In the
last post John records the creation of the new heaven and earth. Amazing as that must be, John doesn’t even
stop to give us a description. It seems
that the appearance of the New Jerusalem is even more beautiful, the central
gem of beauty of the new creation.
Fittingly, John compares the holy city to a “bride adorned for her
husband.”
Revelation 21:2–3 “And I John saw
the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of God is
with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God
himself shall be with them, and be
their God.”
Jerusalem of
old had been chosen as the dwelling place of God with men…
Isaiah 2:3 “And many people shall go and say, Come ye,
and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of
Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”
Joel 3:16–17 “The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and
utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but
the LORD will be the hope of
his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I
am the LORD your God dwelling
in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no
strangers pass through her any more.”
…and the new
Jerusalem is to be God’s eternal dwelling place with man. Though we will get to enjoy the whole of
God’s new creation, the new Jerusalem will be our “home address” so to
speak. This is the city for which the patriarchs identified in the “hall of
faith” were looking. It’s a city for all
believers.
Hebrews 11:8-16 “By faith Abraham, when he
was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an
inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he
sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in
tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For
he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God….
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them
afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that
they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth….But now they desire a
better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
Finally, we will experience the kind of fellowship
with God that was intended from creation—except this time fellowship will not
be broken. We will enjoy the never-ending joy and blessings of true
fellowship with God rooted in a relationship of unconditional love. His
people will finally understand and completely embrace the truth that God’s way
is the best and His will an expression of His love.
“God himself”— Moses wanted to see God and was
only allowed to see His backside. I think this is the point where ALL men
will be able to see and fellowship with the Father—face to face.
Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
John next reveals a precious promise; God will wipe away all
tears. What a wonderful promise!
No more tears—no death, no sorrow, no pain, no regrets! I can hardly wait!!
Isaiah prophesied of this blessing: Isaiah 25:8 “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD
will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people
shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.”
Revelation 21:5 “And he that sat
upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me,
Write: for these words are true and faithful.”
The next person to speak from the throne I think must
be Jesus, the Creator, as declared by scripture.
Colossians 1:13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption
through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things
created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by him, and for him….”
John 1:1–3 & 14 “In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with
God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that
was made….And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
truth.”
Jesus declares that He has made everything
“fresh.” Then He speaks directly to John and tells him to “write.”
He didn’t have to go into more detail. John knew He was being told to
describe for others what He had witnessed. John is told to emphasize that
all he has heard and witnessed is true (not concealing) and faithful
(trustworthy, sure).
(to be
continued…)
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