THESIS: To show that heaven is not just a state of "rest" but a place of great and wonderful activity.
INTRO: A. The Bible has comparatively little to say about heaven. Perhaps because if it did describe it and our activities there we would not want to continue here at all. There are no specific chapters which spell out in detail "WHAT WE WILL DO IN HEAVEN" but scattered throughout the Bible are hints and suggestions to whet our appetite for eternity there. B. Artists have portrayed heaven as the atmospheric heavens with clouds; there are no clouds there! Cartoonists picture us as sitting on a cloud, playing a harp all day.. every day; boring! Even hymn-writers portray heaven as a place where bels. sit under the shade of a tree, with soft breezes blowing while they relax day after day; the temp. will be perfect so no need to cool off (or for the wind to blow! Winds blow on earth...not in heaven).
TRANS: The question is then, "WHAT WILL WE DO IN HEAVEN?"...
I. WE WILL WORSHIP: Rev. 21:3
QUOTE: Westminster Confession: "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to worship Him forever."
A. The Tabernacle of God:
1. The "Tabernacle" means "Meeting Place"; the place of worship. 2. The word immed. conjurs up the image of the O.T. Tabernacle.
3. The Brazen Altar: the Lamb is the completed Sacrifice. v.22 b. The Brazen Laver: the Word of God living will keep us clean. c. The Table of Shewbread: we will feed upon the Living Word daily. d. The Golden Lampstand: we no longer need to be lights in the world e. The Altar of Incense: our prayers will no longer be petitions, but words of praise; all our needs will be met. f. The Veil: even the veil of Christ's Body was a "barrier" to complete worship - no longer. g. The Ark of the Covenant and Mercy Seat: No more need of sacrifice and His presence "is with men and He will dwell with them."
II. WE WILL LEARN:
I Cor. 13:11-12 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
A. The Scriptures:
1. The Bible (O.T. and N.T.) is simply God's revelation of Himself to man, but in 6000 years no man has mastered even this revelation. 2. All man needs to know in this life is contained in His Word.
B. The Savior:
1. Christ did not come to do away with the Scriptures, but to add to the revelation of God. 2. But even Christ was an incomplete revelation of God, due to the veil of His flesh.
ILLUS: On the Mt. of Transfiguration, some of the glory and majesty of Who Christ was shown thru the veil of flesh, but that was fleeting and temporary man wasn't capable of receiving this advanced revelation. When we get to glory and the limitations of our flesh, imposed by sin, is removed, God can and will reveal Himself more completely. A finite God could reveal Himself totally and completely in a limited amount of time, but an infinite God may require all eternity to do so.
C. Our Sufferings:
1. Finally we will learn "Why?"!
ILLUS: Why did that little baby die? Why did that child get leukemia? Why did that divorce happen? Why did that spouse cheat on you? Why did you always have to scrape and scrounge for finances, when you tithed faithfully? Why did your wife/husband die at such a young age?
2. Then we will learn HOW the "all things" worked together for good!
NOTE: Eternity will be spent learning more about God and the mysteries of God's dealings with His children and the wonder of His will.
III. WE WILL FELLOWSHIP:
A. With The Lord: Rev.22:4
Mark 3:14 And he ordained twelve, THAT THEY SHOULD BE WITH HIM, and that he might send them forth to preach,
1. As amazing as it is, the Lord desires our fellowship! 2. He will finally have all of us that He wants now and doesn't get.
NOTE: Our experience will be like Adam before the fall, walking and communing with the Lord Himself.
B. With The Saints:
1. Fellowship is based on knowledge. 2. In heaven we will have eternity to get to know the billions of saints of the ages!
ILLUS: 👉We will get to know and fellowship with Paul and Peter and Elijah and Obadiah. 👉We will get to know friends, acquaintances and relatives like we have never known them...and our fellowship will be unhindered by sin!
C. With Supernatural Beings! (Angels, Cherubim, Ser-aphim, Arch-angels)
IV. WE WILL SERVE: Rev.22:3
A. As Priests:
1. The word used for "serve" here is the same word used for priestly service. 2. All we do for Him will be viewed as important priestly ministry.
ILLUS: What a blessed thought that the God Who doesn't need us or anything, will create jobs for us to do just so He can delight in us!!!!!
V. WE WILL REIGN: Rev.22:5
A. His Kingdom: Is. 9:6-7 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his king-dom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
1. His Kingdom has a beginning but no ending. 2. Finally all that offends will be purged from His Kingdom and we will administrate that Kingdom forever. 3. The extent of people now, or to serve Him now... why do you think that your desire will change just because you are transported. 4. His Kingdom will likely transcend this planet and encompass the universe.
CONCL: If you have no desire to worship Him now, or to learn more of Him now, or to fellowship with Him and His geographically to another place called heaven?! What makes you think you will reign with Him then?! How IS your worship, knowledge, fellowship and service doing NOW?!