Revelation 21 Verses 1 to 5 Exploring Heaven November 5, 2023

Revelation 21 Verses 1 to 5 Exploring Heaven November 5, 2023

Lesson 4 Class Presentation Notes AAAAA

Background Scriptures:

· Revelation 22:1-5 (NASB) 1 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; 4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

Main Idea:

· Heaven will not be boring—it will be the best, most amazing experience of our lives.

Study Aim:

· To explain what the Bible says will occupy our time once we are living in Heaven.

The Biblical Truth:

· Heaven will be full of the glory of God’s presence and blessings with none of the problems of this present world.

Create Interest:

· Heaven is mentioned over 500 times in the Bible. John mentions it around 50 times in Revelation. There are three heavens:

o The atmospheric heaven around the earth. (Gen. 1:20)

o The stellar heavens. (Psalm 8:3)

o Heaven, the home of God. (Psalm 14:2)

§ Heaven is real. Enoch, Elijah, and Jesus have all gone there in glorified bodies.[1]

· At some time in life people begin to think about what happens after death and begin to think about heaven, but there are many false and immature opinions about heaven.

o A common misconception is that all people will go to heaven.

o Closely related is the view that people will become angels with wings and be given harps to play.

o Perhaps the most common mistake is the idea that people can earn their way into heaven.

§ God’s Word is the source for the truth about heaven. Thus, our lesson today focuses on what Heaven will be like.

Lesson in Historical Context:

· John had three purposes for writing Revelation.

o The Immediate purpose: to allow Jesus Christ to proclaim, “Behold, I come quickly.” (Re. 2:16; 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20). The seven churches of Asia and their world needed a word of encouragement, of counsel, and of warning.

o The Historical purpose: to allow Jesus Christ to proclaim to His followers and to the world of every generation, “Behold, I come quickly” (Re. 2:16; 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20). God knows that every generation needs a word of encouragement, of counsel, and of warning.

o The Godly purpose: to give to the church and to the world “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Re. 1:1). This revelation is both the unveiling of the person of Jesus Christ as the central figure of history and the unveiling of the message of His heart. He is both the content and the unveiler of the revelation.

· What is the revelation of Jesus Christ? The revelation concerns “things which must shortly come to pass” (Re. 1:1). It concerns the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who alone is worthy to open and oversee …

§ the book of destiny

§ the book of the future of the world

§ the book of God’s redemptive purpose.[2]

· The opening verse of the Book of Revelation begins by specifying directly the content of the book: “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” What does this phrase communicate? Revelation (apokalypsis), in its literal meaning, is the uncovering of what is hidden.

o With this concept, early Christianity expressed the fundamental idea that God in His activity in Jesus Christ has come forward out of hiddenness, that God has disclosed to His own the secrets of His saving activity and graciously proclaimed His will to them.

o Indeed, its breadth of significance in the New Testament is considerable; it spans from the proclamation mediated by prophets of the church about the divine plan of salvation and purpose (1 Cor. 14:6*, 30*)across the overjoyed vision of heavenly things (2 Cor. 12:1*, 7*) to the end-time appearances of Jesus Christ Himself (1 Cor. 1:7*; 2 Thess. 1:7*).

o For our purposes, only the first of these points comes into play. The revelation, however, is one that proceeds from Jesus Christ, the cause of which is God, and that is mediated to the “servants” of God, that is, the members of the churches, through John by virtue of his prophetic calling.

o The important point is not the manner in which the revelation is received but the fact that this binding word of Jesus Christ is for the churches.

§ The reference to the content of the revelation as “what must soon take place” adds the tone of apocalyptic, however, by reflecting almost verbatim a formulation in Dan. 2:28*

§ Events in the world are shaped neitherby blind chance nor by human initiative but rather unfold according to a plan decided by God before all eternity; indeed, the realization of this plan has entered the final, decisive phase, which means that the goal that God has set for history is immanent.[3]

· The second coming of Christ and the years immediately preceding it are revealed in Revelation more graphically than in any other book of the Bible.

o The Book of Daniel describes in detail the period from Daniel’s time to Christ’s first coming and speaks briefly of the Tribulation and Christ’s rule on earth.

o The Book of Revelation amplifies the great end-time events with many additional details, culminating in the new heaven and the new earth.

o Authorship. As the opening verses in Revelation plainly state, the book was written by the apostle John[4] on the island of Patmos approximately A.D. 95-96.

· In everyday usage we use the word Heaven to describe the place where believers go when they die. This is legitimate as long as we realize that the ultimate expression of Heaven is the new Heaven and new earth that will come at the end of time. We actually are told more in Scripture about this ultimate Heaven than we are about the state of the dead in Christ before the end. Biblical hope focuses more on the Heaven that comes with the final coming of Christ, the final judgment, and the final resurrection.This new heaven and new earth is described in Revelation 21–22.[5]

· One of the most wonderful promises in the whole Bible is that persons who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will spend all of eternity with God in a place called heaven.

o Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20, “Our citizenship is in Heaven.” Hebrews 12:22 affirms, “Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem).”

o This is our future home and our future hope, and that ought to make a difference in our lives today.

· We have often heard statements to this effect: “He is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good.” There is only one thing wrong with that statement: It is not true! The fact is those who are the most heavenly minded are the most earthly good. That is why Colossians 3:1–2 teaches us, “So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.”

o C. S. Lewis beautifully echoes the truth of Scripture when he writes,

§ “A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do.

§ It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is.” If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven.

§ It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in:” aim at earth and you will get neither.” (Mere Christianity, 134)

· Revelation 21–22 brings us to the end of the Apocalypse and to the end of the Bible. It is a fitting conclusion to the historical drama of redemption that began in Genesis 1–3. In fact, it is interesting to compare the beginning of Genesis with the end of Revelation.

· Indeed, one of the most wonderful things about the Bible is that in its first two chapters the Devil is not there, and in its last two chapters the Devil is not there. Examine Genesis 1–2, and you will find no mention of the ancient serpent. Examine Revelation 21–22, and you will likewise find no mention of Satan. He is not there. He is in the lake of fire (20:10), where he will be imprisoned for all eternity.[6]

Bible Study:

Revelation 21:1 (NASB) 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

· All of the heavens above will be remade, created anew and made alive. Think how glorious and beautiful the heavens look now when we look up on a starry night. But imagine what they will be like when God recreates them in all the glory and magnificence of a perfect universe.

o All things within the universe will be alive and reflect the glory and splendor of God Himself. The universe will be perfect, a place where nothing burns out or wears down or wastes away or dies.

o Think about the light and brilliance and splendor and glory of all the heavenly bodies when God recreates the heavens.

o Think about what it will mean to have a universe full of living planets and stars and solar systems. We cannot imagine the glory and beauty. It is beyond our finite minds.

o But note the significant point: the Scripture declares emphatically that the Heaven is to be remade and recreated into a new Heaven (2 Pe. 3:10).

· The earth is going to pass away. There is going to be a new earth. The present earth is defective; it is cursed. The earth suffers under all kinds of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, destructive storms, floods, scorching heat, deserts, famines, diseases, and death. But the day is coming when God is going to remake the earth. God is going to create a new earth. Think what this will mean.

o No more disasters or destruction.

o No more thorns or thistles or unfertile and unproductive soil.

o No more hunger or thirst.

o No more disease, decay, erosion, or death.

· The new earth will flourish and be fruitful, bearing all the good that can be imagined. Think how beautiful, green, lush, productive, and fruitful it will be. Think how peaceful, serene, and comfortable it will be.

o Think of the security and provision, the abundance and overflowing of every good and perfect gift—the fulness of life that will be possible upon the earth. The earth will be new, perfected by God in every conceivable way.

· “and there is no longer any sea”. Throughout this book, as in much of the Bible, the sea is the dark force of chaos which threatens God’s plans and God’s people. It is the element from which the first monster emerged. It is contained in the first heaven, ‘contained’, that is, both in the sense that it is there as part of the furniture and in the sense that its boundary is strictly limited. Evil is only allowed to do enough to overreach itself and to bring about its own downfall. But in the new creation there will be no more sea, no more chaos, no place from which monsters might again emerge.[7].

· A perfected earth is beyond our comprehension. But it is exactly what Scripture declares is going to happen. God is going to create a new earth as well as a new heaven.[8]

o Matthew 5:17-18 (NASB) 17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

o Matthew 24:35 (NASB) 35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

Revelation 21:2 (NASB) 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

· As the next stage in his vision unfolds, the apostle John moves from a description of the new heaven and the new earth in general to a description of the capital city of the eternal state. Since the text plainly identifies it as such, there is no reason to doubt that the holy city, new Jerusalem, is an actual city. The new Jerusalem is not heaven, but Heaven’s capital. It is not synonymous with Heaven, because its dimensions are given in 21:16. It will be the third city named Jerusalem in redemptive history.

o The first is the historic Jerusalem, the City of David, which currently exists in Palestine. Scripture repeatedly calls it the holy city (11:2; Neh. 11:1; Isa. 52:1; Dan. 9:24; Matt. 4:5; 27:53) because it was set apart for God’s purposes.

o The second Jerusalem will be the restored Jerusalem where Christ will rule during the millennial kingdom.

o But the new Jerusalem does not belong to the first creation, so it is neither the historic city, nor the millennial city; it is the altogether new eternal city (cf. v. 10; 3:12; Heb. 11:10; 12:22–24; 13:14). The old Jerusalem, in ruins for twenty-five years when John received this vision, is too stained with sin, too much a part of the old creation to survive into the eternal state.

o The new Jerusalem is called the holy city because everyone in it is holy, since “blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection” (20:6).

§ The concept of a city includes relationships, activity, responsibility, unity, socialization, communion, and cooperation. Unlike the evil cities of the present earth, the perfectly holy people in the new Jerusalem will live and work together in perfect harmony.[9]

· Heaven will, so to speak, come down to earth. John saw the city beautifully dressed for her husband (cf. Isa. 61:10). A young lady is apt to be thoroughly prepared and look her best on the day of her wedding.

o So it is with those who constitute ‘the bride’ of Christ.[10]

Revelation 21:3-4 (NASB) 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

· Vs. 3: Two things are mentioned about this blessed company. They are blessed by the presence of God. John says, And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.

o In Eden before the Fall, God came and walked with Adam in the cool of the day. Now He will dwell with men forever, and they will delight in His abiding presence.

o The lost are without God, without Christ, and are without hope. The saved are with Him for all eternity. That presence, which is the chief horror of the lost, is the chief happiness of the redeemed. Being perfectly holy, they can enjoy the company of God.

· Vs. 4: This glorious company who make up the new community of the New Jerusalem are blessed by the absence of grief. John says, And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. On earth during the Millennium, death will be rare, but it will not be banished entirely (Isa. 65:20). In the eternal state, death will be a thing of the past. There will be no more funerals, no more graves, no more hospitals, no more broken homes, no more broken hearts. What a day of rejoicing that will be![11]

Let’s pause and review:

· How do you picture the new earth? A perfect place absent of all the problems of life and a place where I will reside with God eternally.

· What does verse 1 say will no longer exist? The oceans with all the represented chaos associated with them.

· Why do you think John used the image of a bride adorned for her husband as an image for us to relate to the new Holy City? Perfect, anticipated, beyond description, invoking the deepest of emotional love.

· What is significant about God dwelling with His people as described in verse 3? The Bible is God’s love story for His people. From the Garden of Eden in its perfection He desired fellowship with us. We see in the new Heaven His desire is perfected for all eternity…and we will be with Him!

Revelation 21:5 (NASB) 5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He *said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."

· God gave a double declaration. He declared that His Words are true and faithful.

o By true, He means true as opposed to false. He is not lying. He is God; therefore, what He says will happen.

o By faithful, He means that He will do exactly what He says. We can all count on it.

o And note: God instructed John to write down all that He said. God wanted us to know about His promise of a new Heaven and earth, of a perfected body and life, and He wanted us to be assured of His promise.

· God’s sovereignty assures it. How? By the power and sovereignty of God. God declares, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.[12]

· The most important thing about the city is that God dwells there with His people. The Bible gives an interesting record of the dwelling places of God.

o First, God walked with man in the Garden of Eden.

o Then He dwelt with Israel in the tabernacle and later the temple.

o When Israel sinned, God had to depart from those dwellings.

o Later, Jesus Christ came to earth and “tabernacled” among us (John 1:14).

o Today, God does not live in man-made temples (Acts 7:48–50), but in the bodies of His people (1 Cor. 6:19–20) and thus in the church (Eph. 2:21–22).

§ Ephesians 2:21-22 (NASB) 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

· In both the tabernacle and the temple, the veil stood between men and God. That veil was torn in two when Jesus died, thus opening a “new and living way” for God’s people (Heb. 10:19). Even though God dwells in believers today by His Spirit, we still have not begun to understand God or fellowship with Him as we would like; but one day, we shall dwell in God’s presence and enjoy Him forever.

· The eternal city is so wonderful that the best way John found to describe it was by contrast—“no more.” The believers who first read this inspired book must have rejoiced to know that, in Heaven, there would be no more pain, tears, sorrow, or death; for many of their number had been tortured and slain.

o In every age, the hope of heaven has encouraged God’s people in times of suffering.[13]

What are some lasting truths in Revelation 21:1–5?

· Our hope should be focused on the new Heaven and new earth.

· We should find our highest joy in fellowship with God.

· We should realize that none of what blights our current life will be in Heaven.[14]

As we wrap up this brief exploration of Heaven, I found the following to be most helpful for your consideration😊.

· One of the great desires of most Christians is the day when they will be with the Lord in Heaven. We look forward to the day when we will be with the Lord, rest from our labors, and be reunited with loved ones.

o Our longing for Heaven is a good influence upon us.

· It proves we have been born again because our heart is truly there.

Luke 12:34—For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

· It producesChristian character in our life. Knowing we are going to meet the Lord, we want to live in such a way that will please Him.

1 John 3:2, 3—Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

· It produces patience and joy which are developed in our difficulties because we know that one day they will end. We will find rest from the problems of this life.

2 Corinthians 4:17—For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

· It promotes spiritual activity and service to the Lord and others. We know we will face our reward in Heaven.

· It is a preservative against sinful living. When we are focused on Heaven, we are not as likely to live carnally.

Colossians 3:1–3—If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.[15]

Grace and peace to you:😊

Note: This was shared in lesson #1 but not covered due to time available. I am sharing again as it helps to understand what Heaven is like😊.

What is Heaven Like?

In our limited minds Heaven is greater than anything we could imagine. 1 Corinthians 2:9says, “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 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 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]Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Revelation, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2003), 405. [2]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Revelation, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 1. [3]Jürgen Roloff, A Continental Commentary: The Revelation of John (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1993), 19. [4]John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” 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), 925. [5]Robert J. Dean, Bible Studies for Life, Summer 2008, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, n.d.), 79–80. [6]Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, ed. Daniel L. Akin, David Platt, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016), 326. [7]Tom Wright, Revelation for Everyone, For Everyone Bible Study Guides (London; Louisville, KY: SPCK; Westminster John Knox, 2011), 190. [8]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Revelation, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 280. [9]John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 12–22, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 2000), 264–265. [10]Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 233. [11]John Phillips, Exploring Revelation: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), Re 21:3–4. [12]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Revelation, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 282. [13]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 622. [14]Robert J. Dean, Bible Studies for Life, Summer 2008, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, n.d.), 83. [15]Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Revelation, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2003), 404–405.