Somebody Loves You

Raul Ries: That's what Jesus does. He brings true satisfaction to my life. He quenches that thirst for the flesh and the desires of the flesh when I come to him. He gives me this living water that brings true peace and true satisfaction in my life, where I am at peace and satisfied in Jesus Christ.

Guest (Male): Welcome to Somebody Loves You Radio, the Bible teaching ministry of Raul Ries in Diamond Bar, California. As Raul continues with more in our series focused on the afterlife, he'll tell us about the Lord's gracious provision of a heavenly home.

For all who repent of their sin, forgiveness and salvation replace guilt and death. A future in God's presence is assured by our Lord Jesus Christ. Stay with us for encouragement to walk in the hope of heaven, surrendering your life to the Lord as His dearly loved child. Today's lesson is titled, "The Citizens of Heaven." Here's Raul Ries in Revelation chapter 21, beginning in verse one.

Raul Ries: There are many people today that do not really believe in heaven or hell. Of course, we know there are humanists, they're atheists, and at the same time, the Bible speaks so much about heaven. Seven hundred times in the Bible, it speaks about heaven, where God dwells, where we will live forever and ever and ever.

As a matter of fact, in human history, it began in the Garden of Eden, and it all ends in a city that is like the garden of paradise. That is for those who believe in Jesus Christ. We spoke on the great white throne judgment that is coming.

Many times, people don't realize that when a person dies without Christ, and many of us know loved ones and friends and even parents and grandparents and great-grandparents that have died in the past that did not know Christ. And yet, people constantly are trying to put people or literally squeeze people into heaven.

There are people from the pulpits of America that they don't want to offend at a funeral, so they will say the person lying before you has gone to be with the Lord. And yet, they're not with the Lord. We have to be careful to try to put people into heaven. That is God's job.

It is the job of the Holy Spirit. As a person comes to know God personally through faith in Jesus Christ, the Bible says that our names are written in the book of life. And then as we live our lives daily before God and we're submitted in obedience to God, then we can begin to see our future where we do not have to fear death any longer.

And that's one of the problems that many people have, they fear dying. I hate to say this, but I have loved ones that did not know the Lord, they have passed away. And one of the saddest things to think about, and this is reality, that we will never see them again. They're gone forever, especially if they're not Christian.

The only people that we will see when we die are people just like us, those that have repented, those that have received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. The rest of the people that have not believed and have not died in the Lord, the place where they go to is a place called hell.

But that is not a permanent place. It is only a place that is temporary. The Bible tells us that. The Bible told us in chapter 20, verses 11 through 15 last week, that at the end of the age after the 1,000-year reign of Christ, there will come the white throne judgment of God where every person that is dead in the sea gave up every person that was dead.

Hell gave up its dead, and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. And then the books were opened, and whoever's name was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Forever and ever and ever separated from God.

It is a reality that we are living in a place where it's only a temporal place. It's amazing to me that when a woman is going to have a child and she goes into labor pains, and the doctor begins to take that baby as the baby is coming out of the womb. As soon as that baby comes out of the womb, yes, everybody's excited. Why?

Because a new birth has come forth. Here he is, the living baby. But at the same time, as soon as that baby comes out of the womb, he begins to die. Every one of us, we begin to die the moment we're born, physically. Spiritually, God gives us the opportunity as we come into our teenage years, young adult years, and even when we get older or in our golden years.

God continues as long as you can breathe and as long as you can think and as long as you can respond, he gives you the opportunity of heaven by coming to repentance, by asking Jesus Christ to come into your hearts. Then you can get your name written in the book of life.

That's our goal, and it's really neat because what happens is that a person that has Christ in their lives, they're not afraid to die because I know where I'm going. I've read too many years about it, and because I believe God's Word, I am assured of that place called heaven one day.

And so whenever I visit someone in the hospital or a rest home and they're getting ready to go to be with the Lord, it is exciting to me because I see their expressions, I see their anxiety, I see the peace over their lives. And even some of them will say to me, "I see them. I see them."

And they're looking at angels surrounding their bedside. And the Bible says that angels do come to get us when we die, either to take us to heaven or to take us to hell. Luke chapter 16, verse 19, read it all the way through. It's really important that we understand that.

Paul the Apostle, as he was preaching in Lystra, they came and they stoned him and he died. And he went to heaven and he came back. In the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 2 and 4, listen, Paul said, "I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago, whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows, such a one was caught up to the third heaven."

"And he was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words which are not lawful for a man to utter in this world." Paul says, "When I came back here to this world and I was there in heaven, I can't even tell you how beautiful there are no words in human beings that can say what I saw."

Heaven, it's an incredible place where we will live forever and ever and ever as we go to be with the Lord.

Guest (Male): This is Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Ries. We'd like to take a brief timeout to remind you that we're here to help ground your life on the Bible's firm foundation. Visit somebodylovesyou.com for a wealth of resources and be sure and join Raul for Straight Talk every Tuesday at 10:00 AM Pacific on the Somebody Loves You worldwide YouTube channel. Now let's continue with more of today's study, "The Citizens Of Heaven." Here's Raul once again.

Raul Ries: Listen to what he says, beginning with chapter 21, verses 1 through 8 this morning, the citizens of the city. And then says, "Now I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and also there was no more sea."

Man, I can't believe no more surfing. I got bummed when I read that. No more surfing. But I guess God's going to have something better. Who knows? The first heaven and the first earth have passed away. The first time God sent his judgment into this world, he destroyed the world by water, by a flood. The second time will be by fire. By fire, it will be consumed.

And what's interesting is that it's very clear in the scriptures that there are three heavens scripturally. The first heaven is where the birds fly over the atmosphere of the earth. The second heaven is where literally the sun and the moon and the stars and the planets are.

And the third heaven is where God lives and dwells. And that's where we're going to be spending all eternity with him. But what's amazing to me is that as we get to go to heaven at the rapture of the church, we come back at the end of the seven years, and then for a 1,000 years, we rule and reign in the kingdom age here on the earth.

And then the white throne judgment comes about, and at that particular time and moment when that's over, this is when God now gets rid of the old earth and the old heaven and he creates everything brand new. And we get to enjoy it for all eternity, forever and ever and ever and ever.

Interesting what God says in his word. In 2 Peter, listen to what he says, 2 Peter chapter 3, verse 10. He says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with a fervent heat, both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up."

"Therefore, since all these things will be happening or dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening in the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, the elements will melt with a fervent heat?"

"Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." Interesting, righteousness dwells. He's warned us that he's coming and he's bringing with him a new heaven and a new earth. And guess what's coming too? A new Jerusalem, the city where we are going to be living in.

Those of you that are going with us, we're really looking forward to the trip to go to Israel. You're going to blow your minds. When we get to Jerusalem, you will blow your minds because it's still the ancient Jerusalem the Bible talks about. Yet over that side will be the millennium kingdom.

And then in that same side as God creates a new heavens and a new earth, there will be a new Jerusalem coming out from heaven. God will bring it down to the earth. Look what he says in verse 2: "And I, John, then saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Notice that.

It's interesting that Abraham had a vision of heaven in Hebrews 11, verses 10 and 16. And then the reality of heaven was experienced by believers in Galatians chapter 4, 26 and 31. And then in the consummation, awaiting all eternity, heaven is a reality. Hebrews 13:14.

Yet heaven, how big will it be, this new Jerusalem? This new Jerusalem, believe it or not, there's no more water. It will be as big as the moon, 1,400 miles each way cubit. It'll be like a cube. Incredible. This is where men will live. Those that receive Christ, men and women that have gone to heaven.

All those people that received Jesus Christ and were redeemed by Jesus Christ will live there in that new Jerusalem, in the new heavens and the new earth forever and ever and ever and ever. And yet the Bible doesn't tell us what we're going to do. We know one thing, we're going to worship, but probably God has something else for us to do.

Some people say, "Oh man, just worship? How boring." No, it's not like here. Paul said, "If I told you what heaven was about, you would freak out." He says, "There are no human words to express what I saw and what I heard in heaven." He's the only one that went up there and came back. Imagine that. He says, "Get ready for it because it's coming."

And look what's interesting here, verse 3: "And then I heard a loud voice from 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.'" Who is this tabernacle? Jesus Christ, the one that will dwell with each one of us individually will be there in the new Jerusalem.

No more sun, no more moon. He will be the light forever. Imagine that. He will be there as the light forever and ever and ever. And then what just totally blew me away, verse 4: "And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes." There's no more weeping, there's no more sorrow, there's no more death, no more crying, no more pain.

But you know what I've learned? I've learned that as a baby is born and he's strong and you become a teenager and a young person and you develop into your 20s and 30s, and then over your 30s—not to discourage those who are in 30s—over your 30s, you begin to kind of go down a little bit, slowly but surely.

The cells change. You look in the mirror at a picture 10 years ago, man, what happened? And then when you get old, you go, man, what happened? Because that's the nature of man. But you know what it is? If we would stay young and strong and healthy all of our life, we would never depend on God.

God has a way of humbling us. And if you're a Christian and you understand God's will and his purpose, then we don't murmur, we don't complain. We accept anything that happens to us because God is in control of my life. He knows what he's doing. He knows what he's doing in my life.

No more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying. There shall be no more pain. For the former things have passed away. And then what, verse 5? "And then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things brand new.' And then He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.'"

What does he mean? That God doesn't lie. You can depend and you can take God's word to the bank. He will keep his promises. Whatever he says he'll do. That's why I trust him. That's why we love him. That's why we're looking forward to heaven.

I've done so many funerals over the last 30 years. It's amazing how many people die every day. People are dying every day, young and old, because death is no respecter of persons. We have no guarantees that we'll be here next Sunday morning. It's up to God. No guarantee for this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

That's why the Bible says we need to live our lives daily before God. Why? Because we don't know what tomorrow holds. But if we hold on to Jesus Christ, then we walk by faith. By faith because we know his plan for our lives already.

Whenever I can't understand things in the Bible, I always fall back on those things which I do understand. And what is that? God loves me. God cares for me. He's given to me his grace and his love and his mercy and he's prepared a place for me to go there when I take my last breath. To be in the presence of the Lord forever and ever and ever in his presence. I love it.

Verse 6, look what he says. And then he said to me, "John, it is done, finished." Remember in the cross? It is finished. "I am the Alpha, the Omega, the first and the last two letters of the Greek alphabet. I am the A and the Z. It's done, totally done. The beginning and the end. I give of the fountain of water of life freely to him who thirst."

Even here in the conclusion of the book of Revelation, he still is giving out what? The water of life freely to anyone that desires it. Salvation, the free gift of God. He brings true satisfaction to my life. He quenches that thirst for the flesh and the desires of the flesh when I come to him.

He gives me this living water that brings true peace and true satisfaction in my life, where I am at peace and satisfied in Jesus Christ. Otherwise, I keep seeking. Every experience apart from God is an empty experience. It leads you to another experience. That's why people are so bored.

Imagine what a boring life we have every day. I mean, we do 98% through our whole life the same thing. We go to sleep, we get up in the morning, we brush our teeth, we go to the bathroom, and then we go to work, eat breakfast, whatever we do, we come home and we sleep again. Boring.

Or people every Friday night, party time, Saturday night party time. Every week and throughout the week, the hangovers and all the problems and then the weekend comes on and their lights light up. Oh, Friday night, alright! Saturday morning, oh man. Saturday night, alright! Sunday morning, oh no.

It's crazy. But as a child of God, every day we're in steady on course. We don't have to go out and do that kind of thing. You could just sit down and read the Word of God and pray and just fellowship and come to church and you can receive a high in the Lord.

And you don't have to smoke anything. And you can be walking out just, but the Lord's the only one that can do that in our lives. That's why Christ is so cool. Because we see our friends, we see our loved ones, they're so miserable. They see us, but they won't come.

So you guys just pray for them. You've got to let that go and let God work. And it's so cool because finally, once and for all, when they see their emptiness, they come to you and say, "You know what? I'm ready. I want to surrender to the Lord." And that's when that living water comes in and they drink of it and they say, "Man, I wish I would have come to the Lord so many years ago."

Don't wait. Do it today. Today is the day of salvation. Verse 7, "He who overcomes shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son." Wow. What a beautiful thing. Today Jesus Christ can become your father and you can become his daughter or you can become his son if you submit to him your life.

Guest (Male): How wonderful it is to know that there is life beyond our years on this earth, and we can spend it in the presence of God, free from all suffering and fear. You're listening to Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Ries. Our lesson today was titled "The Citizens of Heaven."

An unedited version can be yours for a donation of five dollars or more when you call us at 800-634-9165. Now, if you still have questions about what happens after you die, we'd like to tell you about Raul's clarifying four-part series titled Heaven or Hell. It's available on both CD and USB.

As you explore the Bible's teachings about the afterlife, you'll find confidence in the Lord's promise of an eternal home. You'll also see that heaven isn't an automatic destination, but rather one for those who've put their faith fully in the Lord Jesus Christ. Visit somebodylovesyou.com or call 800-634-9165 to order Raul's four-message Heaven or Hell study.

We'll send you the CD set for 18 dollars or the flash drive for just 10. Our number again is 800-634-9165. Or write to Somebody Loves You Radio, Post Office Box 4440, Diamond Bar, California, 91765. This is a listener-supported ministry, and we're grateful for every contribution that enables us to keep sharing the good news of God's salvation.

Tune in again next time as we continue this series with a look at the biblical response to a commonly held belief that all roads lead to heaven. We'll see that there's only one way to experience eternal communion with God, and that is through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This program is sponsored by Somebody Loves You Radio in Diamond Bar, California.