Heaven - Part 2

So we're continuing our study of heaven and as you probably know there's all sorts of misconceptions that people have about heaven. And what are some of those things. Maybe you've heard from somebody where they've described heaven in such a way where it's like.

You know this is not. This is not accurate. This is not. This is not what the bible teaches. Can anyone think of an example or two. Well i always think of those. You know cartoons. I don't know if it was disney or looney tunes or what it was.

Where they're you know they have the wings and they're on the cloud and playing the harp. And i don't know where that idea ever came from. But you don't turn into an angel when you go to heaven. So when a believer passes on they go to be with the lord.

You don't become an angel. And you're not sitting on a cloud and whether or not you play the harp. I i mean i guess that's possible. But uh i think that's. That's uh definitely not the way the bible describes it.

I see a couple hands already. Uh dad you had a. Yeah there's going to be a great rock and roll band up here. Yeah.

I always said when i get to heaven i'm gonna be able to sing and play the piano.

Yeah i mean maybe maybe yeah i've heard that when who was it. It was some you know some rock star died and yeah they're like oh these he's up there jamming with jimmy hendrix and janice joplin. I'm pretty sure that's not what's happening but.

Um i did a spa day recently and i got like the heavenly dreams package. Yeah i just remember the whole time thinking like i think that is better yeah and that like it's a little ungrateful but yeah i feel like that could be a lot better right.

Yeah whatever.

Revelation 21 and the New Jerusalem

You think heaven is like or what people say heaven is like. It's definitely better. So this will be part two of our study on the subject of heaven. So let's once again open to revelation chapter 21. We spent a little time in revelation 21 last week.

And as you know revelation is one of the most avoided books in the new testament. I mean not here at morris court of church it's not but in some churches it is. And that's really unfortunate because it has so much to say about this wonderful subject of heaven and the new heaven and the new earth.

So last time we ended talking about paradise restored. How at the end in eternity. So revelation 21 starts what we refer to as eternity. That's how we are used to describing it. So we talked about how in eternity heaven and earth seem to become one.

But paradise is not only restored. It's even better because now there's no possibility of sin entering in. Look at verse 27. So this is revelation 21 27 it says. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles or causes an abomination or a lie but only those who are written in the lamb's book of life.

Now if you are in heaven and there is a possibility of things going bad again like it did originally in paradise in the garden. I mean that heaven wouldn't be a safe place because there would always be this looming threat.

That's not the way it's going to be. So this is the new heavenly city. Uh it's called new jerusalem. And from what i understand this is the part the heavenly city. This is the part of heaven that was created.

I'm not so sure heaven itself was created but i think the city itself was. Why. Because jesus told his disciples i go to prepare a place for you. That's john 14 1 through 3. So i go and prepare a place that's almost certainly the new jerusalem.

So you have paradise on earth and paradise is surrounding the heavenly city which is in the middle. Go back a few verses talks about the pearly gates the street of gold. Revelation 21 verse 22 it says.

But i saw. So john's describing what he sees in the new heavenly city. And he notices there's no temple there. He says. But i saw no temple in it. For the lord god almighty and the lamb are its temple and the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it for the glory of god illuminated it and the lamb is its light.

So why is there no temple. Well there's no point of having a temple. Because a temple is symbolic for god dwelling among his people. But there's no need for that because god actually is present. So there's no need for a temple.

And there's no need for the sun or the moon or the stars or any artificial light. Because what's lighting up. Yeah it. Well it's the son of god who's lighting everything up. So really heaven is illuminated by the glory of christ.

And this is almost certainly because there's a lot of connections between the first few chapters of genesis. In the last few chapters of revelation you remember in genesis when god said let there be light that was before god created the sun the moon and the stars.

So when god said let there be light that was almost certainly the glory of god or the glory of christ. So that's what will be lighting up. Uh heaven so whatever kind of light that is plenty bright and that's the way it's going to be.

And there's no more sea. So i know some people are kind of bummed out about that. But there is a river in the river. You know i don't know i don't know what's so special about the ocean. Anyways you know i mean i do like i like the ocean.

But swimming in the ocean it's it's overrated. So you can swim in the river i guess. But that's revelation 22. But in the end seriously because of the redemptive work of christ creation has been what.

What's the word we would say it's been begins with an r revived or redeemed. Yes paradise is restored but even better. And the greatest reward of all is not the street of gold or the gates made out of one giant pearl or any of these things.

What's the greatest reward of all. Look at revelation 22 verse 4. This is what theologians call the beatific vision. It says they shall see his face and his name shall be on their foreheads. So the idea most people agree that when they or we see his face whose face are we seeing.

We're seeing god the father's face. I mean that's why it's so special. People have seen the face of christ. Maybe not in all of his glory but people have seen christ. But this is understood to be a vision of god the father which again is one of these things like you can't begin to describe what that is like.

I mean we don't have any categories for that. So this is the christian's greatest reward to see god face to face. Because all throughout the bible you see these statements that man what cannot see god moses got to see god's.

You know backwards parts or whatever his back his shoulder. You know the lord says you cannot see my face and live. But in eternity in heaven we will see god's face. So um any questions on that. We had a lot of questions last time that was good.

So i want to encourage you if you have questions as as we go just raise your hand or we can save them all till the end. So let's address another one. If you don't have a question i'll raise a question.

Will we remember all of this. What do you think. Who says we will remember our former life. Who says we will not remember anything of our former life. Who says we'll remember a little bit. I'm gonna say a little bit.

That's what i yeah well we know our family. Yeah that. And that's the other big question. Will we know our loved ones. So we'll cover that in a second. But let's let's cover this first. Will we remember our former lives.

So look at revelation 21 verse 4 this i don't know that this totally addresses it. But there is a verse that does revelation 21 verse 4 it says. And god will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying.

There shall be no more pain. For the former things have passed away. Then he who sat on the throne said behold i make all things new. And he said to me right. For these words are true and faithful. So i think it's safe to say that there are some things.

I mean if we had our choice there are some things we wouldn't want to remember. Right. You know today you hear a lot about ptsd and i know some people have their questions about that. But you know with traumatic memories things you've gone through it does affect people.

So that kind of thing is going to be not not an issue. So there's going to be some things we wouldn't want to remember. But there are probably things about our life people in our lives that we would want to remember right.

And we can't imagine that in heaven. I'm not going to.

Remember certain things. Joyce did you have a. If you remember your family and then that leads to. But they're not saved and they're not here right. That would be right. Very hard. And that isn't what you tend to think.

Heaven would be right. You know you would.

Be in agony. Right. Yeah. Yeah. And that's that's a question that's built in to all this as well. So what if yeah we were in heaven. We do remember some things some loved ones are there. We do recognize that.

What about people that we love that aren't there. I mean these are all like the biggest questions that people have about heaven. Obviously there's no. If you've read through the new testament or you've read through the bible there's no one verse that just gives you like the plain clear answer to just describe all of this.

So we kind of have to put the pieces together to try to figure it out. So i think just as based on everything i've studied i think we will remember some of our previous life. We will know that we have been redeemed from something but the difficulties the memories that cause us pain he says the former things have passed away.

If we did have a memory of things that maybe we don't want to really think of or dwell of it wouldn't be hurtful because he says there there is no more sorrow. Write this down. Isaiah 65 17 the lord says for behold i create a new heavens in a new earth and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

That's the most specific thing that said. So this world will not be remembered nor will it come to mind now. That doesn't necessarily prove that your mind is going to be completely wiped clean. It's just this is not what you're going to be thinking about.

You're not going to be thinking about. Oh yeah. Way back way back. Then all these other things happen. So let me just read that again. Isaiah 65 17 behold i create a new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

So i would say in general will we remember. No. But i think there will be some knowledge of what came before. How much. Exactly what. I'm not sure. Yes. So i mean to.

Me it's like once we get a new body i think we're getting a new brain. Yeah. But when you think about the transfiguration the the disciples had met they didn't know what roses would and yet they knew that was him right.

So we will know. If that's what i feel it's like we will know people because.

God's gonna make us know right. Yeah you're not going to be flesh and blood in heaven or in the new heaven glorified body. It's a spiritual body. First corinthians 15 says it's a spiritual but i think there's some things you'll just know.

You'll know it in your spirit. So yeah that's a good point. With moses and elijah how would they have known who they are what they look like. Some things you're just gonna sense or know. Yeah a verse that's falling to me right now.

Is matthew 18 how he says to have. Jesus says assuredly i say to you unless you are converted and become as little children you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Yeah. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Right. I don't know is the idea like we will be almost like children. I mean you could say we'll be child.

Like in heaven in the sense that we'll be innocent. But i think what jesus is saying there that you must humble yourself and be like a child. You know when you talk to a little kid they just believe everything you tell them.

You tell them about. Well maybe you don't do it. But mom and dad tells them about santa claus and the easter bunny and all this. You know. Outrageous stuff for i'm not gonna make too many friends with that probably.

But they believe you. Well you could tell them anything and they'll believe you. But that's the idea that we're supposed. We're supposed to look to god in his word and believe it. So the christian who has the holy spirit should be able to open the bible and read all of it any of it and say i believe this.

Now there are some parts it's like i don't understand this. Can you explain this to me. This seems really hard. But we should have that child like faith and just believe what our heavenly father. Don't believe everything christians tell you don't even believe everything the pastor says necessarily.

But believe god like a little child. Okay so that. That's what i think jesus is uh trying to say. So i wondered about. Like because.

You mentioned like how are we there so it's almost like are we to the age that we have that we age.

Right yeah i mean that's something that i don't. Yeah obviously i don't know. I mean if you die at age 90 presumably you're not going to be frail or you know in your 90 year old condition. So are you going to be in your prime at the ideal age.

Like i don't i don't know i mean you could speculate but that's what it would be. I don't see any indication of what what that'll be like. So i don't know i don't think our minds are totally white clear of memories.

Because here's the thing if you have a new body and for some people remember last week we said people who died 1500 years ago there's nothing left. So they really do have a completely new body. And if you had no memories of your former life really on what basis are you.

Even you at that point. This is my response to people who believe in reincarnation right who hold to eastern religion where they say you need to build up karma in this life and then you'll come back at a higher level in the next life.

Because if you came back let's just say for a moment because obviously we don't believe in reincarnation. But if somebody came back as an animal that's not really you. If you're an alligator then you're not you.

Right. But even if you came back as a human being if you have no memory of your former life and a completely different body on what basis are you the same person like there's no consistency at all. It would be no different if you were someone totally different which i think you are.

So reincarnation it just doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. So i think in heaven there has to be some consistency. Even with our resurrected body i just think of jesus he still had the nail prints in his hands.

It could be a unique case. You know it doesn't mean that you're going to have all the same scars that you have now. But there there has to be some connection is what i'm saying. And i think there will be some some sort of memory but radically different.

Obviously radical differences. And they're all for the better. So in heaven you will be you just a lot better better than a lot better. The things of our former life will not be the focus. What's going to be the focus.

God is going to be the focus once you're in the presence of god everything else doesn't really matter that much. I mean think about that. Let's say you face some sort of moses god type situation tonight where you're fake face to face so to speak with god.

Are you gonna be worried about. Hey i left that in the oven and i need to take care. Now you're not gonna be thinking about anything else. It's it's all the lord. So you will be your ideal self. And that means a lot of things have to go.

And that's okay. And more than that and more than all this you will be conformed to the image of christ. Right. This is the goal not just heaven but that we are conformed to the image of christ. That's the whole christian life and sanctification growing in the grace and knowledge of our lord jesus christ.

So in heaven we will be like god. We will. We won't be. We won't be god. You know this isn't mormonism where we become gods or something like that. But we will be like him. Right. We will be like christ.

So that in and of itself is its own reward. Okay. So this leads to the next question. Let's turn to 2nd samuel chapter 12. 2nd samuel 12. I'm going to try to address the two or three questions that were asked a few minutes ago.

But this one will we recognize loved ones in heaven. To answer this you know it really is like a puzzle. You have to put the pieces together to see the big picture. While there is no one bible verse that says yes you will recognize loved ones in heaven.

I think there are indications. The answer will be yes. Few examples. Moses and elijah right appeared on the mount. They were recognizable. When the witch at endor brought up samuel from paradise he was recognized.

They all knew who it was. I don't know how. But they did the story of the rich man and lazarus and luke 16 in paradise they knew. They all knew abraham in the story that jesus tells. They all seem to know who each other are.

So this is what we have to go on. So i would say the answer is yes. And also based on luke 16 just to i want to kind of dispel this myth of universalism. Yes there will be people that we know and even care about presumably who won't be in heaven.

Right. And that's kind of the hard part. Well what how can i enjoy heaven if they're not there again the focus is going to be on god. And the bible clearly says no pain no sorrow. So however that works out it's not going to be an issue.

I know it's hard to kind of get past that here and now. But that's not going to be an issue all right. So you are in second samuel 20. Second samuel 12. Sorry you were right. The first time. Second samuel 12 starting in verse 20 david rose from the ground says.

And washed and anointed himself. What had just happened. His son his little baby child had died. Right. So david washed and anointed himself and he changed his clothes and he went in to the house of the lord and worshiped.

Then he went to his own house and when he had requested they set food before him and he ate. Then his servant 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. You know people say well if i lost this person i could never move on. Well but people do move on and you need to move on. And in heaven we will move on.

If someone's not there we will move on. As hard as that might seem. But david moved on. But he had a hope though. Right. David had a hope. Verse 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. But now he is dead. Why should i fast. Can i bring him back again and notice what he says here i shall go to him but he shall not return to me.

What do you think. David is saying there. Right. He seemed to draw comfort in this idea that he will see his child again someday. And this is another question. Will babies uh young children who die before they reach the age where they can accept christ.

If they die in infancy will they go to heaven. I personally believe the answer is yes. I would i would base that on this. So david says he shall not return to me but i shall go to him. So if david is saying hey the child is gone and i'm going to die someday too i'm going to go to the grave too.

And we'll all just cease to exist sometime. I mean there's no comfort in that. That's obviously not what david is saying. So david believed he would see his child one day and they would be together. And that's the hope that we have as believers that those other christians loved ones that have passed on that we will see them again.

So i you know i made the statement that david isn't saying that. You know he's gone and one day i'll be gone and we'll all cease to exist. You you do realize there are people who say that right now. Right.

So let me address this right now this uh doctrine of soul sleep. Who's heard of soul sleep. Yeah just about everybody. Uh this is the idea because i want to address this because this mean if soul sleep were true then all the christians who have died are not.

They're not in heaven right now. If soul sleep is true who teaches soul sleep. The joe of his witnesses and the seventh day adventists. They are the two groups. And there's other smaller groups like the armstrong cult uh they teach soul sleep.

So uh what's the problem with soul sleep. There should be a few problems like immediately. Um anyone want to take a stab at this. How would you refute that.

The bible says that we when we die our soul goes to heaven. Okay that's not going to sleep.

Yeah all right. Let's turn to second corinthians five. You're on the right track. Because soul sleep is the idea that when you die you're dead. I mean that's it you go out of existence until the resurrection so when jesus comes and whenever that is then you get raised.

But until then. So peter has been peter has ceased to exist for the past 2 000 years or 1900 years. Well that's not true. Okay. Um. But why is it. Because they say well it's called sleep. Right. And we remember we looked at this last time how death is referred to as sleep.

Do you know why it's not. Because there's soul sleep. The bible never uses the term soul sleep. Why is death called sleep.

The body sleeps but there's there it goes to be with the lord. Yeah the body.

Sleeps and it's temporary it's going to wake up so to speak. But how many of you have ever laid in bed with your spouse and you looked at them and man they're so still it doesn't even look like they're breathing and you just kind of nudge them to just to make sure they're alive.

Right. That's why it's called sleep. Because it looks like when someone dies it looks like they're sleeping all. Right. So we're going to look at second corinthians five verses six through eight this is basically the passage absent from the body present with the lord.

This is i think what janet was alluding to that when you die you go to heaven. And that's really what it's saying. Second corinthians 5 6 through 8 it says. So we are always confident knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the lord.

So as long as you're here alive on this earth are we with god right now. No we're absent from the lord where we walk by faith and not by sight. We are confident. Yes well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the lord.

So how are we present with the lord. We have to be absent from the body. Well what's absent from the body. Yeah. Well the soul or the spirit has to leave your body. That's what has to be absent. I mean soul sleep.

People who believe that say this there is no soul. It's just your breath. So the spirit the soul just it's not a thing and it just ceases to exist. Well wait a second. No it says there's something that's absent from the body that has to be the spirit.

And then if you look at revelation 6 there's souls under the altar who don't have their bodies. So as soon as a believer closes their eyes and their heart stops beating that very day you go into the presence of the lord.

That's what jesus told the thief on the cross today you will be with me in paradise. So that's the great hope that we have and it totally destroys this idea of soul sleep. Now i will i will admit there are some verses that the whole concept of soul sleep it's like well yeah that would make sense for this verse and this verse.

But it it totally contradicts several. And that's never been the teaching of the christian church that's been the teaching of the the cults show of his witnesses seventh day adventists in particular. So we have this hope that hey worst case scenario.

And i guess this isn't the way this is not the worst case scenario because there's a lot of things that would be worse but i say worst thing if i die today i go to be with the lord in heaven today. Well that's not that's not a worst case scenario.

I don't want to die today. But if i did i know where i would go. And that kind of gives you a whole new outlook on life because the other half or majority of the world is living with this fear of death.

And maybe that's always kind of in the back of our minds and satan wants to tempt us with the fear of death and everything else. But the christian needs not fear. You need not fear death. Okay any questions on that soul sleep and the resurrection and everything else.

Okay now you will hear people and this is just sort of like a pet peeve. So i'm just gonna mention this just because it's sort of like the rock and roll you know jimmy hendrix and janice joplin are jamming in heaven.

That that irritates me when i hear that i have to be honest with you all. Right. Here's the other thing people will say. Well because none of them live for god and there's no evidence that they were saved.

So when people say that it's like what you just think everyone goes to people. People don't have to believe in jesus. That's what i hear. But anyways but people say well when i go to heaven i'm gonna do this and i'm gonna do that.

And i'm gonna it's like well i don't know if that's really the way it's gonna work. Yeah or here's one. Well when i get to heaven i'm gonna i have a few things. I'm gonna ask the lord. You know things that happen that i don't like or agree with or don't understand that i'm gonna ask god.

I'm gonna ask jesus some. You're not going to be questioning jesus my friend if anything he's going to be questioning us. So let's turn to romans 14. This leads to the next thing the the judgment. Now on the one hand believers escape the judgment.

So revelation 20 talks about the great white throne judgment. We do not face the judgment. Jesus died for all of our sins. We will never be punished for our sins praise god. But we do face a judgment of rewards.

So it's not like judgment in like the worst sense that you think of it. But there is an evaluation maybe you could say based on our christian life and service romans 14 10 through 13. So when we get to heaven at some point before the new heaven and new earth this takes place.

People kind of argue about when it takes place. But paul writes. But why do you judge your brother. Or why do you show contempt for your brother. For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of christ.

Now remember that remember i brought up all means all remember that thing. Who's who's the all. Here shall every human being who's ever lived stand before the judgment seat of christ. No all believers.

So paul is writing to believers all means all saved people will stand before the judgment seat of christ. For it is written as i live says the lord every knee shall bow to me. And every tongue shall confess to god.

So maybe as soon as you get to heaven you think you're going to be doing all this. No you're going to be bowing. Okay you're going to be bowing for a while probably before anything else. But he says in verse 12.

So then each of us shall give account of himself to god. That's pretty clear statement. Each of us shall give account of himself to god. There used to be this person who it's. Anytime i brought this up they say i'm not worried about the judgment seat of christ.

I'm not worried about rewards. I'm just worried about getting to heaven. I don't care about all this stuff. Well you're going to give account for saying that. That's the that's the wrong attitude. We should work for rewards.

Not for some selfish motive but it's for the glory of god. And then he rewards us. And then you could argue in revelation 4 we believers cast their crowns before his feet and all the rest. But he clearly says we shall give an account to god.

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore but rather resolve this not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. And this doesn't mean you can never tell someone they're wrong.

Okay that's that's not what it is. But before you do that before you judge someone else. And there's a good type of judgment bad type of judgment. We've talked about this before you judge someone. You should just remember i'm gonna have to stand before god one day too and give an account.

And that helps put things in perspective. So i could say more about the judgment seat of christ. I have a video on my youtube channel pastor michael grant. The video is titled the judgment seat of christ.

Or it's like 42 minutes. You can listen to that if you wanted more. But the point is we're not questioning god. And before we have this list of our agenda when we get to heaven. Yeah that's all out the window.

You're going to be doing something else. Probably. Okay. Uh how much longer we got. 10 minutes. All right. We might be able to finish everything i was hoping to get through. So let's shift gears for a moment.

One thing that i don't want is to kind of compress everything into one idea of heaven. Because remember the word heaven means different things can refer to the sky outer space. And then the third heaven the dwelling place of god.

Right. So even heaven as in the dwelling place of god where christians go when they die. Even heaven itself can refer to different stages different phases different places. I already alluded to this. How in the beginning before adam sin adam sin paradise and heaven may have been tied together.

Then there's the separation in the future there's eternity new heaven and new earth. But that's here that's here. We're not at either place right now. Right. We are in what theologians call the intermediate state.

So i know that's sort of a technical term. But right now heaven is different from what it was. And right now heaven is different from what it will be. So you understand that heaven changes if you will.

Or at least how we experience heaven will change. Mark this apple pie is heavenly. Would you put that in a category. No. I would recommend you say something else to describe the apple pie. It's not. It's not.

It might be really good. It's not heavenly. I guess it's better than saying it's sinful. This chocolate cake is just so decadent or sinful. I don't know. I don't know if one's better than the other. But you know.

And we use the word these words. Uh i think when people use the word hell like in a flippant manner a lot of people consider that cussing. Right. That's like swearing. You shouldn't say hell just off the tip of your tongue.

Is heaven the same thing. I mean the jews were very careful. Or we i think we should be careful about how we talk about heaven. You know i don't want to be too hard on people. But uh how we speak about these things it should be reverently.

I think. So going back to the apple pie comment any anything else any people see that differently. You know some people are new christians. They've never even thought about this. Cut them some slack. You know a pastor probably shouldn't be talking like that.