The kingdom of our Lord is breaking into this world through the person, message, and people of Jesus Christ. We, as Christians, are tasked with engaging our world/culture with the distinctiveness of Jesus; confident of God’s ultimate triumph in recreation to establish a new heaven and new earth!
Observations: Characteristics of eternity
- The redeemed are the bride of Christ
- The bride of Christ is called the “New Jerusalem”
- The covenantal union in marriage between the redeemed and Jesus is the final fulfillment of all of God’s promises
- There is no longer any separation between God and man
- There is no longer any ethical determinations from the kingdom of man
Conclusions: To be a citizen of heaven means…
- You live with God
- You see this world as temporary
- You think according to the mind of Christ
- You extend citizenship to others graciously
- You are being prepared for marriage
Application:
- Suit up – By following the leading of the Spirit, the Word, and in community with the church
2 Corinthians 11:2
“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.”
Hosea 2:19
“I will promise to make you Mine forever. Yes, I will take you as My bride in what is right and good and fair, and in loving-kindness and in loving-pity.”
Isaiah 54:11-12
“Afflicted city, shaken by the storm and not comforted, see, I will set your stones of turquoise. Your foundations with lapis lazuli.I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.”
Beale, G. K.
“The pearls are good examples of the figurative nature of the whole vision since it is ludicrous to conceive of literal pearls so big that each one suffices for a gate proportional to a wall approximately 216 feet high.”
John 2:18-22
“Then the Jews asked Him, “What can You do to show us You have the right and the power to do these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this house of God and in three days I will build it again.” Then the Jews said, “It took forty-six years to build this house of God. Will You build it up in three days?” Jesus was speaking of His body as the house of God. After Jesus had been raised from the dead, His followers remembered He said this. They believed the Holy Writings and what He had said.”
Matthew 4:17
“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 10:5-7
“These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
Hebrews 11:8-10
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”
Hebrews 11:13-16
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Matthew 10:5-8
“These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”
Philippians 1:4-6
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Jude 24-25
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”