Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction (Thy Kingdom Come)
Johnny Cash, No Earthly Good, “You’re shinin’ your light, yes, and shine it you should.
But you’re so heavenly minded you’re no earthly good.”
Why should we think about Heaven?
Why not focus on the problems we face today instead of some mystical future prophecy no one really understands?
Isn’t it better to deal with real life rather than waste our time dreaming about where we’ll go after we die?
Two reasons why Heaven matters today.
Heaven gives us hope.
The world’s narrative paints a dismal, dark, and hopeless place destined for extinction (just look at the news).
But this world is not all there is.
Death is not the end.
Hope changes our lives.
Where you place your hope makes all the difference in how you live.
If you hope in money, power, comfort, or status, you life will be filled with greed, selfishness, fear, bitterness, and unfulfilled longings.
If your hope is in Jesus and your citizenship in Heaven, your life will be free.
Subject: What will Heaven be like?
What is God’s Kingdom going to be when it comes?
Body
Heaven will be here.
God’s Kingdom is coming to earth.
Exposition
Revelation 21:1-3 (NLT)
Heaven is not that perfect golf course in the sky where every swing is a hole-in-one.
Heaven is not that perfect hunting range in the sky where every buck is a Pope & Young.
Christianity is not about escaping this world to go away to the clouds and live in Heaven forever after we die.
We’re not going anywhere.
Heaven is coming to us.
Heaven is not “Heaven” because of where it is but because of who is there: God.
Look at the benefits of living with God: Rev 21:4-7 (NLT).
Application: Why does it matter where Heaven is?
Heaven is not a glimpse of some far off other-worldly place where we escape the trials of this world someday after we die.
Heaven is a picture of this world as God intended it to be, and as God is remaking it to become.
The invitation of Jesus is not, “Follow me and someday when you die, you’ll go away to Heaven forever.”
The invitation of Jesus is, “Follow me and I will send you out into the world now to be a living preview of the Kingdom that is coming.”
Heaven will be more than we can imagine or comprehend.
God’s Kingdom is more than our minds and hearts can grasp.
How literal is the description of the city?
Short answer: We don’t really know.
The description uses a lot of figurative language and symbolism.
The whole city is symbolic of God’s people… us (Rev 21:9-11, NLT).
The gates and the foundations of the city are symbolic of the Old Testament covenant and the New Testament covenant (Rev 21:12-14, NLT).
Revelation 21:15-17 (NLT).
1,400 miles is longer than the distance from New York City to Miami.
1,400 miles wide, 1,400 miles long, and 1,400 miles high (Jeff Bezos flew a measly 66.5 miles high and when into outer space).
One “layer” of this city is 1.96 million square miles—over half the size of the continental US!
If we take the current population density of Chicago and apply it to one layer of this city, we have enough room for 23.5 billion people… and that’s only on one layer!
Revelation 21:18-21 (NLT).
What’s the point?
That this city is more glorious and beautiful and amazing than we can ever comprehend.
The Kingdom of Heaven is more than just this city (Rev 21:23-26, NLT).
People have strange ideas about Heaven.
Some think it’s a church service that lasts for eternity.
Some think Heaven is eternal retirement.
Mormonism teaches that the men who are the most righteous will be turned into gods, given their own planets, and their wives will be eternally pregnant, populating their planet with people to rule over.
Islam teaches that Heaven will be filled with virgins who will please a man for all eternity.
But the Bible teaches us that the end of the book is only the beginning of eternity.
God’s design for creation is restored—without sin.
We’ll still live and build and work in Heaven.
Musicians will write songs.
Artists will paint and draw.
Architects will design structures that contractors will build.
Farmers will cultivate fields.
People will cook, eat, and create culture—all without sin (Revelation 22:3-5, NLT).
The most amazing thing about Heaven is that we will see God face-to-face.
1,400 x 1,400 x 1,400… a cube.
Do you know what else is a cube in the Bible?
The Holy of Holies, the room in the Tabernacle where God’s presence visibly dwelt.
This Holy City is a GIANT Holy of Holies where we will see God’s face and live.
Revelation 21:22-23, 27 (NLT).
Heaven will be inhabited by the people who want to be there.
God’s kingdom will be full of citizens, and anyone who wants to become a citizen can.
Exposition
Revelation 21:27 (NLT).
A lot of people ask, “How can a loving God send people to hell?” That’s the wrong question.
The right question is, “Why would a loving God force someone to be a citizen of Heaven against their will?”
Revelation 22:10-11 (NLT).
We live out of our hope.
If our hope is in evil and filthy things, we will live evil and filthy lives.
But if our hope is in Jesus and his kingdom, we will live righteous and holy lives.
Evil is the reward for evil and holiness is the reward for holiness… and we have the freedom to choose where our citizenship and hope is.
God will not force anyone to come to Heaven who doesn’t want to be there.
But God will welcome anyone to Heaven who comes to Jesus (Rev 22:17, NLT).
No one who comes to Jesus to receive citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven will be denied citizenship.
Illustration: There’s a path to becoming a citizen of the USA (https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/M-685.pdf).
Application: There’s a path to becoming a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven (John 1:10-12, NLT).
Believe that what the Bible says about Jesus is true.
Accept Jesus as the truth and hope and God of your life.
2 Cor 5:17 (ESV)… Go, and be who you are in Christ.
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