Heaven is for Real...? (REV 4)

Anyone know what the highest selling book of the last decade was? Heaven is For Real, (7 Million Copies) the story of four year old Colton Burpo who, during an emergency surgery experiences heaven. He tells his family that he saw the surgeons operating on him, and his family in the waiting room praying, and his dad in another room screaming at God to let him live. He even recognizes pictures of deceased family members he never knew and knows the name of a miscarried sister his parents never told him about.

When he got to heaven he says he received a halo, real wings, but complained they were too small for his liking. He saw Mary standing beside Jesus’ throne. He got to sit in Jesus lap while angels sang to him. He personally met the Holy Spirit who he described as being “kind of blue.”

While this account may sound enticing, it is not the only one of its king. “Heaven Tourism” is what some have labeled this bestselling genre of faith fantasy. No, this book is not to be confused with The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven by Kevin Malarkey. After his sin Alex was paralyzed and nearly killed in a devastating car accident , during his immediate procedures and rehabilitation Alex made several trips back and forth to heaven. He said he saw the devil who is “funny looking, with only a few moldy teeth...”

This account is also not to be confused with...

My Journey to Heaven: What I saw and How It Changed My Life by Marvin J. Besteman

Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash… A Lone Survivor… A Journey to Heaven and Back by Dale Black

To Heaven and Back: A Doctor’s Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again by Mary Neal

90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life by Don Piper

Nine Days in Heaven by Dennis Prince

23 Minutes in Hell: One Man’s Story About What He Saw by Bill Wiese

QUOTE

In John MacArthur’s book, The Glory of Heaven he makes this statement regarding these books.

“For anyone who truly believes the biblical record, it is impossible to resist the conclusion that these modern testimonies—with their relentless self-focus and the relatively scant attention they pay to the glory of God—are simply untrue. They are either figments of the human imagination (dreams, hallucinations, false memories, fantasies, and in the worst cases, deliberate lies), or else they are products of demonic deception.

We know this with absolute certainty, because Scripture definitively says that people do not go to heaven and come back: "Who has ascended to heaven and come down?" (). Answer: "No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man" (, emphasis added). All the accounts of heaven in Scripture are visions, not journeys taken by dead people. And even visions of heaven are very, very rare in Scripture. You can count them all on one hand.”

OF THE BIBLICAL AUTHORS who have seen heaven, they were not trips, but visions. There were only 4 of them: Isaiah, Ezekiel, Paul, and John. Not even a single person who was raised from the dead gave an account of heaven or hell. David Platt states, “They don't agree with the Burpo-Malarkey version of heaven. Both their intonation and the details they highlight are markedly different. The biblical authors are all fixated on God's glory, which defines heaven and illuminates everything there. They are overwhelmed, chagrined, petrified, and put to silence by the sheer majesty of God's holiness. Notably missing from all the biblical accounts are the frivolous features and juvenile attractions that seem to dominate every account of heaven currently on the bestseller lists.”

Transition: Today we are going to set the record straight, and see what the scriptures actually say about heaven. We come in our study to John’s vision of heaven in .

Revelation 4:1–11 ESV

1 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.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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, 6 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: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Where are we? How did we get here?

John is worshipping Sunday morning “in the Spirit” on Patmos 1:10

John hears from behind him a voice, as a loud trumpet 1:9

Voice Speaks “Write...send it to the seven churches…” 1:11

Turns and sees Son of Man 1:13

Describes son of Man 1:12-16

Son of Man: “Write what you’ve seen/will take place, write to the seven churches…” 1:17-3:22

John writes down all these things, but once he’s finished he looks up and sees a door opening to heaven 4:1

Son of Man “Come up here, and I will show you…” 4:1

John is “in the Spirit” … again? … differently? … 4:2

John sees the throne room of God, heaven 4:3-11

OTHER SIMILAR STORIES

-Moses at Mt. Sinai

Exodus 19:16–20 ESV

16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

-Isaiah in a vision

Isaiah 6:1–5 ESV

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Isaiah 6:1

-Ezekiel in a Vision

Ezekiel 1:26–28 ESV

26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. 27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Fire, Smoke, Rumbling of thunder, seraphim, living creatures, rainbows, the glory of God, gem-like reflections

Ezekiel, Isaiah, Moses and the Israelites fell down before the Lord in these stories

Transition: What does add to the story, the description of the throne and the heavens.

Revelation 4:1–11 ESV

1 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.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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, 6 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: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Illustration: Game of Thrones - All Fighting for One Throne

(1) “After this” — seeing the vision of the son of man and the writing of the letters to the seven churches

(2) “Throne”

“Come up to heaven” —

On the Throne (Someone is seated; gleaming jasper/carnelian)

Around the Throne (emerald rainbow)

“I will show you what must take place....” —

(2) “In the Spirit” —

Around the Throne (24 thrones)

“throne … one seated on the throne” —

Seated on the thrones (24 elders, white-robed/gold-crowned)

Ezekiel 1:

From the throne (flashes-lightning, rumbling-thunder)

Before the throne (seven torches of fire, seven Spirits of God)

Before the throne (sea of crystal glass)

Illustration: Olympics, National Anthem

Proverbs 29:2 ESV

2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Revelation 4:6–7 ESV

6 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: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

Revelation 4:6b–7 ESV

6 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: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

Revelation 6–7 ESV

1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. 3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. 5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” 7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. 12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” 1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed. 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

(6-7) Four Living Creatures —

lion

ox

man

eagle

Revelation 4:8 ESV

8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Rev

(4) 24 Elders —

White-robed

Gold-crowned

Give glory honor and thanks....

fall down

cast crowns

Revelation 4:11 ESV

11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Rev

QUOTE: “We are very shy nowadays of even mentioning Heaven. We are afraid of the jeer about "pie in the sky," and of being told that we are trying to "escape from the duty of making a happy world here and now into dreams of a happy world elsewhere." But either there is "pie in the sky" or there is not. If there is not, then Christianity is false, for this doctrine is woven into its whole fabric. If there is, then this truth, like any other, must be faced, whether it is useful at political meetings or no.” (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain)

Final Statement: So scripture tells us who sits on the throne, and what heaven is like. Now only two heavenly questions remain: (1) How does one get there? (2) Are you going?

creator sits on it

lightning and thunder come from it

fire burns before it

creatures fly around it

Elders fall down in front of it

Crowns cast before it

QUOTE: “We are very shy nowadays of even mentioning Heaven. We are afraid of the jeer about "pie in the sky," and of being told that we are trying to "escape from the duty of making a happy world here and now into dreams of a happy world elsewhere." But either there is "pie in the sky" or there is not. If there is not, then Christianity is false, for this doctrine is woven into its whole fabric. If there is, then this truth, like any other, must be faced, whether it is useful at political meetings or no.” (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain)

Question: How much of your day is centered around the throne?

Revelation 3:21 ESV

21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Rev 3:21

Question: What part of your life have you cast before the throne?

Question: What glory, honor, and thanks are you singing to the throne?

The entire heavenly scene focuses completely on the glory of God on the throne, a reality that is completely missed by the accounts of these heavenly tourists you might find on the NYT Bestseller’s list.

QUOTE: “We are very shy nowadays of even mentioning Heaven. We are afraid of the jeer about "pie in the sky," and of being told that we are trying to "escape from the duty of making a happy world here and now into dreams of a happy world elsewhere." But either there is "pie in the sky" or there is not. If there is not, then Christianity is false, for this doctrine is woven into its whole fabric. If there is, then this truth, like any other, must be faced, whether it is useful at political meetings or no.” (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain)

Final Statement: So scripture tells us who sits on the throne, and what heaven is like. Now only two heavenly questions remain: (1) How does one get there? (2) Are you going?

Prayer

Heaven is for Real...? (REV 4)

Heaven Is For Real … ?

What’s Going On?

(1) The State of the Throne Indicates the Power of the King (4:1-6a)

(2) The Song of the People Indicates the Strength of the Kingdom (4:6b-11)

The Throne is the Center of the Kingdom