“Heaven: The Believers Hope” – Pastor Rob Yanok
Text – John 14:1-3
Either heaven is real or Jesus led His followers with lies. If heaven is a hoax, then it is the
biggest hoax ever perpetrated upon mankind. If there is no heaven, then the Bible is not
true and Jesus was a deceiver. If heaven is not the hope of humanity, then the human race
has no hope whatsoever.
The talk show co-host asked his partner, “if there is a heaven, what would you want to be
asked as you walk through the door of heaven?” His partner said, “Smoking or
nonsmoking?” The question was a lame attempt at humor and fill airtime. These men
were having fun at the expense of God, the Bible, and Christians. People may think it is a
joke, a fragment of their imagination, a metaphysical abstraction, or a theological
conception. Heaven is real!
Time Magazine Article (3/24/97) people were asked questions about heaven, here
are their responses:
1. Do you believe in the existence of heaven, where people live forever with God
after they die? 81% said Yes, 13% said No
2. Where do you believe you will go when you die? 68% Heaven, 3% Hell
3. Which of the following do you believe are in heaven? 93% Angels, 79% St. Peter,
43% Harps, 36% Halos
The word heaven occurs over 500 times in the Bible: describes 3 different types of
heavens:
1. First heaven - the atmospheric heaven (the sky)
2. Second heaven – stellar or celestial heaven (outer space)
3. Third Heaven – the divine heaven (the abode of God)
“To pretend to describe the excellence, the greatness or duration of the happiness of
heaven by the most artful composition of words would be but to darken and cloud it; to
talk of raptures and ecstacies, joy and singing, is but to set forth very low shadows of
the reality.” Jonathan Edwards
Charles Spurgeon echoed the same sentiments: “When a mortal man speaks anything fo
that eternal blessedness of the saints in glory, he is like a blind man discoursing about
the light which has never seen, and so cannot distinctly speak anything concerning it.”
He also said, “ In a way it is akin to a man writing a travel guide for a land he has
never visited or seen. It is an attempt to describe the indescribable with words which
cannot come close to expressing the glory of heaven.”
Apostle Paul expressed our limitations in knowing all that lies beyond this realm when he
said, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part...for we now see in a mirror,
dimly, but face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am
known.” (I Cor. 13:9,12)
Paul also indicated the “mystery” aspect of heaven when he refereed to an outstanding
event he had experienced.
II Corinthians 12:2-4 (NLT) – “I was caught up into the third heaven fourteen
years ago. Whether my body was there or just my spirit , I don’t know; only God
knows. But I do know that I was caught up into paradise and heard things so
astounding that they cannot be told.”
•The NKJV refers to Paul having heard “inexpressible words” while the
Amplified Bible uses the phrase “Utterances beyond the power of man to put into
words.”
•There are many things about heaven God has chosen not to reveal to us at this
point, but neither has he been entirely silent about what awaits us.
I. Why we should spend time thinking and talking about Heaven
a. It has been said some Christians are so heavenly minded they’re
no earthly good. But perhaps more believers are so earthly
minded they’re no heavenly good.
1. Heaven will be our eternal home. It’s only natural that we
should want to know all we can about the place where we’re
going to spend eternity.
2. Colossians 3:2 –“Set you mind on the things about, not on
the things that are on earth.”
3. Why? Our living with God in heaven has been on God’s
mind for a long time.
b. Thinking about heaven has at least five practical effects on our
lives here on the earth:
1. Focusing on heaven restores our hope in times of suffering
(Romans 8:18)
2. Focusing on heaven reassures us that God is on the throne
(Revelation 4:1-3)
3. Focusing on heaven reminds us that this world is not all there
is (Phil.3:20)
4. Focusing on heaven refocuses us on the nature of true
treasure (Matt. 6:19-21)
5. Focusing on heaven reignites our fervor to serve the Lord
(Isa 6:1-8)
c. We are just passing Through! Apostle John recognized this and
exhorted believers to be mindful that this world is fatally flawed
and incapable of providing ultimate satisfaction to the believer.
1. I John 2:15-17
2. C.S. LEWIS said, “Has this world been so kind to you that
you should leave with regret? There are better things
ahead than any we leave behind.”
3. C.S. Lewis also said, “ If I find in myself a desire which no
experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable
explanation is that I was made for another world”
d. Love Life and Desire heaven
1. Samuel Rutherford once said, “ If contentment were here,
heaven would not be heaven. I wonder why a child of God
would ever have a sad heart, considering what his Lord is
preparing for him.”
2. Paul set his sights on heaven with enthusiastic expectation -
II Timothy 4:7-8
3. People of Faith possessing an eager anticipation of heaven:
a. Psalm 16:11 (NLT) – “You will show me the way
of life, granting me the joy of your presence and
the pleasures of living with you forever.”
b. Psalm 73:24 – “You will guide me with your
counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”
c. Luke 10:20 – “...rejoice because your names are
written in heaven.”
d. Romans 8:23 (NLT) “And even we Christians,
although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a
foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released
from pain and suffering. We too, wait anxiously
for that day when God will give us our full rights
as his children, including the new bodies he has
promised us.”
e. I Cor. 1:7 – “...eagerly waiting for the revelation
of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
f. II Cor. 5:2,8 (Amp) – Here indeed, in this (present
abode, body), we sigh and groan inwardly, because
we yearn to be clothed over (we yearn to put on
our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out)
with our heavenly dwelling....Yes we have
confident and hopeful courage and are pleased
rather to be away from home out of the body and
be at home with the Lord.”
g. Phil. 3:20 – “For our citizenship is in heaven,
from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ.”
h. Col. 1:5 – “Because of the hope which is laid up
for you in heaven, of which you heard before in
the word of the truth of the gospel.”
i. Titus 2:13 – “Looking for the blessed hope and
glorious appearing of our great God and Savior
Jesus Christ.”
j. Hebrews 11:10 (NLT) “Abraham...was
confidently looking forward to a city with eternal
foundations, a city designed and built by God.”
II. What will Heaven Be Like?
1. The Splendor of Heaven - Heaven will be a glorious place
both because of what is there and what is not there. There are
11 things that won’t be there: sea, sin, death, mourning,
crying, pain, night, temple, curse, sun, or moon. The main
thing that will be there will be the glory of God. (Rev. 21:11,
23)
2. The Sights of Heaven: A city called the New Jerusalem
(Revelation 21:9-22:5) No shag carpet, no cinder blocks
a. The Walls – is 216 ft thick and 1,500 miles high
(seven million ft) Security. 12 foundation stones on
which are written the names of the 12 apostles of
the lamb (21:14) The walls are made of jasper
(21:18), and the foundation stones of the wall are
inlaid with 12 different types of precious gems
(21:19,20)
b. The gates - 12 gates, 3 on each side, and an angel
guards each gate. The name of the 12 tribes of Israel
are written on the gates (21:12-13). Each of the 12
gates is made from a single pearl (21:21). The gates
never close at the end of the day, because there is no
night (21:21) and nothing evil will be allowed to
enter (21:27)
c. 21:18,21, “says the city was pure gold, as clear as
glass....the main street was pure gold as clear as
glass.”
d. 21:23, “the city has no need of sun or moon, for the
glory of God illuminates the city, and the lamb is
the light.”
e. The Size of Heaven – 1500 miles on each side. To
give you an understanding: the moon is 2160 miles
in diameter. It is a perfect cube it contains 2.25
million square miles or 3,375,000,000 cubic miles
of space - it has enough room to accommodate
100,000 billion people.
3. The Book of Life is in Heaven – all the names of God’s
children are written. (Phil. 4:3, Rev. 21:27)
4. Magnificent creatures who worship God perpetually
saying “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and
is and is to come” (Rev.4:6-8
5. Elders who fall down before God and cast their crowns of
gold before the throne saying, “You are worthy O Lord to
receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things,
an by your will they exist and were created.” (Rev. 4:10-11)
6. The Redeemed – Those who were saved Through God’s
Mercy. They were purchased by the blood of Jesus. From all
nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues (Rev. 7:9) They cry out
to the lamb of God, “You have made us kings and priests to
our God; and we shall reign on the earth (5:10), Revelation
7:9,10
7. Holy Angels – around the throne John describes the number
of them as ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of
thousands. They said, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to
receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor
and glory and blessing!” 5:11,12
8. There is beautiful music & singing in heaven – Rev. 14:2-
3 says, “And I heard a sound from heaven like the roaring of
a great waterfall or the rolling of a mighty thunder. It was
like a sound of many harpists playing together. The great
choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of
God...” (NLT)
9. Living Fountains of Water (represent eternal refreshment)
Rev. 7:17, And there is a pure river of water of life, clear as
crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the lamb
(Rev.22:1)
10. The tree of life is there (Rev. 22:2) What was banned in
Gen. 3 is made available in heaven.
III. What will we experience in Heaven?
1. Perfect Reunion – We will be reunited with loved ones,
friends, and other believers who have gone before us. I
Thess. 4:13-17
2. Perfect Transformation – I John 3:2
3. Perfect Comfort – “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot
heal” Thomas More. Revelation 7:15-17
4. Perfect rejoicing, Gladness, and Joy – It won’t be quiet.
Rev, 19:6,7
5. Perfect fellowship and feasting – Matthew 8:11/Rev. 19:9
6. Perfect Rest – Rev. 14:13
7. Perfect Satisfaction – Rev. 21:6, 22:17
8. Perfect Victory – Rev. 3:21, 22:5
9. The absence of All things Undesirable – nothing of evil or
nothing of sorrow in heaven. Revelation 7:16, 21:4, 25, 27
•No evil, no wickedness, no ungodliness, no sin. A place
without crime, without corruption, without pain, sorrows
and tears. No sirens, no deadbolts, no alarm systems, no
barbed wire, no adversity, no trials, and no tribulations. No
ambulances, hospitals cemeteries or prisons. No plagues,
no funerals. No one will be hungry or homeless, and
earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and raging fires
will no longer exist to ravage mankind.
• No hateful words, misunderstandings, slander or gossip.
No envy, jealousy grudges, suspicions will be there. There
will be NO abuse, exploitation, or violence in heaven. No
strife, no broken hearts. No one will suffer from physical
maladies, emotional disturbances, chemical imbalances,
addictions, or handicaps of anykind..
•No weariness, worry, fear, and anxiety will be there in
heaven. No more cancers, aids, tumors, diseases, etc...
IV. Will There be Animals in Heaven? (This is a BONUS Part of the
Message today)
1. Animals were part of the original creation of God that was
declared good – Genesis 1:25 – Things that were in the
garden at creation will be in heaven.
2. WA Criswall said – “God has shown a penchant for
varieties of life forms, and it would be difficult to imagine
that this would not be perpetuated in the heavenlies.”
3. The simplest answer is - “Why Not?”
4. Gen. 1:20, 24 – Hebrew word for soul is used to refer to
animals, meaning creature, or living thing. The soul of the
animal is different from the soul of a human.
5. Animals are present in the millennium – Isa. 11:6-8
V. Running Our Race, Reaching For heaven
1. You may be experiencing challenges today in your life, but I
believe those who have gone one before us are cheering us on
from the grandstands of heaven.
2. Hebrews 12:1-4
3. I Peter 5:8-11
4. We can run the race set before us with perseverance,
knowing that Jesus is both the Author and Finisher of our
Faith.
5. “Thoughts of heaven quicken our faith. Our only sure and
solid foundation is the hope of heaven. The only solution to
earth’s mysteries, the only righter of earth’s wrongs, and
the only cure for worldliness, is heaven. We need an
infusion of heave into our faith and hope that will create a
homesickness for that blessed place. God’s home is heaven.
Eternal life and all good were born there and flourish
there. All life, happiness, beauty, and glory are native to the
home of God. All this belongs to and awaits the heirs of
God in heaven. What a glorious inheritance!” EM Bounds
– The Promise of Heaven
If the Rapture is real, are you ready right now? At this moment? What if Jesus comes
when two people are working side by side, and one is taken and the other is left? And
what if the one left behind is YOU? What is you put off getting serious about living for
God until it is too late? What if there is a heaven and you never get there? There are no
ifs when it comes to the reality of heaven. No seat selection opportunities in heaven. But
you can decide NOW that you will spend eternity in Heaven.
Explain the Plan of Salvation – Make altar Call (Song – “I can only Imagine”)
