The Great Reversal

Introduction

Where my life has camped out the past few months

New years, new seasons, Revelation 22

“The Great Reversal” — 5 contrasts

Read Revelation 22:3-6

Explanation

In heaven, the curse will be reversed. (22:3)

Red Sox drought from 1918 to 2004, ALCS down 3-0, “reverse curve” sign, “Tessie” Dropkick Murphys

Gen. 3:15-19

Not trying to trivialize by comparing to baseball // put yourself in the shoes of the superstitious fan w/ season tickets for decades

Does Romans 7 make you feel that way? This is not the end!

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Revelation 22:2

Gen. 2:9, 3:22-24

In heaven, we’ll be sustained in the resurrection, not stuck in our rebellion. (22:2)

The tree of knowledge of good and evil = moral autonomy, the twist is that though we lost our innocence like growing children, we also lost the ability to choose what is right

Doesn’t really matter why God chose to use the tree as a source of life

What matters is that God, in his mercy, did not allow us eternal life without the problem of our sin being dealt with

Don’t you hate the pain of your sin? Doesn’t it grieve you? It won’t have to forever

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I know many of us feel the pain of that sin

Revelation 22:4b

What does this mean?

Gen. 4:13-16

What is the mark? (physical? name?)

Both an act of mercy and a reminder

In heaven, we’ll be marked by our Savior, not by our sin. (22:4b)

Like scars from self-harm: they heal but are still scars

There’s still consequences in this life to our mistakes

Marks of our (forgiven) sin, like I said before, can say “this is not the end of your story!”

The name of Jesus says “this is the beginning of your new story!”

This is already true now, but there will be no doubt then

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Revelation 22:4a

Maybe seeing Jesus alone is enough for you

Exodus 33:15-23

Metaphor of flashlight in the woods from SBTS prof

fading v. unfading glory

In heaven, we’ll fully gaze, not just glance, at God’s glory. (22:4a)

1 Cor. 13:12

Jim Elliot’s favorite hymn — Sands of Time, v. 4

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Revelation 22:5

In heaven, we’ll have a new light—the glory of God among us. (v. 22:5)

Revelation 21:23

Isaiah 9:2

This present darkness will not remain

What now?

He’s coming soon. (22:6)

2 Peter 3:9

On earth, we’re sent out into our neighborhoods and the nations, not down into doomsday bunkers.

We can share the good news of the Great Reversal because of the Great Exchange (on the cross).

Ephesians 5:15-17