When Heaven Comes Down

Revelation 21:1-7, 22-27; 22:1-5
Related Sunday School Lesson, Family Bible Series, Aug. 28

Christians love to sing about heaven. A quick browse of a Baptist Hymnal yields dozens of songs about Glory, Canaan Land, Beulah Land, "the beautiful shore," and Home. We sing about heaven, but what do we really know about the "land that is fairer than day?" What will we experience "when the roll is called up yonder?"

Some picture heaven as a lush golf course where every drive finds the fairway and every putt rolls in. Others see it as eternal wandering through beautiful rivers and majestic scenery. Still others picture it as floating on a cloud and playing a harp.

Opinions about heaven abound, but there is only one source from which we can ascertain the truth about heaven: the Bible. In the book of Revelation, Jesus pulled back the curtain of time and allowed the Apostle John to catch a glimpse of heaven. His God-inspired observations of heaven fill us with joyful anticipation and evaporate our fears of what lies across "Jordan's stormy banks."

Newness and nearness, Revelation 21:1-7

This glorious passage reveals two things that will make eternity supremely special for believers: the newness of heaven and the nearness of God. King Jesus said from His throne, "Look! I am making everything new" (v.5). John observed a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem. "New" translates the Greek word kainos, which speaks of something that is newly made and never before used. Those who have attended the initial worship service in a new church sanctuary know something of this meaning - everything is brilliant and beautiful, bigger and better, unscarred and unmarred. Heaven will be gloriously new in that sense.

John compared this newness to the beauty of "a bride adorned for her husband." The word "adorned" (Greek kosmeo) means to be carefully ordered and arranged in a beautiful fashion. Those who attend weddings know that nothing compares to the beauty of a bride. Her white gown is clean and bright. Not a hair - not even an eyelash - is out of place. She has carefully adorned herself for her husband.

In the words of a popular wedding song, "How beautiful the radiant bride who waits for her groom with his light in her eyes!" Heaven will be like that new bride, carefully ordered and arranged in beauty. Surely it will be the most beautiful place our eyes will ever behold.

More distinctive than even the beautiful newness of heaven will be our nearness to God there. Verse 3 says that in heaven, God Himself will live with us, as in a tent or tabernacle. The nearness of this close communion will surpass any closeness to God that we have ever felt in a time of worship or prayer. In the very presence of God neither sin nor its effects will have any place. That is why "grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer." Our grieving and weeping and hurting on this earth are brought about by sin, but in heaven there will be no sin to cause these things.

We can rejoice in the fact that death, which is the final wages of sin (Romans 6:23), will not exist in heaven. John observed, "the sea existed no longer" in heaven (v.1).

This is significant, for John was exiled on the Isle of Patmos, completely surrounded by the Aegean Sea. The sea separated John from his loved ones and the fellowship of his church family.

In heaven, there will be no sea of separation from other believers - no "good-byes" there! We will all live together as "His people" (v.3) in His presence.

The best things not in heaven, Revelation 21:22-27

Earlier in this chapter John detailed the things he saw in heaven, but in this passage he lists what he did not see - things that are conspicuously absent. First, there is no sanctuary or temple in which to meet with God for worship (v.22). We will live in the sanctuary of God's presence unceasingly. In heaven, worship will not be our experience, but our existence.

John noted that there is no sun or moon in heaven (v.23). The light-source in heaven will be the illuminating presence of God. Consequently, there will be no night in heaven (v.25). While this certainly means that God's light will never fade into darkness, it also indicates that there will be no passing of time as we currently know it.

Apparently the earth will no longer orbit a sun or spin on its axis (our measurements of time). We will exist as God does, not constrained by time, never aging, never hurried, never delayed. In heaven there will be no sinners sinning (v.27). "Only those written in the Lamb's book of life" will be there, walking in light and glory.

A throne, a river, and a tree, Revelation 22:1-5

John highlights three important heavenly features that will be ours to enjoy throughout eternity: a throne, a river, and a tree.

First, "the throne of God and the Lamb" will be the centerpiece of heaven. From that throne, the symbol of God's absolute rule and authority, will flow a beautiful river "sparkling like crystal." This river symbolizes the eternally abundant life that the citizens of heaven have received from Jesus. Finally, John mentions the "tree of life."

In Eden, man was not allowed to eat of this tree, also a symbol of eternal life. But in heaven we will have free access to its healing fruit, serving God and reigning with Him in the energy of His eternal life force. Believers can rejoice in knowing that heavenly life will never end, but will go on "forever and ever."