In this episode of the International Gospel Hour, we embark on a spiritual journey to explore the unparalleled beauty of heaven. Imagining a place of glorious light, free from earthly sufferings, listeners are invited to envision heaven as a prepared place for the prepared. Drawing inspiration from scriptures like John 14 and Revelation 21, we delve into the majestic description of heaven’s promise and its eternal allure.
Song by many and long for by the same, how beautiful heaven must be! Let’s talk of the beauty of heaven today from the International Gospel Hour. It’s coming right up.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour.
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Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
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Well, thank you to our J-Web for his kind words, and greetings to all of you. It’s so good to have you with us today as we study the Word of God together here from the International Gospel Hour. We’ve been on the air since 1934, and we’re going to keep going strong because of the good listening audience that we have. You know, in Psalm 119, 105, the Bible says, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Let us follow that light today. It’s called a prepared place for prepared people. That’s heaven. The simple speaking of the word itself brings nothing but good thoughts, thoughts of promise, thoughts of hope, a place wherein one longs to be. In Philippians 1.21, Paul said, Think of the promise of heaven with that statement of Paul. It is a gain for the one who is living for Christ. How about these words from John 14, verses 1-3? Let not your heart be troubled. You 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, and 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 to myself, that where I am, there you may be also. Here are words of assurance to the apostles and words that are applicable to us as the obedient today, those of us who are obedient unto God. Let’s spend time talking about the beauty of heaven today, shall we? But first, let’s pause for a few seconds with a few words from our good friend, Jay Webb.
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We love our friends and fellow servants at HouseToHouse.com. It’s a great website for researching topics. It has an excellent media section and free materials are available, for example. Please request a free copy of their publication, House to House, Heart to Heart. Check it out today at HouseToHouse.com.
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The beauty of heaven. Well, let’s see what is there. Heaven is lit by the glory of God, that wonderful splendor. Revelation 21, verse 11, Having the glory of God, her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. In Revelation 21, verse 23, The city had no need of the sun nor of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. Well, what about the glory of the saved who will be there? In Romans 8, verse 18, Paul said, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. I think about another hymn concerning heaven. It says, Heaven will surely be worth it all far beyond sorrows that here befall. You know, when we talk about the book of Revelation, let’s keep in mind, friends, that it is a figuratively written book. The description of the size of heaven from Revelation 21, in human understanding, is massive and beautiful. But then we think of such passages as Ephesians 3 and verse 20, and Isaiah 55, 8 and 9, how God can exceed for us what we can even ask or think about. Imagine. From Revelation 21, verses 12 through 21, we see dimensions and materials described that are massive. They’re covered in majestic beauty in the human description. But friends, when I imagine the divine that is ahead, it’s more than one can even ask or think. I mean, when you look at Revelation 21, verses 12, 17, and 18, the great and high wall that will grant protection with the 12 tribes and 12 apostles listed, that’s a symbol of complete salvation under any covenant God has prepared for the faithful. It has a length, a breadth, and a height of 1,500 miles. That’s a massive size to you and I today, according to verse 16. But imagine how great it will be. The foundation of the wall is twelve precious stones and precious gates as pearls, verses 19-21. That means God has prepared the very, very best for us. What a beautiful description, friends. You cannot beat that description. How beautiful heaven must be. You know, friends, I have to pause here and ask this question. Are you sure you are going to heaven? Are you ready to go? You know, there are individuals that say, Well, I think I am, or I hope I am. But you know, God has allowed us through His Word to know. And maybe you’re thinking, I want to know more. I love heaven, but I’m thinking about some things. Well, friends, let us help you. I’m going to pause quickly once again for our J-Web, who has some free words. Or shall I say all of his words are free? He has some words about our free study that we would love to send to you. Here is, once again, our J-Web.
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Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
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And friends, we would love to send you that free Bible course. We offer it quite often here at International Gospel Hour. And we’d love for you to have a copy of that Bible course. So many of you requested. We hope those of you that have received it continue to work within it. Again, everything we offer here is absolutely free. Let’s continue our study of the beauty of heaven. Now, we have seen what is there. But with the beauty of heaven, let’s see what is not there. You know, there are times my beloved bride will look at me and say, let’s take a trip, maybe a little vacation, a holiday, or a getaway. And a lot of times I’ll say, well, is there any cell phone service there? And if I get a, well, no, not in some places, I will say, good. Now, while cell phones seem to be a part of living today, I do love the break every now and then, and you probably feel the same way. So I like to know what is not there where I’m going. Now, I realize that is a little bit tongue-in-cheek, if you will, but sometimes it is what’s not available in our travels that will make the great appeal. So with heaven, let’s see what is not there. Overall, friends, there’s no physical suffering, for the physical is no longer available. It’s not in that realm. It is long gone. Tell us, Paul. 2 Corinthians 5, 1 and 2. For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation, which is from heaven. Yes, friends, we groan, we suffer, but we long for a day when there is no more physical suffering. In Revelation 21, verse 4, we find where the former things are passed away. How within that verse God shall wipe away all tears. Well, there’s a sign of comfort. There are no more tears. It’s not temporary, but it’s forever. So there are no tears in heaven as the old hymn goes. What about no more death? There’s no more separation. No more funeral homes or mortuaries. No more cemeteries. There’s no longer a separation. There’s no more sorrow or mourning or heartache or even missing one that we love. There’s no more crying. The word crying there is the sign of wailing, which tears come from a hurt that we cry out because we hurt so bad. It’s not going to be there. No more pain. There’s no more misery, no more ailments, no more sicknesses, no more pharmacies. And I mean that with all due respect to my friends who are pharmacists and even a couple of cousins. And there’s no more pain, no more misery that’s there. No night there. You know, that means loneliness is gone. There’s no night. You know, I have individuals tell me who have lost loved ones, mainly spouses. They tell me, they say, oh, Jeff, how the days are long. But the nights can be very, very long. There is nothing that defiles. All these things are passed away. They are gone. You see, the beauty of heaven is also what is not there. That beauty, that glory, what is not there. After this life, for the one that is saved, there’s no more harm, no more hurts, no more hassle. The beauty of heaven. Oh, how beautiful indeed it is. Or once again that old hymn, how beautiful heaven must be. Sweet home of the happy and free. Fair haven of rest for the weary, how beautiful heaven must be. Friends, how can anyone not desire heaven and its beauty? You see, we talk about what is not there, but we also realize there are individuals who will not be there. Friends, we just can’t live any way that we want to on this earth and expect to be saved. Remember, Hebrews 5, 8, and 9 tells us that Jesus is the author of eternal salvation unto all that obey Him. If we fail to obey Him, He is not our author. Those who do not obey God will not be in heaven, 2 Thessalonians 1 and verse 8. That’s why we want to prompt you, friends, to think on these things as we study together, to seek out the study material that we will share with you. because all of us want to believe in God and to repent of our sins, confess our faith in Him and be baptized into Christ, for our sins to be remitted and for us to be added to His church we read of in the New Testament. And we must continue that faithful walk, for there are those, sadly, who will err from the truth. James 5, 19 and 20. As well as we think of the prodigal son in Luke, in verse 15, or Luke chapter 15, who left home, but he came back. In Hebrews 3, in verse 12, Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. And friends, we need to think on those things. We need to make certain that we’re doing right and not think we are. There were those in Matthew chapter 7 verses 21 through 23 who said, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in thy name and in thy name did many wonderful works and so on. But Jesus said, Depart from me, I never knew you. We need to think on these things, friends, and make certain that our lives are prepared for heaven and its beauty when we leave this earth. Whether we die or the Lord returns, this old world ends and judgment comes near. We’re going to continue to study these things at another time, friends. We’re thankful to spend time with you today talking about the beauty of heaven and who will be there and who will not be there, what is there and what is not there. Let us seek the word of God in all that we do. And thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie. And friends, as always, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
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Thank you for listening to our broadcast today and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com God be with you till we meet again.
