I Believe in Heaven

John 14:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 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. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

What is heaven? What do you think about when I mention that place? Loved-ones that are there, rest, Jesus, mansions? Well I hope in the next few weeks I can help us get a scriptural view as to what it is. I know before we ever get started I will never be able to answer all of your questions; I won’t even be able to answer all of mine. I do hope to; however; answer some questions that we may have about heaven.

The first reference to heaven is found in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” If you read on in Genesis this “heaven” is what we now call space and outer space. God separated the water and made a firmament and called it heaven, and then God put lights in the firmament of heaven, so this first reference in the Bible to heaven is our atmosphere, and space.

This isn’t the heaven that we want to talk about though. We find an interesting incident in Genesis 14:19 After Abram rescued his Nephew Lot from the kings who came against them, he met with Melchizedik who was the king of Salem who came out and blessed Abram by saying, “Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:…” Melchezidek introduces a new name for God in this blessing, “El” and the KJV gives the translation of the word, MOST HIGH, and then goes on to say possessor of Heaven and earth.

To continue on in the scripture we find in Deu. 10:14 an interesting phrase, “Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.” The heaven and heaven of heavens what does that mean? 1 Kings 8:27 when Solomon was dedicating the Temple used this phrase again in a unique way, “Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? Neh. 9:6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

We see in the Bible that these men may have not had a Hubble telescope to peer out into the vast unknown but they understood something about heaven. There was a heaven they could see and there was a heaven they could not see. There are references in the Bible to the first heaven our atmosphere and to a third heaven, Paul’s wonderful vision or dream, he couldn’t tell whether he was in the body or out of it, it was so wonderful. He was caught up to this third heaven, and saw things not lawful for man to see. This is the heaven we are interested in. To lay some ground work let’s look at some important facts about this third heaven. We find an interesting verse in 2Co 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

1. Heaven is Home - God’s Headquarters

Someone once said that “Heaven will include everything that is necessary for our eternal happiness.” Bro. Albert Barr said, “The Bible doesn’t tell us nearly enough about heaven…. That is, not enough to satisfy our curiosity, But we have to believe the Bible tells us what we need to know.” As far as I know John’s Gospel is the only one to record these precious words from the lips of the blessed Son of God. He heard something about a long home, something precious where He could rest forever with Jesus. E.M. Bounds wrote in his book , “Heaven” “His [Jesus’] business is not to be enthroned and receive honor, but He is there for us, to prepare a place for us.”

Heaven is our home because:

I. Jesus said he was going to prepare us a place to live with him

a. Father’s house already exists and had many mansions, (rooms)

Jesus went away to prepare us a place. Call it a mansion, a room, or symbolism I want to be in His presence.

Barclay wrote, “There comes a time when we have to believe where we cannot prove and to accept where we cannot understand…. "There are many abiding-places in my Father's house" may simply mean that in heaven there is room for all. An earthly house becomes overcrowded; an earthly inn must sometimes turn away the weary traveller because its accommodation is exhausted. It is not so with our Father's house, for heaven is as wide as the heart of God and there is room for all. Jesus is saying to his friends: "Don't be afraid. Men may shut their doors upon you. But in heaven you will never be shut out."

It’s a place of mansions, not only of mansions but many mansions, not only a place, but a house of many mansions, and not only a house, but “MY Father’s house of many mansions.”

iii. One writer said, “He built my mansion by hand” well I’m not sure how he is preparing us a place, but that is what he told the disciples.

And I believe that Heaven is HOME

“Tell Me Ye Winged Wind’s”

Tell me ye winged wind’s that round my pathway roar,

Do ye not know some spot where mortals weep no more;

Some lone and pleasant dell some valley in the west,

Where free from toil and pain the weary soul may rest.

The loud wind dwindled to a whisper low;

And sighed for pity as it answered, “No!”

Tell me thou mighty deep whose billows round me play

Knowest thou some favored spot some island far away;

Where weary man may find the bliss for which he sighs

Where sorrow never lives and friendship never dies

The loud waves rolling in perpetual flow,

Stopped for awhile and sighed to answer, “No!”

And thou serenest moon that with such lovely face,

Doth look upon the earth asleep in nights embrace;

Tell me in all thy round, hasn’t thou not seen some spot

Where miserable man may find a happier lot

Behind a cloud the moon withdrew in woe;

And in a voice sweet but sad responded, “No!”

Tell me my secret soul, Oh tell me Hope and Faith,

Is there no resting place from sorrow sin and death;

Is there no happy spot where mortals my be blessed,

Where grief may find a balm and weariness a rest;

Faith Hope and Love best boons to mortals given,

Waved their bright wings and whispered, “Yes! In Heaven.”

(Author Unknown, One of my mother’s recitations)

Heaven is Home -

2. Elements of Heaven

Revelation 4 KJV 1900

1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 21 KJV 1900

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 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. 4 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. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Abode of Heaven

I don’t know what your preference is city life or country life but heaven is described as both. In Revelation 21 & 22 it is referred to a city 15 times. It indicates a real tangible physical place complete with streets, buildings, walls, commerce, and people.

a. Interior

i. What Will Be In Heaven –

Now the heaven that John saw this new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, was a city. This city was a literal city, John saw streets, walls, gates, rivers, trees, he saw kingdoms and citys outside of this one, he saw people innumerable hosts, angels etc. It was a literal place, a place that was tangable, a place that was describable, even though he had to use words such as, like, and other comparative descriptions to get his point across; it is still a literal place.

1. Streets was of pure gold transparent (not paved of gold) 21:21

a. Some have suggested that these transparent streets of gold are built like a parking garage with going up and down throughout the city. Since they are transparent they would let all the needed light thru. I’m am not sure what streets are for in heaven, however John saw them there and so they must be there.

b. Brother Albert Barr told us in his message that they have taken gold and purified it till it becomes almost clear, This is going to be the most purest minerals and gems that have ever been.

2. A pure river of water of life crystal clear source is throne of God and the Lamb –

a. Could be a symbol of the Spirit if taken as figurative language.

b. I don’t know why all of a sudden he would change from literal to figurative. Water indicates that we will have a use for water. Ghosts or disembodied spirits don’t need water.

i. It’s likely this river has tributaries flowing off of it throughout the city.

ii. Notice it flows down from the throne of God. Just follow the river to the Throne.

3. Tree of life 22:2 middle of street and on both sides of river

a. Bears twelve manner of fruit, produces every month. Leaves heal nations,

b. Taken from the Garden of Eden apparently

c. (Eze 47:12) And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

d. Not to be admired but consumed. (again have to have some type of physical body to do that.)

e. It is interesting to think there might be needs in heaven. But that is the idea conveyed by this verse. However these needs are met continuously.

4. Throne of God and Lamb

ii. Jesus will be crowned and will deliver his kingdom up to the father according to 2 Cor.

1. Crown of Ivan has 841 diamonds

2. Crown of Peter 887 diamonds

3. Crown of England 1700 diamonds

4. Crown of Russia 2500 diamonds

5. Crown of France 5352 diamonds

6. Crown of Jesus – More than any man can number

b. Many mansions – these are common physical terms meaning in the original language (house rooms place) apparently deliberately chosen by the master to convey the message to the disciples that what he was going to give them was something tangible and to look forward to.

a. Please again don’t fall off of me, but I don’t think Jesus would tease his disciples. If he chose the word places of abode he meant places in the plural of abode.

The Father’s house includes the vast celestial universe…Our earth, originally one of those mansions, but much out of kelter by reason of satanic invasion, is even now being refitted, and will erelong be restored… and become one of those bright celestial mansions, occupied by saints and angels to shine and shout forever. Dr. Godbey John 14:2

I do not completely agree with Dr. Godbey that the planets will be the mansions. I think this is something new, glorious, spacious, and personalized for each of us.

2. Architects according to Grant Jeffries, “have calculated that the enormous size of the New Jerusalem would easily provide a mansion of over a half mile in length and breadth to every believer from Adam to the present.” (Heaven the Last Frontier ch. 6 p 73)

3. Some have taken a figurative or symbolic approach to this idea of mansions. Some of the early church fathers thought “many mansions” might mean more of degrees of glory. I think the correct translation should be rendered rooms, or dwelling place or place of abode.

4. One good brother in my church whom we have discussed this before, believes this is all spiritual and that Jesus meant we were the mansions. We finally had to agree to disagree because as I said earlier Jesus didn’t tease his disciples. There is no hint of an underlying spiritual meaning. It may not be towering spires, marble flooring, and golden door handles but it is going to be a place in a city that is real tangible and personal according to my Bible.

“Dr. Henry Morris of ICR in an article once wrote, “As far as personal homes are concerned, Jesus called them “mansions”(John 14:2) but they may not be what we mean by that word. The Greek word is mone, normally used as a prefix meaning “sole” or “alone.” We use its English derivative “mono” the same way. It stresses individuality…We can probably infer from this that, whatever our unique “abode” in heaven may be, it will be like a “mansion” to us, because God’s “presence” will also abide there.”

5. Jesus went away to prepare us a place. Call it a mansion, a room, or symbolism I want to be in His presence.

Barclay wrote, “"There are many abiding-places in my Father's house" may simply mean that in heaven there is room for all. An earthly house becomes overcrowded; an earthly inn must sometimes turn away the weary traveller because its accommodation is exhausted. It is not so with our Father's house, for heaven is as wide as the heart of God and there is room for all. Jesus is saying to his friends: "Don't be afraid. Men may shut their doors upon you. But in heaven you will never be shut out."

It’s a place of mansions, not only of mansions but many mansions, not only a place, but a house of many mansions, and not only a house, but “MY Father’s house of many mansions.”

You’re All Invited To My Mansion John Stallings 1974

1.) In my life I’ve struggled and I’ve oft known bitter tears

Riches have eluded me thro’ all my many years

But some sweet day in Heaven a mansion waits for me

And I will open wide its door throughout eternity

2.) If a flickering lamp you have in place of chandeliers

Boarded floors may grace the home you’ve lived in all these years

Just be true to Jesus and some day when life is o’er He’s promised you a mansion over on the golden shore

Chorus

You’re all invited to my mansion

Down here I’ve never had much

Though I always tried to share

But all my doors will be open over yonder

You’re invited to my mansion over there

c. People – Heaven is not only home to God, angels but people. What will these people be like? (Rev 7:9) After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

i. What will these people be like?

1. A resurrected people – One statistic quotes that of the Americans who believe in a resurrection of the dead, two-thirds believe they will not have bodies after the resurrection. Sound self-counterdictory to me. A non-physical resurrection is like a sunless sunrise. R.A. Torrey “We will not be disembodied spirits in the world to come, but redeemed spirits , in redeemed bodies, in a redeemed universe.”

a. What is a resurrected person like? Christ was the first-fruits the Bible tells us. Let’s look at his body.

i. Not the creation of a new body, but resurrected and glorified. (Thomas had wounds to put his hands into…)

1. Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; Handle me, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have

2. (1Jn 3:2) 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.

3. “Because we each have a physical body, we already have the single best reference point for envisioning a new body. “

4. We know that the resurrected Christ looked like a man because Mary called him sir.

5. They are imperishable bodies free from the curse

6. They will be beautiful (not in the sense that we look at beauty today (with artificial flavor and coloring) But a natural beauty that won’t need any touchups (or even wished for)

a. “The most beautiful person you’ve ever seen is under the cuse, a shadow of the beauty that once characterized humanity. If we saw Adam and Eve as they were in Eden, they would likely take our breath away. If they would have seen us as we are now, they likely would have been filled with shock and pity.”

7. I expect to have our senses probably with increased power and sensitivity and possibly a few more added in.

a. Electromagnetic Spectrum

8. According to Daniel 12:3 and Matthew 13:43 bout bodies will shine

9. Apparantly we will wear robes of righteousness Rev. 7:9 possibley sashes Rev. 15:6

ii. What will these people do?

1. What did Christ do?

a. Walked

b. Talked

c. Ate

d. Started a fire with fish (we assume he caught himself)

e. He conversed and interacted with his disciples

f. He breathed on them

g. His relationships seemed to have picked up where they had left off.

2. What will we do?

a. Well the tree of life with it’s fruit will be eaten by someone

b. The marriage supper of the Lamb will be eaten by someone

c. Rev. 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

I am standing on the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She’s an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come down to mingle with each other. And then I hear someone at my side saying, “There, She’s gone.”

Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says, “There, she’s gone,” there are other eyes watching her coming, and there are other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”

And that is dying. (Actual author unknown. Quoted by Randy Alcorn Heaven page 462)

The Veracity of Heaven

Haven is real I believe in Heaven

i. I like what Charles Spurgeon had to say about this. “Yea, beloved, I believe when we get to heaven we shall want no subject for meditation there, except Jesus Christ. I know there are some divines and learned philosophers who have been telling us that when we go to heaven we shall occupy our time in flying from star to star, and from one planet to another; that we shall go and see Jupiter, and Mercury, and Venus, and all the host of celestial bodies. We shall behold all the wonders of creation; we shall explore the depths of science, as they tell us, and there are no limits to the mysteries we shall understand. My reply to people who imagine thus of heaven, is, that I have no objection it should be so, if it will afford them any pleasure; I hope you will have, and I know my Father will let you have, whatsoever will make you happy. But, while you are viewing stars, I will sit down and look at Jesus; and if you told me you had seen the inhabitants of Saturn and Venus, and the man in the moon, I would say, Ah! yes— "But in His looks a wonder stands, The noblest glory of God's hands; God in the person of His Son Hath all His mightiest works outdone." But you will say, You win become tired, surely, of looking at him. No, I should reply; I have been looking at but one of his hands, and I have not yet thoroughly examined the hole where one of the nails went in; and when I have lived ten thousand years more I will take his other hand, and sit down and look at each gaping wound, and then I may descend to his side and his feet:— "Millions of years my wond'ring eyes Shall o'er his beauties rove, And endless ages I'll adore The wonders of His love." You may go flitting about as far as you like; I will sit there, and look at the God in human flesh, for I believe that I shad learn more of God and more of his works in the person of Jesus than you could with all the advantage of traveling on wings of light, though you should have the most elevated imaginations and the most gigantic intellects to help you in your search. Brethren, our meditation of Christ will be sweet. There will be little else we shall want of heaven besides Jesus Christ. He will be our bread, our food, our beauty, and our glorious dress. The atmosphere of heaven will be Christ; everything in heaven will be Christ-like: yea Christ is the heaven of his people. To be in Christ and to be with Christ is the essence of heaven:— (Charles Spurgeon http://www.apibs.org/chs/2690.htm)

1. As one songwriter put it, “Don’t look neath the gates of pearl, don’t look on the streets of gold, don’t look by the walls of jasper or among the other sights untold…look for me at Jesus feet”

2. I tell you if all we had to look forward to was to be able to see Jesus that would be worth going to heaven for but God has so much more prepared for his people.

II. And I know he won’t fail us at the crossing. They used to sing “I won’t have to cross Jordan alone” they used to make fun of the old time Methodist but they knew one thing they died well. Because Jesus didn’t fail them. And he’s not going to fail us just a few steps from home.

a. Richard Baxter – “I have pain, I have pain, but I have peace

b. John Wesely – “Best of All God is with us”

c. Charlse Wesley – “ I shall be satisfied when I awake in his likeness

d. D. L. Moody – “This is my coronation day, the earth is receding, heaven is opening God is calling I’m going”

e. Catherine Booth – I’m not going under I’m going over, the water is rising, and so am I

f. Billy Bray – said he shouted every where he went you couldn’t keep him quiet. The doctor told him he was dying he said, “Glory haleluljah, Glory to God, shall I tell him your coming doc?”

g. H. E. Darnell – (did anyone know him?) Died in the 90s slapped the side of his bed and said, “Glory Glory Glory it works it works it works”

"There's coming a time when old Zion will nose herself up against that golden shore they'll tie her up with a pearl heaving line. I'll step out on that battle scarred deck and I'll shade my eye and look her over and say I AM HOME."

Heaven is Eternal

· When I think about eternity and what it’s going to be like spending eternity as the old song says shouting round the throne I can’t help but get excited. But to think it is eternity. We get excited about going somewhere vacation or campmeeting or some special event. And we plan prepare and anticipate it eargly then it gets here and is over nearly before you know it.

a. I tell you John Newton had it the closest when he wrote “When we’ve been there ten-thousand years bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.”

b. When we have live our first day in heaven and as it were wake up the next morning we have just as many mornings as we started with what a wonderful thought to spend that time in the presence of God.

Non-Existent Things in Heaven

i. What Won’t be in heaven Revelation 21:1-4/21:22-23/21:27/22:3/22:5

1. No more sea: 21:1

a. It’s interesting that this would be one of the first things that John misses. Now it does not say there was no more water because we know the river is there. But no more wasted (if we can call it that) space.

i. Creationist tell us that before Noah’s flood that water filled a giant canopy as it were above us hence that verse in Genesis 7:11 where the fountains of the great deep were broken and the windows of heaven were opened

1. (Gen 1:6) And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.(Gen 1:7) And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which wereabove the firmament: and it was so.(Gen 1:8) And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.(Gen 1:9) And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so

2. .If that is the case that is why there will be no more sea. It won’t be needed. I understand our world today is made up of -nearly two-thirds water. In that day all of that will be open land.

ii. There is also another interesting take on this

1. The sea implies separation – land peoples countries. In that day there will be no more separation one people serving ONE GOD. That’s what the Lord tells us in Revelation. I will be their God they will be my people (Rev 21:3) 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.

2. The sea implies storms – Storms will be over in that land no more troubles trials afflictions or battles after we have taken residence. It will be glorious.

2. Tears (God will wipe them away) – 21:4

a. Tears are a symbol of sorrow but can mean joy as well.

b. I’ve heard that song all my life, “No Tears In Heaven” This verse makes me wonder. I have wondered why “Tears” and “Crying” have been separated. It makes two distinct entries in the catalog of what won’t be in heaven.

i. What I do see here is, “as a father pitys his children” Have you ever had a child come running to you with a scrape on the knee or maybe their favorite toy broke or some reason they were in tears. You console them and then take a hankie or Kleenex or sometimes a mother will take her apron and wipe their little face.

1. What will it be when God pickes up his children one by one and takes our face in his hands and wipes away the tears.

3. Death – 21:4

a. All we can say now is O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory. In that day we will say GOODBY to death.

b. I’ve seen far too many of those emaciated forms just prior to crossing over. It would get to the point you could hardly recognize who they were. I tell you in that day death itself will die.

4. Sorrow – 21:4

a. I love that scripture that gives us a glimpse into this John 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

5. Crying – 21:4

a. There is now no reason for crying God has wiped away the tears taken away the sorrow death and other things that cause it

6. Pain 21:4

a. No Tylenol, morphine, or other pain medication will be necessary. No sleepless nights because of pain or discomfort.

7. Former things 21:4

a. Duane told of Bro. Harry Simons

b. Diseases, sickness, troubles, misunderstandings

8. Temple 21:22

9. Sun or moon – 21:23/ Candle or sun 22:5

10. Night 22:5

11. Anything that defiles or works abomination or makes a lie. 21:27

a. No SIN

b. A PREPARED PLACE FOR A PREPARED PEOPLE

12. Curse 22:3

a. Genesis 3:17-19 The curse if given

b. Here it is taken away ( Jesus was made the curse for us )

c. (Galatians 3:13). He “in an agony … sweat as it were great drops of blood” as He “carried our sorrows,” then was painfully “wounded for our transgressions” and “bruised for our iniquities.” Finally, He “poured out His soul unto death” (Luke 22:44; Isaiah 53:4-5, 12). As the physical aspects of the curse had already been purged (2 Peter 3:10), so also will its entire profound spiritual aspects, and “there shall be no more curse” (Revelation 22:3).

13. The Devil - Revelation 20:10

a. I like to picture that this is going to happen publicly. We’ll all get to be there

b. The Lord will bend down and pick the devil up by the scruff of his neck. You know the Lord has him as it were on a leash right now. Satan can only do what the Lord allows him to do.

c. Have you ever seen a feisty kitten picked up by the scruff of the neck they just hang there weak and limp. That’s the way its going to be that day.

d. The Lord is going to hold him up for us all to see and I like to imagine him looking the crowd over and saying, “I HAVE HIM” The Lord might even make it personal, “Paul, Satan buffeted you constantly sent you a thorn in the flesh that I gave you grace to endure, he sent people along to stone you to leave you for dead tormented all the time by his evil ways, I HAVE HIM”

i. He might look at you and say “Remember all those times he put those thoughts in your head and then accused you of being carnal” Remember when he used to whisper things in your ear about your brother or sister” I HAVE HIM I’ve seen the Devil torment people right at deaths door but on that day as the Lord looks at them and says “I HAVE HIM” oh what a thrill.

e. The trap door will open underneath and the Lord will throw him in never, never , never to bother us again. I tell you if there were no streets of gold or walls of jasper or anything else just to be free from the wiles of the enemy is going to be heaven.

i. I tell you I want to hear those words “WELL DONE”

ii. I want to see Jesus Crowned

iii. I’d like to be at the marriage supper of the Lamb

iv. I want to kneel at Jesus feet

v. But I also want to be there when the Lord cast Satan away, never to bother us again. THAT WILL BE GLORY FOR ME.

I believe in Heaven