When We All Get to Heaven
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Last week we grazed the surface of Revelation 20. There is so much more we could say that we didn’t have time to say. Maybe we can do a Bible Study class at a slower pace of the book of Revelation in the future. As I was considering last week’s text and this week’s message I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 is a great summary of the event Revelation 20 and introduction to chapter 21. In fact it is key to understanding these two chapters. Let’s turn our attention there for a second:
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
Verse 23-24 gives us the sequence of events in three clear steps. The resurrection of Christ, The resurrection of the saints, and then the resurrection of the damned at the end.
Verses 24-28 is the reign of Christ, His judgment of the world, and then His subjection of all things to God.
In verses 50-54 of 1 Corinthians 15, Paul states that death will then be destroyed and all believers will receive a glorified body fit for the Kingdom of God — Heaven. What a fitting introduction to Revelation 21. With a new body we are then ready for the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem described in Revelation 21:1-8. Turn there with me and let’s read chapter 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. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
You know it is hard for us to imagine anything different than what we have experienced. We have grown accustom to pain, we ignore most of it, we hate death, but most of us have accepted that it will happen, disappointment and sorrow have become unwelcome companion in this life, and tears and a grieved spirit plague us more than we will admit to one another.
This life with its many beauties and joyful times is cursed with tragedies out of our control to stop. We have doctors, psychologists, counselors, and pastors to help us cope with them, but only God can take them away.
We learn in Revelation 21 that rather than patching up this world system, God is making all things new. In fact, this is what God has been doing since the first man plunged humanity into an existence of death, sorrow, pain, and separation. What will this new creation be like? What are the characteristics of this new creation?
It is More than Imagined
It is More than Imagined
Somewhere in our theological understanding of existence with God we have visualized us floating away to a cloud covered city to join a choir. Life will continue here as usual while are oblivious to anything except the next cloud ride or harp chord.
Revelation 21:1-2 reminds us that there is more to heaven than that.
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. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
There is a new heaven and earth. Rarely do you see these two separated because the heaven it is speaking of is our atmosphere.
The troposphere where most of our weather occurs will be new.
The Stratosphere will be new, no ozone problems in this new creation.
The Mesosphere where meteors threaten the earth will be new.
The Thermosphere will be new along with the Exosphere.
There have been a lot of ideas about the heavens before the fall and the flood. Some believe that the breakdown of the atmosphere has effected the aging process. Regardless they will be restored to the condition before the fall.
The heaven and the earth. In other words the world as we know it will be new.
We live in a beautiful world even now. I can’t imagine a world not devastated by sin or altered by humanity.
Now, I don’t agree with all the Green movement, but what we can agree upon is this world is not what was when God created it. Now the earth is not a living organism but the Bible personifies the earth in its longing for the day described in Revelation. Listen to Romans 8:18-23
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
What is scripture saying as it talks about all things new? A new heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem.
Well, it is saying no harp for me friend!
I will enjoy the fullness of God’s glory upon an earth that is filled with His glory.
A world that is set free from corruption, in a body that is free from infirmity, sickness, sorrow, pain, or death.
It is more than we can imagine or explain. Listen to Paul as he states what awaits for those who love God. 1 Corinthians 2:9
9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
It is Insured
It is Insured
We can be sure that nothing will take away or rob us of the joy of the glory of God. Why? Because God will dwell with us! Listen to the assurances given in Revelation 21:3-6
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. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
He will be with us and we will be His people.
He will comfort us as Jesus promised in the beatitudes.
He will remove any chance of pain, sorrow, crying, or death. These cannot not exist in His presence.
Just in case we have any doubts, He reminds us that His words are faithful and true.
And then he declares it complete based on His eternality.
I don’t know if a human example exist to illustrate the security of these promises. Peter says it is under lock and key, reserved with God.
It is an Inheritance.
It is an Inheritance.
What an incredible existence. The earth and the fullness thereof along with the presence of God where there is no pain, sickness, sorrow, or death.
A place of unbelievable potential, peace, prosperity, and activities. Where do we sign up?
This is another place where sin and human philosophy gets things twisted.
Society has bought into the idea that all you have to do is die to have this existence.
The Bible present it as a coming kingdom that not even death can stop. Some may live to see this kingdom come, but not even death will stop the children of God from seeing it.
What is vitally important to know is that only the children of God will enjoy it! Listen to Revelation 21:7
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
This is an inheritance, some translation use the word heritage. They both carry the same idea. This for children.
Verse 8 clarifies that two different inheritances exists for two different families.
Those who by faith believe the Gospel and endure the reproach that comes from loving and serving God inherit the new creation. but those who are cowardly and faithless inherit the same fate as Satan, the false prophet, and the beast. An eternal existence in the lake of fire which is the second death.
You know I can’t say that without grief in my heart because no one has to fear death and punishment if they turn to Christ, but this world has a tendency to hardness us to the goodness of God in Christ Jesus.