Outside the Gates

I. Revelation 22:14-15
   A. A picture of Heaven presented to us
      1. We are to envision a heavenly Jerusalem
      2. A city with walls and gates and roads and covered with 
         precious metals (Revelation 21)
   B. In this picture, however, we find that there are some people 
      who are kept outside the gates
      1. The "dogs", sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, lovers 
         of falsehood
      2. Not pleasant persons!
   C. Evokes the reality of an ancient city
      1. Immediately outside the walls of a city would reside people 
         unclean or defiled for some reason
      2. Those afflicted with skin diseases (cf. Leviticus 13:45-46), 
         for instance
      3. We can only imagine the types of ill and beggars and other 
         people generally considered "undesirable" that would 
         congregate outside of a city wall near the gate!
   D. Such, then, is an image of hell as presented in the Revelation
      1. In this view, hell is everywhere outside the gates of the 
         heavenly Jerusalem
      2. Out there are all the "undesirables" -- the people who have 
         sinned and condemned for it!
   E. We find many times in the New Testament where God speaks in 
      terms of condemnation as not being a part of Heaven or His 
      Kingdom
      1. It makes sense-- if there are only two places you can go, 
         if you're not in one, you must be in the other 
         (cf. Matthew 25:31-46)!
      2. Let us explore this further

II. Not Inheriting the Kingdom
   A. When Paul goes through a list of sins, he will often 
      demonstrate that if one engages in such things he cannot 
      inherit the Kingdom!
   B. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
      1. Paul here says it twice-- at the beginning and at the end!
      2. Those engaging in these sins will not inherit the Kingdom 
         of God
   C. Galatians 5:19-21
      1. Paul establishes that those engaging in the "works of the 
         flesh" will not inherit God's kingdom
      2. He warned of this before and is warning of it again!
   D. Inheritance Essential
      1. We can see many times the image of God as Father and 
         believers as His children
      2. Hebrews 12:5-8: contrast between legitimate and 
         illegitimate children of God
      3. If we are in a position where we will not inherit God's 
         Kingdom, it means that we are currently separated from God 
         and not receiving His blessings!
      4. Hebrews 1:14: ministering angels as helping those who will 
         inherit salvation-- who will help those not in that 
         position?
   E. If we lose our inheritance, we have lost our share in God!
      1. Just as many children get into an "entitlement mentality" 
         in regards to what they believe they "deserve" to inherit 
         from their parents, so Christians can also get into an 
         "entitlement mentality"
      2. Just as a child can be disinherited, an errant Christian 
         can be disinherited!
      3. We don't "deserve" Heaven because we are Christians; our 
         inheritance of Heaven will be based on whether we have 
         engaged in the works of the flesh or have manifest the 
         fruit of the Spirit!
   F. Let us not act so as to lose our inheritance and be left at 
      the gate!

III. Being Left at the Door
   A. Jesus uses a similar imagery regarding being left outside the 
      door in Matthew 25:1-13
   B. The parable of the virgins
      1. Five wise and five foolish
      2. The five foolish virgins need to get more oil
      3. While they get oil, bridegroom arrives, foolish virgins 
         kept out
   C. What does this all mean?
      1. Jesus shows the need for constant preparation (v. 13)!
      2. There will be many foolish people, Christians even, not 
         thinking of the Lord's coming and not doing His will, 
         and when He arrives, they will be left at the door!
      3. Jesus will only "know" those who are ready and waiting 
         (v. 12)!
   D. Image: Christ not "knowing" one
      1. This does not mean that Jesus is entirely unaware of their 
         existence-- it means that they are not familiar to Him as 
         part of His body (Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 1:18)
      2. Similar language in Matthew 7:21-23 in regards to false 
         professors
   E. It is interesting that both uses of "not knowing you" involve 
      people who expect to enter in
      1. After all, even to this day, most people believe in Heaven, 
         and believe they're going there!
      2. Millions are convinced that they know Jesus!
      3. They may think that they know Jesus; the important 
         question, however, is whether Jesus knows them!
   F. Let us not be deceived into thinking that simply because we 
      think we are Christians that we are known to Him and part 
      of Him!
      1. Assuredly, if indeed we are doing evil, He will tell us 
         to depart!
      2. We know we are His when we do the will of the Father and 
         are ready and waiting (Matthew 7:21, 25:12-13-- 1 John 2:3)

IV. Conclusion
   A. When the heavenly Jerusalem is reached, many will enter the 
      gates, but many more will be kept outside!
   B. A terrible fate awaits those not a part of that great city!
   C. We have seen that God constantly speaks of those condemned in 
      terms of them not inheriting the Kingdom and not being known 
      to Him
      1. Those who commit various forms of immorality will not 
         inherit the Kingdom
      2. Some such persons will be professed Christians
      3. Our only confidence against that fate is to be constantly 
         busy doing His will!
   D. Let us make sure that we are ready and prepared, so that we 
      will be there when the Bridegroom comes!
   E. Let us enter in and not be left at the gate!
   F. Invitation/songbook