New Heaven and Healed Nations

Introduction

Common conceptions of heaven

Comic strip ideas

Rapture

CBN article — “rumors of wars”

Misreadings of Revelation

Operate from fear instead of faith

Focus on “Armageddon” instead of allegiance

Armageddon mentioned once in 16:16 about a battlefield (maybe cosmic, maybe literally physical)

Shallow understandings of heaven

Hinder our delight in God

Deepen our grief in suffering

Read Revelation 21:1-4

Explanation

Heaven is a real, physical place.

Debunk rapture

1 Thess. 4:16-17

Christians didn’t interpret it this way until the 1800’s

“Meet” used 2 other times in NT, w/ same use as broader Greek, people meeting a dignitary outside the city and walking him into the destination

We meet the King to bring him back

Explain the city

Clarify language, “heaven” refers to “new heaven and new earth”

Probably a purifying/renewal-recreation, not a destruction-recreation

Contrast of a beautiful bride (church and her dwelling) with a prostitute (Babylon)

John 14:2-3 — many rooms, he’ll prepare a place, take us to be with him

It’s like we’ve been cast out of Eden, but instead of being brought back into Eden, God brings Eden back to us

This Eden will not waste away (Rom 8:21)

In heaven, we’ll have real, physical bodies that don’t waste away.

Read Romans 8:19-21

Read 1 Cor. 15:51-55

Read John 20:24-27

In heaven, every nation on earth will find healing because every person on earth will find healing.

Read Revelation 21:26, 22:2b

nation means people group

Diversity begins as punishment at Babel but is redeemed into the beauty of heaven

While the world offers platitudes about “world peace” heaven brings true reconciliation

Why it matters

When you have a clearer understanding—a more vivid picture—of the hope that awaits you, you can suffer well.

People overreacting to sermons about heaven and hell—build the kingdom here!—to never talking about it.

If your theology just tells you how to be a good person here and now, with no thought of eternity, it will not get you through the struggles of life.

Yes, we want to live into it now, to build the kingdom, to give a “foretaste” of heaven. But we need to recognize it’s only a foretaste!

Romans 8:18 — I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

2 Cor. 4:17 — For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Heb. 10:39 — But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.