The Covenant Fulfilled

Intro

Marshmallow Challenge

Search online for “The Marshmallow Test” to find a video to show students. Choose one you think will be most entertaining for your students. Show the video. Then ask the following questions:

What would you do if you were given the chance to participate?

What other food would be more tempting to you than a marshmallow?

In today’s lesson, we will discuss something that is far better than any food you can imagine: being in the presence of God for all eternity.

The ultimate purpose of this life is to prepare us to be with Him.

In life it’s tempting to choose to live the way we want right now, but it will be worth it to live as God calls us to live.

Eternity with Jesus in a place far better than anything this life has to offer is the promise of the covenant—an end that is far better than the beginning.

$6.66

Have you ever cringed at the checkout when your total came to $6.66?

Or have you felt fear when you heard about microchips implanted in hands to be able to unlock doors and log onto computers?

Maybe you’ve wondered about a future world leader people call the Antichrist.

These ideas all trace back to the words of John in the final book of the Bible—Revelation.

This book shows us what to expect in the last days. Though its symbols can seem confusing, God gave this vision so we could understand His plan.

Today we won’t explore every detail, but we will focus on the covenant promises of Jesus, fulfilled in those born again of water and Spirit.

Lesson

Wading into the Book of Revelation

The apostle John had faithfully served God for over sixty years when he found himself isolated from the world on the lonely, desolate island known as Patmos.

Located in the midst of the Aegean Sea, Patmos was a place hardened criminals belonged, not faithful saints. John was the only apostle to stay at the cross until Jesus drew His last breath, but now it seemed he would breathe his last breath all alone.

However, we now clearly see it was all part of God’s plan.

John was not destined to die on Patmos; he was there to receive what is arguably the most famous vision in all of Scripture.

To study the writings of John on the Isle of Patmos, it is good to have an understanding of the structure of the vision.

John’s experience began on what he referred to as “the Lord’s day,” when he heard behind him “a great voice, as of a trumpet” (Revelation 1:10). The voice was immediately identified as the Lord, as John heard the words, “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last” (Revelation 1:11).

John turned to see who was speaking, and He was awed at whom he saw. He wrote, “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw . . . one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot . . . . His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; . . . and his voice as the sound of many waters” (Revelation 1:12–15).

The Lord laid His hand upon John, told him not to fear, and gave instructions of what he should record.

Revelation 1:18–19 NKJV

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

John, and the persecuted churches to whom he wrote, needed to remember that Jesus is on the throne, no matter who ruled Rome at the time.

The Book of Revelation is written to reveal the majesty and mercy of Jesus Christ as He continued to reach for people to save them.

The visions are breathtaking and sometimes clouded in symbolism. The promises are true and will come to pass to the most minute detail.

First, John was told to write the things he had seen. He accomplished this in the first chapter as he recorded the amazing encounter with Jesus in His glorified body.

Then he was told to write the things which are. That occurred in chapters two and three as John recorded the messages he would later personally deliver to the seven churches of Asia Minor (present-day Turkey).

Finally, chapter four begins the most significant portion of the book: “things which shall be hereafter” (Revelation 1:19).

That does not mean everything remaining in Revelation will happen after we arrive on the scene in the twenty-first century. The things John would be shown would happen after the moment they were revealed to him.

While there are differing views on the timing of the events in John’s vision, we must consider the fact that the entire book itself is not written in chronological order.

When we read Revelation, we read of the majesty and sovereignty of the Kings of kings and Lord of lords: the Lord Jesus Christ.

From Beginning to End

Ask students the following questions:

What is the name of the first book in the Bible? What does it mean? (Genesis, beginnings)

What is the name of the final book in the Bible? What does it mean? (Revelation, unveiling)

The Book of Genesis (meaning beginnings) reveals many things about how humanity began, and the Book of Revelation (meaning unveiling) unveils wonderful truths about Jesus Christ and His plan to return for those who have made themselves ready.

Read and discuss Revelation 1:1–3.

It should be obvious God desires for us to learn lessons from this vision given to John or else it would not have been included in the Bible.

We know the vision was true because it came from God and the Bible tells us John was faithful to write down all he saw.

Now the responsibility is on us to read and learn, always being certain to allow the Word of God itself to reveal truth to us.

Plus, God promised a blessing to those who read and heed the words of Revelation.

Because the primary intention of the Book of Revelation is to show us Jesus, let’s take a few minutes and discuss some of the passages that describe Him.

Revelation 1:10–11 NKJV

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

Jesus is identified as the “Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.” Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet; Omega is the last. Jesus is all the fulness of God in human flesh.

Revelation 1:14–17 NKJV

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.

The white hair is often seen as a depiction of His ultimate wisdom, while the eyes like a flame of fire demonstrate His knowledge and power. His voice is compared to the sound of many waters as a possible reference to the multitudes saved by His sacrifice. (See also Revelation 19:6.)

Revelation 4:2–4 NKJV

Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

The rainbow hearkens back to God’s covenant with humanity through Noah that God would never again send a flood to destroy humanity. It appears here as a symbol of the ultimate fulfillment of the covenant Jesus established through His death, burial, and resurrection. The twenty-four elders are sometimes seen as representing redeemed humanity in the presence of God.

That last verse with the elders representing a combination of groups highlights an essential component it is vital to understand about the Book of Revelation.

Just as the establishment of the church in the Book of Acts includes Jews and Gentiles born again of water and Spirit, the seventh chapter of Revelation reveals a multitude of both Jews and Gentiles in the kingdom of God.

Revelation 7:1–2 NKJV

After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,

Revelation 7:3–4 NKJV

saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

There is a promise here that 144,000 of the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be part of the revival of the last days.

Revelation 7:9–11 NKJV

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

Revelation 7:12–14 NKJV

saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

People from every nation, people, and tongue will be a part of the white-robed multitude, so large no one can number.

The New Jerusalem

Humanity’s pride and fallen nature can clearly be seen in every period of time.

Some may mock the Caesars of Rome and Pharaohs of Egypt who built memorials to make their legacies eternal, but we do well to remember that we are not exempt from that temptation.

Consider humanity’s obsession with AI (artificial intelligence). While technology can be helpful, some believe that we will soon create a “God-like” intelligence. Yet we are reminded that no creation, no matter how advanced, can ever match the Creator.

It is the height of arrogance to think we have power to rewrite God’s design or control the destiny of the world apart from Him.

The answer to humanity’s crisis isn’t found in smarter machines or systems. The answer is the same as it has always been: Jesus.

When Jesus returns and places His feet upon the Mount of Olives in Israel, He will usher in a one-thousand-year kingdom, called the Millennium.

That will be the first and only time there will be lasting peace in the Middle East and peace on earth. Men will turn their swords into plows. Armies will be disbanded. Weapons will become relics in museums, which tell the story of what it was like before the Lord returned.

Those who are faithful until they either draw their last breath or see Jesus split open the sky to call His church home have this wonderful promise.

Revelation 21:5–7 NKJV

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.” 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. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

This wonderful promise is the ultimate fulfillment of the covenant promises available to each of us who desire to know God.

There is no gulf between any of us and God that the Cross did not bridge.

No mistake in our past can prevent us from being part of God’s family.

The Book of Revelation makes it perfectly clear: People like us and people different from us will be in Heaven. Heaven will have a Jewish flair. The twelve gates will each bear one of the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the foundations will have the names of the twelve apostles inscribed within them.

However, people of the Jewish nation are not the only ones invited because God extended His covenant to Gentiles as well.

The Book of Revelation provides details about the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem:

Revelation 7:9–10 NKJV

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Once we are there with Him, there is no chance of ever missing out on what God has planned for us.

We will know as we are known. We will have glorified bodies that will live for eternity. We will experience the fullness of God’s presence every moment of every day.

Twice in Revelation, John wrote that Jesus will wipe away every tear from our eyes, including those of our past, which still may haunt us today. (See Revelation 7:17; 21:4.)

He will make all things new.

It is impossible for us to even imagine what Heaven will ultimately be like. We certainly can and should try, but always remember the New Jerusalem will be better than our most creative imaginations.

Living there will be more luxurious than the best home in our world today.

The atmosphere will be more peaceful than the Garden of Eden, better than all of Solomon’s wealth and wisdom combined, and more amazing than the most breathtaking view of the Grand Canyon.

The end will be much better than humanity’s beginning.

John was given a glimpse of what Heaven will be like.

He told of a street made of gold so pure that it appeared to be transparent glass. What we view as priceless on earth, God paves streets with in His Heaven.

There will be twelve gates, each made from a single pearl.

And it is interesting that the Bible includes this odd detail: the absence of the sea. It has been said that the lack of an ocean reveals how all mysteries will have been revealed, leaving nothing lurking unknown beneath the surface. Plus nothing will separate us from each other again, much like the Aegean Sea separated John from his family, friends, and church family.

Heaven will be Heaven for all that is not there.

Revelation 21:4 NKJV

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.”

Most of all, Heaven will be Heaven for who is there.

Revelation 21:3 NKJV

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.

Heaven will be Heaven because Jesus reigns and rules.

Conclusion

As we conclude this journey from Genesis to Revelation, it is vital for us to pause and reflect on the most significant truth from this lesson: We are quickly approaching the day when Jesus will make all things new and restore creation through His eternal plan.

We will one day hear that same phrase when Jesus declares,

Revelation 21:5 NKJV

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.”

John recorded that statement for us to read in anticipation of the day when we will be together in glory with our God.

That experience will be even better than the day we received the Holy Ghost. It will be better than walking with Him in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden. It will be better than anything we could ever imagine.

God will make all things new and more wonderful than words can express.

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