It certainly is wonderful to be with all of you today.
We appreciate your efforts for being here and we appreciate you
and your presence. I do consider it an honor to
speak concerning the word of God.
And today is no exception, want to talk on a subject that really
should be of great interest to everybody.
And I'll tell you why I chose to preach on this subject.
What will Heaven be like, I'm doing so on the heels of the
last lesson that I gave on the Seal of God, And the mark of the
beast and in there. The regarding those that are
sealed by God to Things, We Said the 144,000 and we said also the
innumerable multitude, I'm going to sum it up with one statement.
The 144,000 and the innumerable multitude, here it is.
I believe the 144,000 are the saved on the Earth or the church
militant. And I believe that the
innumerable multitude are the saved in heaven.
Or the church triumphant. So what I want to talk about for
a little while today, is what will Heaven be?
Like, it's a great subject is where we all want to go.
Now, I know that there are a lot of things that we don't know
about heaven, and I will say this, as we introduce our
remarks John, the Revelator gave a beautiful picture of many
things that are found in the Book of Revelation regarding
heaven. And in that beautiful picture
that he gave, I think it would probably pale in comparison.
Listen to How Great and how beautiful, and how awesome it
will be one day. But here we begin.
And we begin with our text in Revelation, chapter 21 and will
begin there in verse 1. Now, I saw a new Heaven and a
new Earth for the first Heaven, and the first Earth had passed
away, and there was no more sea. Then I, John saw the holy city,
New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven, from God prepared as
a bride adorned for her husband, and I heard a loud voice from
Heaven. Saying, behold, the Tabernacle
of God is with men and he will dwell with them, and they shall
be his people, God himself will be with them.
And be their God and God will wipe away every tear from their
eyes. There shall be no more death,
nor sorrow nor crying. There shall be no more pain for
the former things have passed away.
First of all the word Heaven and the general, I would say,
definition of Heaven, it comes from the word whose root meaning
means to cover or Encompass. In fact, is defined as the
vaulted expand. Of the sky with all things
visible in it, we find a passage to and Hebrews chapter 1 and
verse 10. You Lord, in the beginning,
laid, the foundation of the earth and the heavens.
Keep this. In the back of your mind,
plural. The heavens are the work of your
hands. Also in second Peter chapter 3
and verse 5 for this, they willfully reject or forget that
by the word of God. The heavens were of old and the
Earth. Standing out of water and in the
water, one more passage second, Peter chapter 3 and verse 7, but
the heavens and the Earth which are now preserved by the same
word are reserved for fire unto the day of judgment and
Perdition of ungodly men. My question is this when it
speaks about Heavens in a plural sense and in a negative sense
when it says, in verse 7, the heavens and the Earth, which are
now preserved by the same. Word are reserved for fire until
the day of judgment and Perdition of ungodly men.
What are the heavens that the Bible is speaking of?
Well, first of all Heavens are described number one.
There is one Heaven that we want to notice and that's the aerial
Heavens or the sky, it's the region where the clouds and
tipis, gather and where thunder and lightning are produced in
James chapter 5 and verse 18, And he prayed again and the
heaven gave up rain and the Earth produced its fruit also.
You see in Acts chapter 22 and verse number 6.
Now we know what this was. We know, this was Paul's
description or pause account of his conversion on the Damascus
Road. The Damascus Road experience.
He was not saved on the Damascus Road, but he was told to go in
and ananias preaches to him and a nice baptizes him and we know
he was saved later on. But in Acts chapter 22 and verse
6. This is Paul's account of his
own conversion and he said these words, Paul said as I journeyed
and came near Damascus about noon, suddenly a great light
from Heaven, shown around me. What is he talking about?
He's talking about the sky. Now I'm going to mention these
things in their terms and then after we get through those
terms, I'm just going to refer to them as this was going to
always refer to as the sky. Not going to keep saying, Ariel,
this is the sky and that's what Paul was talking about when that
great light, shined around him. But there's another Heaven too,
because we read in the Book of Revelation Heavens, plural, and
that's this severe aerial or the starry heavens and in Hebrews
chapter 11 and verse 12, It says therefore from one man and him
as good as dead were born as many stars of the sky in
multitude innumerable as the sand, which is by the seashore
in Mark. Also Mark 13 and 25.
It says this, the stars of heaven will fall and the powers
in heaven will be shaken. Verse 26 of Mark chapter 13,
says it'll come at the time when he is coming in the clouds.
Where Where is the clouds? That's the sky right there.
What's going to happen to the Stars?
What's going to happen to the Saudi riyal or Starry Heavens?
It's going to be destroyed more on that in just a moment.
So, all of that being the case, I'm not really concerned about
the aerial expanse of the sky or the scenario where the stars
are. I'm concerned about the third
heaven, and the third heaven is where all of us want to get some
day. The third heaven and the
definition of, which is the region above the sodi real
Heavens. It is the seat of Order of
Things, Eternal, and consummately perfect.
It is the place where God dwells with other Heavenly beings.
Now. Second Corinthians chapter 12
and verse 2. Now, remember this Peter and
John say there's going to Peter and Doug and John also say that
this is going to be a new Heavens.
But I want to make a point here. When Paul said this, in 2nd
Corinthians chapter 12 and verse two, he was converted.
As we know in Acts chapter 9, many years go by.
And then at some point in time, this event is going to happen.
14 years later, he says this about him self.
He said, I knew a man in Christ who fourteen years ago, whether
in the body, I do not know whether out of the body, I do
not know. God knows such a one was caught
up to the third heaven. That's what we want to talk
about the third heaven. That's the place that we all
long to be. That's the place that we all
want to go. Now in the inverse Also let's
talk about in Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 10.
This speaking of Jesus, he who descended is also the one who
ascended far above all the heavens that he might fill all
things. This is the serial, this is the
aerial expanse of the sky as well.
My slides are out of order. Okay.
Let's talk about new Heaven and new earth.
The new Heaven and the new Earth.
In Revelation chapter 21 and verse 1.
And I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first Heaven, the
aerial and scenario, which by the way that's the sky and the
stars and the first Earth had passed away, and there were no
more sea. This is extremely important for
us to understand because Jehovah's Witness Doctrine
believes. I'm not making fun.
I'm making a statement of fact, their Doctrine teaches.
And they believe that the Earth that we live on today is going
to be refurbished. In other words, they believe the
144,000 a symbolic number as we've stated.
They believe that the 144,000 is an exact number and they're in
heaven. Now and Heaven is full.
I was once talking to a fellow that came and knocked on my door
and really nice fella. He wanted to talk about some of
these things. And I said, I want to go to
heaven. He said, I don't want to go to
heaven. I want the new Earth that Jesus
is going to refurbish but let's talk about that is Jesus going
to refurbish anything. Remember as we stated that Peter
and John said it's going to be new.
So in first second, Peter chapter 3, beginning in verse 10
but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in
the which Heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the
elements will melt with fervent heat both the earth and the The
Works that are in, it will be burned up.
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what
manner of persons ought you to be in, holy conduct and
godliness, looking for, and hastening the coming of the day
of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved being
on fire and the elements will melt with fervent heat.
Nevertheless, we according to his promise, look for new
heavens and a new Earth in which righteousness.
Dwells so, All we have to do is look at a brief word study and
we can know for an absolute fact that the doctrine that teaches
that Jesus is going to refurbish.
This Earth itself is impossible. And that is, we just go to the
passage and we pull out what the exact words are.
And we begin with the word new, this word new comes from a word
that means as respects form recently made fresh recent
unused and Warm that which is recently made is superior to
what it exceeds and that succeeds and that is according
to mr. Thayer in are passages, what
else what else is going to happen?
It's going to pass away. That means to perish or pass
away to vanish or to disappear out of sight.
Another word that we look at to is this word, hear the word
melt. And by the way, the word melted
there's two words. One is Mu 0, and 1 is Tico.
Little means this to dissolve, something coherent into Parks,
or destroy according to mr. Thayer Tico means to make liquid
or to become liquid to perish or be destroyed by melting.
Let me ask you this. Does this seem at all, like a
refurbishment? Or a complete destruction, what
else? Elements is from which all
things have come, it's the material causes of the universe.
So notice what he's saying here? All of the things that happen,
all of the things of the earth and the and the heavens, both
the sky and the Stars, it will all be, what it's going to pass
away. It's going to melt and even the
elements that made up those particulars will be destroyed.
Even the elements that made it up.
Not a refurbishment, but one more thing.
The Earth will be burned up consumed by fire, you know, I
know that the Earth as long as I've been alive.
Especially living in the state of California.
I know that there's a big discussion over destroying our
planet. And I do believe that we should
take care of our planet. Certainly so obviously we need
take care of that and be good stewards of that intending that.
But all the things that I have ever heard in my life, about man
destroying the Earth is false. There's nothing that a man could
ever do to destroy the Earth that Peters referring to.
In fact, God said that God said that he was going to be the one
that was going to do that and when he comes back, when the
Lord comes back, that's exactly what's going to happen, Okay?
So, let's go to the new Heaven and new earth, what is going to
happen at the new Heaven and the new Earth?
Where is that going to be? And what's going to be their?
Number one is the Eternal place. The redeemed, First Peter
chapter 1, verses 3 and 4 blessed.
Be the God, and father of our Lord, Jesus Christ who according
to His, abundant Mercy, has begotten us again to a Living
Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
From the dead to an inheritance Incorruptible and undefiled.
And that does not fade away. Reserved in heaven for you.
It is the Eternal place of the redeemed.
In second Peter, chapter 3, and verse 13.
Mean, nevertheless, we according to his promise, look for new
heavens, and a new Earth in which dwells righteousness, or
where righteousness, dwells Revelation, 21 and 27 says, but
there shall be no means it by no means enter.
It anything that defiles or causes an Abomination or Ally
but only those that are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Now, I'm going to tell you. There's a lot of folks.
That want to go to heaven.
There's a lot of folks that want to go to heaven.
There's a lot of folks that think they're going to have.
God wants everyone to go to heaven.
But not everyone is going to go to heaven this passage and
speaking of such a grand place but there shall no means enter.
It anything that defiles or causes an Abomination or alive.
But only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Those are the ones that are going to be saved.
All right? What does talk about things that
might be in heaven? What about musical instruments?
Will musical instruments, be in heaven.
And the reason that I say this to, and reason I bring this
point out is I've actually hurt people.
And as advocates for interment instrumental, music in the
worship. And so forth is because they
have said, well, because it's in heaven, if there's musical
instruments in heaven, then shouldn't there be musical,
instruments on the Earth, but the question is this will there
really be literal musical instruments in heaven.
Remembering that the Book of Revelation is a highly
figurative book. Let's talk about some
instruments that the Book of Revelation speaks of number one,
trumpets. And this is found in Revelation
chapter 8 and verse 2. And I saw the seven angels, who
stand before God and to them were given seven trumpets in
Revelation, chapter 1 in verse 10.
I was in the spirit on the Lord's day and I heard Beyond
behind me a loud voice. As of a trumpet, Revelation
chapter 4 and verse 1. After these things, I looked and
behold a door standing, open in the heaven and the voice in the
first voice, which I heard was like a Puppet speaking to me.
Now it's true. As one scholar said that the
term voices could simply refer to the sound of the trumpets,
but other passages seem to suggest that the voices of some
Heavenly Host, sounded like trumpets and the voices of or
like a trumpet were used as an announcement was being made or a
woe is being pronounced. Not for the melodious sounds of
it. Back to talks about voices.
Here's another one, and this is kind of, I thought about this
this morning actually, you know, they do cartoon.
Somebody dies in a cartoon and then they immediately look like
they're in spirit form and they have wings, you know, in the fly
up and they get a harp. You know, the reason for that is
because the mindset or the, the feeling is though, that
everybody that goes to heaven, is going to be an angel with
flapping wings and having a harp.
Because the Book of Revelation talks about Harps, well, let's
talk about that. Revelation chapter 5 beginning,
in verse 8, 9, now when he was taken the scroll, the four and
living creatures and twenty-four Elders, fell down before the
lamb. Each having a harp and golden
bowls full of incense. Which are the prayers of saints
and they sung a new song wherever Elation 14.
And to I heard the voices of Harpers harping with their
Harps. Notice I heard the voice of them
harping as it were on their Harps.
Some translations say sound and not voices, but notice another
passage in the well, the same passage in the American Standard
Version says, and the voice which I heard was like the voice
of Harpers harping with their Harps.
The revised Standard Version says the voice.
I heard was like the sound of Harper's playing on their Harps.
The very next verse verse 3 and they sang as it were a new song.
All right. He doesn't say anything at all.
About literal instruments being played.
It speaks about Harps. It talks about voices and it
sounded as though a Harper were harping on their Harps and
that's what John saw and that's what John said.
Now Moving forward. Let's talk about where Heaven is
and the Reason by the way that I want to wanted to say this is
because it seems obvious where it is.
It seems extremely obvious, but I heard someone not long ago say
I heard him say we don't really know where it is.
We just know it's some far off place somewhere.
It could be over there. We don't know that it's up but
is that really true? Is it really that we can't know
where it is? I think we can know exactly
where it is in. 2nd Corinthians chapter 12.
This is what Paul said again I Know a Man in Christ who
fourteen years ago, whether out of the body, I do not know.
God knows such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
Now in Acts chapter 1 beginning in verse 9.
Now when he had spoken these things while they watched he was
taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight and while
they looked steadfastly toward Heaven as he went up behold two
men stood by them and White apparel, who also said, men of
Galilee, why do you stand gazing up to heaven in 1st
Thessalonians 4:16. Let's do this for the Lord.
Himself, shall descend from heaven.
When God sends Jesus back. The reason he's descending is
because he had ascended, Heaven is up.
I don't mean to insult anybody's intelligence.
This is obvious. I get that, but that's where
Heaven is. It is up.
It is through the other two Heavens.
It is far beyond that. Now, What's it going to be like?
I know that people have a different kinds of ideas about
heaven. One guy said, one time you said
I think Heaven on is heaven on Earth.
I think Heaven is, when you have a good marriage.
One guy said, it's when people aren't nagging me or pressuring
me, I actually heard somebody tell me this not long ago, he
said I have a perfect life In other words, in his mindset,
that's heaven to me. And so many times people have a
different concept about heaven, like, anything that I have
enjoyed in life. I get to do in heaven.
I went to a funeral. One time of a Rodeo.
Cowboy? An old Rodeo?
Cowboy passed away in the preacher.
Got up and he said he's roping in heaven.
You know, I don't care if you like golf, you like horses.
He like, whatever. It's like football, whatever,
none of that stuff is going to be in heaven.
Heaven is not a concept of whatever you enjoyed here.
You get to do for eternity Heaven is specific and Heaven is
a real place. So what is it?
Like number one as I just stated it is a place in John chapter 14
beginning in verse 2. In my father's house are many
mansions. If it were not, so I would have
told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come again.
And receive you to myself that where I am, there you may be
also, it is a literal real place.
What else? It's a city in Hebrews 11 16 but
now they desire. A better that is a Heavenly
country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to
be called their God for. He has prepared for them a city.
John's description of Heaven to beautiful pictures.
Notice this, as he described it in this Vision, he said the
foundations of the walls were massive and the twelve
foundations were the names of the Apostles of the Lamb.
Now, I think The 12th name, it can't be Judas.
I think the 12th name has to be Paul instead of Matthias.
We don't hear another thing about Matthias, but Paul was a
chosen vessel of Jesus to bear his name to the Gentiles and
suffer. Many things for his namesake
divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit.
He wrote over two-thirds of the New Testament.
I believe it has to be Paul. But like I told my dear departed
sister in Christ. So long ago, sister Mildred.
I'll tell you what we'll do. Let's meet at the wall and we'll
find out I think it's got to be Paul, but this is a brilliant
picture, a beautiful picture, the twelve foundations were
massive and on those foundations, each one was the
names of the Apostles of the Lamb.
Notice this there were 12. Identical gapes.
You know why? I think that it says identical
Gates. John was seeing a picture and by
the way, there was an angel standing guard at each gate.
Every gate was identical. You know why you can't go in?
Any other way, the same terms for you to get into heaven or
the same terms for me. The standard is the same.
So with the twelve foundations of on the wall of the Apostles
of the lamb and The Twelve Gates with an angel standing in each
one, You can't get in on your own way.
You know, sometimes people say, you know, all roads lead to
heaven. I think I tell my dad one time
so I'll tell you what, I'll believe the way I want to
believe. You believe what you want to
believe a see who gets to Heaven first.
And I've heard people say, well, you know, all roads lead there.
Anyway, not according to this, to get in the Gates of Heaven.
It has to be the same way. The same standard, but there's
more and the gates are made of pearl.
And by the way, that's where we get Pearly Gates, when I get up
there to the Pearly Gates people sometimes say, but he never
stopped to consider why it says Pearl.
I think as one scholar said
represents those who have had to undergo and persevere through
great trials in their life. Because a pearl is the oysters
response to pain and struggle. So, the gates are made of pearl.
It's going to be sometimes difficult.
In some people's lives to persevere.
I get that. But the Pearly these pearls
here, represent those that have overcome trials.
As one scholar said, I read it and Tribune, a tribulations, and
order to reach heaven. One day, it's produced by
suffering of an oyster and sometimes our life is also
produced by suffering. You know, when Paul said my
light afflictions are but for a while he calls them.
Light Affliction, he had terrible things happen to him,
he just called him light afflictions.
I think what he was saying is he wasn't saying they're not there.
I think he was saying it doesn't matter.
I think that's exactly what he's saying.
It just doesn't matter and sometimes we have to undergo
some tremendous trials and suffering.
But one day, it's not going to matter one day.
We're going to stand triumphantly before that throne.
What else? It's a city, that's 4 square.
That means this the length and the breadth and the height are
all equal. The Bible says that each
measured twelve thousand furlongs.
And by the way, A furlong is 1/8 of a mile.
So you got 12,000 of those, okay?
Twelve thousand of those, that's the distance between or 1,500
miles. That's the distance.
Between Dallas and New York from New York City, to Bismarck North
Dakota from Bismarck North Dakota.
This San Francisco, California and from San Francisco,
California back to Dallas. That's how big that is 1,500
square miles. But it's a city Foursquare.
So you got to Go back up in the air 1500 and start.
Again a city Foursquare. Don't think the heavens going to
be cramped. I think it's plenty big.
Certainly is, by the way. This is 500 quintillion cubic
feet or 500 with 18 zeros after it.
That's how big Heavens going to be incredible.
What else? How about the wall?
Very important here notice the wall is forty-four cubits or it
is two hundred and eighteen feet.
Have you ever stopped to consider why the width is not
mentioned little history here. You remember Nineveh Nineveh was
a walled City and ancient cities back in those days were either
fenced or Walt and here was the purpose, keep the enemy out.
Right. Just keep the enemy out.
So when Nineveh was built and the wall was built, I read one
scholar. That said it was so wide.
That three chariots could be abreast of each other and spread
out and three. Chariots could drive their
chariots side by side, on the top of the wall.
To keep the enemy out. I think there's a picture here,
don't you? We have the length but the width
doesn't matter because the enemy can't get in.
There's no reason for it to be thick.
There's no reason for it to keep the enemy out because the enemy
can't get there. I think that's a beautiful
picture. Yes, Heaven is a real place.
What else? What else?
It's a city of pure gold. He calls it transparent glass.
He said, a wall of Jasper Gates of Pearl, and a street of gold,
you know. I like that country song says I
wouldn't, I would want to go to heaven.
Even if the streets were paved in dirt, And that's true.
I don't care what heaven is or what would change as long as I
can get there. I just want to get there.
I remember a buddy of mine used to preach.
He say, you know what, I'd be a Streetsweeper in heaven.
I just want to get in and I think everybody really feels
that way. Everybody believes that.
Everybody would like that. Everybody would want that but in
this great place that is so Grand that even the street
itself is made of pure gold. So what's going to be there?
What about things in heaven, number one, One God is going to
be on his throne, you know, we studied this last time the
innumerable multitude is before God on his throne.
What else also, there is the Lamb of God that takes the sins
away of the world. And as we studied last time
those that are saved in the innumerable multitude of the
redeem before God on the throne and the Lamb of God will be
wearing white robes because those robes are cleansed in the
blood of Jesus. Our sins are washed away, and we
stand there. I am perfectly as it were with a
symbol of palm branches. Meaning Victory.
That's the church Victorious. That's what's going to be some
things in heaven. What else?
The Tree of Life. You remember in the garden?
when man sinned and man was cast out of the garden, And God
removed the Tree of Life took the tree of life away from them.
So in one respect that was a punishment and a consequence for
their sinful actions. But there's a beautiful picture
there though of something else. It shows God's love and God's
mercy. If the Tree of Life After man,
sinned would have been in their life, man, would have been an
immortal sinner. Unable to die.
Eternally, lost and Immortal Center, God took away the tree
of life. But guess what?
As my father-in-law used to say but in heaven, guess what?
We get it back. The tree of life will be there
too. What else?
A pure River of Water of Life, revelation, 22, and verse 1,
those that hunger and thirst will be satisfied from a
spiritual perspective. Also there in heaven is going to
be our treasure or our inheritance.
Here's something else to the name of every child of God will
be written there in heaven. Be written in heaven.
So in heaven, in this great place that we talked about
symbolic language, that sounds so beautiful, we can't even
fathom it. We know for a fact that one day
God's going to be there on the throne and by the way he's going
to be that. Because why in Matthew 28 and
18, Jesus said all power is given unto me in heaven.
And in Earth, the Bible also says Said according to the
Apostle, Paul though, is when the Lord comes back, he will
give the throne back over to his father, his father will reign
forever. Jesus was step down from that
rain, that God will be all in all.
So before God before us are is God on his throne, the Tree of
Life, Pure River of Water of Life hungry and thirsty will be
satisfied. Our treasure inheritance in the
name of every child of God is written there.
As the Bible says, in Luke chapter 10 and verse 20.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this that the spirits are
subject to you, but rather Rejoice because your names are
written in heaven. There's nothing greater in all
the world than making it to heaven.
And there's really nothing worse.
As the Bible says, what does it profit a man?
If he would gain the whole world and lose his own soul?
Or what would a man give in exchange for his soul?
There's nothing worse than losing it.
There's nothing greater than gaining it and having it
forever, and never forget this as I close, if you make it to
heaven. If I'm fortunate enough to make
it to Heaven, I will never be kicked out.
The Bible says at that point in time, the righteous will be
righteous still, but it also says the wicked that are lost.
The wicked will be Wicked, still they can't ever get back in.
So if you want to be saved you have to be saved with the
redeemed on Earth. The steps to become savior, very
simple come believing in Jesus, repent of your repent of your
sins confess. His name as the Son of God, I
believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and be buried in
water. Watery grave of baptism
contacting the blood of Jesus having your sins washed away and
added to the 144,000. Maybe you've taken those steps
of obedience, maybe you've drifted maybe there are things
in your life. You need to correct.
If that's the case, then, repent of those things confess, those
things will pray with you and for you and God will forgive we.
Thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the Church of
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