Heaven: Why It Matters Now (Part 2)

Please turn to Revelation chapter 21 verse 8.

Revelation chapter 21 verse 8.

I was doing some research on near-death experiences—where people claim to have almost passed away, and saw a vision of hell or of heaven.

and it was estimated that between 4 to 15% experience this (pretty wide range!) have these.

and one of the most popular ones in recent years is the book Heaven is for Real.

In this book (and now movie),

“Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room.”

In this book, the boy said to have been to heaven where he sat on Jesus’ lap, met his sister who had been miscarried, even knew some strange family details that he should not have know

He describes heaven as a place full of bright light, given by God, and the light is full of color, and people have wings—some are bigger wings than others.”

People have asked me if I have read it. “I have not.”

Do I plan on reading it? “I don’t...” not b/c I don’t care about 4 year old boys...

Do I think it is ok to read these— “absolutely—they can be encouraging”

but my one caution would be — always read any book with discernment--

and if we want to know what heaven is like—we need to look here. God’s Word.

don’t base your proof of heaven on these near death experiences..

Nancy Guthrie, Gospel Coalition article - https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/i-dont-have-to-read-the-book-or-see-the-movie-to-know-heaven-is-real/

People sometimes say these stories encouraged their faith or the faith of someone they know. But the danger--I think they actually diminish biblical faith by elevating claims of a supernatural experience over the substance of the Scriptures. Most of these claims of seeing into heaven focus on earthbound concerns and stunted human desires that lack what the Bible describes as the heart of heaven—the glory of God, the Lamb who was slain, on the throne of the universe. 

In embracing these stories we’re saying the Bible is simply not enough, that someone’s mystical experience is needed to verify or “make real” what God has said. But saving faith is putting all our hopes in who God is and what God has said as revealed in the Bible. It is being confident of what we can’t see (John 20:29; Hebrews 11:1), not being convinced by something someone else supposedly saw.

Interestingly, Jesus himself spoke of the uselessness of such testimony for generating genuine faith. Jesus told a story about a rich man in the place of the dead who calls out to “Father Abraham” to go and warn his brothers so they will not end up in the place of torment (Luke 16:19-31). The rich man wants someone who has died and gone to heaven to come back to life and tell about his experience so that his family members will believe what the Scriptures teach about the consequences of failing to become united to Christ by faith.

In Jesus’ story Father Abraham says, “If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, (meaning, if they won’t believe what the Bible says) they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.” Jesus is saying that everything we need to put our faith in the promises of God, everything we need to find comfort and hope regarding the life beyond this life, can be found in the Scriptures.

so with that being said— Here is what we read…about the new heaven and the new earth--

and technically...

when we die—we go to heaven to be with Jesus now...

this is life after death

but what is described here is a new heaven and a new earth—this is life after life after death...

Revelation 21:9–27 NIV

9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

What is heaven like?

Why does it matter now?

We are trying to increase our faith by what the Bible says...

We said last week—it is place with no sea (that’s verse 1) no more chaos, destruction or disorder, death, pain—God has tamed the sea—all is calm and at right.

it is like a marriage—where we as the bride of Jesus are with Jesus our groom—full intimacy, face to face—incredible bliss with Jesus.

and it is like an inheritance—we are like children getting the best inheritance which is life with God.

today we see several more but let’s focus on one...:

Heaven is like:

the perfect City (vs. 10-11)

Revelation 21:10–11 NIV

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

the city is more than just a structure, more than bricks and buildings and streets...—

we said last week—that the city is also the bride of Christ—so it represents the people of God—us! community!

verse 12—mentions the gates have the 12 tribes of Israel (that’s the OT)

verse 14 — the wall had 12 foundations—and on them were the names of the apostles—that’s the NT.

so one thing we learn about this city—what the new heaven and new earth is like—is it’s a community made of all the OT and NT people of God.

good reminder b/c it’s not like the new heaven and new earth — there’s a section for the Israelites and the Jews who came to Christ---and there’s a section for the Gentile…no it is both!

it is multicultural! people from every tribe, tongue, people and nation...

we will talk about the dimensions of the city in a second...

skip to verse 21—that the 12 gates are 12 pearls—the great street of the city was made of gold, as pure as transparent glass—this means that gold is so common—b/c we are with the Father who owns everything—that gold is used merely to pave the streets. gold is also associated with the tabernacle and temple...

there is no temple verse 22—more on that later

no light—because God is light

if you look at verses 24-27 — it describes the perfect community—everyone in harmony—focused on God—all the nations coming to it.

the gates always open

completely pure, sinless

illustration…It’s worth stepping back and thinking of this image of the city for a second…in terms of our experience and in terms of theology.

think of our experience—if you were to fill in this blank…what would you say “Cities are..... ___________.”

what would you say? we live in rural Adams County—a small town of about 4,000. Adams County may have 40,000...

and probably most of us would say “Cities are nice places to visit, but I would NOT live there...

why? traffic, people, lack of privacy…noise, can’t see the stars, more crime, more progressive ideas (whatever that means).... yeah there’s lot to do there, and nice places to visit—but always glad to come home here in to our areas...

I grew up in Berne—I know what small town living is like, and then I lived in the city of Fort Wayne—my wife grew up there, and we went to Taylor Fort Wayne together (used to be Fort Wayne Bible College) on Rudisilll Blvd., and I thought Fort Wayne is a big city. in college, I experienced more of some city life—learning more cultures and peoples, experiencing some inner city ministry. learning some of the joys and challenges of city life.

and then eventually my wife and I moved to the Chicago area—we lived in the northern suburbs really—while I went to seminary. and I knew that if traffic was bad—from Deerfield, IL, it would take about 90 minutes to get to downtown Chicago—if it was good, maybe 40 to 45 minutes. we lived off campus my last year—and I always timed my commute—because even though Trinity seminary’s campus was only 7 miles away—it could be 15 minutes or 45 minutes depending on traffic. I even remember, one time Jamie and I went and saw the musical Wicked in downtown Chicago, and then we had plans to walk to the Hancock building - and eat at the cheesecake factory—and so after the show, we started walking, and heard music, so we went towards the music, and before we knew it we compressed shoulder to shoulder in a crowd—because coming down Michigan Avenue was their annual parade of lights when they light up the Christmas trees at Christmas time, and to go like one city block through a sea of people took us about over 30 minutes…people are shoving, babies are crying in their strollers—when we got to the cheesecake factory—it was a massive sigh of relief...

but overall we enjoyed our time there—b/c you could go to Barnes and Noble and hear a dozen different languages spoken...

eventually after seminary, Jamie and I felt God’s call to go to Lima, Ohio—to help start a church, and we felt especially called to plant a church in the city—Lima is not huge—about 40,000 but has some big city problems…and as we were there we learned some of the challenges of cities—poverty, violence, crime, racism...

One of my favorite memories—my wife Jamie gave me permission to share this—it was after dinner, and we lived in the city of Lima. I was in the basement hanging out with our kids, and before I knew my wife came rushing down looking very upset and angry.

she tells me the story that she is washing dishes—our window faced the street—she saw a man walk by our neighbor’s house, and he walked by checking out our neighbor’s garage; before she knew it—he walks in, takes a toolbox and leaves. Jamie, instantly, goes outside our house—and yells “Hey..what are you doing?” he said something like “I am borrowing these tools.” and she said, “No you are not, give it back.” and he made some excuse about knowing someone, and Jamie says “No...” and start following him, and he starts picking up the pace---and then eventually runs…away from Jamie.

the moral of the story—don’t mess with my wife.

no—but all these stories are reasons we hate cities…as rural people—we like our space, peace, quiet, privacy...

but you can’t get around the fact, that in the new heaven and new earth—God uses the image of us as as city—with lots and lots of people…living together...

it is the best city ever.

no crime

no problems

gates are always open

nations are flocking to king Jesus...

perfect unity and harmony---

perfect community—multi-cultural..

perfect rulership—with King Jesus ruling and reigning

it is beautiful—no pollution...

absolutely glorious...

i mean do you ever get glimpses of that community now and here?

we kind of do—the other night we had a birthday party for Amelia, and it was ending, and our neighbors were out, we were all out hanging out, we had our bouncy house up, kids are playing baseball, kids are blowing bubbles, adults are hanging around laughing—it felt great—beautiful weather—that kind of experience gives us such a small taste of what the ultimate city looks like where we will dwell with others and we will dwell with God.

or i have been on mission trips—where you are worshiping Jesus with other cultures and peoples—and as you are singing in other languages, you get a glimpse of the new heaven and new earth...

this new city is not just about us dwelling together…

but most of all dwelling with God

we dwell with God!

the cities dimensions are interesting. look at verse 16

Revelation 21:16 NIV

16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long.

now—does that mean that the new heaven and earth will literally be 14000 miles, 1400 miles long, and 1400 miles high...

I don’t think so—

in the OT, there is a special place---that is also built like a cube—same length, width, and height…what is that? it is the Most Holy Place inside the tabernacle or the temple. in side that MHP was the ark of the covenant—where once a year—the high priest would go in scatter the blood of a goat or lamb to make atonement for the people. it was where God was said to meet with his people—but only once a year through the High Priest in this Most Holy Place...

1 Kings 6:20 NIV

20 The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty wide and twenty high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.

well in the new city—new heaven and new earth—it is the perfect most holy place—all of the city is where we dwell with God! we won’t need a priest, or a sacrifice, or a temple—it’s all holy—dwelling with God together forever!

and even all the names of the precious jewels in verses 19-20—jasper, sapphire, — those precious jewels remind us of high priest breastplate that he wore with all the jewels—12 of them to represent the people of God—but now all of us are dwelling with God perfectly—we don’t need a priest.

and the city is beautiful—radiant—because we have all been redeemed, purified by Jesus Christ—we are sparkling together as the redeemed people of God.

how is this possible?

if you step back and think about cities in Scripture

the first place that a city shows up is actually in Genesis 4. where one of the descendants of Cain (who had killed Abel) builds a city.

and then the next place is the tower of Babel in Genesis 11. these were cities built in defiance of God—Let’s make a name for ourselves (rather than for God) and instead of being fruitful and multiplying..they congregated to make this tower—and God comes down—confuses their languages and separates them.

the next city is Sodom and Gomorrah - known for their wickedness—sexual violence and injustice—God destroys.

we see these cities of man — always rebelling against God—including other big cities like Nineveh that Jonah the prophet goes to

and Babylon--

even Jerusalem—God’s city—meant to represent God in the OT—they often look more like the city of man—even though God rescued his people, and gave them the temple and priests and the law even the kind—King David—the city of God often looks like the city of man.

God uses the city of man Babylon to punish his city Jerusalem—taking them into exile, destroying the city and temple.

eventually, the people of God return—but Jerusalem is never quite the same.

this is the Jerusalem that Jesus wept and cried over when He came. this is the same city that rejected and Killed Jesus Christ, the Son of God on a cross.

but Jesus did this—he was cast outside the city—so he could make a new city.

he was killed to make a new people — who would form a new city—the city of God.

God is showing us that he is all about redemption—to form a new Jerusalem—the true city of God—to make a new people with new hearts and new community who focus on Jesus.

Abraham whom God called in the OT to go to the land, the Promised Land—was looking forward to the new city:

Hebrews 11:8–10 NIV

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

the Bible is a tale of 2 cities--

even here in Revelation—God says that Babylon, the city of man will be destroyed (chapters 17-18), and He will establish his new Jerusalem.

Hebrews 12:22 NIV

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,

Hebrews 12:23 NIV

23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

what this means now:

in light of the New Jerusalem—we should be a people who...

1. we seek to reflect that multi-cultural community now...

i know multi-cultural is a big buzz word—I am not just trying to be politically correct…but this reflects the heart of God—all are made in his image—all of us are going to dwell together....we seek to reflect it as we are able now…a little slice of heaven—giving a preview of heaven. we seek to send missionaries to others cultures, to go ourselves, to even here in Berne and Adams County look for those who may be different than you—b/c that reflects the heartbeat of God. who can you reach out to now—that may be different than you economically, racially, life experience?

2. are for the cities here...

no i don’t mean you have to agree with everything the cities....but just like Jonah was called to Nineveh—and God said should I not care about these people (they are were terrifying?) If cities have more people, and God loves people—should we not love cities too? and the people there?

cities are great places for ministry—not always easy—but great opportunities.

3. we strive for unity as much as possible now under Jesus in the church

this means that we don’t get bent out of shape with worship wars…b/c of all the cultures—it doesn’t make sense that we would fight over what music we play—b/c are we going to do that in heaven—with our multi-community?

we are peacemakers, forgivers, if it is possible as far as it depends on you....when we do that, we show the coming New Jerusalem

4. the kind of people who make community a priority…living in community a rich priority--

we realize the importance of community now…not lone-ranger Christianity...

how much we need each other—b/c we are going to dwell together forever in a new heaven and new earth

and as we live out what it means to be in community—loving one another as Jesus loved us-it makes a huge difference.

5. the kind of people who dwell with Jesus now.

how can you develop that relationship with Jesus now—that’s what empowers us to live with others in community and on mission.

let’s pray.

Conclusion:

How often do you think about heaven? Does it make a difference in how you live on earth now? What is heaven actually like? Let's explore the wonder of what the new heaven and new earth will be like and how it makes a difference now.

future:

heaven is like:

no temple = dwelling with God perfectly

we seek to develop that now—we don’t take for granted what we have now

Glory/light/beauty

new creation—Eden - no curse