Rev 21:1-7, "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. {4} And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. {5} And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. {6} And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. {7} He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

Introduction:

A. At Present There Are "Three" Heaven:

1. The "First" Heaven.

Acts 14:17, "Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."

2. The "Second" Heaven.

Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]."

3. The "Third" Heaven.

Nehemiah 9:6, "Thou, [even] thou, [art] LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all [things] that [are] therein, the seas, and all that [is] therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee."

Hebrews 8:1, "Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;"

B. Paul was Stoned At Lystra and caught up to the "Third" Heaven.

Acts 14:19-20, "And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe."

II Corinthians 12:1-4, "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 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. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."

I. Where Is This "Third" Heaven?

A. Spiritually speaking Heaven is Very Near.

1. To be Absent from the body is to be Present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6-8).

2. So near that God can hear us when we Pray - (Psa. 5:3)

B. Paradise and the Throne of God are very closely associated.

Jesus is ascended Into Heaven and seated on the right hand of the Throne of God.

Mark 16:19, "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."

Hebrews 7:25, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

Hebrews 8:1, "Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;"

Hebrews 9:24, "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:"

C. Paradise, the abode of the Righteous, has the same location as the Throne of God.

1. Christ is said to be at the right hand of the throne of God --- The righteous dead are said to be with Him.

2. II Corinthians 5:8," We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

D. Heaven is somewhere In Particular, and not just everywhere In General.

1. The Scriptures always speak of heaven as being "up" --- but, Which Way Is Up?

a. Right Angles with the earth's surface --- then "up" would be in a Different Direction from every point on the earth.

b. According to this, "up" would be Everywhere in General and nowhere in Particular.

2. What does the Bible say concerning the Location of Heaven?

Isaiah 14:12-14, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."

Psalms 75:6, "For promotion [cometh] neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south."

E. "North" Is "Up" From Every Point on The Earth.

F. In the northern heavens, the telescopic camera reveals an apparently empty space --- Black Hole.

Do you suppose that the Holy Spirit had any reference to this when He recorded in --- Job 26:7, "He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, ..."

II. What About The Present Paradise?

A. It is Far Better than anything we have known on this earth.

Philippians 1:21-23, "For to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain. But if I live in the flesh, this [is] the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:"

B. We will be Present With The Lord.

II Corinthians 5:6-8, "Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

C. We will behold the Glory of Christ.

John 17:24, "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."

D. We shall experience Fullness of Joy and Pleasures Forevermore.

Psalms 16:11, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore."

E. There is Joy when souls are saved.

Luke 15:7, "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."

F. It is so Glorious and Wonderful that it is Unspeakable.

II Corinthians 12:1-4, "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 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. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."

G. It is Happy and Restful.

Revelation 14:13, "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."

H. No wonder God said, Psalms 116:15, "Precious in the sight of the LORD [is] the Death of his saints."

I. The Bible carries this subject only to a Certain Point, and no further, --- to go beyond what the Bible reveals is only Speculation and Guess-Work.

J. It is probably better that the Bible reveals only a certain amount about the conditions in paradise and heaven, for if we knew all about it We Would Not Be Content To Remain Here A Single Hour.

Remember Paul, --- "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh [is] more needful for you." - (Phil. 1:23-24).

III. Will We Recognize One Another In Paradise?

A. David knew that he would recognize his son.

II Samuel 12:23, "But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."

B. The Disciples recognized Moses and Elijah.

Matthew 17:1-4, "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias."

C. Even the Rich Man recognized both Abraham and Lazarus.

Luke 16:23, "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."

D. Matthew 8:11, "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven."

These men will not have lost their identity --- Abraham --- Issac --- Jacob.

E. Since to be in Paradise is "Far Better" then to be here, we may be sure that we shall Not Know Less in Paradise than we know here.

IV. Are The Righteous Able To Speak With The Lord?

A. It is true --- in paradise, man is in a condition of "Incompleteness" --- "Disembodied Spirit".

1. Before man can be a "trinity" again he must receive his body --- at the Resurrection.

2. However, we are able to speak to Him even from here --- Prayer.

B. We will not be less privileged in His presence than we are here.

C. Revelation 6:9-11, "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled."

V. "What Is The Final Heaven Like"

A. Heaven Is Apoken of As A "Country" --- A Real Place.

Hebrews 11:13-16, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."

B. Heaven Is A Place Where Believers Have An Inheritance Awaiting Them.

I Peter 1:3-5, "Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

I Corinthians 2:9, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

Colossians 3:2, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

Matthew 6:19-20, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:"

C. Heaven Is Spoken of As A City.

Hebrews 11:8-10, "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God." - V. 16, "But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." - 13:14-15, "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name."

Revelation 21:1-2, "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. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." - V. 4, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

V. 10-12, "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light [was] like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, [and] had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:" --- V. 14, "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."

V. 16-19, " And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred [and] forty [and] four cubits, [according to] the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was [of] jasper: and the city [was] pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones."

V. 21-27, "And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

22:1-5, "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. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."

D. This City In Itself, Is Not The Entire Heaven --- It Is But A City of Heaven.

1. There is a new City.

Revelation 21:2, "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

Revelation 21:10, "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,"

Revelation 3:12, "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."

2. There are new Heavens and a new Earth.

II Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

Revelation 21:1, "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."

Seven Things That Will Not
Be Found In Heaven.

I. There Will Not Be Anything That Defiles.

A. Revelation 21:27, "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

B. There will not be one trace of sin or ungodliness.

1. Dance Halls --- Beer Gardens --- Liquor Stores --- Theaters --- Night Clubs --- Gambling Joints ...

2. Red-light Districts --- Drunks --- Bleary-eyed dopers --- Cursing nor vulgar language --- Gossipers ...

C. There will be no lust or sin in any form.

D. It will be city that is spotlessly clean --- there will be no:

1. Litter, smoke, dirt, grime or environmental pollution ...

2. Garbage dumps --- ragged, dirty, and hungry little children.

II. There Will Be No Pain or Death.

A. Revelation 21:4, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

B. Every pain that has ever wracked the inhabitants of this earth can be charged up to son.

1. In Heaven there will be no sin --- hence, no pain.

2. Jesus suffered all the agony demanded by sin.

C. "DEATH" --- The very word signifies tears, heartaches, sorrow, separation and loneliness!

D. We will never say good-bye to a loved one --- there will be no graves or funeral chimes in that celestial city.

1. Romans 5:17, "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)"

2. Hebrews 2:9, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."

3. I Corinthians 15:55, "O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law. But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

III. There Will Be No Sorrow - Weeping - Tears.

A. Revelation 21:4, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

B. Every broken heart this earth has ever known dates back to Eden.

1. In Gen. 1 --- we read the sad story of the fall.

2. In Rev. 22 --- we see Paradise restored.

C. Today --- if you could hear every cry on earth, you would hear:

1. Screams of those being murdered by maniacs.

2. Screams of those being tortured by their captors.

3. Moans and groans of women being assaulted by sex maniacs.

4. Cries of the wife being beaten by her drunken husband.

5. Screams of victims of car wrecks, plane crashes, etc.

6. Moans and groans of little children burning with fever from innumerable diseases, broken bones, etc.

7. Cries of the hungry and starving throughout the world.

D. Mother --- did you weep yourself to sleep last night over a wayward husband.

E. Mate --- did you cry yourself to sleep last night over a wayward husband or wife?

F. Psalms 30:5, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy [cometh] in the morning."

G. Revelation 21:4, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

H. Isaiah 65:17, "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."

IV. There Will Be No Night.

A. Revelation 21:25, "And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there."

B. Night is a time of sin, drunkenness, lust, and ungodliness!

C. The Bible has much to say about darkness and night.

1. Belshazzar had his drunken party at night.

2. His kingdom fell at night.

3. He was murdered at night (Dan. 5).

D. God will light this universe with a light no darkness can penetrate.

V. There Will Be No Sun There.

A. Revelation 21:23, "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof."

B. There will never be a light bill to pay --- no power failure.

VI. There Will Be No Seas.

A. Revelation 21:1, "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."

B. The oceans and seas are spoken of in the Bible as symbols of judgment.

C. This earth has been covered with water twice since God created it:

1. After Lucifer sinned --- Gen. 1:2, 9.

2. During the days of Noah --- Gen. 7:19-20.

D. There will be no need for judgment in Heaven.

E. Water in God's new creation will come from the River of Life.

Revelation 22:1, "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."

VII. There Will Be No More Curse.

A. Revelation 22:3, "And there shall be no more curse:"

B. When Adam sinned, God cursed the entire creation.

Romans 8:22-23, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body."

C. One day we will experience what Isaiah described:

Isaiah 11:6-9, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."

D. No More Curse! --- What a glorious time.

1. No more thorns or thistles,

2. No electrical storms,

3. No tornadoes or hurricanes,

4. No frigid winters --- nor blistering summers.

However, It Will Not Be The Pearly Gates,
Nor The Jasper Walls,
Nor The Street Paved With Pure Gold,
That Will Make It Heaven For Us.

A. These would Not Satisfy Us for long.

B. It will be our Association With God that will make Heaven attractive to us.

A Search For The Truth About Salvation



If You Are Not "Saved", Nothing Else Matters!
(Click On The Word "Saved" To Find God's Plan)

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