YOU KNOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAKE
FUN OF US FOR BELIEVING IN HEAVEN. THEY, THEY TALK ABOUT,
“PIE IN THE SKY WHEN WE DIE.” WELL, I LIKE PIE. HEH, HEH, HEH.
I’M HAVING THE MAIN COURSE DOWN HERE, BUT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE DESSERT. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO HEAVEN. NOW SOME
PEOPLE JUST SNEER AND THEY SAY, “WELL, YOU CHRISTIANS ARE SO
HEAVENLY MINDED YOU’RE NO EARTHLY GOOD.” MAY I SUGGEST
THAT IT’S JUST THE OPPOSITE? MANY OF US ARE SO EARTHLY MINDED
WE’RE NO GOOD TO HEAVEN OR EARTH. [MUSIC] THANKS FOR
JOINING US FOR TODAY’S PROGRAM. THE PLAIN-SPOKEN, BIBLICAL
WISDOM AND TIMELESS TEACHING OF ADRIAN ROGERS HAS GONE AROUND
THE WORLD AND HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HE HAS
TOUCHED AS PROFOUND TRUTH, SIMPLY STATED. AND TODAY, HE’LL
BE BRINGING US A TIMELY MESSAGE FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION AS
WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES, “THE TRIUMPH OF THE LAMB.” HAVE YOUR
BIBLES OPENED AND STAY WITH US FOR TODAY’S MESSAGE. AND DON’T
FORGET, YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE AGAIN AND OTHER MESSAGES
IN THIS SERIES AND DOWNLOAD PASTOR ROGERS OUTLINE, NOTES AND
A TRANSCRIPT OF THIS MESSAGE ALL AT LWF.ORG. NOW LET’S JOIN
ADRIAN ROGERS. [MUSIC] BE FINDING REVELATION CHAPTER 21.
WE’RE MAKING OUR WAY NOW THROUGH TO THE END OF THE BOOK. AND
TODAY WE’RE TAKING A GUIDED TOUR THROUGH HEAVEN. MANY OF YOU HAVE
VISITED YOSEMITE, ONE OF THE MOST MAGNIFICENT NATURAL PARKS
IN ALL OF AMERICA AND REALLY IN ALL OF THE WORLD. AND A WOMAN,
I’M TOLD, VISITED YOSEMITE, AND SHE CAME UP TO ONE OF THE
GUIDES, AND THIS IS WHAT SHE SAID. SHE SAID, “IF YOU ONLY HAD
ONE HOUR TO SEE YOSEMITE, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?” HE SAID, “MADAM,
IF I ONLY HAD ONE HOUR TO SEE YOSEMITE, I WOULD GO OVER AND
SIT DOWN ON THAT ROCK AND CRY, HAH, HAH, FOR AN HOUR, IF I ONLY
HAD ONE HOUR TO SEE IT.” NOW WE HAVE JUST A FEW MOMENTS TO TAKE
A GUIDED TOUR THROUGH THE PLACE CALLED HEAVEN. AND MAYBE WE
OUGHT TO JUST SIT AND CRY RATHER THAN LISTEN TO THE PREACHER, BUT
DON’T DO IT. WE’RE GOING TO, WE’RE GOING TO, AH, THINK TODAY
ABOUT HEAVEN. NOW OUR GUIDE IS GOING TO BE AN ANGEL. LOOK IF
YOU WILL IN VERSES NINE AND 10, “AND THERE CAME UNTO ME ONE OF
THE SEVEN ANGELS WHICH HAD THE SEVEN VIALS FULL OF THE SEVEN
LAST PLAGUES, AND TALKED WITH ME, SAYING, ‘COME HITHER, I WILL
SHOW THEE THE BRIDE, THE LAMB’S WIFE.’ AND HE CARRIED ME AWAY IN
THE SPIRIT INTO A GREAT AND HIGH MOUNTAIN, AND SHOWED ME THAT
GREAT CITY, THE HOLY JERUSALEM, DESCENDING OUT OF HEAVEN FROM
GOD.” AND SO THE GUIDE SAID TO JOHN, “JOHN, I’M GOING TO GIVE
YOU A GUIDED TOUR THROUGH HEAVEN,” AND HE DID. AND SO
WE’RE GOING TO JUST EAVESDROP AND, AH, TRAIL ALONG ON THIS
GUIDED TOUR. YOU KNOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAKE FUN OF US FOR
BELIEVING IN HEAVEN. THEY, THEY TALK ABOUT, “PIE IN THE SKY WHEN
WE DIE.” WELL, I LIKE PIE. HEH, HEH, HEH. I’M HAVING THE MAIN
COURSE DOWN HERE, BUT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DESSERT.
I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO HEAVEN. NOW SOME PEOPLE JUST
SNEER AND THEY SAY, “WELL, YOU CHRISTIANS ARE SO HEAVENLY
MINDED YOU’RE NO EARTHLY GOOD.” MAY I SUGGEST THAT IT’S JUST THE
OPPOSITE? MANY OF US ARE SO EARTHLY MINDED WE’RE NO GOOD TO
HEAVEN OR EARTH. AND THE BIBLE SAYS THIS, AND PUT IN YOUR
MARGIN COLOSSIANS THREE VERSES ONE AND TWO, “IF YE THEN BE
RISEN WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, WHERE
CHRIST SITTETH ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. SET YOUR AFFECTIONS ON
THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS OF THE EARTH.” WE ARE TO BE
HEAVENLY MINDED. AND WHAT DID JESUS TELL US IN MATTHEW
CHAPTER, AH, 6 AND, AH, VERSES 20 AND 21, “BUT LAY UP FOR
YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE NEITHER MOTH NOR RUST DOTH
CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK THROUGH NOR STEAL:”
NOW LISTEN TO THIS, “FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE WILL
YOUR HEART BE ALSO.” IF YOUR HEART IS NOT, AH, IN HEAVEN IT’S
BECAUSE YOUR TREASURE IS DOWN HERE. AND MAY I SAY IT IS NOT
YOUR TREASURE THAT GOD WANTS. GOD DOESN’T NEED ANYTHING. IT IS
YOUR HEART THAT GOD WANTS. SO WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE
WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO. AND BY THE WAY, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW
RICH YOU ARE, YOU ADD UP EVERYTHING YOU HAVE THAT MONEY
CAN’T BUY AND THAT DEATH CAN’T TAKE AWAY. WHAT TREASURE DO YOU
REALLY HAVE IN HEAVEN? NOW AS WE TAKE THIS GUIDED TOUR THROUGH
HEAVEN, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION
IS CRAMMED [SLAP] WITH SYMBOLS. IT IS FULL OF SYMBOLISM. AND SO,
AS WE LOOK, MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE SEE ARE SYMBOLS AND
PROPHECIES OF THE GREATER GLORIES OF HEAVEN THAT THE HUMAN
MIND CANNOT COMPREHEND UNLESS GOD PUTS IT IN SYMBOLS. IF YOU
WERE TO TRY TO TEACH A CHILD ABOUT NUCLEAR PHYSICS, I’M
TALKING ABOUT A FIVE OR SIX-YEAR-OLD, ABOUT NUCLEAR
PHYSICS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO USE ANALOGIES. YOU’D HAVE USE
ILLUSTRATIONS AND THINGS THAT PERHAPS THE CHILD COULD
UNDERSTAND IN THE LITTLE WAY, AH, BECAUSE HE’S A LITTLE CHILD.
WE ARE LIKE CHILDREN. AND FRIEND, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
HEAVEN, AH, THERE’S NO WAY THAT WE’RE GOING TO INTELLECTUALLY
UNDERSTAND IT ALL, SO GOD HAS CONDESCENDED TO OUR WEAKNESS AND
GIVEN US SOME GLORIOUS SYMBOLS. SO FIRST OF ALL, AS WE TAKE OUR
GUIDED TOUR, I WANT US TO SEE THE GEOGRAPHY OF HEAVEN, THE
GEOGRAPHY OF HEAVEN, AND LEARN THAT HEAVEN IS A MATERIAL PLACE.
NOW WHEN I SAY A MATERIAL PLACE, I MEAN IT IS A PLACE, P-L-A-C-E;
IT IS REAL. IT IS NOT SOME GASEOUS, MYSTERIOUS, EPHEMERAL,
NOW-YOU-SEE-IT, NOW-YOU-DON’T, SMOKE AND MIRRORS. HEAVEN IS A
[SLAP] PLACE, A REAL PLACE. NOW YOU SAY, “PASTOR, WHY DO YOU,
AH, SAY, AH, THAT SO FIRMLY?” BECAUSE FRIEND, WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF HEAVEN. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN THE
FIRST TWO VERSES NOW, REVELATION CHAPTER 21 VERSES ONE AND TWO.
PAUL SS, AH, JOHN SAID, “I, AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW
EARTH: FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH WERE PASSED
AWAY; AND THERE WAS NO MORE SEA. AND I JOHN SAW THE HOLY CITY,
NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN, PREPARED AS A
BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND.” NOW WHAT JOHN IS SEEING HERE IS
A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH. AND IT CORRESPONDS TO THE HEAVEN
AND THE EARTH THAT YOU AND I NOW SEE TODAY. HEAVEN IS A REAL
PLACE. WHAT DID JESUS SAY IN JOHN CHAPTER 14? “I GO TO
PREPARE A,” WHAT? [AUDIENCE: PLACE] “A PLACE FOR YOU.” HE
DIDN’T SAY, “I GO TO PREPARE A STATE OF MIND.” “I GO TO PREPARE
A PLACE FOR YOU.” NOW YOU THINK ABOUT IT. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE
RESURRECTED BODIES. THERE IS A REAL, LITERAL RESURRECTION OF
THE BODY. THE BODY IS COMING OUT OF THE GRAVE. WHERE’S IT GOING
TO GO? THERE HAS TO BE A PLACE FOR THAT. IF I HAVE A
RESURRECTED BODY, I HAVE TO HAVE A RESURRECTED PLACE TO WALK
AROUND ON. AH, YOU SAY, “PASTOR ROGERS, YOU’RE TOO
MATERIALISTIC.” NO, NO, I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT MATERIALISM; I’M
TALKING ABOUT REALITY. THE BIBLE SAYS, AND PUT THIS VERSE DOWN,
HEBREWS CHAPTER 11 VERSES NINE AND 10, SPEAKING OF ABRAHAM, “BY
FAITH HE SOJOURNED IN THE LAND OF PROMISE, AS IN A STRANGE
COUNTRY, DWELLING IN TABERNACLES WITH ISAAC AND JACOB, AND HEIRS
WITH HIM OF THE SAME PROMISE.” THAT IS, OLD ABRAHAM NEVER BUILT
HIM A HOUSE OUT OF STONE OR BRICK OR MORTAR. HE LIVED IN
TENTS. AND THE BIBLE TELLS US WHY, “FOR HE LOOKED FOR A CITY
WHICH HATH FOUNDATIONS, WHOSE BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD.” THE
APOSTLE PAUL ONE TIME TOOK A SOJOURN TO HEAVEN. HE TOOK A
TRIP TO HEAVEN WHILE HE WAS STILL IN THE MINISTRY HERE ON
THIS EARTH. AND HE DESCRIBES IT. PUT THIS VERSE DOWN: SECOND
CORINTHIANS 12 VERSES TWO AND THREE. HE SAID, “I KNEW A MAN IN
CHRIST,” NOW HE’S SPEAKING OF HIMSELF IN THE THIRD PERSON; HE
SAID, “I KNEW A MAN IN CHRIST ABOUT FOURTEEN YEARS AGO,” NOW
LISTEN TO THIS NEXT PHRASE, “WHETHER IN THE BODY, I CANNOT
TELL; OR WHETHER OUT OF THE BODY, I CANNOT TELL.” PAUL SAID,
“I DON’T KNOW WHEN THIS THING HAPPENED TO ME WHETHER I WAS
STILL IN MY BODY OR WHETHER I’D LEFT MY BODY AND GONE UP THERE.”
“I CANNOT TELL: GOD KNOWETH, SUCH A ONE CAUGHT UP TO THE
THIRD HEAVEN. AND I KNEW SUCH A MAN, WHETHER IN THE BODY, OR OUT
OF THE BODY, I CANNOT TELL: GOD KNOWETH.” NOW WHAT IS PAUL
SAYING? PAUL SAID, “LOOK I WAS CAUGHT UP TO THE THIRD HEAVEN.
[SLAP] WHETHER [SLAP] I [SLAP] WAS [SLAP] IN [SLAP] THIS [SLAP]
BODY OR IN MY SPIRIT I DON’T KNOW.” WHAT DOES THAT TELL ME?
IT TELLS ME YOU CAN GO TO HEAVEN IN YOUR SPIRIT OR YOU CAN GO TO
HEAVEN WITH A BODY. NOW, THERE, JESUS IS THERE IN A RESURRECTED
BODY. WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS BODY WHEN HE WALKED OUT OF THAT
GRAVE? THEY SAW HIM, THEY TOUCHED HIM, THEY FELT HIM.
WHERE DID HE GO? HE WENT [STOMP] TO A [STOMP] PLACE, A PLACE.
HEAVEN IS REAL. IT IS MORE REAL THAN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. IF YOU
HAVE A LOVED ONE, THEY ARE IN A REAL PLACE. THIS IS THE
GEOGRAPHY OF HEAVEN. NOW THE BIBLE CALLS IT, “NEW HEAVENS AND
A NEW EARTH” BECAUSE THIS PRESENT EARTH AND THIS PRESENT
ATMOSPHERE ARE GOING TO BE BURNED UP. PUT IN YOUR MARGIN
SECOND PETER VERSES, CHAPTER THREE VERSES 10 THROUGH 13, “BUT
THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT; IN WHICH
THE HEAVENS SHALL PASS AWAY WITH A GREAT NOISE, AND THE ELEMENTS
SHALL MELT WITH FEVER HEAT, FERVENT HEAT.” THE GREEK WORD
LITERALLY IS INTERNAL OR FEVER HEAT. “THE EARTH ALSO AND THE
WORKS THAT ARE THEREIN SHALL BE BURNED UP. SEEING THEN THAT ALL
THESE THINGS SHALL BE DISSOLVED,” UNLOOSED, “WHAT
MANNER OF PERSONS OUGHT YE TO BE IN ALL HOLY CONVERSATION AND
GODLINESS, LOOKING FOR AND HASTING UNTO THE COMING OF THE
DAY OF GOD, WHEREIN THE HEAVENS BEING ON FIRE SHALL BE
DISSOLVED, AND THE ELEMENTS SHALL MELT WITH FERVENT HEAT?
NEVERTHELESS WE, ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE, LOOK FOR NEW
HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, WHEREIN DWELLETH RIGHTEOUSNESS.” NOW
WHAT IS GOD GOING TO DO WITH PLANET EARTH? PLANET EARTH IS
DESTINED FOR FIRE. IT IS STORED WITH FIRE. THE WORD HERE,
“RESERVED UNDER FIRE,” LITERALLY MEANS, THE GREEK WORD LITERALLY,
“STORED WITH FIRE.” AND YOU KNOW THAT IS TRUE. NOW WE KNOW ABOUT
THE, AH, THE ATOMIC NATURE OF THE UNIVERSE. WE KNOW THAT
EVERYTHING HAS MOLECULAR FIRE IN IT. THIS PULPIT IS STORED WITH
FIRE. THIS PAPER IS STORED WITH FIRE. THESE CLOTHES ARE STORED
WITH FIRE. THIS CARPET IS STORED WITH FIRE. THE SEAT THAT YOU’RE
ON IS STORED WITH FIRE. EVERYTHING IS PACKED WITH FIRE!
AND EVEN OUR EARTH ITSELF HAS A MOLTEN CORE VERY MUCH LIKE THE
SHELL OF AN EGG, PACKED WITH FIRE. AND THE ATMOSPHERE, ALL OF
THAT IS STORED WITH FIRE. AND ONE OF THESE DAYS THERE’S
COMING, GOD UNLEASHES THE POWER OF THE ATOM THAT HE HOLDS
TOGETHER BY HIS MIGHTY POWER. AND THE ENTIRE ATMOSPHERE, THE
ATMOSPHERIC HEAVENS AND THIS EARTH ARE GOING TO BE DISSOLVED
AND BURNED UP, BUT THEY WILL STILL REMAIN. NOW YOU SAY, “WAIT
A MINUTE PASTOR.” NO, WHEN GOD MADE THIS EARTH, HE GAVE IT AN
ETERNALITY. NOW DON’T CHECK ME OUT. WHAT HAPPENS IS THIS; GOD
IS GOING TO TAKE IT AND THERE’S GOING TO BE A GREAT MELTDOWN.
AND HE’S GOING TO TAKE THAT MATERIAL AND MAKE WITH IT NEW
HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH. IT IS THE SAME THING THAT OLD
AUTOMOBILE GOES INTO THE, AH, JUNKYARD AND THEY SQUEEZE IT AND
SS, BRING IT DOWN AND COMPACT IT AND PUT IT IN THE FURNACE AND
OUT COMES A NEW AUTOMOBILE. THAT NEW AUTOMOBILE YOU’RE DRIVING
MAY BE PART OF AN OLD AUTOMOBILE THAT’S JUST BEEN THROUGH THE
FURNACE AND BEEN THROUGH THE FIRE. THE, THE, THE WORD NEW
HERE IS THE WORD KAINOUS. IT’S THE SAME WORD THAT IS USED THERE
IN, AH, PAUL SPEAKS TO THE CORINTHIANS AND HE SAYS, “IF ANY
MAN BE IN CHRIST JESUS, HE IS A NEW CREATURE.” WELL, I’M THE OLD
ADRIAN MADE NEW. “IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW
CREATURE.” NOW THE OLD MAN WAS NOT, AH, DID NOT DISSAPPEAR, WAS
NOT EVAPORATED OR, AH, BUT I AM TRANSFORMED, I HAVE BEEN PURGED
BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. THE OLD WORLD, THE OLD HEAVEN’S
GOING TO BE PU, PURGED BY FIRE AND, AH, IT’S GOING TO BE NEW
HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH. ALL RIGHT. NOW WHY DOES THE BIBLE
CALL, AH, THIS, AND BY THE WAY, WHEN WE’RE TAKING A TOUR THROUGH
HEAVEN, HUH, HUH, HUH, HUH, WE’RE ONLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO
SEE THE CAPITAL CITY. I MEAN, WE, FOLKS, WE’VE JUST GOT A
SHORT TIME FOR OUR TOUR. AND SO WE’RE GOING TO SEE THE NEW
JERUSALEM. AND THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF THE NEW JERUSALEM AS COMING
DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND.
AND THEN AGAIN THE ANGEL IN THAT SCRIPTURE I TOLD YOU, SAID, “I
WILL SHOW YOU THE LAMB’S WIFE.” AND THEN HE SHOWS THE NEW
JERUSALEM. NOW YOU SAY, “NOW WAIT A MINUTE. IS THE LORD
MARRIED TO A CITY?” WHAT’S HE TALKING ABOUT HERE? WELL, WHEN
YOU TALK OF A CITY, YOU COULD TALK OF THE PLACE OR THE PEOPLE.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. I MIGHT SAY, “MEMPHIS IS A
BEAUTIFUL CITY.” AND IT IS. BUT I MIGHT SAY, “MEMPHIS IS A
WICKED CITY.” AND IT IS. SEE? NOW WA, ONE TIME I’M TALKING
ABOUT THE PLACE, ANOTHER TIME I’M TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
THAT’S WHAT GOD IS DOING HERE IN THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION. BUT
PUT IT DOWN NOW. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT HEAVEN, AND WE’RE TALKING
ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHY OF HEAVEN, AND WE’RE SAYING THAT HEAVEN IS
A [SLAP] MATERIAL [SLAP] PLACE. WE’LL BE THERE IN RESURRECTED
BODIES, AND FRIEND WE WILL WALK AROUND, AND THERE HAS TO BE A
PLACE FOR YOUR RESURRECTED FOOT TO STAND. HA. ABRAHAM LOOKED FOR
A CITY THAT HAD FOUNDATIONS WHOSE BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD.
NOW HERE’S THE SECOND THING I WANT YOU TO SEE. NOT ONLY THE,
THE GEOGRAPHY OF HEAVEN, BUT I WANT YOU TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT
OF HEAVEN; HEAVEN IS A MAJESTIC PLACE. WHY? BECAUSE GOD WILL
RULE IN MAJESTY THERE. LOOK IF YOU WILL NOW BEGINNING IN VERSE
THREE, “AND I HEARD A GREAT VOICE OUT OF HEAVEN SAYING,
‘BEHOLD, THE TABERNACLE OF GOD IS WITH MEN.’” NOW IN THE OLD
TESTAMENT GOD DWELT IN A TABERNACLE, IN A TENT, BUT NOW
THE DWELLING PLACE IS WITH MEN, “AND HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM,
AND THEY SHALL BE HIS PEOPLE, AND GOD HIMSELF SHALL BE WITH
THEM,” BUL, THINK OF THAT. NO LONGER DO WE PRAY, “OUR FATHER
WHICH ART IN HEAVEN.” GOD SAID, “I’M RIGHT HERE WITH YOU.” “AND
GOD SHALL HIMSELF SHALL BE WITH THEM, AND BE THEIR GOD. AND
SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES; AND THERE SHALL BE
NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW, NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE
BE ANY MORE PAIN: FOR THE FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY. AND HE
THAT SAT UPON THE THRONE SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW.’
AND HE SAID UNTO ME, ‘WRITE: FOR THESE WORDS ARE TRUE AND
FAITHFUL.’ AND HE SAITH UNTO ME, ‘IT IS DONE. I AM ALPHA AND
OMEGA,’” THAT’S THE FIRST AND LAST, AH, I, LETTERS IN THE
GREEK ALPHABET. TO US IT WOULD BE “I AM A AND Z,” “THE
BEGINNING AND THE END, AND I WILL GIVE UNTO HIM THAT IS
ATHIRST OF THE FOUNTAIN OF THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY. HE THAT
OVERCOMETH SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS; AND I WILL BE HIS GOD,
AND HE SHALL BE MY SON. BUT THE FEARFUL, AND UNBELIEVING, AND
THE ABOMINABLE, AND MURDERERS, AND WHOREMONGERS, AND SORCERERS,
AND IDOLATERS, AND ALL LIARS, SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE
LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: WHICH IS THE SECOND
DEATH.” WHO IS SAYING THIS? JESUS. AND YOU SAY, WELL, A
PREACHER IS “A FIRE AND BRIMSTONE PREACHER.” DON’T SAY
THAT WITH A SNEER, BECAUSE YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT JESUS.
THESE ARE THE WORDS OF JESUS, TALKING ABOUT FIRE AND
BRIMSTONE. NOW WHY IS HEAVEN SUCH A MAJESTIC PLACE? BECAUSE
THE KING RULES THERE IN MAJESTY. GOD IS DWELLING WITH HIS PEOPLE
AND, AH, WE NEED TO LEARN SOME THINGS ABOUT HEAVEN THEREFORE.
WHEN THE LORD RULES IN MAJESTY THERE ARE SOME “NO MORES.” FOR
EXAMPLE, THERE’S GOING TO BE NO MORE SORROW. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN
VERSE FOUR HERE, “AND GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR
EYES, AND THERE SHALL BE DO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW, NOR
CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANY MORE PAIN: FOR THE FORMER
THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY.” I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. I’VE
BEEN SO HEARTAKE, HEARTBREAKENLY MANY TIMES TO STAND BY THE OPEN
GRAVE. I’VE BEEN SO MANY TIMES IN THE HOSPITAL TO WATCH PEOPLE
WRITHE IN PAIN. I’VE BEEN SO MANY TIMES TO SEE MOTHERS CRY
OVER WAYWARD CHILDREN. I’VE SEEN THOSE TEARS. AND FRIEND THAT’S A
PART OF THE MINISTRY. IN THE MINISTRY YOU SEE THE BEST. AND
SOMETIMES YOU SEE THE WORST. AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, I
HAVE SEEN IT. DAY AFTER DAY, WEEK AFTER WEEK, THE NEWS COMES
IN. THERE ARE TEARS. THERE’RE TEARS. A PHILOSOPHER SAID THAT
MAN IS THE ONLY CREATURE WHEN HE IS BORN HE CAN DO NOTHING FOR
HIMSELF EXCEPT CRY. SEEMS LIKE WE’RE BORN CRYING, WE LIVE
CRYING, WE DIE CRYING. BUT THERE’S COMING A TIME WHEN GOD
IS GOING TO TURN EVERY TEAR TO A TELESCOPE, EVERY HURT TO A
HALLELUJAH, EVERY CALVARY TO AN EASTER. THERE’LL BE NO MORE
TEARS, THERE’LL BE NO MORE SIGHING, THERE’LL BE NO MORE
CRYING, THERE’LL BE NO MORE DYING, [SLAP] THERE’LL BE NO
MORE FUNERALS, [SLAP] THERE’LL BE NO MORE DEATH, THERE’LL BE NO
MORE DISEASE. THESE THINGS ARE GONE. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] AND I’M
LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] I’M LOOKING
FORWARD TO IT. AH, THERE’LL BE NO MORE SORROW. AND I TELL YOU
WHY THERE’LL BE NO MORE SORROW: BECAUSE THERE’LL BE NO MORE SIN.
LOOK IN VERSE EIGHT, “BUT THE FEARFUL, AND THE UNBELIEVING,
AND THE ABOMINABLE, AND MURDERERS, AND WHOREMONGERS, AND
SORCERERES, AND IDOLATERS, AND ALL LIARS, SHALL HAVE THEIR PART
IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: WHICH IS THE
SECOND DEATH.” SKIP, GO ON DOWN TO VERSE 27. GOD IS SPEAKING
ABOUT THIS CITY AND HE SAYS, “THERE SHALL IN NO WISE ENTER
INTO IT ANY THING THAT DEFILETH, NEITHER WHATSOEVER WORKETH A, AN
ABOMINATION, OR MAKETH A LIE: BUT THEY WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN
THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE.” NOW YOU KNOW WHAT HAS MESSED UP
PLANET EARTH? SIN. SIN. EVERYTIME YOU SEE ANY SORROW,
EVERYTIME YOU SEE ANY TEAR, ANY HEARTBREAK, ANY SICKNESS, ANY
PAIN, BEHIND IT ALL ULTIMATELY IS SIN. NOW I’M NOT SAYING YOUR
PERSONAL SIN, IF YOU’RE SICK. IT MAY BE TRUE, THAT MAY NOT BE
TRUE. BUT I’M SAYING WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT HAS A CURSE ON IT
AND IT IS THE CURSE OF SIN. I WAS TELLING SOME PEOPLE THE
OTHER DAY, WHEN OUR LITTLE BOY PHILIP DIED, ONE OF THOSE
MYSTERIOUS CRIB DEATHS, JOYCE AND I SORROWED, TURNED TO THE
LORD, GAVE OUR HEARTS TO THE LORD, RENEWED OUR HEARTS AND OUR
DEVOTION TO THE LORD BECAUSE WE NEEDED HIM SO MUCH. AND I HAD
BEEN VISITING IN THE HOSPITAL AN OLD CURMUDGERON, AN OLD MAN,
THAT JUST, HE, HE WAS VERY CYNICAL. HE SEEMED TO HATE GOD
AND, AND DIDN’T CARE FOR THE THINGS OF GOD. AND I’D BEEN
TRYING TO WIN THIS MAN TO CHRIST. HE WAS A MAN, NOT A
MEMBER OF OUR CHURCH. I DIDN’T KNOW HIM. NOBODY GAVE ME HIS
NAME. I JUST SAW HIM AND WALKED UP TO HIM, BEGAN TO WITNESS TO
HIM. AND DAY AFTER DAY AS I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL I’D GO IN AND
SEE THIS MAN. SOMEHOW HE’D LEARNED THAT OUR BABY HAD DIED.
AND I WENT BACK IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER WE HAD HAD THE FUNERAL,
AND HE SAW ME. SAID, “WHAT’RE YOU DOING HERE?” I SAID, “I CAME
TO SEE YOU.” HE SAID, “ARE YOU STILL SERVING GOD AFTER WHAT HE
DID TO YOU?” I SAID, “LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, MISTER, I’M
NOT BITTER AT GOD. YOU KNOW WHO I’M BITTER AT? I’M BITTER AT
SATAN. SATAN HAS A GREATER ENEMY TODAY THAN HE HAS EVER HAD IN
ME. BECAUSE I KNOW BEHIND ALL SICKNESS, ALL SORROW, ALL PAIN,
ALL SUFFERING, ALL DEATH, IS SIN!” AND GOD SAYS, “IN MY
HEAVEN, NO MORE OF THAT! YOU’RE NOT COMING IN HERE. YOU’RE NOT
GOING TO GET IN HERE. YOU’RE NOT GOING TO RUIN MY HEAVEN.”
BECAUSE THE KING RULES IN MAJESTY. NOW I WANT YOU TO SEE
NOT ONLY THE GEOGRAPHY OF HEAVEN AND THE GOVERNMENT OF HEAVEN,
BUT I WANT YOU TO SEE, FRIEND, THE GLORY OF HEAVEN. OH, I WISH
WE HAD MORE TIME FOR OUR TOUR. BUT LOOK NOW BEGINNING IN VERSE
NINE, “AND THERE CAME UNTO ME ONE OF THE SEVEN ANGELS WHICH
HAD THE SEVEN VIALS,” OR BOWLS, “FULL OF THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES,
WHICH TALKED WITH ME, SAYING, ‘COME HITHER, AND I WILL SHOW
THEE THE BRIDE, THE LAMB’S WIFE.’ AND HE CARRIED ME AWAY IN
THE SPIRIT TO A GREAT AND HIGH MOUNTAIN, AND SHOWED ME THAT
GREAT CITY, THE HOLY JERUSALEM,” BY THE WAY, THIS IS ONLY THE
CAPITAL CITY OF HEAVEN, “THE HOLY JERUSALEM DESCENDING OUT OF
HEAVEN FROM GOD, HAVING THE GLORY OF GOD.” THE GLORY OF GOD.
“AND HER LIGHT WAS LIKE UNTO A STONE MOST PRECIOUS, EVEN LIKE A
JASPER STONE.” EXEGETES BELIEVE THIS IS A DIAMOND HE’S TALKING
ABOUT, “CLEAR AS CRYSTAL; AND HAD A WALL GREAT AND HIGH, AND
HAD TWELVE GATES, AND AT THE GATES TWELVE ANGELS, AND NAMES
WRITTEN THEREON, WHICH ARE THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE TRIBES OF
THE CHIDREN OF ISRAEL: AND ON THE EAST THREE GATES; AND ON THE
NORTH THREE GATES; AND ON THE SOUTH THREE GATES; AND ON THE
WEST THREE GATES. AND THE WALL OF THE CITY HAD TWELVE
FOUNDATIONS, AND IN THEM THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES OF
THE LAMB. AND HE TALKED WITH ME, AND HE THAT TALKED WITH ME HAD A
GOLDEN REED,” OR ROD, “TO MEASURE THE CITY, AND THE GATES
THEREOF, AND THE WALL THEREOF. AND THE CITY LIETH FOURSQUARE.”
IT’S JUST AS, THIS WAY, THIS WAY, AND THIS WAY, IT’S ALL THE
SAME. “AND THE LENGTH IS AS LARGE AS THE BREADTH: AND HE
MEASURED THE CITY WITH THE REED, TWELVE THOUSAND FURLONGS. THE
LENGTH AND THE BREADTH AND THE HEIGHT OF IT ARE EQUAL. AND HE
MEASURED THE WALL THEREOF, AN HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR CUBITS,
ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF A MAN, THAT IS, OF THE ANGEL. AND
THE BUILDING OF THE WALL WAS OF JASPER: AND THE CITY WAS PURE
GOLD, LIKE UNTO CLEAR GLASS. AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WALL OF
THE CITY WERE GARNISHED WITH ALL MANNER OF PRECIOUS STONES. THE
FIRST FOUNDATION WAS JASPER, THE SECOND, SAPPHIRE; THE THIRD, A
CHALCEDONY; THE FOURTH, AN EMERALD; THE FIFTH, SARDONYX;
THE SIXTH, SARDIUS; THE SEVENTH, A CHRYSOLITE; THE EIGHTH, BERYL;
THE NINTH, A TOPAZ; THE TENTH, A CHRYSOPRASUS,” HUH,
“CHRYSOPRASUS,” UMPH, “THE ELEVENTH, A JACINTH; THE TWELTH,
AN AMETHYST. AND THE TWELVE GATES WERE TWELVE PEARLS; EVERY
SEVERAL GATE WAS ONE PEARL: AND THE STREET OF THE CITY WAS PURE
GOLD, AS IT WERE TRANSPARENT GLASS.” NOW FOLKS, HUH, HUH,
WHAT GOD HAS DONE NOW HAS JUST GONE THROUGH THE LEXICONS OF THE
WORLD AND TAKEN, AH, THE THINGS THAT WE SAY ARE, AH,
INDESCRIBABLY BEAUTIFUL AND USED THEM AS A SYMBOL, I BELIEVE, AND
A PROPHECY OF THE GREATER GLORIES OF HEAVEN. NOW, I WANT
YOU TO THINK OF SOME THINGS WITH THE LETTER “S.” FIRST OF ALL,
THINK OF THE SOURCE OF THE CITY. IT COMES DOWN FROM GOD. YOU CAN
READ THAT, AH, IT DESCENDS FROM HEAVEN IN VERSES NINE AND 10.
THAT MEANS THAT IT’S ALREADY UP THERE. IT’S ALREADY A PLACE AND
THAT’S WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE RESURRECTED DEAD, UH, THAT WERE
RESURRECTED WITH JESUS, AH, AT, AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, THE
FIRSTFRUITS, THEY’RE ALREADY THERE. SO, IT IS A PLACE,
ALREADY THERE. AND NOW, IT COMES DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN. THIS IS THE
SOURCE OF THE PLACE. REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID IN JOHN 14, “I
GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU.” WELL, THAT PLACE IS PREPARED.
AND NOW THE SOURCE OF THE CITY IS THAT IT COMES DOWN FROM
HEAVEN. I WANT YOU TO NOTICE THE SIGHTS OF THE CITY. EH, IT
SHINES WITH THE VERY GLORY OF GOD. YOU DON’T NEED THE MOON.
YOU DON’T NEED THE SUN. THE GLORY OF GOD WILL LIGHTEN. AH,
IT HAS WALLS AND GATES. THEY ARE BREATHTAKING IN BEAUTY. AH, THE,
THE CITY, AH, HAS WALLS OF JASPER. THE CITY ITSELF IS A
CITY OF GOLD. CAN YOU IMAGINE, JUST IMAGINE THE BRILLIANCE, THE
GLOW OF THE GLORY OF GOD, THE COLORED JEWELS, THE, THE, THE
THE VERDANT GREENS, THE SKY BLUE, THE RED, THE GOLD, THE
VIOLET, AND OTHER COLORS. GOLD THAT IS SO PURE, IT IS, IT’S
TRANSLUCENT. SEE THE SHIMMERING WALLS OF THIS CITY. NOW WHAT ARE
THOSE WALLS THERE FOR? THE WALLS ARE NOT THERE TO KEEP US IN,
BECAUSE THE GATES ARE OPEN, HUH, HUH. THE WALLS ARE NOT THERE TO
KEEP THE WICKED OUT; THEY ARE IN HELL. THESE WALLS ARE THERE FOR
THE GLORY OF GOD. AND IN A VERY REAL SENSE THEY ARE MONUMENTAL
WALLS BECAUSE, AH, EH, ON THESE WALLS ARE THE NAMES OF THE
TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, AND THEN IN THE FOUNDATION, THE
TWELVE APOSTLES. AND THAT, IS, IS THAT NOT AN AMAZING THING IN,
IN VERSE 14 YOU, VERSES 12 AND 13 YOU SEE, AH, THE, AH, NAMES,
AH, WRITTEN THEREIN ARE THE NAMES OF THE TRIBES OF THE
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. AND THEN, IN, IN VERSE 14 YOU SEE, AH, THE
TWELVE APOSTLES. WHAT IS THIS? YOU KNOW THERE’S COMING A TIME
WHEN JEW AND GENTILE ARE GOING TO BE TOGETHER. THERE’S COMING A
TIME WHEN WE WILL BE ONE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST LIKE WE HAVE
NEVER BEEN BEFORE. AND WE WILL BE ONE IN JESUS IN SUCH A
WONDERFUL BUL, WAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD, AH, TO THAT. AH, THE,
UH, SIGHTS OF THE CITY. THINK OF THE SOUNDS OF THE CITY. HAH.
WELL, IF JEW AND GENTILE ARE TOGETHER, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO
BE SINGING? WHAT IS OUR SONG? WELL, I HAVE TO REVERSE BACK TO
REVELATION 15 VERSE THREE, “AND THEY SUNG THE S,” EH, “THEY SING
THE SONG OF MOSES, THE SERVANT OF GOD, AND THE SONG OF THE
LAMB.” NOW TODAY OUR JEWISH FRIENDS LOOK TO MOSES, AND WE
LOOK TO JESUS. HAH, UH, BUT WE’RE GOING TO BE SINGING IN
HEAVEN THE SONG OF MOSES AND THE LAMB, WHICH IS THE SONG OF
REDEMPTION. IT IS A WONDERFUL SONG. MUSIC IN HEAVEN’S GOING TO
BE GREAT. I HEARD DR. LEE, FORMER PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH,
ONE TIME SAY, BRO. WHITMIRE, AH, THAT, AH, “OUR BEST MUSIC HERE
ON EARTH WILL SOUND LIKE A BUMBLE BEE IN A BOTTLE, HAH,
HAH, COMPARED TO THE MUSIC THAT’S GOING TO BE THERE.” AND I
TELL BRO. WHITMIRE, HE’S PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW, BUT IN HEAVEN
HE’S GOING TO BE WAY DOWN COMPARED TO ME BECAUSE THE LAST
WILL BE FIRST UP THERE. AND I, HA, HA, HA, HUH, HUH, I’M GOING
TO BE, AH, LEADING ONE OF HEAVEN’S CHOIRS. OH FRIEND,
WON’T IT BE WONDERFUL TO PRAISE THE LORD? THESE ARE THE SOUNDS
OF HEAVEN. AH, AND THINK, NOT ONLY THE SOUNDS OF THE CITY BUT
THINK OF THE SIZE OF THE CITY. LOOK AGAIN IN VERSES 15 AND 16.
HE TALKS OF THIS, THIS CITY AND IT, IT’S, UH, FOURSQUARE. AND
THE BIBLE SAYS, UH, HE MEASURED THE CITY WITH A ROD AND IT’S
TWELVE THOUSAND FURLONGS. YOU KNOW HOW FAR THAT IS? THAT’S
FIFTEEN HUNDRED MILES. FIFTEEN HUNDRED MILES THIS WAY, FIFTEEN
HUNDRED MILES THAT WAY, AND FIFTEEN HUNDRED MILES STRAIGHT
UP! HAH! THIS CITY TOWERS UP, UP, UP, UP. IT IS THE CITY
FOURSQUARE. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN VERSES 22 AND 23. AND JOHN SAID,
“AND I SAW NO TEMPLE THEREIN: FOR THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY AND
THE LAMB ARE THE TEMPLE OF IT.” THAT’S THE SANCTUARY. “AND THE
CITY HAD NO NE, NEED OF THE SUN, NEITHER OF THE MOON, TO SHINE IN
IT: FOR THE GLORY OF GOD DID LIGHTEN IT, AND THE LAMB IS THE
LIGHT THEREOF.” YOU SEE, THAT OLD TESTAMENT TEMPLE WAS ONLY A
PICTURE, A PROPHECY, OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. IT HAD A GATE.
JESUS SAID, “I AM THE DOOR.” IT HAD AN ALTAR. JESUS SHED HIS
BLOOD FOR US. IT HAD A LAVER. WE’RE NOW CLEANSED BY HIS WORD.
IT HAD A TABLE OF BREAD ON IT. JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE. IT
HAD A GOLDEN CANDELABRA IN THAT OLD TEMPLE. JESUS SAID, “I AM
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.” INCENSE WAS BURNED BUT JESUS SAID, “I AM
YOUR HIGH PRIEST.” HE IS THE TEMPLE. HE’S THE ONE THAT ALL OF
THIS, AH, WAS TALKING ABOUT. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING
FRIEND, HAH, WHEN I COME IN FROM A TRIP, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I DO
WHEN I COME IN THE DOOR? I JUST RUN OVER AND HUG THE TELEVISION
AND KISS THE LAMP AND; [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] NO I DON’T DO THAT. I
HEAD FOR ONE GIRL; SHE’S THE ONE I WANT TO SEE. AND FRIEND, I, I,
I’M GRATEFUL FOR STREETS OF GOLD AND WALLS OF JASPER AND ALL OF
THAT. BUT IT’S JESUS THAT MAKES HEAVEN, HEAVEN. [AUDIENCE: AMEN]
IT’S JESUS THAT MAKES HEAVEN, HEAVEN. JESUS IS THE SANCTUARY
OF HEAVEN! ALL OF THESE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES, ALL OF
THESE THINGS, THEY’RE JUST PROPHECIES OF SOMETHING ALL THE
MORE GLORIOUS. AND SO, I’M TALKING, FRIEND, ABOUT THE
MAGNIFICENCE OF HEAVEN. IT IS A MAGNIFICENT PLACE. BUT LET’S
MOVE ON QUICKLY. AND I WANT YOU TO SEE THE GODLINESS OF HEAVEN,
THE GODLINESS OF HEAVEN. HEAVEN IS A MADE-NEW PLACE. AND IF
YOU’RE NOT MADE NEW, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO BE ANY PART OF IT. LOOK
IN VERSES 24 THROUGH 27, “AND THE NATIONS OF THEM WHICH ARE
SAVED, THEM WHICH ARE SAVED, SHALL WALK IN THE LIGHT OF IT:
AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH BRING THEIR GLORY AND HONOR INTO IT.
AND THE GATES OF IT SHALL NOT BE SHUT AT ALL BY DAY: AND THERE
SHALL BE NO NIGHT THERE. AND THEY SHALL BRING THE GLORY AND
HONOR OF THE NATIONS INTO IT. AND THERE SHALL IN NO WISE ENTER
INTO IT ANY THING THAT DEFILETH, NEITHER WHATSOEVER WORKETH
ABOMINATION, OR MAKETH A LIE: BUT THEY [TAP] THAT ARE [TAP]
WRITTEN IN THE [TAP] LAMB’S [TAP] BOOK OF [TAP] LIFE!” NOW
HEAVEN IS GOING TO BE A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLIED
MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF PEOPLE. SAY, “WHO’S GOING TO POPULATE
HEAVEN?” EVERY LITTLE ABORTED BABY WILL BE THERE FOR ONE
THING. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] AND THE SAINTS OF ALL OF THE AGES WILL
BE THERE. AND THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD ARE GOING TO BE THERE. BUT
NOBODY IS GOING TO BE THERE ABOVE THE AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY
WHO HAS NOT RECEIVED JESUS CHRIST AS HIS OR HER PERSONAL
SAVIOR AND LORD. YOU JUST WON’T BE THERE. THE OLD SONG SAYS,
“EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT HEAVEN AIN’T GOING THERE.” FRIEND,
HEAVEN IS A MADE-NEW PLACE. “IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST JESUS, HE
IS A NEW CREATION. OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY.” AND HEAVEN IS
A PREPARED PLACE FOR A PREPARED PEOPLE. A MAN DREAMED ONE TIME
THAT HE STOOD OUTSIDE THE GATES OF HEAVEN AND SAW PEOPLE TRYING
TO GET IN. AND ONE MAN KNOCKED AT THE GATE [KNOCK] AND THE
VOICE WITHIN SAID, “WHO IS IT THAT SEEKS ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN
AND WHAT IS THE PASSWORD?” AND THE MAN SAID, “I AM A
HUMANITARIAN.” AND HE SAID, “WHAT IS THE PASSWORD?” HE SAID,
“THE PASSWORD IS CHARITY.” THE VOICE WITHIN SAID, “DEPART FROM
ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY. I NEVER KNEW YOU.” ANOTHER MAN
KNOCKED, “WHO IS IT THAT SEEKS ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN? WHAT IS
THE PASSWORD?” HE SAID, “I AM A MORAL MAN.” “WHAT IS THE
PASSWORD INTO HEAVEN?” HE SAID, “IT IS HONESTY.” THE VOICE SAID,
“DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY. I NEVER KNEW YOU.”
ANOTHER KNOCK. “WHO IS IT THAT SEEKS ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN AND
WHAT IS THE PASSWORD?” HE SAID, “I AM A RELIGIOUS MAN.” “WHAT IS
THE PASSWORD INTO HEAVEN?” HE SAID, “RITUAL.” THE VOICE WITHIN
SAID, “DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY. I NEVER KNEW
YOU.” FINALLY ONE CAME AND KNOCKED AT THE GATE OF HEAVEN IN
THIS DREAM AND SAID, THE VOICE WITHIN SAID, “WHO IS IT THAT
SEEKS ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN AND WHAT IS THE PASSWORD?” AND THE
MAN SAID, “IN MY HAND NO PRICE I BRING. SIMPLY TO THY CROSS I
CLING.” AND THE VOICE WITHIN SAID, “OPEN WIDE THE GATE AND
LET HIM IN, FOR OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.” HAVE YOU
EVER COME TO THE CROSS? HAVE YOU EVER REPENTED OF YOUR SIN? HAVE
YOU EVER REALLY, I MEAN HONESTLY, TRUSTED JESUS? NOT
TRUSTING YOUR HUMANITARIANISM, NOT TRUSTING YOUR CHARITY, NOT
TRUSTING YOUR RELIGION, NOT TRUSTING YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN THIS
CHURCH, BUT TRUSTING IN THE SHED BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
THE LAST THING I WANT YOU TO SEE IS THE GLADNESS OF HEAVEN, THE
GLADNESS OF HEAVEN. HEAVEN IS A MEANINGFUL PLACE. NOW LOOK IN
REVELATION CHAPTER 22 VERSES ONE THROUGH FIVE, “AND HE SHOWED ME
A PURE RIVER OF THE 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,
THERE WERE 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 THERE SHALL BE
NO MORE CURSE: BUT THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB SHALL BE IN
IT; AND HIS SERVANTS SHALL SERVE HIM: AND THEY SHALL SEE HIS
FACE; AND HIS NAME SHALL BE IN THEIR FOREHEADS. AND THERE SHALL
BE NO NIGHT THERE; AND NO NEED, 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.” NOW, HOLY ANGEL, COULD YOU JUST
TAKE US FOR A WALK DOWN THE MAIN STREET OF HEAVEN? AH, WE JUST
WANT TO GO DOWN THERE. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SEE WHEN WE GO DOWN
THE MAIN STREET OF HEAVEN? WE’RE GOING TO SEE SOME GLAD PEOPLE.
THEY’RE PEOPLE OF DEEP SATISFACTION BECAUSE THEY’RE
DRINKING FROM THE CRYSTAL RIVER. AND WHAT DOES THIS RIVER
SYMBOLIZE? THAT OUR DEEPEST NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE MET. LOOK
IN VERSE 22 VERSE 17, “AND THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY,
‘COME.’ AND LET HIM THAT HEARETH SAY, ‘COME.’ AND LET HIM THAT IS
ATHIRST COME. AND WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM TAKE OF THE WATER
OF LIFE FREELY.” EVERY THIRST THAT YOU HAVE THAT IS GOD-GIVEN
WILL BE SATISFIED IN HEAVEN. BUT NOT ONLY A PLACE OF
SATISFACTION, IT’S A PLACE OF SUFFICIENCY. THERE’RE TREES
THERE AND THE FRUIT OF THESE TREES ARE, ARE, THERE, EACH
FRUIT RIPENING, AH, ONE FRUIT THIS MONTH, ANOTHER ANOTHER
MONTH, ANOTHER ANOTHER MONTH. HUH, HUH, HUH. YOU EVER HEARD OF
THE FRUIT OF THE MONTH CLUB? HUH. FRIEND, WHEN YOU GET THERE,
AH, HERE, HERE ARE THESE TREES. NOW WHAT IS THIS? IT’S JUST A
SYMBOL THAT GOD IS TALKING, NOT ONLY OF SATISFACTION, BUT
SUFFICIENCY. THE BIBLE SAYS, “FOR THE HEALING OF THE
NATIONS.” “PASTOR, IS THERE GOING TO BE SICKNESS IN HEAVEN?”
NO. BUT THIS WORD HERE ACTUALLY IS THE WORD WE GET OUR WORD
“THERAPEUTIC” FROM. GOD IS GOING, THE GLOW OF HEALTH WILL
BE UPON EVERYONE THERE IN HEAVEN. AND IT’S A PLACE ALSO
NOT OF, AH, ONLY SATISFACTION AND SUFFICIENCY, BUT OF SERVICE.
LOOK IN VERSE THREE. AND, AH, THE BIBLE SAYS THERE, “AND THERE
SHALL BE NO MORE CURSE: BUT THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB
SHALL BE IN IT; AND HIS SERVANTS SHALL SERVE HIM.” NOW LET ME
TELL YOU SOMETHING, AND I’M RUNNING OUT OF TIME SO LISTEN
VERY CAREFULLY. HEAVEN IS NOT A GREAT BIG RETIREMENT HOME. DON’T
GET THE IDEA NOW WHEN YOU GO TO HEAVEN YOU’RE GONNA SIT ON A
FLUFFY CLOUD, ROLL AROUND THE CLOUDS, WEARING A WOOLLY ROBE
AND A RUSTY HALO AND PLUCKING A HARP. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] YOU’RE
GOING TO SERVE GOD LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER SERVED HIM! AND WHO KNOWS
WHAT GOD HAS FOR US TO DO WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN? “HIS SERVANTS
SHALL SERVE HIM.” AND THEN, AND I MUST STOP, AH, IT’S A PLACE OF
INCREDIBLE SIGHT. NOTICE IN 22 VERSE FOUR, “AND THEY SHALL SEE
HIS FACE.” JIM, I’LL NEVER FORGET THE DAY DOWN IN MERRITT
ISLAND YEARS AGO WHEN THE CHOIR SANG “IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL
WHEN WE SEE JESUS.” I SAID, “YEAH. [TAP] IT [TAP] SURELY
[TAP] WILL.” “THEY SHALL SEE HIS FACE.” JESUS SAID, “FATHER, I
PRAY FOR THOSE THAT YOU’VE GIVEN ME THAT THEY MAY BE WITH ME
WHERE I AM, THAT THEY MAY BEHOLD MY GLORY.” “DEAR ADRIAN ROGERS,
I HOPE YOU’RE DOING VERY WELL. I JUST WANTED TO WRITE YOU A FEW
LINES FOR THE FIRST TIME TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I ENJOY YOUR
SERMONS. YOU’RE THE BEST TEACHER AND PREACHER I BELIEVE THAT I
HAVE HEARD.” WELL, I DON’T AGREE WITH HIM, BUT I LIKE TO HEAR
THAT, HAH. “YOUR PRESENTATIONS ARE SO PLAIN AND EASY TO
UNDERSTAND. I ACCEPTED CHRIST AS MY SAVIOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.
SINCE THEN I HAVE READ THE ENTIRE BIBLE THREE TIMES, TAKEN
EIGHT BIBLE STUDY COURSES, MOSTLY THROUGH MAIL. I’VE BEEN,
I’VE BEEN, NOT BEEN WATCHING YOUR PROGRAM VERY LONG, BUT EVER
SINCE I FIRST LISTENED TO YOU ON SUNDAY A.M., EVERY SUNDAY
MORNING I SIT WAITING FOR YOUR PROGRAM WITH MY BIBLE AND PEN
AND PAPER.” NOW LISTEN TO THIS. “YOU SEE, I CAN’T DO MUCH
ANYMORE. GOD IS MY STRENGTH AND SALVATION EVERY DAY. PRAISE THE
LORD. I AM AN INMATE IN THE ARKANSAS STATE PEN ON DEATH ROW.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY WHEN CHRIST COMES
TO TAKE HIS SAINTS UP INTO HEAVEN. I GOT MY DAD LISTENING
TO YOUR SHOWS ALSO. HE EVEN RECORDS THEM. I JUST WANTED TO
GIVE MY THANKS TO YOU FOR ALL YOUR WONDERFUL PREACHING. WITH
ALL MY HEART I SAY THANK YOU.” I WROTE HIM BACK AND I SAID,
“FRIEND, YOU’RE NOT ON DEATH ROW. YOU’RE ON LIFE ROW, BECAUSE
JESUS SAID, ‘HE THAT LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME WILL NEVER DIE.’”
AREN’T YOU GLAD FOR OUR GOSPEL? [AUDIENCE: AMEN] AREN’T YOU GLAD
FOR A GOSPEL THAT COULD TAKE A POOR LOST SINNER, DESERVING HELL
AND HELL-BOUND, AND SAVE HIM BY HIS GLORIOUS GRACE AND TAKE HIM
TO HEAVEN? WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR THIS MAN ON DEATH ROW, GOD’LL DO
FOR YOU. YOU MAY STEP OUT OF A BIG OFFICE INTO HELL WHILE HE
STEPS OUT OF DEATH ROW INTO HEAVEN. BOW YOUR HEADS IN
PRAYER. IF YOU’RE NOT CERTAIN THAT YOU’RE SAVED, WOULD YOU
PRAY A PRAYER LIKE THIS? “OH GOD, I NEED YOU. I WANT TO BE
SAVED. I WANT HEAVEN IN MY HEART NOW, AND I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN
WHEN I DIE. THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR DYING FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SHED BLOOD ON THE CROSS. THANK YOU THAT YOU PAID MY SIN
DEBT WITH YOUR BLOOD. THANK YOU, JESUS. NOW BY FAITH I RECEIVE
WHAT YOU’VE DONE FOR ME. COME INTO MY HEART. COME INTO MY
LIFE. FORGIVE MY SIN. CLEANSE ME. SAVE ME, JESUS.” PRAY THAT
FROM YOUR HEART. “SAVE ME, JESUS.” DID YOU ASK HIM? THEN
THANK HIM BY FAITH. DON’T LOOK FOR A FEELING; DON’T ASK FOR A
SIGN. JUST SAY, “THANK YOU FOR DOING IT. THANK YOU, JESUS.
THANK YOU, JESUS. THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME. AND NOW LORD JESUS,
MAKE ME BOLD. HELP ME NOT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOU. GIVE ME THE
STRENGTH TO MAKE IT PUBLIC. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN.” [MUSIC]
FRIEND, AREN’T YOU GRATEFUL THAT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU
ARE OR WHAT YOU ARE THAT GOD HAS A WAY, A PLAN FOR YOU? OH, HIS
MERCIES ARE NEW EVERY MORNING AND HIS GRACE EXTENDS TO ALL
PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND. THAT’S THE REASON
THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN GOD SPEAKING TO YOU, TELLING YOU
THAT HE LOVES YOU AND HE WANTS TO SAVE YOU AND HE WILL SAVE YOU
IF YOU’LL TRUST HIM. RIGHT NOW, WILL YOU DO IT? WILL YOU PRAY,
“LORD JESUS, I NEED YOU, I WANT YOU. YOU DIED FOR MY SINS, YOU
SHED YOUR BLOOD FOR ME, YOU WERE RAISED FROM THE DEAD, YOU’RE
ABLE TO SAVE ME AND YOU WILL SAVE ME IF I TRUST YOU AND I DO
TRUST YOU JESUS. COME INTO MY LIFE, RIGHT NOW, AND BEGIN NOW
TO MAKE ME THE PERSON YOU WANT ME TO BE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
JESUS FOR SAVING ME. PRAY IT AND MEAN IT. AND THEN WRITE TO US
AND LET US KNOW. WE’LL REJOICE WITH YOU AND WE’LL SEND YOU SOME
LITERATURE TO HELP YOU TO GET STARTED IN YOU CHRISTIAN LIFE.
[MUSIC] WE HOPE THAT TODAY’S PROGRAM HAS BEEN AN
ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU. YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE AGAIN,
LISTEN TO OTHER MESSAGES IN THIS SERIES OR DOWNLOAD THIS MESSAGE
AS WELL AS PASTOR ROGERS OUTLINE, NOTES OR A TRANSCRIPT
OF THIS MESSAGE ALL AT LWF.ORG. YOU CAN ALSO ORDER THIS ENTIRE
SERIES, “THE TRIUMPH OF THE LAMB,” FROM OUR ONLINE STORE.
AND, IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR SOME INSPIRATION OR ENCOURAGEMENT TO
GET YOU THROUGH THE WEEK, BE SURE AND FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
MEDIA @LWFMINISTRIES. JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE CONTINUE OUR
SERIES FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION, “THE TRIUMPH OF THE
LAMB.” AND DON’T FORGET, YOU CAN CATCH UP WITH OUR PROGRAM EACH
WEEK AT LWF.ORG AND ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL. THANKS FOR WATCHING, WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. [MUSIC]
[MUSIC] HI, I’M CARY VAUGHN, CEO OF LOVE WORTH FINDING
MINISTRIES. IN MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF MINISTRY, ADRIAN ROGERS
HAD THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PASTOR THROUGH NUMEROUS CRISIS
SITUATIONS. TODAY, IT’S OUR PRIVILEGE TO BRING HIS TRUSTED
VOICE TO THE CRISIS WE’RE FACING NOW, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO ARE
THE MOST VULNERABLE. BECAUSE WE ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH GENEROUS
GIVING FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU, WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE
BROADCASTING BIBLICAL MESSAGES TO STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH, AND
THE FAITH OF OTHERS. PLUS, WE OFFER HUNDREDS OF FREE RESOURCES
AT LWF.ORG, INCLUDING SPECIALLY SELECTED MESSAGES OF HOPE AND
ENCOURAGEMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH
LOVE WORTH FINDING. IF THIS MINISTRY IS VALUABLE TO YOU, WE
WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. CALL OR WRITE US TODAY. 19
