Revelation chapter 21.
You know, heaven's going to be amazing
for all of those who are in Christ Jesus
when we leave this life.
I believe that'll be instantaneous
based on what Scripture tells me.
To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
And I believe it'll be glorious.
I believe it'll be beyond our imagination
and it'll be better than whatever it is you expect.
It's going to be better.
It's better than any language can describe.
I want you to understand when Christ
or when God through his word
tries to tell us
how dark wickedness is
or how glorious heaven is
or how abundant, abundant life is,
it's limited
to our vocabulary
and our frail, fallible minds.
So we only get a glimpse
of the darkness as well as the light
because there's only so much
that we can fathom.
And it's important that we understand that
when we turn to a book like Revelation
and especially Revelation 21
because if you want to know
what we can know
about heaven here,
Revelation 21 is the best place to go.
And I began sharing that last week
and today I want to share with you
my favorite part of it.
There are a lot of thoughts about heaven
that are not biblical.
They're kind of cutesy.
They may be comforting.
They're just not biblical.
No one has ever died
because God wanted another angel
in his garden.
If that gives you comfort, I'm glad.
It's just not true.
It's not true.
Because we don't become angels
when we die.
You are not angelic here.
And if you don't believe me,
ask whoever you rode with.
And you will not be there.
We'll be complete.
We'll be perfected.
But we will not be angels
or as some people spell it, angles.
We will not be.
If you are a child of God,
you'll be glorified
and you'll be changed.
If you're a child of God,
you have something that angels do not have.
And that is redemption.
An old hymn says,
holy, holy is what the angels sing.
And I expect to help them
make the courts of heaven ring.
But when I sing redemption story,
they'll fold their wings
for angels never felt the joy
that our salvation brings.
We've got something they don't.
Instead, as Psalm 40, verse 2 and 3 tell us,
we sing the song of the redeemed.
That he drew me out
from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord.
The song of the redeemed
can only be sung by the children of God.
And you don't want to die
and become an angel.
And that's good
because you're not going to be.
Instead, the imperfect saint
will be made perfect,
glorified in the presence of God
with all of the advantages
that come with the promise of eternity.
But let's read about it.
Last week, we read the entirety,
I believe, of Revelation 21,
or at least, no, not all of it,
but almost all of it.
I just want to read a portion
this morning, though.
It's Revelation 21,
beginning in verse 22,
and it says this,
And I saw no temple in the city,
for its temple is the Lord God,
the Almighty, and the Lamb.
And the city had no need
of sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gives its light.
And its lamp is the Lamb.
By its light will the nations walk,
and the kings of the earth
will bring their glory into it.
And its gates will never be shut by day,
and there'll be no night there.
They will bring into it
the glory and the honor of the nations.
But nothing unclean will ever enter it,
nor anyone who does
what is detestable or false,
but only those who are written
in the Lamb's book of life.
Let's pray together.
Lord Jesus, I ask today
that you will give comfort
to the Christian today.
There may be some who are struggling,
dear God.
I pray, dear God,
that our future will be a comfort
even today.
Lord, for anyone here
who's never accepted you
as his or her personal Lord and Savior,
may today be the day,
oh God,
when you rip the veil off their eyes
and help them to see
what they can have
when they have you.
Lead us, Lord, today.
Help us to respond to you in obedience.
In Jesus' precious name.
Amen.
The promise of eternity
includes the beauty
of the heavenly city.
Verse 11 says,
the glory of God shines in that place.
Like Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration,
we shall shine like the sun
and be clothed in beaming white
due to the glory of God.
The gates of pearl
that I described last week,
the walls of precious stone,
12 stones, by the way,
all make for a scene
too beautiful for us to imagine.
The walled city,
look at the size
of that walled city.
It says that it is
12,000 stratia.
I told you that's about,
it is,
1,380 miles.
It's a cube
of sorts.
And described that way.
But I also talked about,
a little bit about numerology,
and I want to dig a little deeper
into that
just to,
just to wet you whistle,
and then I'm going to run from it.
But,
I mentioned four numbers
that are brought up,
at least in multiples,
multiple times in Revelation.
Three,
which represents the Trinity.
Seven is perfect
because it's creation.
Without the seventh day of rest,
the sixth,
six is,
makes it an unholy number,
and it's tripled at one point,
at least used triple times.
We don't do good enough math
to triple it six times,
so,
you just put six,
six, six,
but it means ultimate evil
is what it speaks of.
Ten speaks of the Ten Commandments,
represents,
symbolizes the Ten Commandments
because the Ten Commandments are,
it's not all the law,
but,
but when you think of the law of God,
you think of the Ten Commandments.
It was summarized that way
when Moses came down
with it off that mountain.
And then 12 is that number
that is complete
because it represents
the 12 tribes,
the complete people of God.
And so,
when you look at the,
in the count of the tribes,
it's 12,000
per tribe.
earlier in the book,
it mentions 12,000.
You add those 12 tribes together,
12 times 12
times 10
is 144.
when you look at 12,000 stratia,
the size of heaven,
it's 12
times 10
to the third power.
So it's 10,
12 times 10
times 10
times 10.
Do you get the,
the,
the multiplicity
of complete numbers
being used over
and over
again?
The book of Revelation
is a coded
book.
It was written
to seven churches
in Asia Minor,
which represented
because of seven churches
and they encompass
most of Asia Minor,
it,
it really represents
the church.
it was written
to them
to give them hope
for the day
in which they lived.
It was not written
over 2,000 years ago,
almost 2,000 years ago
in order for America
to have a blueprint
of what's going to happen
tomorrow.
Okay?
Because if that was the case,
it wouldn't have wrote it
to seven churches
in Asia Minor
under the persecution
of the Roman Empire.
it was to give them hope
for that day.
And it was written
in a coded language
and they do a better job
of cracking that code
than we do,
but we can look back
into it and see
what those things represent.
So when we see,
I said all that to say,
12,000 stratia,
12 times 10,
times 10,
times 10.
Don't think it's,
it's ironic
that there's 12,000
in each tribe
that's represented as well
and that every gate
on the walls
of heaven
has a tribe
named over it.
The point is
there's room, folks.
There's room
for everybody there.
That's the point.
It is perfect.
That,
that walled city
is secure.
Those walls are thick.
The only way
you can get through them
is through that gate of pearl
and,
and they're beautiful
and they're open.
It says they're always open.
Open to all God's children
redeemed by the blood
of Christ
by their personal surrender
to his lordship.
There's room for all.
It's perfectly sized
for all.
So if you're a child
of God,
your reservation
is safe.
There is a place
that is saved
for you.
And if you have
never been saved,
I encourage you
to surrender your life
to the Lord Jesus today
and you can rest
in the security
of your eternity.
Now I want you
to understand something.
If this was all there is,
I mean that we died
and went away
and nothing was there
at all.
That was it.
It would be worth it
to give your life
to Christ today
and live the rest
of your days
for the honor
and the glory of God,
for what he gives us
in this life.
And that will always
be my focus
is the abundant life
that he offers us
in this life
unless I'm preaching
a series on heaven
and then I'm going
to talk about heaven.
But I'm telling you
it's worth it
to give your heart
and life to Christ
in this life.
But oh, my friend,
what you get with that
is an eternal package
because all of heaven
is given to us
and all of it's lit
by the glory
of God and Christ,
the lamp of his glory.
There is no sun there.
There is no stars there.
There is no night there.
We'll get into this
a little later,
but there's no sun
and no night.
There's no chronology either.
Figure that one out.
Eternity is not just
lasting forever.
It's a whole different
echelon of sorts.
Heaven is open.
Gates are open
to receive beautiful
beyond measure
and the light shines eternal
because the Lord
is all the light it needs.
Take a moment,
if you would,
to imagine
the beauty
of heaven.
Now, the reality
is that silence
is enough
uncomfortableness
for us, okay?
But my point
is this.
You can dream it up
all you want to
and you'll never
get a glimpse
of how wonderful
and glorious
heaven is.
Period.
I remember
years ago,
I was watching
WGGS
and somebody
on there,
they were raising
money that day
and somebody
was on there
and had
painted pictures
based on revelation
and based on some
things in the
gospels
of what heaven
looked like
and what hell
looked like
and you could
buy these
for just a
monthly gift
and get these
paintings
and maybe
that
was when I
realized
fella,
you ain't got
a clue
and then I
realized
in reality
even by the
power of the
Holy Spirit
inspiring John
on the island
of Patmos
to give us
the images
that he does,
we still
don't have
a clue.
It is beyond
what we
can imagine.
That's the beauty
of the city.
There's also
this beautiful
reunion of the
church.
It's described
in Revelation
21 verse 3
as us dwelling
with him
and I spoke
last week
of an intuitive
knowledge
that we gain
when we
are made
like him,
when we are
beyond this
world.
1 Corinthians
13 verse 12
says now
we see
but a poor
reflection
as in a
mirror dimly
but then
face to face
now I know
in part
then I shall
know fully
even as I
have
am fully
known.
We shall
know each
other.
We shall
know more
of him
and we shall
as the old
song says
understand it
by and by.
Scripture
is clear
that the
Christian will
dwell with
the Lord
worshiping
him.
we shall
be together
and thank
God for the
Christian
heaven will
be a reunion
like we've
never seen.
I talked
about all
of that
last week.
I want to
share with
you the best
part today.
I didn't
take the
time to
share it
last week.
I took
enough time
but I want
to share
with you the
best part
and what is
my favorite
part.
I believe
the real
beauty of
heaven and
that is our
unhindered
encounter with
the Lord.
our heavenly
father is
there.
The
creator
Jehovah
mighty God
Jesus said
our father
which art
in heaven
how it be
thy name.
Unable to
see him
now there
we will
bow before
his very
throne.
Not only
that but
Christ is
there.
Hebrews 9
verse 24
says for
Christ has
entered not
into holy
places made
with hands
which are
copies of
the true
things but
into heaven
itself now
to appear
in the
presence of
God on
our behalf.
He is
there and
he is
interceding
on our
behalf.
Hebrews 7
verse 25
says consequently
he is able
to save to
the uttermost
those who
draw near to
God through
him since
he listen to
this I love
this always
lives to
make intercession
for them.
So not
only does
Christ
represent
us
advocate
for us
pray on
our behalf
he lives
to do
it.
That's what
gets him
excited
is to
bring us
before the
throne of
God.
Now it's
exciting to
think about
the glories
of heaven
and I get
excited to
think about
seeing my
loved ones.
I get
excited about
the crown
that I can
lay at the
Lord's feet
and by the
way and I'll
get to this
later but any
reward you get
in heaven you're
just going to
lay it at his
feet so don't
get braggadocious
okay.
It all goes to
him.
He gets all
the credit.
But the
people and the
rewards of
heaven don't
even measure
when we
see Christ.
Man that's
where it's
at.
Honestly I
believe when we
see Christ
everything else
will pale so
in comparison.
We won't be
concerned about
the furniture or
the architecture or
the people around
us.
we'll be so
enamored with
the cause of
Christ.
Revelation 7
9 through 12
says this.
This image,
this vision that
God gave to
John of heaven
says after this I
looked and behold a
great multitude that
no one could
number from
every tribe,
from all the
tribes and people
and languages
standing before the
throne and before
the Lamb clothed
in white robes with
palm branches in
their hands and
crying out with a
loud voice,
salvation belongs
to our God who
sits on the throne
and to the Lamb.
And all the angels
were standing around
the throne and
around the elders and
the four living
creatures.
And they fell on
their faces before
the throne and
worshipped God.
Now I want you to
listen to this because
this is used again and
again in Revelation.
It is a seven, get
the number, a
seven-fold exaltation
of praise.
He said, amen,
blessing and glory and
wisdom and thanksgiving,
honor and power and
might be to our God
forever and ever.
Amen.
Ann Ross' cousin wrote
it beautifully when she
said, the bride eyes,
not her garment, but her
dear bridegroom's face.
I will not gaze at
glory, but on my king
of grace.
Not at the crown he
giveth, but on his
pierced hand.
The Lamb is all the
glory of Emmanuel's
land.
I'm like that little
boy who was trying to
learn Psalm 23 when he
was supposed to say, the
Lord is my shepherd, I
shall not want.
He said, the Lord is my
shepherd, that's all I
want.
Amen.
When I get to heaven, the
victory, the glory, and
the majesty will be
Jesus.
Paul got a glimpse of
it.
Paul got a glimpse of
his majesty on the road
to Damascus.
And you can understand
why he wrote that he had
a desire to depart and be
with Christ, which is far
better than anything this
life offers.
Christ Jesus is the
entrance to heaven.
that gate of pearl.
He is the beauty of
heaven.
He is the glory of
heaven.
You may look at me this
morning and say, preacher,
you know, if heaven's that
grand, I don't deserve to
go.
And you may expect me to
say, oh, but you're a dear
saint of the Lord.
You're a fine person.
You may be fine, folks, but
you don't deserve heaven.
You will not go to heaven
because you deserve it.
Because not a one of us
does.
You will go because you
accept it as a gift from
God.
I've received a lot of
gifts in my life that I do
not deserve.
They were given out of love.
However, I've never received
such a precious gift as
life eternal through Christ
Jesus, my Lord.
D.L.
Moody was a probably the
greatest evangelist, arguably
the greatest evangelist of the
19th century.
What God did to a man who
wasn't at school was
absolutely amazing how God
used him really across the
world in a time when it was
difficult to get across the
world.
There's a plaque on Court
Street in Boston that shows
where he got saved, working in
a shoe store when a fellow came
and shared Christ with him.
God did a work in D.L.
Moody's life and empowered him
with the Spirit of God and used
him mightily.
Traveled across the country,
leading folks to the Lord,
established what is now called the
Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.
What we know of Sunday school
largely came from D.L.
Moody, promoting it, bringing it
forth.
Wonderful man, used eye
God.
He went to London.
Spurgeon used him some.
He was in London and was
preaching and there was a little
boy that had heard that D.L.
Moody, the great preacher, was
going to preach nearby in that
big city.
That little boy walked all the way
across London that day in order to
go see D.L.
Moody and to hear him preach.
When he finally got to the church
where D.L.
was to preach, he looked up on the
hill and that church was sitting on
the hill and the sun was glowing
off of those windows and he could
hear the voices singing inside.
He could hear the instrumentalist play.
He forgot how tired he was from that
journey and he ran up those steps and
he got to the front door and as he
reached for the front door, a big hand
put his hand on his shoulder.
Turned him around.
What do you think you're doing, boy?
He told him how he had traveled all
day to be able to hear D.L.
Moody and the doorman looked down at
his matted, sweaty head, his unwashed
clothes and his shoeless feet, his
unwashed face and those raggedy clothes
and he said, no, sonny, you're too
dirty.
Be gone.
Little boy was, took back, needless to
say, and went back down those steps but
as little boy would do, he said, there's
got to be a way in here.
So he went around back and looked and
checked every window and every door to
find some way to get in and there wasn't
another way to get in.
Dejected and beaten down and tired, he
sat down on the front step of that
church.
Just sat there crying.
Just then a carriage pulled up.
Beautiful carriage and a stately man
stepped out of that carriage, got out and
marched quickly up those steps and as he
got to where the boy was sitting, he
stopped and looked at the boy and ask him,
what's the matter, boy?
Little boy explained how he had traveled so
far to come and how they wouldn't let him in
because of the state of his circumstances
and the gentleman extended his hand to him
and he said, here, put your hand in mine.
And he walked in that church.
When they entered the back door of that
church, they walked down the aisle and
continued down to the front aisle until he
set the boy on the front row and then he
walked in up to the stage to get ready to
preach.
It was Dr. Dwight L. Moody.
When I die, I don't have the merit on my own to
walk through the gates of glory.
I wish I did.
But I won't.
I've not done enough.
No matter how long God allows me to live, I'll
never do enough to deserve heaven.
I will not approach the throne on my
perfection because I'm far from it.
I'm just a nasty, barefoot, wore-out youngin'
at the gate of glory.
However, there'll be one on a white horse
ride up called the Prince of Peace.
He'll get off and take my hand in his nail-scarred
hand and walk me to the very throne of God
on his shed blood, on his perfection as his gift for me.
Do you know him?
Have you ever put your hand in his?
Have you ever surrendered your life to him?
All of heaven waits for those who've given their heart and
life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
But if you haven't, and you don't, you'll have hell to pay.
With every head bowed and every eye closed, I ask this morning, do you know that you know?
Have you ever given your heart and life to the Lord Jesus?
I want you to know there's always an open invitation.
My number's on the front of the bulletin.
You can contact me anytime you want to.
But I want you to know today's the day of salvation.
If you'll admit your sin to the Lord and ask him to empower you and change your life,
you'll forever be changed in this life and in the next.
If you don't know the Lord or you're uncertain,
don't leave this room without taking care of those matters.
Maybe you're here and you're a Christian today.
But the reality is there's people all around you who do not know the Lord and they don't
know the difference from your life.
There's things in your life, whether they be private or public, that are shameful before
the Lord that you need to clear up.
And you can't do that on your own.
You have to surrender that to the Lord.
I encourage you to make what's wrong right in your life today by simply asking God to
do the same.
If I can help you with that, I'll be happy to.
Maybe you're here this morning and God's drawing you to this congregation.
You know that this is the place where God would have you to be, would have you to serve.
God's telling you that.
Don't you put that off a bit.
You come.
We'd love to guide you in that process.
Last week we celebrated several being baptized in a neat, wonderful service.
If you've acknowledged the Lord privately, but you've never done that publicly and never
acknowledged that through baptism, well, you come and we'll line that up.
We'll set that up.
It'll be the first step of obedience in your Christian walk that you need to take.
I have no idea what God's speaking to you about or what he's telling you, but I know this,
that you'll never be satisfied until you do exactly what he tells you to do.
And so I'll never ask you to do more than he tells you to do.
I'll never ask you to do less.
Just simply be obedient today as he speaks to your heart and life.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the clarity in which you give us.
It's as good as we can understand it about eternity, God.
I'm thankful also that you make it very clear how we get there.
And God, I pray today that Christians will celebrate their eternity by living their life for you.
And that those without you, dear God, will surrender their life to you, Father.
And that today we'll all be stronger because God's people have been obedient as you spoke to us.
Lead and work right now as we sing.
In Jesus' precious name, amen.