A TASTE OF HEAVEN

A TASTE OF HEAVEN Revelation 21:1-5 With grateful acknowledgement of these sources of inspiration and direction: The Word and the Spirit of God; Eugene Peterson, Reversed Thunder; Billy Graham, Hope for the Troubled Heart; C.S. Lewis, The Joyful Christian and The Problem of Pain; Joni E. Tada, Heaven, Your Real Home; Fred Thompson, Jr., What the Bible Says About Heaven and Hell Dec 8, 2002 Given by: Pastor Rich Bersett [Index of Past Messages] Introductory New Testament Words Translated Heaven Note will open in a new window Three persons arrived at the Pearly Gates at the same time. St. Peter came but said he had some pressing business and would they please wait? He was gone a long time, but finally he came back and called one of the new arrivals in and asked if she had minded waiting. No, she said, I've looked forward to this for so long. I love God and I can't wait to meet Jesus. I don't mind at all. St. Peter then said, Well, I have one more question. How do you spell 'God'? She said, Capital-G-o-d. St. Peter said, Go right on in. He went outside and got another new arrival, told him to come on inside, and said, Did you mind waiting? The man said, Oh, no. I have been a Christian for fifty years, and I'll spend eternity here. I didn't mind at all. So St. Peter said, Just one more thing. How do you spell 'God'? He said, G-o-d. No, I mean capital-G. St. Peter said that was good and sent him into heaven. St. Peter went back out and invited the third person in and asked her if she had minded waiting. As a matter of fact, I did, she replied. I've had to stand in line all my life - at the supermarket, when I went to school, when I registered my children for school, when I went to the movies - everywhere - and I resent having to wait in line for heaven now! St. Peter said, Well, that's all right for you to feel that way. It won't be held against you, but there is just one more question. How do you spell 'Czechoslovakia'? A man stood at the gates of heaven when St. Peter stopped him and said, Oh, no. You don't get into heaven anymore just for being good. You have to have done something truly great. Have you done anything that you can say is truly great in your life? The man thought for a minute and said, I saw a group of skinhead bikers harassing an old lady so I kicked over the leader's bike and slugged him and spit in his face. That's great! St. Peter exclaimed. When did you do that? About three minutes ago, he replied. Why is it that the good jokes all have bad theology? This morning the Holy Spirit and the apostle John are teaming up to do the impossible-to explain a few things about heaven. Last week I referred to the difficulty of describing the eternal hell. How does one describe heaven in human language? It's a bit like trying to describe the beauty and grandeur of the Grand Canyon to a blind man. Before we look at the description we have in the first five verses of Revelation, I would like to, as I did concerning Hell last week (click here for last weeks message), a brief description of the terms used in the scripture for Heaven. (See Appendix) Note will open in a new window Heaven is a Real Place The picture John gives us from his vision is one of a definable place. This "new heaven and earth" (heaven here is used as the firmament, the sky) is being presented for viewing following the passing away of the heaven and earth that we currently enjoy. The first question we have is, What happened to the old place-the one we have grown accustomed to, the place we know as home, the earth we walk on and the sky we enjoy? John simply says, they "had passed away", they were gone. He gives no further explanation. But the apostle Peter does. He says that this world and all the works in it will be strafed by fire. In 2 Peter 3:10, we read, "…The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare (or burned up)." When that happens at the end of time, there will be nothing left of this world's order and familiarity. God will eliminate it with a blast of fire so intense that all the elements will be melted into oblivion. When that happens all the debilitating effects of sin in this wold are gone with them. Verse four of our text says it this way: "…the old order of things has passed away." But, Revelation teaches us that, more than just eliminating the old, God is making room for the new-the new existence-the new heaven and earth. Here again John is using OURANOS to refer to the firmament or atmosphere above and around the earth (the whole universe?), and not strictly speaking the place where God abides. But don't be too quick to dismiss the important connection between OURANOS, the atmosphere, and OURANOS, the abode of God. Because when the new heaven and new earth arrive, a loud voice testifies, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them…", quoting the prophecy from Isaiah 65:17, where the Lord promises, "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will the come to mind." The aged apostle wants us to recognize this divine exchange of the old order for the new order was the will of God all along. And he makes a special mention about one distinction between the two orders-in the new earth, "…there was no longer any sea." That seems strange, until you realize that to ancient Israel the sea was a symbol of restlessness, hostility toward God and separation from Him. Biblically, the sea is the place that cannot rest, where the waters toss up mire and dirt (Isaiah 57:20). It was out of the sea that the beast who blasphemed God and made war on the saints had arisen (Revelation 13:1, 6:7). Jewish tradition taught that the sea was filled with evil and would "retire into the abyss." The sea was clearly part the old order and was therefore taken out of the picture. Not only is this new heaven and new earth a real place, it was also identified as Heaven is the Holy City, the New Jerusalem Jerusalem, since the days of David, was known as the city where the Lord was present with his people. First the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, was in Jerusalem. Having Jerusalem in their country meant to the Israelites that God was living with them. Now, in order to clarify for his readers that one day the Lord would come among his people to live with them, to tabernacle among them, forever, the Spirit gives to John a picture of the perennial city of the presence of God. And this NEW Jerusalem is coming down out of heaven from God. What a reassuring thing for the readers in the troubled churches in Asia Minor to be reminded by the Lord that he will one day tabernacle with them In perfect nearness and intimacy! What a reassuring thing for us as well. Remember, saints, whatever this world throws at you, it doesn't ultimately matter, because one day this world and all its works will be replaced with a new heaven and earth and God will live among us, forever! It should be no surprise to us that John sees heaven as a city. That is the same thing the prophet Isaiah saw concerning heaven in Isaiah 65-66. In the remainder of verse two another picture of heaven occurs. Not only is the analogy of the New Jerusalem applied to heaven, but now… Heaven is Like a Bride When the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven, it is PREPARED as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Have you ever seen an ugly bride? Of course not. They are made over and fixed up and dressed up and the whole intent is to bowl everyone over as she walks the aisle on her proud daddy's arm. I can vividly remember Heather as a bride-a beautiful, long, lacy dress, that stylish hat, standing at the side of the lake on mount El Porvenir, New Mexico, 9,000 feet in elevation. She walked arm in arm with Dave at the edge of the woods. She has always been beautiful, but I suppose never more beautiful than at that moment. Also tattooed into my memory is the image of Krista in her beautiful wedding dress. I walked her down the aisle to join Buck who just about passed out when he first saw his bride. She was a beautiful bride. Both of my daughters were, but even they were outdone by Charlotte Ann Richison who 33 years, and 100 days ago, walked down the aisle to meet a very nervous young man who would join her in saying, "I do". I have since described the vision of her walking toward me in her wedding dress as "heavenly". John turns the analogy around and says heaven looked like a bride in his vision. This new heaven & earth, this New Jerusalem, this 1,500-mile cube of Eden restored, looked to John to be so painstakingly prepared, made up, dressed up and beautiful to behold that he had to compare it to a bride. The book of Revelation will also contrast this city with the earthly city. That earthly city, that Babylon is called a harlot. This city is called the bride. At the wedding, the groom and his attendants always look handsome, well-dressed. But when they stand at the front while the processional music begins-I'm sorry, but nobody cares. When the bridesmaids come forward in their matching dresses, their $60 hairdos and their $40 manicures, it's nice, but it's only the preview of a coming attraction. And we all smile when the cute flower girl and ring-bearer make their appearance. But, it is the bride everyone is waiting for, isn't it? She is the one at whose entrance everyone oohs and aahs. When she enters, everyone stands. Church, we get bombarded with blessings in this life, and we love to serve the Lord through the church. We have the Holy Spirit as our down payment and we have the love of the saints, but we're waiting for the bride, HEAVEN, the heavenly city where God will live with us in perfect intimacy. Verse three - "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God." Heaven is a place of eternal fellowship with God I suppose this is as good a place as any to deal with one of those questions stuck in the craw of every believer who ever heard of heaven-"What will we do in heaven?" First here are a couple of things we will NOT be doing in heaven. We will not be sporting wings and playing harps. We will not be angels. Is that clear? Dead Christians don't become angels, they don't become someone else's guardian angel, and they don't get wings when bells ring! Please, let us pay close attention to what the Scriptures say, and leave the notions we find in the movies and in the imaginations of authors in the realm of fiction where they belong (if there). Neither will we be bored, sitting around day after day in eternity saying to one another what we all said as kids when the dog days of summer seemed like eternity - "What do you wanna do?" I dunno, what do you wanna do?" Let me list a few of the things that will keep you so interested, so busy and so satisfied in heaven that you'll be glad that it's eternal. 1. We will enjoy fellowship with other believers (Rev 19:7-9) We're going to be hanging around with legions of angels, 24 elders (who will be lots more fun in heaven that they are on earth!), the four living creatures, all the martyrs in history and all the rest of the believers from history! Revelation 19:7 says we will shout to one another: "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. Let US rejoice and be glad and give him glory!" 2. We will enjoy knowing God perfectly (Rev 21:3; 22:4) 1 John 3:2 tells us that we will "…see Him just as He is…" 3. We will enjoy knowing all things. 1 Corinthians 13:12 reminds us that "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 4. We will worship the Lord forever, and never grow tired of doing it. 5. We will reign with God (Rev 22:5) "And they will reign forever and ever." 6. We will serve Him (Rev 22:3; 7:15) "They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night..." Will we do other things, as some have suggested, like zoom around the universe in glorified bodies or govern other planets? Only God knows! What we do know is that all we experience will be fully enjoyable to us. Joni Eareckson Tada - "What will we do in heaven? When I first learned about heaven during the early days of my paralysis, I zeroed in on it because it was the place where I would receive new hands and feet. Heaven was the place I would be freed from the pain, so it became an escape from reality. At times, heaven was so me-centered that I felt as though the whole point of it was to get back all it owed me, all I had lost. Heaven became a death wish for me. As I studied the Bible and grew in spiritual maturity, it gradually dawned on me that the still-to-come 'Day of Christ' would be the Day of Christ and not the day of Joni. New hands and feet, as well as reunions with loved ones, began to look more like fringe benefits compared with the honor of being able to worship Jesus, the 'Lamb who was slain' (Rev 5:12), and cast my crowns at his feet." There will be no boredom in heaven. There will be work to do there that we have never experienced on earth. I've often thought that since I'm a preacher and Charlotte is a worship leader, when we get to heaven, I'll be out of work, but she won't! Revelation 22:3 tells us "His servants will serve Him." The King of Heaven is the same One as the Lord of the Church. If He is capable of giving each person gifts and tasks that suit them in the church here on this earth, I expect He will be able to give us suitable service in Heaven. Not only so, but it won't seem like work there. Heaven is a Place of Joy A man and his wife, both age 85, were suddenly killed in an automobile wreck. Being Christians they arrive together immediately in heaven. They marvel at the beauty of the place, they bask in their newfound peace and thrill at their new bodies. "Wow, this is really something, dear" says the wife. The husband responds, "Yes it is, and just think, we could have been here years earlier if you hadn't insisted we eat all that fiber and fruit and vegetables!" Revelation 21:4 - "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Take all of the things that really bug you, everything that makes you angry or impatient or frustrated, all the issues that make your blood pressure rise, every hurtful memory and every bad feeling you ever had. Put them all in a big paper sack, and drop them into the fiery pit of hell on your way to heaven. You won't be needing any of them in heaven. C. S. Lewis said, "Joy is the serious business of heaven." Jeffrey Burton Russell - "It [heaven] is not dull; it is not static; it is not monochrome. It is an endless dynamic of joy." Did you hear about the man traveling from New York to Atlanta on a business trip? His wife was due to join him the next day. Upon arrival he sent her an email, and he was PRETTY sure he remembered her email address, but apparently he was a digit or two off. It was a valid e-mail address, but unfortunately it wasn't his wife's. Instead, it went to a pastor's wife whose husband had died only the day before. She read the message and promptly fainted. When one of her children found her, she glanced at the e-mail on the computer screen. The three-part message read: Darling, just checked in. Looking forward to your arrival tomorrow P.S. It sure is hot down here! There is much we do not know about the little we do know concerning life after death; but the little that we do know is enough - indeed, more than enough. We Christians know that God is love, and whatever waits for us beyond our dying, it will be all right, because in Christ, God has come to us in love, told us we are his own and given us unto eternal life. We can trust a God like that-that when He says that He will wipe every tear from our eyes and that there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain-it will be so. Verse 5 - "He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down for these words are trustworthy and true.'" There is a message of comfort for many here this morning. Whatever this sin-scarred and hostile world has brought to you, hold on to your faith in the One whose promises never fail. He will soon bring down from heaven the new city, wherein He makes all things new. And Jesus says that in that place He is preparing a mansion for you. And you can write that down, because these words are trustworthy and true. I would like to read for you some of the final words in a wonderful book entitled Mourning to Dancing, by Walter Wangerin. The book is an extensive and heart-warming true story of the saga of his ministry to a black family in his church, who have lost their loved one, named Sonny Boy. Sonny Boy was a friend and blessing to everyone who knew him. He loved to dance. In this brief narrative, which was actually written to Sonny Boy's family, Wangerin deals with a difficult subject with such deftness and tenderness. The issue of where we are when we leave this life on our way to our reward in heaven. The scene is at the family gathering at the close of Sonny boy's funeral. Softly, without raising her head, Gloria whispered to me, "Where is he?" I misunderstood her. I thought she meant Jesus, and I said, 'Here. He has always been with you-" "No, Pastor," she said, looking at me now. "Where is Sonny Boy? Where is he?" Before I could answer, the Senior Citizens broke into song and distracted Gloria and gave me a respite from the question. But I didn't forget it. And I answer it now: "He is with the Lord." But I want to refine that answer until it truly comforts you, Gloria. It is not meant cheaply. It comes after long thought. Listen: when Sonny Boy left this life, he left creation as God gave it to us. He left all things and the space that contains things. He left history and the time that contains history. He departed time, Gloria, immediately and entirely to be with God. You and I are still inside of time. We still move in tiny ticks of seconds through long months and the interminable years. Through days and days we creep toward the Last Day, when all of us will meet God, the living and the dead together, because on that Day the dead will be raised to life, and Sonny Boy, too. From our perspective, that's a long time away. But Sonny Boy has popped free of time. From his perspective, there is no time any more. He doesn't have to wait. He is there already! For him it is already the Great Getting'-Up Morning-and he's up! He is raised from the dead. And we are there too. And we are meeting each other in the joy of the saved. And when you and I have died, all that is now for Sonny Boy will be now for us as well, as if no time at all had intervened. He is with the Lord. But we have a while to wait yet before we experience the now he knows. But he's not waiting. Between you and Sonny Boy, Gloria, you are the lonlier one. All your sorrow has been for yourself while still you are stuck in time. He's the glad one. From his perspective he has never been apart from you. The instant he rises from the dead, so do you. It's a mystery. We shall not all sleep (which sleeping makes time a mere blink to the sleeper). But we shall all be changed. In a moment. In the twinkling of an eye. At the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound the long and the sudden note, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. This mortal shall put on immortality. Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved Gloria, be steadfast immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain. No, not in the Lord. Amen. From Mourning to Dancing, Walter Wangerin, p. 284-285   [Back to Top]