by

Stanley Harris

If you were to stop the first ten people you met on the street and ask them, "do you know where heaven is?" you would probably discover that they knew little or nothing about heaven, About all that most people can say is: "well, I know that heaven is up," There is no good reason for such ignorance about heaven. The Bible tells us many things concerning this important subject. Tonight we plan to find out where heaven is and what it is like.

When the Apostle Paul described his experience of being taken to heaven in vision, he said, "I knew a man in Christ above 14 years ago, such an one caught up to the third heaven. He was caught up into paradise." 2 Cor. 12:2 and 4.

Paul was taken to the third heaven or paradise, as he calls it. Therefore, there must be three heavens. The first heaven is the atmospheric heaven above this earths where the birds fly, and the air planes travel and the clouds float.

The second heaven is the starry heaven, that David speaks about in Psalm 19:1 where he says, "The Heavens declare the glory of God." The third heaven is referred to in the Bible as the Heaven of Heavens. This is the place where God's throne is located. It is the paradise of God.

In this beautiful paradise where God's throne is located, we are told in Revelation 22 verses 1 and 2, that there is a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

Some day the Lord Jesus is coming to take the redeemed to this wonderful place to live for all eternity. In Rev. 1:7 it says, "Behold, he cometh with clouds: and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." And in Matthew 24:30 we read, "and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man, in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory."

All true Christians are looking for this event. Jesus gave the assurance before leaving this world nineteen hundred years ago. "Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also," John 14:1-3. Jesus is preparing mansions for us in the New Jerusalem this very night.

Some day the heavens will split wide open and an innumerable host of the angels will descend with God and Jesus Christ in the center of them all. They will come in a magnificent demonstration of power and glory to gather the redeemed. Won't it be a marvelous experience to be caught up by the angels in chariots of fire to meet the Lord in the air and to take the trip back to the Holy City passing through the Milky Way, millions of blazing suns on all sides. The passage way to paradise will seem diamond studded. Beautiful colors, like the rainbow, will shine all about us.

In Revelation the 21^st and 22^nd chapters we have the description of heaven, and if you want sweet dreams tonight, read these chapters before you go to bed. I shall read a portion of it as follows, "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." The lamb represents Christ and the bride represents the beautiful city.

Reading further it says, "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, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crysta1; 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."

Isn't this a magnificent sight? Walls clear as crystal, streets of transparent gold, the city sparkles with light as a stone most precious. The out-flashing splendor of God's glory shines forth. Again we read, "On the east three gates: on the north three gates: on the south three gates. and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wail thereof. 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. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits."

The city has twelve huge, magnificent gates, each one made of solid pearl. There are three gates on each side of the city. The city lies foursquare. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. The circumference is twelve thousand furlongs. A furlong is an eighth of a mile. Dividing twelve thousand by eight, we discover that the city is fifteen hundred miles in circumference. This would make it 375 miles on each side. To get some idea of the enormity of the size of this city, let us consider some of the cities of our present world.

There is New York City, for example, with its teeming millions. On the map it appears to be just a small spot. If the New Jerusalem were located where the city of New York is, it would not just be a small spot on the map, but it would cover more than the entire state of New York. The city of London is just a wide place in the road by comparison. This tremendous city dwarfs any of the cities of our earth, There is nothing in this world like it. There are no homes in this earth that compare to the mansions in heaven. We may look yearningly at the beautiful estates of the wealthy that we see in this earth, but let us not forget that there are more beautiful estates awaiting us in heaven, if we are faithful.

The wayfaring pilgrims that trudge through this world, can never begin to imagine the magnificence and the marvelous sights that await their eyes in God' s glory land. As we journey to this city, we shall suddenly see its rainbow glory and color in the distance, for the twelve foundations are made of twelve beautiful stones, precious stones of different colors. God has unlimited resources of precious jewels. I can just imagine as the saints come in view of the city, they are crying out, "Look, see, there it is. The beautiful city of God, we are home at last."

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:9 "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." There will be flowers and trees of colors of the deepest hue and in perfect symmetry. And the flowers will never fade. As we walk along the streets of transparent gold, that shine like mirrors the reflection of the mansions and the beautiful flowers and trees will make us feel like we are floating in the air in a wonderland of beauty,

I want to make it clear that there will be no cigarette stubs or tobacco juice spit on those sidewalks. There will be no drunkards lying in the gutters. There will be no beer parlors or taverns: there will be no brothels or cheap show places along the streets of gold, in the city of God.

There will be no need of the sun to shine in this city, for we are told, "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. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it."

The light will be brilliant but soft. It will not hurt our eyes, it will be pleasing and restful. The greatest joy of all will be the privilege of living in the presence of our Saviour. In Revelation 22:3, it says, "And there shall be no more curse: But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him: and they snail see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads.

There will be no more curse of sin. We will now live with Jesus and see him face to face. "Face to face with Christ my Saviour, face to face what will it be: When with rapture I behold him, Jesus Christ who died for me." Oh, friends, what a joy it will be, when we can throw our crowns at the feet of Jesus, and fall down and worship Him, shedding tears of unashamed devotion for the precious one, who gave his life that we might live for all eternity.

Our fear of catastrophes will be forever ended. In Isaiah 60:18 we read, "Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders, but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise." We will not fear wars, tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, floods, and atomic bombs. In fact, we then will not know what fear is any more. Animosities and hatreds will all be gone. There will be no violence in God's city.

Will there be children in heaven? In Isaiah 11:6 it says, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion, and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them." Yes, there will be children in heaven that will make heaven a happy place. We would miss their joyful laughter. The children will have pets. The magnificent lion, the king of beasts will be a beautiful pet. The sleek leopard will purr like a kitten. These creatures will not be blood thirsty, they will be just as tame as a lamb. The instinct to kill will be gone.

Will children grow up in heaven? We read in Malachi 4:2, "but unto you that fear my name shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." Our children are going to grow up like calves in the stall. They will not be dwarfs forever, they are going to grow.

In fact, we are told that the leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations and it seems that we will all grow up. On the resurrection day, those who have lived back in ancient times, will be great giants in comparison to the present generation of our world. Men like Adam, Seth, Noah and others will tower above us like great giants. Mankind has degenerated through the ages and has become stunted in growth. But in heaven we shall all grow up to our full stature.

Some people are concerned about what they are going to look like in heaven. The ladies are usually interested in their appearance and spend quite a bit of time in front of the mirror, but don't you men smile at this. There are some of you who spend as much time as your wives in front of the mirror. Well, you need not wonder what you will look like in heaven, because in Philippians 3:20 and 21 it tells us that we are going to look like Jesus. It says, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Isn't it thrilling to know that we are going to look like Jesus?

When we reach heaven where ever we may travel through the universe of God, to the unnumbered worlds, we shall be recognized by the inhabitants of these worlds as the redeemed of this earth, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, be cause we will look like him. Perhaps they will say when they see us, "there are some of those people who wore redeemed by the blood of the Son of God. Can't you see, they look like Jesus."

There are also some people who wonder if we will recognize our loved ones in heaven. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, we read, "Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in parts but then shall I know even as also I am known.' This text tells us that we are going to know our loved ones in heaven. One young woman heard her preacher say that we would not recognize our loved ones in heaven. She couldn't sleep that night. She rolled and tossed and finally she nudged her husband, who was sleeping soundly, and awakened him, and she said, "Oh John, I have been go troubled thinking about the sermon the preacher preached today." "Well, what did he say?" asked her husband. "He said that we wouldn't recognize each other in heaven. I love you so much John, that I couldn't be happy in heaven if I didn't know you." John turned over wearily, and with disgust said, "Oh, Mary, don't be foolish, Surely we are not going to be more ignorant in heaven than we are here on earth." How true this is. How could anybody ever think that we would be so ignorant in heaven that we wouldn't recognize our loved ones.

When Jesus arose from the grave, he was recognized by Mary when she heard him speak. She knew His voice. Two of His disciples failed to recognize Him as He walked with them on the road to Emaus. But when He sat down to eat supper with them and offered thanks, they recognized Him immediately by His characteristic way of returning thanks.

While we are going to be changed, still, we will recognize our loved ones by their general characteristics. There are three boys in our family. I always marveled at the fact that my mother could recognize when we came in at night, even though it was dark. As soon as I would unlock the door and start up the stairs to my room, mother would call out in the darkness, "Is that you Stanley?" I would answer, "yes, Mother." As I retired, I'd wonder, how did Mother know that it was I. Later on one of my other brothers would come in and I would hear her call out, "is that you, Lester?" And I would wonder, just how did she know that that was Lester. Well, I suppose it was by the way that we walked up the steps. Even though it was totally dark she recognized our footstep. She couldn't see us, but she knew who it was.

A few years ago, the number craze struck our world and during that time, I heard a preacher tell the people that in heaven, he believed that we were all going to have numbers. Well, I would hate to think that heaven is going to be that impersonal.

The Bible tolls us that in heaven, "your seed and your name shall remain." Isaiah 66:22. It also tells us that God is going to give us a new name that nobody will know but us. Revelation 2:17. Quite likely that name will represent our experience or our character. If we are noted for patience, it will have something to do with patience. Or if we are noted for kindness, or love, or zeal, or charitableness, our name will likely have something to do with those characteristics.

But coming back to this number business, there are some who believe that we are going to be disembodied spirits in heaven, floating around among the clouds, with a harp in our hands, without any shape, or form, or name. There wouldn't be much to cause us to want to go to heaven, if it's going to be a place like that, I would hate to think that we would float down a street of gold, and meet somebody, or perhaps pass right through them like a misty, willowy cloud. And, finally, realizing that someone had passed, we would say, "Well, good morning, number 679, how are you today? Have you seen number 7885?" And then he would answer, "No, I haven't seen number 7885, but I just saw number 6771." What kind of a place would heaven be, if we were just nothing but numbers and disembodied spirits floating around in space?

Well, I'm happy to tell you, that we are going to be real, and we will have names. We are told that we are going to see men like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, and that we are going to visit with them in heaven. (Luke 13:28) One of the greatest joys of heaven will be to visit with great Bible characters like Paul, and Moses, and Daniel, and Joseph, and Job and others.

Heaven is going to be a wonderful place for those who have been physically afflicted in this life, In Isaiah 35:5, 6 it says, "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped: then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." I can just imagine those who have been blind in this life, drinking in the dazzling beauties of heaven. Or those who have been unable to speak, and have had to use their hands in the sign language; now they can speak and they can sing, and I am sure their voices winning out above all the rest when they sing the praises of God. And those that have been crippled, now they can leap as an hart. The hart can almost literally fly. What can jump so high and run so fast? Well, I can imagine those that have been crippled, running down the streets of gold, and crying out to those that they see, "Look, look, friends, I can run: my limbs are made whole."

This world has become a vast lazar house of sickness, disease and death. Wherever we go, we find sickness and suffering. Almost every home has sickness. But God promises us, that in heaven, "the inhabitants shall not say, I am sick." Isaiah 33:24. We will not need hospitals or doctors. We are mighty thankful for them today, but we'll not need them in heaven. There will be no more insidious diseases like cancer, polio, heart trouble and tuberculosis. We will not hear people complaining, oh, my head; or oh, my back, or oh, my legs; or oh, my arms, or oh, my ears; or oh, my eyes; or oh, my feet; or oh, something. Those people who do nothing but talk about their operations will have to find another favorite subject of conversation in heaven. Just to think that we will live in the perfect bloom of health and vigor throughout all eternity, never growing old, never getting sick, and never concerned about death.

Christ's coming will end the flood of crime that has swept over this earth. In Isaiah 11:9 it says, "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." There will be no hurting, no destruction, no more criminals, gangsters, no prison houses, insane asylums, no need for a police force. There will be no one waiting around a dark corner ready to strike you over the head, or stab you in the back, or shoot you with a gun and rob you of your possessions. There will be no dark fearsome corners or alleys. We can even roam through the wilderness without fear.

If you are a lover of good food, you have a real treat in store when you get to heaven. There will be fruits in abundance, and they will not be blighted by disease, bugs, or worms. When you sink your teeth into a luscious peach, you need not fear that you will encounter a worm who has gotten there before you. The grapes will be huge and luscious. Ah, yes, and the figs, and the pomegranates and other delicious things. The Bible tells us that the Lord will feed us with the hidden manna. I have often wondered just what it is. It must be the food of angels. I can imagine that it is a very delightful dish, all of the foods of heaven will be delicious, except, perhaps to those who have developed perverted appetites in this world and who have learned to love the wrong things. There will be no lack of good things to eat.

There will be no depression. There will be no need to worry about where the next meal is coming from. The Lord Jesus is going to provide for all our needs. But someone says, "Brother Harris, you have been telling us about this city of God, but what about the text in Matthew 5:5 that says, 'Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.' Doesn't the Bible say that we shall inherit the earth? You have been telling us about going to God's paradise in the third heaven," Yes friends, that's right. But the Bible tells us that some day this beautiful city is going to come down out of heaven and settle upon this earth and become the capital of our world. Some night when I preach on the subject of the millennium, I shall tell you what the Bible says about the time and the place when this will happen.

We are told in Revelation 21, "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, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Notice that John says that he saw the city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. John also tells us that God is going to dwell among men. Yes, some day this beautiful city is going to come down to this earth and God will rule His universe from the earth, Then it will be that the meek shall inherit the earth, as Jesus prophesied, The Bible also tells us that before the city becomes the capital of the earth, that God is going to renovate this world by fire to cleanse it of all disease, filth and sin. In 2 Peter 3:10, 12, I read, "but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness; looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?"

Notice that the earth is going to be cleansed and purified by fire. And reading on, Peter tells us in the next verses, "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." 2 Peter 3:13,14.

After the earth has been cleansed by fire there will be a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Think of it. This earth that has fallen into disgrace and sin, but has been reclaimed through the blood of Jesus, will some day be elevated to the highest position in the universe of God. The Lord Himself, is going to rule from the world, from His capital city, the new Jerusalem. And we shall be His, servants and dwell in His presence.

After the earth has bean burned in the fire, we shall have the esteemed privilege of watching God recreate this earth and make it into a beautiful place, as it was in the Garden of Eden before sin entered. In Isaiah 35, we are told, that even the desert shall blossom like a rose. There shall be no more sea, we are told. No more barren places, no more waste places, The earth will be one vast garden of beauty.

The prophet Isaiah tells us in chapter 65, verses 17-23, "Behold, I create new heavens, and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind, and the voice of weeping shall no more be heard in her, nor the voice of crying, and they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit, . . . they shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble."

Oh, friends, think of it. We shall build houses, and plant vineyards in the earth made new. We can pick out a choice spot, nestled in the rolling hills of living green, or by a beautiful babbling brook, and build a beautiful home. We will have mansions in the city, and also beautiful homes out in the country. From any part of the earth, we can see the shining glory of the city of God, where the throne of God is located.

Throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity, we can develop our talents. We can delve into the realms of research to our heart's content. We can explore, throughout God's universe. We can travel. There will never be any end to the thrills that we will experience. We can reach the greatest heights of attainment in the field of music, or any other field that we may be interested in.

"And there shall be no more death." Revelation 2l:4. One of the hardest tasks of a minister is to conduct a funeral service, and see a dear loved one or friend placed in the tomb. There will be no more loss of loved ones, "neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain."

Friends, don't you yearn for the day of the Lord to come? "He that overcometh shall inherit all things." Revelation 21:7. Are you an overcomer? Are you going to inherit all these things? I wouldn't miss it for the world. God willing, I want to be with the saints, when they go marching in through the gates of the City. We are told in Isaiah 66:22, 23, we shall leave our homes in the country and enter the city, from one Sabbath to another to worship before Cod's throne. This will be a thrilling experience. With the millions of saints, we will gather before the great white throne, and Jesus will speak to us words of comfort and love. We have never heard a preacher like Jesus. There will be music such as we have never heard. We will hear the angels sing, myriads of them, as far as the eyes can see around the throne of God in perfect order. When the strings of thousands of harps are struck, the melody will ring out like a mammoth pipe organ. Thousands of trumpeters will play their melodious tones in harmony beyond anything we have ever known.

When the angel choir sings the celestial melodies of heaven, it will make the mightiest "Handel's Messiah" of this earth seem like a quartet by comparison. We have attended great meetings and conventions in this world, but we have never attended any meetings like those that we will have in God's kingdom. Perhaps the greatest thrill of all will be when God sings. In Zephaniah 3:17, the prophet tells us that God is going to stand in all of his glory and magnificence and sing. "The Lord is mighty, He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love; He will joy over thee with singing."

Try to imagine if you can, the majesty and splendor of God, as He stands before His redeemed children gathered around His throne. He will sing a magnificent song of joy, song of love. He pours out His love and joy to His redeemed children. I do not know if God's voice is a tenor, baritone, or bass, but I am sure that it is the most beautiful voice in the universe.

Great opera stars have thrilled thousands in the big auditoriums of our world. But human ears have never heard singing like will be heard at God's throne on the Sabbath Day. When God sings His mighty song, it will thrill our hearts as they have never been thrilled before. His song of love, will bring tears of unrestrained joy to our eyes, that will stream down our cheeks, and we will bow down before Him and shout His praises to the heavens.

"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. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 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.⁰ Revelation 21:6 to 8,

Only the overcomers will inherit all these things. And they will be called the sons of God. Oh, how I want to be a son of God, don't you? There will be no liars, murderers, whoremongers, or unbelievers in heaven. "The gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. They shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 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." Revelation 21:25 to 27.

Dear friends, is your name written in the Lamb's book of life? Are you going to be ready when Jesus comes? Will you take this magnificent journey to the beautiful city with the saints? "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14.

In order to gain entrance into this city, we must love God enough to obey Him. The disobedient and rebellious will not be permitted to enter. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews l2:14. Oh, may God make us pure and holy, so that we may see Him face to face and dwell in His presence forevermore. Will you meet me in the kingdom? Are you determined to be there? Have you surrendered all to Jesus Christ, so that you may be accepted into the city'? If you would like for me to pray tonight that God through Jesus Christ will accept you as a citizen of heaven, will you raise your hand just now? (Hands raised). Prayer followed.