By the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

The apostle John was privileged to look within the gates of heaven itself. In describing what he saw he began by saying, “I looked, and there before me was the Lamb.” This undoubtedly teaches us that the principal object of focus in that heavenly land is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Nothing else drew the apostle’s attention as much as the Divine Being who has redeemed us by His blood. And He is the subject of every song being sung by the glorified saints and the holy angels in heaven.

Dear Christian, this should be sheer joy for you, for you also have looked and have beheld the Lamb. Through your own tears you have seen the Lamb of God taking away your sins. So rejoice, for soon, once the tears have been wiped from your eyes, you will see that very same Lamb exalted on His throne.

The greatest joy of your heart is daily fellowship with Jesus, and you will have that same joy, yet to a greater degree, in heaven. And you will always see Him as you dwell in His presence forever.

“I looked, and there before me was the Lamb!” Actually, the Lamb is heaven Himself! As Samuel Rutherford (1600? – 1661), the Scottish Presbyterian preacher, said, “Heaven and Christ are the same thing.” To be with Christ is to be in heaven, and to be in heaven is to be with Christ. Rutherford, that wonderful prisoner of the Lord, also said in one of his sweet and glowing letters, “O my Lord Jesus Christ, if I could be in heaven without you — heaven would be a hell; and if I could be in hell, but have you with me — hell would be heaven for me. You are all the heaven I desire!”

Isn’t this true, dear Christian? Doesn’t your soul agree?

Not all the harps above

Can make a heavenly place,

If God His residence remove,

Or but conceal His face.

William Walker, 1809 – 1875

All you need to be blessed — incomparably blessed — is to “be with Christ” (Phil. 1:23).

By the pen of Jim Reimann:

The apostle John undoubtedly understood the ultimate blessing of dwelling with Christ. He wrote of how the Lord God chose to dwell with us now and in the life to come. Here is how John stated it at Jesus’ first coming:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

John 1:14

Later in his life, John described for us in the book of the Revelation where the Lord has chosen to live at His second coming:

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven. . . . And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.”

Revelation 21:2 – 3

I praise You, Lord, for choosing to live with me throughout eternity and for allowing me to live with You.