What will Eternity be like?
Notes
Transcript
Over the years many people have wondered what will eternity be like? What will heaven look like? Well today I want to do my best to clear up some of those questions for us. One of the most amazing things that we constantly see throughout God’s Word is the wonderful promises He gives to those who have followed Him. If you know Christ as your Savior than we are promised to be with the Lord forever. Her is how the Apostle Paul put it.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
The author of Hebrews says it this way.
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
The fact is, that many believers know or have read about when this life is over where they will go, however they live their lives as if this earth is all there is. It may do us well to have an attitude check and be reminded of how Paul challenged us to think in his letter to the Colossians.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
C.S. Lewis says it like Paul when he wrote this in his book “Mere Christianity.”
“A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become os ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in:” aim at earth and you will get neither.
“A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become os ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in:” aim at earth and you will get neither.
Church, Eternity is coming. There will come a day where the old things will pass away and there will be a new heaven and earth. So, let’s see what this is all about. Turn with me to Revelation chapter 21.
1. We will enjoy Eternity.
1. We will enjoy Eternity.
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.
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
One of the very first things John sees here is that we will have something new. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. The earth as we know will pass away and there will be a new one along with a new earth and the heavens along with the heavenly city (New Jerusalem) will come down. What this represents is heaven will come to earth. So many times I was taught that heaven is up there but actually one day God will bring heaven down. The other part here that John talks about is the fact that the New Jerusalem or New Heaven is described as a bride dressed for her husband. Heaven will not only be new but it will be beautiful. It will be a beautiful place that you want to go to, not some boring place. Scott Duvall says it like this in his book on Revelation, “if you like this world, you’re going to love heaven. God invented beauty, and our most beautiful experiences now on this earth are only hints of the beauty that will be in the new heaven and new earth.” Throughout Scripture we see that Heaven is mentioned a lot. In fact, it is mentioned over 500 different times but here in Revelation it is mentioned around 50 times. So, heaven is a big deal. The reason why I want you to see this today is because this is describing our eternal home. When it comes to heaven there are a few different definitions that we see. First the earth’s atmosphere is know as the heavens, also the heavens are described as a place for the planets and sun, moon and stars. But the main place that I want to focus on this morning is that the heavens are also the dwelling place of God, where someday we as His saints will live with him for all of eternity.
Again, let me just say this about heaven. If you enjoy the wonderful things that God has given us here on earth like the mountains, water, trees, than how much more will we enjoy the beauty of heaven where we will be with God. Heaven will never be boring, there will never be a dull moment, we have so much to look forward too and enjoy. Let’s move on.
2. In Eternity we will be in God’s presence.
2. In Eternity we will be in God’s presence.
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.
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
What John hears is a very loud voice in heaven. In fact, this grabs Johns attention. The reason why this is so important is because the voice brings with it authority and power. The voice is coming from the very throne room of God and it announces that God’s dwelling place is now with man. In the Old Testament God’s presence was with his people when they traveled. He was the pillar of smoke that led them by day and the pillar of fire that led them by night. When they stopped and set up camp His presence dwelt inside the makeshift tent inside the Holy of Holies. But everything changed when Jesus came to earth. John 1:14 tells us that Jesus himself is the new temple. And the Spirit of God also indwells with His people.
But in eternity in the new heaven and earth God will live in the New Jerusalem. There will be no temple anymore because both God and the lamb who has been slain will be the new temple. (Rev. 21:22) The great thing about heaven is that there will be a diversity of people there. Heaven will be a multicultural and multiethnic place, and there will no longer be segregated subdivisions.
Here is how Robert Mounce put it, “Heaven is a place with the redeemed peoples of all races and nationalities that God will dwell in glory.”
However the best part of heaven and of all eternity is that someday we will see God. We will be in the presence of God living in fellowship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. In Eternity God will wipe away all sin.
3. In Eternity God will wipe away all sin.
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.”
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
The sorrow and effects of sin are part of the old creation and will no longer continue in the new. God makes all things new for a reason and in glorious and perfect heaven there will be some things not present. No more evil and no more sin. What a wonderful promise this is church! Why, because the pain of sin and sinful choices can cause so much hurt. It can overwhelm us, and cause us to despair So, these verses here show us that in eternity all the effects of sin will be taken away. No more tears, death, grief, crying, and pain. These are all gone. If you have ever lost a loved one you have dealt with grief and pain. You have shed tears and cried. This has been part of life since the fall and will continue to be until Christ returns. This earth is a crummy old place that is decaying.
Pastor Adrian Rodgers used to say, “Death is only a comma to a Christian not a period.” Why because someday we will be with God in heaven.
Scott Duvall says, “Like a compassionate parent caring for a suffering child, God will wipe away our tears.”
Aren’t we thankful that God will not only wipe away our tears but all the effects of sin someday? In fact, someday in eternity all the things that use to be related to this fallen world will pass away and they are never coming back!!! There is going to be one big celebration going on in heaven and we will rejoice with God. There will be gladness and joy and no more sorrow!
Application:
Application:
So, what does all of this mean for us today? What is the big deal Matt?
1. We can trust in these promises about eternity.
1. We can trust in these promises about eternity.
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
One more time we see that the one who is seated on the throne speaks. I am talking about God here. What we see here as believers should bring us comfort and excitement and joy. Why? Because God is going to make all things new. Yeah but you might say well Matt we have already talked about that. Yes, but God has a way of going back over things to remind us that He will do what He says. We can rest assured of all of the wonderful things that God has promised us.
But you may be here today and may be a little more skeptical than the rest of us so this is why God tells John write this stuff down because it is trustworthy and it is true. In Revelation 19:11 Jesus is described and called, “The Faithful and True” His words are faithful and true and we can trust them today.
If you need a little bit of good news in this crazy world of ours, take courage and come to Christ and be satisfied in Him. He has already paid the ultimate price for you and your sin. No matter what you are dealing with or what your past may be know today that He alone is trustworthy and true. Call out to Him today.
2. As believers we don’t have to fear death.
2. As believers we don’t have to fear death.
The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
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.”
The other day I overheard a conversation about a lady who had been living all by herself for the last year and had hardly been getting out because of all the Covid stuff going on. A person asked her how she was doing and where she had been lately and her response was, “I have been staying at home and not getting out because I am not ready to die.” I am still fearful. I understand her response because I think that there are many folks who feel the say way. Many people live in fear and this was going on way before Covid. Fear has never changed anything and made it better. Fear never brings about joy, fear does not let us live confidently for Christ. So, how can we have courage while dealing with fear? We must look up and look to God and be reminded of what He has done for us. Here in verses 7 and 8 we are reminded that for those who conquer sin with God’s help have a wonderful heritage. Their heritage is the fact that we don’t have to fear death because God is our Father and we are His children and we know that someday we will be with him. Now I understand that some of you may be afraid of how you will die or the pain that may come with that but really what I am talking about here is the death of hell which is the second death. As believers we know that our trust is in Christ and he has overcome death and hell so that we may live with him. So, we don’t have to fear the death of hell which is far worse than physical death.
If you don’t know Christ than you should be fearful. John lists eight specific sins here that are characterized of those who don’t know Jesus and are not living for Him. John mentions those who are cowards and will not confess Jesus when faced with persecution. John mentions the faithless or unbelievers who deny Christ by their works. He then goes on to mention the detestable people those who murder, live sexual immoral lives, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars. If this is a pattern of your life and you are not repenting of your sin than Revelation tells us you will spend eternity in the lake of fire that burns with sulfur, this is the second death. This is why you should be afraid and turn to Christ and trust Him.
Conclusion: The last two chapters of Revelation give us a wonderful picture of what eternity will look like. John writes was he has seen about heaven and earth and there will be a new heaven and a new earth. This will be a wonderful and beautiful place where there will be no more murder, no more injustice, no more sickness, or loneliness. But the most amazing part of eternity is the reward, that we will be in the presence of God himself. If you have ever wondered if trusting Christ is worth it than the answer to that is yes!!!! If you have never trusted Christ than do that today so that you can know where you will spend eternity.
Scott Duvall tells us in his book on Revelation, “When we think about eternity with Christ that will give us hope. What God has planned for our future gives us strength to walk faithfully through this broken world as we long for things as they should be.”
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