FUTURE WORLD or “…And They Lived Happily Ever After” By Pastor Paul Fedena
Revelation 22:1-6 1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 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. 3 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: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. 6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
INTRO.: A. Fairy tales often end with the phrase “…and they lived happily ever after.” But reality is stranger than fiction, and that is exactly the description of every blood-washed child of God in eternity.
B.If I were to add another Dispensation to God’s Plan for Man, I would make it the Dispensation of Eternity Future, or Future World. That’s where believers will live after the Millennium, when the saints are forever secure, the Bride has settled in her mansions in the New Jerusalem, the friends of the Bridegroom are inhabiting the New Earth and together we may explore and populate the New Heavens (outer space – hello Star Trek!), and… But wait – what will we do in FUTURE WORLD and what will things be like in that eternal state – forever?!
I. A LIFE OF PURITY: v.1
A. A Pollution Free Environment:
NOTE: John has described the external beauty of the New Jerusalem – prepared “as a bride adorned for her husband.” Now he escorts us inside to view the splendors “prepared for those who love Him.”
1. Sin pollutes and man as a sinner pollutes all he comes into contact with. 2. But with all who would defile or work abomination (Rev.21:27) locked out, this environment will stay clean forever.
a. Its light is pure – “clear as crystal.” 21:11 b. Its streets are pure – “as transparent glass.” V.21 c. Its water supply is pure – “clear as crystal.” 22:1
ILLUS.: The reason for all this purity is its source. It proceeds “out of God and the Lamb.” There will be no dirt, sewage, garbage or decay there! The thermodynamic law of entropy will be abolished.
B. A Sin-free Environment: 21:8; 21:27
a. Its fellowship is pure.
II. A LIFE OF SATISFACTION: v.2
NOTE: Someone has said that we first believed the “Word of life,” feasted on the “Bread of life,” drunk deeply of the “Water of life,” had our names inscribed in the Lamb’s “Book of life,” no longer walk in darkness, but in the “Light of life,” are now working for the “Crown of life,” and will have access forever to the “Tree of life!”
A. The Tree of Life: v.2a
1. This seems to be more than a single tree, but perhaps a species. 2. It is a life-giving tree that provides health and complete satisfaction with a different fruit each month, providing a “complete health-care package.”
ILLUS.: Though time is no longer a factor, the sun and moon will still divide eternity into segments. The city will not need the sun for light, but will continue to burn. 20:10; 22:2 – “day and night…months.”
B. The Healing of the Nations: v. 2b
1. The number 12 is prominent in the Millennium and beyond. 2. The 12 tribes of Israel are prominent along with the 12 apostles, and 12 gates. 21:12,14 (“12 angels”) 3. There may be 12 earthly boundaries making 12 major nations which will come in the 12 months to partake of the health of the leaves of this tree. “12 manner of fruit…”
III. A LIFE OF JOY: v.3
A. Freedom from the Curse:
1. Presently “the curse” hinders everything and limits our potential. 2. The 4 basic types of force which hinder us now (gravitational, electromagnetic, nuclear, and sub nuclear) will no longer have an effect on our glorified bodies. 3. We (resurrected ones) will be “like the angels” – no longer constrained and will “fly swiftly” (no wings!).
Daniel 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
4. Though our home base will be the New Jerusalem, eternity will be before us and infinity will surround us, to explore and discover the secrets of our joint-inheritance in this varied and limitless cosmos.
B. Freedom from the Curser: (Satan)
IV. A LIFE OF SERVICE: vv. 3b,4,5b
A. Servanthood: v.3b
1. All we do will be for Him! And will please Him! 2. We will then “served the Lord with gladness.”
Psalms 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
ILLUS.: Since God loves music and harmony, perhaps we will sing in the heavenly choir; since His Kingdom will be universal, perhaps we will be His ambassadors; surely we will minister to and for Him!
B. Identification: v.4
1. We will see His face. Cf. v.3 “…the Lamb”
ILLUS.: When Stephen was being martyred he didn’t feel the stones when he saw the Savior!
2. We will be divinely sealed as His servants as wee the 144,000 in the Tribulation. 3. We will receive the mark of the Lamb instead of the mark of the Beast and have the mind of Christ instead of a mind contrary to Him.
C. Rulership: v.5b
1. His government will constantly “increase” forever.
Isaiah 9:6-7 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
2. The Millennial reign will never end but continues into eternity.
ILLUS.: Did you ever notice that in Gen. 1 and 2 there is no “evening and morning” on the 7th day? That 7th day of rest never ends. The Millennial morning continues forever & ever.
V. A LIFE OF LIGHT: v.5
A. Perpetual Sonlight!
1. We will never need to sleep but will be eternally at rest. (Those in the lake of fire “have no rest day or night” Rev. 14:11. 2. Apparently we will dwell in transparent houses where we will need no light source.
ILLUS.: Now men “love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.” In glory there will be no evil so light pervades all.
B. Perpetual Fellowship: “…giveth them light”
1. Heaven will be a giant family reunion. Cf. 1 Jn. 1:7! 2. The Lord will give light to all – not only physical illumination, but personal guidance and instruction to sanctify every relationship.
ILLUS.: We will walk with every member of the human family whose names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life! Adam, the father of the race, and Eve the mother of all living and all the redeemed since then will be there and will be recognized.
CONCL.: In this “FUTURE WORLD” we shall “LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER! This is not symbolical or allegorical, but “faithful and true!” v.6
“There’s no disappointment in Heaven, No weariness, sorrow or pain; No hearts that are bleeding and broken, No song with a minor refrain. The clouds of our earthly horizon Will never appear in the sky, For all will be sunshine and gladness, With never a sob nor a sigh.
We’ll never pay rent for our mansion. The taxes will never come due; Our garments will never grow threadbare, But always be fade-less and new. We’ll never be hungry or thirsty, Nor languish in poverty there, For all the rich bounties of Heaven His sanctified children will share.
There’ll never be crepe on the door-knob, No funeral train in the sky; No graves on the hillside of Glory, For there we shall never more die. The old will be young there forever, Transformed in a moment of time; Immortal, we’ll stand in His likeness, The stars and the sun to outshine.
I’m bound for that beautiful city My Lord has prepared for His own; Where all the redeemed of all ages Sing “Glory!” around the white throne; Sometimes I grow homesick for Heaven, And the glories I there shall behold; What a joy that will be when my Savior I see In that beautiful City of gold.