Heaven is mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible and 50 times in Revelation. Isaiah 65:17 speaks of this new heaven and a new earth. There is a thought by most Bible scholars that when Christians die, we will be with Christ immediately. This is noted in 2 Cor. 5:8, and Luke 23:43 “…today you will be with me in Paradise.” Danny Akin notes that our eternal home has not yet been created. If we pass away before the creation of the new heaven and new earth, we will be with Christ in a wonderful place of intermediate blessing, but not the heaven described in Revelations. We will not enter this until all that God has planned unfolds. Is it wrong to use the term Heaven until then. I don’t think so, in my definition, Heaven is any place that Christ is at and that we will be with Him, hence the term new heaven is to come.

 

 

I hear that most young ladies dream of their wedding day. I remember when Ashley stepped out, how beautiful she was and still is. That’s how Christ looks at His Church! We will radiate His glory! This is a picture of the church prepared and beautified for her husband, Jesus Christ. When God makes all things new, he makes the church—the people of God—spiritually and morally beautiful for his Son. Look at the way this is described in verses 9–11

 

Paul tells us to ponder these things in Colossians 3:1–4 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

 

 “If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.” – C.S. Lewis

 

May our thoughts of Heaven ease ours pains of Earth and cause our hearts to long for Christ that much greater!

 

Spend Eternity in His Presence (Rev. 21:3-4) Being in God’s presence means enjoying a personal communion that is free from pain, death, and mourning.

 

 

What are the promises in this passage? Verse 5: He’s on the throne and He is making everything new. This means, many, even in this room who feel maybe they’ve been dealt a bad hand at life, an imperfect health condition, cancer, or an informality, He will make new. He will give you and me a glorified body. You know what’s even more important than our physical being, our spiritual bentness toward sin. As Christians even, we battle daily with sin. You and I will not have to battle anymore! All things will be made new! I love what Paul tells us in Philippians 3:20–21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Share this promise!

 

Verse 6: “It is done!” You can trust that if He said it, it will happen! It will be complete! To the thirsty, those who long for Christ, he will give them life. You have to look at this passage along with Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

 

Verse 7: “The one who conquers will have this heritage.” The victorious will have this promise. The word conquer is the Greek word Nikeo, to be victorious. The only way you and I will be victorious over death is through Jesus Christ. He has conquered death, by faith in Him, you and I have conquered death. He was resurrected from the dead, you and I will be resurrected from the dead!

 

Verse 8: The promise of Heaven is only for those who place faith in Jesus Christ.

 

 

What is God’s purpose? John 3:16, He loves you and I so much that he gave His son so that we could enjoy He forever! Is purpose is His glory! This whole thing is rigged for our good and His glory!

 

1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

 

Does your hope shine?

 

Are you going through life with a parachute or a cushion? (Give an example) A parachute is Christ, that’s your eternal hope, your reason, your life! The cushion is anything other than Christ. It could be anxiety, your health, your wealth, or even materialism.