HOW DOES THE BIBLE DESCRIBE HEAVEN?

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   There are times when the questions that are presented for the Q&A study need more attention than 10 to 12 minutes.

1.    Some might be turned into a series of lessons in the bulletin like the series starting this week on the Beatitudes.

2.    Some might be formed into a sermon like the one we will consider in this lesson.

 

B.   The question that was presented is:  “How Does the Bible Describe Heaven?”

 

I.             THE PRESENCE OF DEITY

 

A.   We have never seen the Father or the Son.

1.    The Father (John 1:18a)

 

No man hath seen God at any time…

 

2.    John 20:29

 

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed:  blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

 

B.   This will change when we enter heaven.  We will get to set our eyes upon God.  Heaven is His dwelling place.

1.    Deuteronomy 26:15

 

Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven…

 

2.    1 Kings 8:43

 

Hear thou in heaven, thy dwelling place…

 

3.    Matthew 6:9

 

…Our Father which art in heaven…

 

C.   Think of the majesty, the power, the light, the authority, and the glory we will behold in heaven.

 

D.   Just to be able to dwell with the Creator, our Redeemer, and the Supreme being of the Universe should cause each of us to long for Heaven.

 

II.           THE FULFILLMENT OF HOPE

 

A.   Each of us should possess hope as Christians (Heb.6:19).

 

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…

 

B.   Hope is not something we possess in the present.  Thus, we long, yearn, and deeply desire certain things that have been promised to us by the Lord (See Rom. 8:24-25.

 

C.   When we enter into the beautiful reward of Heaven, our hope will be manifesting itself to us in all of its splendor (Col. 1:5).

 

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven…

 

1.    We will not have to desire it.  It will be our possession.

2.    We will not to be expecting it.  It will be our reality.

 

III.         ABSOLUTE PURITY

 

A.   It is difficult for us to imagine a place of absolute purity because we live in a world filled with sin, perversion, and immorality.

 

B.   Our lives at this moment are battling temptation and sin.  We resist it.  We fight against it.  We often overcome it.  But, there are times when we yield to the enticements of the evil one (1 John 1:8).

 

If we say that we have not sinned, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 

C.   Can you even comprehend a place that is absolutely sin-free?

1.    Nothing to defile our thoughts.

2.    Not one impure word

3.    Absolutely nothing abominable

4.    Zero perversions

5.    The absence of ungodly, violent behavior

6.    No blasphemy, no idolatry

7.    Every negative emotion, like anger, jealousy, and revenge will not be there.

 

D.   Three verses:

1.    Matthew 13:31

 

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.

 

2.    2 Peter 3:13

 

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

 

3.    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.

 

IV.         A ROOM OF WORSHIP

 

A.   Heaven is a room of worship.

1.    Remember, God is there.

2.    He is worthy. 

a.    His character makes Him worthy.

b.    His works make Him worthy.

 

B.   Therefore, all who are there praise His matchless name.

1.    In Revelation 4:1, John writes:  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven…

a.    He saw four and twenty seats surrounding the throne of God with the twenty-four elders sitting on those seats (Rev. 4:4).

b.    He also saw the four beasts surrounding the throne (Rev.4:6).

c.    What were they doing? (Rev. 4:9, 10).

 

And when those beasts give glory, and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne…The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him…

 

2.    In chapter 5, that worship continues.

a.    The beasts continue their worship (v. 8).

b.    The redeemed out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation sing a new song (vs. 9-10).

c.    The angelic hosts numbered in the ten thousands times ten thousands, and thousand of thousands, cry out:  “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain…” (11-12).

d.    Too, the twenty-four elders also fall down and worship him that liveth for ever and ever (v. 14).

 

C.   We are not told how much we will be worshipping, but it will definitely be a large part of our activity.

1.    It will be more than a simple hour or two each week.

2.    There is on old adage that says:  “If Christians do not enjoy worship here, they certainly will not enjoy heaven.

 

V.           A PLACE OF UNIQUE THINGS

 

A.   Heaven is filled with things that are beautiful and unique. 

 

B.   Here are just a few of them.

1.    The throne of God (Rev. 4:2)

2.    An innumerable company of angels (Rev. 5:11)

3.    A city of gold with foundations made of precious stones (Rev. 21:18-20).

4.    Twelve gates made of twelve pearls (Rev. 21:21).

5.    A pure river of the water of life (Rev. 22:1).

6.    The tree of life (Rev. 22:2)

7.    No night at all (Rev. 22:5)

 

VI.         HOME OF THE FAITHFUL

 

A.   Two verses:

1.    Matthew 25:21

 

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:  enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 

2.    Revelation 21:24

 

And the nations of the saved shall walk in the light of it…

 

B.   It is a wonderful thought to contemplate spending time with many of the Bible greats of the past:  Abraham, Mary the mother of Jesus, those unnamed men of God, David, Barnabas, Esther, and Paul to name a few.

 

 

 

VII.       JOY BEYOND MEASURE

 

A.   Both the five-talent man and the two-talent man were invited to enter into “the joy of the Lord” (Matt. 25:21, 23).

 

B.   The place of eternal reward will be a place that is filled with joy.

1.    The opposite of pain.

2.    The opposite of heartache.

3.    The opposite of misery.

4.    The opposite of dread.

5.    The opposite of depression.

6.    The opposite of grief.

7.    The opposite of sorrow.

 

C.   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.

 

VIII.     A FOREVER EXISTENCE

 

A.   Verses:

1.    Matthew 25:46

 

…and the righteous into life eternal.

 

2.    Romans 6:23

 

…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

3.    1 John 2:25

 

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

 

B.   The human brain is not able to wrap the mind around the concept of eternal. 

1.    The idea of something going on and on and on and on, with no end, can’t be grasped.

2.    It is like taking a rocket to the farthest star in the galaxy.  Once we arrive there, we look out only to see more stars and more galaxies that must be pursued.  We travel to the end of each one, but the trip only begins again.

 

C.   Listen to Paul’s words to those in Christ Jesus.  “…and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   We have pictures of some of the most beautiful places on the earth.

 

          

B.   Some of us have seen these places.  Others long to go to visit them.

 

C.   They, however, pale in comparison to the beauty and splendor of our heavenly home. 

 

D.   We may stand in awe for years at the entrance of heaven before making our way through that beautiful city.  And, once we have toured the entire habitation, we can rest in joy that is it ours forever and ever.