There are all kinds of things that people believe about heaven. A couple of non-biblical things that some say about heaven are:

• Every time you see a shooting star, someone is getting his or her wings.
• When someone dies, it is sometimes said that God must have needed another angel.

People believe all kinds of ways that it is possible for a person to get to heaven. A few are:

• Many believe it is by being a good person, having more good than bad in their life.
• Others believe that if there is a heaven everyone is going, regardless, believing that God is “only” love.
• Some think you can get to heaven as long as you are sincere and faithful to whatever you believe. Why would Jesus have to die then?

Others believe that only a very few immediately go straight to heaven.  They believe that just about everyone goes to a kind of holding place to work off your bad stuff until you get it processed and then you can go to heaven.

Sadly many believe no one can really know for sure if they are ever going to heaven.  The Apostle Peter or someone decides after you get there.

People believe all kinds of things about what one even does in heaven. For example:

• You are going to sit on clouds and play harps.
• You’ll always be going to church and singing and doing stuff like that.
• It’s eternal retirement and you retire to that cabin in the mountains or condo on the beach or golf course

People who don’t understand the truth about God and His heaven are reaching out for something in an endeavor to cope with a crazy world, to cope with the loss of a loved one, to cope with tragedy, to cope with the certainty of eventual death, etc.

Sometimes even gospel believers don’t understand the truth about God and His heaven, and we end up trying to cope through beliefs and by means that are not biblical—and thus do little to really help.

So as you can see, it is incredibly important what we believe about heaven.

The Book of Revelation is written by the Apostle John around 90 A.D. about 60 years after Jesus’ resurrection.

The word Revelation means an uncovering or disclosing. 

Jesus Christ Himself appeared to John, and showed Him His glory and disclosed, uncovered, revealed some matters concerning the future to John. 

One of the things that John saw in this revelation was Heaven. So we are going to start our study about heaven in Revelation 21 to see what John saw.

Rev. 21:1 & 5: In the first 8 verses, we find out several things about heaven. 

A New Heaven & Earth

¹  Now (following the Great White Throne Judgment), I saw a (brand), new (new in design or character) heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, (disappeared or was at least significantly changed, renovated, restored). Also (on the new earth), there was no more sea, (which covers approximately 70% of the earth presently).

Everything Is New

⁵  Then He who sat on the throne (the God of the universe), said, “Behold, I (Myself [as Christ built the church]), make (present tense, continual action) all things new (“new” here means new in design or character and recently new—signifying a drastic change).” And He said to me (the Apostle John), “Write (get all of this down), for these words are true (reliable), and faithful, (genuine—“This is what’s coming!”).”

We see here that just because something is perfect, doesn’t mean that in can’t change and still be perfect.

I. All things are going to be made new.

A. The first mentioned is a new heaven.  There are 3 heavens in Scripture.

1. The first heaven is the sky—what we can see in the daytime

2. The second heaven is the universe—what we can see at night

3. The third heaven is God’s heaven (in 2 Cor. 12:2 Paul says he was caught up into the third heaven)

All 3 heavens will be recreated/renewed into something new.

B. The second new thing is a new earth.

1. The landscape will be changed—there is no sea in the new earth for one

2. All life on the earth will be new—without the sin curse

Romans 8:21–22 (NIV84) – …the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. ²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

There will be no more death, temptation, evil, etc.

C. The third new thing disclosed or revealed will be a new Jerusalem

1. It will come down out of heaven from God

²  Then (after the creation of the new earth), I, John, saw the holy city, (the), New Jerusalem (the new home of all OT and NT saints [Heb. 12:22-24]), coming down out of heaven from God….  (Verse 10 and following describe this new Jerusalem)

¹⁰ And he (the angel) carried me away in the Spirit (from the Great White Throne courthouse), to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great (and new), city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven (directly), from God (being prepared by God for His children),

¹¹ having (or possessing), the glory (or splendor), of God, (in its essence and brilliance—Heaven and everything in it is a display of the glory of God—In heaven it’s not a glimpse of God, it’s not a symbol or model, it’s not a vision or a dream, it’s not a story or a description, In heaven it’s the real thing—God Himself!). Her light (or illumination), was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone (probably a diamond or very similar), clear as crystal, (reflecting its brilliant colors).

The Number of City Gates

¹² Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates,

The Guardians of the City Gates

   and twelve angels at the gates (an angel at each gate),

The Names of the City Gates

    and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin)

The Arrangement of the City Gates

¹³ three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west, (the city was square with three gates on each side).

 The City’s Foundation

¹⁴           Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations (either in sections or layers), and on them were the names of the twelve apostles (cf., Matt. 10:1-4; Acts 1:26), of the Lamb. (Jesus Christ) (Peter, James, John, Andrew, Bartholomew or Nathanael, James, the Lesser or Younger, Judas, Jude or Thaddeus, Matthew or Levi, Philip, Simon the Zealot and Thomas)

 The City’s Dimensions

¹⁵ And he (the angel), who talked with me had a gold reed (which would be about ten foot long), to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

¹⁶ The city is laid out as a square (so it would either be a cube or a pyramid); its length is as great as (or equal to), its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs, (about 1,500 miles long [about 2,250,000 square miles per layer. If we say the city is a cube and that each layer is a mile high, the entire square miles would come to 3,375,000,000. The entire continent of Africa contains about 11,724,000 square miles]). Its length, breadth, and height are equal, (about 1,500 miles each way—you hit space at about 65 miles, which leaves you with over 1,400 miles to go out into space!!).

¹⁷ Then he measured its wall (the wall is lower than the city or this would be its height): one hundred and forty-four cubits (about 216 feet), according to the measure of a man (which would be about 18 inches per cubit), that is (even though it was measured), of an angel, (human measurements were used).

 About 10 city blocks generally equal about a mile.  Multiply that times 1,500 miles and it comes out to 30,000 streets—15,000 in each direction—that comes to 45 million miles of road.  And that is only on the first level.  If you say that there is only one layer per mile, that leaves you with about 675 billion miles of road.

Let’s say there are only 4 mansions to a 1 mile block, everybody gets a corner site with great views.  That comes out to over a billion homes per level.  I don’t suppose there will be too many that will want to take the mansion tour.  J   But if you did want to take the tour and you saw 60 mansions an hour (one a minute) for 12 hours a day, it would take you 6 million years to see all the mansions.  Every one of them probably different, unbelievably beautiful and perfectly suited to each individual. 

This understanding adds new meaning to Jesus’ words in John 14:2a does it not, – In My Father’s house are many mansions…

The Material of the City Walls

¹⁸ The construction of its wall was of jasper (crystal, like the diamond); and the city (itself), was pure gold, (translucent), like clear glass.

¹⁹ The (twelve), foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper (again, crystal, like the diamond), the second sapphire (blue), the third chalcedony CAL-SAID-AH-KNEE (sky-blue mixed with specks or layers of other colors), the fourth emerald (bright green),

²⁰ the fifth sardonyx SAR-DON-X (red and white stripes), the sixth sardius (ranges from orange-red, to brownish-red, to blood-red), the seventh chrysolite (a gold or yellowish tone), the eighth beryl (ranges from bright green, to golden yellow, to light blue), the ninth topaz (yellow or a yellow-green color), the tenth chrysoprase CHRIS-AH-FRAZE (apple green), the eleventh jacinth JAHS-INTH (red or reddish-brown), and the twelfth amethyst, AMA-THIST (ranging from a faint purple to an intense purple). 

And God’s shekinah glory is shinning through all of these gems.

The Material of the City Gates

²¹ The twelve gates were (carved out of), twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl, (remember the wall is about 216 feet high—We are not told how thick they are). 

The Material of the City Streets

   And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass, (just like the buildings).

2. It will be adorned as a bride is for her husband

²   Then I, John, saw the holy city, (the), New Jerusalem (this new home of all OT and NT saints [Heb. 12:22-24]), coming down out of heaven from God, PREPARED AS A BRIDE (WHO IS BEAUTIFULLY), ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. 

⁹   Then (after seeing the eternal resting place of believers and unbelievers in general), one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you THE BRIDE, THE LAMB’S WIFE, (The angel uses the ‘holy city’ to describe the church saints as gospel believers, the bride of Christ, are presented to Christ, the Lamb, the Head of the church).”

¹⁰ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great (and new), city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven (directly), from God (being prepared by God for His children),

¹¹ having (or possessing), the glory (or splendor), of God, (And part of the glory of God on display is His children!!). HER (the bride of Christ’s) light (or illumination), was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone (similar to our diamond) clear as crystal… The best way for God to describe the bride of Christ was to say she is like His glorious, heavenly abode… 

Everything and everyone mirrors or displays the glory of God in heaven. That is going to be one huge upgrade!

With that in mind think about these words of God through Paul from 1 Corinthians:

• 1 Corinthians 15:42–44 – So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
• 1 Corinthians 15:49 – And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, (Adam) we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man, (Jesus Christ).
• 1 Corinthians 15:51– Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed… (What an understatement!)
• 1 Corinthians 13:12 – For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

This is extremely different concerning God’s description of those who die without saving faith in Christ and find themselves in hell rather than heaven.  These are those who suffer the second death, as Revelation calls it, Rev. 20:14-15).

The “Implications” Of (a lost souls) New Body In Hell: (that which the

      body cannot do presently)

1. It has been adapted to live in an “everlasting fire,” (Mat. 25:41)
2. It has been adapted to live without water, “send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,” (Luke 16:24)
3. It has been adapted to live eternally in “everlasting punishment,” (Mat. 25:46) (never die – grow old – or even to be killed)
4. It has been adapted to live in “blackness of darkness forever,” (Jude 13)
5. It has been adapted to live in extreme pain, “tormented in this flame,” (Luke 16:24) (and not lose consciousness or to go crazy emotionally)
6. It has been adapted to live with no rest day or night, “tormented day and night forever and ever,” (Rev. 20:10)
7. It has been adapted to live without sin, send Lazarus back to my “five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment,” (Luke 16:27-28)
8. It is a place that is empty of God’s presence, “punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,” (2 Thess. 1:8-10)

1. The city come down from heaven from God
2. The city is like a bride adorned for her husband… and
3. It’s a holy city—the newspaper will only have good news

¹⁰ And he (the angel) carrie d me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the HOLY Jerusalem, …

The Absence of a City Temple

²² But (in this holy Jerusalem) I saw no temple (What is the Apostle John looking for? He is looking for a temple greater than Solomon’s to worship God in, but can’t find one.), I saw no temple in it (in the Holy City), for (or because), the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple, (the entire city is indwelt, permeated with the presence of the Trinity which makes the entire city a place of worship—the secular and the sacred are indistinguishable.   [There is no need of separation of church and state here!]).

Do you remember when Moses walked over to the burning bush in the desert and God told Moses in Exodus 3:5  “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground?”  Was it holy ground just the day before? No. Was it holy ground the day after? No. It was God’s presence in that area that turned it to holy ground and a place of worship!

Church buildings, the order of service, the form of church government, nor the ministries in the church constitute a church.  What constitutes a church is if the presence of our God and Savior is there.  Without Him there can be no real church, with Him, you can have church anywhere with much or little else. And sense God the Holy Spirit indwells every gospel believer, our body itself is holy ground. We bring the church to the building.

God tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price (Christ’s death on the cross was the price); therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

You…, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ…, are God’s burning bush today. You…, are God’s holy ground today. therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

We won’t, but we could stop right here today and just take the rest of our time reflecting with one another on the ramifications of this truth, and every second of it would be time well spent. We certainly should make meditating on this truth a regular topic in our personal time with our Lord and our God.

In heaven, in the holy city Jerusalem, in our new, sinless and glorified bodies, we will glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s, innately, flawlessly, naturally. But…, here in this sin laden earth and body, if we don’t trust in the enabling of the Holy Spirit and make a conscious effort to live holy as our heavenly Father is holy…, we will not be holy and glorify God in body or spirit. Our burning bush, our light that we are to let shine and not hide, will not be burning very brightly.

In verse 23 the Apostle John notices something else that is unusual about this holy city, he notices:

The Absence of a Sun or Moon over the City

²³ The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it (to give it light), for (the reason being), the (Shekinah, [Isa. 60:19, 20]), glory of God illuminated it (the entire city—with unimaginable splendor as it passed through the translucent gold and gems). The Lamb (Jesus Christ), is its light.

1. The city come down from heaven from God
2. The city is like a bride adorned for her husband
3. The city is a holy city, and
4. All gospel believers will live in the same city, God’s city

³  And (as the New Jerusalem descended), I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle (the residence), of God is with men (He now coexists with the saved human race), and He will (continue to), dwell with them (one and all), and they (collectively) shall be His people. God Himself will (literally), be with them (commune with them—move among them), and be their God (their object of attention and worship).

²⁴ And the nations of (or peoples represented by), those (Gentiles), who are saved (redeemed through saving faith in Christ), shall (one and all), walk in its light (enjoy its splendor as distinct ethnic groups, yet as equals with the Jews), and the kings of the earth (in the same way), bring their glory and honor into it, (“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. [Eph. 2:10; 5:27]).

The Hours of the City Gates

²⁵ Its (twelve), gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there [thus they will never be shut]).

Those Who Obtain Access through the City Gates

²⁶ And they (the redeemed), shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations (the Gentiles) into it, (being themselves the inheritance of God, [Eph. 1:11]).

Ephesians 1:14 says that all gospel believers are God’s inheritance. People leave behind all kinds of inheritances. Some are great blessings and others… not so much, (not great in monetary value, but great in love and meaning/importance.) Are we going to get a “well done good and faithful servant” when we get to heaven and God gets our portion of His inheritance?

D. In heaven everything is always new.

John says in verse 1, “…I saw a new heaven and a new earth…”

Jesus Christ says in verse 5, “…I make all things new…”

The “make” in verse 5 is in the present tense (which signifies an action in perpetual process, it never stops), and it is an active verb (meaning here that Jesus is doing the action) putting this all together means that Jesus is constantly making all things new in this new age, which would at least be reflected in:

1. Our service in heaven
2. Our worship in heaven
3. Our relationships in heaven
4. Our home in heaven

• Heaven will always be new, fresh, different, exciting, a mystery,
• Every day or hour is a new and fresh day with God!
• There is no way we could ever be bored in heaven! Ever!

Heaven will never be like living on the ocean or in the mountains where you eventually get use to the beauty around you and don’t even notice your environment any longer for what it is, for the extraordinary beauty it holds.

I. All things are going to be made new

II. God the Father is near v. 3, 7

³  And (as the New Jerusalem descended), I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle (the residence), of God is with men (coexisting with them), and He will dwell with them (not just be around), and they shall be His people, (His responsibility and focus of attention). God Himself will (literally), be with them (commune with them), and be their God (the gospel believers object of worship and most intimate relationship).

A. Since Genesis 3 God the Father has had to maintain some distance between us. (God could have stayed, and man would have to run away from Him.)

B. (Is there any hope this will change?) Jesus came as our mediator between God the Father and His creation. (This is an opportunity not a done deal.)

C. (If we make good on the opportunity) The Holy Spirit indwells each gospel believer preserving him or her as belonging to God

D. In heaven, we will be able to have direct, physical access to God and destined to dwell with Him in heaven.

E. In heaven Christ and His redeemed bride dwell together

Psalm 23:6 – Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

F. (And in God’s house) We will be able to have perfect intimacy with God

Heaven will be big, but it will not be impersonal. 

⁷  “He who overcomes (to him who not only thirsts, but also exercises saving faith in Christ, makes good on the opportunity Christ provides, the gospel believer), shall inherit all things (all the blessings that a relationship with the Christ our Savior can render), and I (Christ, the Savior) will be his GOD (his object of love and worship), and he (singular) shall be My SON (My object of love and companionship).

In heaven it won’t be like you are living with a family so big that you wish you could have more time with your heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ.  The Trinity won’t ever be too busy to spend quality time with you, just like they are not too busy for you right now!  God is infinitely able to give to us all the time that we desire!

Are we taking advantage of that blessing/heavenly gift?

What would we think after lovingly raising up a child and that child could care less about you?  Christ has done so much more for us.

I. All things are going to be made new

II. God the Father is near v. 3, 7

III. Gospel believers will receive an inheritance in heaven, (v. 7)

A. We will receive a heavenly reward for every way we glorified God on earth

1 Corinthians 3:8 – He who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

We can’t just do the right things like the pharisees did.  We have to do the right things, for the right reasons and do them through the power of God.

B. We will benefit from those rewards by giving them to Jesus in appreciation of all that He has done and continues to do for us.

¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down (and prostrate themselves), before Him who sits on the throne (the Creator and Sustainer of the universe), and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne (relinquishing the honor bestowed upon them, in order to honor the One who bestowed it), saying:

¹¹ “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive (to be ascribed with), glory and honor and power; for (the reason being), You (by your decretive will), created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

We should want to have a gift to give Christ when we see Him, in light of all He has done for us. We can only prepare that gift here and now, prior to the death of our body.

C. We will receive all the benefits that God’s Personal presence and heaven can provide. For example:

⁴  “And God (in caring for His people), will wipe away every tear from (or out of), their eyes; there shall be no more death (no one will ever die, or suffer the anguish of dying), nor sorrow (experience grief of any kind), nor crying, (sobbing, wailing). There shall be no more (physical or emotional), pain, for the former things (associated with sin), have passed away, (as completely and eternally as the old heaven and earth).”

1. Every tear of sadness is wiped away (“tear” here is symbolic of whatever causes us pain here on earth.  The experiences that dashed our hopes and shattered our dreams.  The experiences that broke our hearts and which we silently anguished over.  All these tears will be wiped away—and who wipes away those tears?  God does.  Not you, another saint or even an angel! Who does a child want to wipe away his or her tears, a stranger or a loved one?

Psalm 56:8 – You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?  This is not symbolic, this is literal.  God says He saves our tears.  He is letting us know that He always knows our pain and He never forgets it.  He is also letting us know, that the last tear is coming.  Nothing in heaven will ever cause us pain.

Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

2. The sin force will no longer inhabit our body—our body will be perfect, no aging, no disabilities, not canes, no wheel chairs, no hearing aids, no false or filled teeth, no glasses, no joint replacements, no balding, no gray hair, no blindness or less than perfect eye sight, no memory loss, no allergies, no arthritis — no sagging or bulging, no weakening or aching of any kind… no temptation of any kind! Perfect bodies that will not hinder us in any way of feeling or thinking and doing only good!

3. No more physical death—no funerals in heaven, no funeral homes, no caskets, no cemeteries and tombstones, no more being separated from loved ones, no more anguishing goodbyes…  Also, there will be no doctors, dentists, specialists, hospitals, clinics, no pills, no surgeries, only moving forward into a new newness and fullness of joy and perfection!

4. No more sorrow—can we even imagine what that is going to be like?!  No more personal failure.  No more broken promises.  No more painful relationships.  No more unwanted separations.  No burdens to carry.  No discouragement to bear.  No tragedies to fear.  No crosses to carry.

Our worst day in heaven will be like our best day because they are all perfect.

5. No more pain – that would have to mean perfect health, perfect attitudes, perfect motivations, perfect thoughts, perfect actions, perfect relationships…  No I’m sorrys, no racism, no would you please forgive me, no I forgive yous, no scams, no internet theft, no I’ve got bad news, no bullying, no trash talking, no cruel jokes, no negativism, no whining – Gospel believers will feel like a million bucks all day every day!  “Have a good day,” will be a STUPID thing to say in heaven!  People would probably turn and look at you and say, “You must be new here!?” 

6. No more illness – terminal or temporary illness – no flu shots or covid tests, not masks

7. All of sins presence and consequences will be completely and permanently wiped away.

⁶  And (after telling me, the Apostle John, to write these things down), He (the Lamb, Jesus Christ who was able to take the scroll, the title deed to the earth and all that there is therein [cf., Col. 1:16-18]), said to me, “It is done, (finished, complete, accomplished, has come to pass)! I am the Alpha and the Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13), the Beginning and the End, (What is Jesus saying here? He is saying that He has been the redeeming person behind the entire drama of human history from beginning to end [Christ is sometimes referred to as the scarlet thread from Genesis through Revelation]).  I will (throughout the period of human history), give of the fountain of the water of (eternal [cf., Jn. 4:13, 14; 7:37, 38]), life (eternal life, and Jesus gives it) freely (without cost and not grudgingly, or stingily), to him (to anyone), who thirsts, (Have you ever really thirst? I have, once. This is one whose soul becomes parched under the conviction of sin).

If we want to enjoy all these blessings, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life NO MAN comes to the Father or His heavenly residence, but through Him. Jn. 14:6

IV. In heaven satisfaction is abundant, (v. 6)  We will have gone from “Let there be light” in Genesis 1 to “It is finished” in Revelation 21)

That speaks of:

• A plan
• Order in the plan
• Wisdom throughout the plan
• And sovereignty over the plan
• Jesus is not only the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, but Hebrews 12:2 says the Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith too! Thus, everything in-between as well.
  • A. Jesus finishes what He starts. Aren’t you glad!
  • B. Jesus says what He means and means what He says. He can be counted on.
  • C. Jesus will make good on every one of His promises.
  • D. Everything that a godly man or woman could ever want he or she will have and experience in abundance.  One will never thirst again for anything godly!  We will drink freely from the wells of God’s infinite love and provisions!
  • E. One will never desire any lack or struggle with or suffer from anything that is ungodly.  We won’t be saying or thinking in heaven:
    • “Boy wouldn’t it be nice if…”
    • “Boy I sure wish I could…”
    • Or, “I wish I never…”
    • “Boy I’m looking forward to the day when…”
    • Or “I wish we could have more of…”
    • Or “When are we going to get to…”
    • Or “Why can’t we…”

These are all things we say today, but we will never even think them in heaven.

Not so of the rich man who found himself in judgement.

Luke 16:22–28 – So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

²⁴ “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

²⁷ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’

Unlike gospel believers, those who die without Christ’s forgiveness will be wishing a lot of things.

V. There are two doors that lead into eternity

Now Jesus leads John to shift His focus and makes sure that everyone understands that no one automatically goes to heaven, only certain individuals, (v. 8)

⁸  “But (those who do not overcome, like), the cowardly (in the context of Revelation, it means those who feared the two beasts rather than God—in general it means those who fear what others may say if they seek God’s truth, the), unbelieving (who refused to put their faith in the truth of God’s witnesses and judgments—in general it refers to those who refuse to believe God’s Scriptures as well as gospel believers who testify of God’s truth, the), abominable (who polluted themselves in worshiping the Roman Prince—in general any who choose to worship anyone or anything other than God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the), murderers (who turned in friends, family and/or believers to the beasts—in general it still means unlawfully taking life, and an argument could be made for those who viciously murder another’s reputation, the), sexually immoral (who lusted after the harlot’s [Babylon’s] example—in general it refers to those who elevate the worlds views of sex and sexuality above the sacredness God applies to them, in and out of marriage, the), sorcerers (who promoted the signs and wonders of the Jewish Antichrist—in general those who practice in the occult and witchcraft), idolaters (who set their affections and loyalties on the beasts and their provisions—in general those who set their affection and loyalties on anyone or anything above God), and all liars (who believed and promoted the lies of the beasts rather than the truth of the Word of God—in general it refers to all who believe and promote the lies of the world rather than God’s truth, all these), shall have their part (in eternity, but not in the holy city, but), in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (sulfur), which is the second death, (they are not raised to eternal life with God, but to eternal death and separation from God).”

1 John 5:11–12 – And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Matthew 7:13–14 – “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

John 3:18 – “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 14:3–6 – And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And where I go you know, and the way you know.” ⁵ Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Acts 4:12 – Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Questions about Heaven

Someone speaking on the topic of amnesia once said, “If I could unmet some people …, I would.”

Do you think something like that is what is going to happen in heaven? The reason I ask is, what if some loved ones don’t accept Christ’s invitation for salvation? Can we really be happy in heaven if we remember they are not there?

If we do know one another, are we going to remember even the things we wish we could forget? Like the sorrow and regret of how we hurt them in the past or the anger and resentment we felt when they hurt us?

1. Will we know each other in heaven.  Yes.

Let’s begin with looking at Matthew 8:11 – And I say to you that many will come (to heaven) from east and west (from across the world), and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

• Now when you hear those names, what comes to mind?
  • Early OT characters of the Bible?
  • The patriarchs/fathers of Israel?
• And if we are going to be so interested in setting down to talk with them, what do you suppose we will talk about?
  • Things that we know nothing about, things they never did here on earth? Those are the very things we will want to talk about.
  • Do you think we will be selective though and only talk about the successful things they did and not talk about their failures at all?
  • If we are only going to remember the good things about these patriarchs in heaven, does that mean that the bad things in the Scriptures pertaining to their and everyone else’s life will be edited out?
  • How could we sit down with Adam and Eve and not talk to them about their eating the forbidden fruit?!

These OT saints are in heaven right now with their complete identity. We will know who the people are in heaven and we will be able to talk with them about everything that is written in the Bible and even what was not written down about their lives.  We thankfully will not keep our old sin filled body, but we will keep our old personal identity; we don’t get a new one. Only a new transformed sinless body.

Move ahead several chapter to Matthew 17:1ff Transfiguration (no introductions, but they knew them)

Matthew 17:1–4 – Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; ² and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. ³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. ⁴ Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

• (If you are living your life here on earth banking on that there is no life after death, you are going to be so horribly and eternally mistaken. There is life after the death of our body—Moses and Elijah had lived on earth thousands of years earlier. Moses is found in Exodus, the second book of the Bible, not that long after Jacob’s death. Elijah never died.)
• Also, there were no name tags for Peter, James and John to read here
• And there were no introductions, they simply knew who they were.

Let turn now to Luke 16:25, But Abraham said (to the rich man that died and went to judgment), ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus (who died and went to paradise) evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

This clearly states that our entire historical identity follows us into heaven.

So we are naturally happy that we get to keep our identity in heaven so we will know one another and be able to continue to live life together, but how do we not grieve over our selfishness and failures?

Turn to Ephesians 5:25–27 (NKJV)

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, (“I command you to ‘agape’ love your wife” [decide to love her here, now and forever – regardless of all past, present and future circumstances and consequences]), just as (in the same way as), Christ also loved the church and gave Himself (all of His time, energy, resources and even His very life), for her (on behalf of her),

²⁶ that He (Christ), might sanctify (purify and set her apart for Himself), and (thereby), cleanse her (His chosen bride, the church – Jesus will sweep out every corner of our lives, from top to bottom, every fragment of ungodliness), with the washing of water (Jesus is using the symbolism of water baptism and the water washing over and off every inch of the gospel believers body, only this time the washing over every inch of the gospel believer is by), by the word (the gospel believer is completely cleansed as a result of the truth and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ),

²⁷ that He (in order that Jesus Christ), might (literally in the end, in grand conclusion, in heaven!), present her (His chosen bride, the church of Christ, the gospel believers), to Himself a glorious church, not having spot (not having any trace of ungodliness) or wrinkle (not even having a leftover mark or scar left over from sin or moral decay), or any such thing (nor any residue or defect whatsoever), but that (to the contrary), she should be holy (completely, absolutely separated from any and all evil), and without blemish, (utterly faultless).

This is the reason we will be able retain our entire history but not suffer any negative trauma from them. Our mind will think as Christ’s thinks. Our hearts and minds will be in harmony together as our body will be raised in the likeness of His; not in divinity, but in purity.

Listen to God speaking to us through the Apostle John in 1 John 3:2, 3 – Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

• We will not only see things as Christ sees them, but we will see Christ clearly as He is.
  • The God who separates our sin as far as the east is from the west.
  • The God who even forgets our sins.
• .
  • So we will trust in and gain from its absolute benefit.
  • Our negative past life will not be able to touch us because it will all be seen and used to lift up the Person and life of Christ.

Good news, amnesia won’t be needed in heaven… we won’t have to unmet anyone in heaven…we won’t even have to unmet our past lives. 😊

2. Will I still be married in heaven?  (Sometimes that could be a loaded question as you don’t know if couples want to be married or not.)

KANSAS CITY, Kan. Associate Press reports: June 13, 2017

The Associate Press reported on June 13, 2017, that a 71-year-old man said he robbed a Kansas City, Kansas, bank so he could get away from his wife, blaming his actions on depression.

A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced Lawrence John Ripple to six months of home confinement and 50 hours of community service.

Ripple went to the Bank of Labor — a block from the Kansas City, Kansas, police headquarters — last September and gave a note to a teller saying he had a gun and demanding money. After he was given money, Ripple waited for police.

Court records indicate Ripple wrote the robbery note in front of his wife and told her he would rather be in jail than at home.

It’s hard to comprehend for many though, how one can be happy not being married to his or her spouse in heaven.

Luke 20:34–36 – Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age (here on earth) marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age (or the next age, living in heaven), and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to (or the same as) the angels (who are unmarried and never die) and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

Now Luke 20:34, doesn’t say we won’t be married, just that we won’t get married.  Don’t get your hopes up though, because verse 36, certainly implies that we will be unmarried like the angels.  

So how do we figure this out?

Let’s begin by looking at the two main reasons for marriage in the first place:

1. Genesis 2:18 – The Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper (a bonded load sharing companion) comparable to him.” No one is in need of a bonded/married load sharing companion in heaven and why would we when we all have Christ!  Neither will the woman need a protector as Ephesians 5:25 says, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.
2. We find the second reason in Genesis 1:28 – God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

• One, there is no subduing that needs to take place in heaven as there is on earth.
• Two, dominion in heaven has always been and always will be held and exercised by God. 
• And three, there is no need for us to fill heaven as God Himself fills it and there will be no death so its numbers will never diminish.

If we were married on earth, we will certainly know our spouses though, as we have seen.

• I don’t believe God is saying that marriage will be devalued in heaven, but that all relationships in heaven will be perfect, lacking nothing, just as they are. They are perfectly edifying and Christ Himself will be in the new and transformed role of the husband, gospel believers being the bride of Christ.
• Our relationships will be full of trust, confidence, closeness, friendship—absolutely fulfilling. Nothing will be lacking in our heavenly life so that we will need anyone to help us with like in our earthly life.
• The love we will have will be like the love that Jonathan and David had for one another.

• 1 Samuel 18:1 – Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
• 2 Samuel 1:26 – I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me; your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.
• 3. What is the role of angels in heaven?

Matthew 22:30 (NASB95) – “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”

There are angels in heaven and they have at least three functions.

1. Messengers,  Luke 1:19 — And the angel answered and said to him (to Zacharias), “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.

• An angel talked to Daniel, Balaam, and the Apostle John.
• The angels announcing Christ’s birth is another example.

• 2. Ministers/Servants, Hebrews 1:7, 14 – And of the angels He says: Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire…  Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”

• An angel was stationed to guard the tree of life, so Adam and Eve couldn’t eat from it.
• An angel was sent to deliver Peter from prison.
• We are warned to be careful when entertaining strangers as we may be entertaining angels unawares.

• 3. Worshipers, Rev 5:11-12 — ¹¹ Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

• Angels not only announced Jesus’ birth, they also worship then too.
• When Isaiah visits God’s throne in a vision, angels were worshiping God, (Isa. 6).
• We find angels worshiping God throughout The Book of Revelation.

4. What will gospel believers do in heaven?

Isaac Asimov (1920 – 1992) a scientist and one of the most prolific writers of all time once said, “I don’t believe in an afterlife, so I don’t have to spend my whole life fearing hell, or fearing heaven even more. For whatever the tortures of hell, I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse.”

We are bored by the things that we don’t understand or don’t interest us. If your impression of heaven is sitting on a cloud and strumming a harp for all eternity, that would be pretty boring. But heaven is going to be anything but boring. [Remember it is new ever day!]

God explains for us in Ephesians 2:5–7 that, “when we were dead in trespasses, (He) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that (in order that) in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Dr. Barackman, says concerning this passage that, “The phrase, (in or throughout) ‘the ages to come’ (Eph. 2:7), suggests that the Lord and His people will be involved in NEW PROGRAMS, OR WORK PROJECTS, which have not yet been revealed.”  (Practical Christian Theology, p. 475)

Revelation 15:4 – Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.” WORSHIP.

Revelation 22:3 says, “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.”  SERVITUDE

This is not in the sense that God rings His bell and we come running as His butlers and maids to care for His every whim.

It is in the sense that we will be in partnership with Him in all that will be considered kingdom work.

Revelation 22:5 tells us what at least some of that service will entail, “There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” At least part of our service will be reigning in the kingdom administration under Christ, our Head. CO-REIGN

Matthew 25:14-30 is most often referred to as the Parable of the Talents. Those who pleased their master in their service to him were rewarded with various levels of responsibility, after being told, “well done, thou good and faithful servant.” How well we serve our Lord here on earth, will to some degree, determine the level of responsibility we will have in co-reigning with Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:2, 3 tells us that some of our service will take place in the kingdoms judicial system. ² Do you not know that the saints (gospel believers), will judge the world? (WE WILL SIT IN JUDGMENT CONCERNING THE UNBELIEVERS—Not in the sense of determining their sinful state and sentencing them to Hell, [1 Cor. 5:12, 13].  It is in the sense of sitting in on the judgment of Christ, recognizing and supporting Christ’s righteous description and judgment of those who died in their sin.) And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³ Do you not know that WE SHALL JUDGE ANGELS?  (We will sit in judgment of the fallen angels in the same way that we will judge the world.)  How much more, things that pertain to this life?

Those are just a few ways we will serve in the kingdom of God.

Sometimes in this life finding our place is hard and disappointing—it won’t be so in heaven.

• We won’t be doing work we don’t enjoy.
• We won’t be doing work that doesn’t produce much.
• We won’t be doing work that we are not good at.
• We will be in the perfect place. We will worship God, serve God, rule with God, and fellowship together without misgiving or selfishness. We will rest without boredom and work without failure or exhaustion, as we will be with God in the ever present as time is basically no more.

5. Will there be animals in heaven?

• The Book of Revelation mentions various animals and birds… Jesus Himself comes riding on a white horse in Revelation 6:2. A red, black and pale horse all come from heaven in that passage, (Rev. 6:3-8),

Isaiah 11:6–8 – explains for us that even in the millennial kingdom, the 1000 year rule of Christ:

• “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
• The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
• The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
• The cow and the bear shall graze;
• Their young ones shall lie down together;
• And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
• The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole,
• And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.

The future kingdom is described as something similar to a paradise with peace and security, even the removal of the original curse on the relationship between man and the animals (Gen 3:14–19).^[1]

¹⁴ So the Lord God said to the serpent: (speaking to the snake the devil used to talk to Eve) “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.

Romans 8:19 (NASB95) says, “The anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.”

6. When a person dies what happens to them, where do they go?

God tells us in Daniel 12:2  that, “…Those who sleep in the dust of the earth (those whose dead body has been placed in the earth) shall awake (their body shall come back to life and be raised), some to everlasting life (in God’s glorious kingdom), some to shame and everlasting contempt (in hell, God’s terrible judgment).

• That tells us what is going to happen to our body. But what about our person, the us who dwells in the vehicle of our body, meaning our soul and spirit? Some of us are going to be happy to get rid of our body as it has become more of an anchor than a yacht. 😊
• I wish instead of saying so and so died, we’d say so and so’s body died. It would be much more accurate and I believe more beneficial to society and our personal spiritual wellbeing.
• Daniel says the body dies and some rise later to eternal life and others to eternal judgment.
  • This is the body though. What happens to the person that resided within the body?

We can learn more from Luke 16:19–24, ¹⁹ “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. ²⁰ But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, ²¹ desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. ²² So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

²⁴ “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’

The individual never dies. He or she goes immediately to one of two places for eternity.

• They obviously have a new temporary body while their earthly body lies in the ground, awaiting its resurrection. This temporary body has a new composition to some degree as well. For example, the Rich Man’s being able to live in fire now.

Luke 23:39–43 helps us with our topic too.  Here we read, ³⁹ Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

⁴⁰ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

You could have dug this man’s body up three days later and it would have been still there in the grave, but he was long gone. He was enjoying paradise.

• How did Jesus answer the one thief seeking Jesus? “Assuredly, I say to you, (not both of you, but I say to you,) today (not at the resurrection of your body, but today after your body dies) you will be with Me (where I, Jesus Christ am going) in Paradise.”

Now if you need a little more reassurance, turn to 2 Corinthians 5:6–8 – ⁶ So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home (on earth) in the body we are absent from the Lord (in heaven). ⁷ For we walk by faith (here on earth), not by sight (as we will in heaven). ⁸ We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body (here on earth) and to be present with the Lord (in His presence and kingdom).

In 1 Thessalonians 4 we see that the resurrection of the gospel believer’s body will take place at the rapture of the church, just prior to the rapture of the still living church.

We find the resurrection of the bodies of those who never placed saving faith in Christ, like the one thief on the cross and the rich man, taking place in Revelation 20 immediately following the thousand-year reign of Christ.

7. Will we miss friends and family who are not in heaven?

We see in Luke 16:23, 24 that the rich man died “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’

• We can see here that we remember the names of people we knew and know who others are that we have not actually met before.

We also see here in Luke 16:25 that “Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.”

• Now we see that they not only remembered each other, but they remembered the life they each lived. 

In Luke 16:26–31 Abraham continues his dialog with the rich man and says, “And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

²⁷ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ ²⁹ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ ³⁰ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

³¹ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

• In this conversation we see that there is grief, but it is not from Abraham or Lazarus, (concerning themselves or the rich man) it is the rich man who is grieving.  He is grieved about where he has found himself and about where his brothers may find themselves.

• Tears, sorrow and pain are only going to be an earthly experience for the gospel believer. 
  • Even Jesus Christ while He walked on this earth throughout His earthly ministry, cried, felt sorrow and pain and even died at the conclusion of it.

• I know that right now, at least sorrow and pain are not completely eradicated in heaven.

• The saved and unsaved grieve God.
  • Genesis 6:6 – the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
  • Ephesians 4:30 – do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
• The saved and unsaved anger God.
  • Deuteronomy 4:21 – Furthermore the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I would not cross over the Jordan, and that I would not enter the good land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
  • Psalm 7:11 – God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

Revelation 21:4 – God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow (of any kind, for any reason), nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

• We can take great comfort that God always makes good on His promises… always. However it works out in eternity, (if we find ourselves separated from loved ones), it will not cause us to sorrow, cry or experience pain.  Those former elements of our life will be no more.

• How this will be possible, I don’t know. 
• I do know, (even though I can’t imagine it) that we will think about all things as Christ Himself thinks. And probably therein rests the key to this whole issue.

Listen to God speaking to us through the Apostle John in 1 John 3:2, 3 – Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

God speaks of our woeful inability to understand these things in 1 Corinthians 13:11–12 – When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

• Can you or I truly even imagine what it will be like to live:
  • Without the sin force?!
  • With a perfect mind?!
  • With the mind of Christ!?

8. Do very young children who die go to heaven?

What happens to children who die through miscarriages, who are stillborn, or who are aborted, or die from disease, accidents or even murder. What happens to these children who die in high mortality countries? What happens to individuals who never develop mentally beyond a child when they die?

2 Samuel 12:13–23 will help us in our search for answers to these questions.

¹³ So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. ¹⁴ However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born (11:27) to you shall surely die.” ¹⁵ Then Nathan departed to his house.

And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. ¹⁶ David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. ¹⁷ So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them. ¹⁸ Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”

¹⁹ When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” (We are not told the age of the child.)

And they said, “He is dead.”

²⁰ So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. ²¹ Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

²² And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ ²³ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

A couple of obvious questions are:

So where did the child go, and where does David expect to meet him again?  Although prior to Jesus’ resurrection both the unrighteous and righteous went to the same place (Sheol, Hades—the holding place of the dead), we know David was one of the righteous and destined for the Paradise compartment.  If the child was going to the compartment of torment, One: David would not be going to him and two: David would find no comfort in that at all.

I believe that it is reasonable to assume that the child went to paradise.

Some other theological aspects that we can bring into this issue are:

a. We are all sinners regardless of age as “all have sinned and come short of God’s glorious perfection,” Romans 2:23).  This is the case for even the unborn in the womb as King David said, “in sin did my mother conceive me,” (Psalm 51:5).  “Conceive me,” David was David right at conception! Right at conception he had personhood. David was within the one cell, then the two cells, then the four and so on…

Also, we need to recognize that theologically, it is just as impossible for an infant as an adult to place salvation in Christ as we are all “dead (not physically obviously, but absolutely spiritually) in trespasses and sin,” (Ephesians 2:1).  From conception to death we are all on equal ground here, at least with original sin, i.e., being sinners at conception.  (To be completely objective on this issue, we need to acknowledge this.)

But, there are still some other matters beyond this truth that I believe we can consider.  For example:

b. Jesus died for all human life no matter the moment or extent of their existence.

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 honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Everyone who is someone, is the person who at some point gains personhood, identity. Pay close attention to the personal, personhood, pronouns in Psalm 139:13–16.

¹³  For You (God) formed MY inward parts;

You covered ME in MY mother’s womb.

¹⁴  I will praise You, for I AM fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that MY SOUL knows very well.

Children in the womb have a body that develops, a soul (personhood, identity) and spirit (life that animates them). They have all of this right at conception.

¹⁵  MY frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

¹⁶  Your eyes saw MY substance, being yet unformed. (still in its developmental stage)

And in Your book they all were written, (what was all written in the past tense?)

The days fashioned for ME, (ones entire lifetime!)

When as yet there were none of them. (while I was just conceived or somewhere in the developmental stage in the womb.)

God clearly establishes personhood, identity at the moment of conception. At the same time though, this is merely when identity, personhood is PHYSICALLY established.

God being omniscient, cannot learn anything.

• Job 37:16 – Do you know how the clouds are balanced, those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge? (Meaning God is not lacking in any knowledge of anything concerning the past, present, or future. That would include not just all things that have been, but are or will be as well. Perfect, complete knowledge includes all the possibilities that existed concerning the past, present and future. Again, God cannot learn anything.
• Isaiah 46:10 – Declaring the end from the beginning, (meaning from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21) and from ancient times things that are not yet done, (even before and after that, from eternity to eternity) saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’

Identity, personhood is PRINCIPALLY established even sooner than conception.

God says of the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5 using personal pronouns, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

God knew all the identities of the Bible characters even before any of them were conceived!

Now I have said all this to say that the value of Jesus Christ’s death for sin, is adequate for the sin of all persons who will ever be conceived, the unborn as well as the born.

• 1 John 2:2 – (Jesus) Himself is the propitiation (the acceptable sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.  (the entire human race)

Another point to consider is that:

c. Jesus knows that in the case of the unborn, as well as a young child’s dying, dying in unbelief is not an issue.

Romans 1:18–20 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse

Hebrews 3:12, 19 – Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God …¹⁹So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Some in the human race are unborn, as well as others who are born intellectually undeveloped and thus incapable of understanding and making moral educated decisions or even exercising unbelief. They simply do not have the capacity.

On top of this:

d. Salvation is wholly God’s work no matter who, where, when or how someone gets saved.

Ephesians 2:8–10 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

This passage tells us that man is dead in sin. We don’t carry on conversations with dead people expecting them to reply.

In Matthew 19:25b–26 Jesus’ disciples asked him – …“Who then can be saved?”  ²⁶ … Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men (on their own) this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”   Jesus tells His disciples in John 6:65b (NIV84) – …no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”

Not only, are we all on equal ground from conception through adulthood as to all being sinners and absolutely dead spiritually, making it equally as impossible for an infant as well as an adult to of their own, place saving faith in Christ, but we are also on equal ground as to the fact that “with God all things” (even concerning salvation) “are possible.”

God in His infinite wisdom and absolute justice knows how best to deal with the unborn and underdeveloped.

One more element to consider:

e. Even though we are all sinners at conception because of Adam’s initial sin (causing us to be conceived in original sin), the Scriptures tell us that we are condemned by our actions of sin as well.

Remember Romans 1:18a – ¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, …

Romans 3:10–12 – ¹⁰ As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one;

¹¹  There is none who understands;

There is none who seeks after God.

¹²  They have all turned aside;

They have together become unprofitable;

There is none who does good, no, not one.”

All of us are sinners by constitution (conceived with the sin curse that Adam and Eve instigated), but the unborn and infants have not committed any conscious sin at that stage in their lives. This too must be considered concerning this issue.

Now in summary, I believe that these principles provide good arguments for the opportunity that before an individual reaches an age of personal, volitional accountability – meaning an age where they are able to account to God for their acceptance or rejection of Christ; they would go to be with the Lord.  This is not so much an age issue as it is a heart understanding one.  This would certainly pertain to mentally challenged adults as well.

Dr. Barackman puts it this way, “it appears that infants who die, although born unsaved because of original sin, are saved upon death by God’s applying to them the value of the Lord’s atoning work.  Being infinitely righteous and just, God always acts in conformity to His nature.  From these propositions I infer that infants who die before the awakening of moral consciousness and accountability are part of the elect whom God has chosen to save.” [1]

The Reality of Heaven Ought to Inspire Worship!

Jeremiah 7:2 – “Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the Lord!’ ”

Worship takes effort – it is available, but we have to make the effort to enter into it.

The Absence of a City Temple

²² But I saw no temple (to worship God), in it (in the Holy City), for (or because), the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple, (the entire city is indwelt with their presence, the entire city is a place of worship—the secular and the sacred are indistinguishable).

²³ The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it for, the (Shekinah), glory of God illuminated it (the entire city). The Lamb (Jesus Christ), is its light.

²⁴ And the nations of (or peoples represented by), those (Gentiles), who are saved (redeemed through saving faith in Christ), shall (one and all), walk in its light, and the kings of the earth (in the same way), bring their glory and honor into it, (Ephesians tells us “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. [Eph. 2:10; 5:27]).

²⁵ Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there.

²⁶ And they (the redeemed), shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it, (being themselves the inheritance of God, [Eph. 1:11] Gospel believers will bring their person, their praise, their thanksgiving, their worship to the temple of God).

• Worship basically means to ascribe worth – to magnify something

Psalm 69:30 – I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Luke 1:46–47 – Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

Magnify also gives the idea of recognizing and focusing on how big God is – we are to push everything aside in order to magnify the Lord above all things and persons.

– Jesus said…, (in Matthew 4:10 when Satan wanted His worship) “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

• Every gospel believer is to worship

1 Peter 2:4–5 – Coming to Him (Christ) as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Every gospel believer is a member of the holy priesthood now.  Concerning worship, this means that the worship leader or leaders, are to lead the assembly of believers into a comprehensive experience/activity of worship. 

The worship leader isn’t to do the worshiping for those assembled, but is to escort the assembly into worship (in cooperation with the Holy Spirit) and worship together with the assembly.

• How should we worship? – The same way we are to do everything else:

Mark 12:30 (NIV84) – Love the Lord your God with all your heart (passionately) and with all your soul (spiritually) and with all your mind (intellectually) and with all your strength (actively).

1. Our worship must be intellectual – John 4:22

John 4:22 – You (Samaritans) worship what you do not know; (your worship is not according to truth—according to the realities concerning God) we (Jews) know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

God says the same thing, but in a different way in the very next verse.  In verse 23 gospel believers are told that we are to “…worship the Father in spirit and truth…” (In other words, our worship is to be harmonious with the Person of God, Whom we worship, as well as in harmony with His Word that describes Him and His will.  We are to worship God accurately and appropriately—keeping the worship of ourselves and our traditions out of it) (verse 23)

Our music and everything else we put into our worship is to help us engage our mind, our intellect.

2. Our worship must be spiritual

John 4:23 – But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit (the gospel believer being born of the Spirit, we are to worship under the spiritual direction and in the spiritual energy of the Holy Spirit through our spirit—rather than in the flesh) and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

Our emotions, our soul, our spiritual new life in Christ are to be engaged in harmony with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus makes it very clear in Matthew 15:8–9 that not worshiping in spirit and truth is unacceptable.  He says – “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching (rather) as doctrines (truths) the commandments of men.’ ” (Rather than in the spirit and biblical truth)

3. Our worship ought to be physical

a. My feet and my legs – dancing Ps 149:3. 150; Ecc. 3:4; (I find myself tapping my foot and moving back and forth) – (what happens to the feet of those who score a touchdown?) It’s a celebration of something great

b. Standing – Ps 135:2; 134:1; Jer. 7 – you stand when someone important comes into the room – we stand when we sing at times and when we read the Scriptures – If you can’t stand, or you can’t stand too long, God sees your heart

c. Bowing and Kneeling – Ps. 95:6; Mat. 17:14

d. Hands – clapping, raising – Ps. 28; 47:1; 63:4; 98:8; 119:48; 134:2; lam 3:41; 1tim 2:8, it’s an offer of adoration, it’s an extension of fellowship, it’s an expression of joy – it’s an affirmation of hope

e. Voices – sing to the Lord… Psa. 9:11; 13:6; 32:11 (our worship would be a lot harder without or worship team.) Shouting – when wall of Nineveh fell; when Goliath fell; when Nehemiah finished the wall; (God likes volume—German Baptists out back)  Don’t say I don’t have a good voice.  Remember Moses tried that at the burning bush and God got angry over him for it.  God gave him the voice he had.

f. Eyes – Psa. 121 – I will lift my eyes unto the Lord (closing eyes isn’t in the Bible—some of us are probably more comfortable with what isn’t in the Bible verses what is =)

I mean this very respectfully, think of an African American Choir and you will visualize worship that is very physical.  J 

You don’t have to do these things, there isn’t a specific manner or order in which they are to be done – they are all to be from the heart and completely for the Lord, being careful not to draw the attention of those around you from the Lord to yourself.

These physical expressions of worship are a smorgasbord of biblical ways to worship God – Someday we will be in heaven expressing every possible worship opportunity.  I’m saying today, not to wait while you can get a glimpse of glory today, here on this earth.

4. We are to passionately with all our strength enter into the joy of worship – 2 Samuel 6:14-22

2 Samuel 6:13–22 – ¹³ And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. ¹⁴ Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. ¹⁵ So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

¹⁶ Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. ¹⁷ So they brought the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. ¹⁸ And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. ¹⁹ Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.

²⁰ Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

²¹ So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father (who sought to exalt himself over God) and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel (instead of him). Therefore I will play music before the Lord. ²² And I will be even more undignified (lower myself even more before the Lord) than this, and will be humble (humble myself even further) in my own sight…”

John MacArthur comments on this issue saying, “Meaningful worship is impossible apart from emotion I believe, of course sheer blind emotion does not equate to real worship.  But worship in spirit and truth, the kind of worship that God seeks.

I personally don’t see how it is possible to worship God apart from authentic feelings.   Feelings like joy, gratitude, conviction, awe, reverence, passion, and excitement.

Jeremiah 7:2 – “Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the Lord!’ ”

Authentic biblical worship can’t be produced, it is entered into. 

• That means we have to come out of wherever we are in order to place ourselves into the element of worship. [1] We have to resist the personal urge or demonic attack, not to come to worship – [2] We need to get out of our secular business (E.g., our troubles, or our schedules, and or our apathy – We need to do our best to release all of your burdens, fears, etc., – give them to Him for these few minutes lay everything aside, but our Master, Savior and God, Jesus Christ.)

• After placing ourselves into the element of worship, we must begin to engage ourselves with it.  (to reach out and take worships hand so to speak—like one would to join in a line dance.  We can be in this very auditorium and have yet not entered into the element of worship that this service provides.  We need to press ourselves to become an active verbal, physical, visual, mental participant in what is going on around us and within us.  That is part of the worship leader’s ministry.)

Do we sing in a mumbling manner like, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound…” or do we sing magnifying the words like, “AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND…”

As far as instruments go, I don’t think God has a problem engaging us in worship with any particular instrument or instruments, only the hearts of the instrumentalist’s as well as the worshipers responding to the instruments.  That goes for the heart of the preacher giving his message as well.

• After engaging ourselves with the worship, we must fight to stay focused and engaged.  (E.g., [1] fight against distractions (visible or mental) – [2] fight against judging (judging the format or smoothness of worship that was selected – the actions or inactions of others worshiping around you – We need to focus on Christ – His presence – His hopes concerning your worship – His attributes) [3] fight against being passive (E.g., not participating in the prayers – not participating in the singing – Sing and pray to Him – not to those around you – Sing in an attitude of prayer: praise, thanksgiving, repentance, petition…– Sing from your spirit – connect with our Heavenly Father – participate in all aspects of the worship experience) [4] fight against acting in the flesh verses through the Holy Spirit (E.g., trying to create a worship image – trying to worship in a fashion the Holy Spirit is not moving you to – Not being careful not to become a distraction – not feeling you have to copy or compare your worship with that of others—not feel your expression of worship makes you more spiritual.)

God looks at the heart, we look at the man.  You or I can’t judge a person’s worship by their outside (some are very physically expressive, others are not)

But, for those who say they are not emotional, is that really true?  How about watching a game or participating at a child’s or grandchild’s birthday or special event.

Is it simply maybe that when we come to worship we shut our expressive side off, and we become a different person?

The unbelievers certainly know how to get excited about a lot of things.  But, why is it that too many of the people of God think that enthusiasm towards God, (the most worthy activity and investment in the universe) somehow needs to be very carefully contained? 

[Listen] Do you think God is looking down on His worshipers and saying “Way to go man, way to keep it all inside. Way to not let anyone see how much you love Me.  You’re a good worshiper!” 

You’re the one I’m talking about in John 4:23 when I say,  “… the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”

Certainly God allows for different personalities and wirings concerning public physical expressions of emotion.  But at the same time, whatever our personality and wiring is, God wants our max.  He wants us all to fully, wholeheartedly, passionately enter into our worship of Him, without reservation, giving Him our best—intellectually, spiritually, physically, etc.

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[1] Dr. Barackman, Practical Christian Theology, p. 367

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^[1] Smith, G. V. (2007). Isaiah 1–39. (E. R. Clendenen, Ed.) (p. 273). Nashville: B & H Publishing Group.

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