September 3, 2006
"The Kingdom of Heaven"
Heaven—A Place Prepared For You—Part 9
Selected verses
What have we learned so far?
- Heaven is a literal, physical place, not a state of mind or ethereal realm. John 14:1-3
- Jesus has gone there to prepare a place for those who are His children. John 14:1-3
- Peter does not stand at the gates of heaven to decide who gets in. Matthew 16:17-19
- Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. John 14:6
- People don't become angels. Matthew 22:30
- For most Christians, death is the gateway to heaven.
- The moment a Christian dies, his/her spirit goes to God the Father's house. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
- Our bodies will be resurrected and made to inhabit heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:40-44
- Those who have died have some knowledge of events on earth. Revelation 6:9-11
- Heaven will be a place of incredible activity.
- Each of us will have tasks that fully engage us.
- Service is used to describe our activity in heaven.
- Our service will be some type of responsibility associated with reigning with Christ.
- Believers will receive their responsibility in heaven based on Christ's judgment of the things done while on earth.
- We will be rewarded by Christ.
- We will lay our rewards at his feet.
Where is heaven? What is the third heaven?
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.
—2 Corinthians 12:2
- The air, including the clouds and the atmosphere.
- The starry heavens.
- The heavens beyond the stars. The dwelling of God, His angels and believers of all ages.
What is an angel's place in heaven?
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
—Hebrews 1:14
The Kingdom of Heaven
1. What is the Kingdom of Heaven?
Three views:
- A-millennialism—The kingdom of heaven is fully operational now.
- Post-millennialism—God's Kingdom will be fully revealed in eternity.
- Pre-millennialism—Jesus will reign over a visible kingdom here on earth.
2. Not everything God promised about the kingdom is fulfilled in our lives or in the church.
The Old Testament promised:
- The tremendous renewal of nature.
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
—Isaiah 11:6
- Sickness, aging, deformity and despair will be removed.
Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.
—Isaiah 65:20
- Worldwide peace and amazing prosperity. War will be eliminated and the industries of war will be turned to peaceful endeavors.
He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
—Isaiah 2:4
The New Testament promised:
- The imprisonment of Satan.
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
—Revelation 20:1-3
- The reign of believers with Christ over the nations.
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
—Revelation 20:4
- After Christ's enemies are conquered He would establish a new heaven and new earth.
That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
—2 Peter 3:12-13
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
—2 Peter 3:14
"The Kingdom of Heaven"
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- What images come to mind when you think of a Kingdom?
- How does your view of the Kingdom of Heaven affect your Christian life today? How does your view of the tribulation affect your Christian life today?
Digging Deeper: Read Revelation 20
- Why is Satan bound? By whom is Satan bound? How?
- Where and when will this 1000 year reign begin? Is it on earth or in heaven? (Consider verse 8)
- What is the first resurrection? What is the second death? (Consider Revelation 20:11-15) What do these mean to you as a Christian?
- What will life be like without Satan deceiving the nations? Who are those seated on thrones reigning with Christ?
- Why do you suppose Satan will once again try to deceive the nations? Why do you suppose God will let him out of the abyss?
- How will God deal with the people of the earth's rebellion at the end of the millennium? What is the second resurrection? Who stands before God at the great white throne judgment? On what basis are they judged?
Applying It To My Life
- 1What do you find comforting about Revelation 20? What disturbs you? Why?
- What do you think it will feel like living on the earth in a glorified body with Jesus Christ as King over the whole world?
- Because of the way sin has affected your life, are you surprised that many living under the perfect rule of Christ will rebel and join Satan? What does that tell you about the heart of man?