A Glimpse of Heaven and Its Implications (Revelation 21)
This sermon invites listeners to reconsider their perspective on heaven, challenging the modern tendency to prioritize earthly comforts over eternal hope. It unfolds a biblical vision of our future home and its profound implications for daily living.
The sermon argues that a lost longing for heaven hinders believers, emphasizing that a vibrant anticipation of God's eternal presence is crucial for genuine Christian character, joy, and effective service in a worldly culture.
Overview
The sermon opens by lamenting the modern church's lost preoccupation with heaven, contrasting it with past generations who were loosely tied to earth. It suggests that a society focused on instant gratification and material comfort has led Christians to prioritize earthly treasures over eternal blessings, resulting in wasted lives and a hindered church.
The preacher then emphasizes that everything central to our spiritual life and destiny, including God, our savior, and our inheritance, resides in heaven. He asserts that our supreme affection should be for God, who is in heaven, and this longing profoundly impacts our view of life, death, and our daily conduct.
The sermon provides foundational data on heaven, defining it as a literal 'third heaven' where God dwells, beyond our known physical universe. It highlights that resurrected bodies will reside there, and that our arrival will be instantaneous, outside of the created order of time and space.
Finally, the sermon delves into Revelation 21:1-3, outlining three key features of the new heaven and new earth: its appearance as a qualitatively new creation with no sea, the New Jerusalem as its capital city, and God Himself as its supreme personality. This eternal dwelling will be a place of perfect holiness and unveiled communion with God.
Key points
- Historically, Christians longed for heaven, but modern worldly culture has largely diminished this interest among believers.
- A lack of heavenly perspective causes believers to waste their lives, hinder the church, and become consumed with fading things.
- A true longing for heaven serves as evidence of genuine salvation, an incentive for Christian excellence, the truest path to joy, and the best preservative against sin.
- Heaven is a literal place, the 'third heaven,' where God dwells, and believers will receive transformed bodies to inhabit it.
- The new heaven and new earth will be qualitatively 'new' (kainos), fundamentally different from the present universe, notably having 'no longer any sea'.
- The New Jerusalem, a 1,500-mile cubed 'holy city,' will be the capital of the new heaven and new earth, containing all the perfectly holy redeemed.
- God Himself is the supreme personality of heaven; His unveiled presence and dwelling among men is what makes heaven, heaven.
In John MacArthur's words
“Most Christians sacrifice the eternal blessing of glory on the altar of temporal gratification.”
“What does it matter what happens here in view of heaven's glories?”
“It is being with God that makes heaven heaven.”
Outline
- I. The Lost Preoccupation with Heaven
- A. Historical Longing vs. Modern Apathy
- B. Consequences of Earthly Focus
- C. Passages Supporting a Heavenly Perspective
- 1. Philippians 3:20
- 2. Colossians 3
- 3. 1 John 2:15-17
- D. The Supreme Object of Affection
- II. Marvelous Implications and Benefits of Longing for Heaven
- A. Evidence of Genuine Salvation
- B. Incentive to Highest Excellence of Christian Character
- C. Truest Path to a Life of Joy
- D. Best Preservative Against Sin
- E. Maintains Vigor of Spiritual Service
- F. Honors God Above Everything Else
- G. Repays God's Goodness
- III. Foundational Data about Heaven
- A. Scriptural References (Old Testament and New Testament terms)
- B. The Three Heavens
- 1. Atmospheric Heaven
- 2. Heaven of Heavenly Bodies
- 3. Heaven Where God Dwells (Third Heaven)
- C. Heaven as a Literal Place
- D. Its Location: "Up" (Revelation 4:1, 2 Corinthians 12:1-4)
- E. Speed of Arrival (Luke 23:43, 2 Corinthians 5:8)
- F. Description of Heaven (Ezekiel 1, 2 Corinthians 12, Revelation 21:1-22:5)
- IV. Features of the New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:1-3)
- A. The Appearance of the New Heaven and New Earth (v. 1)
- 1. Chronological Sequence (using "And I saw")
- 2. Old Testament Foundation (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22)
- 3. Temporary and Disposable Earth
- 4. "New" (Kainos) in Quality
- 5. Reason for a New Creation (Revelation 20:11, Psalm 102, Hebrews 1:10-12, Luke 21:33)
- 6. One Clue: No Longer Any Sea (Revelation 22:1)
- B. The Capital of the New Heaven and New Earth (v. 2)
- 1. The Holy City, New Jerusalem (1,500 miles cubed)
- 2. Three Jerusalems (Historic, Millennial, Eternal)
- 3. Holiness of the New Jerusalem
- 4. City Signifies Relationships and Activity
- 5. Previous Mentions (Revelation 3:12, Hebrews 11:10, 12:22-24, John 14)
- 6. New Jerusalem Exists Now and Will Descend
- 7. From God: God-designed and God-made
- 8. Made Ready as a Bride Adorned for Her Husband (Revelation 19:7)
- a. Jewish Wedding Imagery (Betrothal, Presentation, Ceremony, Consummation)
- b. The Bride (Church, all saints)
- C. The Supreme Personality of the New Heaven and New Earth (v. 3)
- 1. God's Tabernacle Among Men (Leviticus 26:11-12)
- 2. No Temple in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:22)
- 3. Repetition Emphasizes the Reality of God's Presence
- 4. Personal Possession: "His people"
- 5. God Himself Shall Be Among Them
- 6. Being with God Makes Heaven Heaven (1 Thessalonians 4, John 17:24)
Scripture references
- Psalm 73:25
- Psalm 42
- Psalm 73
- Philippians 3:20
- Colossians 3
- 1 John 2:15-17
- Ecclesiastes 7:1
- Philippians 1:21
- 1 Kings 8
- 1 John 3:1-2
- Revelation 21:1-3
- 2 Corinthians 12:2
- John 14
- 1 Thessalonians 4
- Revelation 4:1
- 2 Corinthians 12:1-4
- Luke 23:43
- 2 Corinthians 5:8
- Ezekiel 1
- Revelation 21:1-22:5
- Revelation 19:11
- Ephesians 1:10
- Isaiah 65:17
- Isaiah 66:22
- Revelation 20:11
- Job 15:15
- Isaiah 24:5
- Psalm 102
- Hebrews 1:10-12
- Luke 21:33
- Revelation 22:1
- Revelation 3:12
- Hebrews 11:10
- Hebrews 12:22-24
- Revelation 20:6
- Revelation 21:20
- Revelation 11:8
- Revelation 20:3
- 1 Corinthians 15:28
- John 17:24
- Leviticus 26:11-12
- Revelation 21:22
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.
2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
2 In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity,
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.
5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Insights
A longing for God draws the heart away from earthly comfort.
Heavenly anticipation purges life and shifts our perspective on joy.
Eternal blessings should not be sacrificed for temporal gratification.
Questions & answers
What is the sermon's main concern about Christians today?
The sermon is concerned that modern Christians, living in a culture of comfort and instant gratification, have lost their longing and interest in heaven. This worldly focus often leads to sacrificing eternal blessings for temporal gratification.
Why does the preacher say a longing for heaven is important?
A true longing for heaven demonstrates genuine salvation and love for God. It acts as an incentive for high Christian character, a path to joy, a defense against sin, and invigorates spiritual service.
What does the sermon say about the 'new heaven and new earth' in Revelation 21?
The sermon explains that the 'new heaven and new earth' will be new in quality, replacing the current, temporary, and disposable universe. A key clue to its fundamental difference from the physical standpoint is that there will be 'no longer any sea.'
How is the New Jerusalem described in this sermon?
The New Jerusalem is presented as the sinless capital city of eternity, measured as 1,500 miles cubed, where every inhabitant is perfectly holy. It is also likened to a 'bride adorned for her husband,' encompassing all the redeemed of all ages.
What does the sermon say makes heaven 'heaven'?
Heaven is made heaven by the supreme personality of God Himself. The sermon emphasizes that God will dwell among men, and we will experience absolute, unveiled communion with Him, fulfilling the desire to 'ever be with the Lord.'
What is the 'tabernacle of God among men' in this context?
It refers to God's direct and personal presence with His people in heaven. God will no longer be distant or veiled, but will make His home with His redeemed in the New Jerusalem, bringing an unimaginable reality of communion.
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