When Heaven Comes to Earth

Notes: When Heaven Comes to Earth
Pastor Greg Laurie
SERIES:Essentials
Thursday, October 30, 2014 — 7:00 p.m
Harvest OC

Revelation 21 is where we will be studying tonight studying tonight.


Greg is talking about the expression "heaven on earth." How we have all used it. He says that one day there will literally be Heaven on earth.

God still has a plan for planet earth, one day God will restore this planet.

Acts 3:21 NKJV
[21] whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

God is into restoration.

Ephesians 1:10 NKJV
[10] that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-in Him.

It was said we won't go to Heaven to leave earth behind, God will demolish the wall between Heaven and earth. This is not something new, it is something that will be done again. It is a re-make.

Revelation 21:1-6 NKJV
[1] Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. [2] Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. [4] And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." [5] Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." [6] And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.


Looking at verse 5: Revelation 21:5 NKJV
[5] Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

All bad things will be gone! No more ills, killing, disaster. All things will be new.

Greg is talking about being fans, like Apple fans, or a new television season, or a new car. We all like the new versions if certain things. God likes new.

In the rapture we go up, in the second coming we come down to earth with God.

Ten things missing 
No more sin, tears, death, mourning, pain, thirst, wickedness, no more night, no more closed gates, no more curse.

As far as God is concerned, this is a done deal. He is in the Eternal Realm, God lives in the future as we think of the past.

Greg is talking about the end times, he thinks the next event will be the rapture, the anti-Christ will come next, then peace, then a new Temple, then wars, then the second coming of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:52-58 NKJV
[52] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." [55] "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" [56] The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.


For us when we die, we go straight to Heaven, our souls will be in Heaven. After the Rapture, we will get our glorified bodies.

Greg is talking about the Millennium, and how we will rule over the mortals that will be here.

He is talking about the judgement and the Great White Judgement after.

2 Peter 3:10-11 NKJV
[10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. [11] Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

He is talking about Heaven and Earth coming together.

After the millennial reign of Christ we enter into eternal timelessness - everything is now forever.

He says that is a very big thought for most of us to get our minds around.

He is talking about how it says the ocean will be gone. He is saying that sounds bad to surfers, but he knows that God will always replace what he takes with something better.

We will all be with all of the men and women of all times, for all eternity and we will be there with the Lord.

We will see God and that will be the lens in which we see everything else.

God has let some people no Him before Heaven, like Moses. He will then be letting all of His people dwell with Him.

Like when Adam would walk with the Lord in the Garden of Eden.

Greg is talking about when people would live if they got to chose, Greg says he would of lived when Jesus Christ was on Earth. 

Revelation 21:2 NKJV
[2] Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Greg is talking about how Jerusalem is a city of our past, present and future.

It is the only country, Israel, to have had its people go away and then come back after 100s of years of time.

The new Jerusalem will keep us all busy.

Revelation 7:15 NKJV
[15] Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV
[9] The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Greg is talking about how the broken bodies of people will be transformed.

We need to stop thinking about the here and now. We need to focus on Heaven.

Death for the believer is no the end, but just a continuation some where else.

Greg was asking, will there be tears in Heaven. he says the Bible says there will be.

He is saying when we get to Heaven we will have a spiritual perspective, not a spiritual lobotomy.

Greg is talking about how there is death and sadness on earth. How sometimes less is more when you deal with someone that is suffering.

One day pain and suffering will be gone.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Psalm 103:12 NKJV
[12] As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Greg says when you know God, your wants and desires change. If those things haven't changed, then do you really know Christ.

He is saying that Heaven is not the default destination of everyone. It is for every believer though.

Revelation 21:8 NKJV
[8] But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

Abominable means to be wholly caught up in wickedness. The sexually immoral.

The only place God will bless sex is in a loving marriage between a man and a woman. 

Greg is saying all the funny things he hears by couples that live together.

He is now talking about sorcerers and how this is talking about drugs.

Greg said he believes that the legalization of marijuana is a huge mistake.

Greg is saying now, that you take Jesus Christ as He is.

1. This helps us to keep perspective during times of trial.

Romans 8:18 NKJV
[18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2. It helps us to be truly heavenly minded and to live Godly lives.

Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV
[1] If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. [2] Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

3. It motivates us to want to take as many people as possible with us

Greg says if we really believe these things, shouldn't we want to tell people about Heaven?