When Heaven Comes to Earth: Trying to Fathom the Glory of Heaven

Today's episode of a new beginning is brought to you by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Learn more@harness.org and while you're there, browse our library of free e-books designed to help you grow in your faith. There is a new world coming out with the old will will eternity me a lot today on a new beginning. Lori gives believers what to expect separation hordes of horses break down break up heart attacks are no disasters baseball things were confined to the stark realities of life on earth. Life here here with life Greg Laurie pointed out, however, has a role in our eternity. Greg explain what happens when the fullness of God plan lightning series almost things no essential was like you maybe even used it. Maybe after a fantastic meal lore, amazing sunset or arriving at Disneyland. Probably not, that's probably more for the kids right.

I think the happiest time for a kid at Disneyland is when they arrived in the happiest time for an adult it is the lead is when you leave MRI. Let's go let's go now but we use that expression to describe sort of the best of something.

Pinnacle of a great moments and we wish that time we were having. It was that ultimate vacation or that fantastic experience could last forever, but of course they don't.

But one day there literally is going to be heaven on earth because there was a new world coming not just up in heaven but when heaven comes to earth know we tend to think of heaven as some faraway place in earth as a place that were on now and we will leave, never to see again. But here's the good news.

Working to come back to this earth again. God still has a plan for planet Earth so there will be heaven on earth one day. By the way, this is not a sequel to remake sometimes will make a great movie and it's very popular until the dual ghetto sequel and it was very successful Bill Dupree call strike member.

There was Star Wars and then there was the Empire strikes back in became very popular then later, Lucas came back and did the prequel to the Star Wars films which I didn't like at all, but you know and then of a movie is really popular. It'll be re-releasing me to go back and digitally restored and put it on Blu-ray or whatever and so you can see it in its original condition, but I want you to understand that this is not merely a restoration. This is a full remake. Yet there is a connection to the old so let's try to figure this out. Look at Revelation 21 reading verses 1 to 6 now I saw a new heaven and a new work for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea that I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying will be no more pain for the former things are passed away. He was out on the throne said, behold I make all things new.

And he said to be ripe for these words are true and faithful, and he said to me, it is done on the Alpha and the Omega, I am the beginning and the end and I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to he who thirsts. There are verse five.

Again, behold I make all things new and the new world that is coming. It's out with the old and in with the new be no more terminal diseases, nor hospitals, no more wheelchairs no more funerals, no suffering, no separations, no accidents, no cords or prisons or divorces or breakdowns or break us. No suicide, no rape, no missing children, no drug problems no more heart attacks, no strokes, no Alzheimer's, no cancer, no more famines, no disasters, God makes all things.

We all like to get new versions of something. I mean all the fan boys out there who love Apple products will stand in line to get the latest. Whatever it is that Apple is offering were excited about the newest version we always want to have the latest thing, or it can even be the new season of your favorite TV show, always coming on I can hardly wait to see it even that new car about the new car smell, but you love that is of the friend the other day that brand-new car took me out for a spin this car just had the new car smell so I left a burrito and it. I haven't told me that he's going to know this very soon, so I didn't do that with you be interested.

That's why advertisers will often say new and improved on a product.

Now the only thing that may be new and improved is actually the packaging or the color or maybe they added one ingredient so they could technically say new and improved what they do that because they know were drawn to the newest version we love new listen. God loves new to but in God's cases is not false advertising. This is the real thing. What started in Genesis is brought to completion.

In the book of Revelation.

Everything is coming full circle. CS Lewis said and I quote every taste of the Shadowlands was, but the stab the pain. The inconsolable longing for this place." Lewis would prefer to life on earth as the Shadowlands so we think everything is been building to this moment. Chuck from doll wrote it outstanding commentary in the book of Revelation. Any noted of the following 10 things missing from the new heaven and the new earth number one, there's no more, see Revelation 21 one. That's because chaos and calamity will be eradicated. There's no more tears because now we have perspective.

Revelation 21 four. There's no more death. Because mortality will be swallowed up by life are verse four of Revelation 21.

No more morning because sorrow will be completely comforted verse four of 21.

No more pain because all human suffering will be cured.

Verse four no more thirst because God will quench and satisfy all desires.

Revelation 21 six. No more wicked. This because all people will be eradicated.

Revelation 21, eight and 27 no more. Not because God's glory will give eternal life that's in Revelation 21. No more closed gates because God's doors will always be open. Revelation 2125 and finally no more curse, because Christ blood has lifted that curse, because Jesus is making all things new.

Listen to this. This is already as far as God's concern, I completely done deal.

They might be same Greg note is not done deal.

Do you live in the same world that I live in with all the chaos right now. Yes I do but understand God lives in the eternal realm and so in verse six he says it is done it is done even though it isn't done in our life. Yet in reality, yet as far as God is concerned it's done because the term that is used here speaks of finality literally. They have become past tense, meaning that God is speaking of the future as if it were already in the past. That's because God living in the eternal realm will tell us what's going to happen and if he tells us this is going to happen. It's only got is going on a limb because he can see with absolute clarity and he is simply describing reality to us. Sony says it will happen, it will happen to Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message just a moment, emails, letters and phone calls let us know that you're gaining benefit from Pastor Greg's teaching its valuable feedback, and why. Now every single get back in my life.

I can't wait to listen to you program every morning at 635 get to bed at 10 o'clock or 12 o'clock I'm always something better to just energize me when I hear the message renewable everyday.

God bless you. So Greeks Pastor Greg's messages touching life's story to tell of how the studies when I call us and give us all the details. Here's the number 1866-871-1144 1-866-871-1144 today. Pastor Greg is bringing insights on the end times. We are learning of the new heaven and earth is a part of God's plan for eternity and to hear any part of the message, you may miss go online to harvest.org now in this series we been looking at last days events and I think sometimes people can't see the forest for the trees. When you talk about eschatology or the end times week we get confused like wonders around front happen when there's a second coming happen.

What is the millennium. So let me just do a quick flyover and bring us to where we are at this particular moment, as far as I'm concerned. The next event on the prophetic calendar will most likely be the rapture of the church.

Okay that's over caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

Then I think really on the heels of the rapture. We have antichrist. We've already talked about that coming world leader also called the beast emerging on the scene that effectively inaugurates a seven-year period that is called the great tribulation that interestingly does not begin with war, but it begins with peace because antichrist uses peace as a ruse to deceive people. The Bible says the piece he will deceive many in the tribulation period will have the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple that needs to be desecrated so the third Temple will be rebuilt and that will be called the abomination of desolation. We have wars breaking out a culminating in Armageddon and then there's a second coming of Jesus Christ of that sort of the big prophetic picture. So here's how it works for us.

What a believer dies they go straight to heaven because the Bible says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Paul talked about how he had a desire to depart and be with Christ, which was far better but we haven't received our new body yet see your body goes in the ground when you die, but your soul goes into God's presence.

But then in the bodily resurrection which happens at the time of the rapture. That's when those who have died will receive their new bodies. They been in heaven, but the receive their new glorified bodies at the point in those who are alive on a diet. All they could to skip death which is very cool and go straight to heaven I will we be that generation. I don't know. I hope so we could be but will see. But one way or another. Here's the good news getting to heaven okay if you put your faith in Christ. That's all that really matters when it said and done nowhere and have K the tribulation is happening on planet sometime after the rapture and before the second coming in the heaven we as Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. This is not the great white throne judgment.

That's the big one for nonbelievers that happens later. This is the judgment seat of Christ will be freaked out by that because this is the judgment as to whether or not you get into heaven. Fact is your in heaven for the judgment.

Think of it as an awards ceremony right and that's when rewards will be given out for faithful service to the Lord in the Bible talks about the crown of life that will be given the crown of righteousness and and other rewards and so then we can have the wedding supper of the Lamb.

Somewhere in that time and then will be with Jesus when he returns to the earth okay so here we are about to enter for a moment, the tribulation period is raging. The battle of Armageddon is in full force and here comes Christ returning to work. This is different than the rapture and the rapture we go up in the second coming.

We come down. What goes up must come down in the rapture. He comes for his church and the second coming. He returned with his church at the rapture were caught up. It's like a thief in the night and the second coming. Every eye will see him, Jesus says, as the lightning shines from the east to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. And then shoot talked about the Lord coming with 10,000s of his saints, and Paul tells us who those saints are in Colossians, he says, when Christ was alive, shall appear, we shall also appear with him in glory so were coming back with the Lord. So that's good news is in it right so if you've ever been able to take a tour with us to the holy land to get that holy land to your not coming back in the bus so you coming back with the Lord himself right now, here's where it breaks down for some people. Christ comes back to the earth and establishes what we call the millennium. How long is the millennium. It's a thousand years. That's what the word millennium means that's what we get the word millennium, the thousand year reign of Christ. But this isn't the end during the millennium, Satan is bound by a chain. So then, here is this time were Christ is ruling over the earth and this is going to be an amazing time because the Bible tells us this is when the Lamb will be with the lion and the little child will lead them and don't be peace on earth, and the righteousness of the Lord will fill the planet and then after this, the Satan is released from his trip for a short time in our brief rebellion takes place. This is mind-boggling to me because he wanted to be the only ones around on the millennium were in her glorified body of this time were ruling over there so we ruling over descendents of the descendents of the descendents of the descendents of the tribulation.

People will be mere mortals that will survive the tribulation.

And we will rule over them.

Okay, I know work temptation proof at this point were in this brand-new glorified body, but these folks are still in a sinful body and amazingly, despite the fact that Christ is ruling righteously and perfectly in the millennial reign.

Some people are going to follow Satan for his little brief fling of rebellion that he is completely judged and removed from the scene and it is around the time that the great white throne judgment takes place and that is for nonbelievers now at some point the old earth is destroyed in Isaiah, God says I'll create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered or come to my the first heaven and the first earth had passed away verse one says elaborating on this computer pretenses the deal. The Lord will come as a thief in the night. Heaven shall pass away with a great noise, the elements will be disintegrated within 10 see the earth and all of its works will be burned up.

According to the promise.

We look for these new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

So now here comes the culmination of all things. The grand finale as the French would say that PSK resist sponsors that are that's all right. It means that I don't know what it means. It's the big event. Now the big moment now heaven and earth have in this sense, merged to become one in the last parking of time was given to us in Revelation 20.

So know the millennium is over and we enter into an eternal timelessness since hard to wrap her mind around this and it never going to vacation in you. He's got no place where your so relaxed you don't even know what day it is.

I don't know about you but when I go on vacation.

It takes me seven days to reach chill factor seven days where I actually can just stop thinking about all the things I need to do and what's weird is, even when you don't have your cell phone with you. Have you forgotten the text without a cell phone that's when you know you have a cell phone on you too much right you, the hope of the cell phone that's weird. Well, it takes a while to relax and then you just you know you're kind of enjoying the time not just multiply this thousands and thousands of times and you get a sense of this timelessness in the presence of the Lord now, the Bible does tell us there's no more ocean. I know this is a big letdown for all the surfers out there but here's what I know about God. If God takes away something he always gives you something better in this place right so maybe there's no ocean which separates mankind from one another, God's removing the barriers that separate us to bring us all together, but something far better than that. For starters, that we won't have to deal with cold water. I don't know about you but I like to surf like I just talking to someone about the field today. So if you like. I'm always learning to serve in surfing for like 3540 years.

I don't know and I every time I get the water.

It's like I'm just learning because I never surf. I only go when conditions are perfect and the waters one which is really rarely, so I'm always just how you kitchen we begin like what is this you know and I like warm water. I don't like cold water. There is diehard surfers out the God no matter what the conditions you know those guys to get out there in the Don patrol and they get a catsup first way is one that start out silt. That's not me.

So I'm thinking what God's gift to give us in this place. First of all it's warm it's not coal others. No great whites to worry about. That's good news, isn't it. And if there are great whites will be Christian. I'm sure you heard about a Christian I was out surfing and and they saw a great white coming out of Lisa.

God help me God deliver me and it was great whites come in fast and and he didn't know what else to pray and so he just said, I just pray he's a Christian shark make him a Christian chart. Just at that point is that shark is closing in the short says Lord for this meal that I'm about to receive. I give you is a great guy when I heard that with the bear yet. I just change it to a chart.

This is not a true story. At present, two thirds of the earth's surface is covered with water.

The remaining one third includes a large area rendered worthless due to mountains and deserts. Therefore, only a small percentage of the earth's surface is inhabitable.

So God is eliminating these barriers. We all come together and then were with all those great men and women of God that have gone before us and we just imagine it. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah girl Sarah Ruth married David Noah, Jonah, Peter, James and John there there there to the great people from history like William Wilberforce, Abraham Lincoln, CH Spurgeon DL Moody CS Lewis and best of all your loved ones that have gone before you there thereto and you'll all be together for all eternity. But best of all, of course, is the Lord is there. And this is what Jesus was talking about when he said in Matthew five Blessed are the pure in heart, they will see God today on beginning a glimpse into the future with pastor Greg Laurie from his message called when heaven comes to earth it's part of his series essentials collection of truths. Every believer should know now if you missed any part of today's insight.

Let us help you catch up. You can listen again online@harvest.org just look for the title. When heaven comes to earth yesterday were so pleased to have Sally Lloyd Jones on the program with us today. She such a gifted children's author yes and were making available. Her new book called near pastor what you hope the take away truth is for the little one. Another words, and they read this. What are you hoping they walk away with my prayer is that they they never feel that that and then that they always know they have someone who loves them right that they can talk to and he just happens to be the one who made the entire universe and that he knows that that name is the color of their eyes that he can as for the littlest ones even that he's in a great majestic goat and yet he canceled it once, could you just read a little bit of it for our listeners. I'd be happy to okay near the paraphrase of Psalm 139 and of course I have to say I many can you be telling you half the story.

Because this is a picture book and it's a story told in two languages so like I say to children you have to use your imagination because as incredible illustrations but you can't see them safe. But to make them up in your head so man God is my father who made everything and I and a little explorer as the wind well. He is named me and he protects me. He sees me and he knows me is strong and he looks off to me he is with me only, however far I can. He's always naming I can climb the mountain.

I could fly start I can dive into the DPC. I could sail far away to the north, God would still be a contractor jungles right through dozens CMS constant light God still even in the dog at night.

He is still with me that he stays close to me and he went in evening because I am his initial child and he loves me while Sally Lloyd Jones reading from her new book called near the great thing about reassurance that would bring to your child or grandchild or what a great gift for new parent would like to send this new book, along with the second resource from Sally babies carry along Bible. It's a sturdy little board book for small children with 10 of their favorite stories told in rhyme and it even has its own little carrying handle bill right in. Listen. Both of these resources to you to say thank you for your donation right now and investment in keeping pastor Greg's teaching coming your way. Each day to write a set a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 � 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org next time pastor Greg digs into God's master plan. Restoration of planet Earth will see how it will be restored to the way he originally were more next time you're beginning. Everybody thinks you're listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org and find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God