--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This world is only an anteroom of the…" description: "\"“This world is only an anteroom of the next. This short life is incidental compared with eternity. This world is not home to the Christian.”\" — John R...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8b/john-r-rice-11558_christian_this-world-is-only-an-anteroom-of-the-ne_3236236.png" --- # This world is only an anteroom of the next. This short… ![“This world is only an anteroom of the next. This short life is incidental compared with eternity. This world is not home to the Christian.” quote by John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8b/john-r-rice-11558_christian_this-world-is-only-an-anteroom-of-the-ne_3236236.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8b/john-r-rice-11558_christian_this-world-is-only-an-anteroom-of-the-ne_3236236.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8b/john-r-rice-11558_christian_this-world-is-only-an-anteroom-of-the-ne_3236236.png) > ““This world is only an anteroom of the next. This short life is incidental compared with eternity. This world is not home to the Christian.”” [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is temporary; true belonging is beyond this world, not in earthly comforts. **In simple terms:** Life is short; eternity matters more. Key Takeaway Focus on eternal values over worldly concerns. Themes eternity transience spirituality Mood contemplative solemn Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - deathbed reflections - religious counseling - philosophical debates - personal crisis Key Concepts Christian eschatology existential meaning Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance present duties with eternal hopes? - What comforts you about eternity? A Different Perspective May overlook practical responsibilities in the present. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Short life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-life/) ## Related quotes > [He that will often put eternity and the world before him, and who will dare to look steadfastly at both of them, will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/he-that-will-often-put-eternity-and-the-world-before-him-and-who-will/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [In eternity this world will be like Troy, I believe, and all that has passed here will be the epic of the universe, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/in-eternity-this-world-will-be-like-troy-i-believe-and-all-that-has/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Only a philosophy of eternity, in the world today, could justify non-violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/only-a-philosophy-of-eternity-in-the-world-today-could-justify-non/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [What is one man's life compared to the eternity of time and space? No more than a snowflake that glitters in the sun for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-tezuka/what-is-one-man-s-life-compared-to-the-eternity-of-time-and-space-no/) [Osamu Tezuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-tezuka/) > [To make the best use of your life, you must never forget two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/to-make-the-best-use-of-your-life-you-must-never-forget-two-truths/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Mortality is, in reality, a very, very short period. It is literally a snap of the fingers compared to an eternity. It is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/mortality-is-in-reality-a-very-very-short-period-it-is-literally-a/) [Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/) > [A split second is nothing compared to twenty-four hours. On God's clock you're in the middle of your millisecond. 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They forget that they too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-saint/and-people-who-do-not-know-the-lord-ask-why-in-the-world-we-waste-our/) [Nate Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-saint/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [Why should it be thought incredible that the same soul should inhabit in succession an indefinite number of moral bodies? Even during this one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bowen/why-should-it-be-thought-incredible-that-the-same-soul-should-inhabit/) Francis Bowen > [If Only People REALIZE How Short Life Time Is Maybe. They Are Going To MAXIMIZE Every Fraction Of A Second To Be Happy Whenever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/if-only-people-realize-how-short-life-time-is-maybe-they-are-going-to/) Pacifiersucker > [“I had nothing to feel guilty about. I had no one to answer to. I could look back upon my short life with Scott…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vee-hoffman/i-had-nothing-to-feel-guilty-about-i-had-no-one-to-answer-to-i-could/) [Vee Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vee-hoffman/) > [“The Shortest Success Mantra for this short life is Move out from your Comfort zone into your Action zone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandeep-kakkar/the-shortest-success-mantra-for-this-short-life-is-move-out-from-your/) [Sandeep Kakkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandeep-kakkar/) ## More by John R. Rice > [“Sweet assurance of this truth is given. In Luke 23:39-43 we see how the repenting thief turned to Jesus on the cross beside him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/sweet-assurance-of-this-truth-is-given-in-luke-23-39-43-we-see-how/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [“The so-called "social gospel" lays stress upon this life, not on the next. In many quarters it is now regarded as very old-fashioned and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/the-so-called-social-gospel-lays-stress-upon-this-life-not-on-the/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [It is a sad and shocking fact that many religious people are in Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/it-is-a-sad-and-shocking-fact-that-many-religious-people-are-in-hell/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [Those who go to Heaven ride on a pass and enter into blessings that they never earned, but all who go to hell pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/those-who-go-to-heaven-ride-on-a-pass-and-enter-into-blessings-that/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [I want no Christmas without a burden for lost souls, a message for sinners, a heart to bring in the lost sheep so dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/i-want-no-christmas-without-a-burden-for-lost-souls-a-message-for/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [This world loses its appeal when the steps become tottering, when the hearing becomes dim, when the faded eyes cannot see as they once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/this-world-loses-its-appeal-when-the-steps-become-tottering-when-the/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father's face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/you-can-never-truly-enjoy-christmas-until-you-can-look-up-into-the/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [“Note that they said, "THIS SAME JESUS." The Jesus in Heaven is not another but the same. The Jesus who will return for His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/note-that-they-said-this-same-jesus-the-jesus-in-heaven-is-not/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [Any time a Christian is conscious of his sin, judges the sin and takes sides against it with a penitent heart, then he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/any-time-a-christian-is-conscious-of-his-sin-judges-the-sin-and-takes/) [John R. 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Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [“With loving forgiveness, Jesus turned to the penitent sinner and promised salvation not only in the distant day of His kingdom but "to day,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/with-loving-forgiveness-jesus-turned-to-the-penitent-sinner-and/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [“Eventually, if enough masses are said and prayers uttered, the soul may pass from purgatory into Heaven. But that is not taught in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/eventually-if-enough-masses-are-said-and-prayers-uttered-the-soul-may/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [We ought to shout out our thanksgiving as if every war were over; as if there were no more big taxes; as if there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/we-ought-to-shout-out-our-thanksgiving-as-if-every-war-were-over-as/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) [Explore all 59 John R. Rice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. 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