HEAVEN IS A WONDERFUL PLACE
REVELATION 21:1-3
REVELATION 21:1-3
Introduction:
There is an old Negro spiritual called “Everybody talkin’ ‘bout heav’n not goin’ there.” I hope that is not your case. Heaven is going to be more wonderful than we can imagine. What do the Scriptures say about the subject?
I. HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF UNDENIABLE REALITY
A. We do not know anything about heaven, Isaiah 64:4, “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.”
1. Paul says we can’t even imagine what God has for us, 1 Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
2. God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings, Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ::
B. Three heavens are mentioned in the Bible:
1. The Firmament, or heavens, Acts 1:11, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
2. The Celestial heaven, Psalms 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
3. The Third Heaven, 2 Corinthians 12:2, “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.”
a. Where the Father is, Psalm 102:19, “For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;”
b. Where the Son returned to, Mark 16:19, “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”
II. HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF UNSPEAKABLE BEAUTY
A. The Walls, Revelation 21:18, “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.”
B. The Foundation of the walls, Revelation 21:19-20, “And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.”
C. The gates and streets of the city, Revelation 21:21, “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”
D. The River of Life flows from God’s throne, Revelation 22:1, “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”
III. HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF UNENDING JOY.
A. The things that will not be in heaven:
1. No tears, Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
2. No death, 21:4
3. No sorrow, 21:4
4. No crying, 21:4
5. No pain, 21:4
6. No sin, nor unbeliever and no evil forces, Revelation 21:27, And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
7. No sickness, Revelation 22:2, “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
8. No curse, Revelation 22:3, “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:”
B. Heaven will be A HAPPY PLACE because of who will be there:
1. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, Revelation 22:4, “And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.”
2. Our Advocate, the propitiation for our sins, 1 John 3:1-2, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
3. All of those believers who have gone on before us will be there, Revelation 22:14, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
CONCLUSION:
Because Jesus died for me, I will be there. Will you be there? The heavenly city of God is open to all who will receive Jesus Christ as their Savior.