A Glimpse Of The Future

INTRODUCTION

 SLIDE #1

 Over the past few weeks we have been looking at the messages to the seven churches in Revelation.

 In those letters, Jesus spoke of a great reward that awaited those who were faithful to Him.

 Today, I want us to take a glimpse into the future to take the time to look at that wonderful inheritance that is awaiting us.

 I think one of the problems we have is that we do not spend enough time thinking about the future, which means that we also do not spend enough time planning for the future. For far too many of us, we think that the future is now.

 At some point, each one of us will no longer be here; we will ALL stand before our maker. It is important that we are ready for that day.

 It is important that we understand without a doubt that there is more to this life, that we have a eternal future to consider.

 As we look at Revelation 21:1-8 together today, we will see that if we are belong to Jesus that we have a wonderful, glorious future to look forward to.

 Today, let us take a glimpse into the future!

 SLIDE #2

 First let us take a glimpse of the city of the future.

SERMON

I. A GLIMPSE OF THE CITY OF THE FUTURE. (1-2)

 In the future, we will all have a new residence, for those who belong to Christ, the new city that we will move to will be awesome.

 Where is the best place on earth you can think of living right now?

 The city in the future of the child of God beats ANY PLACE you can think of!

 Let us look at four things concerning our future city.

 To do that, let us read Revelation 21:1-2 together.

 SLIDE #3

 Revelation 21:1 - 2 (NASB) 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

 The first thing we can see about the future city we will have the opportunity to live in is the fact that it is new!

 SLIDE #4

1. The city will be new.

 Verse one tells us there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

 The new heaven and the new earth will not merely succeed the present universe in chronological sequence; they will be something brand new, fresh, never before seen. God must create a new heaven and a new earth because the first heaven and the first earth passed away. (MacArthur Jr.)

 God originally created the earth to be suitable as mankind’s permanent home.

 The entrance of sin, however, corrupted the earth and the universe, and God will destroy them (Rev. 20:11).

 What lies ahead for the earth is not a nuclear or an ecological holocaust, but a divine judgment.

 This passage echo’s Isaiah 65:17 and Isaiah 66:22.

 SLIDE #5

 The second issue concerning the city of the future is that is will be holy.

2. The city will be holy.

 The new city will be a reflection of the God who resides in it.

 Sin ruined the first earth, but holiness will reign in the new.

 To be holy means to be separated for service to God. The first earth was destroyed because it was used for the purposes of man, whereas the second, the New Jerusalem will be set aside for the purpose and service to God!

 This is a place where there will be no agenda except for God’s agenda.

 The old Jerusalem, in ruins for twenty-five years when John received this vision, is too stained with sin, too much a part of the old creation to survive into the eternal state. The new Jerusalem is called the holy city because everyone in it is holy, since “blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection” (MacArthur Jr)

 SLIDE #6

 The third issue concerning the future city is that it will be beautiful.

3. The city will be beautiful.

 When you look at verse 2 we see that the city will be made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

 I have done a few weddings and in the course of doing those weddings I have yet to see a bribe who was not beautiful. Even if I wondered how they would look on the wedding day, they always glow with beauty.