Series: Heaven!
Sermon: Heaven – Reality or Myth?
Subject: What is Heaven Like?
Thesis: Heaven is a real place, and we need to understand what lies within our future. Our perspective or vision of Heaven should influence our daily lives and choices. Don’t listen to the myth that Heaven will be boring!
Scripture:
John 14:1-3:
1“Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
2In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Opening Illustration: Heaven's Gateway
Contributed by Stephan Brown on Aug 26, 2002 (message contributor)
Denomination: Assembly Of God
HEAVEN'S GATEWAY
I recently made a trip to Ellis Island in New York. Ellis Island was once the biggest immigration processing center in the U.S. It processed thousands of immigrants a day. All of these immigrants left their homelands through much difficulty to come to “the land of promise.” They believed they could make themselves a new and better life here.
At the time, a trip to America took at least a month by boat. When I went to Ellis Island, I saw dormitory rooms where people stayed while they were being processed. They weren’t much to look at from our 21st century American perspective, but I wonder what they looked like to the 19th century immigrants. Maybe to some of them, especially after months on a boat, they looked promising. Maybe it was the grandest room they had ever seen. And imagine with me that one person is so overwhelmed with the greatness of this room that he decides he will stay there forever.
And so when they try to finish processing him, he stalls it. He hangs up his pictures above the bunk. He unpacks all his clothes and moves right in. You would want to grab this guy and tell him how foolish he was being. You would want to explain to him that this place was a dump, and that America has so much more to offer him.
And yet, how often do we do the same thing. Surely, this earth is grand. But it is only the processing center. This life, especially our life in Christ, is much grander than when we were dead in our sins. However, it’s still just the gateway. The next world holds beauty and grandeur that is incomprehensible to us. We can become convinced that things like wealth, and fame, power, and knowledge is the climax of our existence. We would be like the immigrant who thought the dormitory was his final destination.
SOURCE: Stephan Brown. Edited by SermonCentral staff.
Introduction:
Dwight L. Moody said the following about the subject of Heaven:
"Surely it is not wrong for us to think and talk about Heaven. I like to find out all I can about it. I expect to live there through all eternity. If I were going to dwell in any place in this country, if I were going to make it my home, I would inquire about its climate, about the neighbors I would have -- about everything, in fact, that I could learn concerning it. If soon you were going to emigrate, that is the way you would feel. Well, we are all going to emigrate in a very little while. We are going to spend eternity in another world. … Is it not natural that we should look and listen and try to find out who is already there and what is the route to take?”
The topic of Heaven has been around for over 4,000 plus years:
Throughout the centuries many people have come up with what they think Heaven will be like. One thing that seems consistent across every culture and time frame is everyone believes in an innate sense of something beyond this world, a place which is eternal, and that this world is not all there is to life.
There have been many portraits of Heaven promoted over time: Let’s reflect and summarize a few:
Following summaries from Heaven by Alcorn and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven
Ancient Egyptian faith: Their belief in an afterlife is much more stressed than in ancient Judaism. Heaven was a physical place far above the Earth in a "dark area" of space where there were no stars, basically beyond the Universe.
Babylonian belief: The Gilgamesh epic, an ancient Babylonia legend, refers to a resting place of heroes and hints at a tree of life.
Hittite myths: Believed Heaven is the abode of the gods.
Romans: Believed that the righteous would picnic in the Elysian fields while their horses grazed nearby forever.
Bahá'í Faith: Regards the conventional description of heaven (and hell) as a specific place as symbolic. The Bahá'í writings describe heaven as a "spiritual condition" where closeness to God is defined as heaven; conversely hell is seen as a state of remoteness from God. Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, has stated that the nature of the life of the soul in the afterlife is beyond comprehension in the physical plane.
Buddhism: They believe there are several heavens, all of which are still part of samsara (illusionary reality). Those who accumulate good karma may be reborn in one of them. However, their stay in the heaven is not eternal—eventually they will use up their good karma and will undergo a different rebirth into another realm, as humans, animals or other beings. Because heaven is temporary and part of samsara, Buddhists focus more on escaping the cycle of rebirth and reaching enlightenment (Nirvana).
Chinese Confucian: Traditions teach that Heaven (Tian) is an important concept, where the ancestors reside and from which emperors drew their mandate to rule in their dynasty’s. Heaven is a key concept in Chinese mythology, philosophies and religions, and is on one end of the spectrum a synonym of Shangdi ("Supreme Deity") and on the other naturalistic end, a synonym for nature and the sky. Heaven is said to see, hear and watch over all men. Heaven is affected by man's doings, and has a personality, it can be happy and angry with them. Heaven blesses those who please it and sends calamities upon those who offend it.
Hindu: Depending on good and bad activities (karma) on an earthly plane, a soul either ascends up to enjoy heavenly delights or goes down to fiery hellish planes depending on sins performed which are judged by the god of death & justice, Yama, who presides along the 28 hells. After the results of good and bad deeds (karma) are delivered, souls return to the earthly plane again as human or animal depending on desires and karma. Thus the cycle of birth and death.
Islam: The Qur'an contains many references to an afterlife in Eden for those who do good deeds. Regarding the concept of heaven (Jannah) in the Qu'ran, verse 35 of Surah Al-Ra’d says, "The parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised! Beneath it flow rivers. Perpetual is the fruits thereof and the shade therein. Such is the End of the Righteous; and the end of the unbelievers is the Fire."[Qur'an 13:35] Islam rejects the concept of original sin, and Muslims believe that all human beings are born pure. Children automatically go to heaven when they die, regardless of the religion of their parents. The highest level of heaven is Firdaus (?????)- Paradise (?????), to which the prophets, martyrs and other pious people will go at the time of their death. The concept of heaven in Islam differs in many respects to the concept in Judaism and Christianity. Heaven is described primarily in physical terms as a place where every wish is immediately fulfilled when asked. Islamic texts describe immortal life in heaven as happy, without negative emotions. In Islam if one's good deeds weigh out one's sins then one may gain entrance to heaven. Conversely, if one's sins outweigh their good deeds they are sent to hell. The more good deeds one has performed the higher the level of heaven one is directed to. It has been said that the lowest level of heaven is one-hundred times better than the greatest life on earth. The highest level is the seventh heaven, in which God can be seen and where anything is possible. Palaces are built by angels for the occupants using solid gold.
Eastern Orthodox cosmology: Perceives heaven as having different levels (John 14:2), the lowest of which is Paradise. At the time of creation, paradise touched the earth at the Garden of Eden. After the Fall of man, paradise was separated from the earth, and mankind forbidden entry, lest he partake of the Tree of Life and live eternally in a state of sinfulness (Genesis 3:22-24). At his death on the Cross, the Orthodox believe Jesus opened the door to Paradise to mankind again (Luke 23:43), and the Good Thief was the first to enter.
Roman Catholicism: The Catholic Church teaches that "heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness." It holds that, "by his death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has 'opened' heaven to us. The life of the blessed consists in the full and perfect possession of the fruits of the redemption accomplished by Christ... Heaven is the blessed community of all who are perfectly incorporated into Christ. "In the glory of heaven, the blessed continue joyfully to fulfill God's will in relation to other men and to all creation. Already they reign with Christ; with him 'they shall reign forever and ever' Rev 22:5."Heaven is considered a state, a condition of existence, rather than a particular place somewhere in the cosmos.
Jehovah's Witnesses: Believe that heaven is the dwelling place of Jehovah God and his spirit creatures. Rather than the traditional view that all Christians go to heaven, they believe that only 144,000 chosen faithful followers will be resurrected to heaven to rule with Christ over the majority of mankind who will live on Earth.
Mormons: The church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. Their view of heaven is based on Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants as well as 1 Corinthians Chapter 15 in the King James version of the Bible. The afterlife is divided first into two levels until the Last Judgment; afterwards it is divided into four levels, the upper three of which are referred to as "degrees of glory" that, for illustrative purposes, are compared to heavenly bodies. Before the Last Judgment, spirits separated from their bodies at death go either to Paradise or to Spirit Prison based on their merits earned in life. Paradise is a place of rest while its inhabitants continue learning in preparation for the Last Judgment. Spirit Prison is a place of anguish and suffering for the wicked and unrepentant; however, missionary efforts done by spirits from Paradise enable those in Spirit Prison to repent, accept the Gospel and the atonement and receive baptism through the practice of baptism for the dead.
Other’s people groups view of Heaven: From the book Heaven page 1:
Australian aborigines: Pictured heaven as a distant island beyond the western Horizon.
Early Finns: Thought Heaven was an island in the faraway east.
Ancient Mexicans, Peruvians and Polynesians: Believed that they went to the sun or moon after death.
Native Americans: believed that in the afterlife their spirits would hunt buffalo.
Key point: The common denominator in most cultures was that there is life after death in a place that is eternal.
Why talk about Heaven because that means we have to talk about death?
We all know that we have a terminal disease and that every one of us will die. This terminal illness which leads to death is called mortality. The current death rate of this illness is 100%. There is no cure for dying as we all know it today in this world, we will all face it, and we will see its impact on the lives of those we love and don’t love.
Randy Alcorn states this: “If the Bible is right about what happens to us after death, it means that more than 250,000 people every day go either to Heaven or Hell” (Page xix, Heaven).
He also adds: “3 people die every second, 180 every minute, and nearly 11,000 every hour.” We are talking our moms and dads, brothers and sisters, grandparents and friends. People in our neighborhood and people we will work with. People we go to church with!
The truth is most of the people on the planet today rarely prepare for death or the afterlife! France’s Louis XIV decreed that the word “death” not be uttered in his presence. Why? They are too consumed with the things of the here and now. Which as Christians we are told to focus on eternity and not look at this life as all there is!
Ancient merchants often wrote the words “memento mori” - “think death” in large letters on the first page of their accounting books. Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, commissioned a servant to stand in his presence each day and say, “Philip, you will die.”
Last week we celebrated Easter – Jesus’ defeat of death through his resurrection!
Jesus came to this earth sent by God the Father driven by love to free us from the fear of death.
Hebrews 2:14-15: 14Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devi. 15and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Paul talks about the power of the resurrection of Jesus in 1 Cor. 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O, death, is you sting?”
What delivers us from the fear of death – a relationship with Jesus – the one who defeated death!
T.S - We need a fresh view of Heaven today! Why so that we ate motivated to live right and do right with our short gateway to eternal life.
I. Heaven – Myth or Reality?
a. To receive this fresh view, fresh wind, and fresh revelation of Heaven we need a proper understanding of Heaven.
i. We need a clear Biblical view of Heaven today so that it encourages us to press on and live on with right motives in this life.
ii. The Bible tells us that people perish without a vision. So today I am seeking to build a fresh new vision for you of Heaven!
iii. I hope this sermon gives you a fresh and exciting view of Heaven and it helps you keep it in focus every day of your life. Why? Because understanding what lies ahead should compel us to live with eternity in view.
1. John Bevere in his book “Driven by Eternity” introduction (Page ix-x):
a. He states, “What is about the word “eternity” that catches our attention; in fact, has the potential to influence an entire nation? Such is the story of Arthur Stace, an Australian born into a life of hopelessness at the turn of the century. His life was that of a bum filled with petty crime and alcoholism between the First World War and the Great Depression. All this changed when he met Jesus August 6,1930, and soon afterward heard his pastor cry. “I wish I could shout eternity through all the streets of Sydney!” He felt driven to make this cry a reality. Arthur would rise each morning, pray for an hour, and leave his home between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m., to go wherever he felt God led him. For hours he would write one word, eternity, approximately every hundred feet on the sidewalks of Sydney. For more than twenty years his work was a mystery. Who was writing this single word that caused countless thousands to pause and ponder it’s meaning, both immediate and long range? Had this mystery man captured the impact and portion of this single word’s power? It wasn’t until 1956 that the puzzle was solved. Two years after Arthur’s death in 1967, Sidney poet Douglas Stewart published these words and immortalized the word of this graffiti preacher:
• That shy mysterious poet Arthur Stace
• Whose work was just one single mighty word
• Walked in the utmost depths of time and space
• And there his word was spoken and he heard.
• Eternity, Eternity, it banged him like a bell.
• Dulcet from heaven sounding, sombre from hell
b. He adds, “A one word sermon touched a nation. His message was secured for generations by architect Ridley Smith, who put it in copperplate in Sydney Square. It was later viewed by over 4 billion souls worldwide as they watched by television the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Olympics, and again when it was emblazoned in fireworks on the Sydney Harbor Bridge on the eve of the new millennium.”
c. He adds, “Eternity arrests the attention of mankind. No race, tribe, or gender can resist its draw. We were created with eternity in our hearts and sense the immanent unknown extension of our existence. Therefore, it’s wise to delve deeper into what our Creator says concerning eternity: after all, His word states, “From Eternity to eternity I am God. No one can oppose what I do” (Isa 43:13), TLB).
iv. Getting a view of Heaven is important but Jesus spoke three times more about Hell than He did Heaven so may be a comparison of what both is like is a good start to open our eyes to heaven:
1. Randy Alcorn notes: One way to perceive heaven more clearly is to consider how different it is to hell. Let your thoughts be stretched with these portrayals…
a. Heaven: “The exploding Universe.”
i. Hell: “The imploding pinpoint of death.”
b. Heaven: “Cosmic and getting bigger all the time” and “a vast estate in which galaxies are but steppingstones.”
i. Hell: “Microscopic and getting smaller all the time” and “smaller than the smallest particle of Earth.”
c. Heaven’s Inhabitants: “greater and ever growing.”
i. Hells Inhabitants: “Shrunken and ever shrinking”; “tiny people who were once bigger and could have been magnificent; small and petty people, with nowhere to go, nothing to explore but their own grievances and missed opportunities.”
d. Heaven: where ‘right choices are forever celebrated.”
i. Hell: where ‘wrong choices are endlessly reviewed and regretted- especially the choice to refuse the greatest gift ever offered.”
e. Heaven: “A trillion colors!’
i. Hell: “Only the ternal Grey!”
f. Heaven: where people “are wonderfully different, united by their differences.’
i. Hell: where people “are horribly alike, divided by their sameness!”
g. Another comparison Earth: “The atmosphere of earth is nitrogen and oxygen!” Hell: “the atmosphere of Hell is sulfur and acid.” Heaven: The atmosphere is joy and delight.”
h. Heaven: His presence makes Heaven – Heaven!
i. Hell: His absence makes Hell-Hell!
1. The above from randy Alcorn book “In (Light of Eternity” Pages 73-75).
v. What did Jesus say about Hell? See Matthew 22:1-14:
1. Hell is a real place.
a. “Don’t fear those who kill the body,” Jesus said, “rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28; see also 5:29-30; 23:15,33; Luke 10:15; 16:23).
b. Heaven is a Real place too:
i. See Revelation 21-22!
1. It’s a place to look forward to - too! A place to desire to want to go too – no eternal punishment but an eternal blessing!
2. Hell is a place of Judgement!
a. In numerous parables, Jesus clearly and emphatically taught of a final judgment and the separation of the righteous from the unrighteous. The unrighteous will be condemned to a place of blazing fire and utter darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (See Matt. 13:24-30,36-43, 47-50; 22:1-14; 25:14-46.) Jesus called this place “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41). Hell is not a place where people are tormented by the devil; it is where those who reject God will suffer the same fate as the devil and his demons. It is the place of final judgment.
i. From https://explorethebible.lifeway.com/blog/adults/what-did-jesus-say-about-hell/?cmpid=pm:ggl:220914|both|na|corporate|corporate|16506446280|dynamic_search_google_grants:lerma_dynamic_search_grants:137794411361&ef_id=CjwKCAjwue6hBhBVEiwA9YTx8EvycZEB9SNVKZvsHiI_4yObCNSBZYN71bB7alCfL5T1jFeKojh0dBoCfYYQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!4443!3!586711544131!!!g!!!16506446280!137794411361&gclid=CjwKCAjwue6hBhBVEiwA9YTx8EvycZEB9SNVKZvsHiI_4yObCNSBZYN71bB7alCfL5T1jFeKojh0dBoCfYYQAvD_BwE
b. Heaven is a place of not judgment – but blessing – We will be rewarded for a life well lived – we will receive crowns, homes, positions within God’s Kingdom – new names, new robes, crowns, and much more!
3. Hell is forever!
a. Jesus spoke of hell as “eternal fire” (Matt. 25:41) and “eternal punishment” (Matt. 25:46). In Matthew 25:46, the same word—eternal—is used to describe eternal life for the righteous and the eternal punishment of hell for the unrighteous. According to Jesus, hell will be eternal.
i. https://explorethebible.lifeway.com/blog/adults/what-did-jesus-say-about-hell/?cmpid=pm:ggl:220914|both|na|corporate|corporate|16506446280|dynamic_search_google_grants:lerma_dynamic_search_grants:137794411361&ef_id=CjwKCAjwue6hBhBVEiwA9YTx8EvycZEB9SNVKZvsHiI_4yObCNSBZYN71bB7alCfL5T1jFeKojh0dBoCfYYQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!4443!3!586711544131!!!g!!!16506446280!137794411361&gclid=CjwKCAjwue6hBhBVEiwA9YTx8EvycZEB9SNVKZvsHiI_4yObCNSBZYN71bB7alCfL5T1jFeKojh0dBoCfYYQAvD_BwE
b. Heaven will be forever too!
i. Revelation 21-22
4. Hell is more terrible than we can imagine!
a. The images of fire (Matt. 25:41), darkness (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30), the weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 8:12; 13:42,50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28) and being cut into pieces speak of the horror of hell.
i. From the same website as above!
b. Heaven is more glorious than we can imagine!
i. The Bible admittedly doesn’t answer all our questions about Heaven — and one reason is because our minds are simply too limited to fully understand its glory and greatness. As the Bible says, "What we will has not yet been made known" (1 John 3:2).
ii. But the Bible does tell us two important truths about Heaven that are related to your question. First, it tells us that Heaven is glorious — far more glorious than anything we can even begin to imagine on earth. The most spectacular sunset you’ve ever witnessed … the most beautiful flower you ever examined … the most awesome mountain range you ever saw … all these will be as nothing compared with Heaven’s glory. When the Apostle John was given a glimpse of Heaven, he "fell down to worship" (Revelation 22:8).
iii. But the Bible also indicates that in Heaven we won’t feel like complete strangers — because much of it will seem familiar to us (although no longer imperfect). John’s vision of the heavenly city included streets, and trees, and walls, and gates, and a river of clearest water (see Revelation 21-22). It will be like the Garden of Eden — but without any danger from sin or Satan. Jesus said, "My Father’s house has many rooms. … I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).
1. The above quoted from https://tribunecontentagency.com/article/heaven-is-more-glorious-than-we-can-imagine-and-we-all-have-an-invitation/
b. For those who have read the book of Revelation a word launches out at us, a word with a message of hope which gave the persecuted church of the day the courage and the stamina to press toward the goal – that word and goal was “Heaven!”
i. Illustration: The power of seeing: Story of Florence Chadwick: In 1952, young Florence Chadwick stepped into the waters of the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island, determined to swim to the shore of mainland California. She’d already been the first woman to swim the English Channel both ways. Still, she swam for fifteen hours. When she begged to be taken out of the water along the way, her mother, in a boat alongside, told her she was close and that she could make it. Finally, physically, and emotionally exhausted, she stopped swimming and was pulled out. It wasn’t until she was on the boat that she discovered the shore was less than half a mile away. At a news conference the next day she said, “All I could see was the fog...I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it.” (Randy Alcorn, Heaven, page xx).
ii. For us today, I too think that each of us should get a clearer view of Heaven and see what awaits us on this seemingly distant shore.
1. Trust me, Heaven is closer than many of you think today.
2. Death leads us to eternity and to Heaven it is the better of the two destinations spoken about in the Bible.
3. If we understand what this place is like it should compel us to live with Heaven in mind every day.
4. A proper view of heaven should give us hope for the future. The Bible does teach us about this wonderful place and my desire is that you to know about your eternal destiny.
iii. Illustration: The Happiness of Heaven - Contributed by Sermon Central on May 7, 2012:
1. In 1871 Fr. J. Boudreau wrote a short story entitled "The Happiness of Heaven." It's a story about a kindhearted king who is hunting in the forest when he discovers a blind, poor orphan boy living there. The king takes the blind orphan to his palace and adopts him as his own son. The king gives his blind son the finest education and training money can buy. The blind son loves his father dearly and is grateful for everything he has done for him. When the son turns twenty, a surgeon performs an experimental surgery on his eyes, and for the first time in his life he can see. This royal prince, who was once a starving orphan, realizes how he has been blessed with fine food, fragrant gardens, and lovely music. But when he gains his sight, he doesn't care to look at the wealth of his kingdom or the wonders of the palace. Instead, he only wants to gaze upon the face of his father--the king who saved him, adopted him, and loved him. We'll do the same thing in heaven. We were all poor, blind, wretched orphans, and the King of Kings adopted us into his family. When we arrive in heaven and our faith finally turns to sight, we aren't going to be looking for a pearly gate, or streets of gold, we'll only have eyes to look upon the One who has redeemed us! My favorite promise is found in Revelation 22:3-4, "The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads." The greatest thing about heaven is that we shall see the Lord!
a. (From a sermon by Fred Markes, Heaven, 8/30/2011)
c. Let me ask you a question: If you were to find out today that you were dying what would you do?
i. Would your choices change?
ii. Would your focus in life change?
iii. Would you quit your job?
iv. Would you view life differently?
v. What would you do?
1. Illustration: Highlight the show the Walton’s. I watched the Walton’s the other day and the emphasis of the show was on a 17 year old boy who found out that he would die within a year. It showed the impact this had on the Walton family and raised the question of Heaven. The family of the boy changed their life, moved away from Walton’s Mountain to help their dying son achieve some of his goals before death.
d. Personal stories: Share how each one’s view of life changed from your perspective:
i. Leo - My prayer partner in college - died of Hodgkin’s disease in our senior year. I went to his funeral and watched his youth group pay tribute to their leader. They shared testimonies. They played the song Friends during the ceremony with many pictures showing the impact of Leo’s life on theirs. His short life touched 1,000. I know that today Leo is enjoying Heaven.
1. I must admit during the service the question came up “Why would God take such a promising life?”
ii. Dave - Another ministerial friend of mine worked for me at camp and died of cancer leaving 5 kids. The day I got the call from Pastor Sherstad to come here as an Associate Pastor was a few minutes after Dave called to tell me that he was dying of cancer. I will never forget that day.
1. Dave lived his remaining time trusting in the Lord and expecting a miracle, Leo did the same, they both received that miracle when they passed from here to eternity - but their families had to recover and press on in this life.
2. I thought a lot about Heaven and death during these two hard times.
a. Questions surfaced in my mind and heart: “Will I ever see Leo or Dave again?” I have learned that yes “I will!”
e. I heard a country song called, “Live as if you are dying!”- The song focused on all the things someone would do when they discovered that they were dying. It changed their view of life and death.
i. So why should we live life as if we are dying - because honestly you are?
1. I know this may come as a shock to you – but really you are!
ii. We need to be thinking about Heaven!
1. J.C. Ryle stated, “I pity the man who never thinks accurately of Heaven.”
2. Randy Alcorn stated, “It’s our inaccurate thinking, I believe, that causes us to choose to think so little about Heaven” (Page 8).
a. A right Biblical view of Heaven should be a central focus and conviction in our lives.
iii. I know I will be reunited with these men of God in Heaven – I really felt the Lord speak to me when I read Don Piper’s book “People I met at the Gates of Heaven” this is from His experience from the famous story of “90 minutes in Heaven” which is a book and movie.
1. His opening line in his book: Heaven is Real – is “Heaven is real. I know it because I have been there and back.”
2. Do you know Heaven is real?
a. Do you live like it is real?
T.S. – We need to realize and visualize our eternal destiny as Christians. We need to lose our wrong views of Heaven and get wisdom about Heaven from above.
II. Why are there so many misconceptions of Heaven?
a. Randy Alcorn states, “I believe there’s one central explanation for why so many of God’s children have such a vague, negative, and uninspired view of Heaven: the work of Satan.”
i. Many today receive their view of Heaven from the following sources:
1. TV
2. Movies
3. Plays
4. Books
5. Newspapers
6. Internet
7. Conversations with others
8. School
9. Professors
10. Teachers
11. Preachers
12. But few pick up their Bibles and study the texts that refer to Heaven.
a. Satan has used all these and some other mediums to influence your view of Heaven. The truth is he has kept many people from picking up the Bible to research this subject.
b. He has worked hard in getting us to place Heaven as just an afterthought in life.
c. He has repeatedly stressed us to focus on the here and now.
b. We need to be reminded that in John 8:44, Jesus calls Satan the father of lies.
i. He has been spinning his webs of lies on Heaven for many years and is still seeking to keep the truth of Heaven away from most of the world today.
ii. Why? Because he knows that if people get a real vision of Heaven, it will change their decisions and destiny’s in life.
iii. Revelation 13:5, 6 states, “5The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.”
iv. The truth is the beast is empowered by Satan and is a part of Satan. This text tells us that he focuses on lying about 3 things in this world,
1. God’s person
2. God’s people
3. God’s dwelling place – called Heaven.
a. We need to remember that Satan was forcibly removed from Heaven.
i. You can read about this in Isaiah 14:12-15: 12How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.14I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.
b. Randy Alcorn states, “It must be maddening for him that we’re (Christians are) now entitled to the home he was kicked out of” (Page 11).
i. He adds, “What better way for the devil and his demons to attack us than whisper lies about the very place on which God tells us to set our hearts and minds? Satan need not convince us that Heaven doesn’t exist. He need only convince us that Heaven is a place of boring, unearthly existence. If we believe that lie, we’ll be robbed of our joy and anticipation, we’ll set our minds on this life and not the next, and we won’t be motivated to share the faith. Why should we share the “good news” that people can spend eternity in a boring, ghostly place that even we’re not looking forward to” (page 11)?
c. Myth buster – Heaven will not be boring!
i. Randy Alcorn, “Some imagine that in Heaven we’ll be dressed up with nowhere to go and nothing to do. (Except take an eternal afternoon nap, strum the harp, and polish that gold). I’ve concluded there are two unspoken assumptions behind this pervasive notion that heaven will be boring. The first is that God is boring. (When an omnipotent being creates the ultimate place, if he is exciting, it will be exciting.) If the place is dull, it’s because He is dull.) The second assumption is that life without sin would not be interesting. The idea is, ‘What will we do for entertainment if there’s no sin? (Page 54, In Light of Eternity).
1. For some Christian to even have this view amazes me - because I have met some of these people who believe this – it shows how the evil one has blinded the eyes of even believers or professing Christians. Satan’s deception is strong in this world.
2. But listen to me – “Heaven will not be boring!”
3. Trust me, sin does not bring fulfillment in this life – it robs us of fulfillment! Sin does not make interesting but makes a life filled with bondage and decay.
ii. In Heaven Matthew 6:20 tells me there will not be material decay and corruption!
iii. In Heaven Revelation 14:13 tells me there will be no burdensome toil.
iv. In Heaven Revelation 21:4 tells me there is no more “death or mourning, or tears and pain.”
v. In Heaven I read in Romans 7:24 there will no sinful human actions and by the way this is what causes in view boredom in life.
vi. In Heaven we read in Scripture that this is God’s home, His dwelling place, so how could this not be thrilling?
1. But better yet - Jesus tells us Heaven will be our home too – See John 14:2 where he promises to prepare a place for us to live with Him in Heaven – sounds amazing to me!
T.S. - So we need to gain a right perspective on what the Bible really teaches us about Heaven and let loose of our preconceived ideas of Heaven. We need to gain a Biblical view of Heaven.
III. Is Heaven all spiritual with no physical elements to it?
a. I believe Heaven has a physical dimension to it. I believe from my study of Heaven that it has tangible realities to it that tie into our 5 senses!
i. Randy states, “Too often we’ve been taught that Heaven is a non-physical realm, which cannot have real gardens, cities, kingdoms, buildings, banquets, or bodies. So, we fail to take seriously what Scriptures tells us about Heaven as a familiar, physical, and tangible place” (Page 15).
ii. The truth is we are both physical and spiritual beings.
1. It was Plato who 1st promoted the view that we are only spiritual beings dwelling in temporary bodies – and that the physical means nothing in comparison to who we are.
2. But as I read the Bible, I see the 5 physical senses referenced- note we all live by these today and they are associated with the physical realm of man. But we need to remember that we are created by God and in His image – so the question surfaces: “Will we experience the 5 senses in Heaven as much as we do on the earth today?”
a. Will we have sight in Heaven and be able to see?
b. Will we have the ability to hear and comprehend?
c. Will we have the sense of taste in Heaven?
d. Will we be able to smell?
e. Will we have a sense of touch?
i. Alcorn states, “Everything pleasurable we know about life on Earth we have experienced through our senses. So, when Heaven is portrayed as beyond the reach of our senses, it doesn’t invite us; instead, it alienates and even frightens us. Our misguided attempts to make Heaven “Sound spiritual” (non-physical merely succeed in making Heaven sound unappealing).”
b. So, this morning let’s take a moment to look at Jesus’ resurrected state after death when He appears to His followers:
i. Mark 28:9,10: 9Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.
ii. 3 senses noted, they heard him, they touched Him and they saw Him.
1. Luke 24:36-49:36While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”37They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence.44He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
c. Senses used: Seeing, hearing, touching and even tasting!
i. John 21:12-13:12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
ii. Do you see that the senses are being used here? Jesus is cooking and there has to be a sense of smell going on!
iii. Notice: 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 “15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?”
d. I think the apostle John references the senses in what he saw, heard, touched, and smelled with His vision spoken of in Revelation.
i. If you read the book, we have bowls of incense being referenced, lake of fire burning like Sulphur, smoke on altars with fires on them, and all of these references explaining the idea of things which do put off a smell. Some may doubt that we can have physical qualities in Heaven.
ii. Some may argue against a physical dimension in Heaven using - I Corinthians 2:9-12: “9However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”—10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.”
e. This passage tells us that we can comprehend Heaven at least a healthy view of it by His Spirit. His Spirit will enable us to see things that are unseen to the natural eye. God has given us the Bible to explain to us the dimensions of Heaven and its attributes. I know that we are promised new glorified bodies in Heaven but can they not have the qualities that these earthly ones possess?
i. Are not the 5 senses amazing?
1. Do they not have God like qualities? Then why would we lose them when we go to Heaven? God’s Word the Bible is filled with glimpses and fragmented descriptions of Heaven.
ii. The most complete description of Heaven is found in Revelation chapters 21-22. The Lord told John to write down what he saw in the vision He gave him and to tell the Christians about this wonderful place. The Bible is also filled with other fragmented visions of Heaven and when these are all pulled together they give us a good view of this eternal place were God Himself dwells (The most important attribute of Heaven by the way).
iii. Randy Alcorn states the following: “Often our thinking is backwards. Why do we imagine that God patterns Heaven’s holy city after an earthly city, as if Heaven knows nothing of community and culture and has to get its ideas from us? Isn’t it more likely that earthly realities, including cities, are derived from heavenly counterparts? We tend to start with Earth and reason up toward Heaven, when instead we should start with Heaven and reason down toward Earth. It isn’t merely an accommodation to our earthly familial structure, for instance, that God calls himself a father and us children. On the contrary, he created father-child relationships to display his relationship with us, just as he created human marriage to reveal the love relationship between Christ and his bride” (Ephesians 5:32) (Heaven, page 54).
iv. I agree we sometimes try to reason things away because we try to use earthly wisdom instead of Heavenly wisdom from above to explain things in this life and beyond.
1. James 3:13-18
T.S. – Let’s take a moment to look at what Heaven will be like.
IV. What is lifelike in Heaven?
a. Revelation 7:16-17: “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
b. Rev. 21:23, 24 “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings on the earth will bring their splendor into it.”
c. Rev. 22:4, 5 “They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.”
d. In Revelation 21 and 22 we learn about the residents of the Holy City. Revelation 21:10 states, “And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.”
i. Moore makes this observation that I would like to expand on today, “In the verses that follow (Revelation 21 and 22), John describes the unique characteristics of that holy city. Now, the promise of Revelation is that, if you’re a believer (i.e. in the language of Revelation, you have had your “robe washed in the blood of the Lamb”), you will someday inhabit that holy heavenly city in the New Heaven!”
e. Here are some attributes of Heaven, some descriptions of what this place will be like:
i. “God’s Glow in the Holy city,” “WOW what a show!” I believe this is what Leo and Dave said when they crossed from here to eternity!
ii. Revelation 21, 22 - Gives us a glimpse of what happens when God shows up and glows in a city.
iii. The Holy city’s first characteristic is God dwells in it (21:3). God – Yes – Dwells, resides, lives, in this city LITERALLY! In this city crying is done away with as God wipes away all the pain and sorrow and hurt. (21:4)
1. In other words, there is joy, happiness, contentment! No more hurt, no more emotional wounds.
2. There is a new glorified body like Jesus. A body that will live and exist for eternity!
3. In this city there is No death – only life - life with no crying, no diseases, and no pain.
4. Death is no longer a concern only eternal life!
5. Can you imagine not having to be concerned about dying? Imagine that!
6. What is a city like when God glows and sits on the throne in a city? There is no more death, no more pain, no more sorrow! In this holy city there is a new way of doing things – the old is dead and gone – It means: This city is not like the worlds - driven by pride, by greed, by people treading on top of others to get to the top, by people doing their own thing at the cost of someone else’s life or feelings.
7. No, this city is run with Love – Love has absolute control. (21:4-10).
8. Reflect on 1 Cor. 13 “The Love chapter!”
a. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
9. In this city God makes everything new- there are no ghettos, no crack houses, no houses of ill repute, no exploitation of people and resources, no thieves or stealing – no it’s honest and righteous!
a. It’s fresh, vibrant, and beautiful like a Spring Day after a long hard winter!
b. There is a new honest and upright government! There is No corruption- no power plays-no self-centered mindsets.
c. No bribery, no favoritism, no prejudice, no undermined deals.
d. In this city there is a spring of everlasting life. Many have looked for the fountain of youth so they can live forever. Here it is friends it’s in New Jerusalem (21:6).
iv. The great blessing is, there is no cost to drink of its life-giving water.
1. In this holy city according to Rev. 21:11 “It shone with the Glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a precious jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal.”
2. Friend the holy city was illuminated with the presence of God. There is a beautiful colorful majestic view of GOD! There is a color show more gorgeous than even a rainbow.
3. It is absolutely breath taking. PAUSE AND LET HIS SPIRIT GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE!!!!
4. The walls and foundations glitter and beam with brilliant colors of beauty. The gates are whitewashed pearls. The streets are paved in GOLD (21:11-21)! WOW what a place!
5. This city has no temple – no church buildings - because God along with the Lamb resided there literally. You can see them, touch them, speak to them, hear them, and smell their sweet presence (21:22, 23)
f. Revelation 21:23 states, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb its lamp.”
i. In the city - God flows and He glows, and all can see His eternal light.
ii. It may be like what Moses experienced in his Burning Bush experience with God!
g. Remember in this city a resident is one who has had a personal relationship with the Lord God Almighty while on earth.
i. This relationship is personal and intimate! It’s not philosophical, it’s real!
h. I discovered in my study that a resident of this city walks in the light because of God’s presence – they see by God’s illuminating presence.
i. There is no need of natural light because God’s supernatural light is everywhere guiding the way around in the city.
ii. Jesus told us in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
iii. John tells us in 1 John 1:5 “…God is light in Him there is no darkness…”
iv. The Psalmist wrote of the Lord (Psalms 119:105) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
v. In this city we said in verses 24-26 that the kings will honor and praise the Lord. Yes, even the leaders and the whole nation will proclaim the Lord the king and bring him glory.
vi. In this city everyone even the President and Congress type people will honor God. There will be no separation of Church and State.
vii. They are one because you cannot have good government without the Lord Almighty directing it.
viii. The city will never close its gates again. All will be able to enter the presence of the Lord. There will be no night.
ix. In other words, night represents evil, and it will be banished forever – it will never be allowed into this holy city! There will only be THE LIGHT. In this city the residents will worship God alone.
x. They will not worship themselves only HIM! Darkness has no place.
xi. In the Holy city the residents will be holy and righteous. There will be no evil or unclean individuals. There will be no deception only truth. It will be full of residents who are written in the Lambs Book of Life.
xii. There will be no disgusting practices. No child abusers, no rapists, no violence, no crime, no murderers, no pornography, no liars, no self-centered individuals, no sexual immorality, there will be only people who are blessings to each other. The residents of this city will flow in the way of love and follow after the way of Jesus.
i. In this city there will be mass production of great fruit. The residents there will receive fruit from the tree of life that will bring healing to everyone. The pains of the past will be completely healed. The diseases and sicknesses of life will be gone (Rev.22:1, 2).
i. The residents of this city will receive fresh fruit all the time! They will be satisfied like never before! The fruit of Spirit will be manifested in the lives of the residents: Galatians 5:22-23: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, and self-control.” In this city there will be no curses only blessings as God’s people worship and Praise the Lord. The residents of this city will serve the Lord (Rev. 22:3, 4).
ii. Because the curse is gone once again, we will see his face like Adam and Eve did. We will be able to walk and talk to Him. All those questions will be answered. And yes, all the why’s will be cleared up!
iii. No more separation between us and the Holy One.
iv. We will be united with the Lord forever! Oh, what a time it will be!
v. In the city of Light where God’s glow -flows -and shows we will reign with Him forever and ever.
1. NIV Revelation 7:16-17: 16. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Conclusion:
Moore makes this observation,
“In the verses that follow (Revelation 21 and 22), John describes the unique characteristics of that holy city. Now, the promise of Revelation is that, if you’re a believer (i.e. in the language of Revelation, you have had your “robe washed in the blood of the Lamb”), you will someday inhabit that holy heavenly city in the New Heaven!”
This is Jesus promise to those who have their names written in the Lambs Book of Life they will receive the blessings of Heaven:
John 14:1-3:
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
2In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Closing Quotes:
"Living is death; dying is life. On this side of the grave we are exiles, on that, citizens; on this side, orphans, on that, children; on this side, captives; on that, freemen; on this side, disguised, unknown; on that, disclosed and proclaimed as the sons of God. --Henry Ward Beecher
"What we call life is a journey to death. What we call death is the gateway to life. --Anonymous
"I think of death as a glad awakening from this troubled sleep which we call life; as an emancipation from a world, which, beautiful though it may be, is still a land of captivity. --Lyman Abbott
"To die is to go and live in another home. -- C.L. Allen
"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come. --Rabindranath Tagore
"Leaving this life is just like going from one room to another and closing the door. ----David Brandt Berg
Let us believe that when death comes, and it will come sooner or later to every human being, we can be assured it will come as a friend who lovingly leads us to our eternal home, Heaven. --C.L. Allen
"Death is but a passage out of a prison into a palace. --Anonymous
