ALL THINGS NEW
Notes
Transcript
We have encountered a lot in our journey through the book of Revelation. Today we wrap it up (Pause for excessive cheering).
What did you expect when we began the book of Revelation?
How the world would end?
Mass explosions?
Hell, fire, and brimstone?
That last one we get a bit of at the end of chapter 20 - but I think if you’re honest you’d say that the book of Revelation is not about what people often say it is. Instead what we get is a revealing of who Jesus is.
Throughout the New Testament we get the view of Jesus as the God-man come down to show us the way, to announce the Kingdom of God. Throughout the Gospels Jesus refers to our Creator God as “My Father”, to which the religious leaders of the day charge him with blasphemy.
The entire New Testament is devoted to pointing to Jesus as the Son of God come down, dying on the cross, rising again, and ascending into heaven - yet for all of the New Testament (save this final book) that is the entire story. They point to more to the story, yet they don’t tell us what happens next.
In John’s vision recorded in the book of Revelation we are given what might be called The Rest of the Story. We are given a view of heaven and the battle in which Jesus is engaged going on there. Last week we read of the final judgment and Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.
This week, we begin anew: Rev 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
It rings of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, 2 Cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
A new heaven and a new earth. Rev 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
The old heaven and earth pass away, they are no more. It’s fulfillment of Isaiah 65:17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.”
And Isaiah 66:22 ““For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain.”
As we continue to read we have this beautiful city coming down out of heaven and the loud voice from the throne, Rev 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
What is happening is we’re getting the other bookend to the biblical story, and for me it just affirms once again that this is a complete whole. That statement “The dwelling place of God is with man.” This is the answer to the prayer Jesus taught us, “Thy Kingdom come!”
If we go to the very beginning of our Bibles in Genesis we saw God dwelling with the men and women created to tend the garden. Now in John’s vision we see God announcing the dwelling place of God to be with them again.
Perhaps one of the greatest statement of hope is the next verse, Rev 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
All of these things were the result of sin in Genesis chapter 3. Moving on to Genesis 4 we read of an encounter God has with Cain, Gen 4:7
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it.”
In this verse from Genesis is a hopeful phrase, “you must rule over it.” I say hopeful, but we all realize that sin is not just a temptation it is a fact of life. It was for God’s people as well as we observe as the Old Testament unfolds. So how do I conquer it?
In my life I’ve realized I can’t - not on my own. I need a savior, I need Jesus. And, in the vision of Revelation sin is fully defeated and conquered. God once again is dwelling with His people.
It’s a beautiful and hopeful thing to have this vision shared with us, and we get yet another promise from God. One of my promise verses in my life is Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
If there is anything that can give us hope it is this knowledge of the ultimate victory over sin and evil we see in John’s vision in the book of Revelation.
In the closing chapter of this book and of our Bible’s we read Jesus is coming soon. Which we read in vss. 7, 12, and 20.
“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
So what do we do with this knowledge? I’m reminded of being in High School and having the knowledge that a friend’s parents would be coming home soon from vacation. Suddenly he realized perhaps he hadn’t kept the house as clean as they might have expected. Simply hiding the garbage was not the solution, he needed to clean!
He needed to straighten up at least the common areas of the house.
Have you ever felt like that? I admit to closing off some rooms when guests were coming over, and I’m guessing I’m not the only one. The same can be said as to the rooms of our hearts.
Beginning this week on Wednesday on the church calendar begins the season of Lent. Lent is often seen as a season of self-denial, many people choosing to “give up” something for the season. Lent is 40 days leading to Easter. If you count the number of days you may note the season is 46 days, that is because Sundays are traditionally not included.
How do we apply this part of our faith?
The truth is first of all we need to recognize our own cynicism about our faith. Yes, Jesus promises to return, that is a cornerstone of our belief. Yet, he says soon, and it’s been 2000 years. We can begin to wonder what is soon?
What do I believe about Jesus as Savior and Lord?
Then combat the cynicism by leaning into the Scriptures, studying them and not only answering your own questions, but being prepared to answer the questions of others. Invest time in knowing what you believe and why.
Knowing what we believe then directs us as to how we then live.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
The Greatest Commandment: Mt 22:37
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
and the second part in Matt 22:39
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
We are called to live it out. As we seek to live it out and look forward to the new heaven and a new earth, let us lay claim to the words of change that permeate so much of the New Testament. Again, I think of 2 Cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
We’re not the people we once were. Daily we are seeking to be made into Christ’s likeness.
