A Glimpse
of Heaven
Revelation 21:1-9
Introduction
·
Last
week I mentioned we would take a small glimpse at a look into our final glory
·
To
be honest, after really dwelling on this, I have very little real idea of what
I am talking about
o I mean this. Because…
o The Bible says a lot about how good
heaven [or glorification is], and what it looks like, but not what it feels
like
o What I mean by that is:
o I know what it feels like not to sin,
I have no idea what it is like… not to be able to sin
· I have four things I think this text
tells us:
o All that is good and new involves the
Bride
o It is granted and sustained by the
glory of God
o Old things and bad things [fallen
things] are done away with
o Then that which is perfect endures
forever, to the glory of God
· I’m going to camp mostly on the last
one
· But I also want you to think about
this: This message created [for me] more questions than answers. But they were
questions of hope
Message
· What is good and new involves the
Bride
o Look at the difference the contrast
§ (v:7) the children of God vs.
§ (v:8) The enemies of God
§ (v:9a) the children of God are the
Bride
o What’s the difference?
§ Because I’m still cowardly, an
idolater, etc….
§ The Lamb
§ My hope lies in a person not a place,
it can’t
§ My hope lies in Jesus performance not
mine
o Eternal joy is given to those [the
Bride] who:
§ Belong to the Lamb – Jesus
§ Desire the Lamb
o (v:6b) ‘ “To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life
without payment.” ’
§ Jesus will satisfy all our longings
and desires
§ The banquet in (chp. 19) is not just
a symbol of His closeness, but a symbol of God’s all-satisfying goodness
§ It’s not about a meal
o That all-satisfying goodness…
· Is granted and sustained by the glory
of God
o Not centered on the Bride, but
benefits the Bride
o It is centered on God
§ God prepares the new heavens &
earth
§ God who will make all things new
§ God makes us His children
§ (John 17:24) ‘ “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given Me [the Bride],
may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that you have given Me because you
loved Me before the foundation of the world.” ’
o Just like all of Scripture it is all
about Jesus
§ A reminder, this is the purpose of
marriage
§ It displays the nature of how Jesus
loves the Bride
o We can’t miss that
o Because Jesus is perfect, everything
must be as well
· Old things and bad things [fallen
things] are done away with
o And this means everything. The whole
thing starts over
o (2 Peter 3:10-13) “But the day of the Lord will come like a
thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies
will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on
it will be exposed. 11 Since
all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be
in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting
for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens
will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they
burn! 13 But
according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in
which righteousness dwells.”
§ Peter is given understanding of this
truth we’re looking at in Revelation this morning
o I’m actually going to weave this
point with the next one:
· Only that which is perfect endures
forever, for God’s eternal glory AND our eternal joy
o They’re linked
o Again, I know what it feels like not
to sin, I have no idea what it is like not to be able to sin
§ I know those times when I’m tempted
but refrain
§ But, what’s it like not to be
tempted?
ð Like I said, I have more questions
than answers this morning so bear with me
ð Sitting on the porch with Shelly
never thinking about what I need
ð Never saying an unkind word again to
those I love
ð Someone will walk away and I’ll never
think, “I bet they don’t care…”
§ I don’t know, do you?
§ That is how other glory is going to be
§ Here’s what we can know:
o Things too wonderful
§ (2 Corinthians 12:3-4) “And I know that this man…4 was
caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not
permitted to tell.” [NIV]
§ [aside] Not permitted…which means no
one can write a book
§ But, I think there’s a reason:
§ What would you say?
o No eye has seen or heart imagined
§ (1 Corinthians 2:9) ‘ “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor
the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him” ’
§ This is part of the problem with the
book of Revelation
§ We don’t have categories, so it will
always fall short
ð Think about the Trinity?
ð Explain that one
ð It always falls short
ð There is a difference between knowing
and understanding
o Understanding has a sense of
experience
§ God is soooo glorious, we can only
see dimly (1 Cor. 13)
ð We can have a small level of
understanding
ð And because God is so infinite
ð It can be big for us in this life
o Let’s try to just think through what
we can know:
o (Isaiah 65:17) ‘ “For behold, I create new heavens and a new
earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” ’
§ Think
about not being able to recall all the pain of this life
§ Every
wrong done to you
§ And every
shameful act you have committed
§ Gone
o (v:4) Wipe
away tears
§ We’ve just
come out of the great judgment
§ In which the
Bride will not suffer condemnation but accountability
§ I believe
we, just once, will be given a look at the fullness of our sin
§ Why? To
understand the fullness of God’s immeasurable grace to us
§ Response –
tears
ð Not just
tears of sorrow
ð Tears of
joy for the glorious nature of God’s grace
ð Like when
your kids fail to call and they’re hours late
§ Then God wipes them away
ð Forever.
ð There is NO sorrow
o There is no pain
§ One day I will never know what this
broken down body feels like
§ No arthritis, no cerebral palsy,
Alzheimer’s
o And even more…
· It’s not just what’s taken away, but
what is given and increased:
o We will no longer be wrapped in the
righteousness of Christ, we will be permeated by it, enveloped by it
§ (2 Thessalonians 1:10) “when He comes on that day to be glorified in
His saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our
testimony to you was believed.”
§ IN His saints, not BY His saints
§ (Matthew 13:43) ‘ “Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” ’
§ What will it feel like to shine?
§ You see what I mean when I say I have
questions?
§ I don’t know what it will feel like
to shine, but I will
§ Because God’s glory sooo permeates
all of my being.
o Let’s look at (v:5) He is making [and
will continue to make] all things new
§ Your glorification will never end,
but instead, will ever increase
§ As God is infinite, our ability to
know Him cannot be exhausted
§ Our ability to obtain and enjoy pleasure
cannot diminish or stay stagnant
§ Our capacity to behold and enjoy a
new perfection of God will every increase
§ There will never be a time when you
ask your Father for more and He will not pour out in abundance, AND, you will
fully understand
§ For everything God does, and has
done, we will nod in assent of being good and right…even hell…
· Some sins to think about:
o Lust
§ You will never lust after anything
ungodly
§ You will only desire what God
provides from Himself
§ You will never look, or be tempted to
look at the opposite sex with evil intent
§ There will never be an unsatisfied
longing or desire
§ Every desire is met with perfect
timing to increase your joy
o Greed
§ You will never think you do not have
enough
§ Your only thought will be an
expectant giving by your Father
§ To have more will only mean more of
God, which means more of that which is exceedingly perfect
o Deceit
§ You will never again be tempted to
act in a way that tries to make people like you.
§ You will never try to be more than
you are
§ There is no ability to feel
inadequate
o Envy
§ We envy because we’re idolaters
§ And it’s the poisonous fruit of
dissatisfaction with God
§ Whatever reward another has you will
only rejoice in
§ Whatever people had in this life will
not be a conscious memory in the next
§ You will always measure up
o Fear
§ A lack of trust in God’s sovereignty
§ You will never again think you’re
alone. Or God will not provide
§ The Last Battle
§ "This is absolutely crazy," said Eustace to Edmund. "I
know. And yet -" said Edmund. "Isn't it wonderful?" said Lucy.
"Have you noticed one can't feel afraid, even if one wants to? Try
it." "By Jove, neither one can," said Eustace after he had tried.’
§ As hard as you try, you can’t and
won’t
§ You see perfect love casts out fear
o What this tells me now is that I
don’t have to worry about the greedy, the deceitful, etc., God will take care
of it
§ God will bring perfect justice
§ Do you really think Hitler escaped
justice by his suicide?
o Now think of this: in Christ, these
are yours now as much as we are able - dimly
§ Jesus is enough to satisfy your lust
– now
§ Jesus is the treasure that moves you
away from greed
§ Because Jesus measures up perfectly
you do too
§ Because Jesus took the wrath of God
for you, you have nothing to fear
§ We can have some of this NOW!
· (2 Peter 3:11) “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people
ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness?”
o What are we living for?
o What encourages our heart when the
trials of this life can seem to overwhelm?
o It’s promises
o (6b-7) “…To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without
payment. 7 The one
who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my
son[s and daughters].”
o It is a bounty that comes to us free,
but at great cost – His Son
o It’s not only possible, but it’s
possible because of Who gives
o Who’s that?
§ He who is seated on the throne (v:5)
§ He who is faithful
§ The Alpha and the Omega (v:6)
§ the beginning and the end
o I hope you’ll see I make you no
promises today, He does
§ That is what is supposed to move us
away from sin
§ What’s one thing [one sin] today you
can ask your Father to move you away from – and one step closer to the joy He
wants for you?
· Let’s pray
A Glimpse of Heaven
Sermon
Scriptures
Revelation 21:1-9
John 17:24
2 Peter 3:10-13
2 Corinthians 12:3-4
1 Corinthians 2:9
Isaiah 65:17
2 Thessalonians 1:10
Matthew 13:43
2 Peter 3:11
Scripture
List
1 Samuel 2:8
Isaiah 25:8;
54:5
Ezekiel
37:27
Matthew 19:29
John 7:37
Romans
8:16-18, 21, 30
1 Corinth.
13:12
1 Corinth.
15:51-54
2 Corinth.
3:18
Ephesians
5:32
Colossians
3:4
1 Thess.
5:23
Hebrews
13:14
1 John 3:2;
4:3
Rev. 3:12;
7:15
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