STUDY THEME: PROMISES OF GRACE. 1-26-03
"THE PROMISE OF HEAVEN." JOHN 14:1-4; REV. 21:1-5, 22:1-5.
JOHN 14: 1-4; REVELATION 21:1-5, 22: 1-5.
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO JOHN 14.
Just how real is heaven to you? I find myself thinking of heaven more often now that I have mother and father, wife and brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, and a multitude of friends awaiting me there. This makes death less threatening and departure from this world more inviting.
Some adults deny any kind of life after death. Many focus only on this life and consider talk of heaven irrelevant. Others think heaven is a crutch for weak, fearful people. Some believe that because God is love, all people will eventually go to heaven. Probably, many lost people secretly hope there is a heaven and wish they knew how to go there. They keep hearing that voice within them that speaks that startling word, "Man, thou shalt shurly die." There is none but fears a future state.
The Bible Dictionary says, "The Biblical concept of immortality is not simply the survival of the soul after bodily death---the bare continued existence of the soul---but the self-conscious continuance of the whole person, body and soul together, in a state of blessedness, due to the redemption of Christ and the possession of "eternal life." Belief in some sort of survival of the soul is practically universal.
The fact that the belief in immortality is found among all races and nations points to its being a natural instinct, something involved in the very construction of human nature. The belief that we shall never die is the foundation of our dying well. The soul’s immortality is conferred upon it by God and is therefore contingent on His will. There must be a future life in order that the moral order may be vindicated, for in this life much good goes un-rewarded, and much evil goes unpunished.
Either we have an immortal soul or we have not. The Bible nowhere explicitly mentions the immortality of the soul. If we have no souls, we are beasts; the first and wisest of beasts, that may be, but still beasts. The Bible, however, never attempts to prove it in a formal way. Everywhere it assumes man’s immortality as an undisputed postulate, in much the same way that it assumes the existence of God. All men’s souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are both immortal and divine.
The OT teaches immortality, but not with the clarity of the NT, chiefly because God’s revelation in Scripture is progressive and gradually increases in clearness. The dead, in the OT, descend into SHEOL; (Hades in the Greek), a word which may be rendered in a number of ways, depending on the context; (grave, state of death, underworld, or Hell.)
Jesus points out to the Sadducees that the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is implicitly taught in the statement in Ex. 3: 6 "I am the God of …Abraham, the God of Isaaic, and the God of Jacob." The doctrine of immortality is found everywhere in the NT.
To we Christians, heaven is a reality for which we confidently hope based on the promises of God and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. What springs from earth dissolves to earth again, and heaven born things fly to their native seat. Those who hope for no other life are dead even for this life.
In John 13:33 Jesus had said to the eleven apostles, "Where I am going, you cannot come." In Vs. 36 Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?" Now in John 14 Jesus replies to Peter’s question. He also answers our question, "Where do believers go when they die?"
This whole chapter centers in the promise that Christ is the One who gives the believer comfort, not only in His future return but also in the present with the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The scene continues to be the upper-room where the disciples had gathered with Jesus before He was arrested. Judas had been dismissed in John 13:30, and Jesus had begun His valedictory address to the remaining eleven. The world of His disciples was about to be shattered; they would be bewildered, confused, and ridden with anxiety because of the events that would soon transpire. Anticipating their devastation, Jesus spoke to comfort their hearts.
Instead of the disciples lending support to Jesus in the hours before His cross, He had to support them spiritually as well as emotionally. This reveals His heart of serving love as expressed in Matt. 20:26-28. This passage of supreme comfort in John 14 is offered by Jesus in an hour darkened by the shadow of Judas’ treachery and Peter’s failure, only a few hours away from the agony of Gethsemane and death on the cross. Yet the statement conveys a sense of sublime peace, and is intended to minister to the fears of the disciples rather than to Jesus own needs.
First, He made the surprise announcement in John 13:21 that one of them would betray Him to His enemies. Then He told them in John 13:33 that He soon would leave and they could not go with Him. Finally, He said in vs. 37-38 that in spite of Peter’s boast that he would lay down his life for Jesus, Peter would disown Him three times that very night. The focal passage just read, is composed of the truths Jesus offered as a source of comfort and hope to His distressed disciples.
Two imperative statements provide the keys to bringing peace to troubled hearts, regardless of circumstances. Jesus began with a challenging command. Do not let your hearts be troubled. These words clearly indicate that these followers of Jesus could do something to remedy their feelings of confusion and distress. The Lord never commands His followers to do something beyond their ability to obey. Fortunately, Jesus went on to give the secret of obedience to declaring another command, Trust in God; trust also in Me. The word trust can also be translated "believe." The disciples were challenged to believe God the father and God the Son in the point of placing their total trust in them. By these words Jesus affirmed His equality with His Father—both are God. To trust in one of them is to trust both.
Jesus gave a promise that not only provided hope to these disciples but also has comforted countless believers throughout Christian history. The promise begins with these familiar words, In my Father’s house are many rooms; (plenty of room for all God’s children). Heaven is described as a house or dwelling place for every member of the Father’s family. These words give a sense of warmth, security, and intimate family relationships in heaven. Jesus reassured His listeners by declaring, If it were not so, I would have told you. He was telling them that they could trust His promise as being the truth.
How many mansions? While the road is narrow and the gate small that leads to life eternal, it is also true that Rev. 7: 9 reports that the number traveling that road to occupy those mansions will be "a great multitude" which no one could count.
Next, Jesus answered Peter’s question about where He was going. He said, I am going to prepare a place for you. Just as Jesus had left His Father to come and prepare all who trust Him to go to heaven, now He was going back to prepare a special place in heaven for them. The term place occurs three times in this passage. Heaven is a real place---a prepared place. As someone once said, "Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. It has been written, "What a world were this; unendurable its weight if they whom death hath sundered did not meet again." "Another life, if it were not better than this, would be less a promise than a threat."
The promise continues to expand as Jesus said, "I will come back. The one who would go to prepare a place is the same One who promised to return. And what will happen when He returns? He said, I will…take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. For many believers this promise is fulfilled the moment they pass from life in human flesh to life in heaven. All those who remain alive here, when Jesus returns visibly, will be taken by Him to heaven, just as He promised. Jesus made possible our entry into heaven at Calvary.
This is not the event of His return in glory and power to destroy the wicked. Rather, this describes His coming to gather His own who are alive and raise the bodies of those who have died to take them all to heaven. This rapture event is also described in 1 Corinthians 15: 51-54 and 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18. After being raptured the church will celebrate the marriage supper described in Revelations 19: 7-10, be rewarded in 1 Cor. 3: 10-15 and later return to earth with Christ when He comes again to set up His kingdom (Rev. 19:11-20: 6).
Many questions remain unanswered about heaven: however, believers are assured they will be with Jesus—and that is enough to know. You ask if we shall know our friends and loved ones in heaven? Someone answered, "Do you suppose we shall be greater fools there than here?"
When Jesus told His troubled followers that they knew the way to the place where He was going, they failed to understand that He was referring to Himself as the way. Thomas immediately confessed in Vs. 5 the ignorance of all the disciples concerning Jesus' destination. In response, in Vs. 6, Jesus declared that He was the way, and the only way, to the Father.
Vs. 6 says,
PLEASE TURN NOW TO REVELATION 21.
As the chapter opens, all the sinners of all the ages, both demons and men, including Satan, the beast, and false prophet, are in the lake of fire forever. The whole universe has been destroyed, and God prepares a new universe to be the eternal dwelling place of the redeemed. A new heaven and a new earth.
Patmos is a small rocky island of the coast of modern Turkey. The apostle John was banished to this place as punishment for his role as a leader of Christianity. During the time of his exile, he received from God a series of visions that he recorded in the Revelation. This veiled message was meant to encourage Christians who were facing severe persecution because of their faith in Jesus. These believers found hope in the midst of their trials as John’s writing concluded with a description of heaven.
The glory of heaven described in Rev. 21 & 22 stands in sharp contrast to the fate of Satan and all the lost given in Rev. 20:7-15. There "the lake of fire" is the place where all evil ends. From that picture of death and destruction, John turned to the Bible’s most detailed account of heaven. He wrote, Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. Later in this passage, in Vs. 5 God declared, I am making everything new.
The new creation was needed because sin had so corrupted the original creation that the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. In his second letter, Peter gave a description of how the first creation will be destroyed by fire. He wrote in 2 Peter 3: 10-13,
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."For John and his contemporaries the sea stood for that which was evil and frightening---great storms came from the sea, and sea monsters were thought to live there. Thus to say there was no longer any sea did not mean there was no water: Rather, this indicates the absence of the fear of evil.
Jerusalem always has special significance for God’s people---a city chosen by God to be exalted above all others. The temple was there as the center of worship. Nehemiah and Isaiah both referred to Jerusalem as the Holy City, which means a city that is set aside for God’s purpose. John stated that he saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. Here is another feature of God’s new creation---a special city where the redeemed people will live in His presence forever.
The term prepared is the same word Jesus used when He promised to "prepare a place" for believers in John 14:2. Surely this new city is the result of Jesus work of preparation. John sought to describe the beauty of heaven by comparing the New Jerusalem to a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. This also corresponds to the metaphor of the church as the bride of Christ in Rev. 21:9.
By this time in the chronology of Revelation; OT saints, tribulation saints, and all those converted during the millennial kingdom will be incorporated into the ultimate redeemed bride and will dwell in the New Jerusalem. John described the consummation of all things in Christ and the New Jerusalem descending into the eternal state. God has brought home a bride for His beloved Son. All the saints live with Christ in the Father’s house. (a promise made before the church began.) As Christ prepares the place in heaven for His own, the Holy Spirit prepares the redeemed on earth for their place in heaven. According to 2 Cor. 5: 1-8 a resurrection body, adapted to heaven’s life awaits us there. Surely you will want to read of the glory of the New Jerusalem, your future home, in Rev. 21: 22-27.
The loud voice of God was heard by John saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. The intimacy of God with His people is given emphasis as the voice from the throne repeated the same truth. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. Heaven is a place of personal fellowship with God. There is no more separation from Him: all His people have direct access to Him.
God’s compassionate ministry to His people is revealed as John said, He will wipe every tear from their eyes. No tears of grief will occur in heaven because there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. The words, death…mourning…crying…pain, all refer to the result of sin. Since there will be no sin in heaven, it can be announced that this old order of things has passed away. What a relief to be totally free from all that brings tears of grief to one’s eyes.
The voice of God, who was seated on the throne, declared, I am making everything new! The creator is at work! He is making a new heaven, a new earth, a New Jerusalem, a new intimacy with His people, and a new way of life where there is no more grief. John added this interesting comment that God said to him: "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." John served as the Lord’s scribe. We are the benefactors as we read with interest these trustworthy words spoken by our God as He revealed the nature of heaven to us. We can form an idea of the perfect life of heaven from what we know from 1 Cor. 13: 12 "
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know even as I am known."This passage is a continuation of John’s testimony regarding his vision of heaven. The same angel mentioned in 21:9 showed John the river of the water of life. This stream, as clear as crystal, flowed from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In other words, God is the source of all life. The terms water of life and tree of life speak of God’s provision of eternal life to all who trust Him for salvation. If there were no future life, our souls would not thirst for it.
The Tree of Life appeared first in the Garden of Eden in Gen. 2:9. That paradise was lost to humans because of sin, but it will become a paradise regained when God "makes everything new." From the tree of life will come twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. This perennial supply represents the unending and abundant life that God gives to His people. The leaves of the tree provide for the healing of the nations—no more war, or famine, no diseases, and no natural disasters. And no longer will there be any curse. The word translated curse occurs only here in the NT and means the opposite of blessing—a strong expression of the disfavor of God. God pronounced a curse on the earth following the first sin in the new earth in Gen. 3: 17. . Access to God’s life giving blessings, barred after the Fall in Eden is here renewed in Rev. 22:2.
The fact that the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city represents His presence as the sovereign and absolute Ruler in heaven. John used the term lamb to describe Jesus more than 25 times in Revelation. His role as the Lamb of God, sacrificed for the sins of the world, makes heaven available to believers.
What will believers do in Heaven? A portion of the answer is found in the words; His servants will serve Him. Although we aren’t told the exact nature of this service, we can be assured that heaven will be a place of useful and enjoyable activity. Earlier, John, in Rev. 7:15 quoted the words of one of the elders in heaven concerning the activity of the redeemed. "
They are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple." This service will be especially rewarding because these servants will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. The appearance of His name on the forehead of each servant is a seal of ownership—they belong to Him because He redeemed them. No unglorified human could see God’s face and live. But the residents of heaven can look on God’s face without harm, because they are now holy.Perpetual light comes from the glory of the Lord, so there will be no more night and no need for the natural light of the sun or for artificial light from a lamp. Another indication of the work of believers in heaven is the statement that they will reign with Christ forever, and ever. Heaven’s citizens are more than servants. No enemy will ever be able to subdue these over-comers—their reign is eternal. The central visionary part of Revelation ends with vs. 5.
The future always looks bright when viewed through the windows of God’s promises. He has promised a prepared place, where everything is made new and His people will be busy serving Him as they have the pleasure of continually seeing His radian face. What a glorious day that will be!
NEXT SUNDAY WE BEGIN A FOUR SESSION STUDY FOCUSING OUR ATTENTION ON "THE BIBLE; GOD’S BOOK OF GRACE." WE WILL BEGIN WITH "THE ORIGIN OF THE BIBLE." THIS STUDY WILL AFFIRM THE BIBLE AS "GOD’S INSPIRED WORD."
A. V. DAUGHERTY 1-26-03