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HEAVEN
By Life Everlasting we mean that the just shall live forever
in the glory and happiness of Heaven. “And these shall go into
everlasting punishment; but the just, into life everlasting.”
(Matt.
25:46). The glory and happiness of Heaven consists
in seeing, loving, and enjoying God forever.
St. Paul, who had a vision of Heaven, states: “Eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things
God hath prepared for them that love Him.”
(1 Cor. 2:9).
The happiness of the blessed in Heaven is according to their merits.
“For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His Angels;
and then will He render to every man according to his works.” (Matt.
16:27).
Only those can enter Heaven who are in the
state of Sanctifying Grace, free from sin, and from the punishment due
for sin. “There shall not enter into it any thing
defiled.”
(Apoc. 21:27).
Heaven is won by a life of self-denial. “Narrow is the gate,
and strait is the way that leadeth to life.” (Matt. 7:14).
“Let not your heart be troubled…In My Father’s house there are many mansions.”
(John 14:1, 2).
HELL
The wicked shall live forever, and shall be punished for all eternity
in the fire of Hell. Jesus taught that there is a Hell, and that
the wicked shall be punished forever. “Then He shall say to them
also that shall be on His left hand: depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting
fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:41).
Jesus described Hell as a place where there is “weeping and gnashing
of teeth.” (Matt. 8:12). He also calls it an “unquenchable
fire.” (Mark 9:44).
The torments of the damned are not alike. They differ according
to the number and gravity of their sins.
Those who die in mortal sin are condemned by God to Hell.
The thought of Hell should keep us from sin. “In all thy works
remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin.” (Ecclus. 7:40).
To do nothing to prepare for one's eternal future is very foolish since
the place of default is hell, not heaven.
How to Spiritually Prepare for Death:
1) Turn to Jesus
2) Repent of all sins.
3) Give 100% effort to sin no more.
*Tell Jesus you are sorry and strive for perfect
contrition
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