WEBVTT

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 Do we have a seat? It's nice to be back. Nice to see some familiar faces. Nice to see a lot of new faces too.

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 It's always encouraging to see more and more folk you don't know in a church.

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 If you have a Bible, do just turn to 1 Peter 1, that passage we read a few moments ago.

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 We're not going to spend most of the morning here, but I just want to start us off in that passage.

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 I don't usually preach from a laptop, but I wasn't very organized to get it printed off.

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 That's a first, isn't it? Nor did I iron my shirt.

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 I think my trousers have collected most of the dust in Daphne's house, which is quite a lot.

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 If you were hoping for perfection, your hopes have probably been let down.

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 But there is a hope that we have that we can look forward to, which will most certainly not let us down.

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 It was a very applicable question in this shorter catechism that you were looking at today.

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 Unlike many of Paul's letters written to certain groups of people in certain situations,

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 Peter is writing to Christians far and wide.

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 I can't turn the page in this Bible.

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 His audience is varied, but in this epistle, certainly the first chapter, there is one thing he is hammering home.

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 Look down there at verse 3 with me.

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 Peter writes,

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 Verse 6,

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 Verse 6,

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 Again down there in verse 8,

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 Verse 13,

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 Verse 20 and 21,

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 Christ was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God,

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 who raised him from the dead and gave him glory,

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 so that your faith and hope are in God.

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 I don't know you all that well.

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 I don't want to be overly presumptive,

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 but I think it is generally true that we as Christians dwell much more on our faith than we do on our hope.

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 That is no bad thing to dwell on our faith,

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 but we often deal with it in the here and now.

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 Rarely do we lift up our heads and look forward to the hope that awaits us.

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 Listen to what Calvin says on faith and hope.

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 He writes,

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 Faith believes God to be true.

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 Hope awaits the time when his truth shall be manifested.

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 Hope strengthens faith.

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 Hope refreshes faith.

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 Faith is the foundation upon which hope rests,

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 but hope nourishes and sustains faith.

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 We dwell often on what we have been saved from,

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 and that is good and right.

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 It's exactly what we're going to be doing this evening.

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 But I want this morning to look with you all at what it is that we have been saved to.

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 What does the Christian's hope look like?

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 What is this imperishable inheritance that Peter speaks of in his epistle?

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 Quite simply, I want us to consider this evening, this evening, this morning,

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 what will heaven be like?

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 In order to encourage us, right?

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 To lift up our heads.

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 To stop staring down at our own two feet and worrying about our current situation.

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 Stop getting bogged down in the here and now.

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 And reducing this world to what we see with our own two eyes.

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 But to look forward with eager expectation.

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 At what is to come.

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 And to live in light of that.

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 And it's worth getting this right.

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 It's worth spending time thinking about this.

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 Because heaven isn't some abstract reality that should mystify and confuse us.

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 As Peter says, right at the beginning of this epistle,

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 heaven, for those of us in Christ, is home.

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 This is where we belong.

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 Paul in Colossians tells us similarly,

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 have our minds set on the things above.

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 And so it is good to meditate on what our true home will be like.

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 So that we can be looking to that certain hope.

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 As we dwell in the meantime in this fallen world.

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 So with that in mind, I want us to turn to Revelation 21.

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 That is the passage we are going to be looking at this morning.

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 That hope that Peter speaks of.

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 That he encourages us to rejoice in.

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 That imperishable inheritance.

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 That is something that John saw something of in the book of Revelation.

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 A glimmer of what is to come.

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 A foretaste of what it is that we have been saved to.

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 So we're just going to read this whole chapter together.

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 And let us rejoice as we do so.

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 John writes,

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 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.

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 For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.

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 And the sea was no more.

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 And I saw the holy city, Jerusalem,

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 coming down out of heaven from God.

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 Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

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 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

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 Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.

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 He will dwell with them.

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 And they will be his people.

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 And God himself will be with them as their God.

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 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

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 And death shall be no more.

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 Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain.

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 For the former things have passed away.

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 And he was seated on the throne and said,

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 Behold, I am making all things new.

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 Also he said,

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 Write this down,

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 for these words are trustworthy and true.

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 And he said to me,

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 It is done.

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 I am the Alpha and the Omega,

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 the beginning and the end.

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 To the thirsty I will give from the spring of water,

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 of life without payment.

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 To the one who conquers will have his heritage.

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 And I will be his God,

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 and he will be my son.

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 But as for the cowardly,

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 the faithless,

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 the detestable,

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 as for murderers,

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 the sexually immoral,

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 sorcerers,

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 idolaters,

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 and liars,

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 their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,

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 which is the second death.

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 Then came one of the seven angels,

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 who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues,

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 and spoke to me,

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 saying,

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 Come,

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 I will show you the bride,

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 the wife of the Lamb.

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 And he carried me away in the Spirit,

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 to a great high mountain,

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 and showed me the holy city Jerusalem,

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 coming down out of heaven from God.

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 Having the glory of God.

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 Its radiance like a most rare jewel,

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 like a jasper clear as crystal.

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 It had a great high wall with twelve gates,

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 and at the gates twelve angels,

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 and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed.

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 On the east three gates,

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 on the north three gates,

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 on the south three gates,

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 and on the west three gates.

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 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations,

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 and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

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 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold,

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 to measure the city,

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 and its gates and walls.

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 The city lies foursquare,

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 its length the same as its width.

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 And he measured the city with his rod,

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 twelve thousand stadia.

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 Its length and width and height are equal.

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 He also measured its walls,

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 144 cubits by human measurement,

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 which is also an angel's measurement.

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 The wall was built of jasper,

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 while the city was pure gold,

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 like clear glass.

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 The foundations of the wall of the city

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 were adorned with every kind of jewel.

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 The first was jasper,

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 the second sapphire,

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 the third agate,

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 the fourth emerald,

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 the fifth onyx,

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 the sixth carnelian,

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 the seventh chrysolite,

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 the eighth beryl,

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 the ninth topaz,

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 the tenth chrysoprase,

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 the eleventh jacinth,

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 the twelfth amethyst,

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 and the twelve gates,

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 were twelve pearls,

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 each of the gates made of a single pearl.

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 And the street of the city

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 was pure gold,

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 like transparent glass.

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 And I saw no temple in the city,

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 for its temple is the Lord God

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 and the Almighty and the Lamb.

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 And the city has no need of sun or moon

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 to shine on it,

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 for the glory of God gives its light

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 and its lamp is the Lamb.

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 By its light will the nations walk

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 and the kings of the earth

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 will bring their glory into it

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 and its gates will never be shut by day

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 and there will be no night there.

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 They will bring into it

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 the glory and the honor of the nations,

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 but nothing unclean

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 will ever enter into it,

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 nor anyone who does

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 what is detestable or false,

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 but only those whose names

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 are written in the book of life.

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 Amen.

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 Just a couple of things

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 before we get sort of stuck

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 into this passage, right?

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 This is very much going to be

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 a general overview.

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 There is some amazing,

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 great detail in this passage

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 that it would be well worth

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 spending time unpacking

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 and understanding,

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 but that's not our aim this morning.

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 We don't want to get lost in the trees

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 because we really do want to see

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 the whole thing.

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 There's going to be little

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 in the way of profound insights.

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 I just want to show us

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 something of what we can

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 look forward to.

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 The other thing I want to say

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 is don't be afraid

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 to picture things in your head.

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 It's pictorial language

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 for a reason.

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 Don't think that just because

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 we don't know exactly

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 what heaven's going to be like,

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 you're not allowed to

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 imagine it in heavy way.

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 There's a reason this chapter

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 is full of imagery.

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 Full to the brim of words

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 and phrases that invigorate

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 our imaginations,

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 that fill our minds with pictures.

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 So go ahead

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 and imagine what

00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:10.759
 kind of painting

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 this is trying to

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 portray.

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 Just remember

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 to not hold on to that image

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 too tightly.

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 Because

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 if there's one thing

00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:20.180
 I can guarantee you,

00:12:21.060 --> 00:12:21.920
 it's the real thing

00:12:21.920 --> 00:12:23.139
 is going to be

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 unimaginably better

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 than the very,

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 very best

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 that our imaginations

00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:28.759
 can conjure up.

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 So what is

00:12:31.939 --> 00:12:33.819
 heaven going to be like?

00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:36.939
 Well,

00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:38.179
 it's not,

00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:38.740
 I think,

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 what people often

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 think it is.

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 And there's two main areas

00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:45.139
 people fall into

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 which are really just

00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:48.240
 two sides of the same coin.

00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:48.960
 We think heaven

00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:50.240
 is really similar

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 to this life

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 just without

00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:54.000
 some of the nuisances.

00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:55.639
 Right?

00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:56.919
 It's like it's going to be

00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:57.639
 the exact same

00:12:57.639 --> 00:12:58.799
 except you'll never have to

00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:00.740
 wake up in the middle of the night

00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:01.240
 needing to pee.

00:13:03.940 --> 00:13:05.159
 But when we do that,

00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:05.360
 right,

00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:06.620
 we make heaven

00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:07.500
 so much less

00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:08.159
 than it will be.

00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:10.340
 Just a slightly better version

00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:10.740
 of the world

00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:11.259
 as we know it.

00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:13.720
 On the other hand,

00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:14.759
 and probably far more commonly,

00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:15.700
 we think of heaven

00:13:15.700 --> 00:13:17.120
 as wholly unlike

00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:18.279
 anything we've ever seen

00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:18.659
 or known.

00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:22.179
 A totally separate existence.

00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:23.980
 Entirely unrelated.

00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:24.240
 It's relatable

00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:26.379
 to anything we can think of.

00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:28.820
 Maybe we just think of heaven

00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:30.080
 as some space

00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:30.679
 up in the clouds

00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:31.419
 where you play harps

00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:31.960
 all day long.

00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:33.779
 Or just this

00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:35.539
 massive church service

00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:36.059
 where you've got

00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:36.960
 thousands and thousands

00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:37.720
 of people standing

00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:38.440
 shoulder to shoulder

00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:39.440
 singing Kumbaya

00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:40.320
 for all eternity.

00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:43.000
 Sounds quite boring,

00:13:43.179 --> 00:13:43.500
 doesn't it?

00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:46.200
 We need to avoid

00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:47.299
 either of these extremes,

00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:47.639
 right,

00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:49.279
 because they both

00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:50.679
 detract from the wonder,

00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:52.799
 the reality

00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:53.919
 and the significance

00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:57.379
 of what heaven is

00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:58.620
 to us as believers today.

00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:00.959
 Because neither of them

00:14:00.959 --> 00:14:02.179
 are anything like

00:14:02.179 --> 00:14:03.919
 what is described to us

00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:04.899
 in Revelation 21.

00:14:07.199 --> 00:14:09.019
 Heaven is real life,

00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:11.679
 but on the most epic

00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.740
 and glorious scale.

00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:16.659
 And we see that

00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:17.399
 when we just let

00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.299
 our vision of it

00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.500
 be guided

00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:20.560
 by God's word.

00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.820
 So I just want to pick out

00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:24.560
 five things

00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:25.639
 this morning.

00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.539
 It's fairly basic

00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:27.639
 that we can be sure

00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:29.360
 heaven is going to be like

00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:30.120
 from this passage.

00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.919
 We're taking the big picture here,

00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:33.080
 right?

00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:33.840
 We're going to skip over

00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:34.560
 lots of details.

00:14:35.419 --> 00:14:36.299
 We're not going to have time

00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:36.820
 to dwell on them.

00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.560
 By all means,

00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:38.860
 go and look at them afterwards.

00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:40.980
 But I just want to put together

00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:41.960
 a framework for us

00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:42.379
 this morning.

00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:44.080
 It's five things.

00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:44.659
 Number one,

00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:45.879
 it's going to be new.

00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:47.340
 Right?

00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.039
 That's pretty obvious

00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:48.899
 from verse one.

00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:51.700
 Then I saw a new heaven

00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:52.700
 and a new earth.

00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:56.019
 It's a new heaven

00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:56.340
 and a new earth.

00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:56.500
 Right?

00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.220
 I've been saying heaven

00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:57.820
 from the beginning

00:14:57.820 --> 00:14:59.120
 just because that's what

00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.180
 we sort of think of it

00:15:00.180 --> 00:15:01.320
 colloquially.

00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:03.420
 But the future inheritance

00:15:03.420 --> 00:15:04.020
 that awaits us

00:15:04.020 --> 00:15:04.900
 isn't somewhere up there

00:15:04.900 --> 00:15:05.360
 in the clouds.

00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:07.080
 It is a whole new creation.

00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:11.420
 It is a new creation.

00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:12.180
 Verse two,

00:15:12.260 --> 00:15:13.340
 it's a new Jerusalem.

00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:15.820
 This is God's city.

00:15:17.540 --> 00:15:18.320
 Verse five,

00:15:18.420 --> 00:15:19.740
 and within that new creation,

00:15:20.300 --> 00:15:21.260
 he who's seated on the throne

00:15:21.260 --> 00:15:21.520
 said,

00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:21.840
 behold,

00:15:21.920 --> 00:15:23.840
 I am making all things new.

00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:28.540
 Ever since the fall,

00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:29.620
 right?

00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:31.340
 Since Adam let Eve

00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:31.759
 eat the fruit

00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.700
 and ate the fruit himself,

00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:34.460
 everything has been decaying.

00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:38.220
 Things have literally

00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:39.460
 been falling to pieces.

00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:41.320
 The Bible speaks

00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:42.460
 of creation groaning

00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:45.240
 because of the sin

00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:45.879
 in this world.

00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:49.519
 A lot of the time

00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.220
 we can see that

00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:52.060
 around us pretty clearly,

00:15:52.179 --> 00:15:52.340
 right?

00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:53.799
 Just switch on the news.

00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:55.919
 Sometimes we see that

00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:56.879
 pretty clearly in ourselves.

00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.519
 From the moment

00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:02.399
 that sin entered the world,

00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:04.299
 the things that God made good

00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:06.379
 have been wasting away.

00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:09.139
 But a new creation

00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:09.720
 is coming.

00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:13.299
 It won't just stop the rot.

00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:15.340
 It's not like you're just

00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:16.060
 not going to get

00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:16.820
 any more fragile.

00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:18.840
 You're not going to lose

00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:19.360
 any more teeth.

00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:21.740
 Your hair will stop falling out.

00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:22.600
 It'll be nice.

00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:25.200
 You're going to be made new.

00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:27.620
 The world is going

00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.320
 to be made new.

00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:31.980
 God is saying

00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:33.160
 loud and clear to John,

00:16:33.400 --> 00:16:35.000
 everything about this place

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.920
 is brand new.

00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.540
 So not only is there

00:16:39.540 --> 00:16:40.420
 going to be no more decay,

00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:41.560
 but the things

00:16:41.560 --> 00:16:42.440
 that have decayed

00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:43.200
 will be renewed,

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.580
 restored to how they

00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:45.140
 should have been

00:16:45.140 --> 00:16:46.100
 in the first place.

00:16:49.020 --> 00:16:50.020
 All the marks

00:16:50.020 --> 00:16:50.700
 of the fall,

00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:52.820
 all the stains

00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:53.379
 of sin

00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.580
 are removed.

00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.259
 I know, again,

00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:58.300
 that's very different

00:16:58.300 --> 00:16:59.340
 to just being made

00:16:59.340 --> 00:16:59.860
 young again.

00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:02.520
 We often think

00:17:02.520 --> 00:17:03.780
 that age is the problem.

00:17:05.080 --> 00:17:06.160
 It's because we get old

00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:06.940
 that we start breaking

00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:07.660
 and become fragile.

00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.420
 But age isn't the problem,

00:17:11.600 --> 00:17:12.440
 sin is the problem.

00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.860
 But everything will be new

00:17:17.860 --> 00:17:18.580
 and will exist

00:17:18.580 --> 00:17:19.100
 in a place

00:17:19.100 --> 00:17:20.480
 where there is no sin.

00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:24.200
 And there is no Satan,

00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:25.200
 and so there is no

00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:26.319
 possible way

00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.519
 for it to be ruined again.

00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:31.140
 Nothing again

00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:31.960
 will ever decay.

00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:35.039
 That's the first thing

00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:36.160
 about our inheritance, right?

00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.400
 It is a whole new creation.

00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:40.660
 Number two,

00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:42.799
 none of the pain

00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.319
 and misery

00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:44.039
 of this life

00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:44.600
 will be there.

00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:46.799
 Let's look at verse four.

00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:49.359
 He will wipe away

00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:50.119
 every tear

00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:50.919
 from their eyes

00:17:50.919 --> 00:17:52.579
 and death

00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.319
 shall be no more.

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.500
 Neither shall there be

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:55.859
 mourning

00:17:55.859 --> 00:17:56.659
 nor crying

00:17:56.659 --> 00:17:57.359
 nor pain

00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.399
 anymore

00:17:58.399 --> 00:18:00.000
 for the former things

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.079
 have passed

00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:01.960
 away.

00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.159
 Think of all

00:18:06.159 --> 00:18:06.919
 the pains

00:18:06.919 --> 00:18:07.559
 and struggles

00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:08.419
 of this life.

00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:10.639
 None of it.

00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:14.280
 you kind of want

00:18:14.280 --> 00:18:14.860
 to just say

00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:15.540
 it'll be perfect

00:18:15.540 --> 00:18:16.259
 and it will,

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.440
 but I think part

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:17.900
 of the reason

00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:18.640
 God doesn't say that

00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:19.280
 is because we just

00:18:19.280 --> 00:18:20.220
 can't get our heads

00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.840
 around how amazing

00:18:21.840 --> 00:18:22.920
 that will be.

00:18:26.340 --> 00:18:27.380
 Instead of filling up

00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:27.759
 this chapter

00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:28.460
 with all the amazing

00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:29.060
 things that you

00:18:29.060 --> 00:18:29.759
 wouldn't understand,

00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:31.480
 he just says,

00:18:31.580 --> 00:18:32.040
 you know all those

00:18:32.040 --> 00:18:32.820
 things you struggle with?

00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.340
 All the stuff

00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:35.880
 that sucks

00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:36.860
 about life right now.

00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:38.900
 None of that

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:40.280
 is going to be there.

00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:44.319
 all the suffering

00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:45.700
 that we've gone through,

00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:46.799
 all the sorrow

00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.639
 and the heartbreak.

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.420
 No more death.

00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:53.160
 No more funerals.

00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:55.759
 No more losing

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.339
 loved ones.

00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:58.940
 No more crying.

00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:01.440
 No more worrying.

00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:04.619
 No stress.

00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:07.059
 No anxiety.

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.680
 No depression.

00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:13.099
 No more broken

00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:13.759
 relationships.

00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:14.579
 No more getting

00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:15.119
 let down.

00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.539
 No more people

00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.200
 giving up on you.

00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.539
 No more pain.

00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:23.539
 No illness.

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.819
 No disease.

00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.599
 No cancer.

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:29.680
 None of it.

00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:33.039
 not a single drop of it

00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:35.220
 for the rest

00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:35.860
 of eternity.

00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.720
 All of those things

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.779
 which bring suffering

00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.500
 into our lives

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.299
 will be no more.

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.580
 And at the start

00:19:45.580 --> 00:19:46.220
 of verse 4 there,

00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:46.840
 we see that it's

00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:47.640
 God himself

00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:48.700
 who sees to it.

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:52.200
 God himself

00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:53.120
 wipes away

00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:54.000
 the tear.

00:19:54.560 --> 00:19:55.200
 He doesn't just

00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:55.779
 drop us

00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:56.600
 into this flawless

00:19:56.600 --> 00:19:57.279
 new creation

00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:58.180
 and let us go free.

00:19:58.180 --> 00:20:07.400
 he is there with us, caring for us, making sure that all these things have passed away for good.

00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:11.560
 Number three, it will be beautiful.

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.480
 Let's look at verse 9.

00:20:16.820 --> 00:20:20.860
 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues,

00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:24.900
 and he spoke to me saying, come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.

00:20:24.900 --> 00:20:30.240
 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great high mountain and showed me the Holy Spirit,

00:20:31.300 --> 00:20:38.220
 and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God,

00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:45.519
 its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:54.880
 Verse 18, the wall was built of jasper while the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

00:20:54.900 --> 00:21:00.620
 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel.

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:04.480
 I'm not going to read them again because I struggled with it.

00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:08.320
 The twelve gates, verse 21, were twelve pearls.

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:14.860
 Each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:21.219
 It was important to remember, right, this is all a vision that John is seeing.

00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:24.219
 We don't know it's going to be exactly like this.

00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.199
 It might be, it might not.

00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:28.479
 But the point here is pretty clear, right?

00:21:28.979 --> 00:21:30.939
 All the things we think are most beautiful,

00:21:31.939 --> 00:21:35.359
 all the most precious gems and jewels,

00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:37.099
 crystal and gold,

00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:41.379
 all that people back then would have considered most valuable,

00:21:41.719 --> 00:21:42.539
 most precious.

00:21:43.199 --> 00:21:45.240
 The place is filled with them.

00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:49.839
 It's literally made out of them.

00:21:51.699 --> 00:21:54.599
 The point being nothing will ever surpass the beauty

00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:57.000
 of the new creation.

00:21:57.000 --> 00:22:03.099
 You imagine the most beautiful thing you've seen in all the world.

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.700
 If you've been to Scotland, you'll know it's there.

00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:09.460
 It'll probably be better than Scotland.

00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:16.579
 Sometimes maybe we think of heaven as just this,

00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:20.500
 this big old plain where everyone's huddled together,

00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:21.640
 staring at a throne in the middle.

00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:25.720
 But there will be all sorts of beauty.

00:22:27.280 --> 00:22:28.900
 It's a better Eden.

00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:30.640
 Right?

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:33.380
 Go back to Genesis and look at all the amazing things

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:35.259
 that God filled Eden with.

00:22:37.800 --> 00:22:39.040
 And Eden was very good.

00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:41.960
 But this will be even better.

00:22:42.080 --> 00:22:44.800
 All the intricacies and marvels of this creation

00:22:44.800 --> 00:22:46.360
 will still be there.

00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:48.620
 But they will be greater.

00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:51.919
 And they will be untarnished by sin.

00:22:53.719 --> 00:22:56.079
 The new creation will be beautiful.

00:22:56.419 --> 00:22:58.459
 Number four, it'll be huge.

00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:00.259
 Right?

00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:03.339
 It's another thing I don't think jumps out to us immediately

00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:04.659
 when we start thinking of heaven.

00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:08.000
 You get that in part right from the fact

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.779
 that it is a whole new creation.

00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:12.679
 It suggests it's going to be fairly large.

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:14.319
 But then helpfully in verse 15,

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:16.359
 some guy comes out with a measuring tape

00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:18.659
 made of gold, obviously.

00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:22.319
 And when he measures it,

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.479
 well, first of all, it's a cube.

00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:24.459
 Right?

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.559
 Which might seem a bit weird,

00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:26.639
 but we'll come back to that in a minute.

00:23:27.379 --> 00:23:28.659
 But when he starts measuring it,

00:23:28.679 --> 00:23:31.779
 he finds out that it's 12,000 stadia wide.

00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:34.459
 12,000 stadia high.

00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:40.079
 You might have a little footnote in your Bible

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:43.719
 that says that's about 1,380 miles.

00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:46.819
 Just to put that into context,

00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:49.720
 that's further away than St. Petersburg in Russia.

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:54.120
 That's the size of the place in John's vision.

00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.539
 And you need to remember, right,

00:23:56.579 --> 00:24:00.720
 this was a vision being shown people 2,000 years ago

00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:02.579
 who didn't have Google Maps.

00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:04.720
 You couldn't swipe across the globe in a few seconds.

00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:08.120
 They would have known their surrounding area well,

00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:11.680
 but maybe distances 50, 100 miles.

00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:15.680
 That might have meant something to them.

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.720
 But then John comes along and says,

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:20.140
 heaven's 1,000 miles wide.

00:24:20.620 --> 00:24:21.820
 It's 1,000 miles high.

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.840
 It's 1,000 miles long.

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:28.480
 The whole point is this is incomprehensibly big.

00:24:30.340 --> 00:24:31.560
 It's like someone coming up today

00:24:31.560 --> 00:24:33.580
 and saying that something's a bajillion miles away.

00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.759
 You have no idea what they mean,

00:24:35.840 --> 00:24:36.580
 but you know it's a long way.

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:41.140
 Heaven will be enormous.

00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:43.960
 Finally, number five.

00:24:45.340 --> 00:24:47.540
 We've flown through those four points fairly quickly

00:24:47.540 --> 00:24:50.440
 because this is the one where we want to spend some time.

00:24:51.040 --> 00:24:51.759
 Verse 22.

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:56.900
 I saw no temple in the city.

00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:00.560
 There will be no temple.

00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:03.339
 You might be thinking,

00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:04.179
 what's the big deal?

00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:04.980
 Right?

00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.819
 We can read it and quite easily think,

00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:08.480
 the other stuff, that all sounds great.

00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:11.139
 It doesn't really matter whether or not there's a temple.

00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.299
 But as you look there,

00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:16.299
 you see that the reason there is no temple

00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:17.879
 is because God is the temple.

00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:21.240
 which is a massive difference

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:23.800
 from what we find in the book of Ezekiel

00:25:23.800 --> 00:25:24.640
 in the Old Testament.

00:25:25.840 --> 00:25:27.160
 One of the Old Testament prophets.

00:25:27.280 --> 00:25:28.100
 You don't have to turn there now.

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.540
 But in Ezekiel,

00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:30.420
 at the end of Ezekiel,

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:33.280
 we have this other sort of major heavenly vision

00:25:33.280 --> 00:25:34.040
 that we get in the Bible.

00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.360
 And Ezekiel has this,

00:25:37.420 --> 00:25:38.880
 there's a lot of similarities in the visions.

00:25:40.080 --> 00:25:40.960
 But in Ezekiel's vision,

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:42.319
 which is eight chapters long,

00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:44.420
 seven of those chapters

00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:46.240
 are all about the details of the temple.

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.100
 And then John,

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:51.259
 in this sort of parallel vision,

00:25:51.360 --> 00:25:51.779
 just goes,

00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.740
 there's no temple.

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.759
 Why the big change?

00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.259
 Well, we need to understand,

00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.059
 the temple, right,

00:26:00.100 --> 00:26:01.980
 had two main points for God's people.

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:06.600
 It was where God dwelt among his people,

00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:10.420
 and it was where God's people

00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:12.340
 could come to him

00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:14.240
 through sacrifices,

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:17.200
 through making themselves holy.

00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:23.000
 And the bit where God's presence was

00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.759
 in this temple,

00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:27.000
 that first major purpose of the temple,

00:26:27.060 --> 00:26:28.519
 for him to dwell amongst his people,

00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:30.500
 was at the very middle of,

00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:32.400
 at the very heart of the temple,

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.740
 this little cube

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:36.960
 called the Holy of Holies.

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:38.100
 And once a year,

00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.940
 once a year,

00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:41.600
 one guy in the whole world

00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:43.059
 could go into this cube

00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:44.380
 where God's presence was.

00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:46.799
 And to do so,

00:26:46.840 --> 00:26:48.420
 he had to make all kinds of sacrifices,

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:50.460
 go through purification,

00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.600
 purification rites,

00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:54.340
 so that just a moment each year,

00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.380
 this one guy

00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:57.039
 could enter into God's presence.

00:26:59.019 --> 00:27:00.440
 And this was the kind of temple

00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.840
 that Ezekiel saw in his vision,

00:27:03.100 --> 00:27:04.220
 surrounded by priests,

00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:06.360
 where there's different sections,

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.980
 some bits holier than others.

00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:11.960
 The point is that while God wanted

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:13.299
 to be with his people,

00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:15.680
 for the safety of everyone,

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:17.059
 there had to be separation.

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:21.480
 God was there in their midst,

00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:24.819
 but he was still separated.

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:29.099
 Because there was a problem of holiness.

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:31.539
 There was a problem of our sinfulness.

00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:35.620
 The story of God's dwelling with man

00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:36.620
 is a major theme.

00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:38.039
 You can trace it through the whole Bible.

00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:38.940
 But in all of it,

00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:40.640
 the fullness of God's glory

00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:41.440
 is never,

00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:43.299
 not once,

00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:46.059
 on display to God's people.

00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:47.679
 They always,

00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:49.460
 always have to be kept separate.

00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.240
 And we can see,

00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:52.399
 we can see the reason for that

00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:53.539
 in Exodus 33.

00:27:54.139 --> 00:27:54.819
 Let me just read you

00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:56.019
 the end of that chapter now.

00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:58.259
 Where Moses said to God,

00:27:58.399 --> 00:27:59.099
 please,

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.899
 show me your glory.

00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.539
 And God said,

00:28:03.619 --> 00:28:04.659
 I will make all my goodness

00:28:04.659 --> 00:28:05.559
 pass before you,

00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:06.919
 and I will proclaim before you

00:28:06.919 --> 00:28:07.399
 my name,

00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:08.279
 the Lord.

00:28:09.379 --> 00:28:10.339
 And I will be gracious

00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:11.240
 to whom I will be gracious,

00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:12.220
 and will show mercy

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:13.240
 on whom I will show mercy.

00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:14.220
 But,

00:28:15.139 --> 00:28:15.599
 he said,

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:18.579
 you cannot see my face,

00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:21.799
 for men shall not see me

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.299
 and live.

00:28:24.819 --> 00:28:25.679
 And the Lord said,

00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.019
 behold,

00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:27.039
 there is a place by me

00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.819
 where you shall stand

00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.279
 on the rock,

00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:29.940
 and when my glory passes by,

00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:30.720
 I will put you

00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:32.240
 in a cleft of the rock,

00:28:32.379 --> 00:28:33.519
 and I will cover it

00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.179
 with my hand

00:28:34.179 --> 00:28:35.099
 until I pass by.

00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:38.379
 Then I'll take my hand away,

00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:40.519
 and you'll see my back,

00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:41.879
 but my face shall not be seen.

00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.200
 It's not because God

00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:46.080
 reduces our glory

00:28:46.080 --> 00:28:46.740
 or makes himself

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.500
 less glorious,

00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:48.740
 but throughout history,

00:28:49.860 --> 00:28:50.880
 by the tabernacle

00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:51.720
 or the temple,

00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:53.860
 or Jesus himself

00:28:53.860 --> 00:28:54.680
 or the spirit dwelling

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.759
 within us today,

00:28:55.860 --> 00:28:57.259
 God is shielding us

00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.460
 from the fullness

00:28:58.460 --> 00:29:00.539
 of his glory,

00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.500
 like he was

00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.319
 with Moses there.

00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:05.460
 God is shielding us

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.140
 from his glory

00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:07.640
 because in this state,

00:29:08.080 --> 00:29:10.160
 we simply cannot stand it.

00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:14.400
 God's holiness

00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.580
 and righteousness

00:29:15.580 --> 00:29:16.660
 and glory and power

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.900
 are so overwhelming,

00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:20.960
 no man can see it

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.259
 and live.

00:29:23.540 --> 00:29:25.840
 We see even the angels

00:29:25.840 --> 00:29:27.740
 have to shield their eyes

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.779
 from the glory of God.

00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:31.740
 It's like when you stare

00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.200
 at the sun,

00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:33.660
 and your eyes go a bit funny.

00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:36.200
 that this big,

00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.160
 but don't stare at the sun,

00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:40.279
 this big burning ball

00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:40.940
 of gas,

00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:42.620
 right,

00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.540
 is so bright

00:29:43.540 --> 00:29:44.340
 and so powerful

00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:46.200
 that 100 million miles away,

00:29:46.300 --> 00:29:47.540
 you can't look straight at it.

00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:50.460
 You can barely look at it at all.

00:29:52.540 --> 00:29:54.840
 Look at all the stars in the sky

00:29:54.840 --> 00:29:55.400
 and think,

00:29:55.540 --> 00:29:57.380
 what is the sun

00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:57.960
 in this universe?

00:30:00.080 --> 00:30:01.480
 Look at this vast creation.

00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:03.819
 And yet,

00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:05.539
 God is infinitely bigger

00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.360
 than all of them.

00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:10.960
 Think of all that means

00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:11.980
 for God's glory.

00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:14.099
 You can't look at the sun.

00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:17.700
 The sun is but a speck to God.

00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:22.700
 Our eyes simply cannot behold him.

00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:25.740
 Our bodies cannot behold him.

00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:27.839
 No man can see God

00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.960
 and live.

00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:33.620
 But then in Revelation,

00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.440
 there's no temple.

00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:37.200
 Not because man

00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:38.360
 has made himself holy,

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.599
 but because God

00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:40.799
 has made himself man.

00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:45.980
 The big difference

00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.500
 is, of course,

00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:46.839
 Jesus.

00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:50.440
 There's no temple

00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:52.720
 because at the resurrection

00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:53.420
 on the last day,

00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.319
 there will be no need

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:54.900
 for a temple.

00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.980
 There will be no need

00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:57.360
 to separate God

00:30:57.360 --> 00:30:58.860
 from his people.

00:30:58.859 --> 00:31:02.159
 There's no need

00:31:02.159 --> 00:31:03.240
 for more sacrifices

00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:04.359
 or for special priests

00:31:04.359 --> 00:31:05.079
 to go in and out

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:06.000
 before God

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:07.079
 like we see in Ezekiel.

00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:10.979
 What he was seeing

00:31:10.979 --> 00:31:13.719
 was a heaven

00:31:13.719 --> 00:31:15.039
 before Christ had come.

00:31:16.939 --> 00:31:17.859
 But there still had

00:31:17.859 --> 00:31:18.819
 to be separation

00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:21.059
 between God and man.

00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:25.000
 But that has changed.

00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:29.420
 because of what he has done

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.119
 for us,

00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:31.460
 we,

00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:32.500
 people like you

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:33.160
 and me,

00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.500
 can look forward

00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.119
 to being in the very

00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:36.259
 presence of God.

00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:40.420
 I don't know how.

00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:46.299
 But we have in Revelation,

00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.039
 instead of this

00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:48.119
 continuing division,

00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:55.239
 there will be no more division.

00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:57.639
 For everyone,

00:31:57.979 --> 00:31:58.500
 at one point,

00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.359
 had to be kept out

00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.019
 of God's presence,

00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:01.059
 we will be invited in.

00:32:04.599 --> 00:32:05.919
 All because of Christ.

00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:08.619
 The whole of this new creation

00:32:08.619 --> 00:32:10.339
 is one massive cube.

00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:13.979
 It is all the holy of holies.

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:18.620
 The whole of creation

00:32:18.620 --> 00:32:22.900
 is filled with God's presence.

00:32:23.620 --> 00:32:25.039
 He is its light.

00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:30.900
 The city has no need

00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:31.900
 of sun or moon

00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:32.720
 to shine on it

00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:34.180
 for the glory of God

00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:36.319
 gives its light

00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:37.160
 and its lamp

00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:37.779
 is the lamp.

00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:44.019
 I don't know

00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.519
 if heaven is going

00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.339
 to be literally a cube,

00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:46.299
 but this all points

00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:47.259
 to this amazing

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:48.940
 reality

00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:51.079
 of the most perfect,

00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.379
 holy,

00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.319
 glorious God

00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:57.619
 that no man can see

00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:58.000
 and live

00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:59.220
 bringing his children

00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:00.079
 into his presence.

00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:02.899
 Let's look back

00:33:02.899 --> 00:33:03.539
 to verse 3

00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:05.500
 of Revelation 21.

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:09.579
 And I heard

00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:10.319
 a loud voice

00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:10.960
 from the throne

00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:12.160
 saying,

00:33:12.299 --> 00:33:12.660
 Behold,

00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.980
 the dwelling place

00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.660
 of God

00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:16.559
 is with man.

00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:19.480
 He will dwell

00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:20.039
 with them

00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:20.779
 and they will be

00:33:20.779 --> 00:33:21.339
 his people

00:33:21.339 --> 00:33:23.299
 and God himself

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:23.900
 will be

00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:24.900
 with them

00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:26.480
 as their

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.519
 God.

00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.079
 All of a sudden,

00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:30.859
 only one guy

00:33:30.859 --> 00:33:31.980
 could go once a year

00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:33.440
 under the strictest

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.180
 of conditions.

00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:35.720
 only to the

00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:36.660
 footstool of God,

00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:38.920
 the whole of God's

00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:39.460
 people are living

00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.180
 in for eternity.

00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:45.500
 I don't know how,

00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:46.500
 I'm not going to

00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:47.060
 hazard a guess,

00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:47.860
 but the fullness

00:33:47.860 --> 00:33:49.080
 of God's glory

00:33:49.080 --> 00:33:49.920
 will be with us

00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.720
 forever and ever.

00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:54.160
 We will be there

00:33:54.160 --> 00:33:55.460
 sharing with him

00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:57.580
 this new,

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.500
 massive,

00:33:58.980 --> 00:34:00.180
 beautiful creation

00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:01.660
 with none of the

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:02.640
 pains of this world.

00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:04.820
 enjoying it

00:34:04.820 --> 00:34:06.220
 for all eternity

00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:07.280
 to come

00:34:07.280 --> 00:34:09.220
 in the presence

00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:10.380
 of our great God.

00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:14.619
 Just as we finish up,

00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:16.160
 the thought

00:34:16.160 --> 00:34:18.140
 of this new creation

00:34:18.140 --> 00:34:20.400
 should excite us.

00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:23.940
 We should long for it.

00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.200
 It is something

00:34:26.200 --> 00:34:26.940
 we should always

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:28.519
 be looking forward to.

00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:32.259
 when we struggle

00:34:32.259 --> 00:34:33.019
 with the sin

00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:33.639
 and misery,

00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:34.400
 the pain,

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.619
 and sometimes

00:34:36.619 --> 00:34:37.179
 what feels like

00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:38.059
 hopelessness of this

00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:38.400
 world,

00:34:39.099 --> 00:34:40.079
 lift up your eyes.

00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:42.759
 Look to what is

00:34:42.759 --> 00:34:43.239
 to come.

00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:46.099
 This is the hope

00:34:46.099 --> 00:34:47.559
 that we have.

00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:50.619
 And that should

00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:51.619
 spill out to those

00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:52.320
 around us.

00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:54.059
 An eternity.

00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:57.559
 this massive,

00:34:57.739 --> 00:34:58.799
 beautiful new creation

00:34:58.799 --> 00:35:00.579
 where there will be

00:35:00.579 --> 00:35:01.159
 no evil.

00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.099
 And God,

00:35:03.139 --> 00:35:04.059
 the very God

00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:04.820
 who made it all

00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.739
 will be there with us

00:35:05.739 --> 00:35:06.559
 and we can worship

00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:07.440
 him perfectly

00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:09.840
 in all that we ever do.

00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:13.279
 That is the hope

00:35:13.279 --> 00:35:15.559
 that Peter speaks of.

00:35:17.320 --> 00:35:18.579
 The certain hope

00:35:18.579 --> 00:35:19.460
 that we have

00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:20.360
 because of the

00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:21.380
 amazing work

00:35:21.380 --> 00:35:21.900
 of Jesus.

00:35:24.619 --> 00:35:25.059
 We,

00:35:25.240 --> 00:35:25.960
 through no merit

00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.500
 of our own,

00:35:27.820 --> 00:35:28.539
 get to enjoy

00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:29.039
 the most

00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:30.160
 unimaginably

00:35:30.160 --> 00:35:31.880
 amazing existence

00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:32.660
 to the end

00:35:32.660 --> 00:35:33.079
 of time

00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:33.519
 and beyond.

00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:36.320
 So long,

00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:37.200
 right,

00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:37.960
 verse 27,

00:35:38.099 --> 00:35:38.760
 as our names

00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:39.900
 are in the Lamb's

00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:40.539
 book of life.

00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:44.380
 So long as we

00:35:44.380 --> 00:35:45.079
 live this life

00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:45.960
 committed to Christ

00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:46.160
 come,

00:35:46.220 --> 00:35:47.240
 we know for certain

00:35:47.240 --> 00:35:48.940
 that this

00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:49.740
 is the future

00:35:49.739 --> 00:35:51.559
 that awaits us.

00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:53.859
 I know I'm

00:35:53.859 --> 00:35:54.479
 probably not alone

00:35:54.479 --> 00:35:55.000
 in having a million

00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:55.719
 other questions

00:35:55.719 --> 00:35:57.419
 of what this

00:35:57.419 --> 00:35:57.959
 new creation

00:35:57.959 --> 00:35:58.539
 will be like

00:35:58.539 --> 00:35:59.939
 or maybe what

00:35:59.939 --> 00:36:00.399
 we hope it won't

00:36:00.399 --> 00:36:00.779
 be like.

00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:02.799
 But the one thing

00:36:02.799 --> 00:36:03.259
 we can say

00:36:03.259 --> 00:36:04.059
 with total confidence

00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:05.959
 as you read

00:36:05.959 --> 00:36:06.959
 through Revelation 21,

00:36:07.099 --> 00:36:07.959
 whatever you're

00:36:07.959 --> 00:36:09.179
 imagining in your head,

00:36:09.719 --> 00:36:10.319
 whatever you can

00:36:10.319 --> 00:36:10.679
 picture,

00:36:12.959 --> 00:36:13.479
 the one thing

00:36:13.479 --> 00:36:13.899
 we can absolutely

00:36:13.899 --> 00:36:14.639
 guarantee is that

00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:15.539
 it's going to be

00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:16.159
 immeasurably

00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:16.799
 better than that.

00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:19.640
 a perfect place

00:36:19.640 --> 00:36:21.080
 where we dwell

00:36:21.080 --> 00:36:22.400
 in perfect harmony

00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:23.820
 with our perfect

00:36:23.820 --> 00:36:24.200
 God

00:36:24.200 --> 00:36:25.620
 forever and ever.

00:36:27.140 --> 00:36:27.960
 That's the life

00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:28.500
 that awaits us

00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:29.039
 when we get home.

00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:31.800
 That is our hope

00:36:31.800 --> 00:36:32.620
 that we rejoice in.

00:36:34.120 --> 00:36:35.039
 Let's pray together.

00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:35.120
 Amen.

00:36:35.120 --> 00:36:35.120


00:36:35.120 --> 00:36:35.120


00:36:35.120 --> 00:36:35.120


00:36:35.120 --> 00:36:35.120


00:36:35.120 --> 00:36:35.120


00:36:35.120 --> 00:36:35.120


00:36:35.120 --> 00:36:35.120