Beyond Ecclesiastes Blake Jennings March 6, 2016 Ecclesiastes 9 The worst problem of all: DEATH - Read Ecclesiastes 9:2-3 - Everyone will die – no escaping it - Ch12 – Solomon describes the pain of growing old through the use of metaphors o You become weak, stoop over, eyes dim, can’t walk, become impotent, can’t sleep… § You will grow older… it will hurt… then you will die This body is breaking down… and there’s nothing I can do about it There was nothing Solomon could do about it either – he gives us no solution to problem of death - Death for Solomon was a black hole full of despair - He knew almost nothing about what happens after death because God hadn’t yet revealed it o He had Pentateuch, most of Psalms, some of the histories o God revealed almost nothing about life after death in those books - The reality of death left Solomon full of despair o Read Ecclesiastes 9:4-6,10 We are blessed to know that Solomon was mistaken about the afterlife - He assumed death was the end of our story… but death is not the end - We know because we have far more of God’s revelation than Solomon did o Prophets, gospels, NT letters, Revelation of John - These books go beyond the hopelessness of Ecclesiastes – reveal that another life is coming - A better life where all the problems Ecclesiastes raises are finally solved once and for all. A better life for everyone who has trusted in Jesus 1 - All of the good news we’ll hear about this morning… it’s for those who’ve believed o GOSPEL - If you haven’t yet trusted in Jesus… all of this good news doesn’t yet apply to you o If you believe your good works or church attendance will save you… o If you think you’re just an overall good enough person and deserve heaven… o This sermon doesn’t apply because you can never be good enough to deserve heaven - You don’t have hope in the next life UNTIL you choose to accept God’s free gift of eternal life - Once you make that choice to believe God promises you a better life What Comes After Death? 1) Restored Garden - Read Luke 23:42-43 - paradeisos – Persian word = enclosed garden / orchard such as a king would build o In the ancient world – nothing more beautiful than a king’s garden – they were lavish o Hanging Gardens of Babylon – 1 of 7 Wonders of Ancient World – people came from everywhere to see them - The paradise that’s coming is, in essence, a return to the Garden of Eden o The word “paradise” in the Bible is usually used for the garden of Eden o Read Genesis 2:8-9 – built by God to be our home – utterly perfect, beautiful o Now hear what Jesus says to us in Revelation 2:7 - When you die, you finally go home!!... back to the Garden… back to Paradise o Close your eyes… visualize most beautiful place on earth you’ve ever been… - That’s the first thing in store for believers when we die… here’s the second. 2 2) Righteous Government - Turn to Isaiah - Last week’s sermon on gov’t was all bad news - No human government will EVER satisfy us or make us secure - That’s why we need something more than human government – we need God to rule over us o “What’s the best form of government?”… “Democracy?”… “No!” o Best = benevolent dictatorship where good, wise, incorruptible king rules over us - And that’s what’s coming when Jesus returns! - Look at how great Jesus’ government will be!! Read Isaiah 2:3-4 o The Lord will rule from Jerusalem o All mankind will come to Him to learn true righteousness o He will bring an end to violence and warfare: “hammer their swords into plowshares” o “And never again will they learn war” § Not just “Never go to war”… “Never even learn how to go to war!” § No standing army… no planning for “worst case scenarios”… § No self-defense classes… no need to pack gun § Because your safety will NEVER BE THREATENED AGAIN § Peace in the next life will be so much better than peace on this earth… • There’s never really “peace” here – always preparing for war • We maintain peace through constant diligence… that’s not real peace § When Jesus comes we will finally know real peace • Peace that unites the world in love under the banner of the Messiah - Turn to Isaiah 9… Read Isaiah 9:6 o Read v3 – People all over the world will rejoice – Why? because of verses v4-5… o Read v4-5 – God will bring a permanent end to oppression, violence, slavery, warfare § We’ll use implements of war as firewood because we’ll never need them again o Jesus – child of v6 – will bring permanent peace and perfect justice… Read v7 § The unending corruption we talked about last week that plagues every government… § Jesus will finally bring it to an end – when Jesus rules He will never allow… • Another child to be abused • Woman to be beaten • Elderly person to be taken advantage of 3 • Minority to be oppressed • Poor person to starve § There will not be a single instance of injustice in the next life – not ever - The perfectly righteous gov’t we all want is coming… it’s coming soon - That’s the 2nd thing that awaits us in the next life… Here’s the 3rd… 3) Resurrected Body o A rose reaches it’s peak and then immediately begins to decay, just like we do! - If only we could get to our peak and then stay there… - You will… in the next life – Read 1 Corinthians 15:42-43 - Resurrection: NOT reanimation of your current body… creation of new, perfected body o Current bodies: perishable, weak, corrupted by sin, dying o Resurrected bodies will be different: § Invulnerable to injury, sickness, or death – immortal, unbreakable • At your physical and mental peak… forever… no matter age you died at • Your mind & body will never slow down – no entropy, no decay § Freed from temptation • Not only will you never sin… you’ll never even be tempted to sin! • No more sin nature – you’ll desire nothing but righteousness always • First time you’ll know perfect inner peace! War against sin over § Recognizably you • Disciples recognized Jesus – people will recognize you • Real human body – flesh and blood, bones and organs • You’ll eat, drink, talk, run • You’ll have a new body that’s a perfected version of your current body - That’s what gives us hope when these bodies fail us… 4 o What gives you hope: God’s promise that you’ll get a new, perfected body - That’s the 3rd thing that awaits us in the next life. Here’s the 4th… 4) Relentless Perfection - Turn to Isaiah 65 - The next big thing that will happen: Jesus will return o We believe a Rapture and Great Tribulation will occur before that… but that’s debated o What everyone agrees on: next really big thing is Jesus is coming back o When He comes He’ll rule over this earth for 1000 years – Millennial kingdom - But that’s not the end… after the Millennial kingdom God will create a New Heavens and a New Earth - That’s what Isaiah describes in Isaiah 65:17-19 o Fundamental characteristic of the New Heavens & the New Earth: relentless perfection o Sorrow… replaced by unending joy o No more cause for weeping – no more tragedy, no more suffering o So joyful that the “former things” will not even be remembered § Never have a moment when you’re hit by painful memory of shame/loss o Interesting wording in v18 – lit: “I create Jerusalem a gladness and her people a joy” o Your nature will be joy – joy won’t be something you try for § Won’t have to choose joy over sadness, boredom – your unwavering state - John gives us more details at the end of the Bible… Read Revelation 21:1-5 o “New earth” – but still earth – it will be familiar to us § Not an ethereal, dream like state – a physical planet like this one § Enjoy real lakes, mountains, rivers, trees… but all perfected § Whatever you love on this planet will not be lost… it will be perfected • Mountains more awesome, rivers more beautiful, flowers more intense § Whatever you love on this earth you love because it’s a shadow of what you’ll find o Some of you are wondering why no “sea”? 5 § Maybe literal or metaphorical § “Sea” was a symbol of chaos and danger § On New Earth – no chaos, no danger, no natural disasters: hurricanes, floods… § Point: there will be nothing to fear on the new earth o This New Earth will be permanently joined to heaven § Point of New Jerusalem descending to earth = the home of God come to earth § Now: separation between heaven and earth – don’t see God face to face § Then: heaven and earth become one – overlap and complete each other o When Heaven and Earth are joined… end of sadness, pain, and death forever § All things will be “new” – no reason to cry ever again - All the problems Ecclesiastes raised will finally be solved and set aside Read Ecclesiastes 12:1 – Remember your Creator o When life weighs you down… remember there is a God in heaven who loves you o Remember the incredible promises He’s made to you about the next life - Remember the destiny Gad has in store for you… Read Revelation 1:3 o Read Isaiah 65 and Revelation 21 often to give you hope o This life is hard, painful, and ends in death… no hope if this is all we get o But it’s not! There’s a better world coming – Paradise, Resurrection, New Heavens &New Earth That’s what’s coming for everyone who has trusted in Jesus 6 .