Glorious Promise of Heaven 21-1-8

The Glorious Promise of Heaven

Bible Passage: Revelation 21:1–8

Big Idea: The promise of Heaven invites us to embrace our identity as sojourners in this world, motivating us to live out our faith boldly as we anticipate the glorious restoration that awaits us in God's presence.

John vividly portrays the culmination of God's redemptive plan,

This is where He creates a new heaven and new earth, symbolizing hope and restoration.

This passage emphasizes God dwelling among His people,

wiping away our tears

and eliminating death, mourning, crying, or pain—

It’s a powerful affirmation of God's presence and his ultimate victory over sin.

We have only these 2 chapters describing what eternal heaven will be like.

But I believe this is enough description for all of us to long for eternal heaven.

For those of us old enough to have forgotten some of the things in the past it is marvelous how insignificant things cause us to remember.

Dawn’s apple pie

For instance: the smell of freshly mown grass reminds me of the times I spent hauling and feeding hay to the cows.

Or the tune of a song causes me to remember the days I first learned that song at Harmony Baptist Church.

All of us have these memories that are triggered by so small and seemingly insignificant events.

That is what these chapters do for the Christian

They cause us to recall what it will be like to live the life required so we will spend that eternity in heaven with the love of God.

As we glimpse today what heaven will be like, I pray that those who are not sure they will spend eternity in heaven will leave this place certain of their place in heaven.

Pray

1. Awe-Inspiring Arrival: New Heaven

Revelation 21:1–2 NASB 95

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. 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.

Can you imagine what that will be like?

A new Heaven and a new Earth

The holy city a new Jerusalem

All of it coming down from heaven..

Recently we have talked about Jesus Christ’s 1000 year long kingdom on earth

Satan will be set free from the Abyss for one last hurrah before he is cast into the lake of fire.

That will be the last fling not only for Satan but for evil as a whole.

Everyone who rejected God’s way of salvation will stand before holy God and give an account for all his deeds.

This accounting is to determine the degree of punishment for there will be no rewards for this group of people.

Remember though as this group stands before the great white throne they watch as everything they ever lived for flees from the very presence of God.

The houses, the cars, the power, the prestige all gone.

Peter tells us it all melted away.

So God replaces the earth and heavens that once had known the corruption of evil.

He replaces them with a new heaven and a new earth that knows no evil.

the ultimate restoration of all creation.

This is a vivid symbol of hope for believers,

It illustrates the final arena where fellowship with God is perfectly restored.

Hold onto this promise,

Let it strengthen your resolve to endure life's trials with the assurance of a glorious future.

Because there is now no evil there is...

2. Intimate Indwelling: God with Us

Revelation 21:3

The tabernacle of God is among men v.3.

Revelation 21:3 NASB 95

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,

God has been among men before.

With Israel he had dwelt among them in the tabernacle until the temple was built.

Then he resided with them in the temple until Israel forsook God.

But now God describes a time when he will dwell among men even as he did when Jesus was on earth.

Only he will not have human qualities to hold him back.

God will be God and that will work wonders among us.

God desires intimacy with us,

He is transforming Heaven from a distant dream into a personal reality.

Live every day nurturing your relationship with God, as Heaven begins in our hearts through Christ.

3. Enduring Encouragement: Tears to Triumph

Revelation 21:4

The result of God among men

Revelation 21:4 NASB 95

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.”

Utopia will finally be attained.

Men have tried for centuries to find Utopia.

It can only be found in heaven where there is an eternity to be spent with God.

No tears, no death, no mourning, no crying, no pain.

This reminds us that our present pain is temporary,

We will have ultimate healing and peace assured in God's presence.

There is hope for those of us weary from life's burdens,

That hope comes from trust in God's future restoration.

4. Powerful Promise: All Things New

Revelation 21:5-6

Vv. 5-6 tell us God is the one who can give us this heavenly future.

Revelation 21:5–6 NASB 95

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.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

God is making all things new, fulfilling His promises as the Alpha and Omega.

This renewal reinforces the truth of God's sovereignty and faithfulness.

He is giving the water of life without cost.

He is the only one who can possibly give it.

He is the first and the last.

The beginning and the end

He gives this water at no cost to the one who accepts it.

Jesus spoke of water of which if you drink you will never thirst again.

This is the water spoken of here.

Water that represents a devotion to the one who changers lives.

How can you acquire this water?

Notice, it cannot be bought.

It cannot be earned

Ephesians 2:8–9 NASB 95

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

It is a gift.

Romans 6:23 NASB 95

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You must accept the gift.

In so doing you become a new creature created in Christ for you no longer live but Christ lives in you.

5. Decisive Destiny: Choose Glory

Revelation 21:7-8

Revelation 21:7 NASB 95

7 He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

There is no other way but many try to find one.

A certain group will attain this heavenly future.

V. 8 tells us what happens to all others.

Revelation 21:8 NASB 95

8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

A list of those who will not find a home in heaven.

Their home is the lake of fire.

They endure the eternal torture described last week.

So what does all this mean for you and me?

Revelation 21:8 NASB 95

8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

None of us would ever consider ourselves to be any of these.

Notice who will endure the second death-UNBELIEVING.

Unbelief sneaks up on us.

Most of us here have gone to church all our lives.

We have heard the bible taught so much we think we have no need to study it.

Because we do not study it many have been misled.

It seems right to us to believe that all I have to do to be a Christian is to walk this aisle and pray a prayer.

So from that point forward we must then try to live right.

That is a start but that is like being sorry for what we did but not doing anything to correct it.

The problem comes when we become content with doing only what we have to do to look like a Christian.

That tells me the heart has not changed.

No you are simply trying to endure payment for fire insurance.

Remember heaven cannot be bought.

Insurance is a salable item so if you are trusting in something that is little more than insurance you are guilty of unbelief.

If you come to this worship for any reason other than to worship your Savior you need to change.

In a moment in a twinkling of an eye Jesus is coming.

If you are depending on your insurance you will not be with Jesus in heaven.

But that can change.

Conclusion:

The promise of Heaven is an invitation for us to embrace our identity as sojourners in this world,

It motivates us to live out our faith boldly as we anticipate the glorious restoration that awaits us in God's presence.

There is a new heaven and earth coming. Many verses in the bible speak of it.

God will walk among his people.

But only a certain group will be with God in heaven.

All the rest will be in the lake of fire for all eternity.

Where will you be?

195 What If It Were Today

1.Jesus is coming to earth again, What if it were today? Coming in power and love to reign, What if it were today? Coming to claim His chosen Bride, All the redeemed and purified, Over His whole earth scattered wide, What if it were today?

Refrain: Glory, glory! Joy to my heart 'twill bring, Glory, glory! When we shall crown Him King; Glory, glory! Haste to prepare the way; Glory, glory! Jesus will come some day.

2.Satan's dominion will then be o'er, O that it were today! Sorrow and sighing shall be no more, O that it were today! Then shall the dead in Christ arise, Caught up to meet Him in the skies; When shall these glories meet our eyes? What if it were today? (Refrain)

3.Faithful and true would He find us here If He should come today? Watching in gladness and not in fear, If He should come today? Signs of His coming multiply, Morning light breaks in eastern sky, Watch, for the time is drawing nigh, What if it were today? (Refrain)

Refrain: Glory, glory! Joy to my heart 'twill bring, Glory, glory! When we shall crown Him King; Glory, glory! Haste to prepare the way; Glory, glory! Jesus will come some day.