The millennium, the new heavens, and the new earth.
So 2 Peter 3 verse 13,
Never lest we, according to His promise,
according to the promise of God,
look for new heavens and a new earth.
Do you look for a new heaven and a new earth?
Is that something that's real to you today?
Is that something today you would say,
Kevin, I am looking for the new heaven and the new earth?
Or if we're honest,
I think many times we're focused on today, right?
We're focused upon this earth.
We're focused upon tomorrow.
We're focused upon all the tasks we have on hand.
Do we have an eternal mindset?
Do we have an eternal vision for this new heaven and the new earth?
Wherein dwelleth righteousness.
This new heaven, this new earth, this promise of God,
is a place where righteousness dwells.
Meaning there is no sin.
There is nothing that is ungodly.
There is nothing that is unrighteous in this new heaven.
An amazing promise that God has given us.
No longer will we be beset by our sins, right?
No longer will we struggle with the things of life
that we struggle with today.
This new heaven, this new earth,
this is a promise.
This is something that God wants us to be focused on,
thinking upon,
and today we'll be looking at that.
So if you're in book of Revelation,
turn to Revelation chapter 11.
Revelation chapter 11 verse 15.
The last couple of sermons I've been talking about the rapture, right?
Going through the tribulation period,
being resurrected with our Lord Jesus Christ,
and then we spoke about the Lord pouring out his wrath
with the trumpets and the vials to come, right?
Pouring out his wrath upon this wicked world,
burning it to a crisp,
destroying it for what as it is,
and then bringing in his millennial kingdom.
But the first thing I want you to notice
is that leading up to that millennium,
now look, the millennium period is not the new heaven
and the new earth just yet, okay?
But it is a vital part to leading up to the new heaven,
and so I want to cover the millennium a little bit.
But Revelation chapter 11 verse 15.
Now before I read this,
there are a lot of people that understand
when they read the book of Revelation,
they understand that at the seventh vial, right?
They understand that that's when Christ
is going to set up his millennium, right?
We're near the end of that period.
We're near the end of the wrath.
He pours out that seventh vial,
and then Christ comes and sets up his millennium.
Sebastian, get a moment.
He's just upset about something.
So we have the seventh vial being poured out, right?
And most people recognize, yes,
that's when Christ is going to come back
and establish his millennial kingdom.
Why?
Because we get to Revelation chapter 19,
and we see Christ coming and destroying the antichrist
and destroying the armies of the antichrist
and setting up his kingdom.
We see that.
Now a lot of people don't realize, though,
that at the end of the seventh trumpet
is also the time that Christ comes to set up his kingdom.
Well how does that make sense, Kevin?
Here's the reason why.
It's because the seventh trumpet and the seventh vial
both take place at the end of that week,
that Daniel 70th week.
Both of them take part.
Now whether it's the trumpet first and the vial first
or the vial first and then the trumpet,
I'm not going to make a big deal about those things.
But the truth is both of those things
are the end of that period
before Christ comes back to set up his kingdom.
And I just wanted to prove this to you.
Revelation chapter 11 verse 15.
It says,
What did he say on his trumpet?
The seventh angel sounded
and there were great voices in heaven saying.
So these voices in heaven,
these heavenly hosts,
what are they saying?
The kingdoms of this world have become
the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.
And he shall reign forever and ever.
Pay attention to that.
That's the seventh trumpet being sounded
and the proclamation from heaven
is that Christ has become,
the kingdoms of the earth has become
the kingdoms of Christ
and he will reign upon the earth.
You see that?
Now there's this false teaching that says,
well when the seventh trumpet sounds,
then God brings out his seven vials
and continues pouring out his wrath on the earth.
That never made sense to me.
It never made sense that Christ would receive
the kingdoms of this earth
and then is also going to destroy his own kingdom.
Right?
How can Christ be against Christ?
That makes no sense.
But it makes perfect sense
if we understand that the trumpet ends
with his kingdom
and the seventh vial also ends with his kingdom.
Meaning they take place right at the same time.
And this is how you need to understand
the book of Revelation.
Because Revelation chapter 11
is the end of the first telling
leading up to his kingdom.
Revelation chapter 12 begins all over again.
It begins with the birth of Christ actually
and goes through the whole period once again.
The book of Revelation can be divided
straight down the middle
chapters 1 to 11
telling the events of the tribulation
and of God's wrath
and then from chapter 12
it also begins telling the period of the tribulation
and his wrath
and then it gives us different details.
It tells the story from a different perspective
but both of them end up with the kingdom.
Okay?
Now we won't go into all that.
I just wanted to show you that
because the kingdoms of this world
have become the kingdoms of Christ.
Now look at verse 16.
Revelation 11 verse 16.
And the four and twenty elders
which sat before God in their seats
fell upon their faces and worshiped God.
We see a lot of worship of God in the book of Revelation.
I love the book of Revelation
just for the the fact
that there is so much worship of our God.
Okay?
So much of this going on.
Verse 17 saying
We give thanks
O Lord God Almighty
which art and wast and art to come.
What does that mean?
He's from the past.
He's now and he's in the future.
He's eternal.
They're worshiping the eternal God
because thou hast taken to thee
thy great power and hast reigned.
So you see Christ has now come
and he's reigned upon this earth.
Right?
He has reigned.
He has this great power.
He has taken this great power.
He's always had the power to reign.
Right?
God is always on the throne.
But he's taken that power now
over the kingdoms of the earth.
And look at verse 18.
How do the ungodly nations react?
It says
And the nations were angry
and thy wrath is come.
Right?
And the time of the dead
that they should be judged
and that thou shouldest give reward
unto thy servants the prophets
and to the saints
and them that fear thy name
small and great
and shouldest destroy them
which destroyed the earth.
So it's an amazing thing
that Christ comes take these kingdoms.
There's two ways to look at this.
Either you're an ungodly person
unsaved an ungodly nation
and you're angry.
You're angry that Christ has come back.
You know you want the world
to continue in its wicked path.
Or you can be one of the saints
that says that Christ will come
and bring his reward
unto his servants.
Right?
The prophets and to the saints
and them that fear thy name.
So let me just point out
a couple of things here.
Yes we see we see the the the um
um the difference between
being ungodly and being a saved person.
Right?
How you receive the coming of Christ.
But this is the point
when Christ comes to establish his kingdom
this is the point that he brings his reward.
Okay?
Because there's a teaching out there
and again I'm sorry to to go to preach
you know but I've got to cover
the pre-trib rapture
because it's infested so many churches.
There are so many false misconceptions
false ideas out there
that are being taught through that system
that I feel like I have to like
every time fix it up right
showing the scriptures where
but we see here in the scriptures
Christ comes with his reward
the moment he comes to establish his kingdom
because there's a teaching that says
well no we're raptured before the tribulation
and that's when God gives out his reward.
And I've been told that you know
the reason why the rapture
before the tribulation
is because God needs time
to give out his rewards in heaven.
Well no he doesn't give out his reward
till he comes and bring past the tribulation
past the wrath
when he comes to establish his kingdom
that's when he gives out his rewards to his saints.
We see that there in Revelation 11 verse 18.
And so let me just encourage you believers
let me encourage you saints
that God has
Christ has rewards for you okay
to be enjoyed in that millennium
and to be enjoyed into the new heavens
and the new earth
which takes place later on.
Your service and your sacrifice
to the Lord on this earth
will be rewarded okay.
You will never waste your time serving the Lord okay.
There will never be hey you know
I could go to church and then but you know
what good is that?
Hey anything you do for the Lord
anything you do for your name
will be rewarded to you okay.
It's an amazing promise.
It should encourage us
to do even the smallest tasks.
Remember it says even if you give
a cup of water in my name
you should not lose your reward.
There's reward even for the smallest things
that we do to one another.
That we do together as a church.
That we do in service of God.
God wants to reward you
with eternal heavenly rewards.
You know you don't need to turn
they'll just read to you
Matthew 19 verse 27.
Then answered Peter and said unto him
so Peter's speaking to Jesus Christ says
behold we have forsaken all.
We have you know they were fishermen right.
They left their full-time jobs as fishermen
to follow after Christ.
We have forsaken all and followed thee.
What shall we have therefore?
You know I don't know if there was
some doubt in Peter's mind at this stage.
Is this worth it?
Is it worth following Christ?
Hey we haven't got much you know.
You know we've left our full-time jobs.
Maybe they don't have the income
they used to have.
Is it worth it?
In verse 28 Jesus said unto them
verily I say unto you
that you which have followed me
in the regeneration
when the son of man
shall sit on the throne of his glory
ye also shall sit upon 12 thrones
judging the 12 tribes of Israel.
So these apostles were promised
hey because you've left everything
and you've come and followed me
because you have this special
you know position as an apostle
they're going to have the authority
to judge and sit upon the thrones
of the 12 tribes of Israel.
It's a special promise
given to those apostles.
We don't participate in that okay.
We're not going to be that head
because that's reserved for those apostles
in Jesus's time.
But Jesus continues to say
in verse 29 pay attention to this
and everyone
so not just the apostles
but everyone that has forsaken houses
or brethren
or sisters
or father
or mother
or wife
or children
or lands
for my name's sake
shall receive an 100 fold
and shall receive or sorry
and shall inherit
everlasting life
and 100 fold.
So for everything you serve the Lord with
every sacrifice you make
when Christ comes to reward you
he's going to give you that
pay what you've done
a hundred fold
times a hundred
okay
great rewards
God will give you
you know
sometimes I think
I kind of miss Sydney
you know
we've been here for some three months
I miss Sydney
I miss home
I miss my parents
you know they were able to help us out with the kids sometimes
and I miss our family
you know our friends that we've got there
I miss our connections
you know
I had job
I had work opportunities up there
and all that kind of stuff
you know
and sometimes I think
wow you know
it was a big move to come up here
but what did Christ say
if you leave your family
you leave your houses
you leave all your land
you leave all that
he's going to reward a hundred fold
a hundred fold
why would we not serve the Lord
you know
that's why our sights ought to be set
on this new heaven
and this new earth
you know
people have left family
you know
some family hate them for being a believer
for being a Christian
hey all that's going to be rewarded for to you
in the military
it's all going to be worth it
all the sacrifice
all the pain for Christ's sake
will be worth what we paid for you
you know
you might leave a job
let's say you've got a job that's
that's earned you a hundred thousand dollars
that's just
just for easy mathematics
and that job's taken up your time
it's taken up your family time
it's preventing you from from being a
you know going to church
and serving the Lord in full capacity
and someone might leave that work
because they realize that's that's getting in the
I need to find a job
that might pay me less right
but I can serve to the Lord in my fullest capacity
right
I can still provide for my family
and serve the Lord
Christ says that's going to be rewarded to you
a hundred fold
what's a hundred fold
what's what's a hundred thousand dollars
times a hundred
that works out to be ten million dollars
imagine like you know
Christ you know
if you leave that for the name of Christ
for his service
Christ says I'm going to pay you back
ten million dollars right
so I mean
wouldn't ten million dollars be nice every year
to receive on this earth
how much more nicer
how much greater would it be
in the new heavens and new earth
in the millennium
when everything is righteous
everything is good
everything is honorable to the Lord
how much better would it be
in the new heaven and the new earth
so never get to the point
where you get weary in your well-doing
continue serving the Lord
it's all worth it
Christ is going to make sure
it's worth it
times a hundred
okay
something else
what if you lose your life
what if you lose your life for the Lord
Revelation 2 10 says
fear none of those things
which thou shall suffer
behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison
that ye may be tried
and ye shall have tribulation ten days
be faithful unto death
and I will give thee a crown of life
be faithful unto death
people that lose their life
for the name of Christ
for his sake
Christ says look
be faithful
and you'll receive the crown of life
right
it's interesting that God uses that
that name for that crown
the crown of life
you lose your life
but because you've lost your life for Christ's sake
you get the crown of life
that kind of life must be a hundredfold
that kind of life must be worth a hundred lives
right
so you lose one life
you lose the life you've got
it must be worth at least 100 lives or more
right
so basically
and to also take away from that
it's possible to be unfaithful unto death
okay
and if you're unfaithful unto death
you know you're not faithful to the Lord
you die
you pass away without serving the Lord
without being faithful to him
then you will not receive that crown of life
right
not you know in heaven
in the new heavens and the earth
in the millennium
we're not all going to be equal
okay
those that serve the Lord
those that's that sacrificed more for the Lord
that did more for the Lord
will receive more
okay
just like any workplace today
right
you go to work
the more you do
the more you serve in your workplace
the more you know
I guess profits that you bring in
the more cost cutting that you do
the more you know
improvements you make in the workplace
the more likely you are going to be promoted
and earn the bigger paychecks
and so on and so forth right
but the ones that do
the minimum
that don't care about the job
just clock in
clock out
do as little as possible
they're not going to get that much right
that's just the natural way of things
same thing with God
God's going to reward those
more
so those that serve him
in a greater capacity
so turn to Revelation chapter 20
Revelation chapter 20 verse 1
so after Christ comes
he's a step
he's about to establish his kingdom
now leading up to that
in Revelation chapter 20 verse 1
it says this
and I saw an angel come down from heaven
having the key of the bottomless pit
and a great chain in his hands
so this angel comes out of this bottomless pit
you know I believe that's a reference to hell
because the bible does call hell the pits
in other places in the bible
so if you're just comparing scriptures
that would line up with that being hell
I know some people believe the bottomless pit is something else
besides hell
regardless
this this bottomless pit is being opened
and this great chain in the angel's hand
verse 2
and he laid hold on the dragon
that old serpent which is the devil
and satan and bound him a thousand years
now take note every time we read about the thousand years
okay so that's that's one time right
satan's been bound for a thousand years
verse 3
and cast him into the bottomless pit
and shut him up
and set a seal upon him
that he should not
that he should deceive the nations no more
till the thousand years
that's the second part right
till the thousand years should be fulfilled
and after that he must be loosed a little season
and I saw thrones
and they sat upon them
and judgment was given unto them
and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded
for the witness of Jesus
and for the word of God
and which had not worshiped the beast
neither his image
neither had received his mark upon their foreheads
or in their hands
and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years
that's the third time
okay but before I read on
notice
we just spoke about losing your life
and getting the crown of life
and getting great rewards
notice that these men
that were beheaded for the witness of Christ
they were witnessing Christ
they were sowing
they were preaching the gospel
they were beheaded
what's their reward?
they're going to live and reign with Christ a thousand years
now we're all going to live and reign with Christ
for a thousand years during this period
but I believe these people especially
they've been mentioned here
because they're going to have great reward
they're going to have great authority and power
for losing their lives
as a witness for Christ
now look at verse number five
but the rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years
we're finished
there's a fourth mention of the thousand years
till the thousand years were finished
this is the first resurrection
blessed and holy is he that have pardoned the first resurrection
on such the second death have no power
but they shall be priests of God and of Christ
and shall reign with him a thousand years
do you think God wants us to know that this period is a thousand years long?
do you think
I mean every verse from verse number two
has mentioned a thousand years
and verse number seven
and when the thousand years are expired
that's the sixth mention
and that's the last mention
but that's the sixth mentions
and when a thousand years are expired
Satan shall be loosed out of his prison
and shall go out to deceive the nations
which are in the four quarters of the earth
Gog and Magog
to gather them together to battle
the number of whom is as the sand of the sea
and they went up on the breadth of the earth
and come past the camp of the saints about
and the beloved city
and fire came down from God out of heaven
and devoured them
and the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire
and brimstone with a beast and the false prophet are
and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever
so we see
that we don't get a lot of information about them
this is
as far as the book of Revelation is concerned
this is the most information you're going to get about the millennium period
okay
just that we're going to live and reign with Christ for a thousand years
we get the idea that Satan will be bound that he can't deceive the nations
for that period
that means that Satan right now is deceiving the nations
that means Satan right now is deceiving Australia
okay
and we look at the laws
we look at the way the government is
we look at the way the world is
of course they've been deceived by Satan
you know
they can't even understand the word of God
they cannot understand the commandments
they cannot understand God's judgment upon certain sins and certain crimes
why?
because they're deceived by Satan
and this is going to be a period of a thousand years where Satan is is bound
now I'm not saying that people aren't going to be deceived
because we read in the bible that people can deceive themselves right
we know that people are still foolish
people can still be sinful and make mistakes
people can still misunderstand the scriptures and so on and so forth
there will still be people in their natural bodies
even though we've received our resurrected bodies
there will still be people living in this time period with their normal bodies right
and some of them are going to believe on Christ
most of them will believe on Christ
but then many as well will still be deceived
because when Satan is loosed out of that prison at the end of a thousand years
he's still able to gather nations
deceive the nations
still be able to gather this army
this army of Gog and Magog
gather together to battle
and battle against the Lord
so even though Christ has been reigning for a thousand years
we still see that man is foolish
we still see that man is sinful
and they still would rather team up with Satan
against the Lord Jesus Christ
so we just see the power of Satan as well
we just see how powerful he is
and how deceptive he is
that even when you have Christ on this earth
ruling and reigning
they'd still rather turn their backs on Christ
and follow after Satan
but then you know their army
their fight is short-lived
because what happens
a fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them
just a fire bang done
God destroys him last time
and Satan is cast into the lake of fire
and that's where he's going to be forever and ever
never more to torment the nations ever again
but I just wanted to point out to you
we read six times a thousand years
because there are
and I'm going to cover this in a little bit more detail on Thursday
but there are those that teach you
that we are in the thousand years
we are in the millennium
or the millennium is a spiritual thing
yes you know even though it's been 2,000 years since Christ
it's still the millennium
it's just this vague
you know but what do we see
God mentioned that six times over and over again
I don't know how you cannot take this literally
right
and as a church we are pre-millennial
okay
I'll explain that to you
what does it mean to be pre-millennial
okay
first of all it means that we believe
we're in a period that's before the millennium
but not only that
we believe that Christ is coming before the millennium
okay
because there are those out there that teach
now's the millennium
now's the time that we're going to
bring this utopia on this earth
and then once you know
once this you know
whole earth is christianized
you know this is what they consider the millennium
that's when Christ comes back
and people that believe that are called post-millennial
I don't know if you've ever heard these terms before
but they're called post-millennial
because they think the millennium is now
and once this whole earth has been gospel
you know has received the gospel
everyone's been saved
everyone's a christian nation
that's when Christ comes back because it's post-millennial
Christ comes back after the millennium
but anyway
just just to give you some information about that
in case you hear those terms
we are a pre-millennial church
because we still believe the millennium's in the future
and as we've read
this is this is chapter 20
we read in chapter 19
that's when Christ comes back
and then the millennium takes place right
so we just take the bible literally
now look at verse number 11
revelation chapter 20 verse 11
we saw about the satan being cast into the lake of fire
as well as the beast as well as the first prophet
we won't go into those guys right now
verse 11
because now now we get to the great white throne judgment
and you know the the reason for the lake of fire right
the great white throne judgment
and I saw a great white throne
and him that sat on it
from his face the earth and the heaven fled away
and there was found no place for them
so the old heaven
the old earth
flee as it were
before the face of God
not even his creation is able to contain
God on his throne
which is an amazing thing
there's no place found for them
okay
I know some people believe
the heaven and the earth are destroyed at this point in time
I personally do not believe that
I just believe they fled away
and they're not found
there's no place to be found up for them
before this great white throne
and verse 12
and I saw the dead small and great stand before God
and the books were open and another book was open
which is the book of life
we've covered the book of life before
and the dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books
according to their works
and the sea gave up the dead which were in it
and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them
and they were judged every man according to their works
so these are non-believers
even the non-believers go through a resurrection
but it's not a resurrection of life
it's a resurrection of damnation
okay
they get brought out of the sea
out of the out of the graves
their dead bodies
they corrupted their bodies
but also hell gives up the dead
so their soul and spirit are reunited with their dead body
and they're judged according to their works
now even though their bodies are dead
they're still conscious
remember that the rich man in hell
was able to lift up his eyes
and realize he's in hell in his torment
they're still conscious
even though they're dead
as far as god is concerned they are dead
but they're still conscious
and this is the scary thing about hell right
and they're judged according to their works
and verse 14
and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire
this is the second death
and whosoever was not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire
so let me just cover a couple of things here
in this current earth of ours
the bible is very clear
that hell is in the center of the earth
okay
i know that's kind of bogs the mind
but there are many passages that prove this
okay we won't go into that
you can do that study in your own time
but hell is in the center of this earth
so what happens is
the older fleet flees
but yet hell is taken from that earth
right
and is cast into the lake of fire
so hell continues to exist
but in this greater lake of fire if you will
okay
now hell itself is a lake of fire
but it is put into this lake of fire
because the lake of fire
is the end of everything that's unrighteous
it's the end of everything that's unclean
it's the end of everything that's sinful
it's the end of everything that's wicked
this is how god takes care of the curse of this earth
and the sin of this earth
is through the lake of fire
okay
so not only is hell cast into the lake of fire
but we see whosoever was not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire
so all the unsaved
all the unbelievers
are also cast into the lake fire
okay
Some of them are brought out of hell, judged by their works, and cast into lake fire.
Others that went through this millennium, that went against in this rebellion with Satan,
are destroyed by fire at that point.
They too will be judged and cast into the lake of fire.
And then we see the devil being cast into the lake of fire.
We see the beast or the antichrist cast into the lake of fire.
We see the false prophet which deceives the nations to follow off the beast cast into the lake of fire.
You can see how it's the end of God's destruction for the wicked.
Okay, now he's ready.
Okay, Christ has reigned on the earth.
All the kingdoms are subject to him.
All the weakness has been taken care of.
We're ready to bring forth usher in the new heaven and the new earth at this point.
The new heaven and the new earth.
Look at Revelation chapter 21 verse 1.
Revelation chapter 21 verse 1.
So John's writing this.
He says and I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea.
Now a couple of the men were having, I think we brought this up on Wednesday,
or one of the Wednesdays that we normally meet up on.
And the conversation was, is the new heaven and the new earth brand new?
Like unrelated to the old heaven and the old earth, right?
Is the old heaven and the old earth totally destroyed?
And this new heaven and new earth is a brand new creation.
Is that how it is?
Or is the new earth and new heaven just the old heaven and the old earth refurbished?
Right, that's another idea that's out there.
We're having this discussion.
Personally, I don't think it matters so much.
The key thing is that it is new.
The key thing is that there's no sin.
The key thing is there's no curse.
The key thing is the wickedness of the earth has been taken care of.
But my own personal belief, when I look at how God does things, right?
When I look at salvation, for example, you know when we say we're born again,
we're born of the spirit, right?
It's a new life that takes place.
It's a new spirit.
But the Bible also says he's quickened our dead spirit.
And so even though we have a new spirit,
it's still like the elements of that old spirit are taken and renewed, okay?
And when we look at the resurrection, we look at the rapture,
I would say they are new bodies, right?
Because the old flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
So we need these new bodies that are immortal.
Remember that.
They're not corruptible.
They're not mortal.
They're incorruptible.
They're immortal.
They are new bodies.
But how do we receive that new body?
We see that the graves, those that have passed away, those graves open up.
Why is that important?
It's because those old bodies, whatever's left,
you know, whatever's deteriorated, rotted away,
those old bones, that old whatever it is that's left,
somehow God takes that and renews, makes a new body, brand new body,
but still takes the elements of the old and makes it new.
Okay, we wouldn't argue that's a new body.
But at the same time, we wouldn't argue that God uses the old body somehow,
even when Christ was resurrected.
His old body was not in the grave.
Remember, it was gone.
But he was in his brand new resurrected body.
And even in his new resurrected body, he had the nail prints in his hands.
He had, you know, the hole on his side of the spear.
Now, I don't believe we're going to have those kind of deformations.
It's important that Christ still has it, because that was a sacrifice for all eternity.
And it's for us to look at Christ and remember the sacrifice that he did for us into eternity.
But you can see that even he had a new body,
but it still had elements and traces of the old self that he had, right?
Same thing for us.
The Bible says, for we shall be changed.
You know, in the moment, in the twinkling of an eye.
Our bodies, yes, they're new, but they're changed bodies, okay?
So we can see how God does things.
When God brings things new, he does take elements of the old and makes that new, okay?
So I personally believe that, yes, the new heaven and the new earth, in a sense,
is like a refurbishment.
And not just a refurbishment.
You're not just fixing one little thing.
Everything's being made new, right?
So whether, you know, the old earth is destroyed, in a sense,
but whatever's destroyed, those elements are used to make that new earth, right?
So I don't think it's a big deal.
You know, if you think it's a brand new earth,
or if you think it's the old earth being done all new again.
The key thing is, if it is a new heaven and a new earth, right?
Now look at verse number 2, Revelation 21 verse 2.
And I John, I John saw the holy city,
new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven.
Notice this, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Now, this new city coming out of heaven,
this holy city coming down, descending,
I believe it descends upon the earth.
I know the scriptures don't clearly state that it comes upon the earth.
I do believe that, and I can give you reasons for that as well.
But we see it come down, but it's prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Now, there's this crazy teaching amongst Baptists.
In fact, amongst all kind of Protestants and all kind of Christendom,
that the bride of Christ is the New Testament church.
And what they mean by that is,
all of us that are saved in the New Testament make up the bride of Christ.
I'm sure you've all heard that.
It's a pretty popular teaching, right?
And then you've got some Baptists that go extreme.
It's like, well, it's just the Baptists.
They're called Baptist bride's.
There are some like that.
We are the bride of Christ, they say, right?
Now, there's truth to that.
They do make up the bride of Christ.
But what we see here is this city come down,
and it's prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Now, I know it says as a bride.
I know that's descriptive,
and it doesn't actually call it the bride at this point in time.
But as we'll see later on,
actually, let's have a look at it now.
Look at verse number nine.
And there came unto me one of the seven angels,
which had the seven vials full of the last,
sorry, full of the seven last plagues,
and talked with me saying,
come hither, come here,
I will show thee the bride, the lamb's wife.
So this angel says to John,
come, I will show you the lamb's wife, the bride, the lamb's wife, right?
Look at verse number 10.
And he carried me away in the Spirit
to a great and high mountain,
and showed me the New Testament church.
The New Testament church believers, no.
And he showed me that great city,
the holy Jerusalem,
descending out of heaven from God, okay?
So what is the bride of Christ?
What is the bride of the lamb?
What is the wife that's been prepared here?
It is holy Jerusalem.
I'm not talking about Jerusalem on this earth.
I'm talking about this heavenly city,
new Jerusalem, okay?
That is part of this new heaven and this new earth,
descending out of heaven from God.
Why is that so hard to understand?
Why is it so hard to understand
that the bride of Christ is this city,
and then those that make up this city?
I mean, if we just read the Bible,
we don't have any preconceived ideas,
that's what we're going with.
And look, I understand why people say
it's a New Testament church,
because Ephesians chapter 5 says
that Christ is the head of the church,
even as the husband is the head of the wife.
I get that.
But that is an analogy.
Christ is using an analogy
that the husband's the head of the wife,
just as Christ is the head of the church.
It's not saying that the New Testament church,
only the New Testament church,
is the bride of Christ.
It's just using the analogy of authority levels
within a marriage,
so we can understand how Christ relates to the church,
the same way a husband ought to relate to his wife.
Now, is it just the city?
Is the bride of Christ just?
No, obviously when we talk about a city,
we talk about those that populate that city, right?
We talk about those that live in that city,
that make up that city.
What's the point of having a city
if there's no one in it, right?
What's the point?
I've seen videos of places like in Asia,
I think even places like Dubai,
or where they construct these massive buildings,
try to create these cities that are from nothing,
and even some places in I think China even,
and then there's no one there.
There's no businesses.
There's no population.
It's just empty.
They've done these great cities.
They spent all this money,
all this debt they've gotten into, right?
Thinking that they're going to create
this great new international city,
and then that's not how cities start.
Things start small,
and then it gradually builds,
but they try to manufacture this, right?
And it's empty.
It's pointless.
But no, it's not pointless for God.
When he brings down this city,
we see that there are those that make up this bride.
Now look at verse number 12.
Revelation 21 verse 12.
Who makes up the Lamb's bride?
Verse number 12.
So the city had a wall great and high,
and had 12 gates,
and at the gates 12 angels,
and names written thereon,
which are the names of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel.
The 12 tribes of the children of Israel.
These gates have the names of the tribes of Israel.
Old Testament now, right?
Is the bride of the Lamb just the New Testament church?
That would make no sense,
unless we had these tribes being mentioned,
these Old Testament saints.
Why?
Because the Old Testament saints,
the Old Testament tribes of Israel,
are going to be part of this city, right?
Not just Old Testament,
but New Testament.
Look at verse 13 and 14.
On the east three gates,
and on the north three gates,
and on the south three gates,
and the west three gates.
So there's multiple entrances into the city.
North, south, east, west.
Three gates on every side.
Obviously that makes up 12,
the 12 tribes of Israel.
But look at verse 14.
And the wall of the city had 12 foundations,
and in them the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.
So the foundations of the walls of this city
have the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.
Who are the 12 apostles?
Those that made up, started up the New Testament church.
So it's not only Old Testament saints,
but New Testament saints
that make up symbolically here of this new city, okay?
It's an interesting thing
because I don't understand why this sensationalism
wants to separate Old Testament saints,
New Testament saints, New Testament church,
Old Testament Israel for all eternity.
I've heard teaching that say,
well the new heaven,
that's for the New Testament saints,
New Testament church age saints,
and the new earth,
that's for the Old Testament Israel saints.
We just never meet.
I've heard that taught in this sensational circle.
It's just crazy.
We see God focuses on this city
and pays attention to make sure it has 12 names
of the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles
that started the New Testament churches, okay?
Now, some interesting thing.
Look at verse 16.
Just the size of the city.
Let's come look at that quickly.
And the city lie four square,
and the length is as a length as the breadth.
And the length is as large as the breadth.
And he measured the city with a rate of 12,000 furlongs.
The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
So it's length, breadth, and height.
It actually goes up.
This city goes up somehow, right?
But all of it's equal.
So either it's a cube or either it's a pyramid,
but all angles are the same length, okay?
But it's not just length and breadth.
It's also height.
Now, I looked up what is 12,000 furlongs,
and that worked out to be 2,414 kilometres each way.
2,414 kilometres each way.
From here to Sydney is about 1,000 kilometres.
So it's like from driving to Sydney,
then driving back here,
then driving halfway back, roughly.
That's how long the city is.
And then that's not just the width as well.
Now, I had a look at Australia.
I looked at Australia.
Australia is, in kilometres squared,
it's 7.7 million kilometres squared,
just the landmass of Australia.
7.7 million kilometres square.
Now, when you work out the kilometres squared
in of this new Jerusalem,
that works out to be 5.8 million kilometres squared.
So it almost takes up the whole landmass of Australia.
One city.
This is one city on the new earth, okay?
So it's huge.
It's got more than enough space.
And look, Australia is largely deserted anyway, right?
It's all, most of that's empty.
This is a city that's going to be full of people,
more than enough room for all the Old Testament saints
and the New Testament saints to be part of.
Now, just to prove to you,
if you can turn to Hebrews chapter 11,
turn to Hebrews chapter 11,
because you might say,
yeah, well, this city here has the names of the tribes.
It has the names of the apostles.
But still, it's just for the New Testament church.
Well, I just want to prove this to you a little bit further.
Turn to Hebrews chapter 11 verse 13.
Now, you guys know Hebrews 11.
That's the chapter of great faithful men of God, right?
You know, it covers people like Enoch and Noah
and Abel and Abraham, Sarah, Noah.
Now, it mentions all these people of great faith,
but look at verse 13.
These all died in faith.
So all these great people of God,
great men, great ladies, right?
There's Sarah in that list as well.
All these died in faith,
not having received the promises,
but having seen them afar off.
Now, what are we meant to do as believers
looking for the new heavens and the new earth, right?
We are also looking for the promise, okay?
They also, having seen them afar off,
they were also looking for these promises.
What promise?
And were persuaded of them and embraced them
and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth, on this earth,
they were strangers and pilgrims.
For they that say such things declare plainly
that they seek a country.
They were looking for a country.
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country
from whence they came out,
they might have had opportunity to have returned.
So if their mind was on this country, on this earth,
on where they've come from, they would have returned.
But no, they had their minds on another country, right?
Verse 16.
But now they desire a better country,
that is, and heavenly.
Wherefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for He hath prepared for them a city.
This country is this city, right?
This heavenly city, a better country.
It's something they were looking forward to.
They did not receive it in their life,
but they were focused on it.
They were paying attention to it.
They wanted it.
What is this city?
The new Jerusalem that comes out of heaven,
prepared for God, the bride of the Lamb.
These are Old Testament saints looking for this city, right?
Now look at, you're still in Hebrews?
Look at Hebrews chapter 12.
Hebrews chapter 12 verse 22.
Now referring to New Testament believers.
Now the book of Hebrews, why is it called Hebrews?
Why is the book of Hebrews called Hebrews?
Well, because it was written to Hebrews.
It was written to the Jews, right?
Now it's still relevant to us, of course,
because everything in the Bible is relevant to us.
But it was something specific for the Jews of the time
that had become believers, right?
Because they had all these Old Testament practices.
They were still trying to work out,
you know, what do we hold on to?
What no longer do we need to worry about?
It's still relevant for us to learn,
but it was specifically written to the Hebrews.
Now look at verse 22.
These are saved Hebrews.
But ye, ye believers, are come unto Mount Zion,
and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
to an innumerable company of angels.
So we have Old Testament saints looking for the heavenly city.
We have New Testament Hebrews, right, looking for this new city.
But look at verse 23.
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn.
So it's not just the Jews, Old Testament, New Testament.
It's also the general assembly and church of the firstborn.
Which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all,
and to the spirits of just men made perfect.
So this city of the living God, this heavenly Jerusalem,
Old Testament, New Testament, Jew, Gentile, whatever,
a believer, someone saved by the blood of Christ,
is going to be part of this heavenly city.
So is the New Testament church the bride of the lamb?
Yes, but you're missing out on everyone else
that makes up that bride of the lamb and that city.
That entire city, and the people that are going to occupy that city,
is the bride of the lamb.
Now what I find interesting about the new heavens and the new earth,
you know, we speak of spiritual things.
Because we don't see God's kingdom physically, right?
We speak of spiritual things.
We speak of spiritual concepts.
Often when we read the bible, when we preach the word.
And you know, I'll just read to you John chapter 4 verse 10.
Jesus answered and said unto her,
talking about to the Samaritan woman, that's what he says.
If thou knewest the gift of God,
and who it is that saveth thee give me to drink,
thou wouldest have asked of him,
and he would have given thee living water.
Now when Jesus says the living water there,
is he referring to actual water, like real water?
Or is he talking spiritual?
He's referring to spiritual things, right?
He's referring to spiritual.
Even in John chapter 7 verse 37,
in the last day, that great day of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried saying,
if any man thirsts, let him come unto me and drink.
Now did Jesus have all this water ready to give thirsty people?
No, he's saying spiritual things.
He says this in verse 38,
he that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
And that rivers of living water later on
talks about the Holy Spirit.
So these are spiritual concepts, okay?
If we believe on Christ, we have partaken of that water, right?
Spiritual concepts.
Now look at verse number 6, Revelation 21 verse 6.
Revelation 21 verse 6.
So here we are in the new heaven and the new earth.
Oh, well, I think you're...
Are you in Revelation 22?
I'm getting confused now.
Oh yeah, we're talking about the city.
Yeah, sorry.
To the city, Revelation 21 verse 6.
And he said unto me, it is done.
I am alpha and omega.
This is Jesus speaking again,
but in the new heavens and the new earth.
It is done.
I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end,
and I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain
of the water of life freely.
Okay, now look at Revelation 22.
Revelation 22 verse 1.
Yeah, Revelation 22 verse 1.
And he showed me a pure river of water of life,
clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God
and of the Lamb.
Now what I find interesting about the new heavens
and the new earth, we speak of these spiritual concepts,
and yet in the new heaven and the new earth,
it's like these spiritual things become reality,
physical things.
Like, you know when we talk about, in Ephesians,
talks about how that we're built upon the apostles
as this lively stone.
And we know that's all like spiritual concepts,
but then we see the new Jerusalem, the new city,
its foundations are the names of the apostles.
So we see these spiritual things kind of clash reality,
and it's physical, it's tangible things.
There's literally this river of water of life,
this everlasting life of water coming out of this city
from the throne of God, something that we can partake of.
Christ says, hey, you know,
him that is the thirst of the fount of water of life freely.
Now we're already in our resurrected bodies.
We're already in our eternal immortal bodies.
We don't need to somehow maintain our eternity.
No, that's been established already done in Christ.
But yet these things are available for us to partake of,
physically in the new heavens and the new earth.
I always find that fascinating,
that things that are spiritual somehow become physical.
Once again, it's not just the rivers of life,
it's also the tree of life.
We know in the book of Revelation,
there was a tree of knowledge of good and evil,
which Adam and Eve were not to eat of.
And then there was a tree of life as well, right?
And then when they took of that tree of good and evil
and died spiritually,
God prevented them from even having to eat of the tree of life.
Now, did they have to eat of the tree of life to remain alive?
No, they just didn't have to eat of the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil to maintain,
to be able to live forever.
But yet that was available to them physically.
In the Garden of Eden, that was prevented of them.
Now, the tree of life in the Bible is still spoken of.
The tree of life is still available today for us today.
But spiritually, spiritual concepts, right?
Now, let me just read to you a couple of things.
These things are found in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs chapter three, verse 18 says,
she, talking about wisdom, it refers to she.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her
and happy is everyone that retaineth her.
So it's about wisdom, spiritual concepts,
things that are intangible, wisdom.
If we get the wisdom of God, that's like the tree of life.
That's partaking of the tree of life.
Proverbs 11, verse 30, you guys are familiar with this one.
It says, the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life
and he that win of souls is wise.
So within us, we have a tree of life.
We can actually bring life.
We can bear fruit spiritually and get other people saved
and be part of that eternal life, right?
That's another tree of life.
Again, spiritual concepts.
And then Proverbs 15, verse four says,
a wholesome tongue is a tree of life.
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.
So kind, encouraging, motivating words, encouraging,
building one another, that is a tree of life.
That gives life spiritual concepts.
Now look at Revelation 22, verse two.
Revelation 22, verse two.
So after the river of the living water, a water of life,
it says in verse two, in the midst of the street of it
and on either side of the river was there the tree of life.
So again, the spiritual concepts are made reality.
That's made tangible.
Literal tree of life on either side of the river
which bear 12 manner of fruits and yielded her fruit every month
and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Okay, now it's interesting because you've got this tree of life.
They can produce or bear 12 types of fruits.
12 manner, you know, most, every tree produces like one fruit
but this tree of life is able to produce 12 fruits
and yielded her fruit every month.
So it's always in season.
You know how some trees produce some periods of time, certain seasons, no.
Every month this tree is producing fruit
and the leaves, not just the fruit,
but the leaves can be used as healing of the nations.
I don't understand that.
I don't understand.
But it's interesting that even in the new heavens and the new earth,
there are nations.
Okay, it's not just one nation, there are multiple nations, okay.
But this tree of life, either it has one fruit every month,
like let's say they, even in the new earth,
there's still 12 months in a year, I don't know.
Let's say that's true.
Then we could say that yes, there's one fruit being produced every month
or we can just say all 12 fruits are produced all times of the year.
I guess it just depends on how you read that.
But yeah, for the healing of the nations,
I just wanted to show you, look,
even in the new heavens and the new earth,
there are going to be nations.
There are going to be greater nations.
And what you mentioned, there are kings over these nations.
Okay, now if we're going to rule and reign with Christ in the millennium,
you need to understand that authority structure will continue.
We're going to continue serving the Lord.
We're going to continue working for Him.
Okay, when does He bring His reward?
When He comes to establish His kingdom on the earth.
Okay, at that point in time,
everything you've done in this life,
everything you've done in this old earth for the Lord
will be accountable to you a hundredfold into the millennium.
Some of you will have more than others.
Some of you will have greater mansions than others.
Some of you will have greater responsibility, greater authority.
Some of you will be kings.
Some of you will serve, you know, in different capacities
in this new heaven and this new earth.
We need to keep our focus on this, not just as a destination, right?
But as what can we gain from there?
What can we do?
You know, how much can we...
Because once you're there, you're set.
Once you're there, you can no longer have that hundredfold contribution.
The hundredfold starts now in this life.
What you do for the Lord is going to determine and be rewarded for you into eternity,
into the new heaven and the new earth.
Now let me just say this.
Go back to 2 Peter chapter 3.
2 Peter chapter 3 verse 13.
Just to put this all together for you.
2 Peter chapter 3 verse 13.
Our memory verse again.
Nevertheless, we, according to His promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwell of righteousness.
So yes, it is right and correct for us to look for, okay?
But do we just look?
Is that all that we do?
We just look and hope?
No, look at verse 14.
Wherefore, okay, beloved...
So because you're doing this.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things,
be diligent that you may be found of Him in peace without spot and blameless.
Be diligent.
So because you know this is happening,
now, right now where you are, brethren,
beloved, be diligent that you may be found in peace without spot and blameless.
Be diligent now.
Yes, be hopeful for the future.
But because of the future, be diligent in the work of the Lord now.
What does it mean to be diligent?
It means to be attentive.
Be persistent with what you do.
Work toward these great wards in the eternal state.
You have your opportunity right now.
We have the last year, you know, 2017.
You know, think about, you know, when I think about the new heavens and the earth,
it's a good time to preach this sermon because tomorrow we have a new year, okay?
It's the end of 2017.
Today, it's done.
2017 is done.
Whatever you've done for the Lord in 2017 is done.
It's wrapped up.
You cannot go back to 2017 and do more for the Lord.
That's taken care of.
But we do have a new year coming up.
2018.
What are we going to be doing for the Lord?
You know, I love 2017.
It brought me up here.
We started a new church.
Got to know you guys better.
Be able to fellowship, serve the Lord together.
Great!
You know, we've done this for three months.
Now, let's think about a whole year.
What can we do for the Lord in 2018?
Looking for the new heavens and the earth.
What can we do now?
Do we need to wait for that new heaven?
No!
We can start preparing now, okay?
Because everything you do will be rewarded a hundredfold
in the new heavens and the new earth and in the millennium before that as well.
You know, Bible reading.
Have you ever read your Bible from cover to cover?
If you haven't, why don't you decide 2018 is going to be the year
that I read my Bible from cover to cover?
You know, if you've already read your Bible from cover to cover,
why don't you decide 2018 is the year that I'm going to read
not just Old Testament and New Testament,
but I'll read the New Testament twice.
Get a bit more reading into it.
New Testament doesn't take too long to get through, right?
Have you already done that?
Great!
Read the Bible twice in the new year.
Challenge yourself to do more for the Lord.
Everything that you do for the Lord will be rewarded, right?
Start a Bible reading plan.
If you're not consistent, you know, you find that yourself, you slack off.
You know, you start well in the year reading your Bible, but then you slack off.
Have a Bible reading plan that you can mark off.
Hey, have someone accountable to you.
Go to someone in your family and say,
can you keep me accountable to read through my chapters?
So then they can come up to you at the end of the day.
Hey, have you read your...
I haven't read it yet.
All right, I better get on to it, right?
Because if you've got that partner, it's like sawing.
It's harder to go sawing on your own, but if you've got a partner with you,
you're more, okay, cool, let's do it together.
You get motivated.
You get encouraged.
You encourage one another.
Same thing with Bible reading.
Have someone maybe, if you find yourself slack off,
find someone that can keep you accountable.
Prayer, your prayer life.
You know, start your day.
Say, in 2018, I'm going to start every day praying to the Lord.
I'm going to spend time with the Lord,
and I'm going to end my day with the Lord.
Why not?
You know, say, hey, this is a good time.
New Year's, everyone does it, right?
New Year's resolution.
For some reason, it's motivating to know,
hey, I've got a new year.
I've got a fresh start.
Okay, I don't have the new heavens and the new earth just yet,
but I have the new year.
I can start here, right?
Bible reading.
You know, write down your prayer request.
If you find yourself, I don't know, I don't have,
you know, when I pray, I just pray,
Dear Lord, please help me today.
Help me do good in work.
Look after my family.
In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
If you've got nothing to pray about,
look, there's many things to pray about.
Maybe keep a journal of things, right?
You hear about people being sick in church.
You hear about different difficulties and needs or what have you.
You know, you have your own issues.
Write them down.
So then when you go to the Lord,
and you might not remember those things,
you can go back to your journal and have a look and say,
oh yeah, I've got all these things to talk to the Lord about.
The other good thing about having a journal or jotting these things down
is you can go back and have,
hey, the Lord's answered these ones already, right?
And you can take them off and encourage.
You can remember to thank the Lord
because so many times the Lord does things for us
and we forget to thank him.
You know, we just take it for granted that that prayer's been answered.
You know, confess your sins.
You know, remember, hey, the Lord,
to keep a good fellowship with the Lord is to confess your sins.
Great time.
Be prayerful.
Confess your sins before the Lord.
Ask him to help you to overcome.
Things that you struggle with in your life.
You know, if you say, I don't know what to pray for,
ask the brethren in the church.
I know, I get encouraged when someone comes up to me and says,
Kevin, do you have anything you want me to pray for?
You know, sometimes I don't have anything to pray,
you know, top of my mind,
but it's encouraging to know that there's a brother in church
that loves me enough to actually bring me before the Lord
and ask for my needs.
You know, my needs for my family.
You know, ask people in the church if there's anything you can pray for.
You know, church attendance.
Say 2018, you know,
it's going to be a time that I do not purposely miss any service.
You know, if possible.
You know, obviously I know people are sick
and there's times you just can't make it, legitimate reasons.
But hey, sometimes we do get lazy.
Sometimes, you know, we might be a little sick.
We can still make it to church.
We go, you know, I'm not that all that well.
Hey, make a mission in 2018 to be in church as much as possible.
For Kevin?
No, for the Lord.
For the fellowship.
To serve the Lord and be encouraged amongst believers.
You know, say in 2018, if I go on holidays,
you know, because church attendance is important to me.
I'm going to make sure that I go to a place
where I know there's a sound church, right?
If it's, you know, over a Sunday or over the weekend
or what have you, go to a place for holidays
that you know has a church that at least is right in the gospel.
But at least I know the people in that church are my brothers in Christ.
You know, keep those things in mind.
What about your family?
You know, spend time.
Say 2018 is going to be the year that I spend time with my family.
That I, you know, don't ignore them with all the distractions of the world.
You know, I know there are things that keep us, our minds busy.
You know, the devil's the deceiver of these nations.
He brings things into our life that aren't even sinful
but can distract us from our own family time.
Hey, spend time praying together as a family.
Memorize verses together, right?
I find that it's easier to, for me,
the reason I give you one verse per week to memorize
is because I know that's going to be easier for you as a family to get together
and try to memorize that together.
I find it easier to memorize verses when I'm doing it with the kids, right?
Because I'm trying to teach the kids
but at the same time I'm teaching myself, right?
So, you know, sing hymns together.
You've got your hymn books now, right?
You've all families have hymn books.
Say, hey, 2019 is a year that I'm going to sing praises to the Lord
not just in the house of God but in my own personal house.
I'm going to open up the hymns.
I'm going to learn these songs and sing praises to Him.
And also, hey, 2018 is going to be a year
where I'm going to be more hospitable to my church brethren than I ever have.
I'm going to have them over.
We're going to fellowship together, spend time together, get to know one another,
love one another, serve one another
because I know when I serve them I'm serving Christ.
Soul winning. Soul winning, right?
I'm going to be soul winning more than I ever have.
I have some soul winning numbers for you after this sermon.
I'm going to go through that.
But say, hey, we as a church want to win more souls in 2018 than we did in 2017.
That won't be hard, right?
That won't be hard because we have four times as many months to get through
and beat that number that we've got.
But hey, let's try to win as many souls as, you know, more souls in 2018 than we did in 2017.
And if you're someone that's never done any soul winning,
hey, say, 2018 is the year that I'm going to memorize these verses.
I'm going to memorize a plan.
So, you know, if when I have the opportunity to preach the gospel, I'm ready.
You know, 2018 is the year that I'm going to keep church tracts on me, you know, in my pockets.
I go out and do my business because every now and again, you never know there's an opportunity.
Someone comes and starts to talk to you and you're ready.
You can give them a tract.
And, you know, even if you're not comfortable giving the gospel,
you can read the tract out to them,
or at least they can take it and have some thoughts in their mind.
They can read some verses and hopefully the power of God through the Word of God
is able to make them uncomfortable and think about eternity, you know.
And also just your personal walk with the Lord.
2018 is going to be the year that I walk closer with the Lord than I ever have before.
I don't need to wait for the new heavens and the new earth to walk with the Lord.
I can do it now in my spiritual life.
I'm going to spend more time walking in the flesh.
I'm going to spend less time so into the flesh.
Did I say flesh?
Walking in the spirit.
I'm going to spend more time walking in spirit.
Less time so into the flesh.
Less time wasting my life on non-essential things
that don't matter to the new heavens and the new earth.
Think about the things that you do in your life.
What are the things that I do that's just a waste of time
that God's not going to give me any rewards in eternity,
but what are the things that I know I can do for the Lord
that has not just ramifications on me now,
but into the future a hundred fold, you know.
Think about that.
Everything I do for the Lord a hundred fold rewarded.
It's an amazing promise from the Lord.
Stop laying, wasting your time on non-essential things.
I understand that you need to relax and blow some steam every now and again,
but if that's all you're doing and you're not doing things for the Lord,
you haven't even balanced in your life.
So that's what I wanted to talk to you guys about today.
The new heavens and the new earth.
Something that we ought to look forward to.
Hey, tomorrow, start of the new year.
Let's make it practical.
Let's apply this sermon tomorrow, right?
Let's apply it today, right?
Let's do great things for the Lord
with our vision set upon the new heavens and the new earth.
Let's pray.