The Story of the World--An Allegory of God's Reign

[Note: This sermon was written to tell the story of the Bible--and consequently, the story of the world--in a true story format. My desire is that it would give you the "big picture" understanding of what the story of Scripture is all about.]

            This is the story of a king—a great king. In fact, he is The Great King-Over-All, the one who created all that you see and all that you don’t see. The Great King-Over-All ruled over his creation with his son, Prince Immanuel, and the Great Comforter, who shared one spirit with the King. The King also created for himself a royal court of messengers and ministers to live in his presence.

            Now the King was also a kind, gracious, and generous king, and he desired to create servants to whom he would entrust the care of part of his kingdom, so he created human beings. He placed them in a part of his kingdom called Eretz, which he had made especially for them, and said, “You shall serve under me as rulers over this part of my kingdom. Care for it, enjoy it, and make it produce all the beauty that I have placed within it.”

            So men and women lived in Eretz, and they saw that it was just as pleasant as The Great King-Over-All had said. But The Great King knew that if the men and women were to rule well, they would have to learn to trust him completely, so he gave them a test. “You may eat freely from any of the trees around you,” he said, “but you must not eat from The Sacred Tree, under penalty of death.”

            The test would serve The Great King’s servants well—for a while. But trouble was brewing in the royal court. A rebellion had been launched, led by The Prime Minister himself. In his pride and jealousy, the prime minister desired The Great King’s throne for himself, and he convinced a portion of the royal court to join him in his rebellion. His attempt was not successful, but the prime minister was not one to give up easily. He began to look for another opportunity to gain power, and he saw Eretz as a place where he could do it.

            So one day, the prime minister disguised himself and travelled to Eretz. With calculated cunning, he turned humanity’s attention toward The Sacred Tree and convinced them that The Great King did not, in fact, have their best interests in mind. Instead, he told them, The Great King was selfish and had deceived them, and if they would eat the fruit of the tree, they would come to know the truth as he had.

            But as the humans would later be told, the Prime Minister was the father of lies, and his deception became their doom. They ate from The Sacred Tree, and soon after they did, they heard their sentence from The Great King. “Death,” he said. “I cannot tolerate treason in my kingdom, so your lives in this beautiful place will no longer last forever, because you have rebelled against me.” So The Great King cast humanity out of the Garden of Fellowship, where he used to come and meet with them, and they were cursed to live out the rest of their days in Eretz not as lords and ladies, but as wanderers and vagabonds. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister took control of Eretz as a stronghold for his rebellion—not openly, but quietly, with continued deception.

            You must remember, though, that The Great King-Over-All was a kind, gracious, and generous king. As he looked on the pitiful condition of his servants, the humans, he was moved with compassion toward them, and he decided to act. They could not escape death, because it was already doing its work in their bodies, but they would not have to remain estranged from him forever. The Great King would see to it that they could be reconciled to him so that one day, they could rule over Eretz as he had always intended.

            So The Great King went to work to carry out his plan, but it was not the kind of plan you might expect. The kings we know among the humans might have put on a great display of power, but The Great King went to work in a far more subtle way. He went to work not through an army, but through a family.

            Among the humans, there was a man named Emmett. One day, The Great King-Over-All spoke to Emmett and said, “I am going to bless your family, Emmett, so much so that when the people of Eretz want to bless each other, they will say, ‘May your family be like the family of Emmett!’” I will give you many descendants, and I will give them a land to call their own. If anyone curses your family, I will curse them; and if anyone blesses your family, I will bless them.”

            Though Emmett could hardly comprehend what he had been told, in his heart he believed that The Great King would keep his promise, and that’s exactly what he did! He was faithful to keep his promise, though Emmett’s family was not always faithful to obey him. At times, The Great King led them through adversity to turn them back to obedience, and little by little, he told them more about his plan for Eretz.

            Many years after Emmett died, his family had settled into the land that The Great King-Over-All gave to them, and through his blessing they became a great nation with a mighty king named King Rowan the Brave. King Rowan had been just a boy when The Great King took note of him, because he had a heart like Emmett and a will to obey. One day, as King Rowan considered a monument that he could build to The Great King-Over-All, The Great King spoke to him and said, “Rowan, I have made you a mighty king, and I’ve given you peace on all sides of your kingdom. But one day, I will make one of your descendants even greater than you, and he will be king over all of Eretz.”

            The Great King repeated this promise many times to the family of Emmett and the sons of Rowan, but the truth behind it was far greater than they could imagine. This promised king would not be just an ordinary man—he would be The Great King’s own son, Prince Immanuel! The Prince would be born into the human race to reclaim the role that humanity had lost at The Sacred Tree and to put an end to The Prime Minister’s rebellion once and for all.

            Many years after King Rowan died, when The Great King-Over-All was ready to enact his plan, he took notice of a young girl named Doule, who had a heart like Emmett and a will to obey. One day, he sent a messenger to her from his royal court, who said, “Doule, you have found favor with The Great King-Over-All. Though you have no husband, he will cause you to have a son. Your son will be the promised king. He will reign on the throne of Rowan, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

            Doule was greatly surprised to hear this news, but nine months later, her son arrived, just as the messenger had said. Prince Immanuel had been born as a human. The Prince grew, and though he was the son of The Great King-Over-All, you would not have known it from his surroundings. His life had humble beginnings, and humility would mark his life all his days.

            When Prince Immanuel grew into a man, he began to announce that the time had come—The Great King would take back Eretz for himself. His kingdom would once again rule that land, but if the humans wanted a pardon from The Great King, they would have to renounce their own rebellion against him. Though Immanuel displayed The Great King’s goodwill and compassion by healing many who were sick, his message was not warmly welcomed by all.

            The Prime Minister had long been at work through his deceptions to solidify his rebellion in the hearts of mankind, and he had succeeded in particular with the leaders of Emmett’s family—the very ones who had received the promises from The Great King-Over-All! In their anger over The Prince’s accusation of rebellion, they accused him of being an agent of The Prime Minister, and they had him put to death.

            What had become of The Great King’s plan? Did The Prime Minister’s rebellion succeed after all? Though it may have seemed that way to some, in reality, The Great King’s plan was unfolding exactly as he had laid it out! In the law of his kingdom, humanity’s treason required that a sacrifice be made—one without blemish. But no animal could be sacrificed for all of their sins, and the humans could not sacrifice themselves because they were rebellious. But the Prince’s death was an acceptable substitute for the humans. Now, The Great King’s justice was fully satisfied, and he could offer a pardon to mankind on the basis of Immanuel’s sacrifice, so that men and women could be fully reunited with him.

            The Great King had used The Prime Minister’s own work against him, and to prove it once and for all, he raised Immanuel from the dead to spread the good news. Immanuel gathered his closest friends and said to them, “Take the news far and wide, to every corner of Eretz! The laws of The Great King are fully satisfied, and now he offers men and women a pardon once again. I am leaving for a time, but I will return to reign upon the throne of Rowan over all of Eretz. Those who accept the pardon from The Great King will be adopted into his family, and my new brothers and sisters will join me in my kingdom. But those who do not accept the pardon will pay for their treason themselves. Tell them!”

            And that’s just what Immanuel’s friends did! They began to spread the news far and wide, but as you can imagine, The Prime Minister was furious when he saw that his control over Eretz was hanging in the balance. So, he re-doubled his efforts at deception and began to lead men and women to oppose the new children of The Great King—those who had accepted his pardon. But he could not keep them from spreading The Prince’s message, for Immanuel had told them, “Stay faithful to me, and I will reward you when I return.”

            So The Prime Minister saw that the time had come to raise the stakes of his rebellion. He would have to lower his mask of deception somewhat to give the humans a clear choice between Prince Immanuel and another man whom The Prime Minister would empower. This bold step would bring The Prime Minister’s rebellion to its peak and force the humans to declare their loyalty.

            The Great King-Over-All knew that Eretz was about to become the stage for the final battle between himself and The Prime Minister. This knowledge grieved his heart, for he knew that he would have to bring severe opposition against The Prime Minister and the man who would do The Prime Minister’s bidding. The people of Eretz would endure The Great King’s opposition as well, so out of love for his adopted children, The Great King took them out of Eretz to his own palace before the showdown began.

            When The Prime Minister saw The Great King’s actions, he knew the time had come to advance his plan. So The Prime Minister empowered a man named Therion and made him a great ruler among the humans. Therion offered the people of Eretz a drastic choice—they could receive a mark of loyalty to him on their bodies, or they would be cast out of society and left to die. Many did receive Therion’s mark, but some declared that their hearts were for Immanuel. Many people from the family of Emmett decided to accept The Great King’s pardon through Immanuel, but they faced bitter retribution from Therion.

            When Therion saw their opposition to him, he gathered his armies together to wipe out the family of Emmett once and for all. So he made war against them, but as he circled his armies to make the decisive blow, the sky itself opened, and there, coming on the clouds of heaven, was Prince Immanuel! He was riding on a white horse, and the armies of The Great King were with him. His eyes were like a flaming fire, and his robe was dipped in blood.

            With Immanuel’s battle cry ringing in their ears, the armies of Therion were annihilated, and the family of Emmett received with joy their promised king, Prince Immanuel, the heir of King Rowan the Brave. Immanuel ordered The Prime Minister to be bound and imprisoned, so that he could deceive the people of Eretz no more. And The Prince became king over all Eretz, and he selected his brothers and sisters—the adopted children of The Great King—to be his governors.

            The Great King-Over-All took delight in the reign of The Prince and in the land of Eretz, but there was just one problem—the land still bore some of the marks and memories of The Prime Minister’s rebellion. So The Great King decided that he would remake the land of Eretz, to renew it and restore it to the glory that he had planned for it all along, so that death would be no more, neither would there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain.

            And that’s just what The Great King did! He remade Eretz for his servants, the humans, but now, they were no longer just his servants—they were his children! The Great King established his palace among them in the land of Eretz, much to their delight. And there, in the New Eretz, the dream you have heard of so many times before finally became a reality—they all lived happily ever after! 

Life in the Present Heaven--Heaven Series

            People sometimes say the strangest things at funerals. Most of the time we don’t know what to say, but we want to make conversation, so we blurt out just about anything. For example, if the deceased person was a baseball fan, we might say something like, “Well, I guess the Lord needed a new third baseman for the big game coming up against the angels.” Or if its raining at the graveside service, we might say, “It looks like ol’ Billy Bob is crying right along with us from Heaven.”

            By and large, these statements are pretty innocent, and we probably don’t even believe most of the stuff like this that we say, but if something gets repeated enough times, eventually people start to think its true—we hear a claim 10 or 15 times and we assume that someone else has checked it out and verified it, so we believe it.

            I think some of our beliefs about the present Heaven have been formed this way. After all, how many of us have actually sat down and compared our beliefs about Heaven to what the Bible says? As I mentioned several weeks ago, even in my seminary training, we didn’t spend much time talking about Heaven, so this series represents the first time that I have given focused attention to the subject of Heaven.

            I say this to prepare you for what we will discuss today, because your idea of Heaven may be significantly challenged as we look at a scene from the book of Revelation. Please turn with me to Revelation 6:9-11. In this passage, we are reading about the opening of a scroll that was brought before the Lord in Heaven. This scroll has seven seals on it, and as each seal is opened, various events happen either in Heaven or on Earth. When the fifth seal is opened, we read this [READ Rev. 6:9-11].

            We’re going to examine this passage today to see what these people in Heaven are experiencing. It could be the case that our loved ones are experiencing similar things, and thus that we will experience similar things in the present Heaven. There is a question that remains about whether this passage is typical of the experience for all people in Heaven. I’m going to cautiously assume that it is, so I’ll be speaking from that perspective this morning.

Let’s discuss some observations we can make about this passage…

1. THEY REMEMBER DETAILS FROM THEIR LIVES ON EARTH

            These people remember certain things that happened to them in this life. But notice that the detail they remember is an unpleasant one—they remember that they were murdered for their faith. This is a very challenging observation because we commonly assume that in Heaven, we will not remember anything unpleasant that happened to us in this life, but these verses could suggest otherwise.

            It is very important to remember, however, that these martyrs were comforted immediately after they asked their question. Notice also what chapter 7 has to say about some believers who will die during the time of the Tribulation [READ 7:15-17]. These verses clearly paint of picture of rest, peace, and comfort. So its certainly not necessary for us to think of Heaven as a place where unhappiness could linger, but we may need to adjust our assumption that we will not remember anything unpleasant.

            If that is true, I think its important to note that it will not be true forever. After John sees his first glimpse of the New Heaven and New Earth in Revelation 21:1, he is clearly told in v. 4 that there will be no more mourning, crying, or pain. Thus, there will absolutely be a time when we will never, ever experience grief ever again. But for those who are in Heaven today, even though there is incredible comfort, they probably still have a sense that all things have not yet been made right, and that even they have greater things to look forward to.

2. THEY KNOW DETAILS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING ON EARTH.

            Specifically, these martyrs know that their murderers have not yet faced vengeance from God. A question comes up at this point that we simply may not be able to answer, and it is this—how did they know this detail? Could they see for themselves what was happening on Earth, or did God give them some information about it? Or here’s a third option—perhaps they could simply observe God’s activity, and from that they could piece together information about the situation on Earth.

            I’m afraid I don’t have a definite answer for this question. I am inclined to think it’s a very real possibility that our loved ones in Heaven know details about what’s going on in our lives. I am very hesitant, however, to embrace the idea that our loved ones are always watching over us like something of a guardian angel. I cannot encourage you to embrace that idea, but what about the thought of asking God to pass along a message to our loved ones? I see no reason why that would be a bad thing. After all, it is simply a request, and God can answer it however He chooses.

3. THEY HAVE THE FREEDOM TO ASK GOD A QUESTION

            This kind of communication shows us that these people have access to God. They can speak to Him and are free to ask Him a question. This observation is a great reminder of the gracious God whom we serve. He desires a relationship with us and makes Himself accessible to us.

            Notice, however, that the martyrs did not receive the exact answer that they may have been looking for. This is also an important reminder that God is not accountable to us. He does not have to answer to us for His actions or His plans, so while we are free to ask Him questions—and may have an even greater freedom to do so in Heaven—we should always remember who’s in charge.

            We often assume that in Heaven, we will get a complete explanation for everything that God allowed in our lives—especially the painful experiences. Just keep in mind that God does not owe us an explanation of these things. I think because He is gracious, He will tell us many things—and we will apparently have the freedom to ask—but just remember that God is not accountable to us; we are accountable to Him.

The fact that these martyrs asked a question reveals another detail…

4. THEY DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD’S ACTIVITIES

            To put this another way, there will be a process of learning in Heaven. It seems common for people to assume that once we enter Heaven, we will immediately have all the knowledge that we will ever have. Sometimes I’ve heard people respond to questions they can’t answer by saying, “Ask me again 3 seconds after I die; then I’ll be able to tell you,” but it doesn’t seem correct to think that knowledge will be downloaded into our mind after we die.

            These martyrs asked a question, which clearly tells us that they did not know everything. There was still information that they could learn, so it seems that we will have the need and the opportunity to learn in Heaven. To a nerd like me, that sounds fantastic! Imagine the thrill of interacting with God and learning new things from Him! Imagine meeting the other people who will be there and learning about their lives and swapping stories about what God did in your life. When I say “learning,” don’t think of a stuffy classroom and tests; think about catching up at a reunion.

5. THEY SEEM TO EXPERIENCE A PASSING OF TIME

            In their question, these martyrs say, “how long before you will judge and avenge our blood?” They clearly understand that time has passed since their deaths, and to them it feels like they’ve been waiting a long time for justice. Notice also that in God’s reply, He tells them to “rest a little longer,” which is also a word that expresses time.

            We discussed this idea a few weeks ago as well. I am quite convinced that we will experience a passing of time in Heaven, but remember that it will be time without end. We’ll never feel like we’re running out of time or that we’re pressed for time or that we don’t have enough time. We will live with one moment coming after another, but every new moment will not represent the loss of opportunities, just another opportunity from a never-ending supply of them.

6. THEY SEEM TO HAVE SOME KIND OF PHYSICAL BODY

            I’m not entirely sure about this observation, but it is a possible conclusion you could draw from the fact that these martyrs are given white robes—a piece of clothing. What’s the use of clothing if you don’t have a body? This gift leads me to think that they do have some kind of physical body. Now, surely it is true that these robes have a symbolic meaning, but just because something is symbolic does not mean it can’t be a real object. Take my wedding ring, for instance. It is symbolic of my wife’s love for me and the vow that she made on our wedding day, but its still a real, physical object.

            Now you may be thinking, “Wait a minute, Tim. In v. 9, John writes, ‘I saw the under the altar the souls of those who had been slain.’” It sounds as though John saw souls without bodies—and that may be exactly what he is saying. But depending on the context, this Greek word can refer to just the soul or the entire person. So John may be saying, “I saw the lives of those who had been slain.”

            This truly is a debatable question—whether or not we receive some kind of temporary body when we go to Heaven. As I mentioned last week, I’m inclined to think that the present Heaven is a physical place, so I’m also inclined to think that we will have a temporary physical body. It would only be temporary, however, because God is going to resurrect the body that lies in the grave. I don’t know if this is a vital question, but its certainly a legitimate question and an interesting one.

7. THEY SEEM TO HAVE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF GOD’S CHARACTER.

            In particular, I think these people have a greater understanding of the fact that God is justified to punish those who oppose Him. I think we struggle a bit in this life with the idea of God punishing people because it seems to go against His love, but these people in Heaven have no problem with the idea. They seem almost shocked that God has not yet carried out vengeance.

            Notice how they address the Lord—“O Sovereign Lord, holy and true.” They’re saying, “God, we know you’re sovereign, so you have all the power you need to act. We know you’re holy, so you can’t tolerate sin. We know you’re true, so you will keep your promise to carry out justice. So how can it be that you haven’t done it yet? Notice also, in v. 11, that God knows that more of His children will die for their faith before He puts an end to it. He knows this, so how can he delay?

            I think this passage reminds us again about the extreme patience and mercy of our God. As 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness.” In other words, it may appear to us that God is dragging His feet, but the verse goes on to say that He “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

God offers time to repent even to those who persecute His children. We may wish He didn’t, but be careful what you wish for! If God did not allow people time to repent, I would be lost, and so would you! If God were not patient, no one would be saved, but what a testimony to God’s mercy that He allows people time to repent.

My friends, if you have never repented of your sins—if you have never acknowledge them for what they are, rebellion against God—then do not throw away God’s mercy and patience. Acknowledge your sinfulness to God today and accept by faith the payment that Jesus has made for your sins through His death and resurrection, and you, too, will be saved.

The Present Heaven--Heaven Series

            Woody Allen once said, “I’m not afraid to die—I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” I think we can all agree with that thought. I’ve often teased my wife by telling her that when I die, I want to leave behind a crater where I was standing, but in all honesty, I think I agree with Woody Allen.

            Its understandable that we don’t like to think about the moment when we will die, but for children of God, the thought of what comes after death is not frightening, but fascinating. We live with the promise that we will go to Heaven to live with God after we die. In Philippians 1, the Apostle Paul said that this was a “far better” option than remaining in this life, even if remaining here meant continued service for God.

            So for us, death is merely an unpleasant moment in an otherwise glorious journey to a better place. But what do we know from Scripture about this “better place?” What do we know about the present Heaven—the Heaven where Jesus and our loved ones live today? So far in our study of Heaven, we’ve been focused on the New Heaven and New Earth that is described at the end of Revelation—the place that is said to be the final dwelling place of God and man. Today, we are going to turn our focus toward the Heaven where Jesus lives today, and we will see what the Bible has to teach us about it.

ARE THERE ANY “STOPPING POINTS” FOR US BETWEEN EARTH AND HEAVEN?

            Some groups within the broad label of Christianity teach that at death, our soul does not go immediately from Earth to Heaven. For example, you may be familiar with the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory, which is said to be a place of suffering where people who are on their way to Heaven go when they die to finish paying for their “less serious” sins.

            To put it simply, the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory has no biblical basis whatsoever. It comes from Catholic tradition and from books that the Catholic Church added to the Bible in the 1500’s in order to combat allegations raised by Martin Luther and others. It is a direct contradiction of the biblical truth that our sins are paid for by Christ in full [READ Colossians 2:13-14; p. 638].

            We can also think of the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him as they were both dying. If its true that most people have minor sins that they must finish paying for, then we could assume that the thief did as well. Yet Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” There’s no reason to think that Jesus was telling him his time in Purgatory would just be unusually short—he was assuring the man that he would go right away to be with the Lord.

            If you have repented of your sins by confessing to God that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness, and if you have placed your faith in Christ’s death and resurrection to provide that forgiveness for you, there is no further payment for your sins that is necessary! Besides, we don’t even have a “currency” that God would accept. Trying to pay for your own sins would be like walking into Wal-Mart and trying to pay in Euros! Only Jesus can pay for our sins, and He has paid for them in full. Thus, there is no need for any place like Purgatory.

            Other groups have promoted an idea called “soul sleep,” which is the idea that the soul goes unconscious at death and does not “wake up” until God resurrects your body out of the grave. This teaching is a misunderstanding of the biblical comparison between death and sleep. Biblically, when you die, your body becomes inactive, but your soul does not. Your soul goes to be with the Lord and is fully conscious at all times.

            In 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul writes these words: “We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” Paul mentions only two possibilities—either I am at home in the body, or I am at home with the Lord. That would mean that when I die, my soul goes immediately to be with the Lord—without losing consciousness and without going somewhere else along the way.

IS THE PRESENT HEAVEN A PHYSICAL PLACE?

            In other words, if you could somehow go there right now, would you be able to touch things, smell things, and maybe even taste things? I think the answer must be “yes,” Heaven is a physical place. I say this for a couple of reasons. First, when Jesus returned to Heaven after His resurrection, He went there in His physical body. We know His resurrected body had flesh and bones, and Jesus went to Heaven in that body, so Heaven must be a place that is suitable for a physical body.

            Also, in the Old Testament, we read about two men who were taken to Heaven in their physical body before they even died. You may remember the story about Elijah in 2 Kings 2, how a fiery chariot appeared and took him into Heaven. There was also a man named Enoch in the book of Genesis who was apparently taken to Heaven permanently, without dying. Their stories also show that Heaven must be a place that is suitable for a physical body.

            Second, it seems that at least some of the objects in our world are copies of objects that exist in Heaven. Let me ask—have you ever read in the Old Testament about the tent where God met with Moses and wondered why God gave him such detailed instructions about how to build it? He gave him precise measurements and told him exactly how to decorate it. It seems that the Lord did that because that sacred place—which was called “the Tabernacle”—may have been a copy of a place that exists in Heaven. In Hebrews 8:5, the author of Hebrews writes about the priests of the Old Testament, and he states, “They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ‘See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.’”

            That verse may not require the conclusion that there is an exact, physical place like the Tabernacle in Heaven, but it could strongly suggest it. Either way, we can think again about the body of Jesus and conclude that Heaven must be the kind of place that can accommodate a physical body, so it would seem that it is a physical place.

This raises another question for us…

WHERE IS HEAVEN?

            Is it some place in our universe, like a far-away planet, or is it outside of our universe? There seem to be three basic options for an answer. The first option is that it is not in our universe. In other words, if we could explore every corner of outer space, we would never find Heaven, because it is not within our universe. The second option is that it is a specific place within our universe. In other words, if we could explore every corner of outer space, we would be able to find Heaven somewhere.

            The third option is that Heaven permeates our universe—that it is all around us, but we just can’t see it unless God allows us to. The Bible does teach that God is always with us, and apparently we are always accompanied by angels as well, so some have said that perhaps Heaven is all around us, too.

            I am more inclined to believe that Heaven is a specific place within our universe. The Bible always portrays Heaven as being “up” from the Earth, which gives us the impression that its “up there somewhere.” For example, Jesus ascended into Heaven after His resurrection; Elijah was taken “up” by the fiery chariot. Of course, “up” is undoubtedly just a general description as well. Since the Earth is round, going “up” from Antarctica would take you in a different direction than if you went “up” from Canada!

So, its tough to say exactly where Heaven is, but fortunately, we can say much more about what its like—which is the most important detail, anyway!

WHAT IS THE PRESENT HEAVEN LIKE?

            In a few passages, the New Testament uses the word “Paradise” as a title for Heaven. For example, when the thief on the cross asked Jesus to remember him as they were both dying, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise (Luke 23:43).” This word is an ancient Persian word that refers to an enclosed garden. Think of a nature sanctuary—a place of tremendous natural beauty that is safe and protected. That’s the picture that the word conveys.

            This word was also used in translations of the Old Testament to refer to the Garden of Eden, so it could be that thinking about the Garden of Eden will give us a very accurate picture of Heaven. Genesis 2 says Eden contained “every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food (Gen. 2:9).” There was also a river running through it, and animals were there, and best of all, it was a place that God and man enjoyed together.

            There is also a possibility that the New Jerusalem we recently read about in Revelation is actually the Heaven where Jesus lives today. Connect these dots with me—the present Heaven is referred to as Paradise, and in Rev. 2:7, Jesus says that the tree of life is in paradise. Then, when we get to Revelation 22 and read about the city called the New Jerusalem, we find that the tree of life is there. So if the tree of life is in Paradise, and the tree of life is in the New Jerusalem, it could be that Paradise and the New Jerusalem are the same place! (This is starting to feel like algebra class all over again—if a=b and b=c, then a=c).

            I think there’s a very good possibility that this is true. Remember, in Revelation 21, John said that he saw the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven to settle on the New Earth, and it was called, “the dwelling place of God (Rev. 21:3).” So if you want an accurate picture of the present Heaven, I think you could picture the Garden of Eden and the city called the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21-22. You might remember that Revelation 22 described a beautiful, park-like area in the middle of the New Jerusalem, so even there we have these two images combined.

            In the words of Paul, this certainly does sound like a “far better” place, and if you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you don’t need to fear that you don’t know the way to get there. In John 14, as Jesus was telling His disciples that He would soon be leaving this world, his disciple, Thomas, became concerned and said, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” And Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:5-6).”

            Getting to Heaven is not about knowing a path; its about knowing a person—the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came to die in our place because have rebelled against God through our sin. He paid the penalty for our treason on the cross, but then He rose from the grave to give us the offer of forgiveness and eternal life with Him. You can accept that offer today by confessing your sinful rebellion against God and believing that His Son, our Lord Jesus, has paid for your sins so that you can be forgiven. Then, you can live in unity with God today and carry out His purpose for your life, and you can have the assurance that you will live with Him when you die.

            But remember, my friends, Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is no other way to find forgiveness; no other way to be reunited with God; no other way to gain entrance into Heaven. You must accept Christ as your Savior, and I urge you to do so today!

Life in the New Heaven and New Earth: Part 2--Heaven Series

Explanation of page numbers: As you read this post, you will find page numbers beside the references to the Scripture passages that I ask you to read. These page numbers refer to the pew Bibles at my church. I have chosen not to comb through the manuscript and remove them simply to save time on my end.

            In my seminary preaching classes, I was taught that the goal of a sermon introduction is to grab the congregation’s attention and convince them that they should put forth the effort to pay attention to you. Today, I think I can do that very easily by simply telling you that we’re going to talk about our relationships with our loved ones in Heaven. This is perhaps the most common question that people have about Heaven—will we recognize our loved ones, and will we live with them? We’ll talk specifically about the relationship of marriage, but these details will apply to all of our loved ones. We have much to discuss today, and I don’t want to waste any time, so let’s get right into these questions.

Will we live with our spouse in Heaven? Will we live in family units?

            I want to answer these questions carefully and thoroughly by walking through a few thoughts that should bring some clarity for us.

1. Our marriage relationships from this life will be superseded by our relationship with Jesus. Thus, marriage relationships will no longer be needed and we will no longer have them.

            Jesus gives us a fairly clear answer about marriage in Heaven in a discussion that He had with the Sadducees in Matthew 22. The Sadducees were the “liberal” Jewish group who denied some of the traditional beliefs of the Jewish people, and one day they tried to stump Jesus with a question about the resurrection, which they did not believe in [READ Matt. 22:23-28; p. 537].

            The point of the Sadducees question, of course, was to try and show that the whole idea of a resurrection and life after death was ridiculous. But Jesus used the situation to correct their mistaken beliefs [READ 22:29-30]. Notice that Jesus does not say we BECOME angels; He says that we will be like them in this one sense—that we will not be married to each other.

            So Jesus corrects the Sadducees by teaching them that their hypothetical situation does not apply to what our relationships will be like in Heaven. This is why its fine to get remarried if your spouse passes away. You are not breaking the vow you made to your spouse, and you are not creating any complications for your future life in Heaven.

            It seems that the reason we will not be married in Heaven is that marriage today is supposed to be like a living prophecy that teaches us about something that will finally come true in Heaven. It seems that marriage today is meant to teach us about the emotional and spiritual unity that we will enjoy with God, and once that unity becomes a full reality in Heaven, we will no longer need the relationship that was merely a picture of it in this life.

The Apostle Paul alludes to this thought in Ephesians 5. In this passage, Paul is discussing how husbands and wives should treat each other, and in v. 31, he quotes the famous statement about marriage from Genesis 2:24 [READ Eph. 5:31-32; p. 635]. Paul is saying that marriage, in its fullest purpose and intent, is a picture of Christ’s relationship with those whom He has saved. When that relationship reaches its greatest and fullest reality in Heaven, we will no longer need this earthly relationship which was—at best—an imperfect picture of our relationship with Christ.

C. S. Lewis once used the illustration of a child who was told about the pleasures of the physical relationship in marriage, and the child responds by saying, “Yes, but will we eat chocolate, too?” The child can’t imagine a greater pleasure than eating chocolate, so he thinks that any other pleasure would surely be diminished if he weren’t also eating chocolate, too.

I think our thoughts about Heaven may be similar. We are told that we will live with God and we will see His face, and our very natural response is to say, “Yes, but…” I think we can barely imagine how wonderful our relationship with God will be, so we are tempted to think that our joy will be diminished if our relationship with our spouse is not the same as it is here. I don’t think God holds that thought against us any more than we would rebuke the child who asks about chocolate. I would simply encourage you to ponder the satisfaction that you will enjoy in your relationship with God.

But there is more that we should keep in mind as we think about our spouse and our loved ones…

2. We will recognize our spouse and loved ones in Heaven, and we may remember many of our experiences with them.

            I think we can have the utmost confidence that we will recognize our loved ones in Heaven. After Jesus rose from the grave, He was perfectly recognizable to His disciples. There was one situation in the Gospel of Luke where a couple of disciples did not recognize Him, but Luke 24:16 specifically says that they were prevented from recognizing Him—apparently because God wanted to teach them something. Otherwise, people always recognized Jesus when they saw him.

            I also want to point you to a fascinating parable that Jesus told in Luke 16. This parable raises a lot of questions, and unfortunately we just don’t have time to answer them today, but I want to point out some details that we learn about the afterlife from this parable [READ Luke 16:19-25; p. 569; “Abraham’s side” seems to be a round-about way of referring to Heaven. Jewish people were almost superstitious about using the words “God” or “Heaven,” so they would often refer to them in round-about ways]. I’m going to stop here because we’ve read all we need for today.

            Notice a couple of details in this parable. First, the rich man recognized Lazarus when he saw him. He had known Lazarus in this life, and he recognized him in the afterlife. Second, notice that Abraham’s command to the rich man assumes that the rich man was able to remember his life. Abraham told him to remember his life, which obviously tells us that he could!

            These details lead me to believe that in Heaven, we will recognize people that we knew in this life, and we will remember experiences that we had with them. If that’s the case, then we may have a unique bond with our loved ones because of all the memories that we share.

3. We may live with them in some manner.

            The Bible honestly doesn’t say much about what our living arrangements will be in Heaven. Jesus did say in John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many rooms,” but He didn’t elaborate on that thought for us. With the way that Scripture exalts relationships and community, it would be an unexpected development if we lived by ourselves, so I anticipate that we will live with each other in some fashion. If we are going to live with other people, I can’t think of any reason why those other people couldn’t be our loved ones. We apparently will not be living in a marriage relationship, but that doesn’t mean we won’t live together at all.

            So to sum up this discussion, we will not be united in marriage in Heaven because we will have the unity with God that marriage is meant to portray. But we will recognize each other and remember our lives together, and we may live together in some fashion. Whatever our living arrangements, we could apparently choose to spend time together whenever we have the freedom to do so.

What will we know? Will we learn about God’s purposes for various events in our lives?

            Many DVD’s today offer a special feature that allows you to watch the movie while listening to a commentary from the director or actors in the movie. They normally share some background information about the making of the film. Will we have an opportunity to do something similar with God? Will we get to watch something like a movie of our life and listen to God explain what was going on?

            That’s difficult to say, but it does seem clear that we will know more about God, and perhaps more about our own lives. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul is discussing the indirect, piece-by-piece manner in which God used to communicate to people through methods like the gift of tongues and the gift of prophecy, and he highlights the direct way that we will learn from God in Heaven: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known (1 Cor 13:12).”

            Now don’t get the idea that we will come to know absolutely everything the way that God does. The biblical illustration for what Paul was talking about comes from Numbers 12. In this chapter, Moses’ siblings, Miriam and Aaron, were throwing a fit because they wanted people to recognize that God had spoken to them, too, and not just Moses. But the Lord reminded them that He spoke to Moses in a unique way [READ Num. 12:6-8; p. 78].

            If the Lord spoke to a prophet at that time, He gave them a dream or a vision—something that was indirect, that had to be interpreted and which may have been difficult to interpret. But Moses spoke to God and learned from Him directly in clear statements.

            That’s a description of the kind of access we will have to God in Heaven! Today, you and I learn from God by studying the writings that He inspired men to write thousands of years ago. But in Heaven, we will speak to God directly, and He will speak to us directly. We will apparently have the freedom to ask God questions, and in His grace He may choose to answer them.

            Also, our ability to learn and think will not be hindered by sinful biases. Our knowledge about other people will not be clouded by gossip or envy; our memory will not fade from the effects of aging; our time in which to learn will be endless.

            So it seems that we will know far more about God, and perhaps about our own lives. It also seems reasonable that we will get to know other people as well. We could apparently ask Jonah what it was like inside that fish, or ask Noah what it was like inside the Ark. There would be a lot of people in Heaven to get to know, and we may spend quite a bit of time doing just that!

Will there be animals in Heaven?

            I think the answer to this question is “yes.” In fact, I’ll say I’m 95% certain. Here is why I say that—animals have always occupied a special role in God’s creation, and He cares about their well-being. Proverbs 12:10 says, “A righteous man cares about his animal’s health.” A righteous person reflects the character of God in his actions, so this verse tells us that God cares about the health of animals as well.

            Consider this—when God decided to cause the worldwide flood of Noah’s day, He made provisions to see to it that two of every kind of animal He made would be saved from that disaster. And in Genesis 9, when God made a promise to Noah that He would never again destroy the Earth with a flood, the Lord specifically named the animals as recipients of that promise as well. The rainbow is just as much a sign to them as it is to us.

            Moreover, consider this—various angels who are described in the Bible are said to have animal-like features. In Ezekiel 1, for instance, we read about angels who have wings like birds, feet like calves, and faces like a lion, an ox, and an eagle. But rather than say that these angels have animal-like features, it may be more accurate to say that the animals have angel-like features.

            The Bible gives us an indication that angels existed first—before the animals! Job 38:7 says that when God laid the foundation of the earth, “the sons of God shouted for joy.” That phrase “sons of God” is a clear reference to angels in other verses, so it probably is in that verse as well. It could be that in the same way that God made us in His image, He made animals in the image of angels. If that is true, then animals would seem to occupy an even greater place in God’s creation.

            Perhaps the bottom line is simply this—God created animals for this Earth, so why not for the New Earth? God cares about animals and has even made a promise to them, so its very reasonable to think that He will include animals in Heaven.

            But there’s another interesting question that surrounds this discussion—will those animals be the same animals that we loved in this life (our pets)? Might we also be reunited with pets that we have loved? I am going to answer this question with a hesitant “yes.” I’ll say I’m 65% certain about this one.

            Let me show you why I say this. In Romans 8, Paul discusses the terrible effects that our sin has had on the creation around us, but he states that one day creation will be set free from these effects [READ Rom. 8:18-21; p. 613]. In vv. 20-21, Paul seems to be saying that the same creation which is suffering under the Curse right now will be the creation that is set free from the Curse when we are set free from it as well. Since animals are part of the creation, this could indicate that the same animals who suffer today because of our sin will be the animals that will receive the blessings of our completed redemption. That would mean that the animals in Heaven will not be completely new creatures but will be animals from this world restored to life.

            I’m not certain about that, but I do think it’s a bit more likely than not. I like what Joni Eareckson Tada had to say about this question: “If God brings our pets back to life…It would be just like Him…Extravagant in grace after grace. Of all the dazzling discoveries and ecstatic pleasures heaven will hold for us, the potential of seeing Scrappy would be pure whimsy—utterly, joyfully, surprisingly superfluous….Heaven is going to be a place that will refract and reflect in as many ways as possible the goodness and joy of our great God, who delights in lavishing love on His children.”¹

            What a great description of the God with whom we will spend eternity—a God who takes joy in our joy and delights in our delight. We will see Him and live with Him forever, and that would be enough. But He is the God who does far more abundantly than all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20), so we’ll get even more. We won’t just get to see Him, but we’ll get to see our loved ones, too, and maybe we’ll even see that mangy old dog who used to follow us everywhere we went.

            Look forward to that place, my friends! When your path turns dark, look forward! When dangers threaten, look forward! When your traveling companions go on ahead, look forward, and let the light of the God who lives in that place fill your eyes and thrill your soul, to keep your chin up until you are there.

Notes:

1. As quoted in Randy Alcorn, Heaven (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2004), 401.

Life in the New Heaven and New Earth--Heaven Series

            Plenty of people over the years have speculated about what Heaven may be like, and songwriters have been no exception. Their songs have run the gamut from simple questions about Heaven to definitive statements and everything in between. The best-known song about Heaven in our culture may be “Tears in Heaven,” by Eric Clapton, which just asks some simple questions about a loved one who had passed away: “Would you know my name/if I saw you in Heaven? Would it be the same/if I saw you in Heaven?”

            Another song that’s been popular lately is a song recorded by Brad Paisley called, “When I Get Where I’m Going.” This song makes some more definite statements about what the songwriter plans to do when he gets to Heaven: “When I get where I’m going/on the far side of the sky/the first thing that I’m gonna do/is spread my wings and fly. I’m gonna land beside a lion/run my fingers through his mane/or I might find out what its like/to ride a drop of rain.” (I’m not so sure about all of those details!)

            With so many different expressions about Heaven in our culture—from hesitant questions to definite statements—we may feel as though its hopeless to learn anything for certain about Heaven. But through careful study of the Scriptures, we can learn more than you might think, and even if we can’t pin down a precise answer to some questions, we can come pretty close.

            Today, we’re going to begin studying what life in the New Heaven and New Earth will be like. We’ll move through a question-and-answer format today, and keep in mind that when we talk about the New Heaven and New Earth, we’re talking about our eternal home with God. It is tricky to know whether some of the details of this study apply to the Heaven where Jesus lives today. We’ll spend some time in just a couple of weeks talking about the Heaven where Jesus lives today, but for today, let’s look forward to life in the New Heaven and New Earth!

What will we do there?

            People have always been eager to answer this question by suggesting that life in Heaven will revolve around their favorite activities. So some people like to imagine life in Heaven as an endless round of golf with unlimited mulligans, while other people would like to think of Heaven as an endless garden party with a never-ending amount of time to talk to each other.

            But does the Bible give us any definitive information about what we will do there? I believe it certainly does. Revelation 22 mentions a couple of activities that could actually be broad categories of activity that will occupy our time. First, it will come as no surprise that we’re told we will worship God [READ Rev. 22:3]. Now if the earlier chapters of Revelation picture what this worship will look like, then it will involve times of gathering together around the throne of God to sing His praises.

            We can see that we will worship God in Heaven, but Revelation 22:5 mentions another activity [READ Rev. 22:5]. That statement may intentionally point us back to the original command that God gave to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28—“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Humanity was created to rule over this planet and the creatures on it, so it may be that we will have the same task in the New Heaven and New Earth—to cultivate it and care for it and manage it. This thought immediately brings to mind some tasks like farming and gardening, but it could open the door for a wide variety of tasks as well. In the same way that God has allowed us to use the elements of this planet to make things as diverse as paintings and computer chips, it could be that we will have the same diversity of occupations that we see around us today—with a few exceptions of course! There will be no funeral directors in Heaven, no soldiers, no police officers, and no grief counselors. We could name a few others, but with those exceptions, we may see a wide variety of occupations in Heaven.

            So what will we do? We will worship, and—it seems—we will work, at least in some capacity, but without the frustrations that we face from work in this life. We will get the joys of accomplishment without the sorrows.

What will we be like? What will our bodies be like? What age will we be?

            Let me first clear up an idea from pop culture that is very common, but false. We will NOT become angels when we get to Heaven. We are human beings, and we will always remain human beings. In fact, we may have authority over angels in the New Heaven and New Earth. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul criticizes the Corinthians for taking each other to court. He encourages them instead to settle their differences within the church, and in the middle of this discussion he writes, “Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life (1 Cor 6:3)!” Its fascinating that Paul wrote that as a rhetorical question. He treats that idea like it comes from Sunday School 101! I wish he had elaborated on that idea a bit more, but his statement does tell us clearly that at some point in time we will apparently have authority over angels. All of this is to say that if we did become angels in Heaven, it might actually be a demotion rather than a promotion!

            So we will not become angels, but what will we be like? 1 John 3:2 may give us a helpful hint [READ 1 John 3:2]. We should remember to take the first part of that verse as a warning against being too dogmatic about certain things. John clearly says, “what we will be has not yet appeared,” so we should be careful about making our speculations sound like they are the Gospel Truth.

            But, John does also say, “when he appears (which apparently refers to Jesus) we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” This phrase could tell us that the resurrection body of Jesus could give us a glimpse of what we will be like. We know that His body had flesh and bones because He said so. We know His body could eat food because He ate with the disciples. His body was apparently capable of moving instantly from one place to another, because Luke 24:31 says that He “vanished” out of sight as he sat with some of his disciples. So all of those details could be true of us as well.

            Some Bible teachers, however, have pushed the word “like” in 1 John 3:2 to an extreme that we just cannot be certain about. Some people have taught that we will all be 33 years old in Heaven because that’s how old Jesus was when He died and rose from the grave, but we really have little reason to teach that with any certainty. We often tend to think that we will be in our 20’s or 30’s in Heaven because we associate those ages with strength and health, but its certainly possible that God could take you with your present body and give it perfect strength and health.

            The bottom line is that we just don’t know how old we will be. Its not a bad question to think about, but it is one for which we just don’t have a definite answer.

            Before we move on, I do want to mention one possibility about our appearance that you may have never heard about—the possibility that our bodies will literally shine. You’ve actually sung about this idea a thousand times, but you probably never thought about it. Have you ever sung the words, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years/bright shining as the sun?” Of course—all of us have! Those lyrics are drawing on a biblical picture that could actually be a literal reality in Heaven.

Consider these words from Daniel 12:2-3—“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Now, our first thought may be to think that v. 3 is a metaphor for something else, but consider this—when v. 2 says that those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, we think that will literally happen, don’t we? We call it the Resurrection! But why then should we think v. 3—the very next verse—will not also happen literally?

If this will be true, it will probably be very similar to the way that Moses’ face was said to shine after he spoke to God in the wilderness. Because he had been in the presence of God’s visible glory, his face would shine afterward. In Heaven, since we will be in the presence of God’s glory, our bodies may have the same reaction, causing us to shine.

Will we experience a passing of time? Will life be like one never-ending day?

            For many years, we’ve sung these lyrics: “When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound/and time shall be no more.” Those words are from the hymn “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder I’ll Be There.” But is that expression about time entirely accurate? I’m not sure that it is. I think at a minimum we will experience a passing of time in the general sense of before and after, but we may also measure time and keep track of it in some fashion.

            If that is true, we would have to measure time differently than we do today. Today we measure time primarily by the sun and the moon. We measure a day by the rotation of the Earth with respect to the sun; we measure a month by the phases of the moon as we observe it from Earth; and we measure a year by the orbit of the Earth around the sun. When we compare these measurements to the description of the New Heaven and the New Earth, it is very clear that if we measure time there, it will be very different from the way we do it now.

            Rev. 21:25 and 22:5 state clearly that there will be no night on the New Heaven and New Earth. Rev. 21:23 and 22:5 state that we will not need the sun or the moon to provide light for us because light will shine out from God Himself. Thus, it could very well be that there will not be a sun or a moon there.

            And yet, in the description of the tree of life, Rev. 22:2 says that the tree will yield its fruit each month, and a month is obviously a measurement of time. So it could be that we will keep track of time in some fashion in the New Heaven and New Earth.

            If this thought is disappointing to you, let’s consider why we dislike time in the here-and-now. I think the main reason we dislike time is that we’re running out of it in this life, and as time passes it takes with it opportunities to do certain things, like speak to friends and loved ones. But in Heaven, we would never run out of time. Time would actually be like a never-ending supply of opportunities. You could say, “See you later,” to a friend, and it would always be true!

            I think we also dislike time today because we can’t go back and undo things that have happened in the past. But remember, in Heaven, we will not sin and no one will sin against us! We won’t have any need or desire to go back and correct something because we won’t have anything to correct!

            So it could be that we will measure time in some way. It is very difficult to say, however, whether life will be like one never-ending day, or whether we will have some kind of “daily routine” like we have today. It is possible that we may sleep, since Adam and Eve apparently slept even when they still had their perfect bodies, but we must remember that Scripture does say there will be no night in the New Heaven and New Earth, so we apparently will not have a day and night cycle like we do now. We know that we will at least have periods of work and periods of worship, and it seems safe to assume that we will have periods of rest and probably celebration and play as well.

It is hard to say much more about the passing of time in Heaven, but the final stanza of “Amazing Grace” may capture the reality quite well: “When we’ve been there ten thousand years/bright shining as the sun/we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise/than when we first begun.”

            I believe we are starting to bring a biblical picture of Heaven into greater focus. If some of these questions seem too “theoretical” to you and not really worthy of our time, let me see if I can explain their value. When we think long and hard about Heaven and what it will be like, it becomes more real to us even if we can’t nail down an exact answer to all of our questions, and as Heaven starts to feel more real to us, we will become increasingly consumed by the thought that we will live there one day! We are reminded that this life is not all there is—there is life after death, and we can get a good understanding of what it will be like.

            If we fail to think about Heaven and what it will be like, there is a danger that it will feel very unreal to us. With the pressures and the stresses of daily life in the here-and-now, we can easily allow ourselves to become absorbed with nothing more than today, which robs us of a healthy, long-term perspective about our lives. As the title of a recent book proclaims, Heaven is for real, and its reality should change our lives today.

A Tour of the New Heaven and New Earth--Heaven Series

            In our neck of the woods, we’re not all that fond of cities. We like the shopping and the restaurants in places like Wichita or Kansas City, but on the whole we would just as soon avoid cities if we could. When we think of cities, we think of traffic jams, overcrowding, and crime. Many of us could have moved to a city at some point in time, but we prefer to live in a place like Montezuma.

            So when we read Revelation 21-22 and learn about our future home with God, we may feel a small sting of disappointment when we discover that most of the information describes a very big city! We might prefer to read about a grain elevator made of gold, but I think any disappointment will quickly disappear as we read these inspiring chapters.

            Today, we’re going to go on a tour of the New Heaven and New Earth as they’re described in Revelation. We’ll read about a spectacular city with its foundations and walls, and we’ll get a glimpse of what may lie beyond those walls. Join me in Revelation 21:1. We’ll read through 22:5, and I’ll stop and offer some comments along the way.

A Tour of the New Heaven and New Earth

            “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” When you hear the words “passed away,” don’t think “went out of existence.” Think of the way that our bodies “pass away”—they die, but then they are resurrected in power and strength. I think our universe will have a similar transformation. I fear that I may have chosen my words poorly last week because I may have given you the impression that our universe will cease to exist, and then the new heaven and new earth will be created, but I don’t think that’s correct. I don’t believe this earth will be removed, but rather renewed—or in a very real sense, resurrected (in a very similar way to our bodies).

            Last week, we read in 2 Peter 3 about destruction by fire that will come upon our world. I believe we should conceive of that event as being similar to the way a wildfire or a forest fire cleanses an area and allows new growth and new life to spring up. I believe that is God’s plan for our world.

            The text goes on to say that in John’s vision, “the sea was no more.” That is a significant observation because the dominant feature of our planet is the sea! But this observation reminds us that our present-day seas or oceans are actually a result of God’s wrath! All of that water is from the flood of Noah’s day, an event that displayed God’s judgment upon mankind. But in the New Earth, that reminder of judgment will be taken away. Now that doesn’t mean that there won’t be lakes and ponds perhaps, because in just a bit we’re going to read about a river, but the New Earth will no longer have water as its dominant feature.

The Holy City—the New Jerusalem

            [READ v. 2] The fact that this city is called the “new” Jerusalem reminds us of the special place that Jerusalem has occupied in God’s plan. It was the capital of the Jewish nation, the seat of David’s throne—on which the Lord will reign in the Millennium. It was the site of Christ’s death and resurrection and the birthplace of the church, and one day it will be the place where Jesus will first set foot when He returns to this world. And so this city will bear the name of Jerusalem, where so many significant events have taken place.

            In v. 3, we begin to read some of the most familiar verses of this entire section [READ vv. 3-4]. “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” Obviously, that excludes the former things like death which were just said to have passed away. Those things will have no place in the New Heaven and New Earth, but the creation itself will be renewed into a new beauty that surpasses its old beauty.

            [READ v. 5b-8] Here we see a great distinction made among mankind. I will touch on this a bit more at the end of the sermon this morning, but for now simply note this—there is not one, universal destiny for mankind. Some people will be in Heaven, but some people will not. Please allow the gravity of that thought to sink into your heart, and we will revisit this reality in just a bit.

The Description of the City

            [READ v. 9-14] Notice that the city has a memorial for both of the groups through whom the Lord has primarily done His work in this world—the nation of Israel and the church. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel were on the gates of the city, and the names of the 12 Apostles were on the foundations.

            [READ v. 15-16] These dimensions describe a massive city, one that is actually larger than many countries in our world today. If this city were situated in the middle of the United States, it would stretch from the Gulf of Mexico into Canada and from the Appalachians to the Rockies! And notice that v. 16 says its height is the same—about 1,380 miles. Some of you may have heard about the man who recently broke the record for highest skydive. He was a mere 24 miles off the ground. The boundary between the atmosphere and outer space is commonly said to be 62 miles, so this measurement would seem to suggest one of two things—either the New Earth will be vastly larger than the present earth, or the composition of the atmosphere will somehow be different. Commentators disagree about whether the city will have a cube-like shape with all of its buildings reaching that height, or whether it will have more of a pyramid-like shape, like the city of Mont-St-Michel on the northwest coast of France. I’m inclined to think that it will have a pyramid shape with the throne of God serving as the focal point at the top, but either way, there will be plenty of room for all the saved people of the Earth to live there. If we were to divide the height of that city into stories and give a generous 20 feet to each story, the city would have 396,000 stories!

            [READ v. 17] That statement about measurement simply reminds us that the angel was using the same measurements that we use. The wall measures about 216 feet, which is very tall by our standards, but puny compared to the overall height of the city, but as we’ll see, the wall isn’t there for defense anyway—it serves a decorative purpose.

            [READ v. 18-21] Its hard to even imagine the beauty of such a place, especially as we read that it will constantly be reflecting light that shines from God Himself.

            [READ v. 22] The purpose of a temple, at least in the Bible, is that it is a place where the perfect God consents to have contact with imperfect humans. Think of it like a great hall in a palace where a king or queen may occasionally greet the public. A temple is a place of access to God, but it is a place of restricted access, where certain protocols and procedures have to be maintained. But in the New Heaven and New Earth, we will enjoy perfect fellowship with God, so such a place will not be needed.

[READ v. 23-26]. The mention of nations and kings in these verses raises some very interesting possibilities. Commentators have offered no less than 10 possible interpretations of these statements! Do they refer to nations in this world or do they refer to some kind of national identities in Heaven? I admit that this is some speculation, but my take on it is this—I think these verses refer to national identities in Heaven, whether they are retained from this life or whether we are re-organized into people groups in Heaven, and the kings would be believers who are appointed to lead those groups. If this is true, it would suggest that at least some of us—if not all of us—will settle on the New Earth outside of the New Jerusalem, but we will come together there for special times of worship and celebration. Thus, the New Jerusalem would have a role like that of Jerusalem in the Old Testament, where it was the gathering place for special times of worship, though most of the Jewish people actually lived elsewhere. The statement that the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it could describe something like a state fair in which people gather from far and wide to display their accomplishments and achievements.

So again, my take is this—we will be organized in some way into people groups, and some of us will be appointed to lead those groups. If it seems shocking to you to think that there may be leaders and subordinates in Heaven, just consider this—God has placed a leadership structure in everything that He has created! Angels apparently have a leadership structure, if we judge by the titles that are used to describe them in the Bible. Israel had a leadership structure, first with Moses and the elders of the tribes, then with a king. The home has a leadership structure, the church has leadership structure—even the members of the Trinity have a leadership structure for themselves. When Jesus walked the Earth, he said, “I can do nothing on my initiative…I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me (John 5:30).”  God the Father and God the Son have the same attributes and abilities, but for the purpose of carrying out their plan for creation they have embraced an authority structure in which the Son carries out the will of the Father.

Now I confess that my interpretation of these verses could be wrong, but the next verse gives us a detail about which we can be absolutely certain [READ v. 27]. Once again we are warned that Heaven is not the universal destination for mankind. There are some who will not enter it—more on that thought in just a moment.

The River of Life

            As we move into chapter 22, the description now moves from the city as a whole to the central feature of the city—a river flowing from the throne of God [READ 22:1-2]. This breathtaking scene describes a wide street with a river flowing down the middle of it, lined on both sides by the tree of life. It seems that the tree of life is not simply one true but a particular variety of tree, like when we speak of apple trees or pear trees. Verse 2 says its leaves were for “the healing of the nations.” We should not take that to mean that there will be sickness in Heaven, but apparently our bodies will still need some kind of sustenance. It could be that we will receive some kind of medicine from those trees when we first enter Heaven, or our bodies may need some kind of ongoing sustenance—in the same way that Adam and Eve ate food when their bodies were still perfect. Either way, this area will apparently be like a Central Park in the city that we will get to enjoy.

            Finally, we read these words [READ v. 3-5]. Thus, the Bible ends the same way it began—with mankind sharing in God’s reign over His creation. The great drama of the Bible comes full circle as God completes His work of redemption, and humanity lives with God in the way that we were supposed to from the beginning—enjoying His presence, and reigning over the domain that He has entrusted to us.

            It is amazing when we discover that God’s original intention for us has not been set aside; His plans have not been thwarted. Instead, He will achieve them in spite of all opposition. So just as God intended, we will glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.

            But in the midst of this glorious vision, we cannot escape the reality that some people will not be allowed to enter Heaven. This is a sobering reality, but God extends to us all a gracious offer to find life through Him. In 21:6, the Lord states that he will give to the thirsty a drink from the water of life without payment, but there is a vital implication here—we must realize our need for it. Thirst is a metaphor for a real and imminent need; the need for water cannot go unmet for long before it has deadly consequences.

            In the same way, we must realize that we have a real and imminent spiritual need—the need to have our sins forgiven by God. Through our sins, we have broken God’s law, and as a fair and honest judge He cannot simply overlook these moral crimes. He must see that a fitting punishment is carried out. But because He loves us, He was willing to take our punishment for us and offer us a pardon, which He has done by sending the Lord Jesus, His own Son, into this world to die on the cross as the punishment for our sins and to rise from the grave as our hope for forgiveness and eternal life.

            The Lord will give us His pardon—He will give us the water of life—if we will simply acknowledge our need for it by repenting of our sins and placing our faith in His promise. If we do not receive His pardon, the only other option is that we will pay for our sins ourselves, and that sentence is described in v. 8 as being a place in the lake that burns with fire.

            We have a real and imminent need in our lives, and if we will accept God’s offer of salvation through Jesus, He will not turn us away! We will have a place in that great city—the New Jerusalem—which will be great because God is there. And as He promised, He will be your God, and you will be His child. Do not allow your imminent need of forgiveness to go unmet—trust in Christ today!

Foundational Thoughts for Thinking About Heaven--Heaven Series

            Imagine this scenario with me: imagine that humans have developed the technology to colonize Mars. We’ve mastered space travel, we know how to create livable conditions on other planets, and now we are going to set out “where no man has gone before” to build a colony on Mars. Now imagine that you are selected to be in the first group of people who are going to live on Mars. What would you do in that situation?

            I suspect you would try to learn everything you could about Mars. After all, you’re going to be living there now. We won’t even move to a new school district without finding out everything we can about it, so if you were going to live on a new planet, I bet you would do your homework. What will it be like? What will we do there? How can I prepare for my new life there before I leave?

            Now imagine that the day arrives when you are scheduled to leave. As you get strapped in to your seat in the space shuttle, you turn to the person next to you and say, “Wow! Isn’t this exciting? I’ve been looking forward to this since the day I heard about it. I can’t wait to see this and that and do these things.” And the other person says, “Wow! You seem to know a lot about this place.” To which you respond, “Don’t you? I mean we’re on our way to live there!” And the other person says, “Not really. I didn’t really think to look into it. When I found out that I was going to live there, I said ‘Wow! That sounds great! Just come get me when its time to go, and I’ll be there.’”

            Does that seem far-fetched to you? Would anyone choose to remain ignorant about a place that they were going to live in someday? No—and yet, we have all probably done just that when it comes to Heaven. I’ll admit it—I’ve never put out much effort to learn about what Heaven will be like until now! Even in seminary, we didn’t spend much time talking about it.

            This situation is almost unfathomable when you think about it. How can it be that we’ve chosen to remain ignorant about Heaven? We have promises in the Bible that we are going to live with God someday in a place with no sin, no sickness, no sorrow, and no death! Yet how do we respond? “Shazam! That sounds great, Lord! I can’t wait! Just come get me when its time to go. I’ll be here finishing season one of ‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.’”

            What has happened that we have this kind of disconnect? I think some people have lacked the motivation to study the subject of Heaven because they think we can’t understand anything about it. When talking about Heaven, some people have pointed to 1 Corinthians 2:9, which says, “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him,” and they’ve said, “Well, I guess that means we can’t know much about heaven. It sounds like it will be great, but we just can’t know much about it.” Yet look at v. 10—“these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.” What Paul meant is that we could never have figured out God’s plan for us on our own, but God has revealed it to us in the Bible—and that includes information about Heaven, as we shall see.

            Over the next several weeks, we are going to study this inspiring subject. Today we are going to lay down some foundational thoughts that will guide the rest of our study. These thoughts will hopefully clear up some common misconceptions so that we can build our understanding of heaven on a solid foundation.

1. The Heaven where Jesus lives right now is different from the New Heaven and New Earth, where we will live for eternity.

            This point is important to understand because it means that some things may be true of the Heaven where Jesus lives today that will not be true of the New Heaven and New Earth where we will live for eternity—and vice versa. As we go through this study, I’m going to be careful to point out when I’m talking about the Heaven where Jesus lives today rather than the New Heaven and New Earth.

            It seems from Scripture that the New Heaven and New Earth will be a new universe in which we will live after God causes this universe to be destroyed. Let’s look together at a passage in 2 Peter 3 [READ 2 Peter 3:10-13]. We then find a description of the New Heaven and New Earth in Revelation 21-22. We will look at this passage in more depth next week, but notice the introduction that we find in Revelation 21:1 [READ Rev. 21:1].

            We can point out a few differences already from what Scripture tells us. For example, our loved ones who live in Heaven with Jesus today do not have their physical bodies. Only their soul is there; their bodies, as we know, are in the grave. But in the New Heaven and New Earth, everyone will once again have their physical bodies, which will have been resurrected.

            Also, it seems somewhat likely that there is a temple in the Heaven where Jesus lives today, but Revelation 21:22 says clearly that there will be no temple in the New Heaven and New Earth. Earlier in the book of Revelation, John repeatedly mentions seeing an altar in his vision of the Heaven where Jesus lives today, and Hebrews 9 may suggest that the tabernacle which God commanded Moses to build was actually a replica of a temple which exists in the Heaven where Jesus lives today.

The primary purpose of a temple is to create a space where a perfect God can connect with imperfect creatures. Our loved ones in Heaven today are still imperfect in a sense because they do not have their resurrected bodies, so if there is a temple in Heaven today, that could be part of the reason why. But in the New Heaven and New Earth, we will be perfect in body and soul, and so there would be no need for a temple—and again, Revelation 21:22 says clearly that there will not be one.

So remember this principle—there are some differences between the Heaven where Jesus lives today and the New Heaven and New Earth where we will all live for eternity.

2. The New Heaven and New Earth will be a physical place like we live in now.

            Many cartoons about Heaven picture people floating around on clouds in mid-air, but the description of the New Heaven and New Earth does not give us that picture at all. Rather, the description we read in Revelation 21-22 describes a physical place like Planet Earth. After all, it is called the New Earth, so what can that mean except that its like the old Earth, which we live on now?

            These two chapters at the end of Revelation describe a city with walls and gates made of precious metals and jewels—things that are physical substances that you can touch and hold and see and feel. They describe a street in the city with a river running down the middle of it, and along this river there are trees that produce fruit. These are all physical objects which can be felt and seen and heard and even tasted!

            I think some people have concluded that our eternal home with God will not be a physical place because they think that physical things are somehow evil, but its very important that we don’t accept that idea. I believe some Christians have gotten the wrong idea from certain biblical statements. For example, 1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” But John isn’t talking about the ground beneath our feet or the air in our lungs. He tells us what he means in v. 16—“for all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.” When John says, “do not love the world,” he’s talking about the desires and values of the people in the world; he’s not telling us to beware of grass and streams and meadows.

            Or sometimes we might sing an old gospel song like, “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passin’ through.” That’s true, but maybe we should clarify that statement a bit—this world the way it is now is not our home, but we must never forget that Planet Earth is the kind of place that we were created to live in.

            In the earliest days of Christianity, some people bought into the idea from Greek philosophy that the physical world is somehow bad and evil. They even went so far as to say that Jesus didn’t have a real body—He was like a ghost, they said, because they believed that God surely wouldn’t have any contact with something evil like the physical world. But my friends, remember—God created the physical world, so it can’t be evil. Jesus demonstrated that the physical world isn’t evil by becoming a man, with a body that needed food and water and sleep. Even after He rose from the grave, He still had a physical body that could be touched and was capable of eating food.

            So there’s nothing evil about our bodies or our planet, and according to Revelation our eternal home with God will be a physical place like our planet. But remember—we will have all of the things that we enjoy about our planet with none of the things that came from the Curse that was a result of our sin! Imagine walking barefoot through a meadow without worrying about stickers and thorns; imagine exploring the woods without worrying about poison ivy; imagine breathing without allergies; imagine drinking from a cool stream without worrying about diseases or pollution. This world as it is today is not our home. That is true, but it still has the same basic blueprints, and if you look closely I think you’ll see a glimpse of your future home with God.

3. The original creation likely gives us an idea of what the New Heaven and New Earth will be like.

            Genesis 1-2 describes what the Earth was like after its initial creation, when humanity lived in perfect unity with God before sin had entered the world, bringing with it things like death, disease, sorrow, and pain. The basic situation in Genesis 1-2 is the same as the basic situation that we find in Revelation 21-22—people living in a physical world in perfect unity with God without death, disease, sorrow, and pain. So its reasonable to think that the original creation gives us an idea of what our eternal home in Heaven will be like.

            This observation could help us answer some important questions about the New Heaven and New Earth, like “What will we do there?” Sometimes people have wondered if our home in Heaven will be like a church service that lasts for eternity. To a lot of people, that sounds more like Hell! I’ll admit it—that idea doesn’t get me very excited. Now we could say, “Well, we’d never get bored with it because we could see Jesus face-to-face,” and you know, that’s probably true.

            But think about this—Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with God, and that’s not what they did all the time. They were given a job! If we can speculate from the original creation, it could be that we’ll be the caretakers of the New Earth just like human beings were created to be the caretakers of this Earth. I think its possible that the New Earth may initially be uncultivated outside of the city that we read about in Revelation. God may turn us loose to go map out His new world and cause it to be fruitful. Imagine setting out like Lewis and Clark into uncharted territory, but with no possibility of getting killed along the way! Talk about excitement and adventure!

            These thoughts that we’ve discussed today should lay a good foundation for the rest of our study. We’ll begin to build on this foundation next week, and we’ll start with a tour of the New Heaven and New Earth as its described in the final chapters of Revelation.

            But for today, I want to challenge you again with the thought of how crazy it is that we, as God’s children, would fail to think long and hard about the place where we will one day live with God. How can we be content to simply bide our time in this world without learning more about our future home and whether we might become more prepared to live there? C. S. Lewis described us well when he said, “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a [vacation at the beach]. We are far too easily pleased.”¹

            We are content to spend our mental energy keeping up with the Kardashians or our favorite sports team rather than using it to think about Heaven. We spend most of our working years focusing on retirement as though we cease to exist after our final Bingo Night. We are far too easily pleased, but as our minds begin to focus on the next world, our hearts will follow along, so as we work through this study, get ready to feel a thirst that this life cannot quench!

Notes:

1. C. S. Lewis, “The Weight of Glory,” in The Weight of Glory and other Essays (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1965), 1-2. I updated the language of the final analogy.