Going Deeper - Gary Johnson - What the Bible Says About Heaven

all right hey we got enough people here we're gonna go ahead and get started we want to thank you for coming out this evening uh if Genesis is your church welcome back if you attend our Carmel campus welcome here if uh maybe Genesis isn't your church and a friend invited you tonight uh maybe you heard about this through social media thanks for coming out to Be Our Guest here this evening I don't know about you I grew up in a church with Sunday night services so to be in the building on a Sunday night feel like we need to like have a hymn sing for a little bit first and pass the offering plate again right we should probably do that and but we're not going to do that this evening but we want to welcome you to this event we call it going deeper we've done probably three or four of these now over the last year year and a half going deeper for us is just an opportunity to bring in great teachers and guests to speak on different topics and tonight we are so excited to have Gary Johnson with us Gary has written a book on Heaven amongst some other things that he's written and by the way he's got some resources here tonight so we'll take a break in a little bit if you want to come check those out or at the end of the evening those will be available but let me tell you about Gary and then I'm getting out of the way so he can come up and teach for us but Gary and I have become friends over the last year he served the Creek Church down on the Southeast side of Indianapolis for something like 30 years retired from there now leads a Ministry called effective Elders where he and his team come along alongside churches like genesis to help support and encourage Coach and he's been doing that for me and for our Elder team we we desire we want to be biblical welders we want to we want to be servants as Jesus has called us to be certain so we want to have we want to be as effective as we can be as a church and so it's been so fun to get to know Gary and sure appreciate his friendship and Leadership he's got some good things for us tonight I'll let him tell you a little bit more about himself but before I welcome him to the stage let me pray and then we're going to get rolling okay Heavenly Father thanks for this evening and thank you for this building where we can meet tonight Lord for our church family for all those that are here and most importantly your presence Lord and for your word and we thank you for Gary uh for his heart for his ministry his relationship with you and all of the studying that he's done over the years and for how you've prepared him tonight Lord to be able to share and to encourage us and so will you guide and direct him and would you open up our minds and our hearts to be able to hear from you in a powerful way and to respond to it Lord let it change our lives tonight and in the days to come we are looking forward to it and we thank you and praise you in Jesus name amen would you join me in welcoming Gary Johnson to the stage thank you Paul hey Church it's a privilege to be back with you I had an opportunity to be up on the North side a few weeks ago at Pastor Paul's invitation to bring the word on a Sunday morning and I'm really looking forward to sharing with you about this place called heaven and what we're going to do and we're going to be real casual this is just a time of learning and uh if you learn better standing up what not whatever there's plenty of room in the back and along the side walls we're going to be casual we will take a bio break in the middle all right so don't think that we're going to be sitting here for two hours now what we're going to do is we're going to focus well let's go back I want to see if we can get up here we go uh the word of God says much about heaven and it is a destination that you and I can know that we can be clear and confident regarding there's a great deal of misinformation when it comes to heaven and perhaps over the years we just hear people saying uh innocent statements such as oh grandma died and I'm so glad she saw my wedding today you know people think that individuals loved ones are watching us from heaven well that that's found nowhere in the scripture that kind of teaching if Grandma loved the wedding what'd she think about the honeymoon all right okay we got to remember we got to be consistent with our Theology and why people sometimes believe that people are watching from Heaven is because of a verse in Hebrews chapter 12 in verse 1 Hebrews 12 it says therefore um since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses so they're Witnesses they're sitting on the clouds they're watching us no that's a complete misinterpretation of the context of that passage another common misunderstanding oh when I when a little one dies when a baby passes away oh God needed another angel bad theology innocent comment but when when children die they do not become Angels it's nowhere to be found in the word of God what we want to do in these two hours we want to clear up perhaps some misunderstanding about heaven and uh maybe walk away with all the clear and even all the more excitement about this trip of a lifetime now as we get into the word tonight what we want to understand is uh I want to start with this story that comes out of New Zealand New Zealand does not have that many Christians it's a country with a lot of missionaries and and what a a young couple fell in love and they got married and they used first John 4 18 for the theme of their wedding these two Believers perfect love casts out all fear the preacher used it in the ceremony it was on the invitation it was even on the napkins at the reception the bride ordered it to be on the side of her wedding cake first John 4 18. she was thrilled when she walked into her reception and she saw all of these people taking pictures of her wedding cake well when she and her new husband went up to Cut the Cake The Baker not being a believer left off this number one didn't understand the importance of that there in New Zealand and so instead just had John 4 18 which says the fact is you've had five husbands and the one you now have is not your husband see that missing that little detail missing that little detail completely changes uh an understanding we're going to look at some details this evening in the word of God when it comes to heaven now Paul the Apostle he made this statement No I have seen no ear has heard no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him what we're about to explore is beyond our human understanding our human comprehension there are no words in language that can adequately describe heaven we'll talk about that a little bit about how long is eternity now a lot of information in the Bible specifically about heaven is found in the Book of Revelation particularly the last two chapters chapter 21 in chapter 22. we could actually say the single longest passage in the Bible one passage about heaven single longest one is revelation 21 and 22 we're going to unpack uh much of that tonight now something to remember about Revelation in studying scripture hermeneutics is a class that somebody in seminary would take or teach and hermeneutics simply put is the science of biblical interpretation There Are Rules we must follow when interpreting the Bible There are rules to be followed if we don't follow these rules we're going to have all manner of different interpretations of scripture now when it comes to the Book of Revelation we have to remember that it is apocalyptic meaning it's full of images as a matter of fact there are four books in the Bible that are apocalyptic Daniel Zechariah Ezekiel and Revelation the only one in the New Testament it's full of symbols and those symbols can be numbers they can be colors they can be images and they all have meaning for example if I said what is the perfect number in scripture anybody know that number seven exactly seven means complete listen carefully how this speaks to us the Beast the Antichrist has a number on his forehead what is that number 666. the number six now what's the number seven mean what did we just say it means complete if number seven is complete number six is incomplete that's the meaning of that number incomplete and the evil one the Antichrist 666 incomplete oh my goodness incomplete and we're talking really incomplete outside of Christ that's how numbers work in the Book of Revelation red always represents blood white always represents Purity holiness numbers colors images all have meaning in apocalyptic literature so we have to remember that when we are dealing with the Book of Revelation all of that just to say uh this is where we're going now this evening we're going to have two major uh discussions first of all we're going to talk about when you and I depart planet Earth to go to heaven because when somebody dies something happens immediately at the point of death and and all of us should understand what happens to me the moment I draw my last breath that's what we're going to talk about before our bio break then after our bio break we're going to come back and we're going to talk about destination details it's kind of like taking a trip of a lifetime maybe we're working towards retirement we're going to take that cruise through Alaska we're excited and the trip doesn't start once we get to Alaska the trip starts when we leave the Indianapolis Airport when we depart that's when the trip begins not when we arrive so what we're going to do is talk first of all our departure take a break and come back and talk about the destination now in first Thessalonians turn with me in your Bible to first Thessalonians chapter four and this is where the Apostle Paul is giving to the church in thessalonica some real encouragement because there was confusion there people did not know what had happened to their loved ones as a matter of fact if we begin in verse 13 Brothers we don't want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep to fall asleep was a euphemism a kind gentle way of saying that somebody had died passed away we don't want you to be uninformed in that word ignorant in Greek means uninformed we don't want you to be uninformed or misunderstand what has happened to those who have fallen asleep who have passed away in Jesus and then he has this wonderful long passage and in that passage he uses this phrase and the dead in Christ will rise first now over the centuries people have looked at that phrase will rise first and in their mind they immediately went to oh will rise that must mean they're going to rise from their graves as a matter of fact people for many years have been buried facing the east in cemeteries and why are they buried facing the East what rises in the East the Sun and Jesus is said to be coming back from the East and and why is that it's based on this thinking oh I'm going to be raised from Six Feet Under out of the grave and what that is given to is this doctrine of what is called Soul sleep that when somebody dies they immediately bam their soul falls asleep in the grave stay with me now I'm not saying that this is what I believe all right but that's where it comes from very similar over in First Corinthians chapter 15. this is where the Apostle Paul says the trumpet will sound the dead will be raised in perishable there's that thinking again the dead will be raised ah guess that when I die my soul falls asleep and it's asleep it's inanimate in the grave well I have a problem with that and here's why uh Jesus said to the thief on the cross I tell you the truth today you'll be with me where in Paradise not asleep in the grave your soul will not be inanimate in the grave you're going to be with me in Paradise Ergo I do not believe in the doctrine of Soul sleep we'll get to what I believe is a logical and right interpretation in just a moment even in the account of Lazarus and the rich man the time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side all right Lazarus who died and this is not a parable this is a story that Jesus is recounting this beggar Lazarus died and the angels carried him to Paradise to Abraham's side Abraham's bosom depending on the version that you use now the rich man also died and where was he in hell where he was what in torment so the last breath for that that unbeliever the rich man was not that his soul would lie animate inanimate in the grave no he was in a very definitive place just as was Lazarus now so the doctrine of Soul sleep that's what some people believe that something happens but I believe there are texts that counter that line of thinking here's another thought the Roman Catholic Church developed centuries ago the doctrine of purgatory the doctrine of purgatory now that word Purgatory means to purge I've got the Catholic catechism on my shelf and I've looked it up just to be sure and it does say indeed that when a person dies they do not go to heaven they go to purgatory and in purgatory their their sins are purged by a loved one doing something here and then whatever is done here will Purge finally their sin and they'll go to heaven now I have a problem with that because Jesus again from the cross what did he say it is finished now that word finished is a business term I before I went into uh Seminary and became a preacher 40 years ago I my undergraduate degree was in business and I was a banker and uh if if a customer came in a farmer let's say and that farmer was paying off uh a note or he could not his six-month production note he he just planted his crops earlier in the spring and the Harvest was horrible and he came in and he said I cannot pay off my six-month production note uh I'll have to renew that debt that principal so I would go into the Vault get out the the note and I would stamp it paid by renewal see he's paying the interest but he's rolling the debt forward for another six months now if he had a great harvest and he would come in and he would pay that debt off along with the interest I would stamp it paid in paid in full exactly and that's what that word means it is finished Jesus bam when he declares from the cross paid in full he's not referring to his life it's finished my life is over no he's saying your sin debt and mine it's finished it's done all of our sin debt has been paid in full with the death of Jesus Christ on the cross taking the Wrath and the Rage of God so this doctrine of purgatory that something more has to be done to move a person into Paradise into heaven with God that means then that the cross of Jesus was not enough and I don't know about you but I have a major problem with that and I have friends who are Catholic friends for whom I care and this makes a great coffee conversation okay and and I just pose the question tell me tell me about purgatory and how you see that tell me where in the Bible is it to be found because it's not it's nowhere to be found all right so it's not the doctrine of Soul sleep where our soul eyes in the grave asleep inanimate until the second coming of Jesus and and it's certainly not the doctrine of purgatory so just then what is our departure from this life what happens when you and I draw our last breath well I believe with all of my heart second Corinthians 5 8 we are confident I say and I would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord Last Breath here first breath there instantaneously now think about your loved ones who have died in the Lord maybe Mom Dad Grandma Grandpa whomever somebody died whom you loved dearly and they loved Jesus even more you can be very confident that that loved one is home with who the Lord Last Breath your first breath there now this is called the doctrine of the intermediate state think with me for a moment the fullness of Heaven has not yet happened just like if Paul is doing a wedding right here and uh the wedding is done he pronounces them husband and wife they kiss they hug Etc and it's off to the reception that that wonderful catered dinner all right and uh what happens is I don't know about you Paul I've done a lot of weddings and I go to a reception and Leah and I were waiting waiting waiting pictures are taking 10 hours back at the church come on and uh there's fried chicken and mashed potatoes and green beans and and I'm going up and Leah says get in your seat you can't I I can't start eating any of that food until who comes the bride and the groom have got to show up see the party doesn't happen until the bride and the groom show up so the fullness of Heaven happens when the bride who's the bride the church and the groom who's the groom Jesus are together again and when does that happen at his Second Coming at the second coming of Jesus the wedding supper of the lamb happens that's when the party happens so until that time it's not the fullness of Heaven now connect the dots a little bit if somebody says oh Grandma she's home with the Lord she loved Jesus she's walking streets of gold no not yet because streets of gold are described in Revelation chapter 21 and chapter 21 is after who do you think comes back Jesus so the full I call it the fullness of Heaven the fullness of Heaven happens after the second coming of Jesus so right now our loved ones who are home with the Lord they are in what is called the intermediate state they're Home With Jesus and we're going to unpack what that looks like now and Jesus says to the thief today you'll be with me in Paradise it's the intermediate State now where is this well Paul and this is this is easy for us to understand when we take a look at different texts in second Corinthians Paul said I once knew a man who had been caught up to the third heaven he saw things that were inexpressible to whom was he referring himself that's right he was referring that's a style of writing back then I once knew a man caught up to the third heaven well what's this third heaven step are there three Heavens no this is easy to understand in Psalm 68 verse 8 it says that the heavens poured down rain what's that sound like the sky right out here it rained today and where did that rain originate in the heavens the first heaven so you and I look at our atmosphere the sky that's the first Heaven from which rain falls and snow falls the first heaven then in the Psalms we read also in Chapter 19 Verse 1 the heavens declare the glory of God this is just one of many passages what do you think that text is referring to the Sun the moon the stars the celestial the planets comets Etc and that would be the second heaven so the first Heaven our atmosphere our sky and then the second heaven the celestial declares the glory of God so the third heaven I once knew a man caught up to the third heaven that is the home of God the Abode of God beyond the celestial and Paul he says to be absent from the body is to be home with the Lord when you and I or our loved ones when we when we die and we draw our last breath we are home with the Lord the Abode of God beyond the celestial and that's called the intermediate State not the fullness of Heaven yet because that happens when at the second coming of Jesus now this is something that you and I want to to read very carefully let's go to Revelation last book of the Bible and Revelation listen carefully is not a difficult book to understand in 60 seconds I'm going to give you the whole story of Revelation ready in chapter 2 verse 10 the very last sentence of verse 10 says be faithful even to the point of death and I will give you the Crown of Life and who said that what's his name starts with a J that would be Jesus be faithful to the point of death and I'll give you the crown of life now that's the theme of Revelation think of it this way Genesis there was a guy by the name of Joseph who had a code of many colors and that guy had more than one dream but each of these different dreams all had the same meaning you're going to bow down to me the the sheaves of grain bow downed uh to him hey you're going to bow down the sun moon and stars bow down you're going to bow down to me same thing with Pharaoh more than one dream but with the same meaning that's the Book of Revelation there are going to be Seven Seals that are broken great suffering but that last seal who comes back what's his name Jesus they're going to be seven trumpets blown and with those seven trumpets there's great suffering horrific suffering but the blowing of that last trumpet who comes back that would be Jesus they're going to be seven bowls of Wrath all dumped out great suffering great suffering but in the end who comes back Jesus three visions very different but all with the same meaning there will be suffering hardship difficulty in life but hold on be faithful loved one because in the end bam I come back and I will give you the Crown of Life there's Revelation all right that's it it's got to be easy enough for us to understand it it's got to be easy enough to speak into our lives today now we're going to be in chapter 19. we're going to pick up here in verse 7. this is the second coming of Jesus notice in verse 7. let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory for the wedding of the Lamb has come wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride who's the bride the church the bride has made herself ready now check this out fine linen bright and clean was given her to wear and fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the Saints very important that we see that the church was given fine linen bright and clean given her to wear now let's go on in the text I saw down in verse 11 Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse whose Rider is called faithful and true with Justice he judges and makes War his eyes are like blazing fire and on his head are many crowns he has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself who do we think that might be any guesses who that might be the rider of the horse I think that sounds a lot like Jesus let's go on in the text he is dressed in a robe ah here's another clue dipped in blood uh and uh his name is the word of God the armies of Heaven look carefully the armies of Heaven were following him riding on white horses dressed in fine linen white and clean who is that the church so what you and I want to understand is when a loved one has died they are immediately and they die in the lord they're immediately aware home with the Lord and someday God's going to say today's the day you're going back Jesus and he's coming back to wage war it's called The Battle of starts with an a battle of Armageddon it's the last battle to end the war between good and evil and Jesus is this conquering King on that white horse and who is coming with him an army and army now hold that thought and the Army is everyone who is home with the Lord already a believer then notice coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the Nations he'll rule them with an iron scepter he Treads The Wine Press of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty and on his robe and honest thigh he has this name written King of Kings Lord of lords that is undeniably Jesus now let's go back to first Thessalonians chapter four we're going to connect the dots so when it talks about and the dead in Christ will rise first is that you know from Six Feet Under no not at all verse 13 chapter 4 of first Thessalonians Brothers we don't want you to be ignorant uninformed about those who fall asleep or to grieve like the rest of men who had no hope don't be confused about those loved ones who have died we believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him they're going to come as a what an army when Paul says he's going to bring with Jesus God is those who are home with him they're rising up as an army and according to the Lord's own word verse 15 we tell you that we who are still alive and who are left until the coming of the Lord will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep those who have fallen asleep those who have died who are home in the Lord we're not going to get uh at ahead of the line they're coming back with him verse 16 for the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command with the voice of the Archangel with a trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ and where are the dead in Christ are they in the grave no they are where whom with the Lord and the dead in Christ will rise first so that end in Christ will rise up as a what as an army to Vanquish the enemy the evil one that's what that passage means the dead in Christ to our home with the lord they're not asleep in the grave they're going to rise up as a conquering Army and then finish the text says uh and after that we who are still alive and are left we who are still alive on planet Earth we will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will be with the Lord forever therefore encourage each other with these words so there's no need for confusion when I die my last breath here becomes my first breath there in the presence of the Lord and I'm with him and I'm with him and I'm with him and someday God's going to say you're going back Jesus today's the day and we who are home with the Lord we're going to rise up with him as a conquering Army we come back believers who are still alive on planet Earth are going to be caught up with them in the uh with us in the air and we're gonna bam we're going to get rid of the enemy once and for all he's going to be cast into the Lake of Fire that's the intermediate State now think about loved ones who are there this is what we can know confidently that they're doing right now have you ever wondered what Dad or Mom or Grandma Grandpa are doing or maybe that grandchild that you buried or that child that best friend have you ever wondered what are they doing well this we can know for sure from scripture the intermediate state is three things it's a place with identity it's a place of togetherness and it's a place with complete awareness I've had people ask me many a Time Gary well we know one another in heaven absolutely we will know one another in heaven we maintain our identity well how do we know that case in point in the gospel of Mark as well as elsewhere Jesus with just about six months to live he goes mountain climbing and he goes to the top of the Mount of anybody remember Transfiguration did he go alone no he took with him three buddies James Peter and John the Inner Circle they go mountain climbing and they're at the top of the amount of transfiguration and they met up with somebody who did they meet up with anybody remember Moses and Elijah that's exactly correct and the three guys Peter James and John they recognize them and Peter excuse me Elijah and Moses they've been dead for a long time for centuries they're home with the Lord and yet they were fully what recognizable [Music] I guess they recognize him from their yearbook pictures or from Snapchat or something I guess I don't know but no they they maintained their what their identity and likewise our loved ones who are home with the Lord they've maintained their identity absolutely I have a I'm one of three boys but we three boys we had an older sister the firstborn of our family and our sister's name is Mary lived one day and then she died I've never met Mary and I'm going to meet Mary and I'm going to know Mary the very moment I arrive in heaven Jesus we're going to be raised just like him did they recognize Jesus when he was raised from the dead absolutely they doubted it verse such as Thomas but he maintained his identity and we're going to be raised just like him now let's break down this togetherness and awareness a little bit more as a matter of fact over in Revelation chapter 6. this is the first of the three visions this is the seals the Seven Seals and here John writes when he Jesus remember Jesus is the Lamb looking as if it had been slain he's the one who was found worthy to open the seals when he Jesus opened the fifth seal John he saw under the altar The Souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained now stop and think with me the altar that word altar is a great symbol it's full of imagery that altar was right outside the temple holy Place remember and on that altar they offered sacrifices and then there was the Holy place and then there was the what place the most holy place and that who was in The Most Holy place God himself that represented God's presence among them in other words this altar is a picture of intimacy with God these ones who are there in heaven are intimately close to God and and notice what's going on they they called out in a loud voice how long Sovereign Lord holy and true until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood these were Martyrs who had been slain because of their testimony their belief in Jesus their belief in God and they're crying out how long Sovereign Lord until you avenge our blood then notice this then each of them was given out white robe they were told to wait a little longer until the full number of their fellow servants their brothers and sisters were killed just as they had been this is a peak into what's going on in the Abode of God right now this is a peak a glimpse into activity that's taking place right now where your loved ones are and mine at home with the Lord as a matter of fact we could break it down this way those who are home with the Lord in the intermediate state they're having two-way conversation right now with the Lord that's what that passage teaches those individuals were able to say to the Lord how long Sovereign lord they're having conversation with him and that would be true for any one of our loved ones in heaven people are rational and emotional how long Sovereign Lord until you avenge our blood there's emotion there there's rational thought there so don't think that heaven is just some ethereal Cloud experience it's a very real place with real experience people are remembered for their faithfulness these were the ones who had been killed because of their testimony and of their uh their absolute faithfulness the word of God people will be remembered for their faithfulness each were given a white robe that word each speaks volumes it shouts volumes in other words there is individuality in heaven right now your grandma your mom your dad your brother your dear friend your child has individual intimacy with their creator and sustainer right now they're not just a number remember the three omnis of God is omnipotent meaning what he's all-powerful God is omniscient meaning what he's all-knowing he can look from before creation to Long pass the end of measured time all in a single glance he's all-knowing omniscient but he's also Omni present he is everywhere at the same time my grandmother brought me to Jesus as a kid and I can hardly wait to see her and she's got all of this individual time with her Creator savior right now just like your grandma does just as if they were the only ones there and that's what they're enjoying In This Moment individuality and a long for justice they want God to send Jesus back come quickly Lord Jesus Revelation chapter 22. all right now so you are here if we die before the second coming in other words if we check out before Jesus Checks In we are Indian intermediate State our last breath here becomes our first breath there we are in the presence of God his Abode his home a place of indescribable Splendor of Peace Jesus called it today you'll be with me in Paradise a word that even means Garden in Greek all right and this is the intermediate State not the fullness of heaven so when a Believer dies before the return of Jesus our departure here's our departure we're at home with the Lord in a place of comfort the fullness of Heaven Is Yet To Come now before we take a break you and I need to understand something we cannot study Talk Of Heaven without mentioning what hell similarly when a non-believer dies when a non-believer dies before the return of Jesus that person instantaneously is away from the Lord in a place of Torment and the fullness of hell is yet to come at the second coming of Jesus now let me unpack that just a little bit it's more thoroughly explained in a book up here that I'll share with you in just a minute do you remember in the Book of Revelation chapter 20 there is a passage about the great white Throne of judgment it's very clear and it should not confuse any of us it's it's very easy to understand again when we look at Revelation as apocalyptic litter full of literature full of images so the the great white Throne judgment Revelation 20 and here was this throne and there was a judge in the judges almighty God and it says everybody appeared at judgment everybody so that means people who were in Hell already in heaven in the intermediate heaven with God in a place of great comfort everybody's brought Before the Throne of judgment it says that in different places in the Bible and it says then in Romans 20 the dead were judged according to what had been written down in the books it says and the books were opened and the dead were judged as according to what was written in the books wow does that mean then uh I'm gonna you know work my way into heaven no we don't work our way into heaven we're not saved by what we do we're saved by what Jesus did what he did this is real easy to understand if you and I go to a court of law let's say we're a witness called and summoned and we're going to give our testimony a judge in that courtroom is going to reach uh what reach a verdict based on the evidence that is presented same picture in revelation 20. God is the judge and he's going to reach a verdict based on the evidence were we truly followers of Jesus or not Jesus helps us unpack that remember in Matthew right before he goes to the Cross it's the last week of his life and he says there are sheep and there are goats he said to the sheep on his right he said I was thirsty you gave me something to drink I was hungry you gave me something to eat I was naked you clothed me I was sick and in prison you came to see me and they will say Lord Lord when did we see you thirsty or hungry or naked or sick and he says I tell you that you did it for me just as you did it for the least of these you did it as unto me enter into your rest oh the goats on his left I was thirsty you gave me nothing to drink I was hungry you gave me nothing to eat naked you didn't clothe me I was sick and imprisoned you didn't come to see me and then he says to them uh away from me that and and notice they also say Lord Lord when did we see you see Lord Lord they thought they were saved they call him Lord very similar to The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7 verse 21 Jesus says many will call me Lord Lord but they will not enter into the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven as a matter of fact Jesus even said in The Sermon on the Mount narrow is the way the smallest the gate narrow is the road that leads to life and only if you find it but why does the gate broad as the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it in the American culture today everybody goes to heaven really not according to Jesus so on this Judgment Day people like the rich man in Luke when Jesus says in hell where he was in torment it's going to get worse and how could it get worse at the second coming of Jesus because everybody non-believers who are away from the Lord already suffering they're going to be summoned into the presence of God and there they will see God they will hear God they will see Jesus they will hear Jesus and just as Jesus is going to be our Advocate he's the one standing with us before God he is our Advocate to take away our sins from his death on that cross but those who have rejected him they have no defense and remember when Paul wrote in Philippians chapter 2 beginning in verse 5 he says um your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death wear on a cross now listen to this therefore God exalted him and gave him a name that is above every name that if the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven on Earth and under the Earth and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father I'm here to tell you that on Judgment Day people who rejected him will be in his presence and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess and they will realize it was true after all and then they will be cast into hell for eternity making their suffering all the worse you see this is not rocket science it's all in the book we just need to read the book we just need to study the word of God so that's the departure details Thoreau said Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads so we're going to take a bio break and we're going to come back and we're going to talk about heaven being under our feet and I hope that those insights might also help clear up some questions in our mind now during break we'll we'll take 10-15 minutes for our break it's now a 10 till 7. I do have some resources you can pick some up between on break or or afterwards I wrote a book called the end this is a volume chapter 11 and a series called real life theology for you you don't have to have a seminary degree it's for anybody in the church and I was invited by the editor Gary would you write a short volume called the end the return of King Jesus and the renewal of all things so that's what this is it's 10 bucks this book is really two books in one those of us who are 50 years of age and older this book this part of the book where the print goes in this direction would help us why because it's a Bible study of Ecclesiastes anybody remember who wrote Ecclesiastes what was his name Solomon and he's writing it's like a journal he's writing at the end of his life and he is a most miserable man because he did not end well and as we read Ecclesiastes Vanity Vanity all is Vanity he's miserable and I I studied that book and I realized it's kind of like a football game he's in the fourth quarter of The Game of Life when we are older we have aches and pains we are emotional just like a football player in the fourth quarter tired bruised sweaty looking up at the scoreboard emotional uh it's the same with the game of life and Solomon blew four plays and I identify those four plays in this part of the book and I don't want to blow the four plays I want to end well so help for today what the Bible says about retirement and guess what it says nothing about retirement all right it talks about finishing well nowhere in the Bible do we read be successful it says be faithful and I want to be faithful until I draw my last breath to my King Jesus I want to live life well that's a legacy so help for today becomes are you ready for this Hope For Tomorrow what the Bible says about heaven so what we're doing in two hours is explained in this and there are discussion questions this is good for a Bible study and in-home Group whatever now these are 10 bucks now I am so uh committed to people finding out about accurate information about heaven if you buy one of these for 10 bucks you can get two for 15 and would you just promise me you'll give it to somebody that you care about please so one for ten two for 15 and then I have here with me uh a couple of thumb drives this material I taught at the creek many many times there are six video lessons on here I'm at different places in Indianapolis filming this it's much longer so six videos it's 25 bucks that's not very much at all and then this is a study of Revelation I've taught Revelation probably five six times verse by verse chapter by chapter the last time at the creek and I was getting ready to hand the Baton off the people at the creek said Gary will you film it please so there are 20 videos on here of the 22 chapters they all end with discussion questions if you show this to your life group in your home bam there are discussion questions right there at the end of every lesson so this is 25 bucks this is 25 bucks and uh I brought 10 each of those with me and yes I take Plastic Fantastic all right so let's have a nice uh 10 15 minute break thank you very much let's come back in and thank you for your patience and where we can do more uh resources at the end for those who were unable to pick up we we can do that at the end Let's uh explore now destination details what now in our mind we have to think all right Jesus has now come back the second coming has occurred what can we appreciate about heaven on Earth see a lot of people think of Heaven as simply being over us in Revelation 21 verse 1 and in verse 5 then I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth new heaven new Earth for the first Earth uh first Heaven and the first Earth had passed away and there was no longer any sea he who was Seated on the throne said I am making how much new everything so the first Heaven the sky this atmosphere the first Heaven and the first Earth had passed away it no longer existed hold on to that thought and that happens at the second coming of Jesus second Peter 3 verse 10 but the day of the Lord will come like a thief meaning unexpectedly no warning the heavens will disappear with the Roar the atmosphere the celestial it all disappears with a roar the elements will be destroyed by fire the Earth and everything done in it will be laid bare that's a picture of Destruction Matthew 24 35 Heaven and Earth maybe might pass away no it will pass away but my words will never pass away and who said that Jesus did so Heaven and Earth pass away what we want to understand is what I call the concept of continuance the first book of the Bible Genesis chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter 1 chapter 2 God creates everything and at the end of chapter one God saw all that he had made and it was very good not just good but very good and that in Hebrew means it was without a flaw it was more than perfect more than perfect Genesis 1 and 2. now what we need to do because we're we're going to get into this a little bit later on we have to be thinking about everything that was in Eden on Earth Etc before chapter three because in chapter 3 verse 1 who shows up Satan The Serpent and everything goes south from that point on so Genesis 1 and 2 first two chapters of the Bible incredible more than perfect let's go all the way to the end of Revelation chapter 21 and 22 the last two chapters of the Bible bam it's a new Heaven and a new Earth and God picks up where God left off just like two bookends to the Bible the last two chapters of Revelation it's incredible everything again now is more than perfect and it's a brand new spanking Earth brand new earth Isaiah 65 behold I will not maybe not perhaps not might no I will create new heavens and a new Earth the former things will not be remembered nor will they come to mind God said that God said I'm going to make a new Heaven and a new Earth and everything that happened on this broken Earth will not be what remembered so now you just go to the bank with that all of the abuse all of the hurt all of the pain all of the suffering all of the disappointment it will not come to mind God said so let's go over to Isaiah 66 verse 22 as the new heavens and the new Earth that I make will endure before me the reason I bring this phrase up is because if something is repeated in the Bible it is important when God repeats something he wants it to capture our attention and he brings us up more than once so there's going to be a brand new Earth at the second coming of Jesus second Peter chapter 3 verse 13 but in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new Heaven and a new Earth there it is again A New Earth A Home of righteousness now that's what excites me about the second coming of Jesus he is going to Vanquish the evil one and we get to be a part of that and once that is all accomplished God creates this new Earth will it take seven days I don't think it will because along with creation the sixth day creation God not only created a tangible physical Earth and life forms Etc he created the measurement of time when he did that six days God created the universe and how did he do it he spoke it into existence let there be light and so on that's called Fiat f-i-a-t not a car f-i-a-t Fiat meaning by order of his command so by order of his command God existed uh created everything that exists right now and God who does not change like shifting shadows will do it Again by his authority and I believe it can happen bam just like that because there will there be a measurement of time in heaven or on this new Earth at the second coming of Jesus no there is no measurement of time because eternity is not measured it's not measured all right concept of continuance Revelation 21 verse 1 what we saw before a moment ago then I saw a new Heaven A New Earth the first Heaven and the first Earth had passed away now let's talk about some of the details of this destination called Heaven A New Earth landmarks what is that that's a great uh the Gateway Arch in in what city St Louis cities have landmarks what's that the Golden Gate Bridge in what city San Francisco uh what is that Statue of Liberty in what city New York Harbor New York city so cities have landmarks and I believe that this this new heaven is going to have three important landmarks now before I start unpacking that we have to think about the context of the audience receiving John's letter remember Revelation being a book of Prophecy but also a letter he was writing a letter anybody remember from where he was writing that letter where was he island of Patmos he's out on an island in the Aegean Sea he is separated from his loved ones back on the mainland he's about 60 65 miles out at sea and in that day as a matter of fact throughout the entire Bible I'm reading through the Old Testament again and what we see people lived always under great threat that even in the middle of the night somebody's going to come and destroy their City somebody's going to come or go through their Village pillaging their Village remember they didn't have multiple clothes in a closet they didn't have food in a pantry to eat the only clothes they had were aware on their back and the only food that they had to eat was available right in front of them they didn't have deep freezers it was all of the Bible is a survivalist culture hence people if you had something I would take that something people wanted to live in a safe place so where would that safe place be a City that had incredible what protection and how our cities protected with walls around it the higher the wall the thicker the wall the stronger the wall the safer the people would be and they could sleep through the night not not thinking for a moment that they were going to be killed or carried off kidnapped and their children taken into slavery when when John is writing this epistle the landmarks of the New Jerusalem Revelation chapter 21 verse 1 and I saw the holy city the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven as a bride beautifully adorned for her husband now why did John use that image remember image why did he use that picture because people felt safe in a city and he's going to use three pictures of this city to help them and US understand what life on a new Earth at the second coming of Jesus is going to be like landmark number one the foundations in Revelation 21 the wall of the city had how many foundations 12. now is that literal I don't believe it's literal I believe that it is symbolic the number 10 the number 12 also represents full and complete so the city had a foundation that was full and complete and on them were the names of The Twelve Apostles you see that's even caused some when they interpret Revelation oh what are we going to do because one of the Apostles was Judas and then he was out and then they replaced Judas with another Apostle and then came along the Apostle who the Apostle Paul so who who are the 12 names doesn't matter whose names are in those foundations it's not literal it's a picture of Incredible strength the stronger the foundation the stronger the city wall now Revelation 21 the foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone and then they're named in Revelation Carnelian Etc and it's to show us that this new Earth is beyond value it is Indescribable it's Beauty it's strength now stop and think this new Earth A Home of righteousness we live today in instability we don't know what uh the dictator of North Korea is going to do we live in an unstable world we have no idea what the president of China is going to do towards Taiwan and is that going to involve the United States of America we live in an unstable world we live in an unstable World economically I remember in 1981 I was just graduating from Seminary with my first graduate degree and be the banker in me I I noticed right away in October of 1981 when our national debt hit what anybody remember one trillion dollars it was October of 1981. you know what our national debt is today our legal debt is over 31 trillion dollars it happened in only my adult years my adult years I am very concerned about my grandchildren we live in an economically unstable world not the case on this new Earth A Home of righteousness not the case Foundation number two or landmark number two excuse me the wall it had a great high wall with 12 gates there's that 12 Again full and complete with 12 angels at the gates and on the gates were written the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel well there we go again this 12 tribes remember Joseph was one of the 12 sons and yet his sons Ephraim and Manasseh they became Sons tribes whose names are going to be on those on the wall on the gates doesn't matter the point is the apostles were from the New Testament era right the apostles the tribes of Israel were from what era the Old Testament so as we look at that symbolically from both old and new covenants from both Old and New Testaments there are going to be a whole bunch of people where in heaven on this new Earth because people who came to Faith like Abraham their faith was credited to them as righteousness Abraham never saw Jesus Abraham never met Jesus he he was born lived and died long before Jesus ever came so everybody in the Old Testament who put their faith in God their faith was credited to them as righteousness were made righteous by one thing what are we made righteous by Church by the blood of Jesus there are going to be people on this new Earth A Home of righteousness from both Old and New Testament eras you and I get to meet Moses you and I will we recognize him oh yeah because we maintain our what our identity can you imagine asking Noah what what's it like did you have Dramamine you know what was it like uh and the I love this the angel measured the wall using human measurement and it was 144 cubits thick the wall was made of Jasper the city of pure gold that's purest glass now a cubit is basically from the tip of your middle finger to your elbow that's a cubit it's about 18 inches many people have looked at Revelation oh it's 144 cubits we can measure that that's how thick the wall that's not the point the number 12. meaningful and complete times 12 equals what oh Shazam it equals 144. a wall its size its thickness its height on such a strong Foundation would mean that people would be incredibly safe and secure nothing at all to fear and that's what you and I have to understand when Jesus comes back a second time and God instantly creates a new Earth there's not going to be a worry in the world we will not uh set the alarm on our cars we will have no need for an alarm on the house no need for security lighting no need to protect us because it's going to be a home of righteousness Peter called it a home of righteousness means there cannot be any sin and what causes crime what causes offense what causes pain sin it's just not going to be there the wall the city was laid out like a square I love this as long as it was wide a square as long as it was wide he measured the city with the rod and he found it to be oh here's another measurement twelve thousand stadia in length as wide and high as it is long in other words it was in the shape of a what a cube and again people have looked at oh 12 000 Stadium that's like 12 000 miles we don't know what a stadia is don't try to figure out a 12 000 mile uh long wall and height and whatnot and that's this this is the city no not at all think with me for a moment 12. times 10 both numbers that mean full and complete 12 times 10 is 120. times 10 is 1200 times 10 is ah just saying there's that I'm at again twelve thousand this city is laid out like a cube full and complete now watch this Old Testament in First Kings chapter 6 Solomon is building the Temple and you remember the temple just like in the Tabernacle here was the altar the labor where the priest took their bath before their they were offering the sacrifices then you had the holy place then you had the what the most holy place and what was in the most holy place the Ark of the Covenant the Ark of the Covenant and that represented who the very presence of God the presence of God and only who could go in there the high priest how often on the day of atonement on the day of atonement and only he could have access to God then if he took in the blood of a sacrifice when Jesus was sacrificed what happened to the curtain remember it was torn into giving to us immediate constant access to God now watch this in First Kings Solomon what did he do he partitioned off 20 cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple and the inner Sanctuary the most holy place look at this the inner Sanctuary was 20 cubits long 20 cubits wide 20 cubits high it's in the shape of a cube and who was in that most holy Place God all this mentions when you and I read about the New Jerusalem being 12 000 stadia in length and and in height and in width it's representing who's going to be with us God and he's going to be with you all the time and he's going to be with you all of the time wherever you are because he is Omni present this is going to be like eternity with God on a on a date the whole time for all of us it's beyond our human comprehension we cannot describe this and then landmark number three of this city the gates something stands out about these Gates it had a great high wall with 12 gates and with the 12 angels at the gates and on the gates were written the names of the 12 tribes of Israel there were three gates on the East three on the north three on the south three on the west now check this out uh no day will its Gates ever be shut for there will be no night there in the Old Testament why did they shut the gates and when when as the sun was beginning to set it was getting dark why did they shut them to protect them from Attack there's no what what this is teaching us that on this new Earth at the second coming of Jesus there is nothing to fear there will be no evil Darkness afoot God in darkness do not coexist evil do not coexist the evil one and his minions his kingdom will have been cast into the Lake of Fire completely away from God completely away from all of God's people who have been saved by the blood of the Lamb now each gate was made of a single Pearl I've read some things where some people they they draw this ginormous Pearl and there's the gate in it again don't think literal think symbolic how is a pearl made it's made in a what an oyster and what what gets into that oyster a grain of sand or something of that nature and irritant and irritant gets into the oyster and then the oyster begins secreting a fluid and it begins coating that irritant to protect it from that irritant and who knows how long it's taking it could be months it could be years and then diverse find the oysters they bring it up and they crack that oyster open and there is this beautiful beautiful pearl made from suffering now a few weeks ago Pastor Paul invited me to come and preach in your sense series and I talked about Jesus on Mission and the price for you and I to enter to enter to live on this new Earth was formed through someone's suffering and whose suffering was that Jesus physical Suffering The Torture the impalement the emotional suffering uh being crucified naked in front of his mother he was shamed he was spat upon he was rejected it broke his heart emotionally to be rejected but the greatest suffering of all do you remember the word physical emotional and spiritual remember that because God poured out on him his wrath his Fury his rage so through the suffering of Jesus Christ you and I are allowed the Indescribable privilege of entering in to that that New Jerusalem this this new Earth A Home of righteousness it's not some literal Pearl with a gate etched into it Jesus is our gate of Entry his suffering now before I share this next thing with you I want to unpack how long are we going to be there how long will eternity be on this new Earth the home of righteous actually it all begins the moment when you and I uh take our last breath here and our first breath is there eternity begins for us that's really when life really begins and um I'm going to give you a word picture it's in the book and so on uh I love to climb mountains I've climbed a lot of the Peaks 30 some Peaks that are over 14 000 feet and whatnot and and a mountain imagine a mountain that is a Thousand Miles High there's no such Mountain on planet Earth but imagine a Thousand Mile High and A Thousand Miles Square at its base and it's made out of solid granite and once every one million years a bird comes and perches on the peak of that mountain once every one million years and is allowed to Peck away at that mountain for 10 seconds 10 seconds and then it's got to fly away and it comes back every one million years pecks for 10 seconds to that 1 000 Mile High Square Mountain square at the base Thousand Miles and as soon as that that solid mountain of of granite is gone that to Eternity is one day you and I cannot conceptualize the word Everlasting there's no way that the human mind can conceptualize because we live with measure time that's all we know is the measurement of time it's beyond our comprehension and that's how long from the moment we take our last breath here we're going to experience that there now what we want to remember is this there is what we call the doctrine of immutability if something is immutable it cannot what can't change that's right immutable something doesn't change God does not change as a matter of fact in Malachi chapter 3 I the Lord do not change God said that I the Lord do not change James says that God does not change like shifting Shadows if we go outside and the sun's beginning to rise Shadows are going to change God does not change he is forever the same and like father like son Jesus said or it says of him in Hebrews chapter 13 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever he doesn't change so that's the doctrine of immutability now watch this put it together with the concept of continuity meaning this God over here Genesis 1 and 2 everything is more than perfect God saw all that he made and it was how good very good so God who doesn't change is going to do the very same thing over here in Revelation 21 and 22 doctrine of immutability in other words God's going to be our protector on this new Earth at the second coming of Jesus nothing impure will ever enter into this new Earth nothing impure there will be no sin none whatsoever no jealousy no fighting no attacking no assaults nothing impure no greed no avarice No Stealing no coveting nothing no pornography no lusting nothing impure will ever enter into it and by the way let me just push posture for a moment somebody asked me hey are we going to have kids well my husband and I be married no no we're not going to be married in heaven we're not going to be having kids in heaven because heaven has a fixed population it's for those who have surrendered their lives to the lordship of Jesus the only marriage in heaven is going to be between the bride and the groom who happen to be Jesus and his church there's the marriage there's the marriage in him well Gary does that mean I'm not gonna no you will recognize him he will recognize you we're still going to be in love with one another relationships will be richer than ever before because everything that was broken in every relationship will be remembered how much more never again nobody's going to bring up the past God's going to be our protector he's going to be our provider uh in revelation 22 we read about the River of Life the tree of life and the Tree of Life in revelation 22 it's made mention that it's going to bear fruit in every season is it a literal tree it's a picture again that God is going to care for us we're not going to have to get a job at Walmart or at wherever in order to make our bills God is our provider just what did he say to Adam and Eve in the garden hey guess what here's all of these trees you can eat from any tree any Bush but just keep your cotton picking hands off from One Tree and what did Satan do in chapter three oh look how God's holding out on you see Twisted there what they're thinking he played with their minds that's what he does today he's going to be our provider and God is going to be our Peacemaker in revelation 22 that tree of life there are leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations in the book I make mention of the Greek word for healing listen to this Greek word Thor rappia what's that sound like in English therapy the healing of the nations in that word nations in Greek is the word ethnos what's that sound like ethnicity so the world is full of different ethnicities people have different color of skin different hair different whatever different stature different stature and there's not going to be any conflict between any ethnicities or people individuals all of that's going to be healed and it's all going to be in the past left on a broken Earth that will be destroyed at the Bam's second coming of Jesus who would not want to go there uh Emmanuel God is with us forever more thinking of the doctrine of immutability with the concept of continuity now the dwelling of God is with men he will live with them he will wipe every tear from their eyes that word dwelling is a word that means tent now I don't know if anybody has gone real camping I'm not talking about your 36 foot Nick mansion on Wheels with the spill outs and all of that that's not camping that's glamping this this right here is a tent this is actually the word that refers back to the Tabernacle in the Old Testament in Greek and it means intimate just like if you if if we go tent camping let's say we're mountain climbing and we've got a backpack on we're not going to have a five person tent in that back no we're gonna have a pup tent it's gonna be cozy that's the word now the dwelling the intimate presence of God is with each of us and I don't know about you but the only person who's ever wiped a tear from my eyes and it might I've been married 45 years and I can only remember once when Leah touched my face for that purpose my wife and this is going to be God Creator sustainer savior he's going to be forever with us and I love this no longer will there be any curse what was the curse in Genesis Chapter 3 The Curse Of Death from dust you came into dust you will return that was the result of that sin that Rebellion against God nobody was going to die in Genesis 1 and 2 but then they rebelled against God and Satan was the one who brought destruction of the human body to play so whether it's cancer heart attack stroke whatever that is the the result of Satan impacting Adam and Eve sickness and death no more curse nobody is ever going to what die again nobody is going to die again and and here's the icing on the cake we're going to be forever together not only with God With Jesus and so on no we're going to be together with one another and with those who are home with the Lord in Revelation 21 verse 1 many people they overlook this little detail just like that that story out of New Zealand they overlook this little detail then I saw the new Heaven and the new Earth for the first Heaven and the first Earth had passed away and there was no longer any sea I go oh there's not going to be any water on the new earth oh there's not going to be any ocean no no no that's not what that means don't think literal think symbolic who wrote the book John from where did John write the book on the island of Patmos 60 miles away from his loved ones what separated him from his loved ones the Aegean Sea there was no way for him to get to them can't speak for you but I have stood by a casket many a time and I have wept because of the pain of losing somebody that I love that'll never happen again no longer will there ever be a separation so when you and I right now are thinking of who it is that we miss so much right now is merely an interruption it's just an interruption we pick up where we left off someday and and here let's just think about this Peter said with the Lord a day is as anybody remember uh thousand years and a thousand years are as a day meaning that once we leave here and we are there time stops see with God there is no measurement of time with the Lord a day as is a thousand years a thousand years hours a day now just think about who you miss the most who's already there all right think about that right now who it is you miss the most I've got that person in my mind and when you and I draw our last breath and we are home with the Lord and that person sees us they're going to say your name hey what are you doing here already not even a day has passed since we left each other that's what it's going to be like not even a day of spent what are you doing here already it's going to be incredible Isaac Asimov a scientist and an author not a Believer not a believer he said I don't believe in an afterlife so I don't have to spend my whole life fearing hell or fearing Heaven more for whatever the torturers of hell I think the boredom of Heaven would be even worse I'm here to tell you we're going to be busy and we're going to talk now about what we're going to be doing don't even think for a moment that heaven is going to be a boring place too many people think that heaven this is their limited understanding and it's so wrong oh we're going to be on a rocker recliner made out of clouds strumming our harp that's uh aren't that's that is so far from the truth that's bath theology we're going to be quite busy and and to to do it we have to have a new and improved body a new and improved body and this is described by the Apostle Paul in First Corinthians 15. anybody want a new and improved body anybody interested in that no more diets all right no more diets no more medications sorry Lily but we won't need prescription drugs anymore First Corinthians 15. now let me tell you a little bit of context here why Paul wrote this passage the the whole chapter chapter 15 is about the resurrected body as a matter of fact First Corinthians 15 is the single longest passage in the Bible on Resurrection I can remember preaching through that on one Easter weekend about 10 12 years ago and this little lady at the creek came up to me and she said you ruined my Easter and I go why and she goes did I preach too long no you didn't preach from one of the gospels about the resurrection of Jesus and I go uh duh the whole chapter is about the resurrection of Jesus because back in Corinth there were people who thought yuck a physical resurrection of the body who would want that so Paul is writing about the physical resurrection of the body and to do that he's got to talk about the physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead and at the second coming of Jesus I tell you a mystery we won't all sleep we won't all die at the second coming of Jesus we won't all sleep but we will all be changed bam in a flash in the twinkling of an eye you know how fast the twinkling of an eyes the blink of an eye four one hundredths of a second years ago General Electric measured the blink of an eye four one hundredths of a second that's how quickly you and I are going to get a new body it's going to be instantaneous at the last trumpet what's the last trumpet referring to the second coming of Jesus that goes right back to first Thessalonians chapter four for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a loud command with the voice of an archangel Ark means ruling our cone ruling Angel and the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first like an army remember in the Old Testament when they blew the trumpet the army of Israel gathered together to go to war when they blew the trumpet they marched out so this the blowing of the trumpet is the second coming of Jesus when do you and I get a new body at the second coming of Jesus why we're going to need a new body because there's going to be a brand new earth on which we live we got to have that new body for that new Earth until that time we don't need that new body in the intermediate state makes sense doesn't it all right so and we're going to be and the dead will be raised not like from Six Feet Under no we're going to be raised up as an army and in that moment we get this new body and it's going to be incredible this new and improved body First Corinthians 15 20. Christ has indeed been raised from the dead the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep think with me for a moment Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus right but Lazarus would have died again Jesus raised the son of the Widow of nain but that son of the Widow of name would have died again at the crucifixion of Jesus do you remember when Jesus died on the cross there was a great earthquake grades open and holy people righteous people came back to life but they would all what die again Jesus is the first fruits to be raised from the dead never to die again die again and be given a new resurrected body now first fruits the offering of first fruits in the Old Testament was very important the offering of first fruits if I was a farmer and I raised barley I would go into my barley field it's now ready to harvest I would take a tenth a tenth of that Harvest and what would I do with it I would take it to the temple as an offering a tithe of my first fruits of the field and what that offering of first views declared I'm I'm going to now harvest the rest of the field and it's all barley first fruits it's gonna I'm gonna Harvest everything that's the same the same so when Jesus was raised the first fruits it means we are going to be raised just like him meaning we're going to have identity did they recognize him absolutely Jesus we'll talk about this before we walk out he ate a piece of what anybody remember fish that's right he ate a piece of fish I believe that that speaks to something uh that we will enjoy in just a moment we'll talk about that we're going to be raised just like him each in his own turn Christ the first fruits then when he comes those who belong to him Christ when he comes we're going to be raised just like him now what you sow does not uh come to life unless it dies it's it's Garden time people are planting their Gardens if we had a kernel of corn and we put it in the ground that kernel is going to what die in order to what produce corn to live that's exactly correct and uh is wheat gonna come from it no what's going to come from it corn and that little one single kernel is going to produce a stalk that's taller than me and on that stock are going to probably be a couple of years of corn and what's on the ears of corn kernels how many hundreds so listen carefully to this phrase your new body and mine in every way is going to be new and improved that will truly be new and can't do that with laundry soap can't be new and improved that's an oxymoron but when it comes to our new glorified bodies they're going to be new and they're going to be improved and here's why they're going to be improved can we get sick ah no can we be injured uh no because injury would cause pain pain would cause us to weep it would cause sadness and can that be present in this no not at all that means I get to go mountain climbing with my Jesus he climbed mountains in the New Testament I'm going mountain climbing with Jesus I'm not going to run out of breath at 15 000 feet and I'm not going to fear any altitude because I can't fall and break my my back we're going to have new and improved bodies in every way we're going to be busy doing three things so we know exactly what is Isaac Asimov I'm sorry that you think Heaven's going to be a boring place I can tell you right now this new Earth we're going to be busy worshiping it says in Revelation 19 after I heard what sounded like the Roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting Alleluia salvation Glory power belonged to our God then I heard what sounded like a great multitude like the Roar of Rushing Waters like loud peels of Thunder shouting halleluia for our Lord God Almighty Reigns let us rejoice and be glad and give them Glory how often are we going to do Church day after day moment after you don't like singing to Jesus now you better get over it because you're going to be singing through eternity if you don't like worship now you better get over it because we're going to be busy worshiping and I'm here to tell you I can hardly wait to see him face to face and to fall at his feet again and again and again thanking him for what he did we're going to be busy uh worshiping because there's not a temple there's not a church house there's not a church house because the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are the temple so we're going to be busy worshiping we're going to be busy working oh Gary I'm retired I don't want a thought of work remember back here in Genesis chapter 3 work was a curse of sweating by the sweat of your brow you're going to produce food but it's going to have weeds in it now prior to that before the sin took place did Adam work oh yeah God put him in the garden to what to tend the garden God said hey you see all these animals what name them you're the very first zoologist on the planet Earth work was a delight work was a joy God picks up where he left off work's going to be a delight a joy it's going to be incredible will we get tired will we need a nap uh no will we need Ben Gay uh no it's going to be an absolute Delight we will serve our God God took the man put him in the Garden of Eden and uh to work and to take care of it we're going to be caretakers of a new Earth and on no day we already talked about this well uh ever its Gates be shut for there will be no night there there's another dimension to this verse that you and I want to remember where was business transacted in the Old Testament do you remember the story of Ruth remember that love story Ruth chapter four Boaz falls in love with Ruth the young Widow and he's going to marry her but he's got to get permission and he he does that legally where at the Gates of the city exactly at the gates of the city business was transacted at the gates of a city we're going to be busy and it's all going to be good because we're going to do it in the strength of the Lord for the joy of the Lord for his glory busy worshiping busy working and busy reigning well what's that mean oh simple it has everything to do with the concept of continuance we go back here to Genesis we're going to Reign forever and ever remember in Genesis 1 let us make man woman in our image in our likeness let them rule there it is let them rule over the fish of the sea the birds of the air livestock over everything that moves on the face of the Earth over all the creatures that move along the ground let them rule before sin ever happened Adam and Eve were to rule over the created Earth God picks up where he left off we're going to Reign we're going to be caretakers over this new Earth that God will speak into existence we're going to be uh maybe now this isn't articulated in the word of God but I think that we can speculate based on what we know over in Genesis 1 and 2. so what we eat and drink in eternity on this new Earth what do you think yes or no did they eat and drink in Genesis one and two yeah and Who provided it uh God God who doesn't change like shifting Shadows he's going to provide for us I believe that we're going to enjoy eating very very much now will it be fish well if we fish we're gonna have to kill the fish or it might be Catch and Release who knows um just not sure will there be animals on the new Earth were there animals before sin ever happened uh yeah incredible animals and Adam named them all I believe it's very reasonable for us to think that they're going to be animals on this new Earth and it's going to be a delight because that's part of God's creation are we going to enjoy the Out of Doors oh yeah Adam just even just think about Adam For a Moment God put him in the garden twice in Genesis twice in Genesis chapter one excuse me chapter two it says that God took the man he had made and put him in the garden and I believe with all of my heart that just as Adam enjoyed being out in the wild that we're going to enjoy being out of doors you know typically uh we like being outside playing golf running fishing hunting whatever we like being outside in God's Creek do we like standing at a machine in a factory do we like driving a truck do we like working at a desk for 60 hours a week no we want to get outside and I believe that it's reasonable for us so so just stop and think if you are into uh farming I had this guy come up the first time I lectured on this at a university this gentleman came up afterwards to ask a question and and he was a big guy and he was about 50 years of age and he was just sobbing and he said man you helped me today and I said how I said I'm so sorry why are you crying and he said I buried my dad last week all of us boys we buried our Dad we're all farmers we still live on the Family Farm said my dad was born on that farm and he died on that farm two weeks ago and dad would take his voice out in the spring when we were little he takes out to the field and he would pull up a bunch of dirt in his hands and he would say boys this is God's gift to us and we're going to take care of it we're going to feed people with this and he said what you explained to me my dad for all of eternity on a new Earth is going to farm for God and he's going to love every moment of it see whatever it is that you love doing you're going to do that for all of eternity with Jesus right there cheering you on that's the joy of this new life uh and then just lastly we need to remember we're wrapping up here Paul's last will and testament is second Timothy he's writing this from Death Row and towards the end he said I'm already being poured out like a drink offering the time of my departure has come it doesn't mean I'm getting out on parole that's not what that means he's talking about his execution the time of my departure has come I have fought the good fight I've finished the race kept the faith and uh now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge will award to me on that day and not only to me but to all who what long for his appearing loved ones how often do we pray for the appearing the return of our Jesus I can't tell you how many times I I've been on only by God's grace lots and lots of mission trips around the world as a preacher as a professor I've been to Harrison Ukraine more than 10 times you recognize that name Harrison the first city taken by the Russians and I have taught graduate level classes at a church in Harrison the creek we built to help build two churches both now are utterly destroyed to the best of our knowledge from what information we can get and I have a good brother zhenya he's one of about 15 pastors left in that city of Harrison a city of about a hundred thousand and uh he's got a well he's got a big wall around his house and I was able to get a text from him through a construct constricted kind of uh or what's the term technologists if encrypted thank you encrypted venue that he has people coming to his house for water because he's got this well and he's got a generator and when he was telling me what he was doing and handing out potatoes to people to keep them alive they just said Jesus please Lord come quickly bring this to an end when you and I hear of news of horrific suffering another mass shooting another whatever another child molested come quickly Lord Jesus how often do we long for the appearing of Our Lord and I believe the very last statement in Revelation where Jesus says he who testifies to these things says yes I am coming soon and then John writes amen come Lord Jesus and the grace of our Lord Jesus be with all of God's people and the last word of the Bible is amen which means what three words so be it come Lord Jesus well I want to thank you uh it's eight o'clock how about that and uh I want to thank you for your incredible kindness your friendship your support of E2 effect of Elders because you are investing in this ministry we're able to travel the country and build up Elders who are leading in the local church and we are seeing great fruit born of that Ministry let me pray over it let's Stand Together shall we in Ukraine whenever somebody says hey let's pray even if they're in their home eating dinner everybody stands around the dinner table almighty God we're standing in your presence and someday we're going to bend our knees in your presence and never weary of it how grateful we are for our loved ones who are already home with you they're gazing upon you and all of your Splendor strong Jesus they're talking with you you're listening to them you're caring for our loved ones individually as if they were the only ones there with you and we believe that the best is yet to come would you truly break our hearts with those who are not yet followers of yours whether it's a mom and a dad a grandma a grandpa a husband a wife a child a grandchild a neighbor a friend a co-worker whoever it is would you send us from here with a sense of urgency the likes of which we've never known that we could indeed be the hand and the feet of you Jesus For Your Glory I pray your blessing upon your bride at Genesis I pray that you would give to Paul the leadership team here incredible gifting skill knowledge passion hunger humility to lead your bride ever so faithfully and courageously I pray that you would protect your bride here from the evil one that every marriage every individual no matter what that person's age is younger or older everyone they would be under your protective care their finances their health the work of their hands everything about them and as you fill them continually with your Holy Spirit people here on the North side they would recognize these folks from your bride called Genesis and it would be so easy for every person on the North side to see Jesus in each and every one of these people all for the glory of you alone and now to him who is able to do the immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his spirit that is at work within us his power at work within us to him be glory in the church and through Christ Jesus our lord throughout all generations forever and ever and together we say amen blessings to you [Applause]