Sermon Tone Analysis

HEAVEN- SEEING THE UNSEEN

THE NEW JERUSALEM PT. 4

Sunday August 30, 2020

Scripture Reference: Revelation 22:1-6 (NLT2)

Intro.

A. Welcome to this final Sunday of our exploration of the city known as The New Jerusalem.

My hope and pray during these messages in fact during this entire series is that what we are learning about Heaven and The New Jerusalem will create a longing in our hearts for Heaven, but that it will also create in us a greater sense of urgency to reach those in our Oikos and beyond so that they too can experience this incredible place.

1.

In these past three weeks we have talked about the dimensions of the city, we have explored its walls and gates.

We have explored its architecture and materials used to build it.

Last week we talked about the glory of this city.

Of the temple and of the light that lights the city.

We also talked about what is necessary for us to enter this city.

2. Today we will finish our exploration of this city by talking about the river of life and the tree of life.

Since I have spent so much time on this city the last few weeks this final message will be a little shorter as we consider these last few features of this city.

Trans.

So let's take one more look at this:

I. THE NEW PARADISE.

Let's read verses 1-6 of chapter 22. "Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 It flowed down the center of the main street.

On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month.

The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything.

For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.

4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.

5 And there will be no night there-no need for lamps or sun-for the Lord God will shine on them.

And they will reign forever and ever.

6 Then the angel said to me, "Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true.

The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon."

Revelation 22:1-6 (NLT2) Let's look at this river.

A. The River of Life.

1.

I remember many years ago, even before I was married believe it or not, but I had a friend who had moved here from North Dakota and he made the comment to me one time that he thought the way we referred to the Colorado River was amusing.

He said you guys talk about the Colorado River as "The River" as if there is no other.

Where he came from there was a lot of rivers but here in southern California, we do not have a lot of rivers and even the ones we have run drive most of the time.

So, for us the Colorado river is "the River" and in the New Jerusalem this will also be "The River".

I am confident that there will also be other rivers in Heaven, and I think the Colorado will be one of them but for us this will be "The River".

2. We all know how important water is.

Water is essential for life.

It has been said that a person can go as long as three or four weeks without food, but you can only go three or four days without water.

We are made up of 60% water, so water is essential for us to survive.

Let's look at that first verse again, Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

There are a few features about this river that I think hold some symbolism for us.

a) The first are found in the words, "water of life".

Again, we all know how vital water is for our survival, but this water is even more significant.

The Greek word used here is "zoe" and it refers to the very principle of life, not just something alive, but life itself.

It is the life that comes from God and the life that God gave to His son Jesus and the life He gives to us.

Listen to this verse from John, "The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son."

John 5:26 (NLT2) This is the life that all of us became alienated from because of our sin and it is why Jesus is the only way back to that life.

This is why Paul said in Romans 6, "For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.

And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives."

Romans 6:4 (NLT2) Listen to what 1 John says, "Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life." 1 John 5:12 (NLT2)

b) Now we are also told that this river flows from the throne of God and V.2 tells us it flows down the center of the city.

I believe what we are being reminded of here is that the water of life that we need comes from God and God alone, it flows from Him and His throne.

Again, this is a reminder of what these verses I just shared with you tell us.

God is still the giver of life even in Heaven.

The fact that it flows down the center of the city I believe also speaks to how central God needs to be in our lives now not sometime down the road in Heaven.

This water does not simply quench our thirst it provides us with life.

If we really want to live, if we really want this abundant life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10 then we must always look to God to provide it.

The water of life is not just available to us in Heaven it is available to us Now!

Now let me add a little footnote here.

I have been saying through out this series that I believe we will be physical beings in Heaven.

I do not believe we will be spirits and I think this verse testifies to this.

Spirits do not need water, but physical beings do.

Now allow me to make a little speculation about this river.

While this river is described as flowing down the center of the city remember this city is 1400 miles square.

I believe it is entirely possible that this river will have branches or tributaries that will flow through this city.

I can picture people congregating along the banks of this river, just as people do now.

I can see people laughing, talking, putting their feet in the water.

I can even see people having a picnic or BBQ by the river.

What we would be observing is people enjoying life from and around the river of life.

Let me share a scripture from Psalm that seems to speak to this.

"A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High."

Psalm 46:4 (NLT2)

Trans.

OK let's look at the second feature described to us here in V.2.

B. The Tree Of Life.

On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month.

The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

1.

You might recall that this tree is mentioned three times in Genesis.

There is for me at least some sadness here, but also great joy.

The last time the tree of life is mentioned in Genesis is here, "After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden.

And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."

Genesis 3:24 (NLT2) Because of the sin of Adam and Eve they were banished from the garden and from the Tree of Life, but Praise God we see that in the New Jerusalem our access to it is restored.

I see here in these words what I have been saying all along in this series and that is God will restore what was lost because of our sin.

He will not destroy the earth and start over as some believe, but He will restore this glorious and beautiful world as it was before the fall of man.

2. Now before we look a little more closely at this tree, I think there is something very important to point out.

Look with me at Revelation 2:7, "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God." Revelation 2:7 (NLT2) I have said before and I will say this again.

I firmly believe that if we die in Christ before the rapture of His church occurs this, the New Jerusalem is where we will be go.

You might consider it our home away from home until Heaven and earth are united again.

But along with this promise there is also a warning for us.

Look at these two verses, "Blessed are those who wash their robes.

They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life."

Revelation 22:14 (NLT2) "And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book."

Revelation 22:19 (NLT2) I believe these verses remind us of what Jesus said in the Sermon of the Mount.

"Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord!

Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter."

Matthew 7:21 (NLT2) I talked about this at the end of my message last week.

I do not care how often you go to church.

I do not care how much money you give to the church or how much ministry you might have in the church.

What I care about is "Is your name written in the Lambs' book of life?"