Grace World Outreach Church
Pastor Daniel K Norris
FOREVER IS A ______ LONG TIME
Return Of The King
Text: Rev 22:12; 21:1-8
Rev 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Recompense - compensation
We have been entrusted with an allotment of time, talent, treasure and what we do with these gifts in this life determines what happens in the next
How will you fill in the blank? Forever is a ________ long time.
Our Lord always begins with the end in mind
Genesis Compared to Revelation
Heavens & Earth are created (1:1)
New Heaven & Earth is Revealed (21:1)
Sun created (1:16)
No need of the sun (21:23)
The night established (1:5)
No night there (22:5)
The seas created (1:10)
No more sea (21:1)
The curse announced (3:14–17)
No more curse (22:3)
Death enters (3:19)
Death exits (21:4)
Man driven from paradise (3:24)
Man restored to paradise (22:14)
Sorrow and pain begin (3:17)
Sorrow, tears, and pain end (21:4)
The Devil appears (3:1)
The Devil disappears (20:10)
What Will Eternity Be like?
1. EVERYTHING WILL BE BRAND NEW (21:1–2).
Revelation 21:1–2 (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
Note: This heaven and earth has not yet been created.
Heaven is mentioned 681 times the Bible
* First Heaven - the atmosphere
James 5:18 (ESV) - Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
* Second Heaven - the celestial realm (planets, sun, and stars)
Deuteronomy 4:19 (ESV) And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
* Third Heaven - the eternal realm (throne of God, angels, his glory)
2 Corinthians 12:2 (ESV) I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
However this heaven and earth John sees doesn’t exist yet. All the former things have passed away, and God has made everything brand new.
John uses two images to paint this picture
- A wedding
- A world without a sea
John sees a new heaven and earth in which evil, sin, greed, rebellion is absolutely totally removed.
2. THERE WILL BE NO MORE SEPARATION (21:3).
Revelation 21:3 (ESV): 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
No Separation Between God and Man
No Separation Between Man and One Another
It is announced in a loud voice from the throne
The WORLD divided us, His WORD United us
3. THERE WILL BE NO MORE SORROW (21:4).
Revelation 21:4 (ESV): 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
This is the fulfillment of Isaiah 25:8 (ESV)
“He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.”
Remember the lesson of the Tape Measure
* don’t let the short seasons of sorrow cast a long shadow on your story
* Make the most of every moment you’re given, you only have 30,000
John says there is coming a day when all we will know is good…
No tears
No Death
No Mourning
No Crying
No Pain
WHAT WOULD A PLACE BE LIKE WHERE ONLY GOODNESS IS PRESENT?
4. WE WILL REST IN HIS PROMISE (21:4).
Revelation 21:5–6 (ESV): And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment
12 Perfect Promises In Rev 21-22
God makes a new heaven, earth, and Jerusalem (21:1–2 ).
Chaos and disorder are no more (21:1).
God will live with His people personally (21:3; 22:4 ).
The effects of sin are eradicated and done away with (21:4, 8, 27; 22:3 ).
All the legitimate desires of our heart will be satisfied (21:6 ).
Our inheritance of heavenly blessings will be plentiful and permanent (21:7).
The splendor of the new Jerusalem will be magnificent (21:9–21 ).
The glory of God will permeate our dwelling place (21:22–23 ).
Nations will be guided by God (21:24, 26 ).
Protections and peace are perfectly present (21:25; 22:4–5 ).
Productivity will be bountiful and breathtaking (22:1–2).
Perpetual, perfect service will be our calling (22:3 ).
These promises are not conditional, potentially true, or tentative. John is told, “Write, because these words are faithful and true” (see 19:9; 22:6).
This is the gospel message in fulfillment
Mt 11:28–30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Forever is a (awesome, incredible, beautiful, glorious) long time
5. We Will Live as God’s Adopted Children with No Fear of the Second Death (21:7–8).
Revelation 21:7–8 (ESV): The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death
WHAT WOULD A PLACE BE LIKE COMPLETELY VOID OF GOD?
There are Only two possible futures
One completely devoid of evil
One complete devoid of good
Forever is a (awful, terrible, ugly, tormenting) long time
What you do with your inch, determines what happens with your eternity