Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children” (Matthew 19:14; NLT).
Children playing: free at last,
Having left behind the past.
No abuse; joy unsurpassed –
It’s heaven!
Women laughing: unoppressed,
Having passed through every test
With honours. Now so loved and blest –
It’s heaven!
Menfolk dancing: no more war!
No advantage any more.
Equal, under Yahweh’s law –
It’s heaven!
All are spirits. All are one
In Jesus Christ, God’s only Son.
Included: all; excluded: none –
It’s heaven!
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13; NLT).
References
Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17; NLT).
May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; NLT).
Humankind was created as God’s reflection: in the divine image God created them; female and male, God made them (Genesis 1:27; TIB).
The LORD will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore (Isaiah 2:4; NLT).
Then I saw new heavens and a new earth. The former heavens and the former earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer. I also saw a new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God, beautiful as a bride and groom on their wedding day. And I heard a loud voice calling from the throne, “Look! God’s Tabernacle is among humankind! God will live with them; they will be God’s people, and God will be fully present among them. The Most High will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death, mourning, crying and pain will be no more, for the old order has fallen” (Revelation 21:1-4; TIB).