The Home of the Redeemed
Some people regard Heaven as a childish
fantasy, a mythical afterlife which the imagination of man has conjured up to
compensate himself for the disappointments and sorrows
of the present life. They say that in
his fear of death and desperate instinct to survive, man has made up stories of
a "life after death".
For centuries, skeptics viewed God's
people with derision and disdain as they spoke glowingly of traveling to and
living in God's Heaven beyond the sky.
With contempt the critics pointed out that space travel for human beings
was a scientific impossibility, and that such nonsense should be limited to the
fantasy world of comic strips.
Then, suddenly, man began venturing
into space! Today, NASA plans for space stations and colonies in the sky.
But what, and where, is God's
Heaven? Is it a hazy, unreal existence,
where white-robed, ghostlike "saints" sit on the edges of clouds or
rainbows, dangling little golden harps?
What does the Bible say?
HEAVEN—CAPITAL
OF THE UNIVERSE
The Bible uses the word
"heaven" in three ways:
a) The first heaven:
The atmosphere, where birds fly.
Genesis 1:6-8,20; Revelation
b) The second heaven:
Outer
space, where stars and planets race.
Psalm 8:3,
Revelation 6:13, Genesis 15:5
c) The third Heaven:
2 Corinthians 12:2-4,
I Kings 8:30, Matthew 6:9
Note: Obviously, if there is a "third" heaven,
there must also be a "first" and "second".
Let's see what the Bible has to say about Heaven in
the third sense: God's dwelling place, which is to become the home of His
redeemed children.
1. What
has God prepared for His people?
But now they desire a better country, that
is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be
called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16
2. What
is the name of this city?
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in
the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him
the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem,
which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new
name. Revelation 3:12
3. What
happens to the New Jerusalem at the close of the 1000 years?
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a
great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy
4. Where
will this colossal space city land?
Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy
spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
And his feet shall stand in that day upon
the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of
Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west,
and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove
toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
And ye shall flee to the valley of the
mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall
flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of
All the land shall be turned as a plain
from Geba to Rimmon south of
Note: At the 2nd coming, Jesus comes for his saints, John 14:2,3. At the 3rd advent, at the close of the 1000
years, he comes with his saints, Zechariah 14:5.
5. What
kind of people did Jesus say would inherit this kingdom?
Blessed are the meek: for they shall
inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
6. The
city is described as being perfectly square.
What is the distance around the city?
And the city lieth foursquare, and the
length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed,
twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are
equal. Revelation 21:16
Note: Ancient cities were measured by outside wall
circumference. A furlong is an eighth of
a mile, which means the city will have a circumference of 1,500 miles; and
since it is square, each wall will be 375 miles in length. It will contain 140,625 square miles, which
is more area than
7. What
else does the Bible say about this amazing city?
And he carried me away in the spirit to a
great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy
Having the glory of God: and her light was
like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
And had a wall great and high, and had
twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which
are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of
On the east three gates; on the north three
gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
And the wall of the city had twelve
foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And he that talked with me had a golden
reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
And the city lieth foursquare, and the
length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed,
twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are
equal.
And he measured the wall thereof, an
hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is,
of the angel.
And the building of the wall of it was of
jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
And the foundations of the wall of the city
were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was
jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius;
the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a
chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls;
every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold,
as it were transparent glass.
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord
God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
And the city had no need of the sun,
neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of
God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
And the nations of them which are saved
shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory
and honour into it.
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all
by day: for there shall be no night there.
And they shall bring the glory and honour
of the nations into it.
And there shall in no wise enter into it
any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh
abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's
book of life. Revelation 21:10-27
a) It has the
glory of God (verse 11)
b) The wall is
made of jasper 144 cubits high (this equals 216 feet) (verses 12,17,18)
c) It has twelve gates, three on each side. The gates are made of solid pearl! (verses 12,13,21)
d) The city has
twelve foundations, each made of precious stones (verses 19 & 20)
e) The streets
are made of pure gold
(verse 19)
f) There shall
be no night there (verse 25)
8. What is the source of the city water
supply?
And he shewed me a pure
river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God
and of the Lamb. Revelation 22:1
9. What
miraculous tree, which was in the Garden of Eden before sin, will be restored
in the
In the midst of the street of it, and on
either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the
leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2
So he drove out the man; and he placed at
the east of the
OUR NEW
WORLD
10.
What promise of restoration did the Lord
make in Micah 4:8?
And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong
hold of the daughter of
11.
In the previous lesson, we learned that
when the resurrected wicked, led by Satan, attempt to capture the city, they
perish in fire. What is the purpose of
this fire?
But the day of the Lord will come as a
thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall
pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat,
the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10
Note: The fire purifies the earth, and destroys sin.
Those who cling to sin will sadly end with it.
12.
What does God do next?
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. Revelation 21:1
GOD'S
REAL PEOPLE
13.
What kind of bodies will the people who
enter God's Kingdom have?
For our conversation is in heaven; from
whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,
according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto
himself. Philippians 3:20,21
14.
After His resurrection, what kind of a
body did Jesus have?
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood
in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
But they were terrified and affrighted, and
supposed that they had seen a spirit.
And he said unto them, Why
are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your
hearts?
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I
myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me
have.
And when he had thus
spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
And while they yet believed not for joy,
and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
And they gave him a piece of a broiled
fish, and of an honeycomb.
And he took it, and did eat before them. Luke 24:36-43
Note: When Jesus appeared to John in the Revelation 40
years later, He still "looked like [was] a human
being." Revelation 1:13, TEV.
God gave His Son—it was not a loan! Jesus will be a human being for eternity.
15.
What will the saints do on the new earth,
which demonstrates that they are real and not ghosts?
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new
earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them;
and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the
days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the
work of their hands. Isaiah 65:17,21,22
Note: Acts 3:20,21 promises that
everything will be restored to God's people that Adam and Eve lost by sin. Adam and Eve were real people doing real
things, but with sinless natures, brilliant minds, and perfect, flawless,
eternally young bodies in every way. All
this will be restored!
16.
How does Paul describe the glories of
God's new Kingdom?
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God
hath prepared for them that love him. I
Corinthians 2:9
17.
How do the things which God is preparing
for us compare with the sufferings which we have passed through here on
earth?
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
Note: God has promised to make up for all the suffering we
may have had on this planet (Joel
MORE
FACTS ABOUT HEAVEN
I. Heaven is a clean place.
Revelation 21:27: "Nothing
that defileth."
Matthew 6:20: No rust or pests.
I Corinthians. 6:9,10: No drunkards, idolaters, blasphemers or unclean
persons.
Psalm 24:3-5: "He
that hath clean hands and a pure heart."
II.
Heaven is a safe place.
Revelation 22:14: All citizens will be
commandment-keepers.
Isaiah 11:6-9: "The
wolf shall dwell with the lamb."
Matthew 6:19,20:
No thieves.
Isaiah 33:24: No sickness.
Isaiah 35:9: No ravenous beast.
Revelation 22:3: "No
more curse."
III.
Heaven is a happy place.
Revelation 21:4: All tears wiped away; no
more sorrow, crying, pain, or death.
Luke 20:36: "Neither
can they die anymore."
Isaiah 35:10: "Songs
of everlasting joy." (also the whole
chapter.)
Isaiah. 65:17-25:
"Long enjoy the work of their hands."
Psalm
NO
DISEASE OR DEATH
18.
What comforting and exciting facts about
Heaven are emphasized in the following Scripture passages?
ISAIAH 35:5,6:
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the
wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
a) Eyes of the blind shall be opened.
b) Ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
c) Lame man will leap like a deer.
d) Tongue of the mute shall sing.
REVELATION 21:4:
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.
e) God will wipe away all our tears.
f) No more death, sorrow, crying or
pain.
ISAIAH 65:25:
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's
meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy
mountain, saith the LORD.
g) Beasts will not hurt nor destroy.
ISAIAH 11:6:
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
h) The wolf, leopard and lion will be
led by a little child.
ETERNAL
JOY AND HEALTH
19.
The prophet Isaiah gives us three more
marvelous promises regarding Heaven.
What are they?
The wilderness and the solitary place shall
be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. Isaiah 35:1
And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be
forgiven their iniquity. Isaiah 33:24
Violence shall no more be heard in thy
land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls
Salvation, and thy gates Praise. Isaiah
60:18
a) "The desert shall blossom as a
rose."
b) "The inhabitants shall not say
I am sick."
c) "Violence shall no more be
heard in the land."
20.
Will people recognize each other in
Heaven, or will we lose identity?
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. I Corinthians 13:12
21.
Eternity is a long time. Will people ever become bored in Heaven?
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy
presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm
THE NEW
CAPITAL OF THE UNIVERSE
22.
Where will God live after the
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. Revelation 21:3
23.
Who will the redeemed be like and Who will be their constant Companion?
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we
know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as
he is. I John 3:2
These are they which were not defiled with
women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever
he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God
and to the Lamb. Revelation 14:4
Note: The best part about Heaven will be that God—Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit—will be there, and we will have each other. These
are the real treasures of eternal life—God's people (Malachi
24.
Sin damages me and prevents me from
having a relationship with God, the source of all life, thus keeping me
out of heaven. What can be done about
it?
But if we walk in the light, as he is in
the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
his Son cleanseth us from all sin. I John
1:7
Jesus Christ, who is
the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the
kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his
own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his father. Revelation 1:5
CONCLUSION
"He that
cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37
Jesus will freely and lovingly cleanse
you, if you request it. Will you ask Him
for cleansing right now?
My response
to Christ is:______________________________