Heb 12:22-24, But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. 
	As we have begun our consideration of heaven, using Dr. Donnelly’s studies as our framework, we have seen that the heavens and the earth were created for God’s glory. Isa 43:7 Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made." Even though the specific verse refers to God’s people, it also is true of all that He creates. We saw that there are three heavens, the atmosphere surrounding us, the region that we call space, and heaven itself. In each of these distinct spheres, God’s glory is revealed in precise and wondrous ways. 
As we read in Ps 19:1+2, The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. We ended with the truth that after the creation, in the Garden of Eden, the glory of God shone forth in all things, especially in the unbroken fellowship of God with Adam and Eve. It was all very good. 
This is where we continue with our Biblical study of heaven today. The blessedness of God’s glory in creation was diminished as man disobeyed, and listened to the lies of the serpent. The glory of God was reduced in this created realm as the earth and man was subjected to the curse. Rom 8:20-22, For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 
	The results are so plainly evident in just a few chapters after the creation in Gen 6:5, Then the Lord  saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And verses 11+12, Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. Quote, But the most terrible tragedy of the Fall is not what it did to us or to the earth, but what it did to the handiwork of God, the havoc it wreaked in the theatre of God’s glory. End quote.  Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
	We see the current affairs of the world. We see the vile character of mankind, seduced by the lie of self-centeredness and the dreams of becoming someone. We look at the corruption of the earth, with its pollution, its famines, its wars, its pestilence, its diseases, and its utter contamination. From our natural vantage point, it looks as if all is coming to a cataclysmic end of anything worthwhile. God’s glory was displayed, and we still get glimpses of it, but sadly less and less frequently and substantially to our human viewpoint. His glory was diminished and tarnished. But, with all praise to Him, He has worked to restore His glory. 
This is where heaven comes in. Quote, In spite of all the sin and tragedy there is one untouched, uncontaminated, created realm where God’s glory still shines in transcendent beauty – and that is heaven. Satan has been banished from heaven. In that joyful place the holy angels worship and serve the Lord in all His majesty and splendour. In heaven God’s glory has always shone. In heaven it keeps on shining. 
It is from that bright region that the crushing counter-attack comes. Heaven is the place from which God’s glory returns to earth to make earth and its people glorious. The story of the Bible is the story of heaven coming back to this world, taking it over and filling it once again. It is about the revelation and restoration of God’s glory, and that in a far richer and more wonderful way in Christ than ever was seen in Eden or in Adam. End quote. 
	History is God’s work, the story of His glory being accomplished. It is His purpose in operation. He elects a people in eternity for His glory. He brings forth the sons of Israel for His glory. He frees them from the slavery of Pharaoh for His glory. He brings them into the Promised Land for His glory. He establishes the House of David for His glory. He brings them back from captivity for His glory. He works in the remnants after His heart for His glory. And, when the time was right for His glory to flood forth… God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Gal 4:4+5. 
	At the birth of Jesus Christ, heaven opened up. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." Luke 2:13+14.
John bore witness to the glory of God in Christ, as we read in John 1:14. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Christ lived a perfect life on this earth and, in His glorious victory over death, He paid the righteous price for our salvation. He redeemed all who call upon Him. His summation of the work that He was sent forth to accomplish is recorded in John 17, verses 1-5. "Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that the Son may glorify Thee, even as Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life. "And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. "I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do. "And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. 
	Quote, And the glory of heaven, which Christ possessed and revealed, and for which He lived and died, is transmitted to others. At the very moment in which people believe in Him, it can be said that they enter heaven. Believers receive and enter glory. We pass from death to life, and God makes us ‘sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus’ (Eph. 2:6). Then slowly, step by step, we grow in grace and the glory starts to shine in us and from us. On we go, week after week, year after year, ‘being transformed… from glory to glory’ (2 Cor. 3:18) into the image of Jesus Christ. We see God’s glory in each other’s faces and that is heaven coming down to earth and the glory spreading. When we die our souls immediately pass into heaven, into glory. End quote. 
	As the Apostle Paul so fully tells us in 1 Cor 15:40-57 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, "The first man,  Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up  in victory. "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
	When Christ returns, he will return in all His glory. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. All that is perishable will be done away with and only that which is to God’s glory will remain. We will be in the radiance of God’s glory Alone. We will know His immediate presence and His transcendent glory will surround us. It will be that glory which surrounded the angelic hosts at the announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ. History will proclaim the mighty work of God’s hand in operation, ruling and overruling in the affairs of man, to bring about His perfect and magnificent plan and purpose. God’s glory will be fully restored. 
	As Jonathan Edwards proclaims, In the creature’s knowing, esteeming, loving, rejoicing in and praising God the glory of God is exhibited and acknowledged…The beams of glory come from God, are something of God, and are refunded back to their original. So that the whole is of God, and in God, and to God; He is the beginning, and the middle, and the end! End quote.  
	In heaven, God’s glory has never been diminished. It is the place that has always been the seat and center of glory. It is from heaven that God has sent forth His glory to redeem His creation. It is unto heaven that His glory returns, fully and fundamentally enlarged by the praises and the adoration of his creation. Our lives are to be a living sacrifice of praise unto His glory. We are adding to it in ways that we may not now understand, but which will, none the less, be completely honoring to Him. It is for the glory of God that we live, not for ourselves. Lord willing, we will consider this truth when next we gather together in His name. So be it!
 	But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. Amen.

This morning’s benediction reading is Jer 10:10-12 But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, And the nations cannot endure His indignation. Thus you shall say to them, "The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens." It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom; And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens. Amen.