Participants: Pr. John Lomacang
Series Code: ASHF
Program Code: ASHF000082
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00:20 Hello, friends, welcome to
00:21 another Wednesday night Bible study 00:23 here at the 3ABN Worship Center. 00:27 This is A Sharper Focus. 00:28 Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in. 00:30 We're continuing on our study of the topic of heaven. 00:33 Who wants to be in heaven? Say amen. 00:34 Amen. 00:36 And you know, I tell you, the day is coming. 00:37 We've been talking about this for 00:39 at least most of my adult life, 00:41 and I believe there are Christians 00:43 of generations past 00:44 and some are now sleeping in Jesus, 00:46 waiting for the Lord to come to take them home. 00:49 Heaven is something that we need to talk about 00:51 because this world is not our home. 00:53 Can we all say amen to that? 00:54 This world is not the place 00:56 that God intends for us to stay eternally. 00:59 And so, thank you so much 01:01 for becoming a part of our audience. 01:03 Get your Bibles and invite your friends 01:06 so that we can sit down 01:07 and study the Word of God together. 01:09 In just a moment, I'll tell you 01:11 how you get a copy of our lesson 01:12 to follow us along. 01:14 But before we do anything, 01:15 we always begin with a word of prayer. 01:17 So let's bow our heads together. 01:19 Heavenly Lord, thank You for the goodness 01:22 that we will receive tonight as we study Your Word together. 01:28 We pray that You will strengthen us. 01:30 We pray that our minds and our hearts will be opened 01:33 to understand Your Word, 01:35 and to hear the voice of the Lord speaking to us 01:38 on a personal level. 01:40 So come Lord to those who have tuned in 01:42 to the program, speak to them and strengthen them we pray, 01:46 in Jesus' name, amen. 01:49 Now, before we sing our theme song, 01:51 which is Victory in Jesus, just to let you know 01:53 where you can get a copy of the lesson, 01:55 go to this website asf.3abn.org 02:00 and download lesson number 26. 02:03 Now some of you may have downloaded them 02:04 last week, but I update them. 02:07 So last week, we had 8 questions, 02:10 now if you download the newer one, 02:11 which is under the same title, The Truth about Heaven 02:15 and the New Earth, it is 17 questions. 02:19 So download the new one, 02:20 because chances are we're going to get 02:22 to go to the second half of the questions, 02:25 and also any past lessons of any topics 02:28 that you may have missed they are there, 02:31 but there's also another tab, a video tab 02:33 and some people don't know it's there. 02:35 It's right to the right, click on that tab 02:37 and you can look at all the videos 02:38 from the very first program 02:40 we've done all the way up to the present. 02:43 Well, let's sing our theme song tonight, 02:45 Victory in Jesus. 02:56 I heard an old, old story 03:00 How the Savior came from glory 03:03 How He gave His life on Calvary 03:07 To save a wretch like me 03:11 I heard about His groaning 03:15 Of His precious blood's atoning 03:18 And I repented of my sins 03:22 And won the victory 03:26 Oh, victory in Jesus 03:30 My Savior forever 03:34 He sought me and bought me 03:37 With His redeeming blood 03:41 He loved me 'ere I knew Him 03:45 And all my love is due Him 03:49 He plunged me to victory 03:52 Beneath the cleansing flood 03:56 I heard about a mansion 04:00 He has built for me in glory 04:04 And I heard about The streets of gold 04:08 Beyond the crystal sea 04:11 About the angels singing 04:15 And the old redemption story 04:19 And some sweet day 04:21 I'll sing up there 04:23 The song of victory Key change. 04:27 Oh, victory in Jesus 04:30 My Savior forever 04:34 He sought me and bought me 04:38 With His redeeming blood 04:42 He loved me 'ere I knew Him 04:45 And all my love is due Him 04:49 He plunged me to victory 04:53 Beneath the cleansing flood 04:57 He plunged me to victory 05:01 Beneath the cleansing flood 05:07 Amen. Amen. 05:09 That is a thought, a song that has gained popularity. 05:13 Also, if you go to the same website I gave you, 05:15 asf.3abn.org, you can download the lesson. 05:19 Just look down the tabs 05:20 and you'll see the words Victory in Jesus 05:22 and you can have the lyrics for that song. 05:26 Now getting back to the topic of heaven. 05:29 Heaven is an interesting topic 05:31 because no one really knows 05:34 what's waiting for us in heaven 05:36 outside of what the Bible has revealed to us. 05:40 No one really knows. 05:41 Paul the Apostle has done his job by saying to us, 05:45 eyes have not seen, ears have not heard 05:48 and neither has it entered into the heart of man, 05:52 the things that God has prepared 05:54 for those that love Him. 05:55 So outside of what the Bible has revealed 05:56 about the description of heaven 05:58 in Revelation Chapter 21 and 22, 06:00 we really don't know what's there. 06:02 We just have the description of the New Jerusalem, 06:05 that's just the city. 06:07 That's not the whole of heaven, that's just the city. 06:12 The Bible talks about the fact 06:14 that there was war in heaven in the very beginning. 06:16 Satan did not prevail, neither did his angels. 06:19 But we don't really know much about 06:21 outside of the New Jerusalem. 06:22 The Bible, I believe, is silent on that. 06:25 And I believe one of the reasons is, 06:27 the Lord is waiting to wow His saints. 06:31 Right? 06:33 Because we had all the description, 06:34 you'll say, okay, well, this is that and that is this. 06:37 But the reality is the truth about heaven, 06:40 it's amazing that 06:41 we're going to get to heaven one day 06:42 and we're going to see heaven in a way we... 06:45 Well, let me just rephrase that we're going to see heaven, 06:48 because we've never seen heaven before. 06:51 What we also learned when we began the lesson 06:53 is no one has seen God, 06:57 no one has gone to heaven to see God. 07:01 There's a lot that's being talked about. 07:03 There's a movie now call Heaven is for Real, 07:06 and heaven is for real, amen to that? 07:08 Amen. But we don't really know. 07:11 We don't really know because until we are changed, 07:13 we will never know what is in heaven. 07:16 And a person who has not yet been changed, 07:19 cannot go to heaven and see what is there. 07:22 So tonight, we're going to begin 07:24 with question number four, because we got up 07:26 to question number three last week. 07:28 And that's amazing out of eight questions 07:30 we got up to question number three, 07:32 but we were finishing the prior lesson also. 07:34 And by the way, I want to just say hello 07:36 to those of you who are viewing and especially a couple 07:39 we met had a chance to talk to in Carbondale. 07:42 If you're watching tonight, just want to say hello to you. 07:45 But question number four. 07:46 Let's begin with that and see what the Bible reveals to us. 07:50 Here it is. 07:51 What specifically does the Bible describe 07:54 as being in heaven? 07:57 What specifically does the Bible describe 08:00 as being in heaven? 08:04 And let's turn to Revelation Chapter 3. 08:07 Revelation 3:12. Revelation 3:12. 08:11 By the way, it's called Revelation 08:13 because it's the revelation of Jesus. 08:15 All that is revealed in Revelation 08:17 brings us into a clearer picture about Jesus. 08:21 Here it is, Revelation Chapter 3. 08:22 I want you to notice 08:24 the wording of this because it's very important. 08:26 It's not saying everybody is going to go 08:27 but notice the first three words. 08:29 Let's read that together. And it's on the screen. 08:31 Are you ready? Here we go. 08:33 The Bible says, "He who does," what? 08:35 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar 08:40 in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 08:46 I will write on him the name of My God, 08:50 and the name of the city of My God," which is the what? 08:55 "The New Jerusalem, 08:56 which comes down out of heaven from My God. 09:02 And I will write on him My new name." 09:06 So now, if you think about this, 09:08 the text in answer to the question, 09:11 what specifically 09:12 does the Bible say is in heaven? 09:14 Let's go back and you will see clearly. 09:17 I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God. 09:22 So, what is in heaven? 09:25 The temple of God is in heaven. The temple of God is in heaven. 09:29 We'll find out more about that. 09:31 Also, the city of God is in heaven. 09:34 The temple is there, 09:35 and the city of God is in heaven. 09:37 And by the way, what is that city called? 09:40 Let's go back to this. 09:42 What is it called, say it together? 09:43 The New Jerusalem, there are a lot of people 09:45 that like to go to the Middle East. 09:47 I haven't gone yet. 09:48 I'm looking forward to going 09:50 because a lot of Bible history there, 09:51 a lot of good information. 09:53 People have gone there and have said, 09:55 I feel so much closer to the Lord 09:57 because I've seen the Jordan River, 09:59 I've seen the Dead Sea, I've seen... 10:03 All the list goes on and on and on and on. 10:06 Mount Sinai, the pyramids, the Temple Mount, 10:11 the walls in Jerusalem. 10:14 There's so much description there, 10:16 that it's a wonderful thing that you can go to Jerusalem. 10:20 They're in the Middle East now, 10:22 and look at some very interesting things about it. 10:25 However, I'm looking forward. 10:28 If I never go to the Jerusalem existing today, 10:31 I cannot wait to go to the New Jerusalem. 10:33 What do you say to that? Amen. 10:35 The New Jerusalem where there is no war, 10:40 there is no sickness, there is no death. 10:42 That list goes on and on and on. 10:45 Something I wanna point out. 10:46 Someone read this before 10:47 and I was kind of perturbed by this because 10:50 when you see the Bible text say, 10:53 I will write on him and then I will write on him, 10:57 not only the name of My God 10:58 and the name of the city of My God. 11:00 But I will write on him My new name. 11:03 Somebody once used that text 11:04 and said God believes in tattoos. 11:07 That's not what that is. That is not what that is. 11:10 What that means is simply God is, 11:13 God is describing His ownership of us. 11:17 God is describing His ownership of us. 11:20 As the Bible talks about the mark in the forehead 11:25 or in the hand, 11:26 the seal of God in the forehead. 11:28 What is in the forehead is the brain, the mind, 11:31 reason why it talks about the seal of God 11:33 or the mark of the beast on the forehead or on the hand. 11:35 It talks about by a scent 11:37 and by our work, but there's no tat... 11:40 God is not going to be tattooing us. 11:41 Can you say amen to that? Amen. 11:43 I mean, I know you could just do it by the thought, 11:45 but they're not going to be people 11:47 walking around with tattoos of God, 11:48 whose name is that on your forehead? 11:50 That's God's name. What's on your arm? 11:51 That's the name of the New Jerusalem. 11:52 That's not what the Bible is suggesting. 11:54 So glad to know that it's not what the Bible is saying. 11:58 But what is true is in heaven, the temple of God is there, 12:02 and the New Jerusalem is there. 12:05 Let's go to question number five, 12:07 question number five. 12:09 What does Jesus describe or where does Jesus describe 12:14 as the origin of His mission? 12:18 Now, this is very important. 12:19 I think in a few weeks, 12:21 I'm going to get to the specifics about 12:22 describing the walls and the gates and all of that. 12:26 Oftentimes, when we talk about heaven, 12:27 that's what we talk about 12:29 describing the walls and the gates. 12:31 And they're made of pearl and all the different levels 12:34 and the names of the disciples and the apostles. 12:36 That's what we often talk about. 12:38 But there's so many more interesting facts 12:39 about heaven that we don't often get, 12:42 and I want to talk about those before 12:44 we get to the actual architecture 12:46 of what the Bible describes as the New Jerusalem. 12:49 All right. 12:50 So here's the question, what does Jesus describe 12:51 as the origin of His mission or where? 12:54 John 6:38, John 6:38, 12:58 and some of you are already there. 13:00 And here's what the Bible says. 13:02 Jesus said, "For I have come down from," where? 13:06 "From heaven, not to do My own will, 13:09 but the will of Him," who did what? 13:11 "Who sent Me." 13:12 Now, why is this text important, 13:14 you may ask yourself? 13:15 Some people may say, well, 13:16 we know that Jesus is from heaven. 13:18 Not everyone knows. 13:19 Some people believe that Jesus began on earth 13:22 through the birth that Mary gave to the child. 13:26 Some believe that that's when He started. 13:29 And let me add another interesting fact, 13:30 I mentioned this a few weeks ago, 13:31 but it serves the purpose to be mentioned right here. 13:34 Some people say, well, in the Old Testament, 13:35 you cannot find the name of Jesus. 13:41 One of the names that the Bible gives 13:43 in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament, 13:46 His pre-condescension name is talked about in the Bible. 13:51 You want to see it? You want to see it? 13:53 Let's go to... Let's go to Daniel. 13:56 Let's go to the Book of Daniel. Let's go to the Book of Daniel. 14:00 Let's see His pre-condescension name 14:02 because when Jesus was being born, 14:07 the commission 14:12 was call His name Jesus, 14:14 for He shall save His people from their sins. 14:17 That was His mission name. Call His name Jesus. 14:22 He will save His people from their sins. 14:24 But He had a pre-name 14:26 and sometimes we get it backward, 14:28 some people, let me just go ahead 14:29 and show it to you. 14:30 Why am I in Matthew when you guys are in Daniel? 14:33 Hold on, I'll get there. I'm back and forth. 14:36 Okay, here we are. Daniel Chapter 12. 14:40 Let's look at Daniel Chapter 12. 14:43 All right. Okay. 14:47 Daniel 12:1. 14:50 The Bible says, at that time, what's the next word? 14:55 Michael shall stand up. 14:59 The great prince who stands 15:01 watch over the sons of your people, 15:04 and there shall be a time of trouble 15:05 such as never was 15:07 since there was a nation, even to that time, 15:10 and at that time your people shall be delivered 15:13 everyone who was found written in the book. 15:16 Michael, the one above the angels, 15:20 the highest of angels, when Paul the Apostle says, 15:24 the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with the shout, 15:27 was with the voice of the archangels. 15:31 That's Michael. 15:33 He's higher than all the angels. 15:35 He's the one above all the angels. 15:37 He's the highest. 15:38 He's the commander of the heavenly host. 15:41 The Bible describes him as such in the Old Testament. 15:44 So many people today ask the question, 15:45 how do we know that Jesus is Michael? 15:48 Well, the more appropriate question is, 15:49 how do we know that Michael is Jesus? 15:52 Because Michael, pre-condescension, 15:55 the pre-condescension name Jesus, 15:57 the post-condescension name, 15:59 the word condescension meaning when He came to walk among men, 16:04 call His name Jesus. 16:06 The Old Testament calls Him Savior, 16:09 the Old Testament calls Him Redeemer. 16:11 All the things that He would do. 16:13 Go with me to Isaiah 44. 16:14 Since we're on this thought, 16:16 I'll give you another New Testament text. 16:17 Go with me to the Book of Isaiah. 16:20 Isaiah. And, it's okay. 16:25 Isaiah Chapter 44. Isaiah Chapter 44. 16:37 Okay, let's look at verse 6. 16:40 Isaiah 44:6. 16:44 The Bible says, "Thus says the Lord, 16:49 the king of Israel, and He is Redeemer, 16:54 the Lord of hosts, 16:56 I am the first and I am the last. 16:59 Beside me there is no God." 17:03 Powerful, who's saying the king of Israel and his Redeemer, 17:07 the Lord of hosts? 17:09 What are they saying about themselves? 17:13 I am, say that with me, I am. 17:17 Now, it's an amazing topic to discuss. 17:20 A lot of people that tumbled 17:22 and tripped over the Trinity must understand that 17:25 the Lord our God is one God. 17:28 That's the Godhead. 17:29 So the Lord Jesus, before Abraham, 17:32 He said that to the Jews, 17:34 before Abraham was, what did He say? 17:36 I am. 17:37 So the great I am has always been 17:39 that the self-existing one. 17:42 Let's go to the Book of John. 17:44 Let's go to the Book of John and see a couple more things 17:46 about this beautiful Savior that we have. 17:49 John Chapter 1. 17:50 You know, there are three books 17:52 in the Bible that are like Genesis. 17:54 Genesis 1 is one of those, John 1 is the other. 18:00 And who can tell me what the third one is? 18:01 I don't often ask for answers, 18:02 but who can tell me the third one is? 18:04 There're like three Genesis in the Bible. 18:06 Genesis 1, John 1 and Hebrews 1. 18:12 Hebrews 1. 18:13 Matter of fact, Hebrews goes further back. 18:15 Let's just look at John 1. 18:17 The Bible says here in John 1:1, 18:19 "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God 18:24 and the Word was God." 18:27 John 1:1, "In the beginning 18:28 was the Word and the Word was with God 18:31 and the Word was God." 18:32 Notice, in the beginning was the Word, 18:35 the Word was with God and the Word was God. 18:39 Clearly, all things, I want to look at verse 2, 18:43 "He was in the beginning with God. 18:46 All things were made through Him or by Him" 18:48 as the King James Version says, "and without Him, 18:52 nothing was made that was made." 18:55 Verse 4, "In Him was life, unborrowed, underived." 19:01 Unborrowed, He didn't borrow life. 19:04 If He borrowed life, 19:06 all things could not have been made by Him, 19:08 He would have been made and then He would have 19:11 continued the process of making. 19:14 The Creator is the only one 19:16 that has the right to redeem His creation, 19:19 not the created. 19:20 The created cannot redeem the created. 19:23 The Creator redeems the created. 19:25 Amen? 19:26 Last verse and verse 4, "In Him was life, 19:29 and the life was the light of men. 19:35 And the light shines in darkness 19:37 and the darkness did not comprehend it." 19:40 So, in the answer to question number five, 19:42 where does Jesus describe as the origin of His mission? 19:45 Where is the origin of His mission? 19:46 Somebody tell me. Heaven. 19:48 Heaven. He began there, He began there. 19:52 That's why Revelation describes Him as the Lamb slain 19:55 from the foundation of the world. 19:58 He was there in the very beginning. 20:01 And therefore, another beautiful fact 20:03 we find out about heaven is He came down from heaven. 20:06 I only can imagine what He left to come down here. 20:12 He didn't leave, 20:13 He didn't leave just the New Jerusalem. 20:16 There's so much more 20:17 and we'll get a chance to see that. 20:19 Once in a while I get enamored by. 20:21 And I think Ralph is, 20:22 like Ralph is somewhat of an astronomer. 20:25 He loves the study of the stars 20:26 and he and Lynn Winslow did a program 20:30 not too long ago talking about the stars 20:32 and the constellations and I have a lot of picture, 20:34 pictures on my iPad of different nebulas 20:38 and different planets and constellations 20:40 that are just mind boggling to think how far away they are. 20:44 And I think that when we get to heaven, 20:46 we're not just going to be 20:47 isolated in this little small city. 20:50 It's going to be huge, but that's not, that's not it, 20:52 that's the beginning stage. 20:54 I believe that is the entrance 20:56 into all that we have never seen 20:57 and never beheld with our eyes. 20:59 Let's go to question number six. 21:02 Question number six. All right. 21:07 Here we are. 21:09 What does the Bible teach us about God's throne? 21:13 What does the Bible teach us about God's throne? 21:17 Psalms 103:19. 21:21 Psalms 103:19. 21:23 You know, when you think about the study of heaven, 21:25 you think, oh, great, 21:26 we're going to talk about the fruit 21:27 and the river of life, 21:29 the leaves of the tree that bear fruit all year long, 21:34 and the leaves of the tree 21:35 are for the healing of the nations. 21:36 We are going to study that. 21:38 But let's look at some of the, 21:39 often not talked about facts about heaven. 21:42 Psalms 103:19. And here's what it says. 21:45 "The Lord has established His throne," where? 21:48 Heaven. 21:50 "In heaven, 21:51 and His kingdom rules over all." 21:55 Whenever you think that your world is in trouble. 21:58 Remember that God's world is not in trouble. 22:01 Amen? His kingdom rules overall. 22:04 That's why in Daniel 22:05 when it talks about the stone that hits the image 22:07 replaces all the kingdoms of the earth 22:10 and His kingdom lasts forever. 22:13 It shall never be destroyed. 22:15 But something that's very important. 22:17 His throne is where? In heaven. 22:21 Let's go now to Isaiah 66:1. 22:24 Isaiah 66:1. This is a fascinating thought. 22:28 I have a very imaginative mind 22:30 and the picture that came to my mind, 22:32 I'll describe to you after you read this text. 22:34 Isaiah 66:1. 22:39 The picture that came to my mind is amazing, 22:42 because usually when some, 22:44 if somebody is sitting on the throne, 22:47 if somebody is sitting on the throne 22:51 and they have their legs hanging down, 22:55 you think, well, 22:57 you get the picture in just a moment. 22:58 Here it is. 22:59 Now we know that His throne is in heaven. 23:01 But look at Isaiah 66:1, 23:04 "Thus says the Lord, heaven is My," 23:07 next word, "throne, and earth is My," what? 23:11 "Footstool." 23:12 I like the way these questions are asked. 23:14 Where is the house, that you will build Me? 23:20 And where is the place of My rest? 23:23 Isaiah 66:1. 23:25 Where is the house that you will build Me? 23:27 You know why the Lord is asking that question? 23:30 Can you build Me a house? 23:32 Now just think about this for a moment, 23:33 if He's sitting on His throne, 23:35 which He is, if His throne is in heaven, 23:38 and the earth is His footstool, 23:42 I don't want to be sacrilegious at all. 23:45 But that's a long way. 23:48 If you think about yourself sitting 23:50 because if you look at the pictures of the kings, 23:51 and this is in the context of the kings, 23:53 whenever they sat on their throne, 23:55 they had a place to rest their feet. 23:58 Throne in heaven, divine legs, 24:02 earth is His footstool. 24:04 God is far greater, 24:07 far encompassing than our minds, 24:10 far more encompassing than our minds 24:12 can ever fathom and ever imagine. 24:16 I mean, earth is so small. 24:19 And that's why He asked the question, 24:21 where is the house that you will build for Me? 24:28 Oh, man, I tell you. 24:29 So let's answer the question. 24:31 What does the Bible teach about God's throne? 24:34 What did you put down? 24:35 His throne is in heaven and add this other component. 24:39 The earth is His footstool. 24:42 The earth is His footstool, 24:45 the place where He rests as the king does, 24:47 where He rests his feet. 24:50 Question number seven. Question number seven. 24:54 Here it is. 24:56 What further details 24:58 does the Bible reveal about heaven? 25:01 What further details 25:03 does the Bible reveal about heaven? 25:06 One of the reasons I took on this study 25:09 and I really got into looking through the Bible, 25:11 looking at all the words about heaven and throne 25:13 and the dwelling place of God, 25:15 is because I need, 25:19 I need to know why this place is so glorious. 25:23 I need to know what's there, at least what is revealed, 25:26 and the Bible says those things 25:27 that are revealed belongs to us, 25:30 and to our children, but the things 25:31 that are not revealed belongs to God. 25:33 At least I know this. 25:35 Second, 1 Kings Chapter 1. 25:36 1 Kings 22:19. 25:40 1 Kings 22:19, and here's the answer. 25:44 "Then Micaiah said, 25:48 'Therefore hear the word of the Lord." 25:52 And notice what he said. 25:53 "I saw the Lord sitting on His," what? 25:58 "Throne, and all the hosts of heaven standing by," 26:04 where were they standing? 26:05 "On His right hand and on His left." 26:09 Where were they standing? 26:11 On His right hand and on His left. 26:14 In other words, when you look at the king, 26:15 all his retinue was standing around him, 26:17 what were you saying? 26:19 His angels are there. 26:20 And I thought to myself, okay, let's go to Isaiah. 26:23 Let's go to Isaiah Chapter 6. 26:26 Let's go to Isaiah and see a little bit more. 26:29 I couldn't put all the statements in here, 26:31 but we do have additional scriptures. 26:32 Let's look at Isaiah 6. 26:35 All right. Okay, get it. 26:38 Let's try to develop in our minds a picture 26:40 of the beauty of the Lord. 26:42 This is an amazing thing. It's an amazing thing. 26:45 Let's go back to the, here it is, okay. 26:49 Sitting on His throne, 26:50 all the hosts of heaven standing by, 26:52 on His right hand and on His left. 26:53 Look at Isaiah Chapter 6. 26:57 "In the year that King Uzziah died 26:59 I saw the Lord sitting on a throne." 27:03 What was it? 27:04 "High and lifted up 27:07 and the train of His robe filled the temple." 27:12 Now, I must make a statement right here. 27:14 I'm sure that the train of His robe 27:16 was far greater and longer than that 27:19 of Princess Diana or any monarch. 27:22 Think of that. 27:24 But look what it goes on further to say in verse 2, 27:26 "Above it, that is above His throne stood" what? 27:30 "Seraphim." 27:31 So when the Bible says 27:33 all the hosts of heaven standing by, 27:34 some of those hosts are seraphim and cherubim, 27:39 four winged angels and six winged angel. 27:42 Seraphim, four wings, cherubim, six wings. 27:47 Just get the picture now, powerful. 27:50 And these angels, 27:51 you got to just get a picture of these angels. 27:53 It only took one angel to take out an entire army. 27:57 Do you remember the story? 28:00 120,000 killed by one angel, 28:03 mighty angel standing far taller than Goliath. 28:08 One might, but all the hosts of heaven standing there. 28:10 Let's continue to go on. 28:12 And it says verse 2, 28:13 "Above it stood seraphim, 28:15 above it stood seraphim, each one had six wings." 28:21 I had it back way, had it the other way around. 28:23 "With two he covered his face, 28:25 with two he covered his feet and with two he flew." 28:29 With two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, 28:33 and with two he flew. 28:35 And what did he say? 28:36 Verse 3, "And one cried to another and said," 28:41 let's repeat this together. Are you ready? 28:44 "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts." 28:49 The whole earth is what? Full of His glory. 28:55 So the seraphim, six wing angel, 28:57 the cherubim, four wing angels. 28:59 I had it back, back with the last time. 29:01 I got that clear now. 29:03 So you look at this in verse, question number seven, 29:05 what further details 29:06 does the Bible reveal about heaven? 29:08 Where God is sitting on His throne, 29:11 the hosts of heaven 29:13 are on His right and on His left. 29:15 And who are the hosts of heaven? 29:17 Someone tell me. The angels are there. 29:20 And when you think of the judgement scene 29:21 that's given to us in Daniel Chapter 7. 29:24 Let's go there. 29:25 Daniel Chapter 7, 29:26 so we can get an expanded picture 29:28 of the hosts of heaven. 29:30 Daniel Chapter 7. Wow. 29:39 Whoo. Okay, Daniel Chapter 7. 29:44 And... 29:51 Let's look at verse 26. 29:55 Daniel 7:26, also verse 9. 30:00 First, yeah, let's start with verse 9. 30:03 Verse 9 of Daniel Chapter 7. 30:06 Daniel says, 30:07 speaking of the ancient of days, 30:09 "I watched till thrones were put in place, 30:12 and the ancient of days was seated. 30:15 His garment was wide as," what? "Snow. 30:19 And the hair of His head was like, pure wool. 30:23 His throne was a," what? "Fiery flame." 30:27 So not only is His throne in heaven, 30:29 but what is this throne? 30:31 A fiery flame. 30:33 This is the details, 30:34 are the details popping out now, 30:36 not only is this throne in heaven, 30:37 you know sometimes you see the throne, 30:39 oh, wonderful kingly throne. 30:40 But how many times have we seen a throne on fire? 30:44 And the king sitting on it. 30:47 And its train filling the temple. 30:50 And its footstool, the earth. 30:52 And all the hosts of heaven standing around him. 30:54 Let's keep going. 30:57 A fiery stream, verse... 31:00 Well, I didn't finish verse 9, 31:02 "His garment was white as snow 31:04 and the hair of His head was like pure wool. 31:08 His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels," a what? 31:14 "Burning fire." 31:15 You want to spend some time really soaking that up. 31:18 Read Ezekiel Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. 31:21 And it says in verse 10, "A fiery stream issued 31:25 and came forth from before him." 31:28 Now, how many are standing on His right and left? 31:31 Here it is. 31:33 A 1,000, 1,000 ministered to Him, 31:38 10,000 times 10,000 stood before Him, 31:43 can somebody say amen? 31:44 I mean think of it. 31:46 This text is, it fall so and far short, 31:49 the host of heaven standing by, well how many? 31:51 Nine? Fifteen? 31:53 Oh, no. 31:55 Thousand, thousands minister to Him 31:57 and 10,000 times 10,000. 31:59 When you'd multiply 10,000 times 32:01 10,000 you get millions. 32:05 The court was seated and the books were open. 32:08 So when you add the whole picture together, 32:10 He's sitting on a throne, His throne is a flaming fire. 32:14 The wheels of it are flaming fire, 32:16 and a fire issues a stream of fire issues 32:19 and come forth from before Him. 32:20 This ought to give you enough evidence to know that 32:23 no one has gone to heaven 32:25 stood in the presence of God and come back. 32:27 Right. 32:28 They would have been consumed before they got to heaven. 32:34 You got to be immortal before you go to heaven. 32:36 You cannot go to heaven. 32:37 Mortal men cannot exist in the presence of immortal God 32:41 because David the Psalmist says a mortal man cannot exist 32:46 in the presence of the immortal God. 32:49 Because the Bible says, our God is a consuming fire. 32:54 What will happen? What will happen? 32:56 You've seen those furnaces, where you throw stuff 32:57 and some of them are so flimsy 32:59 before it gets them they just... 33:02 God is not somebody. 33:05 Let me just pause here 33:06 and just tell you one of the reasons 33:08 I decided to get this deep in this study about heaven 33:11 is because I wanted the heaven to be seen, 33:13 not just as a wonderful place streets of gold, 33:17 gates made of pearl, 33:19 perfectly square fruit trees, 33:22 water that we're going to drink from. 33:23 I wanted us to get the magnitude 33:26 of the majesty of God as He exists today. 33:31 And help us to understand that to be in that kind of presence, 33:36 to be in the presence of that kind of God 33:39 is something that we have to prepare for. 33:42 See the preparation is now, 33:44 that's why this lesson is going to take a turn. 33:45 You're going to say, wait a minute, 33:47 that took a turn that I did not expect. 33:49 But the throne of God 33:50 is an awesome thing to consider. 33:52 I want to show you one more component. 33:54 Go with me now to Revelation Chapter 4. 33:57 Revelation Chapter 4, 33:59 the Bible says a lot about the throne of God, 34:02 the Revelation Chapter 4. 34:04 And now when you, 34:05 when you're reading all this, just consider this. 34:08 This is kind of a small picture 34:11 of what Jesus left to come down here. 34:16 Ministering angels. 34:20 Look at Revelation Chapter 4. 34:26 They were glorifying the Lord, they were ministering to Him. 34:29 When they minister to Him, what did they say? 34:31 Revelation Chapter 4. 34:33 I'm going to go quickly now, verse 1, 34:35 "After these things I looked 34:36 and behold a door standing open in heaven. 34:38 And the first voice 34:40 which I heard was like a trumpet, 34:42 speaking with me saying, 'Come up here, 34:45 and I will show you things which must take place 34:47 after this or shortly take place.' 34:50 Immediately I was in the spirit, 34:52 and behold, a throne set in heaven 34:55 and one sat on the throne.'" 34:57 Now when we read that, what kind of throne do we see? 34:59 Somebody talk to me, what kind of throne do we see? 35:04 A fiery throne, hosts everywhere. 35:06 When you get this picture, 35:08 do you just, do you just run up to that throne haphazardly? 35:11 Oh, no. 35:13 You know, you could understand why when Isaiah saw the Lord, 35:17 these men bow their face to the ground, 35:21 these men fainted at the glory of God. 35:24 This was not some frivolous vision they saw. 35:28 Goes on. And it says in verse 3. 35:33 "And He who sat there was like a jasper 35:35 and a sardius stone in appearance." 35:37 Now, we're getting something more about His appearance. 35:39 Not only was this flame, 35:40 His throne a flame of fire, but He's a flame of fire. 35:43 The wheels are a flame of fire. What does He look like? 35:46 Now John begins to describe who he saw. 35:50 He who sat there was like a jasper 35:52 and a sardius stone in appearance. 35:54 And there was a rainbow 35:56 around the throne in appearance like an emerald. 36:00 What was around the throne? Tell me. 36:02 A rainbow. 36:03 And then it goes on to say in verse 4, 36:06 "Around the throne were 24 thrones on them 36:10 and on the thrones were 24 elders sitting clothed 36:14 in white robes and they had crowns of gold 36:17 on their heads. 36:19 And from the throne proceeded," what? 36:21 "Lightning, thunders and a voice." 36:25 Okay, now we're getting some more. 36:26 Can you see the description of heaven here? 36:28 Flames of fire, wheels of fire, 10,000 times 36:32 10,000, emerald, sapphire, sardius stone. 36:38 And then as he looked at the throne, 36:41 what proceeded from it? 36:42 Lightnings and thunder. 36:45 And I can say this, 36:47 I don't think that voice was a small voice. 36:52 The voice of God probably 36:53 shook the heavens and the earth. 36:57 Okay, let's go on. 36:59 And then it says and there were seven lamps 37:01 of fire burning before the throne, 37:05 which are the seven spirits of God. 37:08 That is the complete work of the Holy Spirit. 37:12 Now let's get a different description of this throne. 37:14 Look at verse 6. 37:16 "Before the throne there was a sea of," what? 37:19 "Glass like crystal, and in the midst of the throne, 37:23 and around the throne 37:24 were four living creatures full of eyes, 37:28 in front and in back." 37:31 Is this becoming more descriptive? 37:33 In verse 7, 37:35 the first living creature was like a lion. 37:36 The second living creature was like a calf. 37:38 The third living creature had the face like a man. 37:41 The fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 37:44 And the four living creatures, each having six wings 37:47 were full of eyes around and within, 37:49 and they do not rest day or night. 37:53 What kind of angels were they, 37:54 six wings, we just read about a moment ago. 37:57 Seraphims. And what do they say? 37:59 They don't rest day or night. What do they say? 38:01 All the time together, holy, holy, holy. 38:06 Lord God Almighty, 38:08 Who was and is and is to come. 38:13 Whenever the living creatures give glory, 38:15 and honor, and thanks to Him 38:17 who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever. 38:22 Whenever they do that, what happens? 38:23 The 24 elders fall down before Him 38:25 who sits on the throne, 38:26 and worship Him who lives forever and ever, 38:29 and cast their crowns 38:31 before the throne saying together, 38:34 you are worthy of God to receive glory, 38:36 and honor and power for You created all things. 38:40 And by Your will they exist and were created. 38:44 I hope you got 38:45 a more complete picture of heaven. 38:47 Just, this is just the throne of God. 38:51 This is just what's in the proximity, 38:53 in the vicinity of where God is. 38:58 Wow. Wow. 39:01 So we were there, 39:02 and then in England in London, and we went to the parliament. 39:05 And we saw this room 39:07 that just the moment we walked in, 39:09 our eyes were captured. 39:11 It just dragged our eyes through the whole room 39:13 and we could not leave the room until we saw every facet of it. 39:16 And we said, what is this room 39:18 and they said, this is the throne room. 39:21 This is where the Queen comes 39:23 when she's getting ready for a magnificent event. 39:25 The whole room is bigger than this. 39:29 Gold everywhere, finely carved, 39:33 beautiful, magnificent, ornate. 39:38 And they said you can walk up to the throne, 39:40 she's not on right now but when she's on it, 39:42 this whole, this whole wing is shut down 39:44 and there's security that you cannot even imagine. 39:47 How much security does Jesus have? 39:51 The host of heaven standing on the right and on the left, 39:54 1,000, 1,000, 10,000 times 10,000, 39:56 security, an understatement. 39:58 Let's go to question number eight. 40:00 Wow, we just took a little turn there. 40:02 But I think that turn was educational. 40:04 What do you say? Amen. 40:06 Question number eight. 40:07 How does David the psalmist describe 40:11 the Lord's dwelling place? The Lord's dwelling place. 40:16 After what we just read, 40:18 now this will come into clearer view. 40:20 Psalms 11, Psalms 11:4. 40:24 Psalms 11:4. This is one of the Psalms. 40:27 All right. 40:34 Here it is. 40:36 "The Lord is in His," what kind of temple? 40:40 "Holy temple, the Lord's throne 40:44 is in heaven, His eyes behold, 40:49 His eyelids test the sons of men." 40:54 Now, you got to pause 40:55 for a brief moment when you read that. 40:57 How does David the psalmist 40:59 describe the Lord's dwelling place? 41:01 The Lord is in His, what kind of temple? 41:03 Holy temple. 41:04 Right next to Psalm 11:4, the Lord is in His holy temple. 41:09 The Lord is in His holy temple, 41:12 the Lord's dwelling place is a holy temple. 41:15 All right. 41:17 Now when you think about 41:18 His eyelids testing the son of man. 41:20 I remember growing up, 41:21 and children are very interesting. 41:24 I was going to say creatures, 41:26 but children are very interesting. 41:28 When they don't think their parents see them, 41:31 sometimes parents go... 41:36 They glance and their eyelids tell the whole story. 41:41 They... I see them. 41:44 God, what that in essence saying, 41:46 is God sees everything. 41:49 That's all that saying. 41:50 As the writer of Hebrews says, there's nothing hidden, 41:54 everything is naked and open to the eyes of Him 41:57 with whom we have to give an account. 42:00 God sees everything. 42:02 That's why when the Bible 42:03 describes His throne as being holy, 42:04 we've got to live holy in the presence of a holy God. 42:08 Can you say amen to that? Amen. 42:09 Living holy in the presence of a holy God 42:12 and this is a very important point. 42:13 Living holy doesn't stop when we get there. 42:16 Living holy starts when? Down here. 42:19 If you serve a holy God, live holy. 42:21 Look at the next text. Psalms 115:2, 3. 42:24 Turn there, Psalms 115:2, 3. 42:27 Let's look at the next text. All right. 42:30 David the psalmist had a lot to say about God 42:33 and His beautiful temple, 42:34 about God and His dwelling place. 42:36 Here it is. Okay. 42:43 "Why should the Gentiles say, 'Where is their God?'" 42:48 What's the response? 42:49 "But our God is," where? "In heaven. 42:52 He does whatever He pleases." 42:54 Can anybody stop the hand of God? 42:56 What's the answer? The answer is absolutely. 42:58 God does whatever He pleases. 43:01 God is the one who makes the decisions, 43:02 who rises, who falls, who lives 43:06 and whose reign comes to an end. 43:08 God does whatever He wills. 43:10 Matter of fact, I like the way the psalmist, 43:12 the psalmist says it, or actually Isaiah says it, 43:15 he says, "Remember the former things of old, 43:18 for I am God and there is none like me 43:20 declaring the end from the beginning 43:24 in from ancient times, 43:26 things that are not yet done saying, 43:28 I will do all my pleasures." 43:30 So God is in charge. Amen? 43:32 Now, it's important to understand that 43:34 because God does whatever He wills 43:35 and we have to keep this in mind 43:36 that God never has a moment like we have, like, 43:39 what do I do now? 43:41 God doesn't have a... The economy is going downhill. 43:44 What do we do? God doesn't have those moments. 43:46 God is never caught off guard. 43:49 God doesn't have, oh, man, 43:50 I didn't think the devil would do that. 43:52 God doesn't have those moments. 43:54 He does whatever He pleases 43:55 and He understands before something comes to pass. 43:58 He sees the motion of how it is moving 44:01 and where it's headed, 44:02 and what's going to come to pass. 44:03 God is in heaven, He does whatever He pleases. 44:08 Let's put that down. Psalms 115:2, 3. 44:13 Where's our God? Where's our God? 44:17 In heaven. 44:18 So why does, that's why the Lord says, 44:20 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." 44:23 Don't make God on earth. 44:25 Because rust, because rust and dust and mods 44:31 will eat your earthly gods, 44:33 but the heavenly God is forever. 44:37 One other very important, 44:38 wonderful fact about the throne of God. 44:41 And then we're going to transition 44:43 to question number nine. 44:44 Psalms 119:89. 44:46 Are you all there for that one? 44:48 Psalms 119:89. 44:51 Something else about the Lord's dwelling place. 44:55 Here's what, let's read this one together. 44:57 It's very short. What's the first word? 45:00 "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled," where? 45:05 "In heaven." What word? 45:09 His written word, 45:10 His communicated word, His living word. 45:13 It is settled in heaven. 45:15 There's a lot of discussion 45:16 about what the Word of God says. 45:18 While men are trying to figure out 45:19 what the Word of God says, 45:21 the fact of the matter is, it's settled. 45:23 Where is it settled? 45:24 It's, where is it settled? In heaven. 45:26 It's clear, the truth of God is non-negotiable. 45:29 It's settled. 45:30 While men are trying to figure out 45:31 what it says, 45:33 the throne room in heaven, 45:35 the place of God, His dwelling place, 45:37 the Word of God is settled in heaven. 45:41 And how long do you think it's settled? 45:42 Somebody tell me, 45:44 how long do you think it's settled? 45:45 Forever. That's the first word. 45:47 Let's turn the page. 45:48 Let's turn the page and I'll open up another facet. 45:51 Open up another facet of heaven. 45:53 All right. 45:55 Some very interesting facts about heaven. 45:59 Now, let's look at question number nine. 46:05 When the Lord returns to prepare us for heaven, 46:10 what will He do? What will He do? 46:14 Let's go to the Book of Philippians chapter 3. 46:18 Philippians Chapter 3. 46:20 When the Lord returns to prepare us for heaven, 46:23 what will He do? 46:25 What will He do? 46:27 Okay. All right. 46:29 Some of you already know where I'm headed. 46:31 Well, I should say some of you already know 46:32 what the Bible text says. 46:36 And Paul the Apostle writes, 46:37 "For our citizenship is in heaven, 46:41 from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, 46:46 the Lord Jesus Christ, 46:48 who will," together, "transform our lowly body 46:54 that it may be conformed to His," what? 46:57 "Glorious body, according to the working 47:00 by which He is able 47:02 even to subdue all things to Himself." 47:07 When the Lord returns to prepare us for heaven, 47:09 what will He do? 47:10 What is the answer? What's the answer? 47:14 What's the word that was used? 47:16 Transform, transform, the transformers, transform, 47:22 we will be the transformed. 47:25 Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed 47:29 by the renewing of your mind. 47:31 Now get this, our minds need to be renewed now, 47:34 because our bodies will be renewed later. 47:37 Our minds need to be transformed now 47:39 so that our transformed minds 47:41 will be united with our transformed bodies. 47:44 Amen to that? Amen. 47:45 You don't wait for you. 47:47 You know everything about is going to be... 47:49 Everything about us is going to become immortal. 47:52 But the transforming 47:53 of our mind is to take place, when? 47:55 Now. 47:56 So that our bodies, 47:59 when our bodies are transformed, 48:01 we would mentally and spiritually be ready 48:03 for that transformation. 48:05 That's what this life right here is now. 48:07 That's what this life is all about transforming, 48:10 be not conformed. 48:11 And that's very important because the world, 48:13 if you don't, if you don't do something 48:14 to significantly transform the way you think, 48:17 then the world will do everything 48:19 to conform you to the way that it thinks. 48:23 Because what's wrong in the world 48:26 is right in the kingdom of God. 48:28 What's right in the world 48:33 is wrong in the kingdom of God. 48:36 There's a dichotomy there. 48:37 There's a flipping of the chart. 48:40 Those things that are highly esteemed 48:43 among men are a reproach to God. 48:46 And those things that seem to be 48:48 praised among men. 48:52 This lesson is going to take a twist 48:53 that you don't see coming. 48:55 So when Jesus comes, what's the answer? 48:57 When the Lord returns to prepare us for heaven, 48:58 what will He do? 49:00 The answer again is, transform our bodies. 49:04 I want you to put down transform our bodies. 49:08 Because I made the point very importantly, 49:10 He's not going to transform our minds. 49:13 Our minds must be transformed now. 49:16 That's what this life is all about. 49:18 Get your mind together for heaven. 49:19 Get your mind in gear for heaven. 49:21 Start thinking, 49:22 set your affections on things above. 49:24 That's right. And that's very good point. 49:27 Very good point, my hun. 49:29 Our bodies don't get transformed 49:30 when we die, 49:31 our bodies get transformed when the Lord returns. 49:36 We go back to dust, 49:38 from dust thou art unto dust thou shall return. 49:41 That's what happens when we die. 49:43 But the transformation part takes place 49:44 when the Lord comes. 49:46 Let's go to the next question. 49:47 Okay, when we receive our transformed bodies, 49:52 what will we no longer do? 49:55 What will we no longer do? 49:58 When we receive our transformed bodies 50:01 what will we no longer do? 50:04 Okay, Revelation 21:4. Okay. 50:09 Yeah, this is a text that I'm looking forward to. 50:14 Revelation 21:4, 50:16 I think we all should read this one together. 50:18 Because one day we're going to see 50:19 this happening in our very presence. 50:21 Okay. 50:23 "And God," the Bible says, "will wipe away," what? 50:25 "Every tear from their eyes." 50:28 And this is what's not going to happen anymore. 50:30 "There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. 50:36 There shall be no more pain, 50:38 for the former things have passed away." 50:42 Amen? 50:44 No more crying, no more sorrow, no more death, no more pain. 50:50 No more that. Ah, my back hurts. 50:53 Oh, my leg. Oh, my knee. 50:55 What was that? Come on. 50:57 You all know what I'm talking about. 50:58 Right, Mike? 51:00 You know what I'm talking, right? 51:01 We got these things 51:02 that are happening in our bodies. 51:04 And we, uh, one day Mike is going to have a heart 51:05 that is all in rhythm top and bottom together. 51:08 That's right. 51:09 He's going to run and not be weary, 51:10 walk and not faint, because sometimes Mike has to. 51:14 He's a diligent person driven 51:16 but sometimes he has to put that in neutral. 51:19 When the Lord comes back, no more pain. 51:21 Why? 51:22 For all these things described here will be former things. 51:26 And Isaiah the prophet says, 51:27 "The former things will not be remembered 51:31 nor come into mind." 51:32 So we won't be flying to the nearest planet and say, 51:36 oh, my wing hurts, I better find a place to land. 51:39 We won't be running 51:40 through the streets of the New Jerusalem 51:42 or even the New Earth and say, oh, hold on. 51:46 Wait up, wait up for me. 51:47 We will run and not? Be weary. 51:49 We will walk and not faint. Run and not be weary. 51:53 Walk and not faint. 51:54 Pastor Brooks was telling a story 51:56 about his mother how 51:57 she had so many aches and pains. 51:59 He said one day my mom and I are going to be 52:01 able to run the full length of the streets 52:03 of the New Jerusalem and not even slow down. 52:05 What a wonderful day. 52:07 And for those of you who are getting old 52:08 and you got the walkers 52:09 and the canes and the wheelchairs, 52:11 and you have to get assistance 52:12 to go from one place to the next, 52:14 oh, that's going to end, 52:17 that transformed body will not no pain, sorrow, 52:20 death, crying, none of those things, 52:23 because that's what God is going to get rid of. 52:25 He's going to, 52:26 He's going to eliminate all of that, 52:28 from the experience of the saints 52:30 that reign eternally with Him. 52:32 Let's go to Isaiah 33:24, look at another component. 52:35 Isaiah 33:24. 52:44 Whenever we start getting a tickle in our throat, 52:47 let me just give you this hint, 52:48 you probably haven't thought about it. 52:50 You won't get a tickle in your throat in heaven. 52:54 As an indication that a cold is coming on. 52:56 You won't be going. 52:59 Oh, what's happening? I think I'm getting cold. 53:02 No more. Can I get an amen? 53:04 No more medication needed throughout eternity. 53:07 No more people lined up for shots. 53:10 Oh, there's the flu season, 53:11 there will be no flu season in heaven nor in the new earth. 53:15 And I have proof to that, together, 53:17 "The inhabitants will not say," what? 53:20 "'I am sick,' the people who dwell in it 53:23 will be forgiven their inequities." 53:26 No more sin, no more sickness. 53:32 I got to slow down, I'm getting in my knee up, 53:33 I'm about to get happy here. 53:35 But when I get sick, it happens at odd times, 53:38 but God is so gracious. 53:40 We had a wedding here not too long ago, 53:41 Mike and Celestine did their 15th rededication 53:46 for 15 years of marriage. 53:48 She's a singer, couldn't sing. 53:51 It was the most painful experience, 53:52 voice was shut, cold, crud, she was, 53:57 she was a bass voice, couldn't sing. 54:00 In heaven, she'll be able to sing. 54:02 Amen, Mike? No more colds. 54:04 No more problems. No more injuries. 54:08 The inhabitants will not say I am sick, 54:11 doctors and nurses I love you, 54:13 but you will be forever retired in the kingdom of heaven. 54:16 Amen. 54:17 No more need for the CDC 54:20 because God's got that all taken care of. 54:22 Okay, go to number 11. Go to number 11. 54:26 Got to look at my time here. Number 11. 54:31 Why is it important for us 54:33 to be transformed before we enter heaven? 54:38 1 Corinthians 15:50. 54:40 Why is it important for us 54:41 to be transformed before we enter heaven? 54:46 Okay, I'm gonna move on a little bit of pace here. 54:49 1 Corinthians 15:50. 54:51 This is a text that's often misunderstood, 54:53 terribly misunderstood, 54:55 and I'll take a little time to explain it. 54:56 But Paul the Apostle speaking of the two, 54:58 speaking of the earthly and the heaven. 55:00 He says, "Now I say, 55:02 now this I say, brethren, that," what? 55:04 "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, 55:09 nor does corruption inherit incorruption." 55:13 Now let's get this, flesh and blood. 55:15 Do we walk in the flesh or do we walk in the spirit? 55:19 Help me out. 55:21 Do we walk in the flesh or do we walk in the spirit? 55:23 We walk in the spirit. 55:24 And the Bible says, 55:26 do not yield to the lust of the flesh. 55:31 So we are living in the flesh. 55:33 But when Paul talks about flesh and blood, 55:36 he's not talking about 55:37 the physical dimensions of humanity. 55:39 He's talking about 55:40 the sinful dimensions of humanity. 55:43 That's why he says, 55:45 nor does corruption 55:47 inherit incorruption. 55:51 I got to go right to the next question 55:53 very quickly. 55:54 Okay, this body that's corrupt. 55:56 Not only are we in a corrupt world, 55:58 but our bodies are corrupt. 56:02 They said our skin cells dies, 56:04 our skin, our cells are dying by the thousands, 56:08 explosions are taking place in our bodies all the time, 56:11 new cells are being born. 56:12 But the important transition 56:13 is right here in the very next question. 56:15 Let's get to that very quickly. Question number 12. 56:18 How is the preparation 56:20 for heaven transformation described? 56:23 How is the preparation for heaven 56:24 transformation described? 56:26 I'm going to go to very quickly 56:27 just bring it up on the screen and here it is. 56:30 The transformation, "It is sown a natural body, 56:34 it is raised a," what kind of body? 56:36 "Spiritual body." 56:37 "There is a natural body 56:39 and there is a," what else also? 56:41 "Spiritual body." 56:42 Go to the very next text just directly. 56:45 And this is the difference, 56:47 "For this corruptible must put on," what? 56:51 "Incorruption, and this mortal must put on," what? 56:54 "Immortality." 56:56 Let me spend a moment to talk about 56:57 these three things that are very important here. 57:00 Flesh and blood, this sinful human being 57:03 that I am, this sinful flesh. 57:06 We're not going to go to heaven with this defective body. 57:09 We're not going to go to heaven with this body that has 57:12 ailments and sin, sinful tendencies 57:14 and thoughts that are corrupt, 57:17 and attitudes that are in conflict 57:19 with our testimony, all those things 57:22 will have been changed because this corruptible, 57:25 this mind that can be corrupted, 57:27 will put on incorruption. 57:29 The day is coming and I want you 57:30 to just embrace this, the day is coming 57:32 that we won't think bad thoughts anymore. 57:37 We won't think evil thoughts. 57:39 We won't think mean thoughts. 57:41 We won't think anything corrupt. 57:44 That's what that is saying. 57:45 This corruptible will put on incorruption. 57:48 We won't have a mind that's, 57:50 that people don't want to hear what's in it. 57:53 One day, my brothers and sisters, 57:55 we'll be just like Jesus. 57:56 Until that day, we pray that 57:58 you keep studying the word of God. 58:00 And if it doesn't make sense, 58:01 one day it'll come into A Sharper Focus. 58:04 God bless you. |
Revised 2020-06-09