“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. Heaven, where we live forever with Jesus, will fill all the aspirations of Old Testament, New Testament, tribulation and millennium saints.
1. Read Revelation 20:7-15 and answer these questions.
a. When will Satan be released from his prison?
b. Who does he deceive? How many does he deceive”
c. What city do Satan and his followers surround?
d. What happens after they surround the city?
e. What is the final outcome of Satan (Isaiah 14:3-23; Ezekiel 28:11-19)?
f. What is the outcome of his followers?
2. Read Revelation 21-22.
a. When do the events in these chapters occur?
b. “…there was no longer any sea” Revelation 21:1 Is the following statement possible? Why or why not?
“The sea is a symbol of unrest and instability. Earlier on in John’s vision, it was from the sea that the satanic beast arose. “And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and each head had a blasphemous name’ Rev. 13:1 ‘Then angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.”’ Rev. 17:15 The surging sea represents the nations of the world in their perennial conflict with one another. But in the rejuvenated heavens and earth all will be peace and serenity.” Heaven Better By Far by J. Oswald Sanders, p. 134
c. Where is the new Jerusalem? List all the names referring to the New Jerusalem.
d. Where is the dwelling of God? Why will there be no mourning or sorrow?
e. What does He who is seated on the throne promise?
f. Describe the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
g. How large is the New Jerusalem? (It could hold 100 thousand MILLIONS of people). Understanding Revelation by Gary G. Cohen discusses the exact size.
h. Describe the city gates. What is written on the gates? When will the gates be shut?
i. Describe the twelve foundations of the city? Whose names are written on them? Of what were the streets made?
j. Is there a temple in the New Jerusalem? Why or why not? Overcomers are promised to be a pillar in the temple of God forever (Revelation 3:12; 7:15). They are the New Jerusalem “the bride, the wife of the Lamb” Revelation 21:9.
k. How do you think God’s temple in heaven is related to the New Jerusalem (Revelation 4-5; 11:19; 14:15, 17; 15:5, 6, 8; 16:1, 17; 21:22)?
l. Who will be the source of light? What will be the result of there being no night?
m. Describe the river of life? (Also see Revelation 2:7)
n. “No longer will there be any curse.” Genesis 3:13-24 What curse?
o. Who will not be allowed in the city? (This is explained in four places) Also, to whom is added the plagues described in Revelation and who will lose his share in the tree of life and in the holy city?
p. When is Jesus coming? Who is supposed to respond? By doing what?
q. Compare Daniel 12:9-10 to Revelation 22:10-11. What were sealed up? What is happening to the righteous and the wicked?
3. Compare Isaiah 60:19-22 to Revelation 21:23.
4. Summarize what Philippians 1:20-23 and Philippians 3:20-21 tell us about the Christian when he comes to heaven.
5. Read 2 Peter 3:3-13. As in other passages the timing of various events in that occur before and after the millennial reign is difficult to determine. It is interesting to note that fire acts as a purifier in its melting process but does not diminish the totality of the earth’s matter. It simply gives it a new form. The earth abides forever (Psalm 104:5; 119:90 Ecclesiastes 1:4). Other Scriptures suggest transition (Matthew 5:18; 24:35; Mark 13:31; Hebrews 1:10-13; Revelation 21:1, 4).
a. Describe how the present heavens and earth are destroyed?
b. Why will it be destroyed?
c. When will it be destroyed?
d. How can we speed the coming of the day of the Lord?
e. For whom will the new heavens and earth be created?
6. Read Isaiah 65:17 and its context. What will happen at this time?
7. Read Isaiah 66:22-23 and its context. What do you learn?
8. Where will we live in heaven (John 14:1-3)?
9. Do Christians in heaven know each other? How do you know (Matthew 17:1-13 Mark 9:2-13 Luke 16:19-31 1 Corinthians 13:12)?
10. Our resurrected bodies “will be like his heavenly body.” Philippians 3:23. What was His body like (Luke 24:13-51 John 20:14-27)? How else will we be like Him (“…But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2)?
11. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-58.
a. Which contrasts pertain to the Christian when he receives his glorified body?
b. How are Adam and Christ contrasted?
c. Because of these promises, what should a Christian do? Why?
12. What will we know in heaven (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)? Do you think there will be development and progress in heaven?
13. Who will rule in heaven (“…then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God will be all in all” 1 Corinthians 15:20-28)? “This probably means that the Son, who during the millennium was the supreme ruler on earth, will again take his eternal place, and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, will then be all in all.” Lectures in Systematic Theology by Thiessen
14. The most exciting experience will be to see “face to face” 1 Corinthians 13:12, the One who “died for us” 1 Thessalonians 5:10. Revelation is all about Jesus. It is the “…revelation of Jesus Christ…” Revelation 1:1 How does Jesus describe Himself in the book of Revelation?