Hebrews 11 Verses 8 to 16 The History of Heaven October 15, 2023

Hebrews 11 Verses 8 to 16 The History of Heaven October 15, 2023

Class Presentation Notes AAAAA

Background Scriptures:

Psalm 90:2 (NASB) 2 Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

Main Idea: The history of Heaven is intertwined with the history of God. And God lives above the timeline of human history. He has always existed, so the same can be said of Heaven.

Study Aim: To understand the timeless nature of Heaven as our eternal home😊.

Create Interest:

Most of us find it very difficult to want “Heaven” at all—except in so far as “Heaven” means meeting again our friends who have died. One reason for this difficulty is that we have not been trained: our whole education tends to fix our minds on this world. Another reason is that when the real want for Heaven is present in us, we do not recognize it.

C. S. Lewis

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

JOHN 14:1-3[1]

· Our lesson focus this week and extending for 8 weeks will be focusing on Heaven.

· So, sit back, enjoy the journey, and let’s move into a more question and answer format to cement the concepts into our knogggins😊 to enjoy our earthly journey more getting ready for our Heavenly home awaiting us and all who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior!

· Also, as a gift to you, I have included facts the Bible shares about Heaven I have shared at many funerals for uplifting comfort for those present. You will find that gift on pages 11-14. I pray you will have an opportunity to share this work with others😊.

Lesson In Historical Context:

· Hebrews is certainly one of the most intriguing books of the New Testament. It poses unique challenges, particularly when it comes to answering introductory questions regarding its author and original audience. Hebrews is peculiar in this sense. For example, the letters of Paul not only explicitly state that Paul was the author of each epistle, they also often explicitly or implicitly indicate the historical context, the audience, and the situation surrounding the origin of the letter.

· Yet the book of Hebrews—so rich in its biblical theological exploration of the work of Christ and the gospel—provides very little information about its own origin. In fact, we know almost nothing about who wrote it, its original audience, or the context behind it[2]. Regardless of authorship, we can know for certain that the Holy Spirit divinely inspired the writer of this great work.

o 2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB) 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

· Hebrews can scarcely be dated after a.d. 70, since there is no reference to the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Had this event already occurred, it would have given the author a definitive argument for the cessation of the Old Testament sacrificial system. Instead, he seems to regard this system as still in operation (cf. 8:4, 13; 9:6–9; 10:1–3).[3]

· Heaven is mentioned throughout the book as the writer spoke (3:1) of a Heavenly calling, Christ passing through Heaven (4:14), the Heavenly gift (6:4), Christ’s exaltation above the Heavens (7:26), His Heavenly throne (8:1), Heavenly things (8:5, 9:23), a Heavenly place (9:24), a Heavenly Jerusalem (12:22), a Heavenly enrollment (12:23), and that God is in Heaven (12:25-25).

· Specifically, we will look at the faith the writer has in a Heavenly homeland as seen by Abraham (11:14-16).

Bible Study:

Hebrews 11:8-10 (NASB) Heaven is a Real Place 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

· Vs. 8: He went in pursuit of a definite, if unknown, “place. This place had great significance because God had promised it to him “as an inheritance”. His action also demonstrated the kind of faith described in vv. 1 and 6 (we will cover this in depth in our next lesson): he obeyed because he trusted God’s promise calling him “to set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance”. Furthermore, he depended upon God’s power to sustain him on the way. The quality of this faith is further demonstrated by the fact that “he did not know where he was going.” The writer emphasizes the immediacy of Abraham’s response[4].

o Abraham was transplanted in a physical sense to a previously unseen country just had Noah who became an heir to righteousness (11:7), had no idea where he was going to land. His obedience would be an inheritance for future generations.

· Vs. 9: Dwelling in tents was the way of travelers and nomads. Even in Abraham’s time, tents were not considered permanent residences. Not only Abraham but also his son and grandson, Isaac and Jacob, lived out their lives in tents. They were in the land God had promised, but they did not settle down in it. The great patriarchs, in fact, would never possess the land, except by faith. The land was in sight but not in hand. Near as it was, the land was still only a promise. Abraham did not build any houses or cities. He lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land.[5]

· Vs. 10: That the readers should look forward to “the world to come” and treat their present experience as a pilgrimage is a lesson enforced by the life of Abraham. This great patriarch lived like a stranger in a land he would later receive as his inheritance. So, also, would the readers inherit if they, like this forefather, kept looking forward to the city with foundations, a reference to the heavenly and eternal Jerusalem (cf. Rev. 21:2, 9–27).[6]

Thoughts to Soak On:

· None of the patriarchs saw the complete fulfillment of God’s promises, but they saw from “afar off” what God was doing.

· Dr. George Morrison, a great Scottish preacher, once said, “The important thing is not what we live in, but what we look for.” These men and women of faith lived in tents, but they knew a heavenly city awaited them.

o God always fulfills His promises to His believing people, either immediately or ultimately.[7]

Questions relating to these three verses

(Complements of Pam Gibbs in our Teaching guide)

o How did the writer of Hebrews describe Heaven?

o Why do you think the writer of Hebrews used Abraham’s life as a comparison to a believer’s life on earth?

o What are the implications of God being the architect of Heaven?

o How has this study so far changed your perception of Heaven?

Hebrews 11:11-16 (NASB) Heaven as a City and a Country 11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE. 13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

· Vs. 11: Sarah finally believed God. She switched from unbelief to belief. She trusted the promise of God. Therefore, she bore a child at the age of ninety. It was a miraculous birth, but God had promised, and He fulfilled His promise.

o God cannot lie; He cannot deceive people. Therefore, the promises of God—every single one of them—shall be fulfilled. But note: the promise of the seed, that is, of the Savior, applies only to those who believe.[8]

§ Matthew 19:26 (NASB) 26 And looking at themJesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

§ Psalm 37:5 (NASB) 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

· Vs. 12: There’s the essence of the faith that saves. “Therefore, from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore”.

o The writer of Hebrews wants to communicate to his readers what faith looks like. Faith looks like a one-hundred-year-old man and a ninety-year-old woman believing that God will fulfill his promises, even when the fulfillment of those promises seems impossible according to human reason.[9] Forsaking All I Trust Him….soak on this and share.

§ Galatians 3:28-29 (NASB) 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

· Vs. 13: In his age, and ours, there will be tests of faith in abundance. Such Jesus had promised (see John 16:33), but always in the context of final triumph.

o John 16:33 (NASB) 33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

· Significantly, Abraham’s supreme test of faith was on a mountain top not far from where Calvary stood (vv. 17–19). There he offered back his son, a moving story where faith and love battled hard. In the event, Isaac was not sacrificed, but a ram took his place, another of those biblical signposts towards the cross.

o Hebrews 11:17-19 (NASB) 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED." 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

· Never was a human being any nearer the heart of the God who did sacrifice his Son than Abraham on that day. The dramatic difference was that Abraham’s knife was drawn back at the eleventh hour; God’s knife went all the way.

o How can any Christian deny the uniqueness of that moment, and not live humbly yet courageously in the light of it![10]

o If Abraham’s descendants died without receiving promises, especially of Christ’s first coming, we can also remain faithful!

§ Philippians 3:20-21 (NASB) 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

· Vs. 14: Their true home accordingly lay elsewhere, and thus they sought for themselves a country of their own (lit., “fatherland,” “homeland”). Although the author does not use the language of shadow and reality here (as in 8:5 and 9:23f.), he could easily have done so.

o The promises and the experience of temporal, earthly blessings were for these persons, only the shadow or copy of the transcendent eschatological( relating to death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind) reality to come.

o Both a country and a city, Heaven is our homeland, and we do not belong here on earth.

§ 1 Chronicles 29:15 (NASB) 15 "For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope.

§ Psalm 119:19 (NASB) 19 I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.

· Vs. 15-16: It may well be that the writer is appealing to the patriarch’s example in refusing to turn back to exert pressure on those readers who were tempted to turn back from Christianity.

o The better countryis at once identified as a heavenly one. The identification of the two adjectives (kreittonos, epouraniou) is particularly characteristic of this epistle. It places the emphasis on spiritual rather than material inheritance.

o It is perhaps surprising in view of this to discover that what God has prepared for them is described in terms of a city, a symbol of man’s creative genius and especially of his social life.

o What has been prepared is in fact an ideal city, of which man’s cities are the palest imitations.

Thoughts to Soak On:

· No greater commendation could be given to any men than that God is not ashamed to be called their God.

· The Old Testament does not hide the weaknesses of the patriarchs, but here the writer is looking back on history.

· The writer singles out their faith, which cannot be denied. Moreover, he knows that the title ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ was the name specially chosen by God in his introduction of himself to Moses at the time of the Exodus (Exod. 3:6).

· It is certainly unusual to read of God being unashamed, since shame is a characteristic of man. Nevertheless, he was in a special sense their God as the history of the chosen people shows. He delighted to be known as the God of Israel.[11]

· God loves and commits Himself to all who believe Him and His promises.

o John 3:16 (NASB) 16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

o Romans 14:8 (NASB) 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

o Ephesians 1:5-7 (NASB) 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Luke 23:43 (NASB) Heaven is Paradise 43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

· Luke highlights one individual who didn’t accept the conventional wisdom that the Savior’s death disproved His messianic identity. While one crucified “evildoer” joined the growing chorus of taunts, the other “rebuked” his associate. The term “rebuke” is a favorite of Luke’s, used throughout the narrative as a response to various forms of evil, such as demons (4:35, 41; 9:42), misbehaving natural elements (8:24), physical ailments (4:39), sinning brothers (17:3), and judgmental disciples (9:55). This man admitted his own guilt and affirmed the innocence of Jesus.

· In a remarkable expression of faith, the criminal accepted the absurd notion that death on a cross didn’t preclude Jesus from becoming the King of God’s kingdom. Furthermore, knowing he himself would soon die, he asked to become a citizen of that kingdom.

· Jesus welcomed the criminal’s faith and promised him a place in “Paradise.”The Greek term (paradeisos [3857]) was borrowed from Persian and appears throughout the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) as “garden.” This offers a tantalizing hint that believers go to a place of delight after death and exist there until the end of days and the consummation of God’s kingdom on earth.[12]

· He looked to a future day of kingdom glory, but the Lord gave him an immediate response with assurance that on that very day he would be with Him in paradise.

o Cults make a confusion of this verse, so it is necessary to point out that “to day” is linked to “thou shalt be with me”, not to “I say unto thee”, as if He had said, “I say unto thee today”.

o This strange reading enables those who deny the separation of the soul from the body at death to deceive themselves into thinking that the Lord did not make the promise that the saved thief would be with his Lord in paradise on that very day; but the Lord’s promise is unmistakable, “Today thou shalt be with me”.

Thoughts to Soak On

· “Paradise” is a Persian word that means a park, or garden. It was used by Jews to describe the place where the redeemed go between death and the resurrection.

o From Ps 16:9–11and Acts 2:26–28, we believe that the place to which the Lord and the thief went was hades, not the hell of torment, but the place of comfort (16:22), a temporary abode of rest until the Lord was raised from the dead.

o If Eden was paradise, it was not innocent man that made it, but because the Lord God was there.

o The presence of the Lord made the place of comfort paradise. Paradise is now above, for He is there (2 Cor 12:1–4.)[13]

§ John 17:24 (NASB) 24 "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

§ 2 Corinthians 5:7-8 (NASB) 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

Questions to help us get a good understanding of what we have learned today.

· In what ways is Heaven a reflection of the nature of God?

· Why do you think the writer of Hebrews talked about longing for something better?

· How does thinking of Heaven as a city and country help you understand what Heaven will be like?

· What do you most look forward to seeing and doing in Heaven?

· How would you describe Heaven as a real place to someone else?

· If Heaven is our real true home, how does that impact the way we live on earth?

Thoughts in closing to tie our lesson up in a neat bow

· The heavenly city and country promised by God was in the distant future for those who lived in Old Testament times, even though they did not know it at the time.

o By faith, they could see in their hearts and minds what God promised. Though they have died, God’s promise will still be fulfilled to them and the rest of us who cling to the same promises.

· The promise of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is yet future, but by faith in Him and His Word, we know He will return and establish His kingdom.

o By faith, we know we will enjoy eternity when the Lord establishes a new heaven and earth. In the interim we have the hope that the patriarchs had of being with Him in Heaven when we exhale our last breath. Before that the Holy Spirit resides in the soul of every Christ and will never leave or forsake them.

o We will worship our Savior who will rule and reign from the new Jerusalem.

§ I have not seen these places yet, but I have read the descriptions of this kingdom in the Scriptures. They are as good as done because of the One who made the promises. We will enjoy them one day because the Lord said so.

· Have you placed your future in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you trusted Him by faith to be your Savior? If not, then delay no longer.

o Make that decision today.

o Ask Him to come into your heart, cleanse and forgive you of your sins, and trust Him for eternal life.

o Have you turned over the future of your life to the Lord?

§ By faith, trust His guidance, care, and leading each new day.[14]

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Note: We may cover what is about to be shared in a latter lesson, but I wanted to insert it here for your pleasure as noted on page 2. I have shared this as officiant at many funerals and received positive and loving appreciation for letting folks know where their loved one was the instant he/she exhaled their final breath. Grace and peace to you as you press on with your reading here😊. jsj

What is Heaven Like?

In our limited minds it is greater than anything we could imagine. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” While the Bible does not tell us everything we want to know, it does tell us what we need to know.

Heaven is Glorious:

· Physically we learn in Revelation 21: 11, 21, 23…That “It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper…The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass…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 (Christ) is its lamp”. “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Heaven is Perfect:

· “When perfection comes, the imperfect disappears” (1 Corinthians 13:10)…disease, death, loneliness, fear, sorrow, temptation disappointment, disability, addiction, war, conflict, anger, jealousy, greed….” In Revelation 21:4,27 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away…Nothing impure will ever enter it”. More than that we will be given new bodies-perfect bodies like that of Jesus Christ after His resurrection, free from all the limitations and frailties of our present bodies. The Bible says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

· I would note that kind of recognizable body we will have in Heaven was verified when Mary found Jesus’ tomb opened with the large stone rolled away…not for Jesus to come out but for Mary to come in. When Jesus met that day with his Apostles in a locked room…he appeared in physical form and did not need to open the door...He was recognized as Himself but now alive. In Heaven, we will be “like Him” and we will see our loved ones as a glorified, waiting for us to visit with them….and most likely helping us wonder why we waited so long to see the glory of our/their home.

Heaven is Joyous:

· “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11). From the Scriptures we find that King David expressed confidence after the death of his infant son when he declared, “ Can I bring him back again? I will go with him” (2 Samuel 12:23). When Christ was transfigured and His Heavenly glory overwhelmed His earthly appearance, Moses and Elijah appeared from Heaven with Him in recognizable form (Matthew 17:1-3)………….. …

o Will we be united with our loved ones….a resounding yes! “We who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them I the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Our burdens will be lifted.. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord for now on…They will rest from their labor” (Revelation 14:13)

Drum roll………. Finally our worship will be perfect as we will see Jesus, our Savior face to face…

· Revelation 5:13 (NASB) 13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."

Heaven is Active:

· The Bible doesn’t tell us what we will be doing there but it does say “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him”…(Rev. 22:3) “And they will reign (with Him) forever and ever” Revelation 22:5i.e. they will be God assistants in the rule of a glorified earth. I was amused when Cliff Barrows, who died at age 104 told Dr. Graham that God would not need evangelists in Heaven…Dr. Graham replied that perhaps he would be a choir director.J

Heaven is Certain:

· This is the most important message to share in this time of celebration of a person’s life. For those of us left behind and long to see our loved ones again, let God’s word be uplifting as ne Christ offers these Scriptures to us.

o Romans 8:37-39 (NASB) 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

o John 14:1-6 (NASB) 1 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 "And you know the way where I am going." 5 Thomas *said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" 6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Grace and peace to all who read this, and I pray you will know someone someday you will bless with the opportunity to read this.

[1]Randy Alcorn, Heaven (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Momentum, 2011). [2]R. Albert Mohler Jr., Exalting Jesus in Hebrews(Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 3. [3]Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,”in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 776–777. [4]Gareth Lee Cockerill, The Epistle to the Hebrews, The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2012), 538. [5]John F. MacArthur Jr., Hebrews, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1983), 330. [6]Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,”in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 808. [7]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 319. [8]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Hebrews-James, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 141. [9]R. Albert Mohler Jr., Exalting Jesus in Hebrews(Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 182–183. [10]Philip H Hacking, Opening up Hebrews, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2006), 73–74. [11]Donald Guthrie, Hebrews: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 15, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1983), 236–237. [12]Charles R. Swindoll, Luke, vol. 3, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2017), 568. [13]Norman Crawford, Luke, What the Bible Teaches (John Ritchie, 2000), 378. [14]Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Hebrews, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2016), 244–245.