Sermon Date: May 22, 2011
Sermon Title: Death: What’s Your End Game
Sermon Text: Rev. 20-22
Small Group Text: Rev. 21:1-22 There is almost universal belief in a heaven – and most people want to go there. What form the concept takes depends upon cultural and religious contexts. But the longing for something more than this world offers (especially after death) is widespread across time and cultures. Christians look to the Bible to gain a deeper understanding of what they believe to be true about eternal life. But the Bible devotes relatively little space to describing eternity and gives only a brief description (or, what can more accurately be called, hints) regarding the details of our eternal state. Instead, the Scriptures devote most of its pages to the revelation of eternal life as a free and gracious gift from God. Because the Bible contains so few specifics about heaven, hell and end-times events, most discussions relative to these topics tend to be speculative with a wide range of opinions. The Bible does, however, reveal a few truths that engender hope and great expectation for the future of those who have accepted Christ’s gift of eternal life. For example, the eternal state of believers is described as… • • •
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A place prepared for us (John 14:2-3) Unlimited by physical properties (John 20:19, 26; 1 Cor. 15:35-49) Transformation into the likeness of Jesus (1 John 3:2) The ultimate makeover into new, incorruptible bodies (1 Cor. 15) A wonderfully unimaginable experience (1 Cor. 2:9) A whole newly created world and universe (Rev. 21:1) The experience of God’s pervasive presence (Rev. 21:3; 1 Cor. 13:12) Producing gladness of heart, joy and peace (Rev. 21:4) An eternal environment where there is no longer any death (Rev. 21:4)
Read Revelation 21-22 The final chapters of the Bible (Revelation 19-22) are the most graphic depiction of what seems to be the destiny of saved and unsaved people at the end of this age. Is the language to be taken literally or is it metaphorical and symbolic? Some of the imagery is difficult to accept as factual – especially in light of what is known about the love, grace and mercy of God. A lake of fire and eternal damnation for any and all whose names are not found written in the “book of life” (Rev. 20:12-15)? Such descriptions of inconceivable suffering for eternity have prompted some Christian theologians to attempt an exoneration of God by offering “more humane and just” interpretations of these passages. The two most common ideas allow for… •
Hell as literal annihilation. According to this premise, for the “lost,” dying is simply the end. People who have rejected God’s grace are destroyed (cease to exist) rather than tormented forever in "hell" as in the lake of fire. This view is based on the idea that a human soul is not immortal unless God grants eternal life. (Ezekiel 18:4; Matthew 10:28)
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A second chance: According to this theory, every person who has ever rejected God’s love gets a second chance to respond to the gracious gift of eternal life. In this sense, a final reconciliation between God and all people takes place once a fuller glory of Jesus Christ is revealed at the end of this age. (Col. 1:19-20; 1 John 2:1-2) 1
But the Bible affirms the existence of a real heaven—and a real hell. And metaphorical language notwithstanding, most people want to go to heaven and avoid hell when they die. The Bible clearly teaches that all who are “in Christ” need not fear hell but have everlasting life. Read again Rev. 21:1-22:6 Here in Revelation 21-22, we are given a glimpse of eternity where God’s people are gathered to share the joy and glory of God’s presence and the rich gifts He has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). This is heaven. And it has nothing in common with the stereotypical image of believers morphing into white-robed angels, sitting on clouds and strumming harps for eternity. Instead, individual identities are intact as believers do what each one was created and gifted to do – serving at the pleasure of the Lord. God created people to have dominion over His creative works – to take an active role in the supervision of the world (Genesis 1:26-28). It would seem likely then that in His recreation of the new world, God would not be content to simply have people sitting passively doing nothing. The Scriptures are silent relative to the exact role of the redeemed in eternity; but we can be confident that we will live for the honor and glory of God – fully alive; and that such a life could only be awesome and fulfilling. Everything is new and in perfect harmony God is present on earth John’s vision (the book of Revelation) culminated in a scene unprecedented in human history. The earth and all of its inhabitants would know and experience God’s presence as never before. This divine presence was portrayed by the descent of a huge and bejeweled city – coming down from heaven to the newly transformed earth – accompanied by the promise that God will forever be “with men, and He will live with them” (Rev. 21:3). God’s all pervasive proximity ensures immeasurable advantages for the citizens of His kingdom, e.g., It makes certain that perfect peace and joy rule over the earth: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:4). • It supersedes the need for a temple or local place of worship since God is everywhere immediately present. All citizens on earth have access to the throne of grace. • It precludes the need for created light sources. The sun, moon and stars disappear in the brilliance of God’s being. So pervasive is the light of His glory that shadows cease to exist (James 1:17): “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it” (Rev. 21:24). • It (God’s pervasive presence) flows from the throne of God like a clear, sparkling river of life nourishing foliage along its banks. In turn, the leaves and fruits of these trees have healing power sufficient to bring wholeness to the nations of the world (Rev. 22:2). • It overrides and eliminates the contagion of sin and its effects so that the righteous people of God “will reign forever and ever” (Rev. 22:5). God’s people are made permanently holy In this divine state, holiness prevails throughout the world. Every child of God will be exactly as God intended him/her to be. We will be like Christ. •
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [2] Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:1-2 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [30] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30
The resurrected bodies of God’s people will be immortal (eternally enduring) – healthy, strong, not given to weakness, sickness or death.
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I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. [51] Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— [52] in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. [53] For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. [54] When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 1 Cor. 15:50-54
Each person will be mastered by a righteous spirit, no more will he/she be subject to the inclinations of the destructive, sinful flesh. (1 John 2:15-17) Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. [17] The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17
But this vision of our future seems so “other-worldly,” we might be inclined to shrug it off as incomprehensible and hence irrelevant – except for one thing: We’ve already seen an example of it! The Gospel’s description of Christ’s post-resurrection appearances gives us a preview of what we will be like when we’ve assumed our resurrected bodies. Jesus had flesh and bones (Luke 24; John 21) and yet appeared and disappeared at will – even within a locked room (John 20:19). His friends and family recognized him and enjoyed his company – sharing a meal together (Luke 24:41). Jesus was the same – and yet different! And this spiritual nature and these capacities will be ours as well since he, our resurrected Lord, was the “firstfruits” of what we will be. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. [21] For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. [22] For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. [23] But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 1 Cor. 15:20-23
What a blessed promise for anyone who has wanted to be rid of the old sinful nature! Here is the assurance of perfection and wholeness. This is our glorious destiny. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. Rev. 21:7 Christ’s return is imminent – Live like it: Rev. 22:7-21 Eternity and the events foretold in Revelation seem so remote as to have little influence on our thinking and behaviors. It’s easy to become short-sighted and miss the long view of God’s strategy in human history. But God fully intended for this vision of the end of days to have a profound and positive effect on how we live as Christ-followers. In a peculiar and ironic invitation, John exhorts those who reject God’s words do continue doing so – in full realization that they will reap the consequences of their rebellion (Ezekiel 3:27; cf. Jeremiah 44:25; Amos 4:4-5; Eccles. 11:9) “Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy” (Rev. 22:11). In essence, the test of whether people take John’s prophetic words seriously is evident in their responses. How do these prophetic words affect their lives? Those who dismiss this prophecy will continue in their rebellion and wickedness. On the other hand, Christ-followers who heed the prophecy will remain steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58). And as if to punctuate the importance of living out the Christian life against the backdrop of eternity, Jesus reminds John three times in these closing paragraphs of his imminent return, “I am coming soon.” "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book." Rev. 22:7 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. Rev. 22:12 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Rev. 22:20
The Apostle Peter sheds more light on our responsibility to live with Christ’s imminent return in view when he placed events at the end of the world in the context of God’s own sense of timing:
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But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. [9] The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. [10] But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives [12] as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. [13] But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. [14] So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. [15] Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 2 Peter 3:8-15
Heaven is not just about you Heaven and hell are real. Jesus came to earth to rescue people from hell. And he has now entrusted this mission of salvation to his church. Every member of the body of Christ is commissioned to be ministers of the Gospel and to teach others the life-affirming truths of God’s word (Matthew 28:19-20). We are his arms, hands, legs and feet. We are his eye, ears and voice. In the power of his Holy Spirit, we are the message of God’s love and grace – incarnate. Therefore, though the return of Christ is yet future, the mission of the church is quite immediate and of utmost importance. God’s grace still prevails – the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, still leading people toward repentance (Romans 2:4). And so while we might echo John’s words, Come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:20) – until that day, we occupy the time at hand with Christ’s overriding passion: the salvation of the world.
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