In the last study, The Promise of the Holy Spirit, we discovered the incredible gift Jesus gave to us – the Holy Spirit, God’s own presence dwelling within us. But this amazing promise was merely the beginning. In this study, we will briefly review amazing promises which await us when Jesus comes back for us.
Near the end of His time with the disciples, Jesus explained that He is going away. He was going ahead of them to prepare a place for them in His “Father’s house.” And one day, He will return to bring them home, to dwell with Him forever. This promise include us, and all who become His disciples.
When Jesus speaks of “My Father’s house,” He is drawing from rich biblical imagery. The Father’s house is not simply a mansion in the sky but the place where God dwells with His people. In Revelation 21:3, John hears a loud voice proclaim: “God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them.” In Christ’s promise, heaven is described not as an escape, but as home, a place of perfect belonging, perfect relationship, and perfect joy.
But Jesus’ promises includes far more than a place. It includes a transformed existence beyond anything we can ever imagine.
The End of Suffering – Revelation 21:3–4
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’”
John’s vision in Revelation offers one of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture. God Himself will wipe every tear from the eyes of His people. Every sorrow, every wound, every injustice will be taken away by the hand of the One who loves us.
Additionally, the problems of this world, such as sickness, betrayal, grief, fear, anxiety, and even death, will be eliminated for all eternity. The “old order of things” will pass away. No more waiting rooms. No more funerals. No more goodbyes. No shadows of evil. Everything broken will be restored. Everything sad becomes untrue.
This promise should give great courage to suffering disciples in every generation. Whatever trials we endure now are temporary. Glory is permanent.
Eternal Life in God’s Presence – John 6:40
“For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
Eternal life is more than living forever. Everyone exists forever; only believers live forever in the joy of God’s presence. Jesus describes eternal life as seeing the Son, believing in Him, and being raised up on the last day. Eternal life is knowing God without sin, fear, or separation.
What we taste now through worship, prayer, and fellowship will one day be experienced without limit or interruption. The longing to be fully known and fully loved finds its fulfillment, not in a place, but in a Person. Jesus is the center of heaven’s joy. The promise of eternal life lifts our eyes above the weight of our earthly struggles and reminds us that our story does not end here.
Glorified, Resurrection Bodies – 1 Corinthians 15:42–56
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” (1 Cor 15:42-44)
Paul gives us a magnificent vision of the resurrection. “What is buried in weakness will be raised in power”, Our resurrected bodies, will be imperishable – no sickness, no aging, no limitations.
Every disciple who has watched their strength fade, their health fail, or their body break under the weight of this fallen world can cling to this hope: the resurrection will make us whole. We will be recognizable yet renewed – perfect in every way.
An Eternal Inheritance – 1 Peter 1:3–4
“In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.”
Because we belong to Jesus, we are heirs of an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. Our future is secured, not by our performance, but by God’s promise. Earthly inheritances fade. Wealth disappears. Homes crumble. But the inheritance Christ gives is untouched by decay and shielded by God Himself.
This inheritance includes fellowship with God, participation in His Kingdom, and the eternal riches of His grace. Everything we lose for His sake in this world is nothing compared to the glory that awaits in the next.
We Shall Reign with Christ – 2 Timothy 2:11-12
“Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.”
Perhaps the most surprising promise of all is that disciples will reign with Christ. From Genesis onward, God intended humanity to rule creation under His authority. In the new creation, that purpose is restored.
To reign with Christ is not to wield power for our own glory, but to participate in His righteous rule. It means meaningful work, joyful responsibility, and partnership with our King in the age to come. Faithfulness in this life prepares us for responsibility in the next. Though we cannot imagine all the details, Scripture assures us that our reign with Him will be real and meaningful.
As Jesus taught when He told the Parable of the 10 Minas (Luke 19:11-27), what we do here on earth with what God has entrusted to us, will have eternal consequences of how we might one day reign with Him.
What this Means for a Disciple Today
The promise of an eternal home is not meant to remove us from reality but to anchor us in it. In this world, disciples face hardship, opposition, and sacrifice. However, knowing that our suffering is temporary, our hope can be unshakable. Knowing the end of our story is meant to shape how we live in the middle of it.
This hope should free us from fear, loosen our reliance on earthly treasures, and “give us the courage to obey Jesus — no matter the cost. It reminds us that loss is never the final chapter and that every act of faithfulness finds its fulfillment in eternity.
We live today with our eyes fixed on tomorrow — not as escapists but as people whose future is secure because Jesus Himself has prepared it.
This study concludes our section on the Promises of Discipleship. The final section, The Mission of a Disciple, contains the last three studies of the series. As disciples, we are not only citizens of this coming Kingdom, but we are also its ambassadors. The hope of our eternal home fuels the urgency of our mission on earth. In the next study, Disciples are Witness to the Gospel, we will explore what it means to be commissioned by Jesus specifically to be witnesses to the world about how He saved us and how others can find the same gift of eternal life as we have.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
How does Jesus’ promise of preparing a place for you shape the way you view your present struggles?
Which part of the eternal home described in Scripture brings you the most comfort. The end of suffering, eternal life, resurrection, inheritance, or reigning with Christ? Why?
Imagine our hope for a future without pain, tears, or death. How should this help influence the way you endure hardship today?
What does it mean to you personally that eternal life is not just endless existence, but life in the unhindered presence of God?
Read 1 Corinthians 15:42–56 and meditate on it. How does the promise of a glorified body affect your perspective on aging, weakness, or physical suffering now?
Jesus taught that we have an eternal inheritance in heaven based on what we do in this world. In what ways does knowing you have an eternal inheritance help loosen your grip on earthly possessions or status?
If faithfulness in this life shapes how we will reign with Christ in the next. Inwhat areas of life is God calling you to steward more faithfully today?
My name is Michael Adkins. For several decades I’ve been studying Scripture, developing discipleship resources, and teaching others how to walk more closely with Christ. Currently, I serve as the Discipleship Pathway Leader at Riverside International Church in Cascais, Portugal, where my passion is helping believers grow into mature disciples who live out their faith in everyday life.