02/11/24 Afterlife: What is Heaven?

OPENING QUESTION

1. What are you most looking forward to about heaven?
2. Is there any part of it that you're not looking forward to?

We're discussing a sermon series from church called "Afterlife." This last Sunday, Pastor Jim answered the question, "What is Heaven?" and concluded with this Bottom Line: Heaven isn't our ESCAPE FROM earth. Heaven is God's VISION FOR earth.

​​DISCUSSION

1. We started with a few misconceptions about heaven related to
   1. The pearly gates (Revelation 21:21).
   2. Whether we meet St. Peter at the gate to heaven or not (Matthew 16:18–19),
   3. Whether people have wings in heaven (no Bible verse).
   4. Whether people will float on clouds in heaven. This idea is rooted in the ancient Hebrew understandings of three tiers of the heavens. The first heaven is the sky filled with birds and clouds; the second is the celestial heaven with the stars, moon, and sun; the third heaven is above the first two (from the perspective of the human on the ground) and is the dwelling place of God.
   5. Whether people will play harps in heaven. This idea is based on Revelation 15:2 which speaks of a single moment in the unfolding mysteries of Revelation and is not an indication that people in heaven will be playing harps for ever. In fact, Isaiah 65:21-23 indicates that we'll be building houses, planting vineyards, and enjoying the work of our hands but not laboring in vain.
2. Read Revelation 21:1-8.
   1. What are some characteristics of heaven that are described here?
   2. At what point in time does this heaven come into existence?
3. Read Revelation 22:1-5.
   1. What is this scene describing?
   2. Compare this to the creation of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:8f. What's the significance of God restoring the Garden of Eden in the end?
4. Read Revelation 21:3. Where else in the Bible and in what other ways and places do see God making his dwelling place among humans?
5. The bottom line is, "Heaven isn't our ESCAPE FROM earth. Heaven is God's VISION FOR earth." In what ways has God been restoring his vision for us throughout biblical history?
6. Read Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21. What is God's promise to those of us who are faithful followers of Jesus and the furtherance of the Kingdom of God on earth but don't live to see the kingdom completely realized in our lifetime? 

PRAYER
Take some time for people to share prayer requests. Then pray. First, thank God for the promise and hope of heaven. Then pray for each other's prayer requests.