November 30, 2003

Rev. Jeff French

“Heaven: Our Eternal Home”
Passage: Rev. 20:11-22:7 Focus: Rev. 20:11-21:8

Considering the Scripture:
Read Rev. 20:11-15. How is the last judgment described? What are the two books mentioned in this passage? In which book would your name be found today? Why do you think that and how does that make you feel?

Read Rev. 21:1-7. What presently causes you the most frustration and pain? Are these things present in the description of the new heaven and new earth? What is mentioned in this description that would bring you the most joy? How does this compare to your experience of life in the here and now?

Read Rev. 21:8. This terse verse lists a number of actions, which lead to “second death.” What is your reaction to this verse? What hope is there for people who have done these things? Is there a chance to repent (to turn from something) at the last judgment? What should a person do in the present if they have acted in any of these ways?

Read Rev. 21:9-27. How is God’s holy city described? Are the jewels, gold, and riches of the city important in and of themselves or do they point toward the incredible nature of the city? What is focus point of the city? Who is left outside the splendor of this city according to vs. 27? Would you like to find yourself in a place like this? Why or why not?

Other Key Passages: Matthew 5:11-12, 6:19-21, 13:36-43, 22:1-14, 24:29-31, & 25:31-46; Mark 10:17-27 & 12:24-27; Luke 16:19-31 & 23:32-43; John 14:1-7; Romans 8:18-25; 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 & 15:42-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 3:17-21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Hebrews 12:14-29; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 2 Peter 3:1-15; Revelation 7:9-17 & 19:1-10.

Message Outline:
I. What heaven is like?

II. What will we be like?

III. How do we respond?

Action Points
· Change your perspective
· Order your life
· Share your faith

Quotes to Consider:
“ He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
--- missionary Jim Elliot

“What makes heaven heaven is God. It is being there with him. With his presence comes peace and contentment, a fulfillment, a sense that all is well. That is also a contentment that bubbles over into the rest of life. We can anticipate this future in the presence of God, we can be with him in a place where everything he wants happens the way he wants it to happen. And that affects this life as well.”
--- author Leith Anderson in “Next Life in the House of the Lord”

“I have hope in the future. The Bible speaks about bodies being glorified. I know the meaning of that now. It’s the time after my death here when I, the quadriplegic, will be on my feet dancing.”
--- Joni Eareckson Tada

“I hope to grow rich in heaven by taking care of orphans on earth.”
--- 18th Century preacher George Whitefield

“Heaven is a place of unutterable glory, joy, and peace. Its most prominent feature are tranquility, holiness, light, beholding, happiness, and the presence of the Lord. Heaven is full and endless participation in God’s own goodness and happiness. Those ‘whose names are written in heaven’ have ‘come to God.’ They are ‘the spirits of righteous men made perfect’ (Heb. 12:23), whose every redeemed power and capacity is reaching its goal.”
--- theologian Thomas Oden in Life in the Spirit

“Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water . . . If I find myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove the universe is a fraud. Probably, earthly pleasures where never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.”
--- author C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

Interesting Statistics:
Americans who believe that religion can answer all or most of today’s problems: 67%
who believe that religion is largely old-fashioned and out of date: 20%
who agree “There will be a day when God judges whether you go to heaven or hell” 79%
--- CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll conducted December 1999