Reading
Revelation 4:1-5:14
Drawing Near
1. Name several common misconceptions people have about heaven.
2. Imagine actually seeing Jesus and actually being in His presence for eternity. What thoughts and feelings come to your mind?
3. What does it mean to you to worship God?
The Context
Christians and non-Christians alike seem to be fascinated these days with the afterlife. Television programs explore the mysterious realm of the supernatural, often focusing on angels or demons and their alleged interaction with humans. Many people claim to have had near-death experiences.
In contrast to the fanciful, bizarre, and often silly fabrications of those who falsely claim to have visited heaven, the Bible records the accounts of two people who actually were taken there in visions. In 2 Corinthians 12 the apostle Paul wrote of being transported to the third heaven (the abode of God). But he was forbidden to speak of what he saw there (2 Corinthians 12:4). The apostle John also had the inestimable privilege of visiting heaven. John was permitted to give a detailed description of his vision, which he did in chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation. In these two chapters, John recorded the second vision he saw.
The Bible refers to heaven more than five hundred times. Yet John's description in these chapters is the most complete information in all of Scripture. Through John's vision, believers have the privilege of previewing the place where they will live forever.
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4 comments:
1. I can't think of any right now.
2. "O you are the Lord" You look different from the other picture i see of you in the world."
3. To sing to him and pray to him not only on Sunday's and Wednesday but every other day too.
1. That it is not real, its just a state of peace, or that it is place where people go and rest if they were good, etc.
2. I would probably be speechless, the fact that one day we will be before him and be able to see his glory is just awesome.
3. To worship to me is not just singing and praising God, I think a pretty big way to worship the Lord is through our actions, by doing things that please him.
1. That it doesn't exist...that it is going to be an eternal party...that everyone who believed in something will be there (we know that's not true)...that we will "hang out" with God forever, like He is one of our buddies...that only certain religions will be there...that it will be a really long church service...those are what came to mind.
2. As I think about it right now, I would feel great unworthiness about being in His presence...at the same time I would feel extreme gratitude for what He has done for me so that I could even be in His presence...at the same time I would be quite inquisitive, wanting to know everything about my new eternal home and who He is.
3. To me, worshipping God is not just lowering yourself, it is completely removing yourself from the picture. When we are truly worshipping God, it's all about Him and has nothing to do with us. Too often we try to generate "worship experiences" by doing things that center on us (for example, listening to a great song and focusing on how we feel), while the Scriptures are full of true examples of worship, centered on God and Him alone.
1. i think that some people when they here heaven they think that they have to do all this stuff to get there and they dont think its worth it or they think well if God really loves me he'll let me in.
2.no more messing up! no more disappointing people! no sin! no judgement! no crying! no more hurting! it's finaly here! no moe stress!!!!i will probebly think of how much more i could have done but finally i get to meet my father! he's one person i know loves me and wont judge me and just...its indescribable.
3.to praise him and to just focus on him for however long im worshiping him. just to put all of my thoughts and everyone else away for a minute and just focus on him.
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