Sound The Trumpet : Heaven is a Wonderful Place

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“Heaven is a Wonderful Place”
by Art Sadlier
May 1st, 2007

The disciples looked for heaven, Jesus had told them "I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also." John 14:2,3 As a result of that promise, those first disciples lived and laboured and died in anticipation of going to be with Jesus in Heaven.

What will Heaven be like?

The truth is we do not fully know what heaven will be like. "… eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."

First we need to understand that God has deliberately chosen not to give man a full description of Heaven. You can’t expect a child to eat their meat and potatoes if you also put a piece of chocolate in front of them. If we had a full vision of Heaven, we would be too dissatisfied with this earthly home to live here.

Second it is implied that finite beings could never grasp the glory and beauty of heaven and all its wonders. Heaven is so marvelous, so wonderful, that we do not have the capacity to even imagine what it is really like.

And yet, although the Lord has not given us a full description of Heaven, a full view, He has pulled back the curtain just a little to allow us to peak into Heaven. He gives us a few phrases, just a few words to whet our appetite about the wonders of Heaven. The word Heaven is recorded 550 times in Scripture. Let’s take a peak into Heaven.

The Foundations of the walls are made of precious gems; the Walls are made of pure jasper (diamonds). The Gates of the city are each composed of a single large pearl. The Buildings and Streets are made of pure gold, like glass. Heaven is a beautiful place!

There is no need of the sun or moon, the Lord Himself lights the city with His glory and that glory radiates through the clear gold of the buildings and streets.

In Heaven there are no dirty streets, no litter, no bad odours and no pollution. There is nothing which is not pleasing to the senses. Heaven is a pleasing place!

More wonderful than all of its physical beauty, God the Father will be there.

We will be with Him "…behold the tabernacle (dwelling place) of God is with men, and He shall dwell with them and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." Rev. 21:3

We will see Him Exodus 33:20 says "… thou canst not see My face; for there shall no man see Me and live."1 John 4:12 says "No man hath seen God at any time …" However, when we are glorified and our sin nature is removed and we become absolutely Holy, that will change our situation. Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." Matt 5:8 Someday in Heaven, wonder of wonders, we will stand before God and see Him. In Rev. 6:6 we see a great multitude of saints before the throne of God, worshipping and saying, "Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth."

Jesus will be there. We cannot imagine the thrill of standing in His presence, the thrill of looking on His glorified face, the thrill of being with the One who died for us.

What an indescribable joy to be with our Saviour and Lord, to gather around His throne and sing His praises with all the saints of the ages.

As we come to Revelation 12:12, we read, "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them". We can hardly imagine the joy of the inhabitants of heaven when Satan is cast out of heaven. We can almost hear the praises and hallelujahs as the courts of heaven ring. Not only is Satan cast out of their presence forever but the signal is given that the final overthrow of Satan is now underway. I suspect those who are in heaven have a clearer perspective of the awfullness of sin and Satan. The blackness of Satan is contrasted by the holiness of God which they can behold as we cannot. The hundreds of millions of men and women deceived and cast into hell by the deceptions of Satan and the affront he pours out upon a Holy God. The pain and anguish and sufferings upon the people of God, all purposed and brought about by this evil dragon. What joy fills all of heaven as he is reckoned with.

The Lord Jesus Christ now reigns supreme in all three heavens, again cause for more rejoicing!

The trumpet could sound at any moment and that unbelievable thrill will be our instant experience!

"And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 22:1-5).

However Jesus said that not everyone is going to heaven. John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Verse 16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Then in verse 36 we read, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Heaven is only for those that have repented of their sins and have received Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

Both Faith and repentance are heart attitudes toward God which result in actions. Faith responds in obedience toward to God. Repentance responds by recognizing your sin and turning away from disobedience.

Revelation 3:20 tells how to receive Christ as your Saviour. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Will you recognize your sin and sinfulness and right now in repentance and faith receive Christ as your Saviour and Lord?

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13