Christ Wesleyan Church
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Heaven Is a Place for Eternity, Part 4
Let's Think About Heaven
Colossians 3:1-2 NLT
A. A picture of eternity...
Revelation 21:1 NLT
1. The destruction of earth and heaven will come first.
2 Peter 3:10 NLT
2. The new heaven will be an actual place.
John 14:2 NLT
3. The new earth will be even more glorious!
Revelation 21:5 NLT
B. The new Jerusalem...
1. The only eternal city that will be the capital of heaven!
Revelation 21:2 NLT
2. A dwelling place for all those who trust Christ by faith and will be overcomers!
Revelation 21:3 NLT
3. It will be a place of eternal beauty that surpasses anything we have ever imagined!
1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT
· There will no longer be any sea. (21:1)
· All things will be made new. (21:1)
· God the Father will dwell among His people. (21:3)
· No longer any death, crying, or pain. (21:4)
· All believers will inherit the blessings of the new Jerusalem. (21:7)
· The new Jerusalem will have a brilliance like a very costly stone as clear as jasper. (21:11)
· The city has a great and high wall with 12 gates guarded by an angel at each one. (21:12)
· The names of the 12 tribes of Israel will appear on the gates. (21:12)
· There are three gates on each of the four sides of the city. (21:13)
· The wall of the city has 12 foundational stones and one of them has the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb. (21:14)
· The city is a cube measuring 1500 miles wide, 1500 miles long, and 1500 miles high. (21:15-17)
· The wall is made of jasper. (21:8)
· The city will be pure gold, like clear glass. (21:8)
· The foundation stones of the city wall are made from the following precious stones: jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, jacinth, and amethyst. (21:19-20)
· The 12 gates are 12 pearls; each one of the gates is a single pearl. (21:21)
· There is no temple in the city, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its Temple. (21:22)
· There will be no sun or moon, for the glory of God will illuminate the city, and its lamp is the Lamb. (21:23)
· The nations will walk by the light of God’s glory. (21:24)
· There will no longer be any night, only day. (21:25)
· The “river of the water of life,” clear as crystal, will come from the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of the city’s street. (21:1-2)
· On either side of the river will stand the tree of life, bearing 12 kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree will be for the ‘health’ of the nations. (22:2)
· There will no longer be any curse. (22:3)
· The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in the city. (22:3)
· Believers will now be able to see the Father’s Face, and His Name will be on their foreheads. (22:4)
· There will no longer be any sun, because the Lord God will illuminate the city, and the people will reign forever and ever. (22:5)
What a great and glorious future awaits all believers!
C. More heavenly thoughts...
In heaven...
1. We will serve God. (Revelation 7:15)
2. We will welcome people into our dwelling places. (John 14:2,3; Luke 16:9)
3. We will be rewarded. (Matthew 6:19-25; 1 Corinthians 4:2,5)
4. We will enjoy magnificent fears and fellowship. (Revelation 19:9; Luke 22:29-30)
5. We will judge angels. (1 Corinthians 6:3)
6. We will rule and manage property with Christ. (Revelation 22:5; Luke 19)
7. We will worship with amazing creative potential. (Revelation 4:9-11; 5:11-19; 7:9-12)
8. We will travel extensively. (Revelation 21:24-25; 22:14)
9. We will be reunited with our loved ones. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)
10. We will see Jesus! (Philippians 1:23)
D. A picture of eternal life with God is...
1. A life of fellowship and rest.
Revelation 22:4 NLT
Revelation 14:13 NLT
2. A life of abundance and joy.
Revelation 21:6 NLT
Revelation 21:4 NLT
3. A life of knowledge and service.
1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT
Revelation 22:3 NLT
4. A life of holiness and worship.
Revelation 19:1 NLT
E. God's final appeal...
1. Jesus makes one more invitation to the Water of Life!
Revelation 21:6 NLT
2. His final appeal comes as only believers will make it to heaven.
Revelation 21:8 NLT
3. Everyone must have their name written in the Book of Life.
Revelation 21:27 NLT
4. So, Jesus says, "Come!"
Revelation 22:17 NLT
2 Peter 3:11-14 NLT
- Jasper – gold in appearance but like clear glass in substance, namely glass with a gold cast to it;
- Sapphire – a stone similar to a diamond in hardness and blue in color;
- Chalcedony – an agate stone from Chalcedon (in Turkey), thought to be sky blue with other colors running through it;
- Emerald – introduces a bright green color;
- Sardonyx – a red and white stone;
- Sardius – refers to a common jewel of reddish color, also found in honey color which is considered less valuable. The Sardius is used with Jasper in Rev. 4:3 in describing the glory of God on the throne;
- Chrysolite – a transparent stone, golden in color, according to the ancient writer Pliny, and therefore somewhat different from the modern pale green Chrysolite stone;
- Beryl- is sea green;
- Topaz – is yellow-green and transparent;
- Chrysoprasus – introduces another shade of green;
- Jacinth – is a violet color;
- Amethyst – is commonly purple.
"Though the precise colors of these stones in some cases are not certain, the general picture here described by John is one of unmistakable beauty, design to reflect the glory of God in a spectrum of brilliant color. The light of the city within shining through these various colors in the foundation of the wall topped by the wall itself composed of the crystal-clear Jasper forms a scene of dazzling beauty in keeping with the glory of God and the beauty of His Holiness. The city is undoubtedly far more beautiful to the eye than anything man has ever been able to create, and it reflects not only the infinite wisdom and power of God but also His grace as extended to the objects of His salvation.” –Dr. Walvoord
For more information on heaven, our bookstore has books by Randy Alcorn that assist in a deeper understanding.
Coming Soon: November 27: Home for Christmas