December 28, 2015


                           "LIFE AFTER DEATH"

              What Is The Eternal Destiny Of The Redeemed?

INTRODUCTION

1. As we rapidly near the end of this series, we have considered what
   the Bible says about...
   a. The "intermediate state", i.e., the condition of man between death
      and the resurrection
   b. The second coming of Christ
   c. The resurrection of the dead
   d. The day of judgment

2. In the last two studies, we shall examine what the Bible reveals 
   about the FINAL state of man...
   a. What is the eternal destiny of the redeemed?
   b. What is the eternal destiny of the wicked?

[With this lesson we shall look first at "The Eternal Destiny Of The
Redeemed"...]

I. THE "HOPE" OF THE REDEEMED

   A. WONDERFUL PROMISES ARE GIVEN BY CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES...
      1. Jesus speaks of the righteous as being in "the kingdom of their
         Father", and inheriting "the kingdom prepared for you from the 
         foundation of the world"
         a. In explaining the "parable of the tares" - Mt 13:43
         b. In describing the judgment scene in Mt 25:31-34
         c. Compare this with statements by His apostles...
            1) Paul speaks of the "heavenly kingdom" - 2Ti 4:18
            2) Peter speaks of the "everlasting kingdom" - 2Pe 1:10-11
      2. Jesus speaks of the redeemed being with Him
         a. In the "parable of the talents" ("Enter into the joy of your
            lord") - Mt 25:21
         b. In praying to the Father in Jn 17:24 (cf. Jn 14:1-3)
         c. Paul also alludes to this continued fellowship with the Lord
            - 1Th 4:17-18
      3. Indeed, promises such as these are comforting for the 
         Christian, for they speak of unhindered and uninterrupted 
         fellowship with our Lord!
      4. Is this not our ultimate hope?  To be with the Lord for 
         eternity?

   B. BUT WHERE WILL WE EXPERIENCE THIS "HOPE"?
      1. In other words...
         a. Where will this fellowship with the Lord be experienced?
         b. Where will the "abode" of the righteous be?
      2. Will the "abode" of the redeemed...
         a. Be heaven itself?
         b. Or is it something "reserved" for us in heaven now, but when
            experienced it will actually be somewhere else?

[Previously I have suggested that when Christians die they will spend
the "intermediate state" in heaven.  While most Christians automatically
assume they will spend the "eternal state" in heaven, it appears the
Biblical evidence concerning the eternal "abode" may state otherwise!

Consider carefully, then, as we examine what the Bible says about...]

II. THE "ETERNAL ABODE" OF THE REDEEMED

   A. TWO PASSAGES ARE OFTEN QUOTED TO SAY THAT IT WILL BE HEAVEN...
      1. The first is Col 1:5
         a. Which speaks "the hope which is laid up for you in heaven"
         b. Note carefully:  this verse does not say that our hope IS
            heaven, but rather that our hope is "laid up for you IN
            heaven"
         c. Whether our hope, when experienced, will be IN heaven,
            cannot be determined with certainty in this verse
         d. Only that for "now", heaven is where our hope is stored
      2. The second is 1Pe 1:3-4
         a. This passage speaks of our hope and inheritance, "reserved
            in heaven for you"
         b. Again:  this does not say that our hope (or inheritance) IS
            heaven, but rather that it is "reserved IN heaven"
         c. As before, we cannot determine from this passage alone 
            whether our hope and inheritance, when realized, will be in 
            heaven ITSELF
         d. Only that for "now" our hope and inheritance are presently 
            secured in heaven

   B. THE "ETERNAL ABODE" AS DESCRIBED IN HEBREWS...
      1. First, we find the author speaking of having "a better and 
         enduring possession for yourselves in heaven" - He 10:34
         a. Here the same point can be made as before
         b. I.e., at the present, our "possession" is IN heaven; but
            when we receive it, will it be in heaven then?
      2. In describing the hope of Abraham and the faithful, the author
         speaks of a CITY (or dwelling place)...
         a. "...the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker
            is God" - He 11:10
         b. "...for He has prepared a city for them" - He 11:13-16
      3. Speaking of himself and his fellow Christians, the author 
         writes:  "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the
         one to come" - He 13:14
      4. Here, then, is one way of speaking of the hope of the 
         righteous, as it relates to their eternal abode:
         a. It is a "city", whose builder and maker is God
         b. It is a "heavenly city", in the sense of its NATURE
         c. This "enduring possession" is PRESENTLY "prepared...laid up
            ...reserved" for us in heaven!
      5. But we have yet to answer the question:  "Where will this city
         (abode) of the righteous actually be when they experience it?"

   C. THE "ETERNAL ABODE" AS DESCRIBED BY PETER...
      1. After describing the "day of the Lord" in which the present 
         universe will be dissolved, Peter speaks of looking for "new 
         heavens and a new earth" - 2Pe 3:7-13
      2. For Peter, this is what "we" (himself and all Christians) 
         should be looking for!
      3. Some questions:
         a. Is the "new heavens and a new earth" just a figurative 
            reference to heaven, or is it something different from 
            heaven?
         b. How do we reconcile looking for the "new heavens and a new 
            earth" (Peter), and looking for "the city whose builder is 
            God" (Hebrews)?
         -- The answer to these questions is found as we now look at...

   D. THE "ETERNAL ABODE" AS DESCRIBED BY JOHN...
      1. After describing the judgment scene (Re 20:11-15), John says 
         that he saw:
         a. "a new heaven and a new earth" - Re 21:1 (cf. Peter)
         b. "the holy City, New Jerusalem" - Re 21:2 (cf. Hebrews)
         -- In this way, John brings together both the "hope" of the 
            author of Hebrews and the apostle Peter!
      2. But where is this "city" at this point?  Note carefully how 
         three times in the Book of Revelation, it is stated that the
         city is NOT in heaven at this time...
         a. "...the New Jerusalem, which comes down OUT OF heaven from 
            my God." - Re 3:12
         b. "...the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down OUT OF heaven
            from God..." - Re 21:2
         c. "...the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending OUT OF 
            heaven from God..." - Re 21:10
      3. Rather than being IN heaven (the present dwelling place of 
         God), this "eternal abode" is described as being in "the new 
         heavens and a new earth"!
         a. A realm where there is the absence of death, sorrow, and 
            pain - Re 21:4
         b. A realm in which there is complete fellowship with God and 
            Christ - Re 21:3,22-27
         c. A place of perpetual life and good health - Re 22:1-2
         d. A place where God's servants both serve and reign! 
            - Re 22:3-5

   E. TO SUMMARIZE AND PERHAPS CLARIFY...
      1. The redeemed have a wonderful hope concerning their "eternal 
         destiny"
      2. It pertains to a "city", built by God and PRESENTLY reserved 
         for us in heaven...
         a. However, when experienced, this "city" (abode) will not be 
            IN heaven
         b. But having come down OUT OF heaven, it will be in the "new 
            heavens and new earth" (i.e., a totally new order of things)
      3. This is NOT to say that we will not be with God and Christ...
         a. For as one considers the experience of the righteous as
            described in Re 21-22, we see that we will be with God and
            Christ forever!
         b. To be exact, however...
            1) It is not that we will be with God and Christ in
               heaven...
            2) But that They will be with us in the "new heavens and new
               earth"!
         c. Consider...
            1) "Behold the tabernacle of God IS WITH MEN, and HE WILL 
               DWELL WITH THEM...and GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM" 
               - Re 21:3
               a) Note that in each phrase the direction is one in which
                  God is with us; He dwells with us in this "city" which
                  comes down out of heaven
               b) Contrary to the idea that we are in heaven with God!
            2) "...the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be IN IT" 
               - Re 22:3
               a) In the "eternal state", the throne is in this "holy 
                  city" which comes down out of heaven
               b) Whereas earlier in the Revelation, the throne of God 
                  was in heaven - Re 4:2; 7:9-17
                  1) The latter passage (7:9-17) I take to describe the
                     "intermediate state"
                  2) It is during this interim that the righteous are
                     with God in heaven
            3) "But I saw NO TEMPLE in it, for the Lord God Almighty and
               the Lamb are its temple." - Re 21:22
               a) John saw no temple in this "holy city"
               b) Whereas he saw the temple of God in heaven when
                  describing the "intermediate state" - cf. Re 7:15
         d. Again, the indication is that God will dwell with us for 
            eternity in this "new heavens and new earth" (in the "New
            Jerusalem"), not that we will be with Him in heaven

CONCLUSION

1. Admittedly, in a book like Revelation we are dealing with very
   symbolic language, and must be careful not to strain a point too
   far...

2. But the terminology used by John is the same as that used by Peter
   and the author of Hebrews as they wrote plainly of our "hope" (i.e.,
   such terms as "city", "new heavens and new earth")

3. And these terms are used consistently in such a way as to make a
   clear distinction between...
   a. What is currently the dwelling place of God (i.e., "heaven")
   b. And where God will spend eternity with the redeemed (i.e., in the
      "holy city" that comes down "out of heaven" into the "new heavens
      and new earth")

4. Should we not be careful to make the same distinction?

Do we, "according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth 
in which righteousness dwells" (2Pe 3:13)?  If so, then be sure to 
heed the admonition of Peter...

   "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent
   to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and
   account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation..."

                            - 2Pe 3:14-15a

And remember the words of John:

   "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have
   the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates
   into the city."
                            - Re 22:14

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

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