All Things New
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
Good Morning Everyone.
Wish I was a poet
Wish I was a poet
I know I am more of a rationalist than anything else. I enjoyed math and science more than I enjoyed literature. I do enjoy a good book, a beautiful piece of art, and (man!) do I love good music. However, I am not as good at those things as I am with things like reason and logic. I enjoy thinking things through and trying to make sense of things; figuring out how things work.
All that said, there are times when I wish I was more of a poet. Today is one of those days. For as we talk about the beauty of our eternal home of heaven, I believe it defies out senses, our ability to reason, and our logic. Topics like this are often done better justice by the songs we sing together than by the message I give.
Want us to Feel the Weight of Heaven
Want us to Feel the Weight of Heaven
For it is my hope that we wouldn’t simply learn about heaven today, but that we would be moved by the reality of what is to come; that we would feel it in our souls.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
Can’t Imagine It Though
Can’t Imagine It Though
Can’t Imagine It Though
Can’t Imagine It Though
How do you feel the weight of something you don’t understand?
That being said, I think a big reason we don’t feel it is because we can’t imagine what it is like. We read passages like:
Sometimes we default to the idea that our minds are unable to even imagine it, so why try?
Sometimes we default to the idea that our minds are unable to even imagine it, so why try?
Passages like:
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
or
But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
So, (we say) just trust God that it is going to be great. And that is a good thing, but I don’t think that means we shouldn’t think about it.
Connect with John O’Dell’s message - It will be better, even when we think wrong
Connect with John O’Dell’s message - It will be better, even when we think wrong
Yes, we may come up with a wrong idea. Last week, John mentioned how the Biblical heaven is not the same as other views of heaven. That can make is skittish to dream about it.
I believe those passages are simply saying that no matter how good you think it is going to be, God has even better in store for you.
That statement works whether you imagine rightly or wrongly. If you believe things about heaven that are wrong, reality will be better. For example, if I don’t like people and think heaven will be this wonderful place where we will eat pizza will be all that we eat, all of the time. Whatever it is that I love about eating pizza will be satisfied in heaven that it is even better than I could have hoped for. If you think you will miss hunting or competitive sports because there will be no death or losing in heaven, those desires will be more fulfilled in a better way.
Even the Things We Think Rightly
Even the Things We Think Rightly
Of course, even the things we love and are right about heaven will be fulfilled in a way better than we hoped for. We talk about being reunited with our loved ones. No matter how much we yearn for that moment, the reality of heaven will be better. No matter how wonderful you think it will be, the reality will be better.
Illustration - Even More and growing numbers
Illustration - Even More and growing numbers
I remember being a kid and playing the game of trying to one up your friends with numbers. You would start with I am a million times better than you. Then it would go to billiion, then trillion, then zillion. At the time, we learned that google was a number rather than a website. However, after google, someone would throw in infinity. But it wouldn’t stop there, it would end with someone doing infinity to the power of infinity plus one.
I think that will be a little bit like heaven. Every time we think we have reached the pinnacle, we will realize you can still go further.
Clear Statements - God’s Vision
Clear Statements - God’s Vision
That said, the Bible is not silent about heaven. actually gives us a pretty clear picture of what heaven will be like.
Unfortunately, because it is hard to wrap our heads around, we often read these passages like a dog listens to its master.
[Cartoon]
In this case, we read through this passage but only pause at those moments that speak to us.
Two Lenses - No More and Never Been
Two Lenses - No More and Never Been
As I studied this passage, it helped me to think through two different lenses. The first lens is the lens of “No More.” This speaks to all the things that will be no more, never again, gone forever. Closely related, but different is the lens of “Never Been.” These are the things that are hardest for us to imagine, because we have simply never experienced them before. There will be aspects of heaven that are completely new to us.
So, if you would, open up your Bibles to chapter 21 of Revelation, and let’s take a look.
Get Into the Text
Get Into the Text
If you look at that very first verse, you see both lenses in play. You see both the new (what has never been before), and the no more.
Body
Body
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
It is hard for us to imagine, but this world is all that has ever been
The Sea
Yet, what most people see is the comment about there being no sea.
That is a significant statement, but I don’t believe it is for the reasons many people think it is.
The most common comment about this passage is about how people will miss the ocean. However, I don’t think that is what it means. I mean it could mean that, but it doesn’t make sense to me. Some would say that the sea represented the dark and unknown realm, which it did in ancient times. However, I don’t believe that is what God is talking about here. I think the point is far more profound.
Going Back to Earlier use the of the Sea
You have to go back with me to earlier in this same book where John is describing the throne room of God, when John is talking about the heaven that exists right now.
After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:
The Barrier
Obviously there is a lot of imagery in this passage. John is trying to describe something that no eye has seen, no ear has heard. Yet, what I want you to notice is that in his description, he describes a barrier around the throne. Around the throne was a crystal sea. Now, other than being beautiful to look at, this sea would have kept the throne separate; just imagine a moat.
The Separation and the Goal to Unite
When John says that there is no more sea at the beginning of chapter 21, this is the sea that I believe he is talking about. Thus, he is saying, there is no more separation, no more curtain, no more veil around God. It isn’t needed anymore. If we remember, the barrier was for our protection. God separated heaven and earth when He created, but that was not the goal. It was necessary because of sin, but the goal was to be united. That is what we are now seeing. Heaven and earth, God and man, united.
Remember that God separated heaven and earth when He created, but that was not the goal. The goal was to be united. That is what we are now seeing. Heaven and earth, God and man, united.
This is even more clearly stated just a few verses later. This is the “Never Been” part of the passage
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
[Pause]
We have never known what it is like to be without some barrier (DISTANCE) between us and God. Think of it, our sweetest moments of God, our times of closest intimacy are still at a distance that will be no more.
Sinless Reality
Sinless Reality
Now, that presence also means that something is gone. Like I said earlier, the barrier was for our protection because of the existence of sin. Yet, in our future home of heaven...
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Just a few verses later, the Bible mentions:
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
No More!
These two passages are basically saying that sin and evil, both the kind in us, around us, and against us will be no more. Nothing unclean. Nothing false or detestable (v.26); no more darkness (22:4). Nothing will be as it shouldn’t anymore. I know that is a lot of negatives. But think of it this way, if you are worried about something, if you are afraid of something, if anything makes you anxious or concerned, it won’t be there.
All things will be new, the way God originally designed them to be.
Pure, Holy, Perfect
More than Pain Relief - Perfection
This is where skeptics get the idea that heaven is some sort of pain relief. But that is being short sighted.
The never been side of this coin is far more exciting. Just imagine a life without everything that holds you down. No aches pains, no jealousy or selfishness, no greed or laziness. I don’t know about you, but I yearn for the day that I will be able to think without the hindrance of sin, create without the hindrance of doubt or distraction.
Just imagine what we will be able to accomplish, what we will be able to create, or how vigorous will be our worship.
Everyone’s Desire
I know so many people who wish for that here, deluding themselves to think that could ever be a reality on this earth, but it will be a reality on the new earth. They know it is the way it ought to be, because one day it will be.
Which leads us to the next thing we see in this passage:
The City
The City
Going back to the passage, the next thing we see is the holy city
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:2
Also in:
Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
Least Emphasized
Now, this is probably the part of the passage that people emphasize the least.
Now, this is probably the part of the passage that people emphasize the least.
Just Proof of Cities?
The most I have seen said about it is that it means heaven will have cities, like we do. And although that may be the case, I don’t believe that is what we are talking about here.
The Bride is the Important Part
Now, I have to admit that when I started studying this, I was a little confused by it. Twice in this passage, the city (this New Jerusalem) is said to be the bride. Yet, in other passages like , the church is called the bride. Other passages mention the people of God as the bride of Christ. So who is the bride of Christ?
It’s about People
Revelation 21:9
Ephesians
I would argue that they all are, and what that means for this passage is that this city isn’t so much about the structures but the residents who live there. This city is defined by its residents.
Most people I know focus on the city
[Illustration of Family Reunion, Thanksgiving Gatherings]
This isn’t a foreign concept to us. Actually, it is quite easy to imagine. We are experiencing it right now. Is Beach Bible Church a building or is it a people? Obviously, it is the people. So are our homes, and so on, and so forth.
God actually builds a city out of people and relationships. The Bible hints at this in other places as well.
1 Cor
For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Eph
but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
That means that this place is filled with people. I know some people have the view of heaven as being fields of gold or flying amidst the clouds, and I am sure that we will be able to do those things. But what this passage is telling us is that the centerpiece of heaven will be the New Jerusalem, made up of the people of God. And not just any people, but your family, your tribe, your people.
[Pause]
The Gates and Foundations
The Gates and Foundations
The passage goes on to spend an extensive time explaining this city. It gives us its dimension, speaks of gates and jewels. Everything seems to be related to twelve in some way.
We could spend a long time here, but most people tune out.
To be honest, I believe most people kind of tune out at this point. However, I don’t want you to miss the significance of this.
Each of us will walk into this city through a gate that says you belong
The twelve gates of the city are related to the tribes of Israel.
Instead of hypothesizing what the twelve gates mean, just imagine walking through one of them. No matter what nationality or background you came from, once you walk through one of those gates you belong; you are with your tribe.
Continuous line of faithful witnesses
Yet, what excites me more is the fact that the city is built upon that foundation of the apostles.
I don’t want to pass over this point too quickly, because I believe it is profound. Every one of us will be able to trace back our belief to the faithful witness of one of the apostles. Do you feel how important it is to faithfully carry on the message of the gospel from one person, from one generation, to the next.
This city isn’t built upon good deeds. The city is built upon faithfully witnessing. Every person in this city is there because someone shared the gospel with them.... all the way back to the first apostles; a faithful, unbroken chain.
The Jewels
Verses 18-21
The description also mentions twelve precious jewels. I honestly can’t give you a definitive meaning for each jewel. However, this is what I take away from it. The city of God will be beautiful, precious, and wonderfully diverse.
And not only that, all those precious jewels and metals will be like glass, letting the glory of God shine through them. That means that all our culture, music, and art will reflect glory and give glory to God.
It even tells us that every nation and king of the earth will bring their glory into the city. All that is honorable will be added to the beauty of the city.
And not only that, all those precious jewels and metals will be like glass, letting the glory of God shine through them. That means that all our culture, music, and art will reflect glory and give glory to God.
The Glory of the Nations
The Bible already spoke several times of the reality of there being people from every tribe and tongue ( & ). I think this is another way of saying that this city will be the collective beauty of every culture of our world.
It even tells us that every nation and king of the earth will bring their glory into the city. All that is honorable will be added to the beauty of the city.
The Tree and River
The Tree and River
And in the center of this amazing city is the river and tree of life. IIt even mentions the fruit that heals.
Then there is this mention of the river of the water of life and the tree of life. It even mentions the fruit that heals.
[Joke about healthy junk food]
Taking a cue from John’s message last week, maybe the fruit is our favorite foods, like John’s pepperoni pizza. It will be the best pizza you’ve ever had, but it will also heal. We joke in our family about inventing a healthy donut.
Not Literal but the Spirit of God
Actually, I don’t believe they are a literal tree or river. To me, they remind me of when Jesus spoke of being the vine and we are the branches. In my opinion, the tree and the river are the Spirit of God flowing into every person in the city. We will all be connected and empowered. When you can see it, it looks like branches and it flows like a river. I could be wrong about that.
However, it all goes back to the intimacy we will have with God. God’s presence is so pervasive that it is like the light of the sun in a world where it never sets.
Conclusion
Conclusion
That
Conclusion
Conclusion
There is a whole category of things that will be NO MORE:
Just scratching the surface
We could spend all day talking about the possibilities of heaven. We have just begun to scratch the surface. I have a feeling that we will feel the same way, even after an eternity of discovery.
Revelation 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
But my goal for today was to just spark a yearning in us for it, this wonderful world where everything is the way it ought to be.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And just imagine, no matter how well we describe it, it will be even better than that. This is your home.
Revelation
[Break]
Amish and Australians
The Amish and the Australians have these customs where people leave their communities for a time. They go and see all that the world has to offer. Yet, the point isn’t to leave, but to learn to appreciate their home.
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
but my goal for today was to just spark a yearning in us for it, this wonderful world where everything is the way it ought to be.
This life of ours is similar and equally necessary. We almost had to be away from this perfect home to appreciate it and want to come back to it. The reason we suffer, lose things precious to us, and grow old is so that we would want to be where that never happens again. God doesn’t want those things for us, but those things are what make us grateful.
The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Several times, the Bible speaks of returning everything we have lost on this earth.
Revelation 22:3
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
Nothing can take this away from us. Nothing. The best this world can do is blind you to the reality of our your true home, cause you to doubt its reality.
And if you don’t yearn for your future home and are trying to make this life all that it ought to be. Well, good for you. It is a good thing to desire to realize the good things of heaven here on earth. However, when you get to that place where it just won’t work anymore, realize there is more.
Revelations 22:5
This is Our True Home. This is Our inheritance that can never be taken away.
And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Yet, what this world cannot do is take away our desire for it or the glimpses we get of it from time to time.
No separation, no pain or sadness, no evil, no shame, sin, or uncleanliness, nothing accursed, and no more darkness. Imagine that!
And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
As a church, it is our job to be a taste of what is to come.
Now, I should say that it is for these reasons that some believe the idea of heaven to be a placebo to help us deal with the hard things of life. But that isn’t all heaven is.
Pray
Pray
The other side of that coin are the things that have never been. Glorified cultures, to be united with the entirety of our family, not just our immediate ones.
We will be unhindered by our sin to think, create, love.
The passage also tells us that we will be
We will be constantly and joyfully connected with God. His glory will shine all around us and through us.