Rev. 5:1-14 WHAT ON EARTH WILL BE IN HEAVEN?
Intro: This passage is one of the few glimpses into Heaven. John, the
author of Revelation, has been called up into Heaven to receive the
revelation of things to come. While in Heaven, John saw many wonderful
things that he later penned down for you and me. What the Bible reveals
about Heaven is enough to encourage even the most burdened down of the
Lord's saints.
I think that of all the promises given in the Bible, the promise of Heaven
may stand as the most precious to the children of the Lord. Just the fact
that one day, we will be allowed to leave this world with all its trials and
troubles behind and enter a land of absolute perfection is almost too good
to be true. But, thank God it is true!
Just before Jesus died, He gave His disciples a promise that has
cheered the hearts of the saints for 2,000 years. He promised us that He
was going to prepare a place in the Father's House for each of us and that
one day, He would return for us and take us to be with Him there, John 14:1.
I don't know if that promise does anything for you, but it certainly does bless
my heart!
Now, much has been said about Heaven. Many sermons have been
preached about that celestial city. Books have been written and Heaven
has filled the fondest dreams of God's saints from time immemorial. My
assignment from the Lord is not to recount all the splendors of that city. I
am not hear today to speak of golden streets, gates of pearl, walls of jasper
or foundations of precious stones. I did not come to speak of endless day,
angelic hosts, crystal rivers or the tree of life. I believe that while all the
things that come together to make Heaven all that it will be are very
precious, those things that will be missing from Heaven will make it a
wonderful place as well. Think about it, there will be no more death, no more
sorrow, no more sickness, no more crime, no more separation, no more
suffering, no more sin and no more Satan. These things of earth will not
make the trip to glory when we go home to dwell in the regions of light. I
praise the Lord for that great truth! However, I would like to tell you this
morning that I did come this way to remind you that there are a few things
that will make the trip with us from earth into Heaven. These are things that
you won't mind being in Heaven. For they will not hinder the experience of
that city, but they will enhance it and add to its beauty.
As I look around this world today, there aren't many things in the earth
that I want to see when I get home to Heaven. However, there are a few
things from this world that will be found over there. I want to share them
with you as I preach today on What On Earth Will Be In Heaven? Allow me
to share 5 precious things that we will take with us to Heaven when we leave
this world behind. What on earth will be in Heaven? Let me show you!
I. V. 9 THERE WILL STILL BE SINGING IN HEAVEN
A. Notice who was doing the singing. The 24 elders. These men
represent the redeemed of God down through the ages. The picture
here is of those who have been saved, and have arrived at home in
Heaven standing before the throne of God singing a brand new
heavenly song of praise unto the Lord and the God who redeemed
them from an eternity in Hell.
B. Singing has always been important to the worship of the Lord.
1. The Bible tells us that in the creation, the angels sang, Job 38:7.
(By the way, this is the only reference to angels singing in the
Bible! We always picture the angels singing at the birth of Jesus,
but a careful examination of the text reveals that hey did not sing,
they just said, Luke 2:13-14.)
2. When Israel wanted to worship their God, they often did so by
singing. (Ill. The Song of Moses, Ex. 15; Ill. The Song of Deborah
and Barak when they had defeated Sisera, Judges 5; Psalms 120-134 are called "Songs of Degrees". That is, they were songs sung
by pilgrims who were making their way up to Jerusalem to worship
at the Tabernacle and later at the Temple. In fact, the Book of
Psalms is in reality a Hebrew songbook!) Singing was vitally
important in the worship of the Jews.
3. When the church was formed, singing became a vital part of
Christian worship. (Remember Paul and Silas in prison? Acts
16:25.) Verses like Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 tell us that singing is
important to Christian worship.
4. It would be difficult to place to estimate the real value of Christ-honoring, scriptural singing in the church. Singing sets the mood
for the rest of the service. Lively, energetic singing prepares the
worshipers for the Word of God that is about to be preached. The
right kind of singing can even be used by the Lord to bring lost
people to Him to bow in repentance for salvation. Thank God for
good, biblical singing! I love it, don't you?
(Ill. I hope so, because it will be one of the few things that will
accompany us into Heaven!)
C. The Bible says in this verse that we will sing "a new song". I am not
sure what all the words are to that new song this morning, but I
believe that God put that song in my heart and yours when He saved
us by His grace, Psa. 40:1-3. All I know for sure is that one of these
days, I will leave this world behind and I will stand in the presence of
the blessed Lamb of God and will open my mouth and sing a new
song unto Him in pure worship! I look forward to that glorious day
when the saints will sing the new song unto the Lamb in a new land!
I. There Will Still Be Singing In Heaven
II. V. 12-14 THERE WILL STILL BE SHOUTING IN HEAVEN
A. These verses make clear the great truth that when we get to Heaven,
there will be shouting over there! Here, the angels and the saints
both have the privilege of lifting their shouts unto the glorified Lamb.
B. Just as singing as always had a place in the praise and worship of the
Lord, so too has shouting.
1. Job 38:7 tells us that the angels shouted for joy!
2. During the history of the nation of Israel, shouting and praising the
Lord were valuable parts of God's worship. They shouted when
the Ark was returned to Jerusalem, 2 Sam. 6:15. The worship of
Israel was often punctuated with the shouting of the people, Psa.
5:11; Psa. 32:11; Psa. 47:1; Psa. 132:9.
3. In the early church, the people were encouraged to participate in
the public praises of the Lord, Heb. 13:15.
4. In our modern society and churches, old fashioned praising the
Lord has fallen out of favor with many people. In fact, shouters,
criers, hand wavers, and amener's are all ridiculed and
misunderstood. I would just like to remind you this morning that
God's praises still have a place in the church! In fact, they are
more than welcomed around here! Now I know that not everyone
praises the Lord the same way and that some feel funny when the
shouting begins, but let me just challenge you to leave the
shouters alone. They have something to shout about! By the way,
I am glad the Lord gave me something that I can feel! I am
grateful to the Lord that I have a Savior who is worthy to shout
about!
(Ill. Some people will go to a football game or some other type of
sporting event and will shout themselves hoarse screaming like a
bunch of Comanche Indians, then those same people will go to
church and sit there like wooden Indians while the Lord's praises
are sung and preached! Something is wring with that picture.)
(Ill. May I suggest that you need to get used to shouting? If you plan
to go to Heaven, you had better be ready for it, because it is one of
the things on earth that will be there with.)
C. How do I know this? Because every time we are allowed a sneak
peak into Heaven, there is one thing that we are always shown, and
that is the fact that the inhabitants of Heaven are seen praising the
Lord! (Ill. Rev. 4:1-11; 5:1-14; 7:9-11; 19:1-8)
(Ill. Much of what passes for worship down here isn't! However,
praising the Lord is in fashion in Heaven, and it always will be! The
best advise that I can give you is to get into practice now so that you
won't be too rusty when you get over there!)
I. There Will Still Be Singing In Heaven
II. There Will Still Be Shouting In Heaven
III. V. 10, 14 THERE WILL STILL BE SATISFACTION IN HEAVEN
A. As these 24 elders lifts their song of praise unto the Lord, they
express their pleasure in their present state. They comment about
the great things the Lord has done for them and state their
satisfaction in their worship of the Lord. You see, a satisfied people
are a worshiping and praising people!
B. Throughout history, God has proven that He was in the business of
satisfying His people. He satisfied Israel while they traveled through
the wilderness. He satisfied the hungry when He fed the 5,000. He is
in the satisfying business, Psa. 107:9; Psa. 34:10! Even during the
days of the early church the evidence would suggest that the followers
of Jesus Christ were a satisfied people, Acts 2:42-47. After all, many
of those early believers chose to die rather than deny their Lord. The
same is true today! People are still giving their lives for the Lord
Jesus. Why? Because He has met the deepest need of their soul
and they are perfectly satisfied with Him!
C. In Heaven, we will only be more satisfied! If one takes the time to
look at what the Bible says about that Heavenly land, it will be easy to
see that we will be satisfied over their. Notice Rev. 21:4; Rev. 7:16-17, Ill. The glories of that perfect land! So much of what causes us
grief down here will never enter there! David tells us that being there
with Him will bring complete satisfaction, Psa. 17:15.
(Ill. As we stroll over Heaven, there will be no hard luck stories, no
times of depression, no physical problems, no emotional trial, no
financial stress, nothing to cause us to be the least bit dissatisfied!
Someone who didn't believe the old Gospel story might hear this and
concluded that we Christians were just dreaming. Well, if I am,
please don't wake me! All I know is that I am satisfied today and I
know that my satisfaction will only improve when I arrive home in
glory!)
I. There Will Still Be Singing In Heaven
II. There Will Still Be Shouting In Heaven
III. There Will Still Be Satisfaction In Heaven
IV. V. 9 THERE WILL STILL BE SALVATION IN HEAVEN
A. Notice that these redeemed ones sing of their salvation in Heaven.
The verb construction here speaks of a completed work. Their
salvation was purchased when Jesus died on the cross,
accomplished when they trusted Him by faith and it followed them
right on into glory. No wonder they are shouting the praises of the
Lord Jesus Christ there in Heaven!
B. What is true for these believers in this heavenly picture is also true for
you and me! When Jesus died on the cross He wasn't dying to provide
a salvation that was temporary; one that would wear off or wear out.
When Jesus perfected the plan of salvation by the shedding of His own
blood, He provided a salvation that would last for all eternity! Notice
how the writer of Hebrews speaks of salvation - Heb. 9:12!
(Ill. What I am trying to get you to see this morning is this: If you are
saved, then you will always be saved and when you die you'll still be
saved! The salvation that God gives us through His Son the Lord
Jesus is eternal. You can call it what you will. We Baptists call it
"eternal security", the Presbyterians call it "the perseverance of the
saints", the Holiness and others call it "holding out faithful". Whatever
title you may attach to it, it is still the same thing! Once you are saved,
you will always and forever be saved! Notice this: John 10:28-29; John
6:37-44!)
C. While eternity unfolds before us in all the panoramas of its glory and
beauty, I'll still be saved! While the endless day affords me the
privilege of bowing before the King of kings and the Lord of lords in
humble worship of His glory and majesty, I'll still be saved. What I
have this very day will endure until the end of time, then it will just have
begun, for I am as saved this morning as I will ever be, and I will ever
be as saved as I am today!
(Ill. The question is, are you? Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your
personal Savior this morning? If not, I invite you to come to Him right
now! You do not need to wait fir the invitation to be saved. If the Lord
is calling you to come to Him, then get up and come! Eternity is far too
long and Hell is far too awful for you to go there when Heaven could be
yours with a simple cry of faith. How easy is it to be saved? As easy
as believing! "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be
saved", Acts 16:31.)
I. There Will Still Be Singing In Heaven
II. There Will Still Be Shouting In Heaven
III. There Will Still Be Satisfaction In Heaven
IV. There Will Still Be Salvation In Heaven
V. V. 6 THERE WILL STILL BE A SAVIOR IN HEAVEN
A. This precious verse tells us that in Heaven, there will be One who will
be the centerpiece of it all! Notice how the Bible describes Jesus
Christ and His appearance in Heaven. He is pictured as a "lamb as it
had been slain." Most of you know how I believe about this. I
personally believe that the glorified Christ still bears the marks of His
suffering at Calvary in His body. Why do I think this? Because when
He appeared to the disciples in the upper room, after He was
resurrected and glorified, He still had them then, John 20:27. If He
possessed those marks at that time, it is reasonable to assume that
He still has them today!
B. Now, that may not mean a whole lot to you, but it means the world to
me! When you and I get to Heaven I don't think we'll do a lot of
sightseeing and mansion hunting. I don't think we'll be overly
impressed with the golden streets and the jasper walls. I am inclined
to think that the gates of pearl will not be as meaningful when we step
over on that other shore. In fact, I think our soul desire when we reach
that land will be to see the One who went to the cross and took our
sins upon Himself that we might live. When we get to Heaven, we will
want to see Jesus! And, the good part is, we shall, Rev. 22:4.
(Ill. Can you imagine what it will be like when we see the Lord Jesus?
I don't know for sure, but I think that maybe we will react like the 24
elders did in Rev. 4:9-11. I would imagine that we would fall down
before Him, cast our crowns at His feet and worship Him for all
eternity!)
C. As we travel through this world, we have the presence of the Lord with
us, Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20; we have the Spirit of the Lord within us,
John 14:17; and we have the hand of the Lord to guide us, Pro. 3:6.
However, none of us have ever seen the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit or
God the Father. Yet, the same One who walks with us day by day will
be with us when we get home to Heaven. The difference then will be
that we will have a body and a mind that will be able to see Him in all
His glory and enjoy His blessed presence! I tell you again that the
greatest glory of Heaven will be to see this One called Jesus Christ.
To be able to bow down before Him and thank Him forever for going
to the cross will be the crowning glory of glory. I don't know about you,
but I look forward to seeing my Savior on the other side.
Conc: I think it is clear this morning that some of the things that we enjoy
down here will be making the trip with us to Heaven. However, there will be
plenty of things that will not go. For instance, your sins will not go, neither
will your unsaved soul. If you have never trusted Jesus as your personal
Savior, you have absolutely no hope of ever experiencing these things. But,
there is good news today! The same Jesus who saved me and the other
saints in this room can and will save you if you will only call on Him by faith!
If you are unsaved you need to come to the Lord and be born again. If you
are out of the Lord's will, you need to make things right so you can enjoy the
trip and look forward to Heaven. If you are struggling, I invite you to bring
your need to Jesus and allow Him to help you through. I am glad that some
things will be left behind for ever when we get to Heaven. However, I praise
the Lord for those things that will go with us. Do you need Jesus today?
