and it was glowing. And the stars and it's. That's the second heaven. And the galaxies as far as we can reach. But then there is the third heaven. The first heaven you see by day. The second heaven you see by night. The third heaven you only see by faith. That is the place where God has promised to take us. The saved go to heaven immediately upon death, immediately. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. The Bible teaches in many of the parables and stories that Jesus told, the rich man and the beggar, angels are assigned. I was amazed, and I'm going to preach just a sermon on angels soon because I reread Sister Thetis Tenney's book on angels, and it just stirred me up. I just. I don't think we really understand the power of the spirit world and the role that angels over and over and over are talked about, especially in a person's death. That angel is assigned to take the spirit of that person who dies and take them and escort them into heaven immediately. A person will go and into heaven. Stephen, when he was dying, being Stoned. The first martyr looked up and saw heaven. And Jesus was standing because he went immediately to heaven. Philippians 1. In verse 23, Paul said, I have a desire to depart and be with Christ. Which is, notice these words, far better. He said, I went up there and I came back. And he said, I've been back and

[C]

to live is Christ.

[B]

But I'm going to tell you what I learned. To die is gain.

[C]

And that doesn't mean that we don't live life full. We don't dream.

[B]

We don't live like we ought to

[C]

be dreaming of living. 85. When I'm 85, I'm going to take my teeth out of a jar, out of a glass and put them in and get up here and preach. If the Lord gives me a healthy body, amen. But I tell you, whatever is awaiting us, the Bible said it is far better. And some of you say, well, I just don't want to leave this world. I love this world.

[B]

I'm having so much fun.

[C]

But if you know God created you and he created this earth, and Paul said, it's far better, you have no idea. There's nothing like what awaits me, believer. There is nothing that compares down here in any way, shape, form or fashion. Everything will be better and far better.

[B]

Hallelujah. We see through a glass darkly. First Corinthians, chapter 13.

[C]

But there we shall be. We shall see face to face. And there we will be known, even

[B]

as we are known. We. What he's doing is Paul is saying, you will know one another in heaven. You will know your family in heaven. You will have full knowledge.

[C]

You will know everything.

[B]

I will know you in heaven.

[C]

I don't know a lot of you down here, but I'll know your name. I'll know your address. I'll know your Social Security. I'll have full knowledge. And I'm going to hug your neck. I want to hug every one of your necks in that place called heaven and say, we made it. We made it. We're home at last. Praise the Lord. Y' all don't believe that, but I believe this book. I believe it. I believe it. I believe it. I believe one of these days, either by the rapture or by death, I'm going up yonder, hallelujah, to see my Lord. I'll see you see him face to face.

[B]

Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. And David said something powerful about heaven. I want to really, really comfort somebody who needs to understand how thorough the Bible is on the fact you Will see your family in a family reunion. Literally. The Bible says it over and over and over. Let me give it to you.

[C]

David starts it.

[B]

When his baby dies.

[C]

He has a child, a young child that dies. And before the child died and it

[B]

was sick, and he fasted and he prayed and he fasted and he prayed and. And yet God took the child.

[C]

And when the child died, he cleaned himself up and he put on clothes

[B]

and he went to the temple and

[C]

he said these words. I can't bring my son back to me. Grieving parent. I can't bring my baby back to me. But listen to his words. This is the anointed word of God. I will go to him Now. He wouldn't have said that. God wouldn't have let him record that in the Holy Bible. If it's not true, he's got a revelation. I can't bring him back to this world of tears and sorrow, but I will go to him. I'll see him again in heaven. We go to our loved ones.

[B]

Heaven first.

[C]

Thessalonians said, the trumpet will sound, the shout will go forth. The dead in Christ will rise first. And we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the

[B]

air and comfort one another with these words. Listen to this. When God's people died over and over and over, the Scripture said, they went to be with their fathers. Listen to this verse in Numbers, chapter 27. In verse 12, Moses is about to die. And he said, go to the mountain, Moses, and there you will die and be gathered. What a beautiful little, little part there. And you shall be gathered to your people. Who's his people? His family. You'll be gathered unto your people, Abraham. Genesis 25 and verse 8. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, yielded up his spirit and died at a good old age. Tell somebody I want to die at a good old age. An old man full of years

[C]

and

[B]

was gathered to his people. You know, that's my people. My family. Cherise, Aaron, Connor, Courtney. That's my people. My granddad, my mom. That's my people. My brothers, my sisters. That's my people.

[C]

Listen to what the Bible promises. Abraham. Go on home, Abraham. You've lived a good life full of years. It's time to go home and be gathered unto your people. Because your people are on the other side. You got loved ones on the other side. What a happy, happy meeting just inside the eastern gate. Somebody clap your hands and rejoice that we have a hope beyond this world.

[B]

And then in Genesis 35:29, Isaac.

[C]

Abraham dies and goes to heaven. And Isaac now is dying.

[B]

And it said, and he gave up

[C]

the ghost and died and was carried or gathered unto his people, being old and full of days. And Esau and Jacob, his boys buried him. What a way to go home. And the Scripture said and was gathered with his people. Anybody got anybody over there on the other side? They are there. They are real. It is real. Life beyond this life is real. And one day, if you live for Jesus, you can be gathered again with

[B]

your people on streets of gold. Genesis 49, in verse 3:33, Now Jacob dies. And I love the way he dies. The Bible said he, on the last day of his life, knew he was dying, leaned on his staff. He had old staff back in the Bible days. The staff, they. They didn't have computers and stuff. They kept their family history. They put marks on their staff and they would carry. That's why. That's. I don't have time to preach this. That's why David said, thy rod and thy. My staff. He didn't just run out.

[C]

Read the text.

[B]

He didn't run out against Goliath with a slingshot, only he took his staff with him because on it was, I slew a bear. Every victory that he had ever won, he carved it. He carved it. He carved.

[C]

And so when take that staff, you take your testimony, you take God's faithfulness,

[B]

you take the uptime, anything significant, they would carve on that staff. And now he's leaning on his staff.

[C]

It'll do when I'm dying what I've got. He's been faithful through everything I've gone through, through every step of my journey. And when I'm dying, I'm going to be leaning on my staff, saying the same Jesus, well, it's time to go home. And I'm not afraid. Hallelujah. I'm not fearing death. I'm not afraid. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Thou art with me. My rod and my staff, they comfort me. The same God who took care of me down here is going to take far better care up there. No more tears. Everybody take a praise break. Act like you've never heard of heaven before and you just got. You just won the lottery. You're going, you're going. Streets of gold, gates of pearl, walls of Jasper.

[B]

And the Bible said he leaned and laid his hands on every one of his children and blessed them with a blessing. And then it said, he pulled the covers, throw it up and Said he drew his feet up into bed, breathed his last breath, and was gathered to his people. Well, who is his people? Well, it just told you in the verses I just read you. His father was Isaac and his grandfather was Abraham. And they went and got with their people, and all them got together and they said, hey, we heard old Jacob's coming today.

[C]

Let's all gather outside. Let's start praising God. Let's cheer. See when you.

[B]

When they're leaving here.

[C]

Oh, he's leaving. He's leaving. He's leaving.

[B]

But when they're going home, they start

[C]

shouting at the gates, he's coming. He's coming. Here he is. Here he is.

[B]

I keep hearing that song in my head.

[C]

What will it be when we get over yonder,

[B]

Turn to somebody and say, over yonder is Southern.

[C]

All you California, my wonderful California friends.

[B]

Y' all don't know what yonder even means. Mountain talk.

[C]

We're going over yonder. I'm going up yonder to see my king. Hallelujah. I don't know why I want you to shout, but I feel like shouting is appropriate this morning. I feel like something's wrong. I feel like you're too in love with the world. If you don't like this sermon, because there's nothing to hold me back down here. Heaven sounding sweeter all the time.

[B]

Glory. You know what the Bible said? It said in Matthew, chapter 8 and verse 11, and he glimpsed in. And he said, I shall. Jesus is speaking. He said, I say to you that many will come from the east and the west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. My Lord, have mercy. We're going to sit down with the saints Peter, James and John and Matthew. Mary, the mother of Jesus. I'll eat lunch with her and then

[C]

go have dinner with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And then I'll get with my people and grab my grandbabies. And I don't know.

[B]

I don't understand the age thing.

[C]

I don't know how all that's going to go. God's got it out. If He. If he made this world like we've got it, imagine one where he is really, really eliminated. Because the Bible tells us more of

[B]

what's not going to be in he

[C]

than it does what will be in heaven. And I tell you what's not going

[B]

to be in heaven.

[C]

Neither shall there be any more crying any more sighing any more dying. Neither shall there be any more pain, neither shall there be any more sorrow. For the former things have passed away and Behold, all things will be new. I'll have a new body, I'll have a new name. I'll have a new mansion. I'll live in a new Jerusalem. I'll have a new nature. I don't know how I get to do this, but I'm going to drink the new wine. Hallelujah. And I'm going to sing a new song. Worthy is the lamb. And we're going to be happy. Everybody will be happy over there. Won't be any sad people, won't be any mad people, won't be any anxiety filled people, just happy people. Hallelujah. Turn to somebody and say if you can hold on, there's a happy day coming. And oh, happy day.

[B]

Why am I screaming? We'll know one another. Heaven will be filled with joyful activity. We're not going to sit on a cloud with a fat, chubby angel baby in a diaper. And float around singing hymns all day. That's not what heaven is. Listen to what the Bible describes the activity of heaven as being. See, heaven is a place of rest, but not laziness. Luke 19. It is a description. He says, occupy until I come. Which is a parable that Jesus taught. The word Occupy is the word from which we get occupation, work. Your occupation is what you do. You serve. And the Scripture said in chapter 19, it said that he'll deliver. And he said, occupy until I come. And then it goes. I'm just going to cut to the chase. He said. He said, if you've been faithful down here with a little, I'm going to make you ruler over much up there. And he said if you took 10 talents and you turned it into, into you doubled it into 20, he said, I'll give you 10 cities, I'll put you over 10 cities. And then he said, if you were

[C]

given five and you were faithful with

[B]

that five, I'll put you over five cities. Because we're going to rule and reign with Jesus Christ. We will be busy serving him. We will be.

[C]

I, I don't. I love to serve the Lord. What a privilege to serve the Lord down here. But it's not like we're just going to be sitting around. It will be things that God knows how he made you. And he will use your greatest gifts

[B]

for his kingdom and his purpose.

[C]

You know, the millennial reign will take place for 1000 years and you and I will, will help serve God on special assignments for our life all over. And we don't know what else exists in space. You don't know how big Our God is. But whatever it is, he said, I want you with me. I so loved the world, the earth, that I gave my only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe on him. What a miracle the God of the universe came down with, was born of a virgin and died on the cross and rose again. All because he loves you and me and wants us to be where he is, to rule with him.

[B]

Revelation 7 and verse 15, John caught a glimpse of the glory of heaven. And he said, I saw the servants of God around the throne, and they did serve him day and night, day and night. It's absolute perfection. I'll close with this. But heaven will be absolute perfection. Heaven is the presence of all that is good and the absence of all. All that is evil. Everything that is good, heaven will be filled with it. Everything that is evil will be absent from heaven. The heart of a loving God, with desire for you has provided a place. The mind of God conceived it and the hand of God created it.

[C]

Jesus said, 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 that where I am, there you will be also. Don't let your hearts be troubled. Don't let the trials and tribulations cause you to lose heart. It's going to be worth it all. I'm going to reward my people. I'm going to give them eternal life. But not just eternal life.

[B]

Life more abundantly.

[C]

Far better.

[B]

Everybody say far better. Far better means in the superlative. God's heart, God's mind, God's hand. No wonder Paul said in First Corinthians 2 and 9, eyes have not seen and ears have not heard. Absolute perfection. The beautiful earth that we live on, the mountains, the oceans, the rainbows, the flowers, the sunsets, the moon, the stars, the colors of the butterflies, wings, the creation, the hand, the mind, the heart that created all of this in six days. He says, I have prepared such a place for you. Oh, what a glorious privilege to preach the gospel. I have good news to bring. God will, with his handkerchief of love,

[C]

wipe every tear from their eyes.

[B]

Sometimes we're praying that God will spare a relative. And that's exactly how we all feel. But sometimes Jesus is praying on the other side, because the Scripture said, He said in John 17 and 24, Father, I pray that those you gave me would be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory. You're praying, Lord, don't let them die. And Jesus is praying, I really want to be with Them only the redeemed will go to heaven. If you haven't been heaven born, you will not be heaven bound when you die or when the trumpet sounds. You were earthbound, earthborn when you were born.

[C]

But you must be born again, and

[B]

that's the heaven born.

[C]

And if you're not heaven born, you

[B]

won't be heaven bound.

[C]

Only through Jesus Christ. No other religion will get you there. No good work will get you there. Being a good person, being a nice guy, being faithful, whatever, it's not enough. All of our righteousness. Isaiah 64 and 6. All of our righteousness is as filthy rags.

[B]

The story is told of a man who died and went to the gate of heaven. And a voice from inside the gate said, who is it that seeks entrance into heaven? And the man said, I am a moral man.

[C]

I am a good man. The voice inside the gate said, what is the password?

[B]

Through the gate of heaven? The man said, honesty. And the voice said back to him, depart from me, you worker of iniquity. I never knew you.

[C]

Up stepped another man, and he said, let me in. And the voice inside the gate of

[B]

God's holy city said, who is it that seeks entrance to this place? And the man said, I am a humanitarian. I give to the poor.

[C]

I'm generous. I help people. I've done many great works. I've built great foundations. They've done many good things in the world. The voice said, what is the password? He said, charity, good works. The voice said back,

[B]

depart from me, you worker of iniquity. I never knew you. Up stepped another man.

[C]

Oh, he looked the part. He said, let me in. And the voice said, who seeks entrance? He said, I am a religious man. Oh, I go to church. I have studied religions. I have great knowledge of the religious books of the world. He said, what is the password? He said, it's religion. As long as I've got some religion. All roads lead to heaven.

[B]

I've studied them all and taken the best out of each one. And that voice comes back thundering, Depart from me, you worker of iniquity. I never knew you. But finally a man steps up. He says, let me in. Who seeks entrance? The voice said. He said, I have been born again. I have been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.

[C]

I have put all my faith in him. Nothing in my hand I bring simply to his cross.

[B]

I clean.

[C]

What is the password? Jesus, worthy is the Lamb that was slain. Jesus, worthy is the Lamb. Open up the gates wide and let him enter in.

[B]

Because there's no other way to salvation. Neither is there any other name but the name of Jesus. Are you ready? Are you going? Is your name in the book of life? There's nothing this world has that's worth missing. You know you'll give up everything you're holding on to that's keeping you from heaven. You'll give it up to go to hell, too. Because you're not taking that stuff with you to hell. It ain't going to be a big party down there with your buddies, you know all those Hank Jr. And all of them down there having a big whiskey river. That's a lie. It's weeping and gnashing of teeth. But I'm going home. I'm going to ask you. I'm going to ask you to stand to your feet reverently, very reverently. Please, every head bowed, every eye closed, and please, no one moving. Just bow your heads for one moment. If the rapture were to take place today, on this Sunday, would you be left? Are you a question mark? Do you know that you've been born again? That you've been washed, cleansed? Your garments are white, not because you're perfect, but because the Lamb, Jesus Christ, is the perfect sacrifice and you have accepted him as your savior. Don't miss heaven, whatever you do, don't miss heaven. Pastor, pray for me. I'm not right with God. I know it. I feel conviction on my heart this morning. I want to gather with my people one day. Somebody's got a loved one up there that's been praying for you. Prayers never have an expiration date on them. Every prayer they prayed for you is still working, even in this service this morning. Pastor, pray for me. I need to get right with God. I want to know that I'm going to heaven. If that's you, lift your hand as high as you can. Lift it right where you're standing. Do it unashamed. Quickly, quickly. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Wonderful. Raise it high and unashamed. In the balcony, on the main floor, in the overflow, wherever you're watching at every campus, just raise those hands high. That's awesome. Great, great, great, great, great. I want you to keep your hand raised. They're all over this room. They're there at every campus. Speak that by faith in Jesus name. In the prisons, watching by television, watching on the Internet, around the world, just lift your hand. If you don't know that you're saved, you can be saved today. Everybody that sees someone with their hand raised, gently lay your hand on their shoulder as an act of support. If you Just open your eyes and look around. If you see someone with their hand raised, just put your hand on their shoulder. It's wonderful. Normally we call people down, but I'm not going to do that this morning. We've got a lot of things going on, but the prayer will be no less powerful if you pray it in faith. Now, everybody pray this prayer out loud. Say these words and believe it from your heart and say, jesus, let's go. Jesus, I surrender my life to you. I believe that you. You died on the cross.

[C]

I trust in your death and your resurrection and your precious blood.

[B]

It has washed me. It is washing me.

[C]

It is cleansing me. I receive you as my Savior.

[B]

Forgive me.

[C]

Because heaven is a person. Say that heaven is a person and that person is you, Jesus, I want to see you face to face. I want to know you and I want you to be my Savior. I will never hear the words depart from me.

[B]

I never knew you. I receive salvation, forgiveness.

[C]

My name is written in the book of life. If you believe that, give the Lord

[B]

a great, great praise.

[C]

Hallelujah.

[B]

Now,

[C]

if you prayed that prayer, go

[B]

by next steps and get signed up for water baptism. Baptism, and I'll baptize you right up here in water. And God will use your testimony to change somebody's life. Lift your hand up high. Receive this blessing. Most important, important part of the service is the blessing. He said, wherever this is spoken, I'll put my name there and I will bless them. That's God's promise. He wrote this prayer. Are you ready for it? And now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine on you. May the Lord be gracious unto you. May he lift up his countenance upon you. And may he give you peace. And may I see you one day in that beautiful place called heaven. God bless you.

[C]

We love you. Have a great week, everybody.

[B]

We'll see you next Sunday right here at Free Chapel.

[C]

Have a great week.

[B]

Pray for this family today, the hall family and that church, Chestnut Baptist. Pray for them. Their people will be strengthened in the Lord today. In Jesus name, I really want to

[A]

say thank you for joining us this week. If you haven't already, make sure you click on the subscription button and leave us a review. It helps this podcast reach even more people when you comment, when you give us your feedback. For more messages and inspirational materials, download the Jensen Franklin app or you can head over to JensenFranklin.org I want to thank all of you who give generously to help us produce weekly content like this to reach the world with the message of Jesus. God bless you, and we'll see you next time.