When Heaven Comes to Earth: The World at Its Finest

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Visit our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org Larissa George is going to leave you alone. The road will be whatever it might be robot showroom for someone to restore it to the restoration as well. Pastor Greg Laurie points out one of the Lord's finest restoration project is restoring flatter and time is going to restore this planet.

One day, heaven and earth will become one of my wonder why God created the earth. Actually the problem wasn't with his creation problem lies with occupying but soon the Lord will really have the rubber and restore it to its former glory today on a new beginning for Greg Laurie points out will actually come to earth and times plan bedrock truths include in our current series called essential think of heaven are awake and earth is a place that were on now and we will leave, never to see again many years ago my wife Kathy was driving with our youngest son Jonathan I think is probably around maybe four or five years old at that point she was talking about the afterlife and how wonderful heaven was going to be and how we were going to be with the Lord and Jonathan got very quiet and then Kathy said to Jonathan Jonathan. It is everything okay what you think about what I'm saying and he said mom I don't want to leave this beautiful earth that God made so all the talk of the afterlife frightened him a little bit. But here's the good news. Working to come back to this earth again. God still has a plan for planet Earth sometimes will see as Christians just die and go to heaven or be ruptured into heaven, I will be there with the Lord forever. Actually, that's not theologically correct.

One day, if we are going to heaven. But one day God's going to restore this planet we read the next 321 that things must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. You see, God is in the restoration. I love restored stuff. Don't you hello when a car is been restored to its original state, maybe a 57 Chevy Cruz known the road and old Woody, whatever it might be in these two men. Nothing looks like it just drove off the showroom floor. That's because someone took the time to restore it. God's in the restoration as well. He's gonna restore this planet. He's gonna restore our bodies in one day. Heaven and earth will become one according to Ephesians 110 God's perfect plan is to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ, by the way, this will be the fulfillment of the part of the Lord's prayer will we say to the father by kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, Randy Alcorn, in his excellent book on heaven says this and I quote, we won't go to heaven to leave her behind. Rather, God will bring heaven and earth together into this same dimension with no wall of separation. No armed Angels to guard heaven's perfection from sinful mankind.

Jesus will make earth and they heaven and heaven and earth just as the wall that separates God to mankind is torn down in Jesus. So to the wall that separates heaven and earth will forever be demolished."

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 than 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 of the throne said, behold I make all things new. And he said to me right 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 so God himself no breaks the silence with something he wants everyone to hear.

Look at verse three. I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be there God's is really important because throughout history in a sense God is surrounded himself from him, he did select certain people in the Old Testament to know him in a special way. People like Moses.

The Bible says God spoke to Moses face-to-face as a man speaks to a friend, but in the Old Testament generally God was to be approached first, in the tabernacle, that the tenant later in the temple through a high priest that would bring a sacrifice on behalf of of the people, but now everything is changed because Christ himself has established his new covenant for us with the father and now it's fully realized. I want you to notice that God the father himself joins his son to dwell with his people. At this point that the tabernacle of God is with men. He will dwell with them.

God himself will be with them and be there God think about this. We all have questions we want to ask God will save one day when I get the this is the day you're in heaven, and heaven is come to earth Vanessa Lord some ago Alaska various is time for you or how Adam would take walks with God every day before he sent the Bible says that the Lord God would come walking in the garden in the cool of the day, so Adam could see he Lord I really discovered some cool stuff today and parts as well. This I know all about it. Ask me anything you want Ottoman what a great time. That was Adam look forward to this walk with the Lord now here we are, as heaven comes to earth and even like statement even better.

We have open access to God day and night no matter when no appointment required not now think about this remote if you could live at any time. Historically, what time would you live I would you live in the first century the second century, would you live in the 20th century. Would you live in the 50s and 60s and 70s, I read a poll among Americans, and they were asked what error they wish they could live in and the number one time was the 50s and I lived in the 50s.

I was very young I don't remember much but I'm of the 60s a little bit better. They say if you remember the 60s, you weren't there, but that's those are people use too many drugs actually do remember the 60s and then the onward to today, but if I could live at any time. Historically, I would pick the first century, not because of how sophisticated it was or anything like that but just because I would like to been there when Jesus walked this and I would like to have seen Jesus with my own eyes I would like to have of course been one of his disciples, or even just one of the multitude, and be able to hear his words of my ears will that they will come for me that day will come for you in this new earth we have a new city. Look at verse two. I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, prepared as a bride is prepared for her husband notices new city has been prepared. What did Jesus say to us in John 14 is that 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 on the myself there were. I am, you may be also in the word here prepared is the same Greek word used by Paul in first Corinthians 29, when he says I has not seen, nor his ear heard, nor is it entered the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those that love. So the new earth, and the new Jerusalem are prepared places were prepared. Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment it's enjoying here when these studies are truly impacted lives.

Listen to these comments from one of her listeners. Pastor Greg in the last chair is a pandemic. I was very alert from the job I was absolutely passionate about my work in a university as a coach with young adult to have very little knowledge of God is not doing what God wanted me to do was just going through the motions of being a Christian and not utilizing the position. I've been a Christian.

Most my life has been a very lonely year and I know that it's because I have strayed from God because of your lessons on the range down payment received the wake-up call and getting back into reading the Bible and devoting my life to Jesus.

Thank you Pastor Greg for your passion and wisdom and rejuvenating as a Christian. Look forward to listening to more lessons.

It's a blessing to know that listeners are hearing these messages God is using his word to touch hearts will have Pastor Greg studies impacted your life, drop an email to greg@harvest.org that's great@harvest.org will were considering the new heaven and the new earth today part of our study of what's coming.

During the end times and is Pastor Greg continues. Remember, you can hear today study again online@harvest.org so here now is the new Jerusalem and by the way, Jerusalem has always and will always play a key role in the big picture of God's plan, Jerusalem, you might say is the city of the past, the present and the future.

Jerusalem is a salvation center of the world spiritually.

It's the storm center of the world prophetically and it's a glories center of the world ultimately but it's a city of the past.

Jerusalem is the city of course that was the capital of Israel under King David the first Temple was built there by David's son Solomon and the Shekinah glory of God rested over that city, and of course it was outside the walls of Jerusalem where our Lord was crucified. It's a city of our past.

It's a city of our present when the Jewish people formed a nation on May 14, 1948 was a modern-day miracle. More specifically, of fulfilled prophecy that sent the prophetic clock ticking. Never as a nation been able to maintain its national identity, even 3 to 500 years after being removed from its homeland, until Israel so it's a city of the present, but it's also the city of the future.

It is in the Middle East and around Jerusalem. As a matter of fact, world history will come to an end. Jerusalem will be at the center of the final conflict of the battle of Armageddon in Christ will enter to the East gate and establish his kingdom.

But now were talking about the new Jerusalem that maybe they do Jerusalem is is already in the heaven, and maybe believers are there right now. But now God brings his heavenly city down to earth because there's no more division there is no crime in this big city.

There's no corruption, just harmony with God and with each other.

We live in a curse free world listener. This that's not all, because were going to be busy when the new Jerusalem comes to attending. Sometimes people think will be done go to heaven. What is to sit around and eat and get fat and take naps that may be appealing to some people but that some of the Bible teaches. Scripture tells us that were going to be active in the Lord's service notice Revelation 22 three says his servants will serve him were doing something in heaven and in the new earth. We will be busy. We have activities there things to do doing the Lords work coming back to vacations.

I like to vacation for a time but then I get bored then I want to get back to what I really love today would just serve the Lord. So really, what is a vacation it's time to recreate or re-create to recharge your batteries and get back to what it is you're called to do well here we are not busy on the work of the Lord.

Revelation 715 says were standing in front of the throne of God serving him day and night in his temple, and one wonders what the Lord has in store for us. There listen this. Maybe you will be able to finish some of the tasks that remained uncompleted on earth or maybe dreams that were shattered here will be fulfilled.

There sometimes we act as though life on earth is it you pass through this life it's over.

And now this nebulous thing called the afterlife.

I think we be thinking more accurately and more biblically if we instead thought that this life here is the book for life and then begin to think of the afterlife or what it is the afterlife rent is the mean of fantasy and there are things they can happen there so what if someone in this life is born with a disability. I think of someone like McEvoy church born without arms or legs. Think of Johnny Erickson taught up confined to a wheelchair for most of her life. Now these two individuals have glorified God, but yet they've suffered in life heaven thing and the good people that I know that their bodies breaking down because of age, and then I think of others that their life well it seems like it was cut short maybe a child died. Maybe a young man or a woman died and it just seems so unfair because you say, why was their life cut short and then you see other people that live long lives and break all the rules and then to make it even worse they live, wicked, sinful lives in a single what's going on here everyday live. These awful lives and do nothing with it maybe would do evil things of life. And then there's this other life was so much potential that's cut short. That's because everything about everything in the here and now and we need to elevate our thinking little bit and realize that life goes on to see and so in the future.

I believe that God is going to more than compensate for these things. He's going to restore what we lost here heaven and the new earth will be the restoration of Earth's lost privileges.

Please say that again I want you to think about this heaven and the new work will be the restoration of Earth's lost privileges. You see Deb for the believer is not the end of life. It's a continuation of it in another place and this place is heaven and ultimately on the new earth. So I believe that is when all these wrongs will be righted here knows one of the most beautiful promises and all of Scripture. Look at verse four. And God will wipe or your every tear from their eyes. W no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, W no more pain for the former things have passed away. The question is often asked, will there be tears and have so do you think will there be tears in heaven will we think know what will Eric Clapton told us there's no more tears and have said so we and we read this first see there's no more tears in them. Wait a second chronologically, what are we talking about.

Are we talking about heaven here know were talking about the new work were talking about when heaven comes to earth and at this time God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. The be no more death or Sarno trying to still be no more pain for the former things about the way there will be tears in heaven toward you get that. Well, for starters, when we cry God keeps our tears in a bottle. The word is he store those maybe somewhere and have it how about this scene in the book of Revelation where John begins to weep because no one is worthy to open the scroll and then we see Christ emerging as the lion of the tribe of Judah. Wait a second he's crying in heaven. I thought there were tears in heaven.

Well, I guess there are, let's understand. You see, there can be tears of joy and there can be tears of deep sorrow and mourning. Here is what you have in heaven. Your perspective and I don't want to sort of attack of view that I think is in biblical that is sometimes held by Christians and it's the view that when I get to Kevin. I effectively have a spiritual lobotomy and I don't remember anything about earth and the logic as well. If I remembered said things on earth, heaven wouldn't be joyful. Therefore, God will remove those things and would come back to this first three says that he's gonna wipe away every tear there's no more death or strength. That doesn't mean that you're not aware of what's happening. But what it does mean is you are perspective because you're in the presence of the Lord listen in heaven. You know more, not less.

Because the Bible says in first Corinthians 13, we will know as we are no people asked the question what we recognize one another in heaven. What you think you be more stupid in heaven, the newborn, or maybe I should. I see the question. Do you recognize one another on earth know well maybe you want to have because you're just gonna dump known. I really didn't heaven of course will recognize one another and will have that perspective. But there is coming a day when God will wipe away all tears all sorrow. There's no more, no more pain. The former things great new, when were in heaven.

Pastor Greg Laurie with insights from today's message called when heaven comes to earth and there's more to come from this presentation here on a new beginning. Now if you'd like to recommend this teaching to someone else.

Just go to harvest.org and click on today's broadcast, there's a share icon there that allow you to copy the link that takes them right to the study or listen again yourself again that's at harvest.org well is such a joy to have children's author Sally Lloyd Jones with us today. A good friend of the ministry and Pastor Greg is speaking to her today about the great books were making available near and children's carry along Bible Sally I think you are such a gift for communicating with children, both in your writing but also when you speak it doesn't hurt that you have a British accent cinema what you say. It sounds better than my accent any other American but but if you're sitting down with the child and you want to convey biblical truth.

Give our listeners a few tips on how to do a little devotion with the child. What should they do and maybe what should they avoid well and parents know best how to reach the children but I would say one of the things I plant by watching a really amazing teaching is get on the same level as the child literally sit on the floor with them.

Yes because I think the one thing we shouldn't be doing is coming at them from on high, as if we control the ounces now. We do have a lot of the ounces and there are times when we should be teaching them that my feeling is in a time of divination. It's really important that both of us. The child and the adult come before a heavenly father together. Yes because that's how you would with a friend is in it and so I think with a child you want him just be honest like this is how I feel with God and I one that you can wonder out loud, so one time I had to teach and talking to a child that just read the Jesus story that Bible and the story of the feeding of the 5000 and instead of what they could've done they could have said when our children. What does this story teach us about how we should share our lunch with without the people which is to me and very sad thing because that's not the point of the story and it suddenly turns the story into salmon and makes it all about and I left. Sounds but it takes the story and turns it into a moral lesson. Instead, what you can say is wow.

That little boy gave Jesus everything was very much but it was everything. What would I wonder what would happen if I gave Jesus everything you said as an adult you can wonder with the child about year-end devotional life and that way you being truthful, you're not trying to fool's crime.

Some moral lesson down the child straight your together, wondering amazing truth that you but you have a father who left you, no matter how grown-up you, Sally Lloyd Jones is with us today were so happy to be making available two books of hers near based on Psalm 139 and babies carry along Bible a sturdy board book with 10 memorable Bible stories told in rhyme and listen. Both of these children's resources your way to thank you for your investment. So Pastor Greg's teaching can continue to come your way. Each day we so much appreciate your partnership. You can write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org are you receiving Pastor Greg's daily devotions each day via email is not much to care that right now you can sign up today free of charge@harvest.org and you receive a daily inspirational thought from God's word each day in your inbox again. Go to harvest.org everybody Greg Laurie here. You know my uncle Fred Jordan at one of the first Christian TV programs out there. It was called church in the home. I remember watching it as a little boy when I was living with my grandparents only have church in the home for you every weekend is called harvest@homeinvitedtoharvest.org we have worship in a message of God's word. So join us this weekend for harvest of home harvest.next time more insights on watch to come in the last days and candid counsel to those who aren't sure they're ready sure to invite an unsafe surrender to the next time you beginning and thanks really to a new beginning. Greg Laurie podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for daily devotions and learn how to become a harvest partner harvest.org