The King Invites Us To Reign With Him

After the millennial reign of Jesus. Heaven literally comes down to earth in the form of the new Jerusalem.

This spectacular city will be the eternal home for the redeemed of all the ages.

This is what Jesus referred to when he said in my father's house are many dwelling places the holy city is beyond imagination. But today will make an attempt to grasp its wonder. Stay with us from Chicago. We welcome you to The Moody Church. Our weekly service of worship and teaching under the ministry of Dr. Erwin Lidster. Today we conclude the 10 part look into the future were calling when he shall come later in our service will learn about the eternal state. When he invites us to reign in his kingdom.

Pastor Lidster comes now to open our service.

Well, today we come to the end of the series of messages entitled, when he shall come spin emphasizing the events that surround the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and I can do no better. As we conclude this series as we begin our service by putting to you the last verse of the Bible. He who testifies to these things says, surely I am coming soon.

Amen, Lord Jesus, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all. Amen. After that, God has nothing more to say, Lord Jesus, please join me as we prayed together. Father receive our worship, our adoration, our praise, we thank you for the privilege of knowing you and we ask that you shall enable us to represent you well and take the words that are going to be sung in the words that are going to be spoken and make them transforming for all of us.

We yield ourselves to you with deep gratitude. In Jesus name, amen.

I will extol you my God and King and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall command your works to another, and shall declare your mind on the glorious splendor of your majesty and on your wondrous works.

I will meditate, they shall speak of them might of your awesome deeds and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness the Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love and his mercy is over all work shall give thanks to you oh Lord, and all your saints shall bless, they shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power to make known to the children of man your mind TD and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down, the eyes of all look to you and you give them their food in due season you open your hand, you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all way and all works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him. He also hears their cry and saves the Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy my mouth was little and lab all flash his holy name for ever and ever. Welcome to eternity.

This is the last in a series of messages entitled, when he shall come events that will surround the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the future in which all of us shall be involved. If you're with us from the beginning. You know that we suggested that it was best to look at the return of Christ into stages. First of all, Jesus Christ comes for his church. And then there is the period of the great tribulation.

The rise of Antichrist.

And then Jesus comes in the glorious appearing and stands on the Mount of olives in Jerusalem.

His people and then there's a thousand year reign of Christ, called the millennial kingdom at the end of that Jesus Christ delivers the kingdom to the father. The father again appoints the sun to rule and to reign, but also if you are with us last time. You know that we spoke about that terrifying judgment called the great white throne judgment when all the dead of all the ages who are unbelievers will be judged personally by God.

Well, today we come to a very happy scene. It's the story of the new Jerusalem that is the story of eternity in the story of heaven.

There are three reasons why I'm preaching this. First of all to give us some kind of a glimpse into eternity and what heaven will be like.

I realize it is very inadequate in some sense it's like to infants in the womb talking about but they will be doing once they are born under 25 years old. They have no idea minutes. It's a whole different realm, but were going to try because the Scriptures invite us to try to understand eternity and our role in it. Secondly, I hope that those of you were coming today with bird you're unemployed you're going through a time of distress. Physically a lot of pain a lot of heartache.

Remember that eternity is coming.

I want you to be encouraged. I want you to live with eternity in mind.

Last night I called my mother as I always do on Saturday evening and my mother will be 102 years old in about a weeks time.

And as I have frequently said and you probably heard me say at the age of 102.

She will tell you that she has no peer pressure all right know here but she asked me a question that she asks me every Saturday evening. She says what are you going to preach on tomorrow morning. I said mother. I'm going to speak about heaven and immediately she said oh that will be glorious. And then she began to quote a poem in German about the beauty and the glory of heaven.

She's looking forward to heaven very very anxious and actually thinks that God apparently has forgotten her address so I want you to live for eternity. Even before your hundred and two.

Another reason is that working to discuss who's in and who's out. Not everybody gets to live in the holy city, and this is not my decision.

It's not my wisdom. It is God's. And were going to look at what God's word has to say about it many years ago when I was a lot younger, I memorize Revelation chapter 21 and 22 but I did so in the King James version of the Bible.

So when I quoted verses from time to time you may notice a little bit of difference, not a difference in meaning, but may be a difference in word order in the older version, so I'm good to begin with Revelation 21, which is where you should turn to. And if you're listening by some other means.

Please find your Bible, Revelation chapter 21 and I'll introduce the first few verses.

John said 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, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride aided born before her house and I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and walk with them and they shall be his people, and he shall be their God, and God 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 than for the former things that pass away what a description.

Let's begin right in verse one. I saw a new heaven and a new earth. Remember what we learned last time. It's during that period between the millennial kingdom and eternity. The new heaven and the new earth that you have the earth being totally destroyed theologians debate as to whether the Bible teaches it is going to be obliterated or simply remade by fire.

Either way, this is a new heaven and a new earth a brand-new universe that is free from the taint of sin and curse and this new Jerusalem that comes down as a bride adorned for her husband. That new Jerusalem is the eternal state of the redeemed. That is heaven. When my father died two years ago and when anyone of us die right now we do not yet go there because we need our resurrected bodies and that the events that we been talking about need to take place and then we will be in that new Jerusalem that is coming down from God out of heaven as a bride. This bride very very beautiful. You know James Vernon McGee was an older Southern preacher that you sometimes still here on the radio.

Even though he passed away many years ago, but he used to say, you know, I believe that God does a miracle. He said because every bride is beautiful on her wedding day weld miracle or not.

This bride is certainly is full of laying adorned for her husband, the new Jerusalem sparkling beautiful scintillating beyond our imagination. Now before we ask the question of who is occupied in this building who lives in the new Jerusalem, before we do that, let me isolate for you. Some things that are going to be there and this is going to be very joyful for those of you who are suffering. You'll notice it says in verse four, is it not that God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Actually, the Greek text says it like our translation says it that God will wipe away every tear as if to emphasize every single bit of sorrow every issue that causes you concern and then the text also says he will wipe those tears out of your eyes as if God is getting at the very heart of what it is. The troubled you here on earth so that you can put it away forever. It's not as if God necessarily takes a handkerchief and whites are tears.

He gives us understanding.

He takes away all causes for sorrow, so that whether it is because of the regrets that we have had, or may it be because some people are didn't heaven that we hope to be there either way the sorrow is gone and it is gone forever. Furthermore, no death. The Bible says if you require director.

There is a possibility that you can continue your vocation in heaven if you're a funeral director you're going to have to be retrofitted for something brand-new whole idea. There is no sorrow, no parting, no goodbyes, and then it says, no crying, no morning oh grief and finally, for those of you who live with chronic pain got under line. This in your Bible, and there will not be any more pain for the former things are passed away. Anybody happy because of that, no more pain. Well, that by way of introduction. Now let's get right down to the to the issue who dwells in the holy city, the new Jerusalem will the answer of course is God and his people. I quoted it a moment ago.

Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself shall be there on while you'll notice that the older translation say that the tabernacle of God is with men, and here we have the dwelling place well in either translation is good.

The word actually is tabernacle because that's where God dwelt in the Old Testament times and so what the writer is really saying is, is that the tabernacle of God. The very dwelling place of God now is with people not to understand that. Let's keep in mind that in Old Testament times, you recall it, don't you God to set up the whole structure by which people could come to him. There was what was known as the tabernacle there was an outer court. There was the holy Place where priests could freely go but then behind that there was the holy of holies, where the priest could go only on one day a year, the day of atonement. God was trying to signify to people that he was fixing a way by which he could connect with people who are sinners, without himself being contaminated. That is the big story line of the Bible.

How does God dwell with people when they are sinners and he himself not be affected by their sin.

So God says even though I exist everywhere and would be localized in the holy of holies that's where my glory is going to be seen now that tabernacle of God is now with man that holy place the holy of holies was a Q in a moment were going to be finding out that the city of Jerusalem is a Q a much bigger Q why the connection. The connection is simply this, that we are going to be dwelling in the holy of holies throughout all eternity. In the very presence of God with no fear of being contaminated by sin because we will be holy and totally free of all sin. Forever anybody like that if you don't like your sin, you have clapped.

If you like it might not have clapped for them now imagine the presence of God directly. You see, that's why it says here that there is no temple in it for the I'm in verse 22 for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it and the Lamb is its lamp. Just imagine for a moment, folks think it through. This will be our first experience with uncreated light as it has no need of the sun or of the moon because after all, God is now the light and that light is uncreated and that's part of who God is and here we will be in light and of the Scriptures make it clear no need of the sonnet of the month. All direct, immediate access to God with no barrier in between. No need for a mediator if I mentioned to you the name of Johnny Erickson taught and you will remember that she's been a quadriplegic for possibly about 35 or 40 years. She has suffered greatly but less millions and what she has learned through her suffering, but I remember her saying the thing that I look forward to when I get to heaven, she said, is not because I'll be able to park my wheelchair in the vestibule of heaven and be able to run to Jesus to worship him. She said what I will like the best and what will be most meaningful to me as instant continual communication with God without a hint of sin ever coming between that's what it's going to be like. Imagine the mind is so pure that you wouldn't mind if your wife and your family and your daughters and your children knew every single thought, no guilt, no shame. Nothing but purity for the pure in heart shall see God. So God is going to dwell with his people in the new Jerusalem now very quickly will say a word about its size, or we could say the description. You'll notice in verse 18 we have another look at this beautiful city. He's taken to a great and high mountain, and showed the holy city, the new Jerusalem that came down from heaven and I having the glory of God, its radiance is like a most rare jewel, like a jasper. There is crystal.

It had a great high wall with 12 gates, and at the gates you know, did you notice that there in verse 12 Peter is not at the gate after all that text says that there are 12 gates, and 12 angels. They are there and you'll notice that on the gates are the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. So you have a representative group from the Old Testament saints. Verse 14 the wall of the city has 12 foundations, and on them were the 12 names of the 12 apostles.

So you have in this city. Still, the distinction between Israel and the church. But at the same time. All of them together in the new Jerusalem, all the saints of all ages enjoying God and now a word about the size of the city.

It says in verse 15, the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and its walls. The city lies foursquare, its length is the same as its whip.

He measured the city with a rod, 12,000 stadia. That's an old system of measurement. I googled it last night to try to find out exactly how long it was and I discovered that there is disagreement because there were various measurements depending upon the country and the location of where you were and I generally it is said that this particular stadium might even be over a mile long.

If that's true, then you have 12,000 miles or more 14,000 miles and you have it says its length and its width and its height are all equal.

Can you imagine a city that would go from Colorado to the Atlantic Ocean and the from the northern part of the United States all the way to the Mexican border and then be Dean the hundred miles high. Think of the condos that are there. It's got plenty of room plenty and furthermore you know when it talks about streets. We always think of streets needing to be horizontal. We go from here to there. Imagine this, we are going to be in glorified bodies.

Everyone that's there is in a glorified body now. The Bible says that we shall see Christ, and we shall be like him. When we see him as he is the same kind of body that Jesus had you know what that means. Think about it, it means that we will be able to go vertically just as easily as will be able to go horizontally so maybe the streets of the city are just as much up and down as they are across either way, it will not matter because at that time your thought, your desire to be somewhere will give you the strength to simply be there. It'll be that effortless.

That simple and just imagine you need no sleep ever. Because your body is eternal like Christ's. Now as we continue, I want you to notice the materials of the city, but I'm not going to mention it. If there's a jeweler present be very interesting for you to read verse 18 and following where you have all of the different many jewels and precious stones that are mentioned, and may I say that this may all be symbolic. You have to remember that John was seeing the holy city come down from heaven and he had to put into words that he could understand and that we could understand. He had to do that so that we would get a glimpse of what it was like and so he writes all of those beautiful beautiful arrangements. The only comment I'll make here is to remember that God is into beauty. God is into architecture you look at the way in which this city is constructed and you realize that God is the builder. In fact, it says that Abraham look forward to a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. So this is God's city built by him for his dwelling place, and for his people. Let's take a moment and ask ourselves what are the privileges of those who live within the city where the privileges will first of all, notice that there's going to be inequality. There's going to be quality.

Now you'll notice it says that by its light verse 24 the nations will walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.

That's that's dependent upon an ancient custom.

When a king was submitting to his superior. He brought whatever he had and laid it at the feet of the superior king. So you're going to have kings that are going to bring their glory and whatever they had on earth, and they're going to bring it and laid at the feet of Jesus. It says that the nations also.

It speaks about they will bring their glory and their honor into it.

I imagine that even though the nations will be represented. In heaven there will be no nationalism. There will be no feeling of superiority. Obviously because of sinlessness and because were all there with a common purpose, namely the worship in the service of Jesus. So there's going to be inequality in the holy city, and then for those of you who are into vitamins and health foods catch this chapter 22 then the angel showed me the river of the water of life right is crystal, flowing from the throne of God and from the land through the middle of the street after get this now there is the throne of God from the throne comes a river of water of life flowing right through Main Street right in the middle of Main Street. That's what it says and will on either side of the river. There's a tree of life we have to stop there can't just continue tree of life remember where we encountered it before book of Genesis, when the Adam and Eve were there. There was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and God says whatever you don't need of that tree they went against his word and they ate of that tree and then God would not allow them back into there's no going back to Eden and got actually make sure that they wouldn't go back. Why, because if they were to each of the tree of life they would live forever as sinners. They would never die. You say all that would be really good. I don't think so. Just ask my mother. You know, once your aged your your longing. Your longing for death and to be with God and you'd be locked into this existence. When God is something so much better.

So as a result of that they did not. Each of the tree of life. Thankfully, now you can eat. You can eat from the tree of life and what is more, the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations now for many of us that's confusing you say well you know we have limitless energy in heaven.

We have strength in heaven. Why is it that we need to eat well here's the deal. You don't have to eat in heaven.

You don't want to but I think that we do eat in heaven and that should not be a surprise to you, Jesus, after he received his resurrection body. He ate with the disciples he ate fish along the Sea of Galilee on the shore and he ate with them. If we eat in heaven. It will not be because we have to, but we will eat because of the enjoyment of eating some of you can hardly wait. A man so there's going to be health in heaven.

It says that no one will ever hunger, nor will the sun beat upon any what a glorious experience that will be.

And then there will be service. We have to continue to read it says in verse three.

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him now. Some translations may say his servants will serve him. Why the difference. It's because this word actually is the word service but it's generally the kind of service that you do within a temple or a service that you do within a church that kind of service so it really is worship we are going to be busy serving the Lord and then lest you think that that isn't the case. Verse five and night will be no more. They will need no light of the lamp or the sun for the Lord God will be there light and they will reign forever and ever expression in Greek is the strongest language that you could ever use for forever. Literally, they will reign into the ages of the ages with no end at all in sight ever while you know the cartoon the far side there was a drawing that the artist gave that I think typifies many people's view of heaven a cloud with a man sitting there with Angel's wings and he's playing the harp and when you look at his face. It looks as if he's just been marooned on an island in bored out of his mind for the rest of his life, and underneath it says I wish I had brought a magazine, my friend. That is not the way heaven is going to be is not going to be us gathering in one long church service, and we began on page 1 of the hymnals sing our way through and after we finished singing our way through. We begin on page 1 again. Nothing like that.

We are going to serve him. It says that his name will be on our foreheads and we will reign with him for ever and ever, because after all we are heirs of God, we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ when DL Moody lost everything in the fire. Somebody said to him you lost everything. He said no.

There's a great deal that I haven't lost is an older wealthy no no no no, he who overcomes the Bible say Sheldon Ehret all thing if your name is written in the Lamb's book of life. There is nothing that can happen to you on this earth that will be of any permanent damage because you have a place reserved in heaven. There's a crown that only you can wear there's a rumor.

Only you can enter there's an assignment that you are the only one who can perform and you will be there reigning with Christ forever and ever. No wonder Cooper wrote how thou canst think so well of me and be the God thou art is darkness to my intellect but sunshine to my heart will reign with him forever and ever. Couple of comments about the lifestyle of the city you read about the new Jerusalem. You say we know that's interesting. Gates, walls why because if you read the entire text, you discover that nowhere does it say that to the gates are ever going to be close.

It says in fact that they're going to be open, easy access.

You see, you might have to go on assignment. We don't know what all that reigning with Jesus really means it could be responsibility for other planets. God is an infinite God, but another thing that that signifies is a city now, isn't it interesting that the Bible began in a garden garden of Eden.

The Bible ends in a city why a city, why not a farm when out a garden because you see a city is community city is community and so what you really have is that the need for gates. Well, people connect, you know. For years Rebecca and I have lived in a condo building and sometimes the only time we really met our neighbors is that when we are going the common entrance together. That's where we met. God says I want you to be connected to others.

You're going to have a much larger family.

Your mother will still be your mother in heaven absolutely and you will know her as your mother or your father, your relatives, your children, but at the same time, the intimacy that you have between your mother and yourself and your family.

That kind of intimacy is now going to be extended to all the family. God, in the same kind of things. I expect that we are going to be doing projects together. We are going to be doing worship services together. We are going to be doing assignments together all in the community there in heaven.

And that's why we and actually in a city so you have the such things as walls, you have a water source you have travel you have the beauty of architecture and all of these things are going to be hours now. I hope that you take the time to read Revelation 21 and 22 on your own, but I need to say that no matter how John ever described it.

It is really inadequate. But this is the best that we can do. I'm reminded of a little girl who her mother was reading stories to her about Jesus. One night in a picture book with Bible stories and the next morning she said oh mommy. She said I dreamed about Jesus and she said you know mommy he's so much better than the pictures and I can assure you it's going to be so much better than this picture were going to be encouraged that we won't need the word of God. We are going to be strengthened, but we won't have to exhibits faith we will be there in God's presence forever. See that's why the Bible says eye has not seen nor has ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared for them who love him. This is the best that we can do. This is the best that we can do until eternity. But I'll tell you once where there will wonder why it was that we wanted to live as long as we all desire to live. It's going to be great now. I promised you that I would answer a question that is absolutely essential and that is who's in and who's out.

Well let's take your Bibles. Now I'm going to read from chapter 21.

You'll notice I'm picking it up in eight after this glorious description of the new Jerusalem. It says in verse eight, chapter 21 but as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will have their portion in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second they will not be in the city now essentially the same thing is over here in chapter 22 verse 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and that they might enter the city by the gates, by the way, no gatecrasher's here you're either on the list are not says very clearly that only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

No need to wonder whether or not Secret Service took care of that. You'll notice it says outside are the dogs, sorcerers, the sexually immoral, murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. I'm speaking to you now and some of you say. Well, it certainly excludes me. I won't make it in the holy city, because this actually is quite characteristic of my life. I have some news for you. This is the best news you will ever hear.

Today, a promise it'll never get any better than this very going to be people in heaven who committed all of these sins and and they will be in heaven so why the big distinction. Well it's here in the text. That's why we have to read our Bibles. It says in chapter 22 verse 12 behold I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me and then it says in verse 14 Blessed are those who wash their row so that they might have the right to the tree of life that they may enter the city by the gates. The issue really is not the greatness of your sin. However terrible it might be.

God is able to take care of that. The issue is whether or not you have had your rose washed by Jesus, and you are clothed in his righteousness, and not your own. That's really the issue and that this gift of righteousness is a free gift want you to notice what the text says what a wonderful way to end of the Scriptures. It says in verse 17 and the Spirit and the bride say, come.

And let the one who hears say, and let the one who is thirsty, let the one who desires take of the water of life with out cost if somebody tells you that you have to give money to go to heaven. That is not the gospel. If somebody tells you that you have to deserve going to happen that is not the gospel.

None of us deserve it if somebody tells you that it comes through your participation in a church somehow through baptism or other means back to that is not the gospel. The gospel is those who are thirsty, come without money, without price to freely receive the gift that is the gift of eternal life.

It is the rose that have been washed by God so that you can enter through the gates into the city one day DL Moody said that he was in a meeting and he was listening very carefully. An old man stood up and said it took me 40 years to learn these three things, and everybody listen thought we all that's really good if it took him 40 years maybe we can get a jump on things by listening carefully what the man said is number one that I cannot earn my way to heaven is the first thing I learned, by the way, have you learned that it's not a matter of your goodness won't make it the second thing is that I learned is that God doesn't expect me to earn my way to heaven.

God knows we can't. He knows that better than you know it yourself and then he said the third thing I learned is that Jesus did it all for those who believe and trust.

Is there today a hunger and thirst in your heart to know God and to know that you have the robe and that your name is written in the Lamb's book of life because elsewhere in the previous chapter. That's what it says only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, then then freely come to Jesus and receive the gift come as you are to receive it. Number of years ago very well known pastor was dying he been very effective in ministry actually the pastor of the church and the president of the seminary at the same time wrote books but as he was dying, he was troubled see even Christians can be trouble. The death and some of his friends thought you know it will do will encourage them will think of you know through you. God did this through you. God did that. It gave him no peace and come until someone reminded him that we are received into heaven totally independent of all the good that we've ever done, clothed in the righteousness of Christ and that's why we sink, clothed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne, the terrors of law and of God with me can have nothing to do. My Savior's obedience and blood washed all of my sins from my name on the palm of his hands. Eternity cannot erase forever.

There it stands the mark of indelible grace. And that's the way will enter the holy city, and so the Bible ends, he who testifies to these things saith now Jesus is speaking. Surely I'm coming soon.

Amen, Lord Jesus, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all a man. God says after that, nothing more to say and neither do I bother. We have nothing to wear out words. Why would you so owner's why would you send Jesus to purchase sinners. We pray that no one who has heard this message today would love their sin more than loving the Savior.

For those who do wrestle with them. Show them their need to receive the free gift. I pray even now that right now people might be praying and say Lord Jesus, I received the free gift of eternal life that I might know you and walk with you forever do all that in our hearts. God, we pray for those of us who love you. May we always lived with eternity in view. Before I close this prayer do you have to pray now in your heart receive Jesus even where you are seated or no matter how your listening say Jesus be my Savior. I first I receive pray in his name on today's Moody Church.

Our Dr. Erwin lutes are spoke about our glorious future when he invites us to reign in his kingdom, the last in a 10 part series on when he shall come.

We hope this series has given you a bright outlook for the ages to come. This entire series is now a book by Dr. lutes are entitled. The King is coming a company is waiting for you with our thanks for your gift of any amount to The Moody Church.

Our just call us at 1-800-215-5001 when you call. Mention the book the King is coming called 1-800-215-5001 or writes to us at The Moody Church 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 online go to moodyoffer.com that's moodyoffer.com join us next week for another Moody Church. Our with Dr. Erwin lutes are the congregation of historic Moody Church