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When we think about Heaven, what comes to our minds is that passage in:
Revelation 21:1-7 KJV And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Heaven And Earth Will One Day Be Changed
This is a very familiar text because you’ve heard it at funerals of loved ones. You’ve heard statements (and probably from me) like:
“Our Beloved is with the Lord – and he or she is not suffering anymore.”
“Our Loved One is in a glorified body now, freed from sin.”
I do believe it’s true that the one who loves Jesus and leaves this life is now without suffering. But here’s a word in our Revelation text that we often overlook when reading about heaven:
Revelation 21:1 KJV And I saw a NEW {kainos} heaven {ouranos} and a NEW {kainos} earth: for THE FIRST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH WERE PASSED AWAY; and there was no more sea.
Word Study: The word translated “NEW” is the Greek kainos, which means “fresh, new, something never used”. This word was used to describe the “NEW {kainos} tomb” (Matthew 27:60) that Jesus was laid in after His crucifixion. Jesus used this word to describe the “NEW {kainos} Covenant” that He purchased with His Blood (Matthew 26:28). The word can be used for something that was changed, as in the text:
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW {kainos} creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW.{kainos}
When God’s plan of redemption is complete, the Millennial (1000 year) Reign of Christ is over on the old earth, the situation in Heaven will change.
Jesus spoke of this Himself when He said …
Matthew 24:35 KJV – HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY, but My words shall not pass away.
What shall change about Heaven? Our text tells us:
Revelation 21:2-3 KJV And I John saw THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN, prepared AS A BRIDE ADORNED for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the TABERNACLE {skēnē, the noun form of skēnoō} OF GOD is with men, and HE WILL DWELL {skēnoō, tabernacle} WITH THEM, and they shall be His people, and GOD HIMSELF SHALL BE WITH THEM, and be their God.
Who is the “TABERNACLE OF GOD” mentioned in this text? It is Jesus Christ. Before John wrote the words we read above, He wrote:
John 1:14 KJV – And the Word was made flesh, and DWELT {skēnoō, tabernacled} among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Word Study: The word translated “DWELT” is the Greek skēnoō, which means “to TABERNACLE”. Jesus will ultimately dwell with His people on a new earth. This earth will be re-created, and sin and lawlessness will be wiped out. And God will create a New Jerusalem on earth that He – Jesus Christ – shall rule from. It is Jesus Who will – ruling a new earth:
Revelation 21:4-5 KJV – And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW, NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANY MORE PAIN: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Now the One – God – Who sits on the Throne speaks:
Revelation 21:6 KJV And he said unto me, It is done. I am ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Who is this “ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END”? It’s Jesus. When John first saw Jesus on Patmos, He told him:
Revelation 1:11, 17-18 KJV – I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA, the FIRST AND THE LAST … : 17 fear not, I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST: 18 I am He that liveth, and was dead: behold, I am alive forever more
and in the very next chapter from our focal text:
Revelation 22:13, 16 KJV – I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END, THE FIRST AND THE LAST. … 16 I JESUS have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Jesus will reign eternally with His people on this earth. This is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. The Prophet wrote:
Isaiah 65:17-19 (ESV) For behold, I CREATE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I CREATE JERUSALEM TO BE A JOY, and HER PEOPLE TO BE A GLADNESS. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; NO MORE SHALL BE HEARD IN IT THE SOUND OF WEEPING AND THE CRY OF DISTRESS.
The Apostle Peter tells us that the future new Heaven and new earth should drive us to be a people separated unto the Lord. There is no room for lukewarmness when you think of that which is coming. Peter wrote:
2 Peter 3:10-15 NKJV – But the DAY OF THE LORD will come as a thief in the night, in which the HEAVENS WILL PASS AWAY WITH A GREAT NOISE, and the ELEMENTS WILL MELT WITH FERVENT HEAT; both THE EARTH AND THE WORKS THAT ARE IN IT WILL BE BURNED UP. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless WE, ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE, LOOK FOR NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH IN WHICH RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the LONGSUFFERING OF OUR LORD IS SALVATION…
The Old Testament Saint Did Not Go To Heaven Proper
The Old Testament Saints were, at times, allowed to look into Heaven. For instance, Jacob was allowed to look into Heaven in a dream (Genesis 28:12-13). Moses looked into Heaven (Exodus 33:18-23; 25:40), as did the Prophet Micaiah (1 Kings 22:19; 2 Chronicles 18:18) and Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-4). But the Old Testament Saint – the believer in Christ to come – upon their deaths did not go into Heaven. The Bible lists some heroes of our faith, Old Testament Saints, in the Book of Hebrews Chapter Eleven. We are told in that text:
Hebrews 11:13 These all DIED IN FAITH, NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PROMISES, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them
God prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:16), but they could not enter the abode of God under the Old Covenant. Animal sacrifices were shadows of the coming Cross of Christ. It was not until the Cross of Christ that believers had access to God’s Heaven. The Book of Hebrews explains this in detail:
Hebrews 10:11 NKJV – And every {Levitical} priest stands ministering daily and OFFERING REPEATEDLY THE SAME SACRIFICES, WHICH CAN NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS.
The Levitical Priesthood offered sacrifices DAILY in the Temple – but these sacrifices could “NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS”. Sins were temporarily covered by the blood of animal sacrifices, but it was not permanent. Hebrews 10:1-4 tells us “the Law was a shadow of good things to come … but it could not make those who came to God perfect in God’s eyes. If it could, the sacrifices would have ceased … but the blood of animals cannot take away sins” (paraphrase). It is only Jesus Who can take away sins.
Hebrews 10:12-14 NKJV – But this Man {Jesus Christ}, after He had OFFERED ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOREVER, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For BY ONE OFFERING HE HAS PERFECTED FOREVER those who are being sanctified.
Jesus Christ alone fulfilled that which God promised in the Old Testament. In Hebrews 10:16-17 the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:33-34 is quoted, the promise that God made under the Old Covenant that He would “PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR HEARTS, and in their minds I WILL WRITE THEM”. Under the Old Covenant only the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies, which place on earth represented Heaven proper. When the High Priest entered the earthly Holy of Holies, it was a shadow of what Jesus Christ would one day do in Heaven.
Hebrews 10:19-23 NKJV – Therefore, brethren, having BOLDNESS TO ENTER THE HOLIEST BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, 20 by a new and living way which HE CONSECRATED FOR US, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and HAVING A HIGH PRIEST OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Jesus Christ died on that Cross, making it possible for the Saints afterward to enter the Presence of God in Heaven. When our Lord Jesus spoke about Heaven and Hell in Luke Chapter Sixteen, He spoke of the rich man going to HELL – but Lazarus going TO ABRAHAM’S BOSOM.
Luke 16:22-23 NKJV – So it was that the BEGGAR DIED, and was CARRIED BY THE ANGELS TO ABRAHAM’S BOSOM. The RICH MAN ALSO DIED and was buried. 23 “And BEING IN TORMENTS IN HADES {Hell}, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
As Jesus told this story, He had not yet died on the Cross, resurrected, nor ascended into Heaven. However, the day that Jesus died on the Cross, just before He died He told the repentant thief next to Him:
Luke 23:43 Verily I say unto thee, TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE
That thief – unnamed to us – was most likely the first person to go to Heaven proper, for he was with Jesus in “PARADISE”. The Blood of Jesus also covered the sins of the Old Testament saints, as we are told in:
Hebrews 9:15 NKJV – And for this reason He {Jesus Christ} is the MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT, by means of death, for the REDEMPTION OF THE TRANSGRESSIONS UNDER THE FIRST COVENANT {The Old Covenant}, that those who are called may RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL INHERITANCE.
When an unnamed Gentile Centurion expressed absolute faith in Jesus, our Lord commended him, saying:
Matthew 8:10-11 NKJV – … Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 “And I say to you that MANY WILL COME from east and west, and SIT DOWN WITH ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Today the Old Testament Saints are in Heaven with Jesus because He – by His sacrifice and His spilled Blood – made atonement for them as well as for us.
When We Leave This Life As Born Again Christians, We Go Directly Into The Presence Of God
Because of what Jesus did for us, because we have received Him as Lord and Savior, we go directly from this life into the place we call Heaven.
Jesus is what makes Heaven, Heaven.
As Christians, we know that even if our bodies are destroyed, that we will go be with God in Heaven. The Apostle wrote:
2 Corinthians 5:1-3 KJV For we know that if our EARTHLY HOUSE OF THIS TABERNACLE {our bodies} were dissolved, we have a building of God, an HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS, ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly DESIRING TO BE CLOTHED UPON WITH OUR HOUSE WHICH IS FROM HEAVEN: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
God has prepared an intermediate body for us when we leave this earth. The Apostle referred to it as a “HOUSE WHICH IS FROM HEAVEN”, a place for our souls to go. Continue reading:
2 Corinthians 5:4-5 KJV For we that are in this TABERNACLE {this body, this place that houses my soul} do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that MORTALITY MIGHT BE SWALLOWED UP OF LIFE. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also HATH GIVEN UNTO US THE EARNEST OF HIS SPIRIT.
The Christian does not (or should not) fear death. This house – our bodies – will eventually break down and be dissolved. But God has promised us another house, one that is “SWALLOWED UP OF LIFE”, not of death. As a promise that God will house us He gave us His Holy Spirit as a down payment, a promise, that we will receive that body. Now the Apostle brings this home:
2 Corinthians 5:4-8 KJV – For we that are in THIS TABERNACLE {this broken body} do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that MORTALITY MIGHT BE SWALLOWED UP OF LIFE. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath GIVEN US THE EARNEST {arrabōn, downpayment, pledge} OF THE SPIRIT 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, WHILE WE ARE AT HOME IN THE BODY, WE ARE ABSENT FROM THE LORD: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing RATHER TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY, and TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD.
Jesus is in Heaven, on the right hand of God the Father making intercession for us. While we are in these bodies, we do not physically see Jesus, and cannot, because though God is with us, we are on earth and not in Heaven. But when we leave this body, Beloved, we are “PRESENT WITH THE LORD”. We see Him face to face. Oh, what a day that will be!
The Apostle said in another place:
Philippians 1:21-23 NKJV – For to me, TO LIVE IS CHRIST, and TO DIE IS GAIN. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having A DESIRE TO DEPART AND BE WITH CHRIST, which is far better.
Death is not loss to the Christian. Pastor Dane Ortlund, who wrote a book called “Finally Home: The Christian Hope Of Heaven”, said:
“From about age thirty on, we’re powering down. We feel it a little more with each passing month. A lifelong stiffening. It’s bewildering because it’s not what we were made for. … When Jesus returns, we all get resurrected—not the way Lazarus did, who rose to a mortal existence (John 11:38–44), but the way Jesus was, who rose to an immortal existence (John 20:1–18). Who would want what Lazarus got? Wake up back into all our old aches and pains, fears and shames? But as 1 Corinthians 15 makes plain, Jesus is the first model off the assembly line of the kind of body we’ll get—a fully physical body that eats (John 21:9–12) and can be touched (John 20:27), but also one that can appear in locked rooms (John 20:19) and is at times hard to recognize (John 20:14).
In other words, the laws of nature are no longer our master but our servant.”
When John the Revelator looked into Heaven, he saw souls under the Altar of God (Revelation 6:9-11), souls around the Throne of God (Revelation 7:9-10), and souls seated on thrones with Christ (Revelation 20:4). These are believers in their intermediate bodies.
These are not the final bodies. There is coming an event we call the Rapture wherein believers in Christ will receive their glorified bodies.
Paul talks about this in:
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NKJV – So also is the RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Our current bodies are corrupted by sin. This is why we have sickness and disease. This is why we die. When we die, we leave this life and go to an intermediate body to be with Jesus in Heaven. Paul tells us:
1 Corinthians 15:50-53, 57 NKJV – Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed– 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. … 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
You cannot enter Heaven with the current body you have. It must be left behind. But God our Savior and Lord has made provision for a future glorified body. Paul tells us further about the event we call The Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 NKJV – For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM THOSE WHO SLEEP IN JESUS. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
God will give us a body like Christ’s. So believer, if you leave this life before the Second Coming of Christ, you need not fear. There is ample scripture to teach that you go to be with the Lord in some type of intermediate body. But its not the final body. The final body will be like Christ’s.
I can hardly wait! We’ve got a great adventure waiting for us, for those of us who love the Lord Jesus. Do you love Him? Are you living in Him? Then you will live WITH Him forever, dear one. Do not fear. Be excited. The best is yet to come.
