Eternal Rewards Pt. 5

This is Ronald Hopkins, and thank you for joining the Life Center Church.

We've been talking about eternal rewards, living for eternity.

And on last week, we talked about and showed you scripturally the realities of hell.

So today we're going to talk about the realities of heaven.

Amen.

So let's go back to Colossians chapter 3, which has been our foundation text.

Colossians 3 · chapter mention

It says, set your affection on things above, not on the things on the earth.

The amplifier says, set your mind and keep focus habitually on the things above.

Heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth, which only have temporary value.

Now, what happens when a person, meaning a born-again believer, transitions.

They change addresses, they change cities.

Now, 2 Corinthians chapter 5, it says, we are confident.

2 Corinthians 5 · chapter mention

So you got to be confident in this.

You have to know this without a shadow of a doubt.

To be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord.

So to be absent from this physical body, this what I call avatar, which allows us to operate in the earth as a speaking spirit, this physical body, the real us is no longer here.

So, Tina, why don't you put that graphic up?

I believe these graphics brought things to life last week.

So when a person takes their last breath on earth, the real them, their spirit, leaves their physical body.

And as you see in this graphic, they are escorted, or we are escorted into the presence of God by an angel.

Amen.

Hebrew says you have an angel that is, you realize when we get into this next week, you and I will be responsible for judging not only the world, but the angels.

Do I have any heirs in the house today?

So that same angel that's been sent to protect you is the same one that will usher you into.

Yes, in the natural, we are going to miss them because they meant a lot to us.

But on the other side, the Bible says the day of one's death is better than the day when that person was born.

We have to see things from God's perspective and not this earthly, fleshly perspective.

Because if we always live according to this flesh, you're going to be limited in what you can do for God.

Now, John chapter 14, point number one.

John 14 · chapter mention

Truths about heaven.

Truths about heaven.

Because contrary to what you have heard, heaven is not your home.

I know how y'all, I know you're looking at me like what?

It's a temporary intermediate state.

You're not supposed to live in heaven forever.

That's what most believers believe.

So you're incorrect in your doctrine.

Heaven is temporary.

Okay?

Let's talk about these truths about heaven because what happens even at home going celebrations, we talk incorrectly.

Because we talk about no more death and no more pain.

But you realize that's not referring to heaven?

Uh-huh.

No more pain.

The streets are transparent gold.

That's not heaven.

So I'm gonna show you from the word what heaven is like.

And then show you the difference between heaven and new Jerusalem.

John chapter 14.

John 14 · chapter mention

Jesus says in verse number two, in my father's house are many mansions.

If it were not so, I would have told you.

Jesus says, Now I'm going to prepare a place.

So heaven is a place.

Heaven is a destination for those who said, Jesus is Lord of my life.

He says, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself.

That where I am, there you may be also.

Go to Isaiah 66.

Isaiah 66, verse number one, thus says the Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.

So I got to thinking about this.

If heaven is his throne and the earth is his footstool, how big is God?

If heaven, where he is on the throne, that we can't get there yet, and this thing called the earth is standing in the middle of the sky, you mean to tell me God is sitting on the throne and his leg is hanging down?

Then how big is your God?

Heaven is not a place for believers just floating in the sky.

It is a destination.

Now, let me give you a definition as we get started.

It is the realm above the earthly realm.

It's the heavenly realm where God manifests his presence, he establishes his throne, and he exercises his sovereignty.

Now, let me give you these really quickly because there are three different types of heaven.

Three different types of heaven so you don't get it confused on what heaven he's talking about.

Genesis chapter 1, verse number 20 says, And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and the fowl that may fly above the earth and the open firmament of heaven.

Genesis 1 · chapter mention

So the first type of heaven that we know that we can actually see is the sky.

That's where the birds fly.

The sky.

Go to Genesis chapter 1, verse number 14, and we'll look at through 17.

Genesis 1 · chapter mention

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from night, and let them be signs and for seasons and for days and for years, and let them be for the lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.

And it was so.

And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser to rule the night.

He made the earth and the sky.

Notice the second type of heaven is what we call space.

That's where you can see the sun, you can see the moon, you can see at times planets, and you would need a stethoscope to see that.

So there are two types of heaven that I just showed you from the scripture.

And then here's the third type of heaven.

Go to 2 Corinthians chapter 12.

2 Corinthians 12 · chapter mention

This is the place where God resides.

And the only way that we are going to get to heaven is that you've got to die.

That's the process.

You cannot get to heaven on jet blue.

On delta.

That's not happening.

So, 2 Corinthians chapter 2, verse number 2, Paul says, I know a man in Christ above 14 years ago.

2 Corinthians 2 · chapter mention

Whether in the body, I cannot tell, or whether out of the body I cannot tell, God knoweth.

Such a one caught up into the third heaven.

So this man was caught up in heaven, or another word of saying heaven is paradise.

And it says that he heard unspeakable words which was not lawful for anybody to utter.

Now, let's start in Revelation chapter four, talking about the third heaven or paradise.

I'm gonna build my case today so it is crystal clear when you walk out of here, you understand what heaven is like.

Revelation chapter 4, verse number 2 says, and immediately, in fact, let me back up to verse number one.

Revelation 4 · chapter mention

It says, and after this, this is John.

John is the one who died a natural death.

So John, the revelator, says in verse number one, after this, I looked and behold, a door was open in heaven.

Door opens for you to get to heaven.

And the first voice, which I heard as it were, a trumpet talking to me.

So John is doing the best that he can using natural examples or natural words to illustrate what heaven is like.

He says, the first voice was like a trumpet.

And that voice says, Come up here, and I will show you things which are going to happen afterwards.

So anytime you read the revelation of Jesus, there are a couple of things that's happening.

It is about the present, the past, and the future.

So when you read the revelation of Jesus or the unveiling of Jesus, you will see that he is talking about things that are happening right now.

Things that have happened in the past and things that will happen in our future.

Verse number two says, and immediately I was in the spirit.

And behold, a throne was set in heaven.

And one sat on the throne.

And he that sat was to look upon like jasper and sardine stone.

And there was a rainbow round about the throne, and the sight like an emerald.

And round about the throne there were four and twenty seats.

And upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

And out of the throne proceeded thunderings and lightnings and voices, and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

We're gonna break all this down so you have an understanding.

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal, and in the midst of the throne, and around about the throne, there were four beasts full of eyes, before and behind.

And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast was like a calf, and the third beast had a face of a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle, and the four beasts, each of them had six wings about them, and they were full of eyes within, and they rest not, they rest not day and night, saying, holy, holy, holy.

The Lord God Almighty, which was and is, and you are the one to come.

And when those beasts gave glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before the him who sat on the throne, and they worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you are the one that's created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.

Now, let's jump back into this because in verse number two, he says, Immediately I was in the spirit, and behold, notice the first thing that he saw.

He didn't see streets paved with gold.

That's what we hear.

But the scripture says when he was in heaven, he saw a throne.

So he's given us a biblical description of heaven, not New Jerusalem.

So in heaven, there's a throne.

The throne represents authority, the throne represents kingship.

The throne represents rulership.

So when John is looking at this throne, he's recognizing there's one person who's in control of everything.

And who's on that throne is God.

See, heaven isn't defined about the things that are in heaven.

Heaven is defined about who is in heaven.

And I want you to understand, who is in heaven, it is God Almighty, and He is the one who's sitting on that throne.

Now, everything responds to the throne.

Or everything responds to the one who's sitting on the throne.

Everything revolves around the one who's on the throne.

See, on the earth we learn that everything has a tendency to revolve around us.

Or at least you want it to.

But when you get to heaven, you're gonna have to make an adjustment because everything and every person and everything that's alive, trees, grass, animals, will revolve around the one who's on the throne.

It's about him.

Verse number three says, and he that sat was to look upon like jasper and sardine stone.

So he is trying to describe what he's looking at.

Now, let's show this image because he's trying to describe not the face of God, he's trying to describe what's coming from him.

So the throne represents the glory of God, the goodness of God.

So he's trying, as he's looking at God, he's trying to describe how good God is because the goodness of God is coming out of him as he's sitting on the throne.

He's overwhelmed by how good God is.

So he's trying to describe the goodness of God using natural things that we know like diamonds and precious stones.

Because those words are the only words that he can articulate about how good God actually is.

When you understand how good God is, you will do and you will practice what we will actually live when we get to heaven.

Then I want you to see something else because he says, and there was a rainbow round about the throne.

There was a rainbow round, remember, everything revolves around the throne.

This is a reference to Genesis chapter nine, because God made a promise.

So this is telling us that even in heaven the rainbow is there to remind us that God is a covenant-keeping God.

That not only will God keep his covenant, he is the one that will bring his covenant to pass when you are bold enough to believe what he's saying.

So there's a rainbow in heaven.

Verse number four says, and round about the throne.

There were four and twenty seats.

And upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting.

These individuals were clothed in white raiment, and they had on heads of crowns of gold.

So in heaven, it's a place of order.

Now, put up the next image.

The thrones represent delegated authority.

The white represents righteousness, purity, and victory.

And the golden crowns are associated with God has honored them.

And God has given them a place of rulership.

And they understand, these twenty-four elders, is that even though they have authority, they recognize that the authority that they have has been given to them by the one who sits on the throne.

Now, watch verse number five.

And it says, and out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunders and voices.

And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

Show that graphic for me.

Because in heaven there is flashes of lightning, there is thundering, or there is power, and then there are voices coming from the throne.

So heaven is not silent.

Heaven is loud.

Shouting, praising, giving glory and honor to the one who sits on the throne.

Now, and before the throne there were seven lamps of fire burning, and the Bible says, which are the seven spirits of God.

The seven spirits of God are in heaven before the throne.

Well, what are the seven spirits of God then?

I'm glad you asked that question.

Go to Isaiah chapter 11.

Isaiah 11 · chapter mention

Because all of this is taking place in heaven.

Verse number two.

It says, and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.

The spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, and shall make him quick of understanding in the fear of the Lord.

So, in other words, these are the seven manifestations that Jesus operated in when he was walking on the face of the earth.

Well, who was Jesus cooperating with?

The Holy Ghost.

So in heaven, you have a representation, go back to that graphic.

The seven spirits of God, but if you see this cloud, it is the very person that lives on the inside of us who is the Holy Spirit who is before the throne.

That's why you don't need a Holy Spirit when you get to heaven.

You only need them while you're here in the earth.

Holy Spirit is before the throne.

When we get later on, the same way that God the Father, Holy Spirit, and Jesus were in the beginning of creation, when he created the world in Genesis chapter 1, you see a pattern.

Genesis 1 · chapter mention

He is all three of them will be before the throne.

Verse number six says, and before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal, and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

And the first beast was like a lion.

Tina, why don't you put that graphic up?

So you can understand how these creatures, these living creatures, look before the throne of God.

Notice, he is full of eyes.

They see everything.

There's only one person who's all knowing.

That's God.

But they see everything.

Notice every beast will have six wings.

If I were to turn that image around, you would see that there are eyes in the front and eyes in the back.

Go to the next image.

And the second beast was like a calf.

Notice the eyes.

Notice the wings.

Go to the next image.

And the third beast had a face like a man.

Go to the final image about the beast.

And the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

Now I want you to understand that these beasts don't go anywhere.

They are before the throne of God.

And notice what these beasts are saying night and day, day and night.

Holy, holy, holy.

For the Lord God Almighty.

You are the one that was.

You are the one that is.

And you are the one that is to come.

Let me read this to you.

When they they're saying the Lord God Almighty, they're saying, you are the one of unlimited power.

The one which was, the one who ruled us before.

The one which is the one who rules us right now.

The one which is to come, you will still be ruling when everything else is finished.

See, God doesn't age, God doesn't get weak.

There's no ending to God, there is no beginning to God, He just is.

If you want any kind of consistency in your life, you better focus in on God.

And think about it.

They don't get tired.

They don't get tired.

Worshiping.

Why?

Because as they're before the throne, they see a different facet of the goodness and the mercy and the grace and the love of God.

And they've been doing this for over 6,000 years.

It means we can never exhaust how good God is.

Now, it says, and when those beasts give, verse number nine, and when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him who sat on the throne who liveth forever, verse number 10.

It says, the four and twenty elders, after they do this, then the four and twenty elders step on the scene.

Then they fall down before him.

I want you to picture that.

As they're saying, holy, holy, holy, the Lord God Almighty, the one which was, the one which is, and the one which is to come, after they get done saying that.

The 420 elders now start to bow down.

Telling you, there is order in heaven.

And they worship him that liveth forever and ever, and then they cast down their crowns before him.

And they say, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power.

For you are the one that's created us.

And you are the one that created all things.

And the reason why we exist, we exist because of you.

They're paying homage to God.

They're honoring God for who he is, not for what he's done.

They are before the throne room of God, giving him glory and honor and praise.

Heaven's worship isn't chaotic.

Heaven has a center, and the center of heaven is God.

And if that is the case, and that is the place where I will eventually end up, I probably should number one, center my life around God.

Number two, practice living a life of praise and worship, not when I just come to church.

Now, point number two, let me show you what else is happening in heaven.

Revelation chapter five, verse number one.

And I saw the right hand of him that sat on the throne with a book.

Written within, and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

And I saw a strange, strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof.

This is judgment that will now come on the earth.

That's why you want to make sure that you are saved for real.

Like you're not playing church.

Verse number three says, And no man in heaven nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereupon.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open or even read the book.

And no man could even look upon this book.

One of the elders said unto me, Don't weep.

Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah.

The root of David.

He's the one that paid the price.

He's the one who went to the cross.

He's the one who prevailed.

He is worthy to open up the scrolls, to read the book.

And I beheld, and lo in the midst of the throne.

So God is in the throne.

Holy Spirit is in the throne.

And notice who else is there.

The Lamb.

The Lamb.

Jesus is before the throne of God, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the spirits of God sent forth unto the earth.

Now, show that graphic.

Yeah.

Verse number eight says, and when he, the Lamb, took the book, the four beasts, and the four and twenty elders fell down before the lamb, having each one of them harps and golden vials full of odors.

Watch this.

Which are the prayers of believers.

Come on, talk about that.

Talk about that.

See, you gotta understand that prayer isn't wasted time.

Your prayers go up to God as incense.

And it comes down in the form of an answer.

Your prayer isn't insignificant to God.

So don't think that God doesn't hear you when you pray.

Prayers even, sometimes what happens is that you think God has ignored you because you have not received the manifestation.

It made it up to heaven.

It's just stored up.

Heaven values your prayer life.

If we understood what was happening in heaven, you get up in the morning.

You communicate all day with God.

Verse number nine says, and they sung a new song saying, Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof.

For you are the one that was slain.

You are the one that redeemed us to God by your blood.

Out of every kindred, every tongue, all people, and all nations.

So at this moment, heaven is erupting with worship.

So heaven is loud.

And in heaven, there is worship taking place night and day, 247, 365.

You don't like loud music?

You need to readjust your thinking.

Because it is going to be loud.

Verse number 10 says, and because he redeemed us with his blood, you've made us unto our God, kings and priests.

This is gonna be key because next week, when we talk about New Jerusalem and we talk about us coming back down to the earth, we will then rule as kings and priests and have different responsibilities on behalf of the king.

Read your Bible.

Notice it says, and we shall reign, didn't say in heaven.

We are going to reign on the earth, depending upon what you have done for him, will determine how you rule and reign.

We already talked about these heavenly rewards.

Some will be responsible for ruling over cities, some will be responsible for ruling over planets, some will be responsible for taking care of the animal kingdom.

Some may be responsible for taking charge of the plants.

You have to understand something.

God is going to make the earth brand new.

We coming back down here.

Same way that there are cities now, there'll be cities in heaven.

God is a creative God, and because of sin, remember there'll be no more sin.

Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus.

So because there is no more sin, maybe God is going to create some more planets.

Who's going to rule over those planets?

And remember, everything has to give glory and honor to the one who created all things.

Let me show you what else is in heaven.

Verse number 11.

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels.

Angels round about the throne, and the beasts and the elders, and the number of them, this is referring to the angels, was ten thousands times ten thousands and thousands of thousands.

So John is looking around heaven and he sees the multitudes of angels.

Now I did some calculation on what ten thousands times ten thousands and thousands of thousands.

That's over a hundred million angels.

So wait a minute.

Wait.

So if there are over ten million angels that are there, how big is the throne room of God?

Verse 12 says, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is a lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

And every living creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and such are in the sea creatures in the sea.

So there is life underneath.

There is life in the sea.

Which means if you have creatures in the sea that were created to honor God, you have creatures in the sea even right now that Satan is using.

Don't get caught up with folks on this social media talking about there's no demons.

And it's a spirit of delusion that's trying to trick the body of Christ into believing that what God said is not true.

And such that are in the sea, and all that are therein, I heard saying, So even they will bow down.

Even the fish will give glory to God.

Everything is going to give glory and honor to God.

Notice, he said, I heard them say, which means they have a voice.

Take them slow, take them slow, honey.

Take them slow.

If you go back to the garden, you remember that Satan came in the form of a snake and he communicated with words and good.

Open the eyes, Lord, open the eyes.

Murder didn't happen until after the fall.

So what God will do is He will restore everything back to the way it was before sin ever happened.

Thank you, Jesus.

Remember, Adam and Eve were made in God's image and God's likeness, and they were supposed to rule, reign, repopulate, re.

They were supposed to start in this little garden and then go beyond that.

All God is going to do is restore everything back to the original state and put us in charge.

Here's the thing you got to understand.

If you're not faithful now, you won't be faithful then.

That's not everybody.

But how you rule and reign determines what you do for him now.

Now, how you serve him now.

The motif in your heart now.

Blessings and honor and glory and power be unto him that sitteth on the throne and the lamb forever and ever.

And the four beasts said, Amen.

And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth forever and ever.

Now let me show you how heaven looks.

Put up that final graphic of all of this together.

When you read Revelation chapter seven, you will see that the redeemed, those that have been bought with a price, bought with his blood, we will be right there with the angels, with the elders, with the four and twenty elders, and the beast.

And we will all give glory and honor to God and to the Lord Jesus Christ.

And what it will be, it will be a big family reunion.

Because the only people that are going to be there are the people who said, Jesus is Lord over my life.

There is no east side in heaven.

There is no color section in heaven.

There is no ethnicity in heaven.

Not no.

Everybody who said Jesus is Lord will be before the throne of God.

And then what will happen is then we will have the merit supper of the Lamb.

And then on next week, I am going to show you scripturally what happens when we come back down here, how we will rule and reign.

And this is where many people misunderstand that heaven is not a place where it's transparent see-through gold.

Even though that's been preached at many homegoing celebrations.

That's not how heaven looks.

I just showed you, chapter and verse, what's happening in heaven.

So if your loved one has gone home to be with the Lord, this is what they're doing.

And I can guarantee you, if you had the opportunity to talk to them, which you won't, and you ask them to come back down here and compare this earth to the glory that John is trying to describe, the goodness of God, the splendor of God, the brightness of God, the love of God that's coming.

You can, he can feel that love.

I will guarantee you, with everything that I have, they would not want to come back down here.

So we should celebrate the fact that they are in the presence of the Lord, and then we should celebrate the fact that, man, you did all that for me.

Even in studying this, it brought up tears to my eyes.

Because you gotta understand, and we're joint heirs with Jesus.

All what I'm gonna show you next week belongs to you.

Thank you, Lord.

And he did it because he's in love with you.

And because of that, man, I'm serving him with everything on the inside of me.

That's what's taking place in heaven.

And that's only a rendition.

I did the best that I could.

You did a good job.

That's the reality of heaven.

Trying to tell you, next week, when you see all of this that God has laid out, when we come back down here, God spares no expense.

The gold, the jewels.

We serve an amazing Father.

Come on, let's go ahead and lift up our hands today.

Father, thank you that you loved us and you still love us with an everlasting love.

That you bought us and you sent Jesus to pay the price for all of our lives so that we can spend eternity knowing you.

And that was the Apostle Paul's prayer, that we would know you.

So, Father, my prayer today is that everybody that's in the building and everybody that's watching online, that they have a more deeper, intimate union with you.

That you would manifest yourself and show yourself to be real at the point wherever they need you to be.

Father, as a result of that, all the days of their life, their hunger and thirst and chase after you, and they'll be filled, filled with truth, filled with the purpose of living for you.

In the name of Jesus.

Amen.

Now, where every head is bowed and every eye is closed in prayer.