A HEAVENLY PERSPECTIVE #5
UNLIKE ANYTHING WE KNOW
Revelation 21:1-7
We are going to continue our series about HEAVEN: Its important for us to Understand & Remember that there is an eternity…
After this life we will go some where… of course We want that place to be heaven… But we need to understand that THIS LIFE is
impacting the next: Our choices/words/actions/relationships/appetites… They will take us some where-
Jesus: Greatly impacts our eternity: What we think about him/are we living for him/have we put our faith in him/are we surrendered to
him/Have you been forgiven by Him…
Today we are going to look at this idea that Heaven isn't like anything we know in this life… there may be some familiarities, but
heaven is SO DIFFERENT from earth, this life, how we live.
Revelation 21:1-7
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they
shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4 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."
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and
faithful."
6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of
life freely to him who thirsts.
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
I THE FORMER THINGS PASSED
A- The world we know today (June 2020); Isn't the world God created
1. Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
a. GOOD= Pleasant, & Excellent in every way!
i. It was pure, right, perfect in every way-
2. But; we know the history: Sin entered the world- Sin corrupted the world.
a. Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make
one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
i. Here is the act of rebellion against Gods word that changed creation- God said DO NOT EAT the fruit of the tree
ii. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men,
because all sinned.
1. Death spread to ALL MEN… All Humanity-
3. From that moment the CURSE OF SIN Fell on the world! Upon all creation-
a. Romans 8:20-22 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because
the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know
that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
i. Creation (Nature) is waiting to be free from the curse of sin-
b. This curse is at work in people: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death,
i. Works out in physical death: People die b/c its the curse of sin at work in the human body.
1. Sickness is the result of SIN: Understand you aren't sick b/c you've sinned, its the overall curse at work (Job teaches us that
sickness is HELL inspired).
ii. Works out in spiritual death: Addictions, Brokenness, Oppression,
1. Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to
heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
This text details Spiritual issues at work in people… the result of sin.
iii. Works out in human emotion: Fear, Hatred, Rage, Jealousy (Our emotions (God given) operate under sin.
1. James 4:1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?
2. James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. True joy is replaced by pleasure/instant
gratification/instant satisfaction.
iv. Works out in our rebellion against God!
1. James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. Know right, but do wrong
2. Romans 7:15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
B- So; This is the fallen world we know/function in/battle through… Well; HEAVEN ISNT LIKE THAT!
1. Revelation 21:4 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.”
a. The former things have passed- Every familiar way of life; how we process it/how we feel/what we deal with/how we live will be
done away with-
b. Its like NOTHING we’ve ever known or experienced.
2. So; What is the biggest difference? THE ABSENCE OF SIN-
a. The curse of Sin is what creates the chaos we see- It rules and reigns on this earth… The bible tells us the reason!
i. But in Heaven God rules and reigns… Sin doesn't exist-
ii. Revelation 21:27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are
written in the Lamb’s book of life. Sin is removed- Only those who have dealt with their sin will enter.
iii. Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. These are done away with!
b. One of Heaven’s Hopes: is the absence of SIN… We cannot accurately imagine this- Its unlike anything we know
II HEAVEN: A PLACE OF TRANSFORMATION
a. So; what this teaches us is that Heaven is a place where transformation takes place- Lets examine 3
A- Transformation of Body: The body we know and live in is under the curse of sin… In heaven it will be w/o sin.
1. So; This means that Salvation is PARTIAL & an ongoing WORK
a. Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Until you meet Jesus we are a work in progress.
i. Im not what I was, and Im not yet what I will be.
2. So; heaven is a place of transformation: 1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has
put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” In other words when we
are transformed in the presence of God; Death: physical or spiritual will be done!
a. 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
3. God has a plan for this body! This body thats been through sin, scarred and marked up by life… He will restore!
a. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. At the rapture: Body & all will be carried up to heaven! &
We will be transformed!
i. 1 Corinthians 15:52-53 NLT For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are
living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be
transformed into immortal bodies.
B- Transformation of Worship: Right now we worship an UNSEEN God…
1. So How do we see God? How do we know He is real? How do we know He is alive?
a. First is through changed lives! People who have come into contact with the Gospel & surrendered to Jesus. CHANGED!
b. 1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: Manifestation= Expression,
Exhibition, Disclosure… Gift ministry helps us SEE God!
2. But in Heaven: God is SEEN!
a. Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes… This will definitely change our worship!
b. 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.
i. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ
appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
ii. Revelation 21:3 God Himself will be with them.
c. We cant even begin to imagine!
C- Transformation of Citizenship: We will be IN the KOG
1. Hebrews 13:14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. That which is to come!
a. America is great, Prescott is great… But HEAVEN in beyond!
2. Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our
lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. This is a way of life- Living
with heaven in our sights-
3. Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the
household of God, As citizens of Heaven… We are then representatives of Heaven, until we’re called home.
D- All of this speaks to the transformation of our relationship with God!
1. In heaven: It will be SO DIFFERENT from what we know now.
III NEW HEAVEN & NEW EARTH
A- Text speaks of a greater hope- uses the word NEW
1. Revelation 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away
a. New means: Unused/Novel…
b. This could be the experience of some Christians: Life with Jesus- Amazing/Life in the end times- Crazy but a privilege/Experience
the rapture- I hope so/Life in Paradise-The current heavenly realm/Marriage supper of the Lamb/Life in the millennial reign- When God
fulfills his purpose with this world/Life in the new heaven & new earth
B- This is spoken so we can prepare for it-
1. We want to make it! Your salvation is worth WHATEVER IT TAKES!
a. The best is always ahead of us. STAY SAVED.
