Dover Assembly of God
10.18.2020 | Heaven - Week 7
Locations & Times
Dover Assembly of God
4790 Carlisle Rd, Dover, PA 17315, USA
Saturday 10:30 AM
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October 18, 2020
Welcome to Dover Assembly!
We are so glad you have chosen to attend Dover Assembly this morning. It is not by accident that you are here. We believe that God has allowed you to be here so that you might receive all that He has for you. We pray you are blessed as you allow the Lord to work in your life.
THIS WEEK
Sunday
9:00 am ~ Coffee & Donut Fellowship Time
9:30 am ~ Sunday School
10:30 am ~ Worship Service
10:30 am ~ R.O.C.K. Children’s Ministry
1:00 pm ~ Spanish Service
Wednesday
6:30 pm ~ FAMILY NIGHT SERVICES
~ Adult Bible Video Series: “Demonology”
UPCOMING EVENTS
New Wednesday Night Bible Study
We have begun a new series on Demonology on Wednesday nights. Be sure to join us as we delve into what the Bible says about fallen angels.
WOP "Reclaim" Conference
This year's annual District Women of Purpose Conference is being offered virtual on Sat., Nov. 14, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. We are able to watch the live stream right from the comfort of our own church sanctuary! If you are interested please sign up in the upper foyer.
The Registration cost has been lowered: $20.00 per person and there are several ladies already signed up to watch it in the sanctuary!
BODY NEWS
Food Drive
The upper foyer outside the nursery, has a collection bucket for donations of canned food during the month of October which we will donate to New Hope Ministries for distribution to families for Thanksgiving.
Time Change
Don’t forget, we turn our clocks back one hour on Nov 1. Be sure to set your clocks accordingly. If you do not change your clocks, you will arrive earlier than normal, which might not be a bad thing!
Download Our App!
Discover the digital hub of Dover Assembly! Watch and listen to sermons, learn about upcoming events, and stay connected all week, all from your phone or tablet. Available on the iOS App Store, Google Play for Android, and the Amazon App Store. Download links and more info can be found at https://doverassembly.com/app
PRAYER NEEDS
~ Gladys J.
~ Beulah S.
~ Olga K.
~ Marian T.
~ Rose K.
~ Cindy D. (Angel’s mom)
~ Betty N.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sat., Oct. 24 ~ Tyler Landis and Jennifer Messner wedding – By invitation only due to Covid rules at venue.
Sat., Nov 14 ~ WOP Virtual Conference
Wed., Nov. 25 ~ Thanksgiving Eve Service; all departments meet in sanctuary
Thurs., Nov. 26 ~ Thanksgiving Day
Fri., Dec. 11 ~ WOP Christmas Dinner, to be held at the church - 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 12 ~ Christmas Carol Rehearsal, 9:00am – Noon, lunch provided
Sun., Dec. 13 ~ Christmas Carols
Thurs., Dec. 24 ~ Christmas Eve Service, Candlelight Service
Wed., Dec. 23 ~ NO Service
Fri., Dec. 25 ~ Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday Jesus!
Wed., Dec. 30 ~ No New Year’s Eve service
Welcome to Dover Assembly!
We are so glad you have chosen to attend Dover Assembly this morning. It is not by accident that you are here. We believe that God has allowed you to be here so that you might receive all that He has for you. We pray you are blessed as you allow the Lord to work in your life.
THIS WEEK
Sunday
9:00 am ~ Coffee & Donut Fellowship Time
9:30 am ~ Sunday School
10:30 am ~ Worship Service
10:30 am ~ R.O.C.K. Children’s Ministry
1:00 pm ~ Spanish Service
Wednesday
6:30 pm ~ FAMILY NIGHT SERVICES
~ Adult Bible Video Series: “Demonology”
UPCOMING EVENTS
New Wednesday Night Bible Study
We have begun a new series on Demonology on Wednesday nights. Be sure to join us as we delve into what the Bible says about fallen angels.
WOP "Reclaim" Conference
This year's annual District Women of Purpose Conference is being offered virtual on Sat., Nov. 14, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. We are able to watch the live stream right from the comfort of our own church sanctuary! If you are interested please sign up in the upper foyer.
The Registration cost has been lowered: $20.00 per person and there are several ladies already signed up to watch it in the sanctuary!
BODY NEWS
Food Drive
The upper foyer outside the nursery, has a collection bucket for donations of canned food during the month of October which we will donate to New Hope Ministries for distribution to families for Thanksgiving.
Time Change
Don’t forget, we turn our clocks back one hour on Nov 1. Be sure to set your clocks accordingly. If you do not change your clocks, you will arrive earlier than normal, which might not be a bad thing!
Download Our App!
Discover the digital hub of Dover Assembly! Watch and listen to sermons, learn about upcoming events, and stay connected all week, all from your phone or tablet. Available on the iOS App Store, Google Play for Android, and the Amazon App Store. Download links and more info can be found at https://doverassembly.com/app
PRAYER NEEDS
~ Gladys J.
~ Beulah S.
~ Olga K.
~ Marian T.
~ Rose K.
~ Cindy D. (Angel’s mom)
~ Betty N.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sat., Oct. 24 ~ Tyler Landis and Jennifer Messner wedding – By invitation only due to Covid rules at venue.
Sat., Nov 14 ~ WOP Virtual Conference
Wed., Nov. 25 ~ Thanksgiving Eve Service; all departments meet in sanctuary
Thurs., Nov. 26 ~ Thanksgiving Day
Fri., Dec. 11 ~ WOP Christmas Dinner, to be held at the church - 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 12 ~ Christmas Carol Rehearsal, 9:00am – Noon, lunch provided
Sun., Dec. 13 ~ Christmas Carols
Thurs., Dec. 24 ~ Christmas Eve Service, Candlelight Service
Wed., Dec. 23 ~ NO Service
Fri., Dec. 25 ~ Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday Jesus!
Wed., Dec. 30 ~ No New Year’s Eve service
Download our app!
Download the Dover Assembly app to stay connected all week! Keep up to date with the latest news and events, watch our latest videos, and more all within our app! We're back on Google Play for Android users! Also available on the iOS App Store.
https://doverassembly.com/appOnline Giving
Thank you for your faithfulness! You can now give to Dover Assembly online at your convenience. Click the link to learn more!
https://doverassembly.com/giveYouVersion Check-In
Enjoying following along with Pastor Jeff's sermon notes here in the Bible app? Take a moment to check-in and let us know. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
https://doverassembly.com/notes/check-in
Week 7 - October 18, 2020 - Pastor Jeff Bender
Well this is lesson 7 in our series on heaven.
Up till now we have learned several things.
1) Heaven being a real physical place.
2) How to get there, what is there, it’s permanent, and who will be there.
3) You get there instantly upon your death, escorted by angels and met when you arrive
4) And you will have things to do when you are there.
5) Our bodies will be perfect, immortal, incorruptible, we will eat, and we will have some form of these bodies. That others will recognize
6) Rewards
Today we’re going to drill down into something I mentioned early on. I said that heaven is a real place and that the Bible describes it as a country and a city.
So let’s look at what the Bible says about the city in heaven.
Up till now we have learned several things.
1) Heaven being a real physical place.
2) How to get there, what is there, it’s permanent, and who will be there.
3) You get there instantly upon your death, escorted by angels and met when you arrive
4) And you will have things to do when you are there.
5) Our bodies will be perfect, immortal, incorruptible, we will eat, and we will have some form of these bodies. That others will recognize
6) Rewards
Today we’re going to drill down into something I mentioned early on. I said that heaven is a real place and that the Bible describes it as a country and a city.
So let’s look at what the Bible says about the city in heaven.
When I say the word “city”, what come to your mind? There are probably many images that we think of: inner-city, small town?
York? New York? LA? Pittsburgh?
Crowded? Traffic Jams? Cabs? Skyscrapers?
The first great city according to Historians was a place called “Catalhoyuk” in Turkey.
3000 people in 6500 BC. 4000 years before Abraham.
Many different cities have claimed the title of largest.
What city do you think is the largest today? Tokyo 38M people.
York? New York? LA? Pittsburgh?
Crowded? Traffic Jams? Cabs? Skyscrapers?
The first great city according to Historians was a place called “Catalhoyuk” in Turkey.
3000 people in 6500 BC. 4000 years before Abraham.
Many different cities have claimed the title of largest.
What city do you think is the largest today? Tokyo 38M people.
Imagine what future cities will be like. There was an article in Business Insider.
Not sure the year it was written, but it said this: In the future, people will be able to walk in their houses and say “turn the thermostat up and turn on the lights.”’
We have that already. In Star Trek-automatic doors. . . I googled this and there are many things that were sci fi 40 years ago that are normal today.
There was a musical “Oklahoma” and there was a song that had these lyrics:
Everything's up to date in Kansas City
They gone about as fer as they can go
They went an' built a skyscraper seven stories high
About as high as a buildin' orta grow.
Every year we see advances in things that boggle the mind. Tokyo is planning a building that will go 1 mile in the air.
These are advances that human beings are able to achieve.
All the skyscrapers and buildings we have today, even if they are a mile high, will come crashing down in an earthquake and be consumed by fire.
Not sure the year it was written, but it said this: In the future, people will be able to walk in their houses and say “turn the thermostat up and turn on the lights.”’
We have that already. In Star Trek-automatic doors. . . I googled this and there are many things that were sci fi 40 years ago that are normal today.
There was a musical “Oklahoma” and there was a song that had these lyrics:
Everything's up to date in Kansas City
They gone about as fer as they can go
They went an' built a skyscraper seven stories high
About as high as a buildin' orta grow.
Every year we see advances in things that boggle the mind. Tokyo is planning a building that will go 1 mile in the air.
These are advances that human beings are able to achieve.
All the skyscrapers and buildings we have today, even if they are a mile high, will come crashing down in an earthquake and be consumed by fire.
Once this has been completed, then God builds the New Heavens and New Earth.
Can you imagine what heaven will be like?
If it is described as a city, what physical characteristics will it have?
The Bible refers to heaven as a city in different ways.
If it is described as a city, what physical characteristics will it have?
The Bible refers to heaven as a city in different ways.
And the verse that begins one of the best description of the city of heaven . . .
We are amazed at a building 1 mile high. Here we have a city that is 1500 miles in every direction.
The distance from the center of Maine to Orlando FL is about 1600 miles to give you an idea of the size of this one city; Atlantic coast to Colorado
Plus it’s wall was also 1500 miles high. So you have a cube that measures 1500 miles on every side.
1,960,000 sq miles
15,000 times bigger than London, 20 times bigger than New Zealand, 10 times bigger than England.
Got a handle on the size.
Okay, think about this. Jerusalem is not heaven per se. It is the capital city of heaven.
And it already exists.
The distance from the center of Maine to Orlando FL is about 1600 miles to give you an idea of the size of this one city; Atlantic coast to Colorado
Plus it’s wall was also 1500 miles high. So you have a cube that measures 1500 miles on every side.
1,960,000 sq miles
15,000 times bigger than London, 20 times bigger than New Zealand, 10 times bigger than England.
Got a handle on the size.
Okay, think about this. Jerusalem is not heaven per se. It is the capital city of heaven.
And it already exists.
It’s God’s city. He is already there. Then it moves from there to earth.
Remember, God is going to destroy the current earth by fire and then create a new earth. Then this city, which already exists in the third heaven, which we talked about earlier, will now come down to the new earth.
So what will this new city be like, aside from the fact it will be huge?
So what will this new city be like, aside from the fact it will be huge?
IT WILL BE A HOLY CITY
The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says this:
A holy city in which no lie will ever be uttered in a hundred million years, no evil word will ever be spoken, no shady business deal will ever even be discussed, no unclean picture will ever be seen, no corruption of life will ever be manifest. It will be holy because everyone in it will be holy!
A holy city in which no lie will ever be uttered in a hundred million years, no evil word will ever be spoken, no shady business deal will ever even be discussed, no unclean picture will ever be seen, no corruption of life will ever be manifest. It will be holy because everyone in it will be holy!
IT HAS GATES OF PEARL
Can you imagine one pearl-large enough to make a huge gate? I assume that the gates are as high as the walls-1500 miles!
Think about the formation of a pearl.
An irritant gets in an oyster, and the oyster has to suffer the pain of that until the pearl is formed.
The gates might symbolize that to enter into the city required the pain Christ endured for us.
Think about the formation of a pearl.
An irritant gets in an oyster, and the oyster has to suffer the pain of that until the pearl is formed.
The gates might symbolize that to enter into the city required the pain Christ endured for us.
FOUNDATIONS OF PRECIOUS STONES
We aren’t sure if it was 12 layers deep or it at 12 stones at various points along the footer, or if the 12 stones went the whole way around.
I think the 12 layers is the most logical.
In any case, it must be a glorious sight. These stones would be large enough to support the 1500 mile high, long and wide, walls.
I think the 12 layers is the most logical.
In any case, it must be a glorious sight. These stones would be large enough to support the 1500 mile high, long and wide, walls.
The way these are listed leads me to believe the 12 layer theory.
As this city drops to earth, can you imagine the brilliance and color that it must radiate?
Will there be a sun to reflect off the stones?
As this city drops to earth, can you imagine the brilliance and color that it must radiate?
Will there be a sun to reflect off the stones?
It doesn’t say there won’t be one, but that God’s light will overpower the sun.
Now imagine that bright flawless light shining on the stones made of jewels?
Now imagine that bright flawless light shining on the stones made of jewels?
STREETS OF GOLD
The gold we have today, even at it’s purest form, is not like glass, so imagine the beauty of a gold that is translucent?
Or maybe since we’ll have perfect eyesight, we’ll be able to see it differently than we would here.
So far we have seen that the city in heaven is holy, it’s huge, and the gates and footers or foundations are beautifully made out of pearls, precious stones and gold.
What else is in the city?
Or maybe since we’ll have perfect eyesight, we’ll be able to see it differently than we would here.
So far we have seen that the city in heaven is holy, it’s huge, and the gates and footers or foundations are beautifully made out of pearls, precious stones and gold.
What else is in the city?
THE TREE OF LIFE
Remember where this tree is also mentioned?
What was this tree supposed to do?
It seems that there are 2 trees, one on each side of the river.
The wording suggests a singular tree on either side, not multiple trees--on each side of the river grew
So each of the 2 trees grew many types of fruit. Now, every tree can only grow 1 type of fruit, but in heaven, they will grow many.
And this is also another indication that we will eat in heaven. The bible doesn’t say, but can we assume that we eat the fruit?
If there is a new crop every month, what happens to the old crop?
The wording suggests a singular tree on either side, not multiple trees--on each side of the river grew
So each of the 2 trees grew many types of fruit. Now, every tree can only grow 1 type of fruit, but in heaven, they will grow many.
And this is also another indication that we will eat in heaven. The bible doesn’t say, but can we assume that we eat the fruit?
If there is a new crop every month, what happens to the old crop?
An aside here, the Bible uses the term month, which to me indicates that time will be measured in heaven.
It does say we can eat the leaves as well.
The word medicine used here is actually the word “therapeia” from which we get “therapy”.
It appears that the leaves will give us a greater sense of enjoyment and fulfillment.
As one commentator puts it. . . “It will be heaven’s therapy for our ever-increasing well-being.”
It does say we can eat the leaves as well.
The word medicine used here is actually the word “therapeia” from which we get “therapy”.
It appears that the leaves will give us a greater sense of enjoyment and fulfillment.
As one commentator puts it. . . “It will be heaven’s therapy for our ever-increasing well-being.”
THE RIVER OF LIFE
Another reference to the New Jerusalem being a city.
Is this river mentioned elsewhere?
Is this river mentioned elsewhere?
I didn’t know this, but as I studied this verse, it seems that a great number of great cities have rivers associated with them
Cairo-The Nile
Baghdad-The Tigris
Budapest-The Danube
London-The Thames
Paris-The Seine
Rome-The Tiber
NY-The Hudson
Washington-The Potomac
Pittsburgh has 3 (Ohio, Allegheny, Monongahela)
There are places along rivers that make for a great scenic walk. A beautiful view of nature.
But not Jerusalem. No rivers running thru or around it.
But in heaven that will change.
It will have a river that is crystal clear that starts at the throne of God and runs right thru the city.
There are many and most are someone’s idea of heaven, most have a staircase and one set of pearly gates.
I realized that even though we have some description of heaven and what the city will be like, we can’t really understand the glory and majesty it will be.
From what we can glean from these images of heaven, it sounds like a place we all want to be.
Unfortunately, there will be many who will not be there.
Revelation has numerous warnings about not being allowed in.
Cairo-The Nile
Baghdad-The Tigris
Budapest-The Danube
London-The Thames
Paris-The Seine
Rome-The Tiber
NY-The Hudson
Washington-The Potomac
Pittsburgh has 3 (Ohio, Allegheny, Monongahela)
There are places along rivers that make for a great scenic walk. A beautiful view of nature.
But not Jerusalem. No rivers running thru or around it.
But in heaven that will change.
It will have a river that is crystal clear that starts at the throne of God and runs right thru the city.
There are many and most are someone’s idea of heaven, most have a staircase and one set of pearly gates.
I realized that even though we have some description of heaven and what the city will be like, we can’t really understand the glory and majesty it will be.
From what we can glean from these images of heaven, it sounds like a place we all want to be.
Unfortunately, there will be many who will not be there.
Revelation has numerous warnings about not being allowed in.
All believers would fall into one or more of those categories, but when we come to Christ and ask for forgiveness, he erases all of them.
Now when God sees us, he doesn’t see liars and murderers and idolaters, he sees Jesus and he sees our names written down, reserving our place.
Jesus said to the apostles who just had a great ministry experience:
Now when God sees us, he doesn’t see liars and murderers and idolaters, he sees Jesus and he sees our names written down, reserving our place.
Jesus said to the apostles who just had a great ministry experience:
Our joy here should not rely on what we accomplish or what we possess.
Because all of that will eventually be gone.
It comes from knowing that when this life is over, my name is in the guest book and my place is reserved for me.
Because all of that will eventually be gone.
It comes from knowing that when this life is over, my name is in the guest book and my place is reserved for me.
Thank you for joining us!
If you haven't already, be sure to check out our website and follow us on social media @doverassembly! Have a great week!
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