I'm going to ask you to take
your Bibles and turn with me to Revelation 21. A few years ago, we went through this
busted book a couple of times. And I've had this passage of
Scripture on my mind for a few weeks. I want to look at it again. It's Revelation 21, verses 25
to 27. Revelation 21, verse 25. The Scripture says, "...and the
gates of it," speaking of heaven, heavenly Jerusalem, "...the gates
of it shall not be shut at all by day, for there shall be no
night there." and they shall bring the glory and the honor
of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter
into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination,
or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's book
of life. There's so much that's said about
going to heaven. Going to heaven. I'm going to
go to heaven when I die. I'm going to see my loved ones. Who this side of the grave can
perceive the glory of actually entering into fellowship with Almighty God. Actually seeing
Him as He is. I mean, no more by faith, beholding
Him, The Scriptures set forth that
we'll see Him as He is. And in that instant of entering
into the very presence of God, the totality of what we knew
only by faith on earth, The revelation of perfect knowledge
instantly. Seeing Him and knowing and perceiving,
understanding. We struggle right now. We talk about the snares. The snares of death. The snare
of the flesh. The snare of Satan. the snare
of the cares of this world. But in that day, when time is
no more, when by the grace of God, God's people hear those
blessed words, enter in. Enter in. Enter into that which has been
prepared for you from before the foundation of the world. That place that our Lord said,
I've gone to prepare for you. In my Father's house are many
mansions, many dwelling places. He said, if it wasn't so, I'd
have told you. I'd have told you. I have not seen, neither hath
not heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man that which
God has prepared for those that love him." I know this. We are going all that the Father
has given the Son. I know this. I know it by faith. I don't know it as I would desire
to know it. I don't know it as I shall know
it. But I know that our blessed Lord
has prayed. I love this passage of Scripture.
This is so many times the passage of Scripture that I use when
I preach the funeral of one that has given a good confession in
faith. Our blessed Savior. John 17.24,
Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with
me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast
given me." That is, as the Mediator, the God-man, that blessed Lord
Jesus, the man, Christ Jesus, He who is there even now, in
the very flesh that He walked upon this earth in, That very
flesh that he ascended into heaven, that angel told those disciples
when they gazed upon him, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye
gazing upon the heavens? This same Jesus, same Jesus,
that you have seen ascend, shall in like manner return. He who stood when Stephen was being stoned,
And Stephen said, I see God Himself, the Son of God, standing. I know this. The Lord has prayed
for those that the Father has given Him. Father, I desire that
they be with me. You've loved me, He said. before
the foundation of the world. He's always been, as we looked
at a few weeks ago, not in His flesh. Not in flesh. In time, He was made flesh. He actually took on a body that
His being, I don't know how else to say it, Himself, that which
took on flesh, the Word, that was made flesh, has always been. He's always been. He said, Father,
You lovest Me before the foundation of the world. I know He's always
been. Man was created in His image. So there had to have been an
image for man to be created in it. He's the one that we look for. This is real. This is not just
one person I heard, I think it was one of those communist guys
years ago, said that religion was the opium of the masses. No, this is not just a drug to
us. This is real. There's no speculation
here. The Lord has a people. And He's going to save them. And they look for Him. Now here's
the question I've got. I've got a few questions. I'd like to know, what does the
Scripture say? about those that will be found
with the Lord in heaven. Now, let's just look and see
what God has to say concerning those that will be there. Everybody
thinks they're going to be there. But what does God have to say
about it? Revelation 21, 1 and 2. John, under the inspiration
of God's Spirit, says, I saw a new heaven And a new earth. The first heaven and the first
earth were passed away. There was no more sea. And I,
John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God
out of heaven, prepared as a bride, adorned for her husband. What we see right now, the heavens
we see, is not going to be there anymore. God's going to destroy
it. There's not going to be an earth. Now, this earth was created,
and it was created good. When God made the earth, it was
without form, it was void, and God spoke, and it was no more. I mean, that voidness was no
more. It took form. And God saw that it was good. Now, Almighty God, because of
sin, is going to destroy this earth and is going to make another
one. A new heaven, new earth. Going to be no more sea. Sea
is a picture, a type of this world. Kingdom of heaven is like
A sea of net cast in. And the fish were drawn out.
And the good were kept and the bad were thrown away. The sea
is a picture of the arrangement of this world. It's not going
to be like that anymore. No. All of it is going to pass
away. And John said, I saw the holy
city. New Jerusalem. God's church. coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride, adorned for her husband. Now, what does God's Word say
about that city right there? Somebody says, well, that's the church with the Lord
in heaven. Heaven is where He is. Where is it? He ascended, the
Scripture says, into heaven, but you glide into space. Where is it? It's wherever He
is. We don't see it, but it is. Now
concerning that new heaven, that holy Jerusalem, new Jerusalem,
the new city of peace, what does God have to say about it? Well, that's what we read. Verse
25-26, the gates of it, of that city, shall not be shut at all
by day. There shall be no night there.
They, that is, they that are in it, shall bring the glory
and honor of the nations into it. There shall in no wise enter
into it anything that defile it, neither whatsoever worketh
abomination or maketh a lie, but they which are written in
the Lamb's book of life." Now, here's what I want to know. I
know what the Scripture says about it. I know that it will
come down just like God says it will. I know there's going
to be a new heaven, new earth. And I know it's going to be soon.
Soon. I know that. You say, how soon? I don't know. I don't know. But
I will tell you this, in light of eternity, it's going to be
soon. Those that are there, how did
they come to be there? How did they come to be in that
glorious place when they were born in Adam, separated from
God? Children of wrath, the Scripture
says. There's not an ounce of difference
in any of us. I know that there's going to
be some there. I read what the Lord said about praying to the
Father. Father, I will. that those that
thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold
my glory." The glory that you gave me. You loved me from before the
foundation of the world. Who's going to be there? I know
that some had to get there. They'll look at Revelation 21.
Let's look at verses 10 to 13. The Scripture says, He carried
me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain. And He showed
me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of
heaven from God, having the glory of God. And her light was likened
to a stone, most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as
crystal, and had a wall great and high. and had twelve gates, and at
the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which
are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel." Now,
I do know that this is spiritual language. When it's talking about
the children of Israel, that's the true Israel, the true church. the elect of God. God's bride. Paul says they're not all of
Israel that are of Israel. Just because they live in that
country across the ocean, that doesn't mean that they're the
elect of God. But all the elect of God are
the true Israel. That's the true people of God. So how'd they get there? Well,
concerning that description right there, There's just one way in. There's only one way into that
city. And the scripture sets forth
in verse 12 that it had to do with some gates. There was 12
gates concerning the 12 tribes of the totality. of all of God's
people, all of God's elect. Had 12 gates, and at the gates
there were 12 angels, and names written thereon. The names of
the 12 tribes of the children of Israel. Every gate was for the objects of God's
mercy. They had their names written
on them. The Father chose them to be there. God Almighty before the foundation
of the world. Ephesians 1-4. You know this. Think of what the Scriptures
have set forth concerning how did anyone ever come to be within
the bride. How did they get there? God chose
them to be there. Almighty God set His affection
upon them, not according to their works, not according to anything
that they could or would do. Psalm 14 says, God looked down
to see if there were any that did good. And there were none. None. Nobody sought after God.
How did any of them get there? God chose them. And named them. You're mine. You're mine. I chose you. I put you in Christ. I chose Him to be the surety. And I have eternally looked to
Him alone. for your well-being. There's
one way. One way into the presence of
Almighty God. It's by God's grace. God's mercy. God's compassion. How did they
get into that holy city? The bride, the church, God's
elect into the presence, the body of Christ. How? God put
them there. The Lord Jesus Christ said in
John 14, 6, I am the way. I'm the truth. I'm the life.
No man cometh unto the Father but by me. The Scripture says in that holy Jerusalem,
it had twelve gates. Named, written there on. glorious sight of that gate right
there. All 12 gates set forth one man,
the Lord Jesus Christ. Three of them to the east, three
of them to the west, three of them to the north, three of them
to the south. And out of every nation, kindred, tribe and tongue,
they come straight to Him. And there, over that gate, prepared
for them, the twelve tribes of Israel, there is their name. Can you just stop just for a
minute and you think, by the grace of God, that by faith you
could look, and there is a gate, and it says, Korobo, Korobo. That is for me. That's personal. He chose me to show mercy to
me. Not because I would find myself
faithful. He chose to show mercy before
the foundation of the world, before He ever made me. He told
Jeremiah, He said, I knew you before I ever formed you in the
belly. Before I ever put your mom and
daddy together, and their parents and their parents and their...
Before I ever ordered all of these things in time, I knew
you. I chose you. I chose to show
mercy to you. Gates. One door. Personal. Personal. And the gates
of it, It shall not be shut at all by day, ever open. Christ is our gate. Christ is the door to the Father. He's always been the door. And
there's no preventing access to Almighty God in Christ. There's no obscurity. Nothing's
going to stop. Satan, the Scripture says, is
bound. He's bound in chains of darkness. What does that mean? That means
that Satan is not able to prevent Almighty God from calling out
his people. Do you think that being ensnared
by Satan himself, and I know, I do know, That born in Adam,
before we're called out of darkness, we are. We're all the same. All of us are bound. But can
Satan stop God from calling out one of His own? No. You know what he does? You know
what the Lord does? He said, before one goes into
a strong man's house, What does he do? Well, he's going to bind
the strong man. He'll go and spoil his goods.
Satan had all of God's people bound. They were all born bound. All dead in trespasses and sin. And Almighty God, by grace and
power, He came in and just stops him. That was mine. He binds the strong man. Because
He's stronger, believe me, He's stronger. One stronger than He
comes in, binds Him, protects Him by His Holy Spirit. He gives Him a new heart, new
will, new mind. Calls Him by grace. Gives Him
faith to believe. And they come. They just come.
Why? Because all that the Father giveth
me shall come to me. Him that cometh to me, I want
to know why it's cast out. I died for you. Redeemed you
by grace. In that place, that glorious
place, verse 23 says concerning this heavenly Jerusalem, this
city had no need of the sun, need of the moon to shine in,
for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light
thereof. There's no ignorance there. They
know Him. And He knows them. 1 John 3,
2 says, Beloved, now are we the sons of God. It does not yet
appear. It's what I quoted a while ago. What we shall be. But we
know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him. Like Him. Like Him. For whom He did foreknow,
He did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of His
Son. We're going to see His face.
He who has everlastingly loved us. He who has ever stood for
us. He who has ever answered for
us. Who's going to be there? All that the Father has given
the Son. Number two, with what do they come with? What do they
come with? This is an amazing thing. Look
at verse 21 of Revelation. Chapter 21, verse 26. They shall
bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. Now, I know this. If there's
any glory and any honor brought with them, and the Scripture
says they shall, they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations
into that holy place. If there's any glory and honor
brought, well, I'll tell you this, it didn't originate with
those that come in. It didn't start with them. Let
me show you. You turn to John 17. Now, if
we want to learn, let's look at what God has to say. John
17. Verse 22 and 23. John 17, 22. And the glory which thou gavest
me, that's the Lord Jesus speaking, the glory which thou gavest me,
I have given them. that they may be one, even as
we are one. Now listen, I'm about to read
to you what the glory is. They shall come with the glory
and honor of the nations. What is it? Verse 23. Here it is. I in them, and thou
in me, that they may be made perfect in one, that is, in Christ,
and that the world may know that thou hast sent me. and has loved
them as thou hast loved me. Oh, the glory and the honor that
Almighty God has bestowed upon His people, He in them, the Father
in Him, that we may be all one in Christ's glory. Word that we keep looking at. The root of it is to think. Here's
what the glory is. They bring the glory and honor
of Almighty God with them into that place. What is that? What is that honor
and glory? He has shown mercy to me. He
lives in me. The Father in Him. And we're
one together in Christ. Oh, if I could but get a hold
of that. The glory and honor of the nations. The glory, Father, that You gave
me, I gave them. I in them. Thou in me. That we may be one. Oh, it's the result of God's
opinion, the glory of God's thinking to show mercy and compassion.
It's God's glory to think to save His people according to
His will. Romans 9, 16 says, So then it
is not of him that willeth, that is, resolves by his will, nor
of him that runneth, or exerts or strives hard, what is it? But it's God that showeth mercy. They bring God's glory with them. God Almighty has shown glory
and honor to them. The value that was fixed. I love that definition. Honor. The value that was fixed. Has
not the potter power of the clay of the same lump to make one
vessel unto honor? To fix a value. Lord, why would
you set honor upon me? Lord, why would you set your
glory upon me? Christ in me, you in Him. Why? Here's what Scripture says. Because it pleased Him to do
so. That's the only answer. That's the only answer. There's
not an ounce of difference in me or you or anybody else. That
Almighty God. All that bring the glory and
honor of the nations into heaven are displaying the opinion of
Almighty God in Christ. and the value of His precious
blood to put away their sins. Think of the honor that has been
placed upon them. The glory. God's glory. What did it take for them to
get there? It cost God His blood. God in flesh. Lost in the fall,
God chose to show mercy. And Christ redeemed them. The
Spirit of God regenerated them in power. Gave them faith to
believe. Anybody would stand and ask,
what value or honor do you possess? What made you different? You know, that's what the Apostle
says. Who caused there to be a difference
between you and anyone else? Who maketh you to differ? What
difference did it make? Who made the difference? What right do you have to enter? Here's the answer. He chose to
show mercy to me. Gave me life. Gave me righteousness. Made me willing to believe and
come. Because of myself, I could do nothing, and I know that.
I am where I am by the grace of God. How did any found in
heaven get there? They came by the gate. What did
that bring with them? It brought with them the glory
and honor of the nations, that is, Christ Himself, Christ in
you, the hope of glory. And here's the last one. Who
are they? Who are they? How did they get
there? What did they bring? Who are
they? Well, in the last verse, in verse
27, it kind of answers, well, it doesn't kind of answer, it
answers. I didn't mean to say that. Verse 27 answers this question. There's three exclusions for
being there. Three exclusions and one divine
inclusion. Let me say it like that. Three
exclusions. The Scripture says, There shall
in no wise enter into it anything that defiles. Nothing unclean,
nothing unhallowed, nothing unsanctified. All that is there shall be holy. Holy. Perfect. And that demand is met one way. One way only. Robed in the righteousness
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, robed in Him, there is no
place whatsoever for being robed in the filthy rags of our self-righteousness,
thinking that we are something. Robed in His righteousness, sin
must be put away, and I must be robed in Christ. What He did
on this earth, before God as our federal head, that must be
charged to me. And it is charged one way, by
grace through faith. Do you believe God? Are you, by the grace of God,
willing to shun everything that you formerly counted on? Anything
that you could have done. Remember, if it's not of grace,
if it's not of grace, then it's not of God. If it's not by grace. The Scripture says, according
as He's chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy with our blame before Him in love. In
Christ. All that's found in that place
stand in Christ. Perfect. Holy. Accept it. In the Beloved. 1 Corinthians 1-2, unto the church
of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified, holy,
hallowed in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in
every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both
theirs and ours. There won't be anybody there
that's not perfect. Here's the second thing. Neither whatsoever worketh."
Now there's that word, E-T-H. Now look at this. Look at this.
That worketh, remember what I've said, that is present progressive. Still doing it. Still doing it. Still doing it. Neither whatsoever
is still working abomination. Are you telling me that there's
going to be people that will stand before God, and in that
day, still be trying to prove to God that they have something
that they can do to produce a righteousness before Him? I'm talking about
standing before God on the day of judgment. Yeah. We've read this before. Matthew
7.21. Matthew 7.21. Men, women, were going to say
in that day, the Lord said, Matthew 7.21,
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father. Many, verse 22, will say to me
in that day, Standing before God Almighty.
Standing before holiness itself. Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, in thy name cast
out devils, in thy name done many wonderful works? And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me, ye
that work iniquity. You mean to tell me that even
standing before God, that a man would not, seeing God, standing
before God's judgment bar, that they would not in that day stop
that foolishness? No. No. Why? They're dead. They're spiritually
dead. They will in no wise enter in
that which defileth. Worketh abomination or maketh a lie. That's what
it says. Making a lie is actually a description
of what a man is doing in his walk. Worketh abomination is
what rebels do. Maketh a lie is why they do it.
That's why they do it. Making a lie. Second John 1-4, I rejoice greatly
that I found our children walking in truth as we have received
a commandment from the Father. Revelation 22-15, for without
adults and sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, idolaters, and whosoever
loveth and maketh a lie, producing liars against God, those that
believe a lie. Those that believe not the truth
of the gospel, the power of God on salvation. Then in closing, there is one thing that Almighty
God sets forth concerning those in this last verse who shall
be there. But they which are written in
the Lamb's Book of Life. The Book of Life. When did they write it? I say
they, I'm talking about Father, Son, Spirit, God Himself. Moses said, let us make man in
our image. Revelation 17.8. You've read
this. Look at it again. "...the beast
that thou sawest was and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless
pit, go into perdition, and they that dwell on the earth shall
wonder whose names were not written in the book of life from the
foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was
and is not, and yet his being written in the Lamb's book of
life is chosen in Christ." Who is going to be there? Those that
the Father has chosen. Those that Christ lived and died
for, honoring God's law, living for them, dying for them, redeeming
them, calling them, keeping them. Father, I will, that those that
thou hast given me be with me where I am. Oh, the glory in
that day when we see Him face to face, and know him as he is.