Apple founder, Steve Jobs was asked to address the graduations of Stanford University just shortly before his death. He said these memorable words: “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve encountered to help me make the big choices in life.” Yes, remembering I will be dead soon is an important tool in helping me make the big choices in life. In fact, if we consider our deaths, we can know what can make us happy both in this life but also in the life to come.
For the last time in our series, I want to speak about Heaven. Locate Isaiah 60 with me. The people of God have long been fascinated with the topic of Heaven. And scattered through your Bible is all kinds of imagery to bring hope to God’s people about the kind of life they’ll spend in Heaven. Heaven is pictured from a garden to a city to the Father’s House to a place where life and joy itself resides, the Bible is replete with beautiful imagery that paints for us hopeful, bright scenes of our future days. Central to the Bible’s vision of the future Heaven is a pristine Jerusalem, a place of political harmony.
Now, utopian dreams and visions of utopia have a long history. As far back as the Genesis, we see humans seeking to build a utopia city when they constructed the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). Many of you are familiar Plato’s The Republic, written nearly four centuries before the time of Christ. Plato lays out how the society of the future should be arranged: with definitions of the ideal system of parenting, education, as well as law and government. A little closer to the present as well as near my personal history, is New Harmony, Indiana. Just a short drive from where my wife, Traci, grew up. The community was built up around 800 devoted built the town in hopes of delivering Heaven on earth. No one was husband and wife but all were brothers and sisters. It was built in the hopes that everyone would live simple lives where everyone would cooperate with one another. After the founder died, his children sold the city to someone else where the dream died. There was still another attempt at utopian city in Oneida, New York in the middle part of the 1800s. A man named John Humphrey Noyes led the group and he instituted something called complex marriage where people could have sexual relations with anyone who consented. The thought was they would be one big, happy family. But Oneida did produce something of value even to us: Oneida flatware. Their flatware is used in nearly every restaurant, hotels and inside every kitchen drawers around. Since it’s founding in the 19th century, Oneida Limited flatware has become something of an American tradition.
There have been many failed attempts at a perfect city, but I believe in one to come that will not fail. All of us long for a place of perfect harmony and community. For the next few moments, I want to speak to you about the refreshing picture of political world of Heaven. I am thinking of a favorite jazz song that originated from a black spiritual from the 1800s is still familiar to all of us:
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Oh Lord I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
This song is filled with imagery from the book of Revelation such as when “the moon turns red to blood” and “when the stars fall from the sky.” After spending two seconds thinking about Heaven, much less two months, I can say, “I want to be in that number.”
The prophet, Isaiah, gives us a glimpse of the future and a utopia founded in Zion, or Jerusalem. In a world were we all expect the worst, let’s see how government is to be run.
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1. The Nations Go Marching On
2. The Nations Come Marching In
1. The Nations Go Marching On
1.1 This is Heaven
Look at Isaiah 60 for what you’re seeing is a poem but it’s also a vision of a magnificent city – a transformed city. The city that Isaiah envisions is a magnetic place. It has drawing power. People and things are flocking to this urban center: they are being “turned” into this city, “gathered” from many places, and you’ll notice people are coming “from afar.” Isaiah 60 is a surprising picture of the future New Heavens and New Earth – a picture of the future Heaven.
“Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. 19 The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 20 Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. 21 Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified. 22 The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it.” (Isaiah 60:18–22) Revelation borrows language from Isaiah 60 to picture Heaven in Revelation 21–22. In Revelation 22 we’re told at the end of all time the city of God will come out of Heaven and descend to the New Earth itself. The city of God is a radiant place where the glory of God makes the sun obsolete (verse 18). The sun in the sky would be as if holding a candle in the middle of sunny day – it’s not noticed because of the very glory of God and the light of God. God’s light and glory will replace the sun. Next, we can tell this is Heaven because both John and Isaiah agree about the gates and the protection of this city: “Your gates shall be open continually; day and night they shall not be shut, that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in procession.” (Isaiah 60:11) John says this of the Celestial City: “…and its gates will never be shut by day…” (Revelation 22:25a) Even when the city’s gates are wide-open 24 hours a day … even then … nothing evil, nothing wicked, nothing nefarious will wander through the Eternal City’s gates.
There’s no violence verse 18 tells us. When you sit down at night to watch the news or scan your favorite news app in Heaven, there are no reports of rapes, murder, or home invasions. Instead, the walls will be called “Salvation” and the gates shall be called “Praise.” The transforming power of God’s salvation will impact every aspect of human existence.
1.2 Nations in Heaven?
And while much of this picture of Heaven is standard fare, Isaiah surprises us by telling us nations are present in Heaven. Now, Isaiah 60 is a poem of 10 stanzas and pay close attention to the arrangement of these 10 stanzas. Let me give a little more insight here, for there are five stanzas in front of verse 12 and five stanzas of poetry behind verse 12. So, everything leads up to the decisive statement found in verse twelve: “For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste” (Isaiah 60:12).
Someone may ask, “What are nations doing in Heaven? Are you telling me there are nations in Heaven?” And we see confirmation of this in Revelation: “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it…” (Revelation 21:23–24) The Bible teaches that God will remake the both the heavens and the earth one day so that everything will be remade – including the nations. Every part of the government in the future New Earth will function properly with perfect harmony: “Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever” (Isaiah 60:21a). There will be no injustice because everyone will be made new, morally good by virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection.
1. The Nations Go Marching On
2. The Nations Come Marching In
There are two double imperatives that are linked together in verses 1-3 and 4-5. We are commanded to “Arise” and “shine” in verse one while in verse four, we are told to “Lift up” and “see.” See what? See the nations coming to His light.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. 5 Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord. 7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, and I will beautify my beautiful house. 8 Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows? 9 For the coastlands shall hope for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has made you beautiful.” (Isaiah 60:1–9)
2.1 They Come From Everywhere
The Lord has magnetic quality to Him for “your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip” (Isaiah 60:4b). Watch the saints go marching in. Watch them all march home. No distance is too great to keep them from coming for the Bible says they “come from afar” (Isaiah 60:4b). No weakness is too much to keep them from coming for the Bible says “shall be carried on the hip” (Isaiah 60:4b). There is no barrier to keep them from coming for God’s people belong ultimately to God’s city. Even the sea itself cannot prevent you from coming for “the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar.” (Isaiah 60:9b)
Now, the names in verse six don’t mean a lot to us today unless you do a little study, but Midian and Sheba are the lands to the south, Ephah is probably modern day Yeman, while Kedar and Nebaioth are to the north and to the west. And Tarshish was basically Spain. It was the uttermost, farthest west thing anyone knew about in those days.
Former enemies are now fellow worshippers because they are now God’s people. They are people bringing the “good news,” and the “praises of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6b). They will come from the four corners of the earth. Today, God commands we go to them with the message of Christ’s love on our lips but one day they will come to Him. There’s a day coming … when you and I will be astonished at the numbers of people coming into the city.
The prophet is picturing one person standing on Mount Carmel and looking to the nearby Mediterranean Sea and he sees the ships of Tarshish coming in such great numbers, that he might for a moment fear for an invasion. He looks inland to see troops of camels carrying their gold into the City from the East (Isaiah 60:6). At first he cannot tell what he is seeing: “Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows?” (Isaiah 60:8) Picture it for a moment: the viewpoint of this prediction is standing looking out on the ocean. Across the whole horizon, where the ocean meets the sky, something white appears. At first you’re looking at it and you’re saying, “What is that? Clouds. Maybe it’s a front coming.” Then it gets bigger and you say, “Wait a minute. Maybe it’s flocks and flocks of birds.” Then you begin to think it looks like all of the islands of the Mediterranean are coming, and then you realize it’s ships, it’s sails, but it’s the hugest, greatest, most massive fleet in the history of the world. He realizes upon further reflection it is something much more grand –it’s the people of God coming home to the Heavenly City.
2.2 The Nations Are Transformed
Look again at verse twelve: “For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste” (Isaiah 60:12). This is a picture of transformation. Indeed, the entire chapter pictures darkness enveloping not only Jerusalem but the darkness encircles the entire world. But the prophet pictures the sun dawning over the city and the light of the morning transforming the nations. The prophet Daniel predicts a time when God’s people will be persecuted by the nations of this earth but then we this: “And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Daniel 7:27) Godly people will one day rule the earthly kingdoms that were ruled by ungodly humans. “Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor I have had mercy on you.” (Isaiah 60:10) Again, we see confirmation of this in Revelation: “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations…” (Revelation 2:26) The political power which has been so corrupted and twisted in the hands and hearts of sinful rulers must be returned to its rightful source. Indeed, the meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).
“The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15 Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, with no one passing through, I will make you majestic forever, a joy from age to age. 16 You shall suck the milk of nations; you shall nurse at the breast of kings; and you shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” (Isaiah 60:14-16)
This is a public event where the political rulers who abused their power in this life are given a public trial. All the unrighteous rulers – Hitler, Stalin, and the corrupt rulers of our modern world are before the people of God answering for their sinful, abusive, unjust ways. “The very Earth to which Satan once laid claim will be stripped from his grasp and given over to those whom he hates and seeks to destroy—God’s saints.” You, who are in Jesus Christ, will walk on the New Earth and you will reign and rule in righteousness.
2.3 The Nations Bring Their Goods
Christopher Columbus quoted the whole of Isaiah 60 in connection with his voyage to the Americas and explained to the King and Queen of Spain that his aim was to bring the resources of countries across the seas for Jerusalem’s restoration. He said that he wasn’t really guided in his journey by his intelligence, mathematics, or ever by maps. Instead, he felt his journey was simply the fulfillment of what Isaiah had prophesied. “Your gates shall be open continually; day and night they shall not be shut, that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in procession” (Isaiah 60:11). “The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious” (Isaiah 60:13). “Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver; instead of wood, bronze, instead of stones, iron. I will make your overseers peace and your taskmasters righteousness” (Isaiah 60:17).
This is a picture of a flourishing city for there’s commerce happening here. And there’s architecture happening here. Plus, there’s science happening here. Lastly, there’s art happening here. In the future, you have all of these cultural activities going on. Why? Because our future is a material future. The future city is really very practical in one sense: it’s a place where economic trade is happening.
2.4 So What?
Why does God tell us this? God wants you to be both holy and happy. Listen to God’s word: “But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness” (Isaiah 65:18). There’s so much unhappiness and worry in us today and God knows you need the happiness of the next world to invade your world. Just this week, I was filled with dread and fear. I was dealing with situations where it felt there was no hope and only despair. A dread came on me un-expectantly early in the day and didn’t leave me all day. I had a tinge of inward fear all the daylong. Have you felt like that in recent days? Personal problems of health or middle aged disappointment with your life fills you with nothing but pain, hurt, and discontentment. The tragedy of pent-up pain of abuse fills our news.
Be happy as your best days are ahead of you. Picture the warm, personal embrace from Jesus Himself as the angels take you into His presence one day. Picture a day when death shall be no more and there’s no more anxiety or fear. You’ll be pain free as you see His smile. Remember Zechariah’s prediction of that when he says streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing. (Zechariah 8:5). In fact, we are told to sing and be happy because God will live in our midst (Zechariah 2:10). “This life is not all there is. Life on earth is just a dress rehearsal before the real production. You will spend far more time on the other side of death – in eternity – than you will here. Earth is the practice workout before the actual game … This life is preparation for the next.”
Conclusion
“How do I get from here to there,” you ask. Here’s one way that will not work: In a New York Times articles from 2014, Michael Bloomberg announced a $50 million gift to curb gun violence against the NRA. It was at the end of the article about Bloomberg’s work that the author said this: “Pointing to his work on gun safety, obesity and smoking cessation, he said with a grin…” “I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It’s not even close.”
This is not the way to Heaven. Instead, place your personal trust in Jesus Christ and turned away from your sins, you’ll know a joy after your death like you’ve never experienced.
