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Introduction
John 14:1–3 and Revelation 21:1–8
Holly the cat walks 190 miles to find her owners!
One of the biggest Twitter trends gaining conversation on Monday. Jan 14 is the story of an amazing cat who walked 190 miles in search of her family. Holly, the cat was lost from her owners in Florida, in November of 2012 according to the Post Chronicle reports, and was just recently reunited with her owners after an incredible journey.
The amazing 190 mile-walking cat's name is Holly and her owners, Jacob and Bonnie Richter claim that last November while in Florida, Holly became separated from them while on vacation.
ABC News first reported the story on Jan. 13, 2013 that Jacob and Bonnie Richter were amazed that their cat Holly had made her way back to them in West Palm Beach. The Richter’s revealed that they had been on vacation in Florida to the Daytona International Speedway and had brought along their beloved pet.
Holly was said to have been frightened by some fireworks and ran off to hide off, but after a long search the couple could not locate their family cat.
The Richter's spoke of their search, stating that they drove up in their motor home, so lodging wasn't a problem as they remained behind contacting local agencies and hanging up flyers. Sadly giving up hope of ever locating Holly the cat again, the heartbroken couple headed home.
Josh and Bonnie Richter were suddenly contacted out of the blue with the news that their long lost cat Holly had been found, and strangely the cat was reported to have walked an amazing 190 mile- journey home to find them.
Holly the cat ended up at a close neighbor’s home. It had taken Holly 62 days, but the family cat walked 190 miles home, enduring who knows what types of hardships, and cruelties before reaching her destination.
Holly's condition was described as skinny, and exhausted to the point that she was barely able to move. Luckily Holly had been previously micro chipped, which helped the neighbor discover who she belonged when she took the cat to the vet. The veterinarian was then able to track Holly's chip and reunite the cat with her family.
"All animals have a sense of direction, but it's really unusual for cats to find a way home over long distances. I think this is somewhat of a miracle," the vet stated.
After 62 days Holly finally made it home. The cat was bruised and battered from the long tiresome journey, but nevertheless the cat was finally at home.
The Christian life is very similar to this story. The bible tells us that we are strangers and pilgrims in this world that we inhabit.
1Pe 2:11 KJV - Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
This is the conclusion of our series dealing with “The Bible and the End of Times”. The rapture has taken place; those that were left behind have experienced the horror of the Antichrist and the Mark of the Beast. The saved have stood before the judgment seat of Christ and the lost have appeared before the great white throne judgment. The beast and the antichrist have been cast into the lake of fire, and then Satan joins them. After this event occurs every lost person in the history of mankind has been cast into the lake of fire. Now the scenario turns towards heaven and the eternal dwelling place of all Christians.
The journey may seem hard, hazardous, and even harsh at times, but in the end we will finally be home. There will be no more moving, no more battles, no more disappointments; we will be ushered into the very presence of Jesus for eternity.
I. Heaven is a Practical Place
If there is a devil, then there has to be a God. If there is evil, then there has to be good. If there is a place known as hell, then there has to be a place known as heaven.
A) Practical in its Contrast
Satan – God
Death – Life
Evil – Good
Darkness – Light
Sorrow – Joy
Hell - Heaven
B) Practical in its Conquest
Heaven is practical in considering the conquest that Jesus achieved in defeating Satan upon the cross of Calvary. If Satan and all of his followers are destined to an eternal hell, then it makes perfect sense to consider that Jesus and his followers are destined to heaven.
II. Heaven is a Promised Placed
Let us consider the following:
A) Promised by the Scriptures
The bible tells us numerous times about heaven. It is not a figment of our imagination, heaven is a real and literal place.
B) Promised by the Saints
Rev 21:1 KJV - 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.
Rev 21:2 KJV - And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 KJV - And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 KJV - And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 KJV - And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 KJV - And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 KJV - He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 KJV - But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
C) Promised by the Savior
Jhn 14:1 KJV - Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Jhn 14:2 KJV - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Jhn 14:3 KJV - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
III. Heaven is a Prepared Place
Jhn 14:3 KJV - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
A) The Designer of Heaven
Jesus will be the crafter and designer of this place called heave. I cannot comprehend the beauty and the grandeur of this wonderful place.
B) The Dimensions of Heaven
1 – Its Size
Rev 21:10 KJV - And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 KJV - Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12 KJV - 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:
Rev 21:13 KJV - On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 KJV - And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 KJV - And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16 KJV - And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Rev 21:17 KJV - And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
Rev 21:18 KJV - And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
Rev 21:19 KJV - And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20 KJV - The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21 KJV - And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
2 – Its Splendor
Rev 21:22 KJV - And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 KJV - And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 KJV - And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25 KJV - And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 KJV - And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 KJV - And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
C) The Dwellers of Heaven
Rev 22:1 KJV - And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 KJV - In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3 KJV - And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4 KJV - And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 KJV - And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
IV. Heaven is a Precious Place
A) Precious due to the Glorious Person
B) Precious due to the Gathered People
C) Precious due to the Grand Place
V. Heaven is a Permanent Place
A) Permanent in its Longevity
We will be in heaven forever and forever…
B) Permanent in its Limitations (Revelation 21 & 22)
No more sea
No more tears
No more death
No more sorrow
No more crying
No more pain
No more temples
No more sun
No more moon
No more night
No more defilement
No more abomination
No more lies
No more curses
No more candles
No more sunlight
No more sin
C) Permanent in its Love