June 11, 2017
Revelation 21:1-10
Heaven is a place prepared for a prepared people. Heaven is not a place where good people go. For the Bible says, There is none righteous, Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: and it says, there is none that doeth good, Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Heaven is where saved people spend eternity. Heaven is where the saved will spend eternity with our Saviour. Heaven is where saved people go.
So often we hear heaven expressed as a place gained by being good. Often children are told be good so you can go to heaven. But that is not the truth. Every parent wants their children to know the truth. That truth is found in the Bible. 2Ti_3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Joh 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Joh 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have Jesus answered all of his questions, John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. When Nicodemus came to Jesus, he was seeking the answer to the question, how can I go to heaven. All people, in their heart of hearts, are seeking the answer to that same question: Where will I spend eternity? How can I go to heaven? How can I know I will spend eternity in Heaven? Of course, Jesus answered Nicodemus, seen;
and ye receive not our witness.
It is the Word of God that makes one wise unto Salvation
Jesus told Nicodemus to leave his religious ideas and teaching and receive the Word of God. He plainly told him that his teaching was empty and offered no answer, Joh 3:10 "......Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? The Word of God is where faith is found, where truth is found. It is the Firm Foundation. 1Jn 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned John 3:14-18. i. e. 3:18Jesus told Nicodemus how to be born again, already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. You are born again by the Spirit of God when you believe the Gospel of Christ. To believe on Christ is to believe the Gospel of Christ, John 11: 25-27 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Christ is your Saviour, that God sent into the world. That is the record of God's Word, the testimony of God. The Word of God can make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ. 1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
What John saw in Revelation is characterized as a place prepared for a people,
Rev. 21:1-2. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
In my Father's ,John 14:2-3This is the place Jesus promised in house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. What a beautiful promise, I will receive you unto myself... where I am you will be also. This word "prepared" in Revelation 21:2 is the same as John 14:2, 3 and Hebrews 11:16, But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. And in 1 Cor. 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. This place prepared corresponds to the Holy City in Rev. 21:1-2.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man is only used one other time, in John14:2The word "mansions" love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. "Abode "Same word as "mansions". In other words, He is saying we will be at home together. Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
What John saw is characterized by nearness to God.
In the old order, the former things that are passed away are characterized by separation but in the new order, it is by nearness to God.
Isa 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled There is no more separation. He said, "...and there was no more sea." The sea is a symbol of separation, sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
"No-one lives on the sea. It is something to be crossed to arrive at one's destination, but there is nothing permanent about it. The sea is one of seven evils John speaks of as being no more, the others being death, mourning, weeping, pain (v. 4), curse (22:3) and night (22:5)."Morris, L. (1987). Revelation: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 232). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
After the New Jerusalem descends there does not seem to be any difference between Heaven and Earth. Conclusion: Heaven will be on the New Earth. This is the final resting place of the saved and with the LORD Himself. Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
There is a Place of Everlasting Suffering
Just as sure as Heaven is a real, definite place, a place of everlasting nearness to God; there is a an everlasting place of separation from heaven, Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. Isa 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. Isa 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the In Isaiah 66:22 we are given an awful description of this lake of fire and in this description we see this is an eternal suffering, carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Where is this Lake of Fire? I don't know! It will not be in the New Heaven and New Earth. When the Holy City comes down to the New Earth then Heaven becomes the New Earth. I believe Heaven and the New Earth are one and the same. All of the saved are there with the LORD. The only people not there are those consigned to the Lake of Fire. You see their terrible description given in Isaiah 66:22ff.
The people who reject Christ will be a forgotten people, Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. The unsaved will carry no significance into eternity, Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
When God gave the final things in the Word of God in Revelation 21& 22, He gave the Final Call for man to be saved and every LORD's Day in the Church that invitation is repeated, Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
<