Sermon Tone Analysis

What Is Heaven Like?

The Comfort Of The Citizens

Revelation 21:1-8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 1999

/What Is Heaven Like?/

Introduction

 

/Do you ever wonder what is heaven like?/

The Bible has much to say about this wonderful place.

*Put simply, heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people!*

Over the next couple of Sunday nights we are going to look at this subject.

Tonight we will look at the /Comfort of the Citizens./

Next Sunday night we will look at the /Character of the City./

*/The first quality of Heaven is./ **Holiness.

/The second quality is/ **Happiness.*

*Revelation 21:1* /Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, *for the* *first heaven and the first earth had passed away*.

Also there was no more sea.

/

 

*1.

God Purged The Old Heaven*

 

*/Firstly heaven is holy since God/* */purged/* the old heavens and earth from sin and mans works.

Before the Lord recreates, He purges the old creation with fire.

Then He recreates the heavens and the earth.

Revelation 20:9 closed with this: /And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them./* 2 Peter 3:10-13 gives further detail.

*/But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

/

 

Making A Fine Piece Of Jewellery

 

When a jeweller makes a fine piece of jewellery they take some gold and heat it up to a very high temperature.

They do this so that all the dross and impurities can be burned away.

After this process pure gold is left.

When the gold has been cleansed it’s worth much more.

In the same way, God will purge this earth by fire before he renews it.

The elements will melt with fervent heat.

God does this to destroy the works of man.

Nothing will be left of the sinfulness of man.

The new earth and the new heavens [its atmosphere] will be totally pure.

Believers will live in a perfect world without sin or wrong of any kind.

The sinlessness of heaven will make it truly a wonderful place.

Peter said that because Christians are looking for a new heavens and new earth they should live holy lives now.

There will be no sea.

The sea is uninhabitable.

The sea separates us from other people.

The new earth and new heaven will be totally different from the first one.*/

Heavens Purging/* */of  all sinful works provides comfort for God’s people./*

*2.

God Prepared The New Heaven.*

*21:1-2 */Now I saw a *new heaven* and a *new earth*, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.

Also there was no more sea.

Then I, John, saw the *holy city*, *New Jerusalem,* coming down out of heaven from God, *prepared* as a bride *adorned* for her husband.

/

*/Secondly heaven is holy because God prepared it/*.

God Himself will make the new heavens and the new earth.

They will be far superior to the old earth and the old heaven.

Isaiah said this in *Isaiah 65:17:* / For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.//

/The new will be so much/ /better than the old that the old will be quickly forgotten.

Because God is holy, whatever He makes is good and intended for holiness.

Peter said that righteousness will dwell [live] in the new heavens and new earth.

This new creation will last forever.

God has prepared it for those who love Him.

He will make it to last.

*Isaiah 66:22* /For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

/

 

John also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem descending from God out of heaven.

The New Jerusalem will be placed on the renewed earth.

The renewed earth and its atmosphere will receive the New Jerusalem.

God has personally /prepared/ the city for His people.

The word prepare has the idea of /being made ready./

He has adorned it just a like a bride on her wedding day.

The word /adorn/ means to /decorate, embellish, set in order, arrange/.

Jason And Lindell’s Wedding

 

In December this year Jason will marry Lindell.

On that day Lindell will spend more time in front of the mirror than ever before.

In fact she will have other people helping her do this.

They will fix her hair real nice, put on make up and help her to look her best.

Everyone will be watching her and she will be the focus of many photographs on that day.

A brides wedding day is the biggest day in her life.

Therefore brides do all they can to look their best.

God has prepared the new Jerusalem just for His people.

Jesus Himself has made it with His own hands.

*John 14:2-3*  /In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive yo/u /unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

/God has a wonderful future for those who love Him.

*1 Corinthians 2:9* *says: */But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

/John gives us a full description of the beauty of the holy city in 21:9-22:5.

We will look at the Character of the City next week.

*/God’s Preparation is what makes heaven perfect and holy.

/*This also adds to the comfort of God’s people.

*3.

God’s Presence Is In The New Creation.*

*Revelation 21:3* /And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.

God Himself will be with them and be their God.

/

 

*/The third reason that heaven is holy is because God is Present there.

/*In verse 2 John refers to the New Jerusalem as the */holy city/*.

God will dwell with His people.

He will live amongst them and they will see Him face to face.

Joshua and Moses were told to take off their sandals because they stood on holy ground.

If that ground was declared holy because God used it for a moment, how much more holy will heaven be where He dwells eternally.

*1 Corinthians 3:16-17* *says this:*/ Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?//

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him.

For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

/

God’s permanent residence in the New Jerusalem guarantees its holiness.*

Hebrews 12:14 * /Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:// /

 

God told John to */Behold/* something wonderful.

God has always desired to dwell with His people.

He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.