Sherwood Community Friends Church

How do you picture heaven and the after-life?


"If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did the most for this world were those who thought most of the next." C.S. Lewis

LAST WEEK:
Based on Jesus’ story about the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) we can be certain that when we die:
1. Eternity is for Real.
2. Our soul separates from our bodies.
3. Our eternal destiny is settled and judgement awaits.
- Great White Throne judgment (Rev. 20:11-12,15): for
unbelievers... due to their rejection of God… destined for the
“lake of fire”
- Seat of Christ judgment (1 Cor. 4:5, 2 Cor. 5:10): for believers…
due to their belief in God… rewards or loss of rewards in Heaven

Two Lies from Satan:
1. Heaven can wait. NOT
“One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches…” (Ps. 84:10 MSG)
2. Most people are going to Heaven. NOT
“Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it.”~ Jesus (Matt. 7:13-14 CEV)

OUR HEAVENLY HOME: The New Jerusalem & beyond

1. The Dimensions of the City (Rev. 21:15-17)
Size: its base “floor” = 2,000,000 square miles
Stories: 369,000 @ 20’ per (600,000 @ 12’ per)
Space: 2,744,000,000 square miles (current Earth land mass is 197,000,000 square miles w/~10% occupied by humans)
Gates: never closed

OUR HEAVENLY HOME: The New Jerusalem & beyond

2. The Description of the City (Rev. 21:12-13, 21, 22:1-2)
Pearly Gates: Each gate is one pearl! And pearls are created through suffering and travail!
Foundation of Precious Stones: Twelve layers and fully visible! Indescribably beautiful, each layer made of a stone.
Streets of Gold: Pure and “like transparent glass”!
Lamb of Light: “The sun will no longer be your light during the day, nor will the brightness of the moon give you light, But the Lord will be your everlasting light. Your God will be your glory” (Isa. 60:19 GW)
River of Life/Tree of Life: Along the “Crystal River” and Plural trees of life!

OUR HEAVENLY HOME: The New Jerusalem & beyond

3. The Distinctions of the City (Rev. 21:4, 8, 27, 22:3)
No more tears… death… sorrow… crying… pain!
No more sin!
No more curse!

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” (Psalm 23:6 NKJV)