I want to spend this first hour looking at the subject of heaven, the new heaven, and earth. Heaven. I am not a poetic person. A person who had a poetic mind can deal with subjects like this in a way that would probably more deeply stir your spirit and put smiles on your faces. There are those who have spoken in that way, written in that way, and I encourage you to look up their materials, one by the name of Donnelly, I think it's Ed Donnelly, or it's Ted Donnelly. Donnelly is the last name anyway, you can look him up. I haven't listened to those messages in a long time, but he has four messages on heaven and four on hell. And they're both worth listening. All those messages are worth listening to. Heaven. There are three heavens, according to scripture. The Apostle Paul, at least three that we know about, Paul was lifted up to the third heaven, he says, in 2 Corinthians chapter 12. What I understand from that is there is the atmosphere in which we live right here, which is in scriptures referred to as heaven, and there is the expanse of the universe, which in the scriptures are referred to as the heavens declare the glory of God. The firmament shows his handiwork. So there is the lower heavens, there is the expanse of the universe heavens, and then there's heaven. The third heaven. That's what I want to talk about, at least at the outset here, as we move our thoughts toward what the Bible calls a new heaven and new earth. Heaven is the place of God's unrestricted glory. Now, we know that there is no place God is not. He is at children. That's a catechism question. Where is God? He is everywhere. And so there is no place He is not. But heaven is the unveiled, unrestricted glory of God. It is the place from where the Son of God came to earth. And it is where He returned. You remember He prayed in John 17 that to His Father about the glory that He had with Him before the world began. In Mark 16 and verse 19, after His resurrection, the Scripture says, So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. In Acts chapter 1, that final view of Jesus Christ, after his resurrection, as he was leaving this earth, the disciples, the apostles were there. And it says in. Verse nine, when he had spoken these things while they beheld, he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same, implying that there's something that needs to be done now. You know, don't just stand there gazing, you know, and don't just stand there gazing as if he's going to come back right away or that you're going to go with him. He's leaving you here. But I'd be gazing too, probably, if I had been there and probably you as well. But this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you've seen him go into heaven. Heaven is not a state of mind. It isn't now. It won't be forever. It's a place inhabited by angels. It's a place right now that's inhabited by departed saints and the bodily resurrected and ascended Lord Jesus Christ. It is a place. Remember the words of Jesus in John chapter 14 and verses 1 through 3. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God? Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions, the King James says, dwelling places, rooms, certainly mansions compared to anything in this life. And I'm not opposed to the translation mansions. That certainly exalts the whole idea of what is awaiting us. If it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Heaven presently is an unknown place in the universe. Astronomers are not going to see it. There's no telescope strong enough to find it. You understand, I just read this this week, that 95% of the universe is unknown to man. 95% of what they know is out there, but they don't know anything about it. That's a lot. 95%. That's the created universe. Heaven is in an unknown place in the universe, or in a dimension in or out of this universe, I cannot tell. Paul said, I knew a man. Whether in the body or out of the body, I mean, there were things that were mysterious to him, and he experienced what he experienced, that he writes about in 2 Corinthians chapter 12. One thing we do know, that heaven now is not perceptible to our present existence. At the end of this age, heaven and earth will unite. Heaven and earth are separated now, and the only way that we can join heaven now is by faith. Heaven has come down in Jesus Christ. Heaven has come down in the person of the Holy Spirit. To that degree, there is a portion of heaven with us, and by faith, we're able to see what we otherwise can't see. But there's coming a time where there is going to be a change, and heaven and earth are going to unite in Revelation 21. Listen to these words. Revelation 21. 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. Now, at that point, I'm understanding the first heaven not necessarily to be the heaven of God's dwelling, of the unrestricted glory. Could be wrong. That's not how I'm understanding that. But then in verse 2, And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. That's where He is, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. He's thinking here, John is seeing something that has not yet occurred. 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. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write for these were for these words are true and faithful. Well, all the questions of our inquiring minds are not answered by God presently. We do have sufficient knowledge revealed to us in Scripture to excite our hopes about what lies ahead for us as believers, and I would Caution all of us. While there is nothing wrong, as we've said before, with sanctified imagination, make sure it's sanctified. Don't go beyond. Don't step out beyond what has been revealed. At some point, you have to stop your thoughts and embrace what has been given and live there until more is unveiled and the reality of it when it comes. There is a renovation. and a restoration that is coming. As we think about a new heaven and a new earth, Acts chapter three. Turn to a number of scriptures this morning, Acts chapter three, Peter preaching in Jerusalem. And he's calling for repentance among the Jews. And he's calling for what he's calling for in light of what the prophets have said and what has come to pass in the Christ, the Messiah, who has come into this world and has died and has risen again. And he says in verse 21, whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution or restoration of all things. whom God hath spoken by the mouth of all His prophets since the world began." So what Peter is seeing here is that which the prophets have spoken of. This is something that is yet to come, that Jesus is going to accomplish. And He's going to accomplish it at His coming again. Now go back to Isaiah, Isaiah 62. I'm turning to the most obvious scriptures of the prophets that speak of these things, and Isaiah is, from what I can tell, the most obvious. Isaiah 62, beginning in verse. Excuse me, Isaiah 65, beginning in verse 17. There are other references in Isaiah, but this is a clear one. He says, verse 17, For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. And the former shall not be remembered nor come into mind, but be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create. For behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy that has not Yet happened in the fullness that it's going to happen. There are spiritual implications here. There are spiritual fulfillments of all of these prophecies. But there is something that is literally going to be fulfilled here. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem and joy in my people and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her. Nor the voice of crying kind of sounds like what we just read in Revelation 21. There shall be no more thence than an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days." What we're experiencing this side of that blessing to come will not be experienced in that day. For the child shall die a hundred years old, but the sinner, being a hundred years old, shall be accursed. And they shall build houses and inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. That's interesting. This is the new heaven and the new earth. There's going to be life. It's going to be lived. They shall not build and another inhabit, they shall not plant and another eat, for as the days of a tree are the days of my people and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble, for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock, and dust shall be the serpent's meat, and they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountains, saith the Lord. Isaiah 66, verse 22, for as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. When you come over to the New Testament, not only did Peter say what he said in Acts chapter three, he wrote some things in second Peter chapter three that also. Coincide with what we have read there from the prophets. And he says in second Peter, chapter three and verse 10, but the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away. A new heaven and a new world. With a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat and the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Verse. 13. Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Revelation 21.1. 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. Everything will be new. That's what John says in Revelation 21 5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. It doesn't say I make all new things. I make all things new. And so I understand that to be a renovation, a restoration, a restitution of all things, as Peter says in Acts chapter 3. Our future residence is described as a city in Revelation 21. A city. Verse 9, And there came unto me one of the seven angels, which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, I mean, you read through Revelation up to this point, at least up to chapter 19, and there's all kinds of horrific scenes that are painted, which I believe describe this age in which we live, which I believe is going to culminate in some cataclysmic events at the end of this age. Whatever you see about that or not, one thing we know, there is a change that takes place in chapter 19. There's a transition that takes place and there's something else that opens up to us beyond the cataclysmic events of this age and the end of this age. And that is a renovation of everything, a restoration of everything, a new heaven and a new earth. And there's a city, a new Jerusalem. That's described here. Verse 2 says, I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God, out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. So this is more than simply sticks and stones or gold and pearl and streets of gold and all of that. I'm not saying those things aren't so. I'm not saying that as you read this, there isn't a literal dimension to the things that are being expressed here, but my understanding would be that it's far beyond that which is represented here. And the centerpiece is not those things, but it's the inhabitants of those things. You take a city, even in our age, you can take an incredibly grand and glorious city. You take away the people, what do you have? It's a ghost town. It's nothing. It's the people that make the city. And so it is with this city. Come hither, he says, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. This is that city which comes down from heaven. And earth joined, new heaven, a new earth. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. And her light was likened to a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." And then he continues to describe in grand terms this city that he sees. This is that city that Abraham looked for, a city whose builder and maker is God, a city not made with the hands of men. That's the city that Abraham had his eye of faith upon. He never saw it in his day. He will. In fact, I would suggest that Abraham is one of those that is in heaven, paradise, right now. He is there and he is one along with all the saints that have departed and who will join them in the resurrection and come down. And the new heaven and the new earth will be joined together. You see the description of the foundation and the gates and you see It's the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, which I take to represent the Old Testament saints. And then there's the apostles, the foundation of the church in the New Testament, old and new, brought together in this new Jerusalem, the city of this new heaven and new earth. It will be a gated community. Folks can have their dominion here. I'll hold out for the dominion that's promised to us, the Lamb's wife, the bride, saints of all the ages. It's going to be opened, the gates of this city will be opened only to those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Revelation 21, 25 through 26, the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day. For there shall be no night there, and they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it, and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles whatever works abomination and makes a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." No possibility of violence. No possibility that the peace will be interrupted. No waking up to listen to the news reports about what bad thing happened today. None of that, all of that will be put out of that city. No spoiling of righteousness. Righteousness will reign in the new heaven and the new earth completely, in totality. Life in the new heaven and the new earth will be different from like now on a number of levels. And that's not to say that all the things that will not be then that are now are wrong. In fact, a number of those things are very, very right now, but they won't exist then. It's going to be different. In fact, that's going to be the fulfillment of every good thing that exists now, that represents what is to come in its fullness. For example, there's going to be no marriage. Mark 12, 25. Jesus said there will be no marrying or being given in marriage. We're going to be like the angels, not reproductive in that day. That's now. For you see, marriage pictures our relation to Christ. Now, by faith, in heaven, the mystery is fully realized. Fully realized. You do remember there's going to be the marriage supper of the Lamb? That's kind of a celebration. That's pictures at least as I see that. I told my wife the other day, I didn't ask her if I could say this, but you know, sometimes we actually do say nice things to one another, you know, like I hope you do. But I said to her, as we were looking into one another's eyes, I said to her, I just said, is it possible that in heaven, the new heaven and new earth, I will see you and know you as the one that I was married to, perhaps? Maybe not. But will I see you in such a way that it will be a dimension that's beyond what we know now? And what I said to her, as I said, do you think that we'll laugh with joy and say, we made it? And here's what came to my mind when I said that. As I was looking at her, I was seeing the glory of Christ filling the room. In my own mind's eye, I, Kyle, saw this. And I was thinking, all because of Him. We made it. And a relationship is not going to be the same as it is here. But it's going to be absolutely right and good. And we won't miss a thing. We won't miss one moment of the enjoyment and the pleasure and all that went into the marriage relationship here. That will be so overshadowed, I guess we would say, by the glory of that day. marriage, there'll be none. But there'll be relationships. Far out exceed, far exceed anything that we experience in this life, though we ought to be aiming for those kinds of relationships, because this is a picture. There will be no effects of sin, what's life going to be like? Well, Revelation 21, 4 says God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Some have suggested that perhaps there will be a memory. I haven't searched that one out far enough to say yes or no. Maybe there will be a memory and maybe there will be a tear because of a memory, but God's going to be there. And He will wipe away every tear. I would rather take that to mean He will wipe away and it will never return. And there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. I mean, think about, back to that point about wiping away all tears. There's going to be a judgment. We're going to be judged. And can you imagine standing in judgment and Though you are standing there in the righteousness of Christ, you're going to be judged according to your works, the Bible clearly says that. And can you imagine things being brought to your memory that you could have avoided, you could have done otherwise, but you didn't. And I would imagine it would break your heart in that moment, but God will wipe away every tear. And I suppose from that point forward, you won't deal with it. Otherwise, it seems heaven would be miserable. Neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. 22-3, there shall be no more curse. His servants will serve Him. The throne of God and the Lamb is going to be there. There will be no struggle with evil from our own flesh. or from outside forces. None of that. All that is evil will be confined to the just wrath of God in hell. Look at it. And this is right in the middle of this description of heaven. Look at 21A. About 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 burns with fire, and brimstone which is the second death." That's the other, not extreme reality. Just like heaven is not an extreme, it's a reality for the people of God. That's a reality for all who are not. And that's going to be shut out and confined to the just wrath of God. In hell. 2215 for without. Outside this city are dogs. I was riding my bike on Labus Road this week, and usually I kind of keep my eyes open for the dogs, you know, and all of a sudden, I mean, that just scared me. And that immediately came to my mind. There will be no more dogs. Well, of course, that's not what this is saying, but that did come to my mind. At least they won't be doing that because there's going to be perfect harmony in the new heaven and new earth. Sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, idolaters, whosoever loves and makes a lie, deceitful. None of that. No more enemy. No more spiritual battle. You understand what I'm saying here? Now there must be a spiritual battle. Now there is an enemy. Now the things that we engage in, we must, and it's right, and it's pure, and it's part of our lives as God's people, but not in the new heaven and new earth. Life's going to be different. There's no more arming ourselves, no more fighting, no more mortifying, no more fleeing, no more fasting, no more watching, no more praying, no more weeping, no more burdens, no more grief, no more effects of sin. It's gone. There'll be no conflict with any of the created realm. I think that's what Paul is referring to in Romans chapter eight. In verses 18 through 21, when he speaks of all the creation groaning, waiting, what's the creation waiting for? It is waiting for the sons, the children of God to receive that which has been promised. For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God, which is that glory that is awaiting us." That's another term in the Scriptures for this new heaven and new earth. In fact, glory, honor, blessing, eternal life, Romans chapter 2. I'm seeing that Paul may have heaven in view there, new heaven and new earth, because those are terms that you find where the fullness of the glory of God is manifested, those terms are used in revelation. For the earnest, for the creature, was made subject to vanity. There's a debate over just how to translate that word creature. It's creature and creation. Both are valid translations of the same word. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who had subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. So all of creation is going to be restored. Interesting, if you go back, and I'm not going to take time to read all the things that we could read, but there are these prophecies in Isaiah which sometimes we tend to only spiritualize. that perhaps we should maybe back off of just spiritualizing a little bit to say there may be actually a literal fulfillment to some of these things. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion, and the fatling thereof, and a little child shall lead them, and the cow and the bear shall feed." And he goes on and on. The sucking child shall play on the whole of the asp and the weaning child. And the winged child shall put his hand in the cockatrice's den." There's not going to be any conflict in any of God's creation. A new heaven, a new earth. That was Isaiah chapter 11. Environmental perfection. Environmental perfection, no flooding, no earthquake, no hurricane, no drought, no sunburn, no snake bite, no ant infestation, no ticks, no stickers, no nothing that will cause physical harm or physical infirmity. Gone. New heaven, new earth, all things new. By the way, As my brother says often in his preaching, well, often, sometimes, we do believe in global warming. And that global warming is going to be hot enough where it's going to be part of the renovation and restoration, 2 Peter chapter 3, right? That's right, by fire. But then it's done for us, it's over. We're going to labor. We're going to serve. There's going to be no resistance, as in this life. What are we going to do? I don't know. And there can be speculations as to what we're going to do. I don't know, but it's going to be life that fits the existence of the new heaven and new earth. There are implications maybe in scriptures, but sometimes I think people read too much into some of the things that are said. All I know is we're not going to be floating around with. Angel's wings playing harps, that's that's medieval artists that came up with that stuff. We're actually going to be embodied and we're actually going to be doing something, but it will be total perfection. I know we're not going to be doing missions, we're not going to be doing evangelism, that's this side of eternity. We see then all of the elect from all of the ages, from the four corners of the earth are going to be gathered together forever. There's not going to be a mission field. In the new heaven, newer. That's almost, in some ways, hard to enter into for some who are given. Their lives are given. I mean, think of somebody, whether here or in other places, folks who give themselves to that in this life. There will be none of that activity in the new heaven and new earth. But there will be fellowship. Fellowship never ends. Well, that makes sense, doesn't it? Faith and hope. Will come will become sight. There are three Paul writes in First Corinthians, there's faith, there's hope, there's charity, love. The greatest of these is love. Love never fails. Love never stops. Love and what is love if it's not? This is one of the reasons, one of the arguments that we would bring forth to the triune God, a singular being, a singular being would have no. Manifestation of love. There is a triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and we are brought into that love, and so there isn't a forever relationship that's going to exist. In the new heaven and new earth. Relationships and opportunities to engage one another that will continue. That's one of the reasons why we make I believe that we biblically make so much of fellowship in this life, it is one of the things that will endure forever. Fellowship. True. Christ honoring fellowship. But let me bring this to an apex. What makes the new heaven and earth glorious? What is it that makes the new heaven and the new earth desirable for every born-again one? What is it really? Go to Isaiah 60. I mean, what is it really? You know, all the things that we have mentioned, many of the things that we have mentioned. Would not be enough to make heaven, the new heaven and new earth truly glorious to the child of God. Isaiah 60. Verse 19, the sun shall be no more thy light by day. Neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee, but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light in thy God, thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself. For the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended." Why? Just because all the hormones are clicking and you have a good diet and exercise? No. It's because everything and anything that could obstruct your view of Him who is more significant in you than anything, will be removed forever and ever. And that's what Revelation 21 reiterates. And I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon. By the way, I don't think this means literally that there's not necessarily going to be a created luminary. But the point is nothing created. Maybe I'll put it this way, everything create, you're created, I'm created. We're going to be there. Everything created is going to pale in insignificance to the glory of God. The Lamb is the light thereof. His glory will be the atmosphere of the new heaven and the new earth. Our joy will be complete. John 17, Jesus concludes that prayer with something that seems forward. Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which Thou hast given Me. We have not beheld it to the degree that we will behold it. For Thou lovest me before the foundation of the world. And when we behold that glory, everything will be complete. Paul said to the Thessalonians, as he tried to comfort them in the face of the death of some of their beloved ones, he said, This is at the trump of God. The dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. To meet the Lord in the air. Will I see a departed brother or sister, relative who was in Christ? No doubt about that. That's one of the points, I believe, of this passage. But here's what really is going to turn everything for us and make it complete. We're going to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. What did John say in 1 John chapter 3? Beloved, verse 2, now are we the sons of God. Amen, Michael Hicks. Now, are we the sons of God now? That's been a theme that he's been dwelling on lately now. Sons of God. And it does not yet appear what we shall be. We're sons of God. But there is something more had somebody a preterist, a full preterist actually asked me one time. Forget I just said that somebody asked me. said, well, what more are you looking for? I mean, you've got Jesus. Don't you have all of Jesus? What more do you want? Well, it doth not yet appear. I don't know, but I want it. Whatever it is, we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him. But we shall see Him as He is. And right there is the climax. And so we're going to. And isn't that the desire? Isn't that the desire? Isn't that the cheap desire of every believer? And you say, well, not always. And I would agree with you. It isn't always. But when you are in your right mind. Right? We're not clouded by unbelief and sin, rebellion in your heart. Whatever it is that's going on. That is your chief desire. Believer, when are you the most joyful and fulfilled in this life? When is it? When you get that new gadget? When you embark on that incredible vacation? When you get that promotion at work? When your spouse gives you what you want? When your children are perfect? I mean, what is it? I mean, all those things do affect us in wholesome ways. I'm not saying those things are bad things, but I'm asking, when are you the most joyful? When are you the most fulfilled in this life? Isn't it when your soul is expanding? The universe is expanding, our souls expanding with devotion and praise to our God, and Jesus Christ is your life. Well, guess what? Heaven, the new heaven and the new earth, when heaven, when God comes down to tabernacle among us, in the person of Jesus Christ, we will tabernacle with Him. When that happens, there will be no interference and there will be no distraction from our sight of Him. Let me close by reading two passages from Revelation 19. Some of these scriptures I think we need to read without trying to dissect every word and figure out every single little thing that causes a little hitch in our thinking, but receive the flow of thought here. And after these things, I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying, Alleluia, salvation and glory and honor and power unto the Lord our God. For true and righteous are his judgments. But he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Hallelujah. And her smoke rose up forever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped God that sat on the throne saying, Amen or Amen. Hallelujah. And a voice came out of the throne saying, Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great. And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. And brethren, we are going to be a part of that. Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready." New heaven and new earth. Revelation 5. Revelation 5. 11. And I beheld and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain. to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing, which are the things that Paul says those who have eternal life pursue, they seek after these things, if you read Romans chapter 2. We will have them in their fullness then. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth, under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them heard I saying blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever. And the four beasts said Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that lives forever and ever. Are you looking forward to heaven? A new heaven. and the new earth. The sands of time are sinking. The dawn of heaven breaks. The summer morn I've sighed for. The fair, sweet morn awakes. Dark, dark had been the midnight. The day spring is at hand and glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel's land. The King there in His beauty without a veil is seen. It were a well-spent journey, though seven deaths lay between. The Lamb with His fair army doth on Mount Zion stand, and glory, glory dwells in Emmanuel's land. O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love. The streams on earth I've tasted, more deep I'll drink above. There, to an ocean fullness, His mercy doth expand. And glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel's land. The bride eyes not her garment. but her dear bridegroom's face. I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of Grace, not at the crown He giveth, but on His pierced hand. The Lamb is all the glory of Emmanuel's land. Oh, I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine. He brings a poor, vile sinner into His house of wine. I stand upon His merit. I know no other stand. not in where glory dwells.