Purpose: To focus our attention on the glories that awaits believers.
Aim: I want the listener to see God’s eternal blessings and determine if they possess them.
INTRODUCTION: What will heaven be like? We have already looked at some things that will no longer exist. Human government is gone (no more politicians!), Satan will never be seen or present on earth again (we will have no enemies), sin has been eradicated (there is no more curse on creation). The marvelously perfect will of God has now come to full bloom. The Lord’s Prayer has been completely answered: Matthew 6:10’your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.(NAU)
Today we will gain a peek into what heaven is like. Last time (Vs.3) we saw that the great announcement about heaven is that God Himself will dwell with the sinners He has saved.
What will it be like to live with God?
REVIEW:
1:1-20 I. John’s Vision of the Past "the things which you have seen"
2:1-5:14 II. Christ’s Vision of the Present "the things which are"
Ch.6-22 III. John’s Vision of the Future "things which will take places"
6-7; 12-14 A. Satan’s war against God’s creation: the first six seals
8-11; 13:11-18; 15-18 B. The wrath of God: the seventh seal
Ch.19-20 C. The worship of God
Ch.21-22 D. The wonder of eternal bliss
Vs.1-8 1. God makes all things new
Vs.1 a. A new creation "a new heaven and a new earth"
Vs.2 b. A new city "new Jerusalem"
Vs.3 c. A new closeness with God "God Himself will be among them"
LESSON:
Vs.4 d. A new freedom from God
This verse continues the picture of our relationship with Christ.
(1) No more crying "He will wipe away all tears"
Notice that this is something God does. It is ALL His work. To WIPE AWAY means "to smear out, obliterate, erase, permanently eliminate."
This same word is used in Colossians 2:14having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (NAU)
This is a promise that was made long before Christ came to earth. Isaiah 25:8... the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.(NAU)
The treasure we will gain in heaven will be much greater than all of our tears. Romans 8:18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.(NAU)
This must mean that there will be NO painful memories in heaven.
"[Tears] ...blight our lives and burden our days, but they are temporary. There will be no hospitals, no graves, no insane wards, no bombs, no disease, no blood and to tears in heaven. I once heard a ninety year old, blind, black preacher thank God for his blindness. He explained why. He said, ’In a little while I am going to be able to see. And the first thnkg I ever see will be the face of my Jesus. How can I not be thankful and joyful?’" [1]
John uses the phrase EVERY TEAR. God will not miss one tear. Psalm 56:8You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? (NAU) Oh what love that God Himself will wipe the tears off of our cheeks forever.
Every time you shed tears, remember that there is coming a day (and it may be soon) when there will be no more tears.
(2) No more dying "no longer be any death"
Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death for all time, ... (NAU)
This is all possible because of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:23--26 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.(NAU)
(3) No more grieving "no longer be any mourning or crying"
Isaiah 35:10And the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. (NAU)
The word for CRYING is only used two other times. The first time was when Paul got the Pharisees and Saducees arguing about the possibility of the resurrection. Acts 23:9And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" (NAU)
Paul also used this word in Ephesians 4:31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (NAU)
There will be no more outcries like: Psalm 31:9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body also. (NAU)
Matthew 5:4"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (NAU)
(4) No more hurting "or pain"
The word PAIN includes the results of toil or work. In heaven we will be able to work without any weariness or pain.
John then adds: "the first things have passed away." This same word is used in Revelation 21:1Then 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. (NAU) When God erases our tears, death, mourning, crying and pain it is permanent. Those problems will never return.
This completely fulfills the promise that 2 Corinthians 5:17 ... if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (NAU)
Vs.5-6 e. A new contentment from God "I will give to the one who thirsts"
The only need mentioned in this chapter is thirst, and Christ will meet that need. All we need in order to be satisfied is Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 49:10"They will not hunger or thirst, Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; For He who has compassion on them will lead them And will guide them to springs of water. (NAU)
Isaiah 55:1"Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. (NAU)
Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden so that they could not eat of the Tree of Life. When God restores paradise to earth life giving water is now freely given.
WATER OF LIFE is mentioned three times in Revelation. Here in verse 6: Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. (NAU)
Revelation 22:1Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, (NAU)
Revelation 22:17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. (NAU)
Jesus made it very clear that He can satisfy the thirsty soul. John 7:37--38 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ’From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ " (NAU)
The same God who made the universe by just speaking it into existence has the power to make it again and the power to satisfy our hearts.
There is NO question that what God promises He will perform. Luke 21:33"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. (NAU)
Who is making these promises to His followers? It is none other than Jesus. Remember back to Revelation 1:8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (NAU)
If you are thirsty for Jesus, you WILL receive eternal life. What do you thirst for in this life?
The "It is done" in verse 6 reminds us of Christ’s "It is finished" just before He died on the Cross. What God starts He finishes. Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (NAU)
Vs.7-8 f. A new contrast between the godly and ungodly
Vs.7 (1) The over comers are close to God "I will be his God"
Works do not save. Verse 6 has already made that clear. But, if we are following Jesus we will be changed. 1 John 5:4--5For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (NAU)
We will see in chapter 22 that cleansing is what gets us into the presence of God. Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. (NAU)
Vs.8 (2) The overcome are banished from God "fire and brimstone"
Those who have allowed sin to overcome them get what they deserve. They will have "their part" in the Lake of fire. The over comers, on the other hand, inherit what they don’t deserve.
A changed life is evidence that Christ has granted
forgiveness to someone. 1 John 3:6,9 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (NAU)
Who will miss heaven?
#1 The cowardly
This refers primarily to those who don’t love and trust God to take care of them. Jesus put these two ideas together in Mark 4:40And He said to them, "Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?" (NAU)
Believers should not be characterized by fear. 2 Timothy 1:7--8 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, (NAU)
Our love for Christ drives us to boldly stand up for Him.
"If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; " (2 Timothy 2:12).
#2 The unbelieving
A follower of Christ will take God as His word. John 3:18"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (NAU)
#3 The abominable
This refers to those who do disgusting things, including blaspheme.
#4 The murderers
Matthew 5:21--22"You have heard that the ancients were told, ’YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ’Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ’You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ’You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. (NAU)
#5 Immoral persons
This word is often translated "fornicator." This would refer to any sexual activity outside of marriage.
#6 Sorcerers
This is someone who uses mind altering drugs.
#7 Idolaters
This refers to those who worship what God made instead of God Himself. Ephesians 5:5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (NAU)
Colossians 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. (NAU)
#8 Liars
Satan is the father of lies. John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (NAU)
CONCLUSION: All of these sins can be forgiven except for unbelief. 1 Corinthians 6:9--11 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (NAU)
Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset; eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise.
Thomas Watson [2]
[1]From Suffering to Singing by Bob Marcaurelle Page 53
[2]Thomas, I. (1996). The golden treasury of Puritan quotations (electronic ed.) (91). Simpsonville SC: Christian Classics Foundation.
