Five Truths of Heaven

Summary of Resolved Message by Steve Lawson

Do we desire to go to heaven? Is it some mystical aloof place in our mind or is the truth of its reality ever-present in our hearts and minds making us long to be where we belong? We must have a God-centered view of heaven in order to understand its reality. Often times we are quick to want to go to heaven to "get away from the sin of this world" or to "have a better life"...yes all of that is part of its beauty and glory but our main reason should be to see and worship our Maker!

Revelation 4 gives us a glimpse and perfect picture of heaven. Jonathan Edwards once said that he had one eye on heaven while he lived here. Do we?

REVELATION 4:9-11
" 1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."

Heaven is the theater in which the glory of God is on display! Here are 5 truths of heaven in hopes that learning these you will long more for this wonderful place!!

1. SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD (v 1-3a)
- First thing that struck John was the throne and the one sitting on it...GOD
- The throne represents authority ove all
- Even in the darkest hours of human history there remains an authority that is immutable and unswayed
- He has, will and always REIGNS
- Psalm 115:3 He does what he pleases
- God always is working for His glory and our good as He builds His church

2. SPLENDOR OF GOD (v3b-4)
- A reign of regal majesty and splendor
- Jasper stone- diamond, sardius- ruby, rainbow- emerald
- Revelation 21- God, the sun will be His glory
- Revelation 24- The thrones share reign with those who have been faithful with Him
- In White- pure because washed with blood of the Lamb
- One day we will one day take ou place in this scene and given a white robe and to the degree we have been faithful we will be given a crown to cast at His feet

3. SEVERITY OF GOD (v 5)
- A storm in heaven around God which is the divine wrath of God upon a Christ rejecting world
- A holy God is angry with the wicked
- Romans 1:18- the present tense
- Mercy of God is holding back His wrath
- Righteous anger of a Holy God
- Lamps- these are war torches not night lights
- Revelation 6-7 are the sealed judgements
- Revelation 8-9 are the the trumpet judgements
- Revelation 16-17 are the bowl judgements and the Great Earthquake
- Every sin is going to be directly and personally punished by a Holy God
- Every sin pardoned in Christ or punished in hell
- God's wrath and our escape from it in Christ should give the believer immense joy for every believer!
- Revelation 19- AND HE SHALL REIGN FOREVER

4. SINFULNESS OF GOD (v6-8)
- There is a separation of God from His creatures
- Even when we are glorified He remains above us
- Fall on your face before Him
- 4 cheribum (Ezekiel 10, Genesis 3) are guarding the glory of God
- A lion- strong
- A calf- sacrifice
- Man- smart
- Eagle- swift
- Isaiah 6- seraphim that cover themselves to show their unworthiness
- Holiness is summation of all God is
- God is separated from His creation because He is holy and sinless, pure and separated from ALL sin
- Find joy in our God because He is the God who is, was and is to come

5. SUPREMACY OF GOD (v9-11)
- Everyone focused on the supremacy of God in heaven
- Give glory, honor, and thanks
- The elders set off everyone
- Intense in our worship? we lift others up and it becomes contagious
- We need to be zealous and fervent in praise for He is worthy!
- Triumphant procession magnified as the redeemed march to the throne of God and we say worthy and cast our crowns
- Present yourselves as a living and holy sacrifice
- Serve Him with the entirety of life


ARE YOU WILLING TO SAY, I WILL GO ANYWHERE, DO ANYTHING, PAY ANY PRICE, and DO IT WITH ANYONE...SPEAK LORD!

Be excited about our future home, always be thinking upon it, but as God has left us here be encouraged that He will use you for His glory and to build His kingdom! And as Pastor Mike always says, lets get our job done and go home!!!