Heaven

Intro

What do you think of when you think of Heaven?

I remember as a kid I would look up at the clouds on a stormy day and see the beauty of the sunshine streaming through and painting the sunset an incredible orange and yellow and I thought surely that must be heaven up there sitting on the clouds.

Some people when they think of Heaven might think of a beautiful 70 degree day fishing out on a calm lake that looks like glass.

Others might picture a cool morning in the mountains of Colorado. (I might be able to get behind that one.)

I’ve heard teenagers mention before that their idea of Heaven was playing video games all day.

I can almost guarantee you have all heard similar ideas of what Heaven will be like.

But briefly this morning I would like to turn our attention to what I consider 3 Key defining characteristics of Heaven that when we understand them properly, we can gain a Biblical understanding of what Heaven is.

Our main text this morning will be Revelation 21

The Dwelling Place of God

Revelation 21:3 ESV

3 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.

Matthew 6:9–10 ESV

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:

Heaven is the dwelling place of God.

God is a spirit

Heaven is an unseen spiritual realm

​ ESV1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

The scriptures could not be any clearer, THE DAY OF THE LORD IS COMING!Transition: Yet it seems that the question that Christians have often asked and had trouble with throughout history hasn’t necessarily been believing that the day is coming, but about when it is coming. And regarding the answer to that question, scripture is remarkably consistent.

The Place of “No More”

Revelation 21:4 ESV

4 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.”

No more…

​ ESV36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Peter addresses the issue of the timing beginning in v. 8.

​ ESV8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Time and the Lord v 8This verse has been used to justify all kinds of bizarre teaching regarding the coming of the Lord and the way that the Lord tells time.You can go onto Google and search “People who were wrong about when Jesus was coming back” and you will find an incredibly long list of people that picked a date, and missed it.

​ ESV4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

• Death

Why the delay?Patient toward you, Christians, but also to non believers.

​ ESV23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

McKnight, Scot. The Heaven Promise (p. 84). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

• Hades

Manner of Coming - ThiefMatt 24:42-43

​ ESV42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

• Satan and his minions

​ ESV1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

• No more Physical decay

• Pain and tears

• Thirst and hunger

• Temple v 22

• Sun and moon

• Night

• Impurity

• Evil

• Curse

The Place of Paradise

Luke 23:43 ESV

43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Illustration: Marshall Keeble and the Texas Ranch.

The Preparation

Physical represents spiritual

How do you convey a spiritual realm to those of us who have been designed to operate in a very physical existence?

-Guy with Gold in his suitcase illustration - Pavement.

I believe what is intended with these passages is not to show us an exact physical representation of what Heaven will LOOK like, but for us to understand that whatever pleasures and good things we have experienced in this world, whatever

Conclusion

Church, we of all people need to understand what exactly Heaven is! After all, it is the ultimate goal is it not?

We need to understand that Heaven is not a democracy, that we won’t all get our own personal wishes and desires, but that the reward of Heaven is centered around eternity with our creator, with our loving savior, and that alone will make it a more glorious and wonderful place than we could possibly imagine.

We know Heaven is a real place, not because people have allegedly died and been brought back and recorded what they supposedly saw. We know Heaven is real because God has told us so. Christ has promised us a place prepared and we believe him.

But we need to also be clear that Heaven is not intended for everyone. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not God’s desire that anyone miss Heaven, but the fact is that for those who refuse to repent and to obey the Gospel of Christ and live faithfully to Him

Scriptures, Notes, & Footnotes

​Themelios: Volume 21, No. 1, October 1995 The Parousia: Getting Our Terms Right (Walter Riggans)The Parousia: Getting our Terms Right Walter Riggans

​Themelios: Volume 28, No. 3, Summer 2003 Did Paul Change His Mind?—An Examination of Some Aspects of Pauline Eschatology (Paul Woodbridge)Did Paul Change His Mind?—An Examination of some aspects of Pauline Eschatology Paul Woodbridge

​Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Second Coming of ChristSecond Coming of Christ. Doctrine of Christian faith concerning the consummation of Christ’s saving work upon his return to earth.

​The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised ParousiaPAROUSIA pär-ōō-sēʹə, pär-ōōʹzhi-ə. A Greek word used by theologians as a technical term for Christ’s return at the end of the age.

​The New Topical Text Book: A Scripture Text Book for the Use of Ministers, Teachers, and All Christian Workers Second Coming of Christ, TheSecond Coming of Christ, The

​Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew Words Defined and Explained ComingParousia can be translated in a number of different ways, depending on the context. It can mean “presence,” “arrival,” “appearance,” or “coming.”

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