• Home
  • Weekly Sermon Outline
  • Contact Us
  • The Basic Concept
  • World Video Bible School
  • Sermon Outlines
  • Search for the Truth
  • An On Line Library
  • Living Water Daily Help
  • BV Church of Christ
  • BV Bible Institute
  • AMEN Ministry
  • More Information
  • 700 Training Videos
  • The Church of Christ
  • More
    • Home
    • Weekly Sermon Outline
    • Contact Us
    • The Basic Concept
    • World Video Bible School
    • Sermon Outlines
    • Search for the Truth
    • An On Line Library
    • Living Water Daily Help
    • BV Church of Christ
    • BV Bible Institute
    • AMEN Ministry
    • More Information
    • 700 Training Videos
    • The Church of Christ
  • Home
  • Weekly Sermon Outline
  • Contact Us
  • The Basic Concept
  • World Video Bible School
  • Sermon Outlines
  • Search for the Truth
  • An On Line Library
  • Living Water Daily Help
  • BV Church of Christ
  • BV Bible Institute
  • AMEN Ministry
  • More Information
  • 700 Training Videos
  • The Church of Christ

                         

                                   Contact Us At: thinksouls1@gmail.com

                                                OR    303-888-7693

                                                July 6, 2025
                                  

                                        "LIFE AFTER DEATH"

              What Is The Eternal Destiny Of The Redeemed?

 
INTRODUCTION 
     1. As we rapidly near the end of this series, we have considered what
             the Bible says about... 
       a. The "intermediate state", i.e., the condition of man between death 
             and the resurrection 
       b. The second coming of Christ 
       c. The resurrection of the dead 
       d. The day of judgment 

      2. In the last two studies, we shall examine what the Bible reveals 
             about the FINAL state of man... 
       a. What is the eternal destiny of the redeemed? 
       b. What is the eternal destiny of the wicked? 

[With this lesson we shall look first at "The Eternal Destiny Of The Redeemed"}

I. THE "HOPE" OF THE REDEEMED 
      A. WONDERFUL PROMISES ARE GIVEN BY CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES. 
        1. Jesus speaks of the righteous as being in "the kingdom of their Father", and inheriting "the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" 
          a. In explaining the "parable of the tares" - Mt 13:43 
          b. In describing the judgment scene in Mt 25:31-34 
          c. Compare this with statements by His apostles... 

        2. Jesus speaks of the redeemed being with Him 
          a. In the "parable of the talents" ("Enter into the joy of your lord") 
                   - Mt 25:21 
          b. In praying to the Father in Jn 17:24 (cf. Jn 14:1-3) 
          c. Paul also alludes to this continued fellowship with the Lord -
                 1Th 4:17-18 

        3. Indeed, promises such as these are comforting for the Christian, for they speak of unhindered and uninterrupted fellowship with our Lord

        4. Is this not our ultimate hope? To be with the Lord for eternity? 

     B. BUT WHERE WILL WE EXPERIENCE THIS "HOPE"? 
        1. In other words... 
           a. Where will this fellowship with the Lord be experienced? 
           b. Where will the "abode" of the righteous be? 

        2. Will the "abode" of the redeemed... 
           a. Be heaven itself? 
           b. Or is it something "reserved" for us in heaven now, but when 
                experienced it will actually be somewhere else?) 

Paul speaks of the "heavenly kingdom" - 2Ti 4:18 2) Peter speaks of the "everlasting kingdom" - 2Pe 1:10-11 

[Previously I have suggested that when Christians die they will spend the "intermediate state" in heaven. While most Christians automatically assume they will spend the "eternal state" in heaven, it appears the Biblical evidence concerning the eternal "abode" may state otherwise! Consider carefully, then, as we examine what the Bible says about...] 

II. THE "ETERNAL ABODE" OF THE REDEEMED 
     A. TWO PASSAGES ARE OFTEN QUOTED TO SAY THAT IT WILL 
                 BE HEAVEN... 
        1. The first is Col 1:5 
           a. Which speaks "the hope which is laid up for you in heaven" 
           b. Note carefully: this verse does not say that our hope IS heaven, 
              but rather that our hope is "laid up for you IN heaven" 
           c. Whether our hope, when experienced, will be IN heaven, cannot 
              be determined with certainty in this verse 
           d. Only that for "now", heaven is where our hope is stored 

        2. The second is 1Pe 1:3-4 
           a. This passage speaks of our hope and inheritance, "reserved in 
              heaven for you" 
           b. Again: this does not say that our hope (or inheritance) 
              IS heaven, 
             but rather that it is "reserved IN heaven" 
           c. As before, we cannot determine from this passage 
              alone whether our hope and inheritance, when realized, will be 
              in heaven ITSELF 
           d. Only that for "now" our hope and inheritance are presently 
              secured in heaven 

      B. THE "ETERNAL ABODE" AS DESCRIBED IN HEBREWS... 
         1. First, we find the author speaking of having "a better and 
              enduring possession for yourselves in heaven" - He 10:34 
           a. Here the same point can be made as before 
           b. I.e., at the present, our "possession" is IN heaven; but when we 
                 receive it, will it be in heaven then? 

         2. In describing the hope of Abraham and the faithful, the author 
                speaks of a CITY (or dwelling place)... 
            a. "...the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is 
               God" - He 11:10 
            b. "...for He has prepared a city for them" - He 11:13-16 

          3. Speaking of himself and his fellow Christians, the author writes: 
               "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to 
                 come" - He 13:14 

         4. Here, then, is one way of speaking of the hope of the righteous, 
                 as it relates to their eternal abode: 
           a. It is a "city", whose builder and maker is God 
           b. It is a "heavenly city", in the sense of its NATURE 
           c. This "enduring possession" is PRESENTLY "prepared...laid up 
               ...reserved" for us in heaven! 

         5. But we have yet to answer the question: "Where will this city 
             (abode) of the righteous actually be when they experience it?" 

       C. THE "ETERNAL ABODE" AS DESCRIBED BY PETER... 
          1. After describing the "day of the Lord" in which the present 
              universe will be dissolved; Peter speaks of looking for "new 
              heavens and a new earth" - 2Pe 3:7-13 

          2. For Peter, this is what "we" (himself and all Christians) should be 
               looking for! 

          3. Some questions: 
             a. Is the "new heavens and a new earth" just a figurative 
              reference to heaven, or is it something different from heaven? 
             b. How do we reconcile looking for the "new heavens and a new 
                   earth" (Peter), and looking for "the city whose builder is God" 
                   (Hebrews)? -- The answer to these questions is found as we   
                   now look at... 

         D. THE "ETERNAL ABODE" AS DESCRIBED BY JOHN... 

           1. After describing the judgment scene (Re 20:11-15), John says 
               that he saw: 
             a. "a new heaven and a new earth" - Re 21:1 (cf. Peter) 
             b. "the holy City, New Jerusalem" - Re 21:2 (cf. Hebrews) -- 
                  In this way, John brings together both the "hope" of the author 
                 of Hebrews and the apostle Peter! 

          2. But where is this "city" at this point? Note carefully how three 
              times in the Book of Revelation, it is stated that the city is NOT in 
              heaven at this time... 
             a. "...the New Jerusalem, which comes down OUT OF heaven from
                my God." - Re 3:12
             b. "...the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down OUT OF heaven 
                 from God..." - Re 21:2 
             c. "...the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending OUT OF 
                 heaven from God..." - Re 21:10 

          3. Rather than being IN heaven (the present dwelling place of God), this "eternal abode" is described as being in "the new heavens and a new earth"! 
            a. A realm where there is the absence of death, sorrow, and pain - 
                Re 21:4 
            b. A realm in which there is complete fellowship with God and 
                Christ - Re 21:3,22-27 
            c. A place of perpetual life and good health - Re 22:1-2 
            d. A place where God's servants both serve and reign! - Re 22:3-5 


         E. TO SUMMARIZE AND PERHAPS CLARIFY... 

           1. The redeemed have a wonderful hope concerning their "eternal destiny" 
   
          2. It pertains to a "city", built by God and PRESENTLY reserved for 
              us in heaven... 
            a. However, when experienced, this "city" (abode) will not be 
              IN heaven 
            b. But having come down OUT OF heaven, it will be in the "new 
                heavens and new earth" (i.e., a totally new order of things) 

          3. This is NOT to say that we will not be with God and Christ... 
             a. For as one considers the experience of the righteous 
                 as described in Re 21-22, we see that we will be with God and 
                 Christ forever!
             b. To be exact, however... 
             c. Consider... 
                  1) It is not that we will be with God and Christ in heaven... 
                  2) But that They will be with us in the "new heavens and new 
                       earth"! "
Behold the tabernacle of God IS WITH MEN, and HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM...and GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM" - Re 21:3 
             1) Note that in each phrase the direction is one in which God is with us; He dwells with us in this "city" which comes down out of heaven a) b) Contrary to the idea that we are in heaven with God! 
             2) "...the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be IN IT" - Re 22:3 

             d. Again, the indication is that God will dwell with us for eternity in this "new heavens and new earth" (in the "New Jerusalem"), not that we will be with Him in heaven 

CONCLUSION 

           1. Admittedly, in a book like Revelation we are dealing with very symbolic language, and must be careful not to strain a point too far... 

          2. But the terminology used by John is the same as that used by Peter and the author of Hebrews as they wrote plainly of our "hope" (i.e., such terms as "city", "new heavens and new earth") 

         3. And these terms are used consistently in such a way as to make a clear distinction between...
            a. What is currently the dwelling place of God (i.e., "heaven") 
            b. And where God will spend eternity with the redeemed (i.e., in the "holy city" that comes down "out of heaven" into the "new heavens and new earth") 

         4. Should we not be careful to make the same distinction? Do we, "according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2Pe 3:13)? If so, then be sure to heed the admonition of Peter... 

"Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation..." - 2Pe 3:14-15a 

And remember the words of John: "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city." - Re 22:14 

                                 


  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Powered by

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept