Sermon Tone Analysis

Revelation 21-22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2005

Moody Saw Heaven

 

A few hours before entering the Homeland, Dwight L. Moody caught a glimpse of the glory awaiting him.

Awakening from a sleep, he said, Earth recedes, Heaven opens before me.

If this is death, it is sweet!

There is no valley here.

God is calling me, and I must go.

His son who was standing by his bedside said, No, no, father, you are dreaming.

No, said Mr. Moody, I am not dreaming: I have been within the gates: I have seen the children’s faces.

A short time elapsed and then, following what seemed to the family to be the death struggle he spoke again: This is my triumph; this my coronation day!

It is glorious!

/Have you ever wondered what heaven is like?/

We do know something about it.

*1 Corinthians 2:9-10:* /But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.

For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God./

This morning we will see a glimpse of 3 aspects of life in heaven; */The Heavenly City, My Father’s House, A Holy Temple.

/*

 

1.

The Heavenly City

 

/a.

The Builder/

 

*Revelation 21:2:* /Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, *coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.*/

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

So it shouldn’t surprise us that He makes the New Heavens, the New Earth and the New Jerusalem.

*Isaiah 65:17-18:* /For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

/In verse 5 we read that God /makes all things new.

/God is the Architect and builder of the New Jerusalem.

God planned to make this city in the beginning.

/b.

The City/

 

/What do you normally find in a healthy city?/

You have city limits marked out by walls or fences for protection.

You need a water supply and food for the people.

You need streets, lighting, trees, buildings and houses.

God has provided all of these.

The city is secure having high walls made of jasper stone.

The streets of the city and the city itself are made of pure Gold.

God Himself provides the light of the city.

John says that it has the glory of God and reflects light like a precious stone.

A city made of gold, precious stones and pearls will naturally radiate any light within it.

God is that light.

The river of life proceeds from God’s throne providing water.

The tree of life provides 12 kinds of fruit for the citizens.

The New Jerusalem is about 1500 to 1600 miles square.

Since it’s height and length are equal it will be either a cube or a pyramid.

/c.

The Citizens/

* *

*Revelation 21:24:* /And the nations of those who are *saved* shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their *glory* and *honor* into it./

Only saved people, people who have believed in Jesus Christ will enter the New Jerusalem.

The citizen’s role is the */Lamb’s Book of Life./*

No unbeliever will ever see the glory land; their place is in the Lake of Fire.

All liars, idolaters, immoral persons and all unbelievers won’t be allowed into heaven.

Heaven’s citizens bring their /glory and honor/ into the city.

/What does this mean?

*I believe that it refers to their good works.

*/Heavenly citizens walk in the light.

They are saved people who live for Jesus Christ.

*Philippians 3:20:* */For our citizenship is in heaven, /*/from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

*We should conduct ourselves as heavenly citizens now!

Heavenly citizens live to please God.*/

 

2.

My Fathers House

 

*John 14:2-3: */In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also./

/a.

The Father/

 

Jesus calls heaven His Father’s house.

*/This is a very intimate description because families live together in a home./*

The Father’s house will be our eternal home.

Jesus Himself has prepared rooms or dwelling places in His Father’s home.

*Ephesians 3:14-15:* /For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom *the whole family in heaven and earth is named*.

/We will carry our Father’s name on our foreheads.

*Revelation 22:4.*

We belong to God; for we are His children.

* *

Our heavenly Father will care for His children and provide for all of our needs.

We will share family meals and talk together at the dinner table.

Our heavenly Father will comfort us wiping away every tear.

/Somehow we will not grieve over loved ones that are not in heaven.

For there will be no more crying, sorrow, pain, suffering or death./

/Our Father’s home will be a place of joy, laughter and blessing./

Death will never remove anyone from God’s family, because God’s family is an eternal family.

They possess eternal life.

/b.

The Sons/

/ /

*/You might ask me, how do we enter God’s family?

How can we become a child of God?/* The new birth enables us to become God’s children.

*John 1:12-13:* /But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become *children of God*, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, *but of God*.

/Jesus told Nicodemus that He must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God; or put plainly, to get into heaven.

This new birth is a spiritual birth.

/The Holy Spirit is the one who gives us new life *when we believe* in Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

/

/Forgiveness of sins, eternal life, entrance to heaven and becoming a child of God is all gained through Jesus Christ./

By admitting we are sinners and believing that Christ died for our sin we become children of God.

As soon as we believe we receive it; although the completion of the work awaits Christ’s return.

*1 John 3:1-2:* /Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is./

 

/c.

The Inheritance/

 

*/Parents leave their belongings to their children when they die./*

We write a last will and testament to insure this.

/So too, God has willed His children an inheritance./