HEAVEN
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, 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.”
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.”
II. HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF UNSPEAKABLE BEAUTY.
A. The Foundation, 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; 20The 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.”
B. 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.”
C. The streets, Revelations 21:18, 21.
D. The gates, Revelation 21:21.
E. The River of Life, 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.
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, 21:27.
7. No sickness, 22:2.
8. No curse, 22:3
B. Heaven will be a happy place because of who will be there, Revelation 22:4; 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: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1. Jesus will be there,
2. All of those believers who have gone on before us will be there to greet us at our arrival.
CONCLUSION
Do you know the chorus,….
Heaven is a wonderful place,
Filled with glory and grace,
I’m going to see my Savior’s face,
Heaven is a wonderful place.
ARE YOU GOING?