3.6.27 5.29.2022 God Eternally Among His people Revelation 21,22

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Entice:

Heaven.

It is what we long for. Yet, we do not long for it    in isolation and we do not long for it outside of the experience of the salvation which we already share in Jesus. Heaven is not so much a physical place as it is an extended, eternal relationship with Jesus. Anyone who longs for heaven must first find satisfaction in Jesus.

The Gospel,

the good news

is that

Jesus Himself makes this possible.

Engage: In Revelation 21 we share a vision which is often mischaracterized. We know the terms but dislocate them. The then and there of heaven begins with the here and now of the Church

Revelation 21 ESV

1 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. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. 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.” 5 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.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 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.” 9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Expand: The tension we feel as Christians feel is real, it is tangible. We are suspended between now and not yet. We share a salvation which is both realized on this side of eternity and reserved for the other side. Ever since our father Abraham went looking for that city whose architect and builder is God we, who have walked by faith, have been buffeted by the things of earth whilst borne along on the wings of faith. John reminds us that we are the bride prepared for Jesus. Heaven is the place where the Lord and His Lady share an eternity of rest. The final throne vision, found in Revelation 22 reminds us that

He is all we need

and that

to be

in His presence

paradise restored.

Excite: So, yes we anticipate heaven, but we walk with Him now. We look forward to eternal rest, but now we engage in necessary service. When we catch John's vision it sustains us through our life until we finally gather around Christ’s throne and enjoy eternally what we have shared here, if only in part.

Explore:

There is no heaven apart from Jesus

Revelation 22:1–5 ESV

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Explain: John brings things to a close urging us to gather once more around the throne

Body of Sermon: because…

The Throne Sustains us.

The River

The Tree

The Throne Attracts us.

To Worship The Lamb.

To Serve the Lamb.

to see His face

to wear His name

The Throne Illuminates us.

No night

No Luminaires.

Pure redeeming presence.

Shut Down:

Thrice more Jesus Speaks. First, Jesus reminds us, in view of His appearing to be mindful listeners

Revelation 22:7 ESV

7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Next, He speaks words of warning.

Revelation 22:12–13 ESV

12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Finally, Our Lord's last words in scripture, remind us who He is.

Revelation 22:16 ESV

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

Eternity has begun! Once that tomb was opened, once He ascended on high, once He sat upon the throne, heaven is open for business. The bride will meet Him there, fully and entirely one day. I wonder,

will you be there?

The spirit, and the Bride say...come!