In the world today, there are all kinds of what I would call bad doctrine. People taking the Bible out of context or even worse telling you that there is no hell or even heaven. We simply cease to exist when we die. That is often how people refer to the Book of Revelation. That it was a book created by people on drugs, or it's a dream sequence of some sort, symbolism that no one can understand, and therefore the very reason many churches today, avoid teaching on the Book of Revelation, either because they don't know how, they fail to understand it themselves, or others simply don't want to in fear it will scare people off from attending their churches.
As a Christian why wouldn't you want to know what your future looks like? For anyone really, that is why there is such an interest in fortune cookies, fortune tellers, tarot card, palm readers, the occult and even horoscopes. Stop doing those things and pick up the Bible and read the Book of Revelation if you want to know what your future will be like one day, especially Chapters 20-21. As a Christian, we should be very excited, because what we are studying is our future!
Find out today in our study what your real retirement program offers you as a believer in Christ as we look into Chapter 21! This is more true and read than today's headline news. It is a chapter referred to in Ryrie's Study Bible as the Eternal State. Meaning this, it is the doctrine of eternity. It is always now where we are going. It's where God and Jesus exist. Thee is no marking of time. It is always now. It's beyond our human comprehension and capability to even understand what that means. It is where believers in Christ are going one day.
When we think of a perfect life, we're talking about heaven. Our hearts desire will be fulfilled. One day when we all go home.
It is interesting to realize that in every culture and throughout human history, there has been several things that connect each civilization, regardless of their place in history or their status.
1. That man lives with an internal, moral law written within his heart, even in backwards tribal places.
2. That there is a passion for man to redeem himself, whether in an act or ritual to relive a man's sense of guilty.
3. That there is a place of paradise or a heaven to be sought after. Even a Utopia that can be obtained through the use of drugs by some cultures. People desire to go there.
4. That there is a God or gods that grant access. It's in our history even today. Why is that so? Where does that come from? Is it a left over ember from the Garden of Eden left behind in our spiritual DNA that beckons us?
There is a strong desire in each of us to know what's on the other side, and what would that be like, where will it be and how will it happen?
We don't have to dream about it or wonder anymore, we can know for sure! In our study through the Book of Revelation beginning in chapter 21, we will take a look first into the first seven verses, which are great but there is a warning in verse 8 as well.
Revelation 19, the central theme is the Second Coming of Christ, which fulfills Matthew 25.
Revelation 20, the central theme is the Millennial Reign of Christ on Earth. He must sit on the throne of David and that is not in heaven. When Jesus was here on earth the first time, did He ever sit on the throne of David? No, He didn't. But the Bible says this must happen. So when will it be fulfilled? It must be fulfilled literally during the Millennium found in chapter 20.
Revelation 21, the central theme is the Eternity of Christ.
In Chapter 21, the Millennium is over, and the Day of God, the Day of Eternity begins. Time ceases. God will establish eternity in a sense where we can physically touch and see and hear one another; we can eat; we can worship; we will be like Jesus post resurrection, where we can appear and disappear; we won't have any more death; there will be a new heaven and new earth; there will be no more sea. It will be a day that commences and never ends. Forever. It's going to be literally FOREVER!
That is the ultimate destination. We are currently taking reservations, but if you read the fine print in the Bible, you have to make your reservations now before you die. You have to book it now! If you want to enjoy eternity in heaven with God, you have to book it now. It's not that it is filling up, it's that your time is running out. Stop goofing around. Stop playing around with God.
Hebrews 9:27-28 ~ "And just as it is appointed for a man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."
We're not going home, as believers in Christ, we're coming home. We know our time here is temporary, that this world is running out of time. We know time here is not fixed. There is a desire to come home to where we belong.
When we come home, everything is going to be new and we all love new things.
Revelation 21:1 ~ "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."
We need a new heaven and new earth. This one we are in has been filled with the effects of sin since the fall in the Garden of Eden. The climate will change. There will be not a new creation of the heaven where God lives, but this is a new atmosphere, a new celestial space, where the stars are...
Isaiah 65:17 ~ "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind."
Isaiah 66:22 ~ "For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain."
Why would a new heaven (starry host) and a new earth (planet) be needed? Because sin has ravaged this world. The word "New" is not like God destroys the existing ones, He take the existing earth and autoclaves it. It means to sterilize it by a blast of heat or fire. Peter said that in the end that the elements will melt with fervent heat (2 Peter 3:10). The word "elements" in the Greek used here, means a-tom, where we get the word atom. This will not be a new creation, but God will sterilize it in such as way to make it fit for all eternity.
We will need a new city. This is not the earth Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:2 ~ "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
This is a new Jerusalem, and it is holy, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Why? Because it will be the focal point of eternity to come. It is where the LORD Himself will dwell.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 ~ "But as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him' - these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God."
It's in the spiritual DNA to want this city.
Hebrews 11:8-10 ~ "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God."
Abraham believed he was going to see this city. It was a deep desire in his heart to go where God told him to. Almighty God wants you and I in heaven. Jesus came to provide the entrance into heaven. The Holy Spirit has authored the Holy Bible telling us how to get to heaven. And it is God's will that you will be there with Him. So now is the time to make sure you book your trip today!
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