Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

The Blessed Hope

Mt 24:9 Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted and will kill you. And you will be hated of all nations for My name's sake.

1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness.

Ep 2:12 That at that time you were without Christ, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Black Death million deaths Europe Death by Spanish Flu million deaths worldwide Death by Spanish Flu million deaths worldwide Death by Cancer-8 million/year worldwide Death by Cancer-8 million/year worldwide Death by Other Diseases-60 million/year worldwide Rape-2-3 million/year- most likely 10 times that, rape is the least reported violent crime in the world Death by Murder- 450,000/year worldwide Death by Famine- 100 million over last 150 years Death by Earthquakes-6 million over last 500 years Death by Flood and Landslide -6 million over last 125 years

Death by Wars World War II 58 million, Mongol conquests 38 million 13th-14th century, Qing dynasty conquest of the Ming dynasty China 25 million , Taiping rebellion China 32 million , World War I 31 million, Conquests of Tamerlane West Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Russia 17 million , An Lushan Rebellion China 21 million , Chinese Civil War 8 million , Russian Civil War 7 million , Nazi exterminations of Jews and other ethnic groups 16 million,

Lesser Wars all over the world 65 million over last 200 years Death by Oppressive Governments- People's Republic of China 49-78,000, Mao Zedong era, Soviet Union 30-61,000, , Congo Free State 10-22,000,

Rev 19:11 And I saw Heaven opened. And behold, a white horse! And He sitting on him was called Faithful and True. And in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 And His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head many crowns. And He had a name written, one that no one knew except Himself. 13 And He had been clothed in a garment dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in Heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in fine white linen,

Ph 3:20 For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we are looking for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

The Importance of Focusing on Heaven Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast,

God Encourages us with Promises of

2. An Immortal Spiritual Body Ph 3:… the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who shall change our body of humiliation so that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working of His power, even to subdue all things to Himself. 3. The Absence of Death, Sorrow and Suffering 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." Rev 21: 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." 4. An Incomprehensible Inheritance Rm 8:17 And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us.

Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Are you looking? Tit 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Are you sojourning? Conclusion