Does everyone make heaven?
Revelation 21:1-8
Revelation chapter 22
Introduction-
This week we have lost 3 icons in the world of entertainment.
Ed Mcmann, Farrah Fawcett, and the legendary Michael Jackson.
Especially people of my age group, these people bring all kinds of memories.
Ed Mcmann, the set up man for Johnny Carson, with hislegendary....Here’s.... Johnny
Farrah Fawcett, well, to be a senior in high school in 1975, you watched Charlie’s Angels for one reason.
Michael Jackson, He revolutionized the music and dance world.
Everyone talked this week about them, and ended by saying that they are in a better place. There in heaven now. They are not struggling physically anymore.
They talked about Michael Jackson one minute as being a troubled, tormented man inside. Then, as being the most known person of our lifetime.
Troubled but good, ....and in a better place.
Does everyone make heaven?
Does everyone go to a better place?
Does everyone write their own script of what a better place would be?
The Bible on purpose doesn’t give us all the details of heaven.
I think because you cannot put into words the brilliancy of heaven.
The Bible is clear on how to get to heaven.
The bible is clear on who won’t be there.
9 out of 10 people believe in heaven. Discrepancy on what heaven will be like.
3 out of 10 people believe that there is no hell. Discrepancy on what happens after life as we know it.
Illustration-
Little Billy, caught in mischief, was asked by his mother, how do you expect to get into heaven? He thought for a moment and then said,”Well, I’ll just run in and out and keep slamming the door until they say, for heaven’s sake, either come in or stay out, then I will come in”
Ellen Johnson: President of American Atheists Society.
Heaven doesn’t exist. Hell doesn’t exist. We are not divine before we were born and we are not going to exist after we die. I’m no happy with that, but I can accept it.
Let’s see what God’s Word says about it:
The last three chapters of Revelation gives us a look at end times and what the future holds for mankind. I won’t begin to try to digest all this in the few minutes we have.
Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos
Put there because of his faith in Jesus Christ.
Put their for preaching the gospel that Jesus Christ is savior to the world. The one who died for your sins, was resurrected by God the Father, who now sits on the right hand of God.
Jesus shows up on that deserted Island (now around Turkey). John who hasn’t seen Jesus for more than 60 years. A man well into his 90’s now. Jesus shows up
Revelation 21:1-8
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or morning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new Then he said, write these things down, for these words are trustworthy and true. He said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To Him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murder-ers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.
We see that heaven is not only a real place, it is a different dimension.
It is not glorified Earth. It is not manmade, it is God made.
The Bible gives us some characteristics of heaven
Revelation 21:10-20 Read from Bible
1500 miles long
1500 miles wide
1500 miles height
walls that are 216 feet thick
12 gates, 3 on each side
a large Pearl and an angel at each gate.
12 foundations , each one named after an apostle.
Precious stones everywhere.
Streets paved with gold, transparent as glass.
River of life flowing right down the middle of it.
Tree of life in the middle, protected by angels.
Inside no temple
because Jesus will be the only one we worship.
For there is only one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
there will be no sun, because the glory of God will shine for eternity.
no darkness, because the light of Christ dispels darkness.
We have characteristics of what heaven will be like- it will be glorious. It is more than words could describe. It will be for God’s people. Those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:25
On no day will the gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter in, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those who names are written in the Lambs book of life.
Jesus Christ is our freedom
First, he sets us free from the penalty of sin.
We have sinned against God.
We break His laws, we fail Him, we fall short of his requirements. We are sinners.
Our sins alienate us from God.
Our sins come between us and God.
Second, He frees us from the power of sin.
Who soever committeth sin is a servant of sin
Apostle Paul says that the very thing you don’t want to do, you do.
Jesus said, “If you know the truth (Jesus is the truth) then the truth shall set you free
Jesus is the only way to heaven Because Jesus is the only mediator between God and sinful man.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
God doesn’t come to condemn the world, He came to save the world
For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God Rom. 3:23
I am he way , the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me
I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die (John 11:25)
Illustration-
Sceptic said that being religious was part of your personality. A God gene VMAT2. A chemical that is in your brain. All I know is that at one time, I had no God gene, then I meet Jesus and He gave me a God gene.
All I know is at the gene pool, without God, there is no lifeguard.
But only those whose names are written in the Lambs book of life
God’s eternal book with the names of the people that have accepted the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
There’s a new name written down in glory, and it’s mine, yes it is mine”
Some have had a near death experience
they have seen the light at the end of the tunnel
they have sensed the awesome presence of God.
some have received a wake up call. They have experienced the horror of hell.
The bottom line is this- without Jesus Christ, you will not make heaven.
Heaven is reserved for God’s people who have been forgiven under the blood of Christ.
When you believe it, it ignites you ! It drives you. When you believe that the best thing you can do for someone is tell hem about Jesus, you have been ignited.
Paul Harvey said, too many Christians are no longer fishers of men, but keepers of the aquarium
Illustration
10 % of the church members cannot be found.
20 % of church members never attend
25% say that they don’t pray.
35% say they don’t read their Bibles.
40% do not contribute to the church.
60% never give to missions.
70% never take responsibilities within the church.
85% never invite anyone to their church.
95 % have never lead someone to Christ.
100% expect to go to heaven
Questions to answer:
When I die, will I go to heaven or sleep until Christ comes again?
The Bible says that absent in the body is to be present with the Lord. At some point later, we will receive glorified bodies, but we will be in his presence at our death.
Question to answer
How can I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will make heaven?
Again, the Bible says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul and secure”(Heb. 6:19)
“He who has the Son has life” (1John 5:12)
Question to answer
We create our own heaven and hell right here on earth.
I will agree, that if you live a good life, do good things, do what’s right, you will live a good life
I will also agree that if you live you life with corruption, evil, it will be a hard life.
The bible says that the “way of the unfaithful is hard”: (Prov 13:15)
Don’t let pride, your independence, or anyone else keep you from heaven.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the son will not see life” (John 3:36)
Closing:
Jesus said I am the Alpha and the Omega
the beginning and the end.
I am the completeness that you need.
No matter how good you are.
No matter how much money you have.
No matter how popular you are.
There is only one way to heaven.
Tony Campolo;
when you were born, you cried and everyone else was happy. When you die, will you be happy while everyone else is crying?
Notice this morning,
There is one person in control- that is God..
There is only 2 destinations for our souls- you decide.
God gives an invitation for us to come.
The Spirit and the bride say come.
Let him who hears say come.
Whoever is thirsty, let him come.
Whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who keeps the words of prophesy in this book. Behold I am coming soon, my reward is with me, and will give to everyone according to what he has done .
Altar Call:
Please rate this sermon, so I will know how I am doing.
