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.

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!