| Vol. V Number 22 | August 12, 2001 |
The Christians true home is not here on earth, but our home is an eternal home with the Lord Jesus Christ up in heaven. This is not a place that is a figment of your imagination, or a hoax perpetrated by organized religion, or anyone else for that matter. Heaven and Hell are real places in the universe or a parallel universe that we don't really know about. Regardless of the fact that we don't know about heaven except what is written in the Bible, does not mean that it doesn't exist. There are many things that we don't know about, but we know about them. For instance for the longest time scientists thought that the molecule was the smallest element. Now we know that molecules are made up of atoms, which are made up of electrons, protons, neutrons, and quirks which no one has seen. But we see the evidence of their existence.
There are many in the scientific community who say that heaven and hell are just myths. These were the same ones who proclaimed that the atom was the smallest particle in the universe but now are saying that quirks are the smallest particle. Also there are portions of the sea that we know nothing about. This lack of knowledge doesn't mean that things of myth do not exist, but we just haven't seen them. Also who are making the elaborate crop circles?
Because we don't have rock solid evidence that something exists or is possible does not mean that it impossible. Take for instance the computer that I am using to type this sermon, 50 years ago if I told you that a computer would be used for formatting text and creating documents that can be viewed all over the world instantaneously, I would have been told that was impossible. Now we can publish nicely formatted documents with pictures which can be viewed all over the world by any one logging unto an Internet service provider. Thus what was impossible and even unimaginable just 50 years ago is now not only possible, but common place.
Revelation 21:1-27
1 And 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.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 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 they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 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: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
This may sound fanciful to the unbeliever, but the Christian is promised an eternal home that is not part of this world. It is outside of the Solar System, and there will be no more lies or false hoods. No deceptions, and no secrets. Everything will be out in the open and everyone will know everything perfectly. Even time will have no meaning for time shall be no more. (When the Roll is Called Up Yonder) The description of heaven in Revelation sounds too good to be true, but there is a time coming when we will be a part of this city of God.
3014 E Street Philadelphia, PA 19134 Church Office Phone: (215) 634-3637 Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 535-4037
Services:
Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:30 AM
Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . . . . . . 12 NOON
Sunday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 PM
Wednesday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM
Copyright © 2001 LeRoy D. Cressy
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