Heaven Is ... (Part 1)

Heaven is … (Part 1)

Revelation, Part 31, Revelation 19:11 – 21:27

Ω Introduction

- Today gives us 7 things to see in the final days of this historic battle

-- Good vs. evil began on the Earth in the Garden of Eden

-- Today’s scripture gives us the “final blow” to the ways of wickedness

- Be sure we don’t get caught up with the end and miss the “main thing”

-- The main thing is that people need Jesus; it is our calling and mission

- Read Revelation 19:11 – 20:15

Ω Point 1 – Jesus vs Satan (v11-21)

- Jesus:

-- Revelation of Jesus in full authority, splendor, and majesty

-- Eyes of fire; many crowns on his head; a sacred name known only to Him

-- Dressed in white robe dipped in blood (demonstrating His sacrifice)

-- See the disclosure of His sole purpose: John 1:1 (In the beginning …)

-- His authority is supreme (Psalm 2:9 prophecy fulfilled: “You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”)

-- IMP: Without apology, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

- Contrast to Satan:

-- Beast, gathering armies to stand against God, waging war

-- He is the great deceiver, a creature bent on destruction of God

-- One who deliberately stands opposed to God out of pride and rebellion

-- Remember he asked: “… did God really say …?” - APP: We bought it!

- APP: All will answer to the judgment of Jesus Christ (even Satan himself)

-- Killed/captured; God is in control (Satan’s delusion of power: temporary)

-- IMP: (again) We must not spend our time focused ONLY on the end

Ω Point 2 – Satan has no power (v1-10)

- God’s authority binds Satan for 1,000 years in the Abyss (hell)

- His authority binds Satan NOW! (Job 1:12, Satan is granted authority …)

-- Satan was under God’s control then, and that has never stopped

- We give him what he needs; not vice versa (IMP: cannot take it from you)

-- IMP: Satan has taken enough from us … don’t give him anymore!

-- Bring him under the authority of Jesus Christ; through power of the HS!

-- Jesus died to redeem; ought to act like it and stop surrendering to enemy!

Ω Point 3 – Salvation is vital (v11-15)

- Worst verses in bible for the believer – it signifies the end of the unsaved

-- God’s judgment is inevitable: Death is certain (this is the SECOND death)

- Great White Throne (it is a sight of horror and fear for the unsaved)

-- No more mercy given by God … its only judgment for sinners

-- IMP: Nothing and no one will be able to hide from God’s judgment

- All are brought before God’s Throne, before God’s Son: Jesus Christ

-- The cremated; drowned; destroyed: God knows where each part is

-- APP: If God made it, he can bring it all back together for His purpose

- Death and Hades (the holding place) are thrown to lake of fire

-- The power and place where all separated from God are today is destroyed

-- Picked up like a rag doll: only the Creator can do something like this

- V15 application to consider: “Are you in the Book of Life?”

-- First for you: Just saying a prayer is not where salvation comes from!

-- If so, the cross was a trinket of affection from God which is minimized

- Jesus died so we would make Him LORD (supreme master) of our lives

-- Word used by Jesus in Greek is that we’d be slaves (doúlos)

-- Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?”

- Once you take care of you, is your Family? Friends? Co-workers?

-- The Gospels repeatedly show Jesus encouraging us to bear fruit (John 15)

-- Is there fruit coming from you? Are you witnessing and telling?

-- IMP: Works are not fruit … fruit is of the Spirit of God demonstrated

-- v15 is final: there is no escape & no redemption for any at this place

- TRANS: We can spend forever on this, or we can read it and live it

-- Jesus is triumphant and we need Him to survive: the choice IS simple!

- Read Revelation 21:1-27

Ω Point 4 – Heaven is ruled by One

- God created the world (Gen 1:1), and He sustains it to the very end

-- His delivery of this world is our hope forever (Jeremiah 29:11)

- Great examples for the believer to look forward too given by God

-- Verse 3: refers to 2 Cor 6:16, “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”