Chapter:
Rev
21
Passage:
Rev
21:1-5
A.
Find Out:
1.
What did John next see? v.1
2.
What did he then see coming and from where? v.2
3.
What apparently was happening? v.3
4.
What will no longer be? v.4
5.
What did God declare? v.5a
6.
What was John told to do and why? v.5b
B.
Think:
1.
What major change has taken place here?
2.
With what consequences?
C.
Comment:
Yet again we are presented with mind blowing pictures: a new earth
AND new heaven! (Does heaven here mean the sky as it sometimes does elsewhere?)
On this new earth there are no longer divisions between the land masses,
there is easy movement. But then there comes a new and glorious city coming
from above, from God.
The city is a new Jerusalem. Jerusalem of old was the city where
the Lord put His name and now He comes to dwell in this new city, in the
midst of His people. Although we may have problems in our minds as to
how and when this all happens, one thing is clear - it WILL happen, God
will bring about a coming together of Himself with His people so that
they can be continually together, and because He is there with them there
will complete peace, order and harmony and there will be no room for worry
or tears or death. This is a place of eternal life and eternal peace and
joy. That is our promise for eternity!
Even as we live on the earth today there is, surely, to be a glimmer
of this as God dwells among us now by His Spirit. Surely His intention
for Him to be able to bring down from heaven, something of the peace,
order and harmony that exists there, into our lives as individuals and
as churches. Is that not possible?
D.
Application:
1.
God's plan for eternity is for us to live with Him in complete peace
and
harmony.
2.
In the meantime, can we know the first-fruits of that perhaps?
Chapter:
Rev
21
Passage:
Rev
21:6-8
A.
Find Out:
1.
How did the voice describe himself? v.6a
2.
What did he say he would do and to whom? v.6b
3.
Who will inherit what and become what? v.7
4.
But who will go to the second death? v.8
B.
Think:
1.
What do you think God's description of Himself as Alpha and Omega
signifies for us?
2.
What 3 things are promised to those who seek Him and fight on through
to the end?
3.
What is the meaning behind the list of those who go to the lake of fire?
Occasional offenders or what?
C.
Comment:
All things that were created come from God and so at the end all
things will return to Him. He is the beginning and the end and the world
does not exist apart from Him.
Various things are promised us and they are each conditional. God
will first give us a source of life and refreshment, and it will be at
no cost to us, but if you want it you must thirst for it, or really want
it. This life is only for those who have given up on all other so-called
sources of life. Next we will inherit this wonderful life with Him in
this new world, this new city, but to receive that you must overcome the
lies, temptations and deceptions of the enemy. It is only that person
who can enter into this glorious inheritance. Finally there is the promise
of son-ship, of close and intimate relationship with God who is Father,
again only for the one who overcomes the wiles of the enemy and perseveres
on through in purity and holiness.
The list of those who will go to the lake of fire means those whose
lives are based on these things, e.g. those who are perpetual liars or
constantly unbelieving, not those who occasionally fall; it is those who
do not have the new life from God who will go to destruction.
D.
Application:
1.
Life, goodness & son-ship is the promised inheritance if we go on.
2.
The ungodly and unrighteous will be destroyed.
Chapter:
Rev
21
Passage:
Rev
21:9-14
A.
Find Out:
1.
What did the angel say he would show John? v.9
2.
What did he then show John? v.10
3.
What was its general appearance? v.11
4.
What was the entry to it? v.12,13
5.
On what was it based? v.14
B.
Think:
1.
Read Ephesians 2:21,22 How were we described there?
2.
Read again Revelation 19:7,8 Who is the bride?
3.
What do you think the picture of the bride as a city signifies?
C.
Comment:
Some suggest this narrative now reverts to the millennium again;
it is either that or God's eternal wish for His people. The New Testament
church was referred to as a temple, the dwelling place of God by the Spirit.
Now the bride, or church of God, is described as a city. Let's consider
it.
First, it comes down from heaven; its origins, its design originates
with God, it is no accident.
Second, it is glorious, shining with the glory
of God. That which comes from God is seen to have the glory of God shining
from it.
Third, it has high walls; there is no unauthorised
entry, only through the prescribed means.
Fourth, it has guarded gates so entry can only
be by God's consent, yet an equal number of gates on each side, to welcome
all who will come from whatever direction.
Fifth, the gates are named after the tribes
of Israel, to remind us that entry is by the grace of God (that same grace
that brought a twister, Israel, into relationship with God) and with the
blessing of God (12 sons to a family that had previously had difficulty
in being fruitful - see Abraham and Isaac).
Sixth, the city has twelve foundations,
it is on a totally secure base.
Seventh, the foundations are named after the
apostles, a reminder that is based on “Follow me... so send I you”, i.e.
obedience to the Lamb.
D.
Application:
1.
We are to be part of a divine community, established by God.
2.
It is all by the grace and mercy of God.
Chapter:
Rev
21
Passage:
Rev
21:15-21
A.
Find Out:
1.
How was the city measured? v.15
2.
What was the shape of the city? v.16
3.
How thick was the wall? v.17
4.
What were the walls and the city made of? v18
5.
With what were the foundations decorated? v.19,20
6.
What were the gates of the city made of? v.21
B.
Think:
1.
What is the overall impression given by the size of the city?
2.
What is the impression given by the materials of the city?
3.
Why do you think such detail is given to us of this city?
C.
Comment:
It would be easy to say, “Well, these details are of no significance
so let's not bother with this passage” but when an angel is given a measuring
stick and sizes and materials are given to us in detail it means that
God wants us to take note of it!
First of all the city is massive, some fourteen hundred miles square
(and high?) with a two hundred feet thick wall with twelve, obviously
massive, foundations. Everything about the size of this city says that
it is immovable, lasting, enduring, built to last for eternity. With walls
of precious stone surrounding an interior of purest gold, based on the
most brightly decorated (and presumably clearly visible and exposed) foundations,
the beauty of this city is enough to take your breath away! It is truly
incredible!
Now remember, this city symbolises the bride of Christ, the church,
all the people of God; this is how God sees His church! Yes, that is incredible.
We look at the church with all its failings, divisions and upsets, but
the picture here is of how it will be, freed from all its earthly problems
and failures, an incredible and glorious achievement of God, shining it
all its beauty, splendour and purity. This is its end!
D.
Application:
1.
The Church is people, the bride of Christ is people, God loves people
and
they together will be a glorious tribute to
God's grace.
2.
The God who can create this deserves our worship.
Chapter:
Rev
21
Passage:
Rev
21:22-27
A.
Find Out:
1.
Why was there not a temple in the city? v.22
2.
Why doesn't the city need a sun or moon? v.23
3.
What will the light do? v.24
4.
What will not happen there? v.25
5.
Who will not enter the city? v.27a
6.
Who will live in it? v.27b
B.
Think:
1.
What indication is there that this city is still on the earth?
2.
Yet what makes it different from any other known city?
C.
Comment:
Yet again we have mysteries, things that are spoken about that
confuse our limited minds! Here is this city which is the bride of Christ,
the people of God, or might it be better to say the church of God? In
this community is the very presence of God, and so there is no sense in
the midst of it of a temple or place to come and meet with God for He
is there with them constantly throughout the city.
The difficulty of this picture is the reference to kings and nations
bringing their splendour to it. Does this mean the ungodly nations are
still around when it exists, for this would mean it exists on earth before
the new heaven and earth, but that is expressly stated as not being so.
When it refers to kings and nations it must mean those kings who were
redeemed and those multitudes of Christians from the various nations.
The “glory and honour of the nations” must refer to the many trophies
of grace, i.e. Christians, who are brought in from the world, who have
been added to the kingdom and who now come and are part of this city.
Everything about this city speaks of the wonder of it: it is the
dwelling of God with redeemed men and women, this is the fruit of the
work of Christ, men and women able to live in total harmony with Almighty
and the Most Holy God!
D.
Application:
1.
Our end is total communion with God.
2.
Our end is a community; we will not be alone in eternity.
Chapter:
Rev
22
Passage:
Rev
22:1-6
A.
Find Out:
1.
From where does the river flow? v.1
2.
Where does it flow? v.2a
3.
What is growing either side of it? v.2b
4.
Where does God now dwell? v.3
5.
What is there no longer and why? v.5
6.
How are the servants of God described & what are they doing? v.3-5
B.
Think:
1.
What is the implication of what is flowing in the city?
2.
How is the city shown here different from the world we know?
3.
What activity is shown in this passage?
C.
Comment:
Here in the midst of the city is the throne of God. It is as if
to say this is where God is established, His throne is in the midst of
His people. From the throne flows life and the life flows right down the
centre of the city and that flow of life brings life to two trees which
also bring life. The picture is of abundant fruitfulness so that there
is constantly good provision for everyone, the provision of life giving
fruit for whoever will take it. In the garden of Eden there had been a
tree of life but that had been denied to mankind after the Fall. Now there
is double provision of that same tree of life for redeemed mankind. Not
only that the leaves of the trees bring healing to peoples from all nations;
there is a coming together in reconciliation brought here.
There is strong emphasis on the presence of God in the midst of
the city, for His glory shines throughout the city so there is no need
of artificial light. The Lord is with His people and He is all that is
needed; His very presence reveals everything, and nothing is hidden before
Him.
These words in Revelation were recorded nineteen hundred years
ago and yet they are for our blessing today. They bring a wonderful sense
of God's bountiful provision for His people.
D.
Application:
1.
Take joy in the wonderful provision of God for you.
2.
God's provision is for you today as well as in eternity.
Chapter:
Rev
22
Passage:
Rev
22:7-13
A.
Find Out:
1.
What was John's response when he saw and heard these things? v.8
2.
But what was he told? v.9
3.
What was he told not to do and why? v.10
4.
What overall instruction was stated? v.11
5.
What did Jesus say about His coming? v.12
6.
How did he describe himself? v.13
B.
Think:
1.
How is a sense of immediacy created in this passage?
2.
Yet how is a sense of continuation also conveyed?
3.
How therefore should we be viewing this book?
C.
Comment:
First of all in this passage comes a SENSE OF IMMEDIACY as Jesus
declares that he will be coming soon. Now that was recorded nineteen hundred
years ago and the church has expected Him to come back at any moment throughout
that time, yet we still wait! What is the meaning of this? Perhaps it
is that Jesus simply wants us to be constantly living as if He is about
to come back at any moment. Are we prepared to be found by Him doing what
we should be doing? For God a thousand years is but a day and so in heavenly
terms only two days have passed; His coming is still “soon”!
But then there is a SENSE OF ONGOING LIFE seen in verse 11, as
if to say, let the world just carry on, I'll come when I'll come.
There is always a tension to be held between these two. It
may be that the Lord will not return for many years but we should always
be living as if he will return any minute. If we do that we will
keep alert to what is happening, what Jesus is doing in the earth, what
He requires of us in all of it. We as Christians should never settle down
in who we are and what we are doing, we should be constantly looking forward
to the return of the Lord and ensuring we are ready for it, so that we
not found in any state that could earn the Lord's rebuke.
D.
Application:
1.
I need to be ready for the Lord's return, as if tomorrow.
2.
I need to also live as if He may not return for a long time.
Chapter:
Rev
22
Passage:
Rev
22:14-21
A.
Find Out:
1.
Who go into the city? v.14
2.
Who remain outside? v.15
3.
Who receives the water of life? v.17
4.
What will happen if you add to this book? v.18
5.
What happens if you take away from it? v.19
6.
What was Jesus' last words? v.20
B.
Think:
1.
How do you think someone can add to this book?
2.
How might they take away from it?
3.
What is to be our heart response to it?
C.
Comment:
First, observe the qualifications for being a part of God's
eternal city: that we are washed in the blood of the Lamb, who is Jesus,
that we receive His atoning work on the Cross to our lives, and that we
thirst for the life that only He can bring.
Second, observe those who are excluded from it: anyone who is evil,
whose life is given over to unrighteousness and godlessness. Such people
clearly will have no part in it.
Third, consider the warnings about rightly handling this book.
We can add to this book by bringing additional (and false) revelations
that would change the content. We can take away from it by writing it
off, or bits of it off. As with so much long-term prophecy some of it
may have been fulfilled in one sense yet still has to be fulfilled in
another sense. This IS God's word and from the other side of eternity
(if we are allowed to look back) it will suddenly be clear and we will
see how it all was worked out. We'll see what was literal and what was
symbolic and how it was all fulfilled. In the meantime our response is
to simply say, “Yes Lord, come as you have said you will come, do what
you have said you will do, and help us to flow in your plans and purposes
to do your will”.
D.
Application:
1.
Will I let this book hold my attention to watch for Jesus' coming?
2.
Is my heart response, “Come Lord Jesus”?
RECAP
"The Eternal State" Revelation 21 & 22
SUMMARY
:
In
this final group of 8 studies we have seen :
-
the coming of a new heaven and a new earth
-
a new holy city coming that is the bride of Christ
-
a description of that wonderful city
-
the presence of God in that city
-
a river of live flowing in the city
-
a call to be prepared for the return of Jesus
-
a promise of a place in the city for all who rely on Jesus
-
a warning not to change the content of this book
COMMENT
:
After having seen God dealing with all of humanity before the judgement
throne we have moved on to see the wonder of a new city coming down from
heaven (having its origin in, and coming as a result of the activity in
heaven) . Some commentators suggest that the city exists during the thousand
year period but we have assumed that it is a symbolic picture of a relationship
that exists in eternity. If it does turn out to be a literal city then
it will add further glory to that which we have seen as simply a picture
of what is ours in eternity.
The picture of the city reveals it as a strong, enduring and absolutely
wonderful city with God in the midst of it, where there is total peace
and harmony and life flowing from the very presence of God.
LESSONS?
1.
God's plan for eternity is community with us
2.
Our future is assured
3.
There is no place in this future for those who are unrighteous.
4.
Peace & harmony is the inheritance of the saints.
5.
An ongoing life source is ours from God.
PRAY
:
Thank the Lord for the wonder of your future as a child of God
destined to live with Him for eternity. Thank Him for the specific aspects
of it that have stood out to you as you have read these two last chapters
of Revelation.
SUMMARY
In
these ten chapters of Revelation we have seen the following:
1.
Satan's Activity (Ch.13)
The coming of a beast from the sea and a beast from the land (the
false prophet), whose activities are to deceive the nations of the world
into turning away from God and following them.
2.
Overview (Ch.14)
A view of heaven with a host of the redeemed, a sight of three
angels coming to declare and bring the will of God, and a harvesting of
the righteous and then unrighteous from the earth.
3.
The Seven Plagues or Final Judgements (Ch.15 & 16)
First we saw the seven angels being prepared in heaven while the
heavenly host affirm the justice of God's actions. Then came the pouring
out, by these angels, of the purposes of God. These first of all bring
pressure on all mankind to make them turn back to God, and yet we saw
their stubborn refusal to do so.
4.
The Fall of Babylon (Ch.17 & 18)
Here we saw a woman called Babylon seated on a scarlet seven-headed
beast, indicating that Babylon was spread over seven different geographical
locations. Babylon seems to sum up all the godless and humanistic activity
of the world that is against God and against His people. Babylon was condemned
and brought down by God, to the anguish of the occupants of the world.
5.
The Coming King (Ch.19 & 20)
Here we saw Jesus coming as a conquering king, overcoming and destroying
his enemies. Satan was bound while there was a thousand years of peace.
After he was released and nations followed him again, there was a further
destruction. At the end of that phase was a great judgement before the
throne of God.
6.
The Eternal State (Ch.21 & 22)
As the new city from heaven is revealed, being the new community
of God, its glory shows the wonder of what God is working towards, a community
of His people where He can dwell in the midst with His life flowing forth
to bless His people.
The book finishes with the expectation of Jesus coming back at
any time, with the challenge to be living with that expectancy, yet in
the meantime receiving grace to cope with all that may come before.
CONCLUSION
A
Difficult Book?
Perhaps more than any other book in the Bible, this one presents
us with difficulties of interpretation. Have we a long sequence of events
or have we a few events that are seen again and again from different perspectives?
Are the details literal or symbolic or a mixture of both? Whatever the
answer certain things should stand out to us.
The
Lord of the Church and of History
From the outset the picture is of Jesus who is Lord over the Church.
He instructs the church of Asia Minor, He calls and challenges the Church
to be faithful in the face of tribulation, He takes the Church to be with
Himself in eternity.
Also inherent in this book is the clear view that Jesus is presiding
over all the events of the end times. Nothing is out of His control, even
the rebellion of the world.
The
Sin of the World
If we ever doubt the stupidity of Sin, the book of Revelation should
remove that doubt, as the foolishness of mankind is revealed as again
and again they allow themselves to be led astray by Satan and his agents.
Godlessness and unrighteousness prevail, even in the face of the most
horrendous catastrophes where you would think that any sane person would
cry out to God for help. In all of this comes the most serious of warnings
to each of us: is there this same tendency within us to be godless, not
turning to Him in the face of trials. Think on this!
The
God of Judgement and of Mercy & Grace
The Lord will come to His enemies and destroy them, yet this
is only after prolonged periods when He has sought to turn them back to
Himself. In the midst of the sin, in the midst of the tribulation, there
is still a redeemed remnant, saved by grace. Again and again the Lord
is seen as a judge who comes to call the people of the world to account
and bring upon them the retribution they deserve when they fail to respond.
Yes the book of Revelation is indeed a record of the most terrible judgements
of God on sin, yet it is also a most wonderful record of the grace &
mercy of God that gives opportunity after opportunity to repent. Worship
the God of grace and mercy as well as of judgement.
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