Sermon Tone Analysis

THE CREATION AND THE NEW CREATION

Genesis Chapters 1 -2 and The Revelation Chapters 21-22

Moheb Ghali

For the past few Sundays the New Testament readings have been from the last book in the Bible: the Revelation.

The reading for today shows us the completion of what started in Genesis: the heavens and earth that were created in Genesis are replaced by new heavens and new earth.

The garden of Eden where God walked with Adam is replaced with the New Jerusalem, where of God lives with His people.

I will try to make three points:

I. Point out a few parallels in the Genesis's Garden of Eden and the Revelation's New Jerusalem to show how much is the New Creation superior to the first.

II.

How can we become citizens of the New Jerusalem?

III.

Meanwhile, what should we be doing?

I. THE OLD EDEN AND THE NEW JERUSALEM

Have you ever wondered "After Adam and Eve blew it, why didn't God fix and restore creation to perfection if He is a loving and forgiving God?" Well, He did!

The first creation that we completely corrupted by our disobedience and sin, He replaces with a new heaven and a new earth: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away."

"Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new".

If you read the first two chapters and the last two chapters of the Bible together, as we did today, you will see a very clear parallel, each has the story of creation: in Genesis we read about the creation of the heavens and the earth as we know them, and in the Revelation, we read about the creation of the new earth and the new heaven as we shall know them.

You will also find that the last is far superior to the first - if in Genesis it says that after each act of creation "God saw that it was good", in the Revelation, when I read about the new Creation, I see that it is not just good, but AWASOME!

So, let me begin with comparing our Old Testament reading from Genesis chapters 1 and 2 with our New Testament reading from Revelation chapters 21 and 22

* In Genesis God created the sun and the moon to give light - in the New Jerusalem The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

* In Genesis a river flowed from Eden to water the garden, in the New Jerusalem a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.

* In Genesis, in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

In the New Jerusalem On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.

And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

[If you are wondering what happened to the tree of knowledge of good and evil, it does not exist in the New Jerusalem, evil no longer exists.)

* In Genesis God gave Adam and Eve the authority to "Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground".

In Revelation, citizens of the New Jerusalem will reign for ever and ever.

* In Genesis, as a result of Adam's disobedience, the ground was cursed, in the New Jerusalem "No longer will there be any curse."

* In Genesis Adam hid from God, in the New Jerusalem we will be in the presence of God all the time.

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

* In Genesis Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden of Eden and cherubim were placed at the east of the garden of Eden, to guard the way to the tree of life so that Adam may not eat of it.

Citizens of the New Jerusalem have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

IF YOU EVER WANTED TO BE IN THE GARDEN THAT GOD CREATED IN EDEN, YOU MOST DEFINITELY WILL WANT TO BE IN THE NEW JERUSALEM.

II.

HOW WIN CITIZENSHIP IN THE NEW JERUSALEM?

God restored creation and has been inviting each human being to citizenship in the New Jerusalem- INVITING NOT COMPELLING.

Each one in the New Jerusalem is there by his/her free choice -they chose to be God's own people and to worship Him as their God.

Since chapter 6 of Exodus God has been telling people: "I will take you as my people and I will be your God."

He repeats the call in Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.

He kept repeating the invitation because, except for a few, none was able to live in the obedience called for.

Jesus opened for us the way to citizenship in the New Jerusalem by becoming man, who, unlike Adam, walked in complete obedience to the Father.

He died on the cross to gain for us the freedom we lost by our disobedience.

Then, after the Resurrection and Ascension to His throne, HE INVITED anyone who chooses to accept Jesus' sacrifice as full payment for his debt and pledges to follow Him to be a citizen of the New Jerusalem.

In the New Jerusalem, finally, "they shall be His people.

God Himself will be with them and be their God."

It took us from Exodus chapter 6 to chapter 21 of the Revelation to make it!!!

To accept the invitation to citizenship in the Kingdom one needs to declare his desire to become an obedient subject to the King - this is done in baptism.

Next, one must renounce citizenship in the old kingdom and pledge allegiance to the new Kingdom - this is done at the "confirmation".

(Remember a couple of weeks ago when Jenny and Jeff were confirmed the Bishop asked them a series of "Do you renounce..." and a series of pledges of obedience and allegiance?)

One receives documentation of citizenship, not in a passport that expires but by being "sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ's own forever."

Each citizen of the New Jerusalem is there by his/her own free choice.

Each is willing to pay the cost of this choice in lost friendships, family relations, jobs, or material wealth.

Each willingly followed Jesus: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even their own life-such a person cannot be my disciple".

"those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples."

[Luke 14:26, 33]

Citizens of the New Jerusalem do not shrink from the fight even though they know it may cost them their lives - they trust Jesus when he says: "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it."

[Luke 9:24].

Each, out of his or her free will chooses to follow Jesus and believe His promise: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." [John 14:3].

HE IS IN THE NEW JERUSALEM -SO WILL THEY!

Each one in the New Jerusalem makes the choice to believe God rather than the serpent.

Yet the serpent never ceases to deceive, to coerce and to intimidate and one has to be willing to reject the lie, to call upon God's strength and stands his or her ground - to persevere, to overcome and to conquer - every day, many times a day.

CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU: you applied for, and you were granted citizenship in the New Jerusalem with all its rights and privileges!

III.

WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING MEANWHILE?

Now that we are the future citizens of the New Jerusalem, can we now just sit back, relax and wait for the call to move into the mansions prepared for us?

I wish I could tell you: YES! But, sorry, this is not the case - we have a lot to do.

FIRST, WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE IN A WAR: we are told in the Revelation that "Then the dragon (that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan) was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring-those who keep God's commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus."

[Rev.

12:17] If you are keeping God's commands and holding fast to your testimony about Jesus, Satan has already waged war against you in the spiritual realm.

Paul writes: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

[Ephesians 6:12].

Peter shares the same view: "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

[1Peter 5:8] If I sit down and relax, letting my guard down, I will be devoured, and I don't think I would like that!

I must be watchful at all times, listening to what the Spirit says.

SECONDLY, AS CITIZENS WE HAVE PLEDGED ALLEGIANCE TO THE KING WHO COMMISSIONED US TO GO OUT AND FIGHT FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN TAKEN CAPTIVE BY THE ENEMY.

Many have been lured and enticed into captivity by the enemy telling them it is freedom from God and His commandments.

Our commission is to ensure that each one has the freedom of choice we had.

When Jesus gave the disciples this Commission, He also promised to be with them always, to the end of the age.

We need His presence with us.

if we are to set any of the captives free, we need the Holy Spirit presence and power to carry out our orders.

THIRDLY, WE MUST NOT BE DECEIVED BY THE ENEMY'S PROPAGANDA CALLING GOOD THAT WHICH IS BAD AND PEDDLING AS DESIRABLE THAT WHICH IS EVIL.

Jesus described our enemy as: "the devil... was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.

When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

[John 8:44].

Discerning the lies is possible only when you know the truth and counter the lies with "It is written..." as Jesus did.

We must diligently study the Bible so that we would know what "is written..."

FOURTH, WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN A WAR NO SOLDIER GOES OUT BY HIMSELF OR HERSELF TO FIGHT - soldiers go out in a platoon, a company, or a regiment.

This is why it is essential to belong to a church where members support, encourage and defend each other.

Not all the soldiers fight: some are used in logistics managing the supply lines, some are medics caring for the wounded, some are in communication, and some prepare meals for the rest.

Each performs the task assigned to him or her by the Commander who knows the skills and abilities of each - because it was He who provided them.

[The medic Desmond Doss in Hacksaw Ridge saved 275 wounded] We need to belong to a church and do the work our Commander assigns each.

FIFTH: WE AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A BODY MUST KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS OPEN: with our Commander-In-Chief to receive His direction and to ask for supplies; with fellow soldiers in our platoon so that we can support and be supported; and with other companies, platoons, regiments so that we can coordinate.

We must be in prayer to hear our orders, and in fellowship with others in our church and in other churches.

I cannot wait to move into the mansion prepared for me, and I know that you also want to move to the City of our God as soon as possible, if not sooner!

So why the delay?

We have not yet completed the work He has given us to do: to fight the battle, free the captives relying fully on God's power, support and protect each other with the gifts the Holy Spirit equipped each of us with, diligently study His word so that we would not be deceived and constantly and earnestly stay in touch with our Commander- In- Chief.

He has graciously been giving us more time to do the work: the more we procrastinate, the longer it will take to get to our destination.

So, can you please start doing what we ask of God every Sunday: "And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord."

I WOULD LIKE TO END WITH THE PRAYER THAT JOHN OFFERED IN THE NEXT TO LAST VERSE IN THE REVELATION: "COME, LORD JESUS", IN ARAMAIC "MARANATHA"

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