18-2-28, Revelation 21-22:7, Our End in Christ
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INTRODUCTION
A helpful author to me once said,
“Begin with the end in mind.”
“Begin with the end in mind.”
Why do you think this is important to do with a project or a vacation?
“Begin with the end in mind” means think about where you want to end up and then develop your plan.
If you want to do an eagle scout project, then you will first need to ask, “What do I want to build?”
If you want to go on a trip for Spring Break, then you will first ask the question, “Where do I want to go?”
Beginning with the end in mind is a helpful way to think about Christianity too.
This is a helpful way to approach Christianity. You may be wondering if you want to become a Christian. You may be wondering how to live as a Christian.
This is a helpful way to approach Christianity. You may be wondering if you want to become a Christian. You may be wondering how to live as a Christian.
This is a helpful way to approach Christianity.
What is the “end” for Christianity?
Why do you want to begin with end in mind
Why do you think it is important for a Christian, or a potential Christian, to consider this “end”?
Why do you think it is important for a Christian, or a potential Christian, to consider the end goal?
You may be wondering if you want to become a Christian. You may be wondering how to live as a Christian. Either way, it is important to begin with the end in mind, then your decisions and actions today will be more intentional and meaningful.
Either way, it is important to begin with the end in mind, then your decisions and actions today can be more intentional and meaningful.
This evening, we are going to look at a passage which communicates the “end” for Christianity.
The end for Christianity is heaven.
BOOK
CONTEXT
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
Revelation was likely written in the mid 90s by the apostle John in exile on the Island of Patmos. Actually, John simply recorded what he saw, Jesus Christ is the author.
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Jesus gave this revelation to John to pass on to the churches to
1. give them sight into the cosmic conflict between God and the devil
2. to assure Christians that the victory has already been won
3. to warn them against the wiles of the devil to knock out God’s children through violent persecution, false teaching, affluence, and through sensual temptation.
Even though the devil has lost, he still tries to knock out God’s children through violent persecution,
4. to encourage Christians to overcome to the end and prove their salvation.
Why did Jesus give Revelation to John?
This passage takes place after mention of the 1,000 year kingdom, the defeat of Satan, the Great White Throne judgment.
The biggest challenge in Revelation is determining what is symbolic and what is not.
PASSAGE
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. 2 And I 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 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. 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.”
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
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.
Revelation 21:1-
The new heaven and the new earth are unified.
They are different from the first heaven and the first earth.
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The sea, meaning the source of rebellion and danger. The beast emerged from the sea and mankind fears the sea. This does not mean there will no longer be bodies of water, just that the fallen aspect of it will be gone.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation
The holy city is new Jerusalem and is equated with the bride of Christ.
The city is described as adorned, as a bride on her wedding day.
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.
Revelation
In the end, God and humanity will dwell together in the New Jerusalem.
He will be their God and they shall be His people.
God’s people are His bride. New Jerusalem is the location of this fellowship (Intimacy).
God’s people are His bride. New Jerusalem is the location of this fellowship.
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.”
The grief and deformity that sin and death has imposed on God’s good creation will be wiped away.
There will be no more tears of sorrow and disappointment.
Death will no longer take away loved ones.
No more mourning loss
No more grievous crying
The creation will be freed from the bondage of decay.
What kind of things are stealing your joy and giving you sadness? Can you imagine no longer being oppressed by such things?
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Revelation 21:5-
The Lord declares that, in the end, things will made new.
This means they are restored and made whole.
Jesus promises us that this is true and we can hope for it.
Jesus secures restoration for this and His authority makes it so.
By His grace, He will water our thirsty souls forever and ever.
The ones who have truly trusted in Christ and prove this by bearing fruit over time will receive this as their inheritance. They will be God’s children and heirs.
What does it mean that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega?
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
This passage gives us a sneak peak into the glory of heaven.
The saints in heaven redeemed sinners.
This verse refers to sinners who have refused to repent, believe, and receive Christ.
They will not be permitted into the New Jerusalem. They will be in hell.
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Revelation 21:9
Again, the New Jerusalem has come down out of heaven.
It is the place where God dwells and is therefore full of glory- as mentioned here, like a jewel, like a jasper, like a crystal.
The walls and gates and foundations represent
1. completion between the OT (prophets tribes), and NT (12 apostles). The unity of OT and NT believers.
2. invulnerability to sin and darkness.
15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
It was huge!
1400 miles cubed
The cube shape mimics the holy of holies
The jewels speak to the glory of the Lord and priceless nature of God’s children to Him.
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.
Revelation 21:22
Revelation 22.
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
This passage gives us a sneak peak into the glory of heaven.
What is your favorite description of heaven?
Knowing that heaven is our end in Christ (a place of wholeness, peace, joy, and eternal blessing) how does this inspire you to live your life as a Christian today?
Are you going to be in the New Jerusalem?
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
We should walk in a manner worthy of the “end”.
Are you going to be in the New Jerusalem?
why or why not?
Repent
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
mt.
Believe
Believe
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
john 3
Receive
Receive
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,