Sermon Tone Analysis

A Glimpse of Heaven

Revelation 21.1-27

Introduction:

The different states of Heaven from the Bible.

Book Recommendation: Heaven by Randy Alcorn

1. Paradise is where the saints of God dwelt until the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

2. Intermediate Heaven-this is where the saints of God go to today and will remain there until the Second Coming, and then all Christians will dwell on Earth for the Millennial Kingdom.

The Temporary Nature of the Present Heaven When a Christian dies, he or she enters into what is referred to in theology as the intermediate state, a transitional period between our past lives on Earth and our future resurrection to life on the New Earth.

Usually, when we refer to "Heaven," we mean the place that Christians go when they die.

This is what I am calling the present or intermediate Heaven.

When we tell our children "Grandma's now in Heaven," we're referring to the present Heaven.

By definition, an intermediate state or location is temporary.

Life in the Heaven we go to when we die, where we'll dwell prior to our bodily resurrection, is "better by far" than living here on Earth under the Curse, away from the direct presence of God (Philippians 1:23).

Still, the intermediate or present Heaven is not our final destination.

Though it will be a wonderful place, the present Heaven is not the place we are made for—the place God promises to refashion for us to live in forever.

God's children are destined for life as resurrected beings on a resurrected Earth.

We must not lose sight of our true destination.

If we do, we'll be confused and disoriented in our thinking about where, and in what form, our future home in Heaven will be like.

Alcorn, Randy (2011-12-08).

Heaven (Alcorn, Randy) (Kindle Locations 1001-1011).

Tyndale House Publishers.

Kindle Edition.

Thank God, there is a blessed home waiting on the children of God that is far better than anything we have down here.

I would like for us to join John as he records the sights and sounds of that blessed place we call Heaven.

I would like to share some of what the Bible teaches about this place where all of those who are saved by the blood of Jesus will spend eternity.

3. The Future Heaven, God's dwelling place, will one day be on the New Earth.

Notice that the New Jerusalem, which was in Heaven, will come down out of Heaven from God. See Revelation 21:10.

Where does it go?

To the New Earth.

From that time on, "the dwelling of God" will be with redeemed mankind on Earth.

Some would argue that the New Earth shouldn't be called Heaven.

But it seems clear to me that if God's special dwelling place is by definition Heaven, and we're told that "the dwelling of God" will be with mankind on Earth, then Heaven and the New Earth will be essentially the same place.

We're told that "the throne of God and of the Lamb" is in the New Jerusalem, which is brought down to the New Earth (Revelation 22:1).

Again, it seems clear that wherever God dwells with his people and sits on his throne would be called Heaven.

Author Randy Alcorn:

I concur with theologian Anthony Hoekema, who writes, "The 'new Jerusalem'. . .

does not remain in a 'heaven' far off in space, but it comes down to the renewed Earth; there the redeemed will spend eternity in resurrection bodies.

So Heaven and Earth, now separated, will then be merged: the new Earth will also be Heaven, since God will dwell there with his people.

“Glorified believers, in other words, will continue to be in Heaven while they are inhabiting the new Earth."

Think of what Revelation 21:3 tells us—God will relocate His people and come down from Heaven to the New Earth to live with them: "God himself will be with them."

Rather than our going up to live in God's home forever, God will come down to live in our home forever.

Simply put, though the present Heaven is "up there," the future, eternal Heaven will be "down here."

If we fail to see that distinction, we fail to understand God's plan and are unable to envision what our eternal lives will look like.

Scripture speaks of a New Jerusalem made of precious stones.

Some of the jewels listed in Revelation 21:19-21 are among the hardest substances known.

They indicate the material solidity of the New Earth.

The problem is not that the Bible doesn't tell us much about Heaven.

It's that we don't pay attention to what it tells us.

Some of the best portrayals I've seen of the eternal Heaven are in children's books.

Why?

Because they depict earthly scenes, with animals and people playing, and joyful activities.

The books for adults, on the other hand, often try to be philosophical, profound, ethereal(consisting of only spirit), and otherworldly.

But that kind of Heaven is precisely what the Bible doesn't portray as the place where we'll live forever.

Heaven will be Relocated to Earth.

Not only will God come to dwell with us on Earth, but He will also bring with him the New Jerusalem, an entire city of people, structures, streets, walls, rivers, and trees that is now in the present, intermediate Heaven.

If you've ever seen a house being relocated, you appreciate what a massive undertaking it is.

God will relocate an entire city—Heaven's capital city, the New Jerusalem—from Heaven to Earth.

It's a vast complex containing, perhaps, hundreds of millions of residences.

He will bring with it Heaven's human inhabitants and angels as well.

It appears that God has already fashioned the New Jerusalem: "He has prepared a city for them" (Hebrews 11:16).

It doesn't say that God will prepare a city or even that he is preparing it, but that he has prepared it.

This suggests that the New Jerusalem, complete or nearly complete, is already there in the present Heaven.

When God fashions the New Earth, he will relocate the city from Heaven to the New Earth.

It's possible that those in the present Heaven are already living in it.

Or it may be set aside, awaiting simultaneous habitation by all its occupants when transferred to the New Earth.

Imagine the thrill of beholding and exploring God's city together!

The preceding was taken from the book “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn.

I. HEAVEN/NEW JERUSALEM IS A GENUINE PLACE-vs.

1-3

A. A Real Place

Heaven is as real as this place we are in today!

It is a real place!

Paul was taken there

2 Cor.

12:2-4; John was taken there in his vision - Rev. 4:1-5:14.

That heavenly land is as real as New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo or Trafalgar or Morgantown.

It is a real place where a real God lives, Who will be joined one day by those who are really saved.

Heaven is a real place!

B. A Resting Place

Heb.

4:3-11 - The Bible tells us that we are "pilgrims and strangers" in this world right now, Hebrews 11:13-16!

When we enter the gates of that city, we will have laid down the burdens of this existence and gone to a place of peace and rest, a perfect place where burdens cannot follow and troubles cannot come.

When we get there, we will be home!

It is a place to rest from our labors, our cares, our worries, our trials, everything that hindered us here will not be welcome there!

We will rest when we get home!

C. A Residing Place

Heaven is a place where some beings make their homes.

The angels live in Heaven.

In fact, every glimpse into that country features the presence of the angelic host.

God the Father dwells in Heaven, Psa.

11:4; Rev. 4:1-5:16.

The redeemed of the ages will also live in Heaven with the Lord God.

The night before Jesus went to the cross to die for the sin of the world, He gave His disciples a glorious promise.

He told them that He was going to prepare a place for them: a mansion in His Father's house, John 14:1-3!

When we arrive there, we will be home in a mansion prepared just for us by the precious Lord Jesus.

We will be forever home!

I. Heaven Is A Genuine Place

II.

HEAVEN/NEW JERUSALEM IS A GLORIOUS PLACE-vs.

9-26

A. Glorious In Its Beauty

- Never has there been a city described like this city!