WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.599 Amen. That's good, man. A little special for Jimmy Buffett there. 00:00:14.099 --> 00:00:19.120 If you have a Bible, turn to Revelation 22. Revelation 22. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:36.480 How marvelous heaven is. It's not some made-up, unrealistic, far-fetched fantasy. It's real. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:46.859 Now, it's been exploited. It's been exaggerated. It's been caricatured in many ungodly and even more so unbiblical fashions. 00:00:47.019 --> 00:00:55.859 But it's time we understand as much as we can through the evaluation of Scripture what heaven is like. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:01.780 And we've been talking about what heaven has being the beauty and the fellowship and the worship. 00:01:01.780 --> 00:01:06.799 But did you know that heaven is missing some things? 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:15.140 I want to share with you this morning what heaven does not have. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:20.020 Revelation chapter 22, beginning in verse 1, it says this. 00:01:21.079 --> 00:01:27.260 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 00:01:27.260 --> 00:01:35.320 through the middle of the city, also on either side of the river, the tree of life with its 12 kinds of fruit, 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:37.300 yielding its fruit each month. 00:01:38.260 --> 00:01:42.719 The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 00:01:43.719 --> 00:01:48.740 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, 00:01:48.739 --> 00:01:52.119 and his servants will worship him. 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:58.039 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:00.399 And night will be no more. 00:02:01.679 --> 00:02:03.299 There will be no light. 00:02:03.759 --> 00:02:10.539 They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light. 00:02:11.340 --> 00:02:15.659 And they will reign forever and ever. 00:02:15.659 --> 00:02:22.579 I want to deal this morning with three broad categories that encompass a lot. 00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:29.800 The first thing that heaven does not have, heaven does not have a place of worship. 00:02:31.019 --> 00:02:33.099 It does not have a place of worship. 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:39.159 Heaven will be completely different than any place that we've ever been in any way, 00:02:40.099 --> 00:02:42.639 and in every way, including worship. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:51.159 In the Old Testament, after God used Moses to establish the law, the tabernacle was created. 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:58.019 The tabernacle was a curtained courtyard with a place for sacrifice, 00:02:59.079 --> 00:03:04.439 a sacrificial place of worship in the midst of that curtained courtyard. 00:03:04.439 --> 00:03:10.879 As the Israelites would wander in the wilderness, they would uproot that tabernacle, 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:14.240 pack it up, and take it with them, 00:03:15.219 --> 00:03:21.340 following the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night of the Lord. 00:03:22.460 --> 00:03:25.340 It was the central part of their camp. 00:03:25.340 --> 00:03:34.680 The Bible tells us strategically how God told them to camp around the tabernacle. 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:41.060 It was literally at the center of their camp, and they would camp strategically around it. 00:03:42.520 --> 00:03:44.819 It was the place of worship. 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:49.980 There is not one in heaven. 00:03:49.979 --> 00:03:55.719 When the Israelites settled in Jerusalem, the temple was built. 00:03:56.819 --> 00:04:00.799 It was the permanent replacement of the portable tabernacle. 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:05.459 It was the center of Jerusalem, and it was the place of worship. 00:04:06.819 --> 00:04:11.199 But there will be no temple in heaven. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:19.399 In the New Testament, the churches were formed, and houses of worship were in people's homes. 00:04:20.019 --> 00:04:27.500 And as that changed over the years, they began building sanctuaries and would meet in sanctuaries. 00:04:27.599 --> 00:04:29.360 That's what we worship in today. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:33.500 But there are no sanctuaries in heaven. 00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:39.339 Jesus speaks and exemplifies the need for private time with the Lord. 00:04:39.339 --> 00:04:42.679 He spoke of the need of a closet of prayer. 00:04:43.159 --> 00:04:51.439 He went alone to pray, and it is necessary in order for us to maintain our relationship with God the way it needs to be 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:54.739 for us to have a private time of prayer. 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:58.079 Corporate prayer is valuable and is needed. 00:04:58.699 --> 00:05:04.419 Private prayer is required to get alone with God from others. 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:09.540 But there will be no private place of worship in eternity. 00:05:12.939 --> 00:05:21.939 Hopefully, as Christians, we worship God all day long, every day, but we get serious about it when we come to the private place 00:05:21.939 --> 00:05:25.879 or when we come into this sanctuary to worship. 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:31.860 In heaven, it will be serious worship all the time. 00:05:31.860 --> 00:05:37.960 Now, not in the sense of one long, eternal worship service. 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:40.920 Some of you sometimes feel like you're in one, okay? 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:43.259 But give me a break. 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:44.699 It's not at all what it means. 00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:52.639 No, in a very real sense, we will understand and live out what 1 Corinthians 10 verse 31 says. 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:55.160 And 1 Corinthians 10 verse 31 says, 00:05:55.160 --> 00:06:00.860 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 00:06:01.760 --> 00:06:07.380 Revelation chapter 3 verse 22 says that in one sense, heaven does not have a temple or a worship spot, 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:10.400 but in another sense, God is the temple. 00:06:11.440 --> 00:06:12.900 The point is this. 00:06:13.760 --> 00:06:22.300 We will forever be in the unhindered, perfect, sinless presence of God. 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:29.160 Heaven has no place of worship because it is a place of worship. 00:06:30.259 --> 00:06:30.819 Period. 00:06:32.180 --> 00:06:35.360 You think about the most glorious experience you've ever had in worship, 00:06:35.960 --> 00:06:38.420 whether that be personal or whether that be private, 00:06:39.080 --> 00:06:43.000 whether it be personal and private or whether it be public and in a corporate setting. 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:48.279 The most powerful experience that you've ever had in worship. 00:06:49.019 --> 00:06:56.480 It is just a nibble compared to the feast of eternity. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:01.759 There's not a place of worship because it is a place of worship. 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:06.680 Heaven does not have, and I don't know how else to put this, 00:07:07.100 --> 00:07:09.480 does not have an earthly atmosphere. 00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:14.840 I struggle with how to say that because it does not fit with the others on the surface, 00:07:15.020 --> 00:07:17.720 but I know of no other way to say it. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:22.860 Scripture goes out of the way to share with us the difference. 00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:26.900 Look at Revelation 21 verse 23 when it says this, 00:07:27.280 --> 00:07:31.020 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:36.040 for the glory of God gives its light and its lamp is the Lamb. 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:43.700 In Exodus 33 through 34, God spoke to Moses, 00:07:44.020 --> 00:07:46.860 and when God experienced the glory of God, 00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:51.520 his face was radiant by the presence of God. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:54.340 It glowed to such a degree that they were afraid of him, 00:07:54.540 --> 00:07:55.879 and he had to veil it. 00:07:56.840 --> 00:08:00.980 In the Gospels, the transfiguration of Christ is recorded, 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:03.180 and when heaven came down upon Christ, 00:08:03.660 --> 00:08:06.319 his face, Matthew 17 verse 2 says, 00:08:06.740 --> 00:08:08.100 shone like the sun, 00:08:08.180 --> 00:08:12.379 and his clothes became as white as light. 00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:18.980 Those are the closest illustrations on earth that we have of heaven. 00:08:19.280 --> 00:08:20.080 But I want to be clear, 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:21.400 there'll be no sun, 00:08:21.720 --> 00:08:23.879 and God will never leave the horizon, 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:25.319 so there'll be no night. 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:28.139 There'll be no moon, 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:29.779 no stars as well. 00:08:30.819 --> 00:08:33.639 God will be as much in one place there 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:36.179 as he is in the other in heaven. 00:08:36.580 --> 00:08:38.139 There will be no shadows. 00:08:40.319 --> 00:08:41.360 How do I know that? 00:08:41.419 --> 00:08:44.559 Because a shadow happens when something blocks light, 00:08:44.939 --> 00:08:49.100 and nothing will block the presence of God in glory. 00:08:49.980 --> 00:08:51.159 There'll be no evil. 00:08:52.059 --> 00:08:53.039 There'll be no night. 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:56.360 It'll be completely secure. 00:08:57.519 --> 00:09:01.419 The strong walls of heaven speak of its security. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:09.240 The fact that the gates that never close are on those walls 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:12.740 speak of the availability that we have 00:09:12.740 --> 00:09:16.879 to all come through Christ into eternity. 00:09:17.579 --> 00:09:18.419 The gate is open. 00:09:19.459 --> 00:09:20.079 But you know what? 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:23.100 Beyond that, there'll also be no calendars in heaven. 00:09:23.820 --> 00:09:24.860 Can I get an amen? 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:27.639 There'll be no calendars in heaven. 00:09:27.740 --> 00:09:30.500 The sun and the moon, the days and the nights 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:32.080 help us keep time, 00:09:32.160 --> 00:09:36.340 but those things will be gone 00:09:36.340 --> 00:09:37.600 because there'll be no time. 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:41.920 We will live in eternity. 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:46.559 Second Peter chapter 3 verse 8 tells us this, 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:47.899 that with the day, 00:09:48.959 --> 00:09:50.740 excuse me, with the Lord, 00:09:51.579 --> 00:09:54.399 one day is as a thousand years, 00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:58.479 and a thousand years as one day. 00:10:00.079 --> 00:10:02.139 What in the world does that mean? 00:10:02.139 --> 00:10:06.340 Well, the primary purpose of saying that is 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:07.319 you need to be patient. 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:09.139 That's primary. 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:12.840 Let's think deep for just a moment, okay? 00:10:15.580 --> 00:10:17.919 From time we get our chronology, 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:22.340 our before and our after, 00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:26.179 there'll be no chronology in heaven. 00:10:26.179 --> 00:10:29.779 There'll be no keeping time. 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:32.919 Now, how does that pan out? 00:10:33.199 --> 00:10:35.019 Think about that for a while, okay? 00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:37.759 Well, let's go back to that passage 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.339 when it says that with the Lord, 00:10:40.439 --> 00:10:42.019 one day is as a thousand years, 00:10:42.099 --> 00:10:44.919 a thousand years as one day. 00:10:46.079 --> 00:10:47.379 I want to be clear about something. 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:49.799 I don't take that literally. 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:52.879 I don't think it's meant to be taken literally. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:55.039 If you have some issue with that, 00:10:55.100 --> 00:10:55.500 I'll tell you, 00:10:55.580 --> 00:10:57.559 I don't have a problem with it being literal, okay? 00:10:57.600 --> 00:10:58.659 I just don't think it is. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:03.379 But let's just say it is. 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:06.759 And let's say that that is, 00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:07.539 just for a moment, 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:09.580 just to get an idea of what we're talking about, 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:14.179 and that describes the timing of heaven of sorts, okay? 00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:17.500 Well, if a day is like a thousand years, 00:11:17.659 --> 00:11:22.799 that means that 40 years in this life 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:30.539 is like one hour to God in heaven. 00:11:31.979 --> 00:11:34.639 So my grandfather died in 1979. 00:11:35.859 --> 00:11:38.419 If he's not in glory, we're all in trouble, okay? 00:11:38.979 --> 00:11:39.959 He loved the Lord. 00:11:41.819 --> 00:11:44.299 That's approximately 40 years ago 00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:48.000 based upon this formula of sorts. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:51.440 If I die today, 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:53.779 and I don't plan to, 00:11:53.860 --> 00:11:55.259 but don't worry about where I'm going if I do. 00:11:58.659 --> 00:11:59.620 Based on this formula, 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:01.440 he'll get to heaven about an hour before I do. 00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:06.679 Because 40 years is like an hour. 00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:09.279 A day is like a thousand years. 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:12.779 Charles Spurgeon died about 120 years ago. 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:14.399 That's like three hours. 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.039 Now, again, I don't take this literally. 00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:19.339 I don't mean that. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:22.059 But I do want you to understand 00:12:22.059 --> 00:12:26.439 that when somebody dies in the Lord, 00:12:27.199 --> 00:12:28.980 I believe to be absent from the body 00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:30.519 is to be present with the Lord. 00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:32.399 So they are there now, 00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:34.519 but we're all going to get there 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:35.299 about the same time. 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:40.139 And the reason why I say that 00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:42.099 is because we're talking about 00:12:42.099 --> 00:12:43.599 if there is a chronology, 00:12:43.719 --> 00:12:45.139 it's an eternal chronology. 00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:46.439 It lasts forever. 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:51.240 But there is no sun. 00:12:51.359 --> 00:12:52.039 There is no moon. 00:12:52.899 --> 00:12:55.059 There is no way to keep time in heaven 00:12:55.059 --> 00:12:57.039 because it's always light. 00:12:58.419 --> 00:12:59.059 And so therefore, 00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:01.179 what that teaches us, 00:13:01.699 --> 00:13:02.719 it'll make your head hurt 00:13:02.719 --> 00:13:03.679 when you think about it. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:05.219 But the significance 00:13:05.219 --> 00:13:06.799 and where it lands is this. 00:13:07.239 --> 00:13:08.399 We'll never grow old. 00:13:09.599 --> 00:13:11.259 Don't ever worry about being bored 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:12.519 with doing something in heaven 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:15.000 because you did the same thing too long. 00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:16.979 It's not going to happen. 00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:19.299 There's a Christian song 00:13:19.299 --> 00:13:20.879 that I heard growing up by the title, 00:13:21.359 --> 00:13:22.179 Look For Me. 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:24.500 And a couple in the church would sing it 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:24.859 and they'd say, 00:13:25.099 --> 00:13:26.839 after we've been there a thousand years, 00:13:26.939 --> 00:13:28.199 a million maybe two, 00:13:28.319 --> 00:13:29.939 look for me because I'll be there too. 00:13:29.940 --> 00:13:32.020 And as a child, 00:13:32.140 --> 00:13:32.560 I thought, 00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:35.440 am I going to have to talk to these people 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:36.640 for thousands of years? 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:38.440 My soul. 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.220 Oh, no. 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:44.400 That's not what it'll look like. 00:13:45.400 --> 00:13:47.000 There's another old gospel hymn 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:48.940 that kind of says what it'll be like. 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:51.080 I think it's more appropriate. 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:52.860 It says, 00:13:53.020 --> 00:13:54.680 When our work here is done 00:13:54.680 --> 00:13:56.660 and the life crown is won 00:13:56.660 --> 00:13:59.100 and all troubles and trials are over, 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:02.300 all our sorrow will end 00:14:02.300 --> 00:14:03.759 and our voice will blend 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:06.060 with the loved ones who've gone on before. 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:08.580 Never grow old. 00:14:09.400 --> 00:14:10.680 Never grow old. 00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:13.580 In a land where we'll never grow old. 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:15.940 Never grow old. 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:16.940 Never grow old. 00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:20.400 In a land where we'll never grow old. 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:22.560 If there's no sun, 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:25.520 no sky as we know it, 00:14:26.400 --> 00:14:28.240 and there is no sin there, 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:29.680 then there'll be no pollution. 00:14:31.160 --> 00:14:33.240 There'll be no aftertaste to the water. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:34.680 No chlorine is needed. 00:14:37.300 --> 00:14:39.100 Who cares about that? 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:41.660 Okay, well, look at something with me. 00:14:42.660 --> 00:14:44.259 It's the first of what I read a little while ago. 00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:46.400 It says in Revelation 22, 1 and 2, 00:14:46.400 --> 00:14:46.940 it says this, 00:14:47.280 --> 00:14:48.620 Then the angel showed me 00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:50.180 the river of the water of life, 00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:51.079 brightest crystal, 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:53.120 flowing from the throne of God 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:53.819 and of the Lamb 00:14:53.819 --> 00:14:55.639 through the middle of the street of the city. 00:14:55.739 --> 00:14:57.599 Also, on either side of the river, 00:14:57.959 --> 00:14:59.099 the tree of life 00:14:59.099 --> 00:15:01.939 with its 12 kinds of fruit, 00:15:02.339 --> 00:15:04.759 yielding its fruit each month. 00:15:06.319 --> 00:15:07.479 That's fascinating to me. 00:15:07.859 --> 00:15:09.579 The leaves of the tree 00:15:09.579 --> 00:15:12.239 were for the healing of the nations. 00:15:13.339 --> 00:15:14.579 Revelation 22, verse 2, 00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:16.460 describes that tree 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:18.300 that I call 00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:19.700 the fruit of the month tree. 00:15:21.900 --> 00:15:23.740 Have you ever looked at a Harry and David catalog? 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:27.960 Best pairs in the world. 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:29.020 Unless you grow them 00:15:29.020 --> 00:15:29.960 and then yours is the best. 00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:31.080 But I'm telling you, 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:33.360 they are absolutely fabulous. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:35.720 And if you look at the back 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:37.120 of those little catalogs, 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:39.460 you'll see what's called 00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:40.640 the fruit of the month club. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:43.720 Now, I've been familiar 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:44.659 with the fruit of the month club 00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:45.259 for years. 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:48.919 And it's kind of fascinating to me 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:51.039 because every month 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:51.980 you get a box 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:54.620 of premium fresh fruit 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:55.460 brought to the house. 00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.840 And I love fruit. 00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:58.559 And so I get excited. 00:15:58.659 --> 00:15:59.360 Now, they come up, 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:00.519 if you do 12 months, 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.960 they come up with some goofy stuff, 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:02.419 you know, 00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:04.080 guava and papaya 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:04.700 and all that stuff. 00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:05.419 But I mean, 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:07.240 it is fresh, 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.159 real, 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:09.839 good stuff. 00:16:09.939 --> 00:16:10.139 I mean, 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:10.959 what a club 00:16:10.959 --> 00:16:12.139 to be a part of 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:13.279 when they're bringing it 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:13.939 to the house. 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.159 Now, I looked that up 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:16.759 in preparation for this 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:17.259 and they got about 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:18.399 12 different clubs now. 00:16:18.439 --> 00:16:18.899 It's hard to know 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:20.019 what they originally started with. 00:16:20.219 --> 00:16:21.159 But I remember when it was 00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:22.379 just the fruit of the month club, 00:16:22.459 --> 00:16:22.759 you know. 00:16:23.219 --> 00:16:23.699 I mean, 00:16:23.719 --> 00:16:25.500 they just bring in the stuff 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:27.339 every month. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.980 Heaven has a tree 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:34.500 that's even more grand. 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:37.539 And if you think heaven's 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:38.080 going to be a bunch 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:39.080 of white robes 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:40.100 roaming around 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:41.820 a gold-plated amusement park, 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:42.879 I got news for you. 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:45.120 You're a long way off. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.419 My whole point, 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:48.220 and don't get lost 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:49.659 in my timing thing here, 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.320 my whole point is 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:53.460 it is beyond our atmosphere 00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:55.720 and it is beyond 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:57.139 our imagination. 00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:00.559 I don't think folks 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:01.720 that went on before us 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.360 years ago 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:03.460 are going to be ready 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.860 to give us a tour of heaven. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.019 I believe they're going 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:08.039 to be standing around 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:09.039 the throne of God 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:11.059 giving praise and honor 00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:12.420 to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.220 That's my point. 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:16.460 Third thing is this. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:20.259 Heaven does not have sin 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:22.740 or evil 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:25.779 or its results. 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.779 The second part of that passage 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:30.000 that I read speaks of this. 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:30.460 It says, 00:17:30.860 --> 00:17:32.160 no longer will there be 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:33.140 anything accursed 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:34.080 but the throne of God 00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:34.580 and of the Lamb 00:17:34.580 --> 00:17:35.160 will be in it 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:35.840 and His servants 00:17:35.840 --> 00:17:36.660 will worship Him. 00:17:37.040 --> 00:17:38.060 They'll see His face 00:17:38.060 --> 00:17:38.820 and His name 00:17:38.820 --> 00:17:40.440 will be on their foreheads 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:42.500 and night will be no more. 00:17:42.620 --> 00:17:43.560 There'll be no light 00:17:43.560 --> 00:17:45.000 or lamp or sun 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:46.060 for the Lord God 00:17:46.060 --> 00:17:46.980 will be their light 00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:48.060 and they will reign 00:17:48.060 --> 00:17:49.540 forever and ever. 00:17:49.540 --> 00:17:52.519 Do you remember the curse? 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:58.119 when Adam and Eve sinned 00:17:58.119 --> 00:18:00.920 enmity and evil came in 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:05.160 violence became a part of life 00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:07.879 the pain 00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:10.139 of blessing entered in 00:18:10.139 --> 00:18:14.019 even childbirth became painful 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:15.779 after the curse. 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:19.819 tension started in relationships 00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:23.160 thorn and thistles of the ground 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:26.059 began the need of hard work 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:27.119 and even death. 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:30.899 all of that happened 00:18:30.899 --> 00:18:32.619 due to the curse 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:34.159 none of which 00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:36.239 will be in heaven. 00:18:37.919 --> 00:18:39.219 But not only that 00:18:39.219 --> 00:18:40.819 the ramifications of sin 00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:42.979 and of sickness 00:18:42.979 --> 00:18:44.659 and of struggle 00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:46.479 and of tension 00:18:46.479 --> 00:18:48.139 and of death 00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:50.439 none of that will be there. 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:53.379 Revelation 21 3 and 4 00:18:53.379 --> 00:18:54.599 tells us that Christ 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:55.519 Christ is our comforter 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.959 our prince of peace 00:18:56.959 --> 00:18:57.959 and He'll be there. 00:18:58.779 --> 00:19:00.719 It says there'll be no tears 00:19:00.719 --> 00:19:01.839 I believe that's what you read 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:02.319 a little while ago 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.439 there'll be no tears 00:19:03.439 --> 00:19:04.439 there'll be no pain 00:19:04.439 --> 00:19:05.480 there'll be no death 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.699 there'll be no mourning 00:19:06.699 --> 00:19:08.079 there'll be no loneliness 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:09.839 there'll be no defeat 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:11.819 there'll be no dejection 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:13.599 there'll be no depression 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:17.099 there'll be no confession of sin 00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:20.779 because there'll be no sin. 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:24.619 Has your heart ever broke 00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:26.279 before God due to your sin? 00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:29.859 If your heart has never broke 00:19:29.859 --> 00:19:30.980 before God due to sin 00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:32.220 it needs to break 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.559 before God due to sin 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:35.859 but it will not in glory. 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:40.539 There'll be no separation by death 00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:43.240 no broken relationships 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:44.399 no jealousy 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:45.960 no enmity 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:47.320 no envy 00:19:47.320 --> 00:19:48.660 no hatred 00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:52.380 not only will the atmosphere 00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:53.900 be radiant 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:56.860 but the atmosphere 00:19:56.860 --> 00:19:58.940 will be too. 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:04.180 Revelation 21 1 says 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.240 then I saw a new heaven 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:05.840 and a new earth 00:20:05.840 --> 00:20:06.740 from the first heaven 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.880 and the first earth 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:09.140 had passed away 00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:10.540 and the sea 00:20:10.540 --> 00:20:12.160 was no more. 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:14.440 Why in the world 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:14.920 does it say 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:16.360 the sea was no more? 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:18.300 It's very significant 00:20:18.300 --> 00:20:19.380 may not be to you 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:20.240 but it sure was 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.540 to the first century Christian 00:20:21.540 --> 00:20:25.080 because the sea 00:20:25.080 --> 00:20:26.640 separated folks. 00:20:29.080 --> 00:20:30.600 There was separation there. 00:20:33.120 --> 00:20:34.800 They had seen drownings 00:20:34.800 --> 00:20:38.160 they had seen storms 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:41.259 they didn't have 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:43.060 the meteorological predictions 00:20:43.060 --> 00:20:44.259 that we do today 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:49.800 so they didn't get wrong forecast. 00:20:52.800 --> 00:20:54.259 There was a fear 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.000 of the sea 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.840 because they knew 00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.920 that when they sent people 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:57.700 out on sea 00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:59.880 sometimes they never came back. 00:21:01.540 --> 00:21:02.820 What happened to them? 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:05.279 There's no way we can know. 00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:07.820 They didn't have sonar technology. 00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:09.259 They didn't have the capabilities 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.319 to do all those things. 00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:12.740 They just knew 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.519 that sometimes 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.240 people would 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.579 hit the sea 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:17.179 and never return. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:20.399 It was fearful. 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.460 That may be why 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.259 the Lord repeatedly 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.019 dried it up 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.720 for them to cross 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.319 and to worship 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:28.579 to remove that fear 00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:29.039 from them. 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:29.799 The sea became 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.740 a symbol 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:32.279 of sinful chaos. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.839 Many myths 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:34.500 and legends 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.039 were built 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:35.939 around the sea. 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:39.360 But fear 00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:40.080 of the sea 00:21:40.080 --> 00:21:41.840 was definite. 00:21:42.840 --> 00:21:43.559 It was real. 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.019 When John wrote 00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:45.660 that there would be 00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:46.180 no sea 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:46.720 he wrote 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.559 from the island 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:48.320 of Patmos 00:21:48.320 --> 00:21:49.200 in exile 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.180 separated 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:51.400 from the believers 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.200 by what? 00:21:52.340 --> 00:21:53.240 By the sea. 00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:57.600 The sea 00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:58.160 represented 00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:58.920 separation 00:21:58.920 --> 00:21:59.759 and chaos 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.380 and fear 00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:01.100 and in many ways 00:22:01.100 --> 00:22:02.039 the result 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:02.620 of sin. 00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:04.659 Thank God 00:22:04.659 --> 00:22:05.000 there will be 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.639 no more sea 00:22:05.639 --> 00:22:06.079 in heaven. 00:22:10.659 --> 00:22:11.059 Rest 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:14.899 not sleep 00:22:14.899 --> 00:22:16.179 we won't need sleep 00:22:16.179 --> 00:22:16.899 we'll just be able 00:22:16.899 --> 00:22:17.799 to rest in the Lord. 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.419 Now you may be 00:22:20.419 --> 00:22:21.119 like that little boy 00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:21.839 that was in the balcony 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.899 of that old time church 00:22:22.899 --> 00:22:23.519 that time. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.500 Preacher was preaching 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.479 a sermon like this 00:22:27.479 --> 00:22:27.859 and he said 00:22:27.859 --> 00:22:28.419 how many of you 00:22:28.419 --> 00:22:29.039 want to go to heaven 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.479 tonight? 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:33.980 hands went up 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.700 all over the building 00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:36.500 that little boy 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.220 didn't raise his hand 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:41.240 how many of you 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.880 want to go to heaven? 00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.599 Hands went up 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:47.620 that little boy's 00:22:47.620 --> 00:22:48.480 hand didn't go up 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:51.519 preacher looked up 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:51.880 at that boy 00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:52.160 and said 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:52.440 son 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.839 don't you want 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:54.380 to go to heaven? 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.059 The little boy said 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:58.420 yes sir 00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:58.779 someday 00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.379 but I thought 00:22:59.379 --> 00:22:59.740 she was getting 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.339 up a load 00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:06.500 I love to live 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:09.599 I don't care 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:10.220 to die 00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:13.200 but when I do 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.139 I'll be just fine 00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:16.960 what a place 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:18.480 is waiting 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.099 for us 00:23:19.099 --> 00:23:26.099 we read 00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:28.299 of a place 00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:31.799 called heaven 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:34.139 it's made 00:23:34.139 --> 00:23:36.199 for the pure 00:23:36.199 --> 00:23:37.879 and the free 00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:41.740 these truths 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:44.079 in God's word 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:47.559 he's given 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:51.599 how beautiful 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:52.839 heaven 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:55.799 must be 00:23:55.799 --> 00:24:00.199 how beautiful 00:24:00.199 --> 00:24:01.259 heaven 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:02.799 must be