Four Things That Won’t Be in Heaven
Notes
Transcript
I did not see a temple in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
Its gates will never close by day because it will never be night there.
They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Main Idea: There are things that won’t be in heaven.
Main Idea: There are things that won’t be in heaven.
Big Question: Will you be in heaven?
Big Question: Will you be in heaven?
Four Things That Won’t Be in Heaven
1. There will be no place of worship. (v. 22)
1. There will be no place of worship. (v. 22)
I did not see a temple in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
The priests were not able to enter the Lord’s temple because the glory of the Lord filled the temple of the Lord.
All the Israelites were watching when the fire descended and the glory of the Lord came on the temple. They bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground. They worshiped and praised the Lord: For he is good, for his faithful love endures forever.
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. -
“To be in their presence is to be at the center of worship in the universe.” (NAC)
This reminds us that heaven will be a place of pure worship. The things we use to help us worship, but often end up distracting us in worship (such as buildings, music systems, customs, and so forth) will no longer be an issue. Our focus will be totally on the Person we worship.
2. There will be no points of light. (v. 23-24)
2. There will be no points of light. (v. 23-24)
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons and for days and years.
They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so.
God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night—as well as the stars.
God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth,
to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.
The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night.
The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” -
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.
He was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light.
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. He was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light. -
3. There will be no padlocks on the gates. (v. 25-26)
3. There will be no padlocks on the gates. (v. 25-26)
Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
When the wall had been rebuilt and I had the doors installed, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most. I said to them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot, and let the doors be shut and securely fastened while the guards are on duty. Station the citizens of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their homes.” -
When the wall had been rebuilt and I had the doors installed, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed.
Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.
I said to them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot, and let the doors be shut and securely fastened while the guards are on duty. Station the citizens of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their homes.”
4. There will be no people who are unclean. (v. 27)
4. There will be no people who are unclean. (v. 27)
Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.
a. Detestable
a. Detestable
-
But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. -
b. False
b. False
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’
Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’ -
Is your name found in the Book of Life? (v. 27)
Is your name found in the Book of Life? (v. 27)
Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.
I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.
Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works.
Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.