Recently I have shared with you from the Book of the Revelation things that are and things that are yet to be. We have done so relying on Scripture to guide us. I am keenly aware as to some of the differing thoughts to certain aspects of the end times and how things will occur. I am well aware that only God knows and I have always treated Scripture as to what it says, it's context and the time of its writing.
Revelation is a unique book as it is John's accounting as instructed by Jesus and his own experience on Patmos as to the end times. All of my life I have heard messages on and studied the Book of the Revelation. I believe what I read and I am sure there are some things that I may have erred on, but I have always errred on the side of caution. With that said, I wanted to share this week some final points as to the Book of the Revelation and our theme of "Looking forward".
Chapter 21 is regarding a New Heaven and a New Earth. Verses 1-7 tell us-
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
6 And He said to me, “Itis done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Verses 1 and 2 indicate that there will one day be a new Heaven and a new earth. Study shows that there are some things we can know but also things we cannot know. How much like this earth now will the new earth be? That is an excellent question and we do not exactly know. As the Scripture would indicate by the words used, the new earth could be similar to this old earth. The reason for that is not indicated that the old will be totally destroyed. The indication would be that it is better than the new earth.
This Heaven and earth together would seem to be the picture that John is provided as he writes. My hope then is that the places we couldn't get into here now will be given access in the new earth. Some of you may have heard me say before that I really hope that Augusta National is on the new earth and since I am a golfer and that it is open for all to play. Now, I didn't say I was good but I golf. I would love play it one day.
Verse 3 is speaking about that new Heaven and new earth. We will occupy the new earth and concerning that, God tabernacles with us. He moves in and out, literally He is moving along with us here on earth.
Yet, we will not be confined to this earth. Later in Revelation we are told that they have access to the Pearly City. God’s people, God Himself “no mediator” God is with us.
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
This is not the Lamb of God; it is God Himself who wipes the tears from the eyes of the people. Note also that there is no death.
Verses 5-8
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
All things are new and there is an excitement we have as to what it will be like. Similar, but new and beyond our wildest ideas.
It is interesting to note how specifically we are told who will who will be there and who won’t.
Verse 8 specifically says who will not be there. Noted are the cowardly (fearful) and the Greek here suggest those who are afraid of Jesus Christ. The unbelieving, abominable (filthy, despicable dopers, sex maniacs, alcoholics) every degenerate sinner who has died, or will die drop into hell. Murders, sexually immoral, sorcerers (ones who profess discourse with the spirits of the other world), idolaters, liars (some consider a liar the most detestable people on earth).
These are harsh words that describe those who will not be there. Yet it is important to note here that people who have committed such acts could be in Heaven but they will be there only because of Jesus Christ, if they have have accepted His free gift of eternal life by faith believing the Gospel of salvation. You see Heaven will be full of sinners and they are all saved by grace through Jesus.
So no matter what you have a done if before you die you accept Him as your Savior your sins are washed as white as snow.
From verse 9-27 we see the New Jerusalem. The glory of the New Jerusalem.
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the [i]holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the [j]names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand [k]furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.
17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
One furlong is 582 feet. Multiply 582 by 12,000, then divide by 5,280 feet in one mile and you now have the exact size of the city. 15,00 miles long, 1,500 miles wide, 1,500 miles high and the wall is 216 feet thick.
19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
This description provides for us as believers a glimpse of what our future home will be like. The splendor and the majesty which are there.
The thing that gives me peace and hope are the words found in verse 27.
27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
There are terrible places here on this earth today. We see that places that were once beautiful and majestic by our standards today have become defiled because of sin. This whole world has and is now defiled because of sin.
Thank God that He sent His "only begotten Son" and if we believe on Him "awe shall be saved".
In God's Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
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