Daily Devotional

Apr 16, 2023 | Devotional, The Reality of Heaven

Day 1

“Heaven is a real place, and the New Jerusalem will be a city with dimensions as real as those of any city on earth.”

Randy Alcorn

The Physical Reality of Heaven

Read:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” – Revelation 21:1-2 (ESV)

The book of Revelation is considered a prophetic book containing messages given to the apostle John by Jesus Christ through visions. The messages convey a clear message of God’s ultimate triumph over evil and the establishment of a new heaven and earth. The language in the book is seen as vivid and symbolic, but Revelation 21:1-2 emphasizes the physical reality of heaven and the new earth. The holy city, the new Jerusalem, is described as coming down from heaven to earth, indicating that it will be a real, tangible place. This affirms the belief that God is a creator who cares about the physical world and that his ultimate plan is to redeem and restore all of creation. The bodily resurrection of believers is also affirmed, and the importance of physical reality in the Christian faith is emphasized. The message of Revelation 21:1-2 is seen as a source of hope and encouragement for believers to live with faith and confidence in a fallen world, taking the message seriously despite the challenging language used in the book.

Apply:

How does the idea of a physical heaven change your perspective on eternity?
What aspects of our physical world do you think will carry over into heaven?
How can we prepare ourselves for this physical reality of heaven?

Take Action:

Spend some time today reflecting on the physical reality of heaven and how it changes your perspective on eternity. Consider writing down your thoughts or discussing them with a friend.

Pray:

Lord, thank you for the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. Help us to live in a way that reflects our belief in this physical reality of heaven, and give us a deeper understanding of what that means for our lives. Amen.

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