HEAVEN
The fact is clear that the Bible speaks more about Hell than it does about Heaven. What we do know is wonderful. Hebrews 11:10 say's "God is the builder and maker" 12:22 "Innumerable company of angels" are there. 13:14 states Heaven is an everlasting place!
We read in John 14:1-3 that there are many mansions and that Jesus has gone to prepare a place. Revelation 21 is the Heaven chapter of the Bible. In this study we will look at the Place called Heaven, The People in Heaven and the Path to Heaven.
1.The Place called Heaven Revelation 21:10-23
a. A Description - A great city Clear and shining Walled, Gated and Visible foundations (Suspended city).
Revelation 21:10-23 "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;And had a wall great and high, [and] had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."
b.The Dimensions Four square (as long as it is wide and deep) , 15 miles long, wide and high. Wall that surrounds it is 216 ft tall. Revelation 21:15-17 "And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel."
c.The Design Walls of Jasper City of Gold (transparent as glass) Foundations of many precious stones Gates of Pearl - Street of Gold. Revelation 21:18-23 "And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."
No Temple (place of worship, whole of heaven place of worship) No sun, moon or light (Christ is the light).
2. The People in Heaven Revelation 21:24-27
a. The saved Revelation 21:24 "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it."
b. Names in book of life Revelation 21:27 "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire".
c. Bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:40-54 "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."(Disease and death do not effect) Revelation 15:49 "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." We will have a Body like Jesus' Resurrected body See also: John 20:26, 21:13 Luke 24:30
3. The Path to Heaven: Jesus is the door Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast" Romas 6:23 "For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
I will conclude with a couple of questions concerning Heaven.
Will I know others or be known in Heaven? 1 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." Yes. We will lose nothing of the knowledge or understanding gained on earth in Heaven. What we know now will be enhanced there.
Will we have the same relationships in Heaven? Matthew 22:23-33 " The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.And last of all the woman died also.Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.And when the multitude heard [this], they were astonished at his doctrine."
No. We like the angels in Heaven will not be in normal human relationships. We will be elevated to a higher plane where these relationships are no longer necessary or important.
The song sums it up best for those who are saved, "some call it Heaven but I call home!”
Pastor Jamey D. Grooms ■ Amherst Open Bible Baptist Church ■ 131 Victoria Street West ■ 902-667-7271 ■ Pastor@aobbc.com
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