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WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE IN
HEAVEN? |
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Michael Faraday was a noted English chemist and physicist, as well as a devout Christian. On one occasion a distinguished scientist asked him, "Have you conceived to yourself what will be your occupation in the next world?" Hesitating a while, Faraday answered, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him." And then he added, "I shall be with Christ, and that is enough."
Heaven, above all things, means that we will be with Christ, and with Faraday I say that is enough. As great as that is, it is only part of what heaven will mean to those who are saved.
In our last study we looked at the description of heaven that is given to us in chapter 21. As we move into chapter 22 we are given further descriptions of our future home. As we look at verses 1-5 we are told of what heaven will be like for all who are saved.
What will it be like for the saved in heaven? Let’s notice verses 1-5 and get an idea. First, let me say a word about:
1. OUR ETERNAL HOME
As John continues his tour of the New Jerusalem, the capital of heaven, we read in verse 1, “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.”
John sees a beautiful river that flows through the city. The Bible says in Psalm 46:4, “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.” The Psalmist no doubt had in mind the river John describes in Revelation 22:1.
First, let me say a word about:
A) The Description of this River
John first took note that this river is “pure” and “clear as crystal.” There is no defilement or uncleanness about this river. There’s no trash on the banks or junk scattered along its bottom. Its waters are not murky and muddy. Instead, it is a dazzling and sparkling stream as clear and clean as bath water.
John also took notice of where this stream originates. He saw this river “proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” The head of this river is God’s throne.
The Prophet Ezekiel saw a similar river flowing from the Millennial Temple. In Ezekiel 47 he saw a stream of water flowing from the temple that at first was ankle deep, then hip deep and finally deep enough to swim in. In a similar fashion, in heaven there will be a beautiful river flowing from the throne of God.
Furthermore, notice not only the description of this river, but also:
B) The Depiction of this River
You will notice in verse 1 that this river is referred to as the “water of life.” This is not like any other river we have ever known. This river is symbolic of eternal life. As John MacArthur says in his commentary on Revelation, “Its pure, unpolluted, unobstructed flow symbolizes the constant flow of everlasting life from God's throne to God's people.”
This river is a symbol that heaven is our eternal home. This is not a temporary home, but one in which we will dwell for all eternity.
I think of that old song that says:
What a glorious and beautiful place is heaven. It is beyond description. The half has never been told. What is so great is that it is our eternal home. As the eons of eternity roll away, it will be where we live.
John Newton said in his great hymn Amazing Grace:
Ten’s of thousands of year shall pass and we will have no less days than when we first entered that city. It is our eternal home.
Secondly, think with me of:
2. OUR ETERNAL HEALTH
John not only saw a river, but he also saw a tree. We read in verse 2, “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.”
John saw on both sides of the river a tree of life. This tree is a counterpart to the tree God had placed in the Garden of Eden. We read of that tree in Genesis 2:9, “And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”
As you look at this tree you see:
A) The Productivity of the Tree
John saw how this tree “bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month.” This is a most unique tree. I have heard of trees that bear different kinds of fruit on them through the process of grafting, but none that will bear a different kind of fruit each month.
Now, what these fruits are, I have no idea. I don’t know if it will bear apples in January, Pears in February, oranges in March and bananas in April. I have no idea, but I do know that each month it will bear a different kind of fruit.
I can’t help but believe that if it bears peaches they will be without fuzz. If it bears apples they will be without worms or seeds. If it bears cherries they will be without pits. If it bears coconuts, you want have to have a machete to open them up, but just stick a straw in them and drink the milk out. None of the fruit will be sour, but sweet to the taste.
John also speaks of:
B) The Purpose of the Tree
He speaks of how the “the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Now, this seems to be a contradiction to what we have already learned about heaven. In Revelation 21:4 we saw, “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 anymore pain: for the former things are passed away.”
There will no such thing as pain or sickness in heaven. Why then do we have a tree that is for healing? If we don’t need healing, why will there be a tree for healing?
The word “healing” is the word from which we get our word “therapeutic.” It speaks of that which is life-giving. The tree represents the quality of life we will enjoy in heaven. The life we will enjoy will be one of eternal health.
No, there want be any cancer, heart-attacks, ulcers, the flu, migraines or allergies. We will live in perfect health for all of eternity.
In verse 3 we read, “And there shall be no more curse.” The curse that brought sickness upon man will be removed, thus all sickness will be removed. We will not only live in heaven for all of eternity, but live in perfect health forever and ever.
Lastly, think with me about:
3. OUR ETERNAL HONOR
In verse 5 we read, “and they shall reign for ever and ever.” At the very beginning of Revelation we read in 1:6 that God “hat made us kings and priests.” Also, in Revelation 3:21 the promise was given, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
In heaven we will reign as kings and priests, enjoying the blessings of such honor. There will be many blessings we will enjoy throughout eternity, but there are two in particular that we find in verses 3-5.
The first blessing is:
A) We Shall See the Lord
We read in verse 4, “And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” Imagine this! We will actually look upon the face of Jesus.
As Carrie Breck wrote:
John saw that His name will be in our foreheads. That speaks of identification. He is mine, I am His. Of all the blessings of heaven, the greatest is that we will see Jesus.
In chapter 21 we saw how there is no night there, for the Lord Himself is the light of that city. His very presence is the light of heaven. Once again in verse 5 John says, “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light.” John reminds us once again that we will abide in His presence.
We will be in His presence and constantly look upon His blessed face.
Secondly, we will not only see the Lord, but also:
B) We Shall Serve the Lord
We read in verse 3, “and his servants shall serve Him.” Now, this is going to be strange for some. Down here, there are some you can’t, as the old-timers say, get to strike a lick at a snake. But in heaven, every believer will serve the Lord.
Some have the idea that when they get to heaven all they will do is float around on a cloud with their feet propped up taking it easy. I have news for you. In heaven, we will serve the Lord.
Now, how we will serve the Lord, I am not sure. But we will spend all of eternity serving Him. His every wish will be our command. We will wait on Him and work for Him.
For those who serve the Lord now, you know what I mean when I say; there is no greater joy than in serving the Lord. What is so thrilling is that we will get to serve Him for all of eternity.
Let me say that if you are going to serve Him in heaven, you ought to do it on earth!
WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE IN HEAVEN? It is beyond descripton.
© 2006 by the Living Word |
