What Will Heaven Be Like? Part 1
Today we’re continuing our teaching series on a book of the bible called Revelation. It’s a series about finding peace in a world of chaos, and the text we’re studying today is about heaven. It’s about what will heaven be like when Jesus finally returns? Now people have a lot of opinions about what heaven is like. In fact some of you might remember I did a little Google search several years ago to see what people think heaven is like. One girl said, “When I die I’ll be given a tour around heaven. Then I’ll be taken to my mansion, and it’ll have a food court like in a mall. I’ll have a Burger King, McDonalds, Krispy Kreme, Baskin Robbins, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Wendy's. I’ll also have a gym, a library, a movie theatre, a zoo, a candy shop, and an ice cream mountain. Remember heaven is whatever you want it to be, as long as it isn’t threatening to God.” Okay so my 1st issue is how does McDonalds make it into heaven and Chick-Fil-A doesn’t? My 2nd issue is she says heaven is whatever you want it to be. But it’s actually whatever God wants it to be, which is far better than you want it to be, because God created you and knows what’ll bring the most joy to you!
I found another one from a pastor who said, “When I think of heaven it makes me depressed. I’d rather cease to exist, because I can’t stand the thought of floating in clouds with nothing to do but strum a harp. It’s all so terribly boring!” There’s a lot of people who think this. They think heaven is a boring place where we strum a harp and listen to scripture being read in a Morgan Freeman voice. But the bible gives us a far greater picture of heaven than this. It gives us a picture of heaven that includes several things both skeptics and believers are seeking in life. So let’s turn to Revelation 21 and check it out. You’ll find Revelation in the back of the bible, it’s the last book of the bible, and we’ll be in Revelation Ch. 21:1-8. The title of the message is What will heaven be like: Part 1? The reason I said Part 1 is because there are so many incredible things we’ll learn about heaven, that I had to divide this message into two parts. So this week and next week we’ll learn several incredible things about heaven. The big idea of today’s message is heaven is a place where the Savior remains present, and our tears remain absent...Heaven is a place where the Savior remains present, and our tears remain absent...There are no tears, in the presence of the Savior...
Here’s your context. The book of Revelation is about the 2nd coming of Jesus, and what will happen at the end of history when he returns. We divided this entire book into four major sections based on four major visions Jesus gives to John the author. So far we’ve studied the 1st vision of Jesus and The Churches, the 2nd vision of Jesus and The Cosmos, and the 3rd vision of Jesus Conquering. Today we’re studying the 4th vision of Jesus and The Consummation. It’s a vision of Jesus consummating or
completing his final restoration of creation. It’ll be a time in history when Jesus has already cast Satan, the demonic, and those who’ve rejected him into eternal hell so they can’t cause sin, death, and destruction anymore. It’ll be a time when Jesus returns to restore creation, to restore heaven and earth together as one, never to be separated again. As we study this text we’ll learn 9 incredible things about what heaven will be like, so let’s check it out.
“Revelation 21:1-8 states, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away...” What’s happening here is the end of history. It’s our current world expiring, it’s passing away. The text says there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and in the original Greek language they used two words to describe something that is new. They used the word neos to describe something brand new, and they used the word kainos to describe something that is remade or renewed. The word that’s being used here is kainos, meaning Jesus will renew heaven and earth into something far better than it is now. So what we’re learning is...
#1 Heaven includes the renewal of all creation. = Heaven includes the renewal of all creation, the renewal of heaven and earth into something far better than it is now. The first heaven and first earth is what exists now, but at the end of history Jesus will renew all things by bringing them together as one. Like a potter molding two pieces of clay together as one, Jesus will mold the first heaven and first earth together as one. It’ll literally be heaven on earth, and the fulfillment of the Lord’s prayer “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This is the day when that prayer becomes a reality. All creation will be renewed into heavenly perfection, and it’ll literally be heaven on earth. This means everything we love and enjoy now that’s good, will be renewed and enhanced in ways far better than they are now. All the beauties and pleasures of creation will be renewed and enhanced in ways unlike we’ve ever seen or experienced before.
The Apostle Paul says in 1st Corinthians 2:9, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no human heart has conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.” In other words trying to describe the beauties of heaven is like trying to describe the beauties of a sunset to a blind person. They can’t enjoy it unless their sense of sight is renewed, just like we can’t enjoy the beauties of heaven unless our senses are renewed. I mean right now we’re limited to only 5 senses, but what if our renewed life is enhanced to over 100 senses! In fact many scientists are claiming we have way more than 5 senses! What if we have over 100! In heaven our sights, sounds, senses will be renewed and enhanced in ways far exceeding our imaginations! The beaches in Tahiti and mountains in Utah will be renewed and enhanced in ways far more beautiful than we see it now! Bacon and brisket will be renewed and enhanced in ways
far more tasteful than we taste it now! Tim Keller says, “Heaven isn’t pie in the sky, it’s a feast on earth!” C.S. Lewis says it’s a place where “every chapter is better than the one before it!” An atheist will tell you to enjoy the beauties of a sunset now, because it’s all coming to an end when you die. But what we’re learning is the beauties of life won’t die, they’ll be renewed and enhanced! The creativity and beauties we see in our sunsets now, are only glimpses of the infinite creativity and beauties we’ll see in heaven. It’ll be a feast where every chapter is better than the one before it! It’ll be a feast where we enjoy all the renewed and enhanced beauties and pleasures of creation as intended, before the curse of sin and death started decaying it. We’ll see all creation renewed and enhanced into heavenly perfection.
Again vs. 1, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.” The text says there will be a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem. It’s describing an endless progression of new and renewed things in heaven. But it also says the sea was no more, meaning...
#2 Heaven includes no more dangers or divisions. = Heaven includes no more dangers or divisions, which is what the sea often symbolized in ancient civilizations. The sea often symbolized either dangers, or divisions between nations and continents. So when it says the sea was no more it isn’t saying there won’t be any more seas in heaven. In fact Revelation 21 and 22 mentions there will be things like springs and rivers of life. Just like there were pristine bodies of water in the paradise of Eden, there will be pristine bodies of water in the paradise of heaven. So it isn’t saying there won’t be any more seas or bodies of water. It’s saying there won’t be any more dangers or divisions between nations, continents, and people anymore. People won’t be divided over things like race, gender, wealth, politics, or relational conflicts anymore. We’ll still have diversity in heaven, it’s just our diversity won’t divide us anymore. God created diversity and intended it to be a beautiful part of his creation, until sin distorted it and made it divisive. But when Jesus renews heaven and earth part of that renewal will include the renewal of people’s divisive hearts. So when it says the sea was no more, it’s saying the sea of things that cause division today won’t divide us anymore. It’s saying there will be no more dangers or divisions in heaven.
Vs. 3, “Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: ‘Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples,, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.” Notice the repetition of God being with humanity. So what we’re learning here is...
#3 Heaven includes God being with us. = Heaven includes God being with us, face to face, like in the Garden of Eden and the incarnation of Jesus. Being face to face with Jesus is the greatest part of heaven, because without Jesus the joys of heaven would exist! It’s like King David says in Psalm 16:11, “In your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.” He says it’s the presence of God that allows us to enjoy eternal pleasures from God. So the peak of joy for Christians isn’t getting into heaven, it’s getting to be in the presence of God. It’s getting to enjoy all the renewed and enhanced pleasures of heaven with Jesus. But instead of seeking the presence and pleasures of Jesus, we’re often seeking the presence and pleasures of the world. Instead of seeking eternal satisfaction, we’re often seeking instant gratification. We’re often working hard trying to obtain worldly pleasures as if this place is our greatest reward. But the more we view the presence and pleasures of Jesus as our greatest reward, the less we’ll be affected by things like FOMO, fear of missing out, or the loss of worldly pleasures. There’s no FOMO in heaven, no FOMO in the presence of the savior. We won’t miss out on a single pleasure in heaven with Jesus, instead we’ll get to enjoy infinite pleasures in his presence.We’ll also get to enjoy all our questions about life being answered so that everything in our lives will finally make sense. 1st Corinthians 13:12 states, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully...” Right now there are a lot of things happening in our lives and world that don’t make sense, but when we’re face to face with Jesus, it’ll all finally make sense. We’ll enjoy infinite pleasures and have all our questions answered in the presence of Jesus. Revelation 21 assures us that day is coming, when we’ll get to enjoy infinite pleasures in the presence of Jesus. It assures us there’s no FOMO in heaven, because God will be with us.
Vs. 4, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death, grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.’” What we’re learning here is...
#4 Heaven includes no more tears. = Heaven includes no more tears. In his 1st coming Jesus’ hands were pierced on the cross to wipe away our sins, but in his 2nd coming his hands will be used to wipe away our tears. When Jesus wipes away our tears in heaven, we’ll be free from all our afflictions forever!...What are those afflictions for you?...What are some of the afflictions in your life?...Whatever those afflictions are, in heaven Jesus will wipe them away forever...There will be no more tears from conflicts in marriage, family, or other relationships...No more tears from mental health issues like anxiety or depression...No more tears from physical health issues like chronic illness or cancer...No more chemo, counseling, or coroners...No more urgent cares, hospitals, or tears being shed at funerals...No more pains from sin, sickness, suffering, sadness, or death...When Jesus wipes away our tears in heaven, we’ll be free from all our afflictions forever!
Vs. 5, “Then the one seated on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new.’ He also said, ‘Write, because these words are faithful and true.’ 6 Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life.” Jesus is the one talking here, and when he says it is done, it’s similar to what he says when he takes his final breath on the cross. On the cross he says it is finished, meaning our salvation is finished, it’s eternally secured through what he did on the cross. But here he’s saying it is done, meaning our restoration is finished, it’s eternally secured through what he’ll do when he brings restoration to all creation at the end of history. So the phrase it is finished is Jesus giving us the assurance of eternal salvation, and the phrase it is done is Jesus giving us the assurance of eternal restoration. He’s giving us the assurance that he’ll finish what he started on the cross. It’s like Paul says in Philippians 1:6, “I’m sure of this! He who started a good work in you, will carry it to completion.” He’ll finish the salvation and restoration work he started.
Vs. 7, “The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. 8 But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.’” The second death is a reference to eternal separation from God in hell. Jesus is saying at the end of history people will be separated into eternal hell and eternal heaven. The sins he mentions aren’t a morality checklist, they’re examples of people wanting to continually live a sinful lifestyle without Jesus, and at the end of history Jesus will give them what they want. He’ll give them a second death, which is an eternal separation from him in hell. But for those who repent of their sins, for those who put their faith in him for eternal salvation and restoration, there’s an incredible heaven awaiting us. It’s an incredible heaven where we’ll get to enjoy infinite pleasures flowing from the infinite presence of Jesus being with us. Revelation 21 teaches us what some of those infinite pleasures will be, but let me quickly share five more incredible things about heaven.
#5 We will recognize people we love in heaven. After Jesus rose from the dead, he tells his disciples in Luke 24:39, “Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself!” He tells them to look so they’ll recognize it’s him. He’s able to recognize them and they’re able to recognize him, which means in heaven we’ll be able to recognize the people we love too. The one thing we all want is to see the people we love again, and if you put your faith in Jesus, you’ll see them again.
#6 We will enjoy physical touch in heaven. After Jesus rose from the dead, he tells his disciples to look at him, but also to physically touch him. He says in Luke 24:39, “Look at my hands and my feet,
that it is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones like I have.” Jesus tells them to physically touch him so they’ll see he isn’t a ghost, instead he has a physical resurrected body with flesh and bones. When we die our spirit immediately goes to heaven, but when Jesus returns to renew all things he’ll reunite our spirit with a renewed resurrected body that’ll have flesh and bones. This means we’ll be able to physically feel the ocean breeze, enjoy the relaxation of the sun, smell the sweet fragrance of spring again. This means we’ll be able to even physically touch the people we love again, feeling the warm clasp of their hands and the warm embrace of their hugs for all eternity, never to be taken away by the sting of death again.
#7 We will enjoy physical bodies free from decay and deficiencies. The miracles Jesus did show us the blind will see, the paralyzed will walk, all our physical decay and deficiencies will be gone forever. No more back pain. No more sciatica. No more chemical or genetic imbalances. Pre-existing exclusions don’t exist in heaven’s insurance policy, because there’s no more decay and deficiencies. Will you have a physical body like your 20’s or your 80’s? Will you have a physical body with 6 pack abs or still have some love handles? I don’t know, but you’ll love whatever you have, because it’ll be free from all your current physical decay and deficiencies.
#8 We will enjoy great food in heaven. Hallelujah! Shekinah glory!...We will enjoy great food in heaven. We know this because Jesus was able to eat food in his resurrected body, he was able to share a meal with his friends. In Luke 24 it says he ate broiled fish with them. So yes we’ll get to eat food in heaven, but it’ll be far better since it’ll be renewed and enhanced flavors! The best part is, we won’t have to count calories either!...Since our bodies will be free from decay and deficiencies, we’ll get to eat all the brisket and bacon we want, without having to watch our cholesterol.
#9 We will enjoy playing games and sports in heaven. Zechariah 8:5 says, “The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in them.” If the children get to play in heaven, I’d assume adults get to play too. Will we play games like Fortine and Call of Duty, or play sports like football and baseball? I don’t know, but if we can it’ll be glorified versions of Fortnite and Call of Duty. It’ll be glorified versions of football and baseball, where the New York Giants and Yankees always win...My point is the bible teaches us so many incredible things about heaven. It teaches us heaven will be far greater than us sitting on clouds strumming harps all day. It’ll be far greater than anything we could possibly imagine or dream. There are a lot more incredible things I want to share than the 9 things I shared today, so come back next week for Part 2.
The big idea of the message is heaven is a place where the Savior remains present, and our tears remain absent...Heaven is a place where the Savior remains present, and our tears remain absent...There are no tears, in the presence of the Savior...We need to remember this world isn’t our heaven, it’s a lesser view of heaven that’s been distorted by sin and death. We aren’t seeing the world as our Creator originally intended us to see it, instead we’re seeing a distorted view of the world that’s full of sin and death, tears and pain. But Jesus came to bring clarity back into our lives again. He came to give us the assurance of eternal salvation and restoration through his death and resurrection. Anyone who puts their faith in him, will receive eternal salvation and restoration in heaven with him. We’ll get to enjoy all the renewed and enhanced pleasures of creation without sin and death distorting or decaying things anymore. Revelation 21 is a great reminder that this world isn’t your home, it isn’t your heaven. It’s a great reminder that this place isn’t your paradise, and your tears won’t last forever, because Jesus is taking you to a better paradise. It's a great reminder that if you put your faith in Jesus, then the hands that wiped away all your sins, will one day wipe away all your tears...There are no tears, in the presence of the Savior.