Exploring the Reality and Beauty of Heaven

 

Summary

Heaven is a topic that fills us with hope and anticipation. As we delve into the subject, it's important to understand the biblical perspective on heaven, which is mentioned over 500 times in the Bible. However, the term "heaven" can be misleading because it refers to three different realms. The first heaven is our atmosphere, the sky above us. The second heaven encompasses the stellar heavens, including the sun, moon, stars, and galaxies. The third heaven is the dwelling place of God, where His throne resides.

The third heaven is a real, physical place, not just a state of mind or a condition. Jesus Himself spoke of preparing a place for us in His Father's house, which is filled with many mansions. Heaven is always described as being "up" in the Bible, and it is a place of unimaginable beauty and life. Everything in heaven is alive, vibrant, and free from the curse of sin and death that we experience on earth.

Earth is a shadow, a photocopy of the real heaven. While we may find beauty and joy here, it is nothing compared to the glory of heaven. In heaven, there are no dead trees, no sickness, no aging, and no night. It is a place where we will be in the presence of God, constantly renewed and filled with His light.

Heaven is also described as having a city, the New Jerusalem, which is 1,500 miles wide, deep, and tall. This city is a reflection of God's creative power and is filled with the glory of God. It is a place where all nations, tribes, and tongues will gather, and where we will experience the fullness of life as God intended.

As we set our hearts on heaven, we are reminded not to fall in love with this world, but to seek the things above. Heaven is our true home, and we are merely pilgrims passing through this earth. Let us live each day with our hearts set towards heaven, eagerly anticipating the day when we will see our Savior face-to-face and experience the fullness of His presence.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding the Three Heavens: The Bible mentions three heavens: the atmospheric heaven, the stellar heaven, and the third heaven, which is God's dwelling place. Each serves a unique purpose in God's creation, and understanding them helps us grasp the vastness of God's universe. [08:37]

2. Heaven as a Real Place: Heaven is not a state of mind but a real, physical place prepared by Jesus for those who believe in Him. It is more real than anything on earth, filled with life and free from the curse of sin. [20:52]

3. Earth as a Shadow of Heaven: Earth is a photocopy of heaven, a shadow of the real. While we experience beauty here, it is a distorted version of the perfection that awaits us in heaven. This understanding encourages us to set our hearts on the eternal rather than the temporal. [26:11]

4. The New Jerusalem: The New Jerusalem is a magnificent city in heaven, 1,500 miles in every dimension. It reflects God's glory and creativity, offering ample space for all believers to dwell in the presence of God. [34:33]

5. Life in Heaven: In heaven, there is no curse, no death, and no night. We will be in a glorified state, constantly renewed by God's presence, and will never need to rest. This eternal life is a promise for those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. [45:09]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:23] - Introduction and Humor
- [05:03] - Heaven and Hell Overview
- [08:37] - The Three Heavens Explained
- [10:40] - Creation and the Universe
- [11:57] - The Third Heaven
- [14:12] - Out of Body Experience
- [17:39] - Misconceptions About Heaven
- [18:43] - Heaven is Always Up
- [20:52] - Heaven as a Real Place
- [23:11] - Earth as a Shadow of Heaven
- [26:11] - The Real vs. The Photocopy
- [28:24] - Heaven's Beauty and Life
- [30:54] - Animals and Heaven
- [34:33] - The New Jerusalem
- [39:17] - The Glory of Heaven
- [45:09] - Eternal Life in Heaven
- [46:19] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Heaven

Bible Reading:

1. Genesis 1:8 - "And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day."
2. Psalms 11:4 - "The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven."
3. John 14:1-3 - "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, what are the three different realms referred to as "heaven" in the Bible? [05:03]

2. How does the sermon describe the third heaven, and what biblical evidence supports this description? [11:57]

3. What is the significance of the New Jerusalem as described in the sermon, and how is it depicted in the Bible? [34:33]

4. How does the sermon explain the concept of earth being a shadow or photocopy of heaven? [26:11]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What might be the implications of understanding heaven as a real, physical place rather than a state of mind? How does this perspective affect one's faith and hope? [20:52]

2. The sermon mentions that earth is a shadow of heaven. How does this understanding influence the way believers should view their life on earth and their priorities? [26:11]

3. How does the description of the New Jerusalem in the sermon reflect God's creative power and glory? What does this tell us about God's intentions for humanity? [34:33]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers should set their hearts on heaven, and how might this impact their daily lives? [46:19]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the idea that heaven is a real place prepared by Jesus. How does this belief shape your daily decisions and long-term goals? [20:52]

2. Considering that earth is a shadow of heaven, what are some earthly attachments or distractions you might need to let go of to focus more on the eternal? [26:11]

3. The sermon encourages believers to live as pilgrims passing through this earth. What practical steps can you take to remind yourself that heaven is your true home? [46:19]

4. How can the description of the New Jerusalem inspire you to appreciate God's creativity and glory in your surroundings today? [34:33]

5. The sermon mentions that in heaven, there is no curse, death, or night. How can this promise of eternal life motivate you to persevere through current challenges? [45:09]

6. What specific actions can you take this week to set your heart on things above, as encouraged in the sermon? [46:19]

7. How can you share the hope and anticipation of heaven with someone in your life who may not have this perspective? What approach would you take to engage them in a meaningful conversation?

Devotional

Day 1: The Vastness of God's Creation
Understanding the concept of the three heavens helps us appreciate the vastness and complexity of God's creation. The first heaven is the atmosphere, the sky that surrounds our planet. The second heaven includes the celestial bodies—the sun, moon, stars, and galaxies. The third heaven is the dwelling place of God, a realm beyond our physical universe. Each of these heavens serves a unique purpose in God's grand design, reflecting His infinite creativity and power. By recognizing these distinct realms, we gain a deeper understanding of the universe and our place within it. [08:37]

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding the three heavens change your perspective on God's creation and your place in it?


Day 2: Heaven as Our True Home
Heaven is not merely a state of mind or a spiritual concept; it is a real, physical place prepared by Jesus for those who believe in Him. This place is more real and vibrant than anything we experience on earth, free from the curse of sin and death. Jesus spoke of preparing a place for us in His Father's house, filled with many mansions. This promise assures us that heaven is a tangible reality, a place where we will dwell in the presence of God, experiencing life in its fullest form. [20:52]

"But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.'" (1 Corinthians 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you live today with the assurance that heaven is a real place prepared for you?


Day 3: Earth as a Reflection of Heaven
Earth, with all its beauty and wonder, is merely a shadow of the real heaven. While we find joy and beauty here, it is a distorted version of the perfection that awaits us in heaven. This understanding encourages us to set our hearts on the eternal rather than the temporal. By recognizing that earth is a photocopy of heaven, we are reminded not to fall in love with this world but to seek the things above, where true beauty and joy reside. [26:11]

"For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." (Hebrews 13:14, ESV)

Reflection: What earthly attachments might be hindering you from fully setting your heart on the eternal?


Day 4: The Glory of the New Jerusalem
The New Jerusalem is described as a magnificent city in heaven, measuring 1,500 miles in every dimension. This city reflects God's glory and creativity, offering ample space for all believers to dwell in His presence. It is a place where all nations, tribes, and tongues will gather, experiencing the fullness of life as God intended. The New Jerusalem is a testament to God's promise of a future where His people will live in harmony and peace, surrounded by His glory. [34:33]

"And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:2, ESV)

Reflection: How does the vision of the New Jerusalem inspire you to live in unity and peace with others today?


Day 5: Eternal Life in Heaven
In heaven, there is no curse, no death, and no night. We will be in a glorified state, constantly renewed by God's presence, and will never need to rest. This eternal life is a promise for those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. The absence of sin and death means that everything in heaven is alive and vibrant, filled with God's light. This promise of eternal life encourages us to live with hope and anticipation, knowing that our true home is with God. [45:09]

"And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life." (1 John 2:25, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to live in the hope and anticipation of eternal life with God?

Quotes



Heaven is a real place, everybody. There's a thought process in our culture, and I've heard people say, it's not a state of mind, and it's not a condition. People are like, no, I don't believe in hell. I just believe heaven and hell are states of mind. Let me assure you, it is not a state of mind. It is a physical place. Heaven is real. It's more real than what anything on the earth is. [00:19:40] (29 seconds)


Earth is a copy of heaven. It really is. This is one scripture. There's several scriptures that we can align to this, but here's what I want you to hear. Hebrews 8, 4. For if he were on earth, he would not have been made a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law. Watch this. There are priests who serve the copy and the shadow of the heavenly things. [00:22:44] (25 seconds)


There's nothing dead in heaven. Nothing. You will never walk through a forest with dead trees in heaven. Everything is alive. Everything exudes life because God is life. Everything. Everything you see on the earth is a photocopy in a fallen state. How would I translate that? Go back to the pencil analogy. We photocopied it. Now running through a bad copy machine about 50 times. [00:25:25] (34 seconds)


And there shall be no, this is one of the greatest statements in the Bible, and there shall be no more curse. Come on, no more curse. Everything you hate about this earth is wrapped up in that. Everything you love about the earth is wrapped up in heaven. And in heaven, there's no more of that. There is no curse, no sickness, no disease, no aging, no nothing dying, nothing, nothing at all. [00:44:58] (32 seconds)


When you have a glorified body and a glorified state in heaven, you will never need to sleep ever again. Some of you love to sleep, and I get it, because you want to rejuvenate. I get that. But what happens when you don't have that? My goodness. You're constantly renewed by the Lord. You don't even age. Listen to this. There shall be no more night there. [00:45:43] (23 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
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