Can There Be Future Rebellion in Heaven?
-Introduction
-A while back, I presented a couple of lessons regarding the topic of angels.
-Within those lessons, I pointed out the fact that there was a time in which some
of the angels in heaven sinned.
-Their sinful rebellion was defeated and they were cast out.
-2 Pet 2:4, Jude 6
-It seems that the devil was the leader of this rebellion, most likely the one who
influenced the angels who sinned - Matt 25:41, Rev 12:9 - “devil and his angels.”
-Therefore, the angels who remained in heaven had to exercise their freedom of
will in order to remain faithful. They maintained their faith and trust in God and
continued to submit to His will despite an evil influence.
-Isn’t that what we need to continue to do? - maintain our faith and trust in God,
willingly submit to the will of God despite the evil influences around us?
-However, there is an interesting question related to this topic: If there was a time of
rebellion in times past in heaven, can there be a time of rebellion in heaven in the future?
-With this lesson, we’ll give this question some consideration.
-The Simple Answer: No
-Let me begin by simply giving a short answer to our question at hand: “No.”
-There is not a time of rebellion awaiting heaven’s future.
-I’ll try to provide some additional explanation as the lesson progresses, but let me begin
with the best, most direct explanation possible - “Because the scriptures say so.”
-Rev 21:5, 27
-1 Pet 1:3-4, 9
-Heaven is not something that we hope for with doubts. Instead, it is something that we
long for with confidence and comfort.
-Three Items to Consider
1. Will we have freedom of will in heaven?
-There are no indications that our freedom of choice will be removed.
-God has always given those whom He has created the freedom of choice - angels in
heaven, mankind on earth.
-I don’t find anything in the scriptures that would indicate the we should expect
otherwise.
-After all, I have a hard time finding any logic in the idea of God requiring us to
exercise our freedom of will to respond to Him so that we can have the hope of
heaven but then having that freedom of will removed once we are in heaven.
2. Who will be absent from heaven?
-It seems that Satan was the one who led the rebellion in heaven. Again, consider
Matt 25:41 and Rev 12:9 - “the devil and his angels.”
-Who influenced the entrance of sin into this world? Satan - Gen 3:1-6
-Due to Satan’s influence, mankind has been led astray. Unless one obeys the Gospel
of Christ and is reconciled to God, he will spend eternity separated from God.
-Eph 2:1-2, 1 Pet 5:8, 2 Thess 1:7-9
-Consider this: Satan’s influence will no longer be felt in heaven. He will not
re-introduce sin into heaven. He will not be walking about seeking whom he
may devour.
-So, rebellion will not occur due to the fact that Satan and his influence will not
be in heaven ever again.
3. What will be absent from heaven?
-1 John 2:15-17
-Gen 3:6
-Gal 5:16-25 - works of the flesh contrasted with the fruit of the Spirit
-Much of the sinfulness in the world has come about due to the temptations,
weaknesses and desires of the flesh.
-Gal 6:8, 1 Pet 2:11
-We will not have this physical aspect of our existence in heaven.
-1 Cor 15:42-44
-Summary and Invitation
-What about pride? That seemed to be the devil’s downfall (1 Tim 3:6).
-Consider this: All those who will be in heaven will have already submitted to the will
of God - having already turned away from the temptations and opportunities to rebel -
both angels and mankind.
-Why would we then have the privilege of being in heaven - not having the influence of
the devil - not worrying about him seeking whom he may devour - not dealing with the
weaknesses of the flesh - having already overcome the consequences of sin through the
grace of God - and then choose to turn away into rebellion? To me, that doesn’t seem
logical.
-For these reasons, we need not worry about the idea of a future rebellion in heaven.
-Obviously, there are a variety of items to consider, but simply put, the scriptures tell
us so. (Rev 21:27, 1 Pet 1:3-4)
-With this being the case, we need to focus on what we are doing now - whether or not
we are preparing for our home in heaven. To do so, we must conform to God’s will
through obedience to the Gospel.
-Believe (John 3:16, 8:24), Confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), Repent (Luke 13:3,5;
Acts 17:30), Be Baptized (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38), Walk in Newness of Life
(Rom 6:4, Eph 4:22-24)
-If you’ve obeyed the Gospel but haven’t remained faithful, then confess your
shortcomings, repent of them and pray for God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts
8:22-24).