Two Heavens And Two Earths?

Background to passage: Beginning our new summer series on Heaven. Some of the material will be based on Randy Alcorn’s study called Heaven if you are interested in further reading.

One of his opening hypotheses is that the subject of heaven is rarely and only casually dealt with in church life, even in seminary and bible college life. This leads to many false conceptions and presuppositions and generalizations about it.

Today, I want to simply kick off the series and wet your appetite for what is to come. I want to dispel a few misunderstandings and untruths that we have about heaven so that we say with the apostle, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” I am convinced that some of the misconceptions about heaven lessen our desire for it, and for being with Christ.

Revelation 21:1–4 ESV

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Colossians 3:1–3 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Opening illustration: 73% of Americans believe that heaven exists. However, many have not given much thought to what it is like (much less how to get there). It was either on a street video interview or Alcorn’s book, the question was asked, if you trained with NASA for years for a mission to Mars, then after launch and travel, you are about to land, and one of the other astronauts asks you if you know anything about Mars?

Main thought: This morning I want to cover three misconceptions, and three foundations for out study, then a final comparison

1) Three Misconceptions (v. )

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 our 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? -Randy Alcorn

It is difficult to imagine heaven. Like a number of other topics that are often neglected from pulpits, we get much of our theology in pictures from art and music. So many gospel songs about heaven, so many paintings and pictures. Well-intentioned, but often misconstruing truth. Let’s bring up three often-held misconceptions.

It will be boring: a common thought is that heaven will be one big long church service minus preaching. “When we all get to heaven…we’ll sing and shout the victory.” “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.” “I’ll Fly Away.” If heaven was an eternal version of the last 30 minutes, it might sound boring. Let me assure you, heaven will not be boring. We will explore details as this series continues, but know that it will not be boring.

1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

We will become angels: This idea is a combination of truths and untruths (part of the reason we accept it). The OT angels were portrayed in various ways, and sometimes with wings. They do live in the presence of God. The Romans pictured some of their gods, particularly cupid, as little humans who flew. We sing about flying, think about floating, and look at paintings on the Sistine chapel with everyone on clouds. Here is a biblical newsflash: you will not be an angel in heaven. Angels and humans are very different. You will just be in the same place more often.

Illustration: John and Taylor arrived, and John seemed shorted than he seemed on Zoom