Rev. David Holwick K
First Baptist Church
West Lafayette, Ohio
March 25, 1990
Revelation 4:2-11
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I. Decline of importance.
A. 71% of Americans believe in afterlife, but rarely talk about it.
B. Reasons for decline of interest.
1) Affluence.
a) "Pie in sky" used to be criticized.
b) Christians don't emphasize this anymore.
1> God will give you a Mercedes now!
2) Creeping paganism.
a) Death is the end, period.
b) 5 stages of attitudes toward death.
1> "Acceptance" is ultimate goal.
2> Philip Yancey watches small group of dying people -
they never talk about heaven. This would be
"denial."
c) "Heaven" is an emotional reaction to the fear of death.
(Bertrand Russell)
3) Older images have lost their appeal. #720
Mark Twain's Satan on eternal singing in heaven (1908):
"... Everybody sings!
The man who did not sing on earth sings there; the man
who could not sing on earth is able to do it there.
This universal singing is not casual, not occasional,
not relieved by intervals of quiet;
it goes on, all day long, and every day...
And everybody stays; whereas in the earth the place would
be empty in two hours...
Consider the deafening hurricane of sound -
- millions and millions of voices screaming at once ...
I ask you: is it hideous, is it odious, is it horrible?"
II. Heaven should offer hope.
A. Out of body experiences as evidence of heaven's existence.
B. People have believed in it for thousands of years.
C. Without it, Christianity is meaningless.
1 Cor 15:19 -
"If only for this life we have hope in Christ,
we are to be pitied more than all men."
III. Resurrection bodies.
A. What will we be like for eternity?
1) Interim - souls with Jesus.
2) Resurrection - physical, though supernatural, body.
B. Nature of resurrection body.
1) Details unknown. Phil. 3???
2) Like Jesus after Easter.
a) Change appearance.
b) Walk into locked rooms.
c) Eat food.
d) Ascend into heaven (next dimension).
C. Resurrection life.
1) No more death.
2) No pain or suffering.
3) No sin.
4) All needs filled.
5) Comforted by Jesus.
IV. Nature of heaven.
A. Presence of God. Living with Christ in outer heaven.
1) Temporary - lasts only till Second Coming.
B. "New heavens and new earth."
1) Different images given:
a) Large home ("mansion").
b) Great city.
c) Paradise garden.
d) New, transformed world.
2) Literal details not as important - beyond human conception.
a) But will be real and solid, like this world.
V. What heaven is like.
A. We will be changed to be like Jesus.
1) New bodies. Phil 3:20-21
2) New personalities (though still recognizable).
B. We will rule with Jesus.
1) Kings of world enter New Jerusalem. Rev 21:24
a) Not bad guys - nothing impure enters city. Rev 21:27
2) We are those kings! Rev 1:6, 22:5
C. Heaven is other people.
1) Community. Multitudes: Rev 7:9
2) No individualism.
a) We will see loved ones. (Dead in Christ rise first)
1 Thess 4:16
D. It will be a place of activity.
1) No boredom; things to do.
a) Not like cruising in Coshocton's Plaza parking lot.
2) Ultimate image is a vast city, not a park bench for
retirees at St. Petersburg, Florida.
E. All harmful things will end. Rev 21:4, 22:3
1) End of suffering and death and insecurity.
F. There will be continuity with this world.
1) Our home is on New Earth, not in New Heaven.
G. Worship will be central activity.
H. God's presence will be focus of heaven.
1) He will rule on throne. Rev 22:3
2) He will be light of city. Rev 22:5
3) He will be temple. Rev 21:22
a) City is Holy of holies, contained in temple.
4) He will be source of our eternal life. Rev 22:1
a) River is a fountain in 21:6, a river here.
b) River flows from the throne.
c) River nourishes the tree of life.
1> The tree bears fruit which heals the nations.
5) We will see God's face.
VI. Most important question about heaven - are you going there?
A. Not everyone will go there. Must make decision.
1) Jesus in gospel of John: must receive him as Lord.
2) Once you believe, you possess it right now.
a) You can be certain you will go to heaven.
b) Everything depends on what Jesus has done.
B. Each person must make their own commitment.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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