[0:00] We are going to join together in the worship of God, singing from Psalm 37. Psalm 37 and verse 34, singing through to the end of the psalm.
[0:21] Psalm 37 and verse 34. Wait on the Lord and keep his way, and thee exalt shall he, the earth to inherit when cut off the wicked thou shalt see.
[0:35] I saw the wicked great in power, spread like a green bay tree. He passed, he was not, him I sought, but found he could not be.
[0:47] Mark thou the perfect, and behold the man of uprightness, because art surely of this man the latter end is peace. But those men that transgressors are shall be destroyed together.
[1:02] The latter end of wicked men shall be cut off forever. But the salvation of the just is from the Lord above. He in the time of their distress their stay and strength doth prove.
[1:15] The Lord shall help and then deliver. He shall then free and save from wicked men, because in him that confidence they have.
[1:27] These verses of Psalm 37 and verse 34. Wait on the Lord and keep his way, and thee exalt shall he. Let on the Lord and keep his way, and thee exalt shall he.
[1:59] Here in the wind at all, the wicked thou shalt leave.
[2:17] I saw the wicked, and thee exalt shall he. I saw the wicked, and thee exalt shall he. The wicked thou shalt thou shalt, and thee exalt shall he.
[2:28] Threat like a green bay tree. He must give us, and thee exalt shall he.
[2:43] He must give us, and thee exalt shall he. But come, thee, could not be.
[2:55] Mark thou the perfect, and thee, O the man of the brightness.
[3:14] Be with me, and thee, O the man of the brightness. Be with me, and thee exalt shall he. The Lord shall be with me, and thee exalt shall he.
[3:27] The Lord shall be with me, and thee exalt shall he. The Lord shall be with me.
[3:38] The Lord shall be with me, and thee exalt shall he.
[3:59] The burden of winded men shall be good for forever.
[4:13] But the salvation of the just is from the Lord God.
[4:33] In the time of repentance, let God bless the�� Weasel flesh.
[4:44] Let%dайon see. The Lord shall help them, dear.
[5:04] He shall help them, dear. From wicked men be gone, sinning.
[5:24] Their confidence they have. Let's join together in prayer.
[5:39] O Lord, O God, as we continue before you in prayer, as we have commenced our worship in praise, we need your help.
[5:52] We need the leading of your Holy Spirit, so that even when we sing what we sing, and when we pray, what we pray, are all as one.
[6:11] Redounding to the glory of the God who is God over all, open the eyes of our understanding, that we may behold the majesty of one who is high and lifted up.
[6:29] We remember your word, describing to us the experience of your servant Isaiah, when the glory that is yours filled the temple, and the awesome sight that he beheld filled him with awe.
[6:51] And so it is yet the case that when your presence makes itself felt in the experience of any, even the most hardened unbeliever, they are brought to their needs, metaphorically, if not literally, and caused to confess that great is the Lord.
[7:24] And when we read in the scripture of the enemies of Israel, when they were met by the power of the almighty, they trembled and were afraid.
[7:40] And we know that we are still in the presence of one whose might is unabated, and whose power is inexhaustible, whose glory is all glorious.
[7:56] And we give thanks that we can call upon you today, even in a world that is living in flagrant denial of the existence of God.
[8:08] who live their life as if this is all there is to their existence, to spend their days and their years and their lives without acknowledging that there is a time awaiting when they must give account, as must we all, to the God who is God over all.
[8:31] God over all. So we pray that you would remind us even today, as we turn to your word, that your Holy Spirit would take your word and use it mightily, even in rekindling in the hearts and minds of your people the realities of their relationship with the living God, something that may have inevitably been been eroded by the bombardment that they experience in a world that is atheistic in its existence.
[9:12] And that is something that inevitably affects your people. But we give thanks that you are able to stem the tide and that you are able to once again remind them of past experiences and give them the desire for new experiences of their relationship with Christ as their Saviour and as the lover of their soul.
[9:40] So here our prayers this day that we would yet again be encouraged to believe that you are at work not only in their own lives but in the lives of others so that those who are not yet persuaded that their relationship with Christ is as it ought to be that you would grant to them the encouragement needed to surrender all that they lay hold of that is a fragile hope a hope that will put them to shame and instead lay claim to another hope even the sure hope of the gospel and that they may be persuaded that in Christ alone salvation is found.
[10:28] Bless us then together around your word bless your word to us as we sit under it and that we would have the longings of our soul met even as we dwell upon it all together too briefly but the time is precious and we pray that it would be blessed to us remembering all with whom we have met remembering those that have met with us even spiritually because they cannot be met with us physically we pray for the homes and the families that surround us some believers some not we pray that you would remember young and old that you would remember the families that are growing up in our community that are so taken up with the world and its ways dissuade them if they are of the opinion that this is all that is to it that they would be reminded even of the teachings of their youth that which they were taught at their mother's knee and through godly parents and grandparents through teachers who took time to bring before them the truths of god in sabbath school even in the day school we give thanks for those who are believers who have the love of christ shed abroad in their heart and desirous of sharing that with others something that is so ridiculed today and something even forbidden in some settings that we cannot share the love for christ with others we see that as a day that is ours but help us lord nevertheless to take the opportunity that is afforded us to speak often of that christ whenever we are given the opportunity to share the gospel with any without pushing it on anyone but using opportunities that you are giving and given to us that we may see an open door that we may be given utterance when the opportunity arises to share a word in season with those who would have it from us you are the god who is sovereign you are the god who is able to bless your world in any situation whether it is a time of celebration or a time of grief we know that you are speaking to us in all of these things remember the sorrowful we pray remember the broken hearted remember the grieving because we live in the vale of tears our face is set upon eternity every one of us will soon enter into it some think that we are remote from it but we often delude ourselves how many entered into the new day that was just a harbinger of a life that was stretching before them and yet before the hour of midnight came they had entered into the dark night of eternity because it was for them an encounter with something that they were unprepared for lord hear us bless us and show mercy to us we ask that you would sanctify the world as it goes out in our community in our congregation throughout an island to the far corners of the earth bless the preaching of the gospel whatever medium you have chosen and anointed with your own spirit may it yield fruit to the glory of your name the day of fruit bearing is still with us but the harvest is soon to be upon us and we know that you would look upon your harvest and you will look for your own in that
[14:29] day you have appointed where all must answer hear our petitions we pray bless the word that we are to hear right and to consider may it be a word to our soul remember Lord all that we entrust to your care and keeping any who are concerned for their health and well-being bless those who are worried about their own health we pray for them as we pray for those entrusted with their care there are many that we must pray for not just those who are unwell but those who are set aside to give their time to heal these sicknesses that are beyond our capacity to do anything about but you have given skills you have given gifts to many to deal with the ills of this world and we pray for those who must necessarily be under their hands but we ask Lord for wisdom for those whose hands it is that minister to them so hear our prayers continue to watch over us cleanse from sin in Christ the Redeemer's name we ask it with forgiveness of sin in him
[15:50] Amen we're going to hear God's word as we have it in the New Testament scriptures the book of the Revelation the New Testament scriptures and the book of the Revelation of John and we're going to read chapter 21 chapter 21 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 a husband 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 he their God and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor cry neither shall there be any more pain for the former things have passed away and he that sat upon the throne said behold
[17:31] I make all things new and he said unto me write for these words are true and faithful and he said unto me it is done I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end and I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life free he that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son but the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and who mongers 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 and there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues and talked with me saying come hither i will show thee the bride the land's wife and he carried me away in his spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city the holy jerusalem descending out of heaven from god having the glory of god and her life was likened to a stone most precious even like a jasper stone clear as crystal and had that 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 land 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 four square 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 a 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 a 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 chasetony the fourth an emerald the fifth a donyx the sixth sardius the seventh chrysolite the eighth beryl the ninth a topaz the tenth a chrysifrasis the eleventh a chasetony the twelfth an amethyst and the twelfth gates were twelve perils every several gate was of one peril and the street of the city was pure gold as it were transparent glass thy saw no temple therein for the lord god almighty and the man are the temple offered 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 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 and the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day
[21:32] for there shall be no night there and they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie but they which are written in the land's book of life Amen and may the Lord out his blessing to the reading of his word and to his name be the praise we're going to sing now verses from Psalm 73 Psalm 73 at verse 23 we will sing to the end of the psalm nevertheless continually O Lord I am with thee thou dost me hold by my right hand and still upholdest me thou with thy counsel while
[22:34] I live wilt me conduct and guide and to thy glory afterward receive me to abide whom have I in the heavens high but thee O Lord alone and in the earth whom I desire besides thee there is none my flesh and heart doth faint and fail but God doth fail me never for of my heart God is the strength and portion forever for lo they that are far from thee forever perish shall and that a hurrying from thee go thou hast destroyed all but surely it is good for me that I draw near to God in God I trust that all thy works I made it clear abroad these words of Psalm 73 from verse 23 nevertheless continually
[23:34] O Lord I am with thee nevertheless continually O Lord I am with thee thou hast me all my my my God and still thou holdest me thou with thine arms and my light it will speak of dark and shine unto the glory of the world receive me to abide whom
[24:52] I upon you h ...
[25:14] haveified power and desire to thrive and sleep ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK
[26:22] ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK ZANG EN MUZIEK I'd like us now to turn for the short while that we're together to the passage that we read in New Testament Scriptures and the book of the Revelation chapter 21 and the first verse.
[27:42] 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.
[28:01] I saw a new heaven and a new earth. When we read the New Testament, the bulk of what we read has been written by the Apostle Paul.
[28:18] Many of the New Testament books bear his name. And of what Paul has to say, we can confidently assert what Paul asserts.
[28:42] That there is what we have read of in this chapter. I begin with Paul because Paul has probably said most about the topic that we had before us.
[29:02] But he has not written exclusively about it. He lives his life in the light of what he believes. And he believes in a crucified Christ, who rose from the dead, who ascended into glory, who sits at the right hand of God, who will return, who will come to take his own people to himself.
[29:35] He believes that that will happen. And he believes everything that will accompany the return of Christ will happen.
[29:48] Not just will Christ take his own to be with him, but he will usher those who are his enemies into a lost eternity, into the place prepared for the devil and his angels.
[30:05] He believes the truth as God has given him to disclose it and preach it. And not only does Paul have this belief, all who are his fellow apostles share that belief, and all who are persuaded by the power of the Holy Spirit have the same belief.
[30:32] Their eyes are filled, mind being opened and being enabled with God's help to believe what God teaches through his servants, the prophets and the apostles.
[30:43] Now I begin like this because it is something that appears to us when we read what Paul says, what John says, who has written this book, what Peter says, what James says, that it is almost impossible for them to believe otherwise.
[31:07] They cannot but believe in the Christ who lived in this world. They cannot but believe that he died on the cross.
[31:19] They cannot but believe all these things that we have already said that Paul believes. And they cannot but believe that Christ who promised to come again, promised to take those who are his own to be with him, never to part from it.
[31:41] There are many who don't believe that. There are many who refuse to believe it. There are many who believe something and they don't know what they believe.
[31:55] I love watching sport. One thing, and I've probably said this countless times before, but I've observed that there are occasions when there is a cup to be won or a medal to be received.
[32:13] Quite often, when the celebration of victory takes place, it may be that one of the celebrants will either speak of or gesture to the effect that they are looking up and there is somebody up there who was influential in their lives leading up to that moment of success.
[32:39] And they believe, or they articulate a belief, that that person is looking down from above and celebrating with them.
[32:50] And at that point, I often feel the desire, what are you actually believing?
[33:01] What is it that you believe is taking place? At this moment that you're staying, you're enjoying from celebrating and believing that somebody else is no longer in this world, is joining in celebration with you.
[33:19] What is it that you believe? Why do you believe that? What makes you think like that? What is it that makes you think that beyond this world there's something that you have somehow come to understand?
[33:38] That those who have left this world, that they have an interest in what you're doing. John Blanchard has written many popular books, popular in the sense of being for the popular masses, people who enjoy reading books, but not necessarily theological books.
[34:03] So he writes on theological topics in a manner which is easier to understand. One such book has the title, The Hitchhiker's Guide to Heaven.
[34:19] And in the introduction, I think, to that book, it's not an introduction, I think, it's whatever we call it, an introduction or something, written by somebody else, not Blanchard.
[34:35] He quotes a well-known American journalist who's the editor of the Chicago Sun. And he quotes what this gentleman believed or said.
[34:50] He says, Many readers have informed me that it is a tragic and dreary business to go into death without faith.
[35:04] I don't feel that way. I have no desire to live forever. The concept frightens me. I have no desire to live forever.
[35:20] The concept frightens me. Now, I don't know the greater context of that quotation. I don't know the specific of this person's life.
[35:34] I don't know what kind of life he lived. Judging by what he says, he's not very happy in this world. Judging by what he says, he doesn't believe there's anything beyond this world that would encourage him to seek something better.
[36:02] That's not what John believes. That's not what Paul believes. That's not what the Christian believes. The Christian believes what God's word declares.
[36:17] And that is that there is something beyond this world. And that's something that's not just a random mishmash of fanciful thoughts.
[36:34] But a very specific experience awaiting the people of God. that they will enjoy and embrace wholeheartedly and delight in once they enter into it.
[36:50] Just as surely as there are the horrors of those who do not share their faith. For the experience that awaits them.
[37:01] And I want to speak for a while on this topic of this new heaven and new earth.
[37:12] And I want to focus fairly narrowly on that. Because first of all I think that John here is describing something that he saw.
[37:29] he is seeing this new heaven. I saw he says a new heaven and a new earth.
[37:41] No he wasn't in it. But by reason of God's enabling the spirit of the Lord opened his eyes and enabled him to see something that was not yet in place.
[37:58] but he saw it with a clarity that belonged to him as a servant of God entrusted with declaring that to others.
[38:11] Now I want us to think about what John saw and ask the question what can this possibly mean? On the face of it there is no difficulty if we believe if we take this as a literal statement John had a vision of glory of heaven of future state Now there is a difficulty you see with that with these words heaven and earth and immediately my thoughts were why would there be a need for a new heaven?
[38:58] What was wrong with the old heaven? If we are to take the meaning of heaven to be the understanding that most people have of what heaven is but I think the use of these words here is really we have to understand that much of the language that the apostle uses is symbolic and at times descriptive of things that need to be understood with a measure of of care in understanding that what he is describing is not meant to be literally understood so what he is describing as what he saw is not the physical entity of earth here and the physical entity of heaven beyond but rather the experience of this universe of ours that we understand that includes heaven and earth
[40:02] I think one of the commentators says when he talks about heaven we are not talking at this point about the heaven of heavens which is the place that we normally associate with God the residence of God now even when we start using such language as heaven of heavens and a place occupied by God we run into difficulties because God is spirit and he does not occupy any limited space he occupies all space he is heavily but present in the earth as he is in heaven there is no place where God is not in other words but when we speak of heaven naturally we begin to think of heaven as the place to which Christ has gone where he sits at God's right hand so that means a physical locality because while God is spirit and is heaven
[41:09] Christ is Christ the son of God who became man and as the son of God who became man albeit in a glorified state he is at the right hand of God in a place that God has appointed for him that God has given to him as a place where he has to be glorified in his presence in that place which is the heaven of heavens as the theologians would call it are the angels and the saints who have gone to glory who are still disembodied but the spirits of the saints made perfect are in glory with that Christ so there is this place called heaven but that's not the place that is going to be renewed I don't think I could be wrong but I can't believe why there should be a need for the renewal of that place that God has constantly sanctified with his presence but John is seeing by way of a vision a new heaven and a new earth and what he is seeing is something that tells him that this experience that I have of this world which includes heaven and earth is going to change there's going to there's going to take place a change where the heaven
[42:41] I once knew and the earth I once knew will be no more God some of the theologians those who translate the scriptures say that there are two possibilities with regard to the synonym the word new it is used in the New Testament Terence path of describing describing something that is brand new something that did not previously exist and now exists as something new it was never there before it is completely new or there is the use of it which speaks of new in the sense of reconstituted you know we're living in a day of awareness of the need that we have to treat our environment carefully and we want to recycle we want to use again put to another use things that we have used before so there is new in the sense of this this had a function before but now it is going to have another function and either word fits some would say well I would rather think that the new of which
[44:13] John speaks the likes of which never existed before others would say the new of which John speaks really has to have a continuity with what I've experienced before because when I get to heaven and when I get to the new heavens and the new earth I want to be comfortable in my surroundings yes there will be changes and John is constantly if you read through this lovely book of his and has many mysteries in it he's often speaking of not just things that will be there but things that will no longer be there you know you read it in this chapter that we read there will be no more tears he says no more death no more sorrow no more crying no more pain these are the things he's saying he's not focusing on the things that are going to be there as much as the things that won't be there that he doesn't want to be there he wants them behind him and perhaps you're so like him when you're thinking of the new heaven and the new earth there are things you never want to see again well what is it then that we can decidedly speak about with regard to this it's very difficult the more you think about it the harder it becomes the apostle
[45:55] Paul when he's writing to the Romans he is speaking about creation at one point and he says about creation that it is groaning and tabiling in pain now obviously creation as we know it doesn't groan and doesn't travel in pain it doesn't you know the picture there is of this of a pregnant woman preparing to give birth and there's an element of expectation and an element of deliverance anticipated and that's the way Paul describes this creation in which we live not just as he said as somebody who's longing for it as a believer but who sees everything bound up in this one thing that God has promised a new beginning for his people not just for his people but for the world as a whole and that really
[47:22] I think emphasizes what John is speaking of here that what we are to look for what he sees a new heaven and a new earth he is seeing something for which he himself longed he is seeing something that displaces what was there before that he recognizes for what it is because it is not he doesn't give it a new name which you would imagine if there wasn't a continuity he would use a word Paul is quite a clever person John is quite a clever person Peter is quite a clever person the cleverness given to them by the spirit of God would enable them to describe something using words that are clearly descriptive and new words to suit new things but nobody uses the terminology that says it's not something new that we haven't seen before but something new that replaces what was there before so what is new is not the old but something different to the old a passage that is used alongside this passage is the words of
[48:50] Peter remember the apostle Peter refers to the new heavens and the new earth and he speaks of it as a place wherein dwelleth righteousness I think Peter himself is the best person to quote word for word the day of the Lord he says 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 passions ought ye to be in all holy conversation and good godliness looking for and tasting unto the coming of the day of the
[49:51] Lord 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 a new heaven for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness now you can see that Peter's explanation is slightly different or his description is slightly different to the description that John gives in this sense that he is seeing heavens rather than heaven which probably fits in with what I was saying with regard to this picture that we ought to have in minds of this world this universe of ours being the image that John wishes us to grasp Peter's words are thought to be quotations from the book of
[51:01] Isaiah in Isaiah 65 verse 17 the prophet there states behold I create new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembered nor come to mind but be you glad and rejoice forever in that which I create for behold I create Jerusalem rejoicing and her people a joy then Isaiah 66 verse 22 for us 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 now you can see there is a connection between what John what Paul Peter rather quotes there it seems clear from Peter's interpretation of these words that what was once there is to be destroyed it it will be no more it will be replaced by something new it will melt he says with a fervent heat but something will be created anew which is akin to what was there before let me quote to you the words of Dr
[52:30] Martin Lloyd Jones beginning about the coming of Christ which is something that is necessary before this new heaven and new earth will be created he will judge all men and women who have ever lived and there will be a final judgment of men and angels that will be followed not only by the condemnation and destruction of the ungodly but furthermore by what we describe as the destruction of the world as we know it we're often concerned and we have good reason to be concerned about mankind's misuse of the world the environment and the fear that many have is that man will be successful in destroying the environment destroying this world but if we read the scripture it is not man that will do it but God and he doesn't need man to do it not excusing men or women whoever they may be for their abuse of the privileges that they enjoy there is no excuse for that it is utterly reprehensible that we mistreat what God has given to us to use for his glory but it won't be that abuse of the privileges that God has given to us that will be the means that God uses to destroy the world but that doesn't mean that the world won't be destroyed not only will the world be destroyed it will
[54:31] God it will be God that will destroy it in his time and the God who will destroy it we are told here clearly he will replace it with a new heaven and a new earth John and Peter are not seeing two different things but rather it seems John is seeing what God has recreated remember it's a vision I saw he says a new heaven and a new earth so what he is seeing at that moment is not the old or the motion towards the destruction of the old he is seeing what God has reconstituted the new heaven and the new earth and he is given this privilege to see it in the glorious condition in which it will appear the principle
[55:36] Donald MacLeod is clear in his own mind as to what this means this is what he says there will be a great moment of regeneration a moment of new birth for the cosmos itself when the God who made the world will pull it apart in in its place he will call into being a new universe one which is a continuation of the old but yet is radically different and splendidly different and that's what I believe will happen I know that theologians discuss the coming of Christ the second coming of Christ and there are a lot of opinions as to what will actually take place when this occurs opinions as to when or how the signs will be pre coming
[56:44] Christ what the activity of the church will be when Christ comes you know people talk about the millennial activity there are those who think that there's going to be a pre-milled existence a post-milled existence a a name and existence really these things are a theological terminology that describes to us the activity and reality of the church when Christ will come again some believe that that when Christ comes again the first thing he's going to do is to open the graves and those who are his believing people will rise out of the graves and they will be with him for a thousand years and the gospel will be preached and the gospel will be preached and the gospel will be blessed and the gospel will be blessed and the gospel will be be ecc Всем want to goائous and the gospel will come back to the gospel will jamen out of their lives and the gospel will be helped the gospel if they have died and may be helped to come and the gospel will be touched and the gospel if they will be helped the gospel if they have loved and the gospel to do ok for them to be imprisoned and the gospel of the gospel of the gospel to the gospel of the gospel.
[57:58] and then you have variations of that and those who don't think there's going to be any activity at all just what we have today until the day Christ comes and when Christ comes all will see him every eye will be upon I know the time is passing but I want you to think about this for yourselves what John was privileged to see albeit by way of vision is what will happen every person who has ever lived in this world who ever existed in this world whether it was a babe in arms whether it was an octogenarian or a centenarian however long lived they were in the world when death took them from the scene of time their ashes interred to the dust these will be recalled by Christ on the day of his coming those who are his will be taken to himself so that they will reside with himself in the new heavens and the new earth whatever activity they will have will be concerned with him it will be directed towards him they will enjoy his company they will bless his name they will be filled with the glory that is his that he shares with them as his people
[59:38] I heard John says a great voice to heaven saying behold the tabernacle of God is with men he will dwell with them they shall be his people God himself shall be with them and he their God I think that is the key you know these two people that we mentioned well not just two people but two scenarios those who look to the heavens and talk about whoever it is that they think is in heaven looking down on them these people if they did not have a relationship with Christ in this world if they did not believe in Christ in this world if they did not put their trust in Christ in this world they are not in heaven they can't be in heaven because here we are told that heaven is for those who want to be in God's company who want to have fellowship with Christ who want to be where God's people are and if you don't want this in this world what on earth makes you think that you want it in the world to come maybe that person who was saying that he he didn't want to think about a world to come no wonder if he didn't want anything to do with
[61:28] God in the here and now he certainly would not want anything to do with God in what awaits I was trying to understand you know this word here there is no more see and I don't really understand it most of have understood it and I suppose it's as good an understanding as any that we read this word and we think of John the apostle who was a prisoner in Patmos separated from the church and between him and the body of believers there was the sea and while the sea was there he couldn't get to them or they to him so there is John would probably say I don't want the sea because sea speaks to me of separation but then another thought came to me and I was thinking well whatever we are in this world is descriptive of the sea
[62:38] I was just sitting in a study looking out the window there just last evening and there wasn't a breath of wind and you saw the sea a flat calm but it reminded me of when I was younger I used to go to the seashore on a summer's day if I was fortunate I would be allowed to go swimming or go to the shore and then most people would be there and the tide would go in and I would go home for my tea and go back down and you would see the tide have come in and you would see this flat calm but as you sat on the rocks even though it looked as if there was no movement there was a constant motion a constant restlessness and I think that describes to us the experience of every person in this world there is a restless spirit in the heart of man a restlessness that will remain with every person that is in this world except those who are in
[63:56] Christ they have come to rest in Christ and those who are in Christ when they look forward to the new heaven and the new earth one thing they are assured of and promised is this that they will be in a constant state of rest with him and that I think is possibly something that John would have in mind can you understand that if you're a believer you can in a measure understand it if you're a believer you'll have a longing sometimes we have more longing than we have at other times but what if you're not a believer do you believe what John is saying are you saying to yourself John you were on something that vision of yours
[64:59] I have no idea where you came to it from or how it came to you well John saw what the spirit meant him to see John experienced what the spirit meant him to experience and language when it's figurative it's descriptive of spiritual experiences you know how can you think of gold that is like glass and that's the language that John uses gold that's like glass the two things gold is a dense ore a dense material glass is see through but there are so many things that he uses to describe what God has promised his own people and which they will enjoy in full in the day that Christ will come to take to himself those who are his that will be a day that will be a day that they will enjoy that they will embrace with you know there's a lot of things that go on in this world and we have no problem with them we take pleasure in them take delight in them if they're beneficial to us I'm sure we'll have them in the new heavens and the new earth as well many things that we would want to do without and if they're of no advantage we will do without them but they are yours in Christ we are assured to the
[66:44] Christian something that they will have I hope that you're one of them and that you will enjoy what Christ has prepared for let us pray here is oh God and bless the word to us today bless us a limited understanding of great truth that the day will come when this fixture which we are so fixed in will be no more and we will be permanently resident in an immovable unalterable state that nothing can take from us and no one can intrude upon and we will not wish had ever to end and our wishes will be fulfilled in Christ the Lord hear our prayers cleansed from sin in Jesus Christ Amen Our closing psalm is
[67:47] Psalm 45 I'm going to sing the second version of the psalm Psalm 45 at verse 13 many believe to be a description of the church presented to her saviour verse 13 the daughter of the king all glorious is within and with embroideries of gold her garments wrought her be she cometh to the king in robes with needle wrought the virgins that you follow her shall unto thee be brought they shall be brought with joy and mirth on every side into the palace of the king and there they shall abide and in thy father's dead thy children thou shalt thou mist take and in all places of the earth them noble princes make I will show forth thy name to generations all therefore the people evermore to thee give praises shall these verses psalm 45 second version of the psalm the daughter of the king all glorious is within the daughter of the king of king i
[69:13] Hos Sultan Unwritten, exploited, so who her garments draw just thee.
[69:32] She cometh to the giving, and rose with need and love.
[69:49] The virgin's wonderful, though I shall unto thee be brought.
[70:06] They shall be brought with joy, and burned on heavenly shine.
[70:22] Into the palace of the King, and there shall have a light.
[70:39] Ah, did thy father send thy children the mystery.
[70:54] And if not this is of the earth, then no will bring this free.
[71:11] I will show forth thy name to generations all.
[71:28] Therefore the King of heaven, O doly, give praise the child.
[71:49] Amen.