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REVELATION 7:16, 17

"HEAVEN IS A WONDERFUL PLACE"

Intro: Jesus said to His disciples, "I'm going to prepare a place for you, and if I go, I will
       come again to receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also."

I. THE CONDITIONS OF HEAVEN.
        A. First contrasted with those on earth vs. 16.
                1. "Hunger no more."
                        a. To us living in the US. this does not hold the same assurance as 
                           to a person living in a third world nation.
                        b. Leaders in WHO, World Hunger Organization say that 2/3 of the 
                           world's population are undernourished.
                2. Hunger and thirst are often used in the scriptures in a spiritual sense.
                        a. "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness..."
                        b. Jesus talking to woman at the well
                        c. Jesus on the Temple Mt.
                        d. Jesus said, "I am  the Bread of Life..."
                        e. Think of what spiritual fulfillment heaven will be
                3. "Neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat."
                        a. There is a time coming when through atmospheric disturbance or some
                           other phenomena, the sun will be given power to scorch the 
                           inhabitants of the earth.
                        b. The Bible, written in a desert area, valued shade.
                                1. The Lord is my shade on my right hand.
                                2. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings.
                                3. I will abide neath the shadow of the almighty.
                        c. Here again we see the thought used in a spiritual sense.
                1. We say "The heats on" in referring to pressured situations. The word 
                   pressure itself.
                2. I've been on the front burner.
                        d. Heaven has to be the most worry free place in the universe.

II. FROM THE POSITIVE SIDE VS. 17.
        A. "The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them."
        B. "And shall lead them into living fountains of waters."
                1. The prophet Isaiah cried, "Ho everyone that thirstest, come ye to the 
                   waters, he who has no money come buy and drink. Why do you spend your 
                   money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which cannot 
                   satisfy."
        C. "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
                1. Rev. 21:4.

III. OUR FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND THE GLORY O HEAVEN CAUSES WRONG CONCEPTS OF DEATH..
        A. We sorrow, but not as those who have no hope.
                1. Ours is a different sorrow.
                        a. Not for the one who is gone.
                        b. For ourselves who remain.
        B. Little girl born blind.