Things Which Shall Be Part VI

By Pastor Tim Hitchcock

 

Introduction:

--Revelation 1: 19 forms the outline we have used to study this book.  We are on part VI of the final point and will conclude our study today.  Thus far we have seen God pour out twenty-one judgments on this Christ rejecting world.  Each became more intense as we proceeded until they culminated in the battle of Armageddon.

--After that the beast and false prophet were cast into the lake of fire.  Satan was bound up in the bottomless pit for a thousand years and Christ began His thousand-year reign on earth (Millennium).  At the close of the thousand years of utopia on earth the devil will be unloosed for a little season.  He will promptly gather an army of rebels and there will be one final conflict.

--Then the lost will be judged at the Great White Throne judgment and sent to the eternal lake of fire, because their names are not written in the Book of Life.

 

I.) Chapter Twenty-One:

--John saw a new heaven and a new earth (vs.1).  The first heaven and earth pass away in one blinding atomic flash (II Peter 3: 10).  For this to occur, Christ needs only to relax for a moment (Colossians 1: 17).  Then having destroyed the old, God replaces them with the new.  John's first observation is that there is no more sea.  The earth will consist only of dry land.

--Then John saw a new Jerusalem (vs2).  Observe that the new Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven.  It is as beautiful as a bride adorned for her husband.

--Next John heard a great voice (vs.3).  God's tabernacle (dwelling place) will be in this new Jerusalem. He will dwell with us, and we with Him.

--God will wipe away all tears (vs.4).  There will be no more sorrow, crying, pain, or death.  Wow!  All of our troubles will be permanently over.

--God will make all things new(vs.5).  God told John to write these words.  They are true and faithful words.  They will surely come to pass.  All of our grief and trouble will be forever over.  Everything will be new and fresh.

--"It is done." (vs.6-7) God’s plan and purpose as revealed in Revelation is complete.  We have arrived at our eternal destiny.  God will freely give us of the water of life.  We will live forever and ever.  We will inherit all things and will be God's children.  Notice, our inheritance will not be old and run down.  It will come with that "new car" odor.

--In contrast, the lost will have their destiny as well (vs. 8).  Their part is in the lake of fire and brimstone.  They will have no place in our eternal destiny.  They will be tormented day and night, because they rejected the salvation that God offered through His Son.

--Then one of the angels who had the seven vials of wrath spoke (vs.9-21). God's wrath is finished.  Instead of wrath, we see the bride of Christ descending out of heaven.  We, who know Christ, are that bride.  We will dwell with Him in the new Jerusalem.  Our home will be so incredibly beautiful that it will make a king's crown look like a gumball machine trinket.  The city itself will look like a brilliant gemstone, clear as crystal.

--It will be shaped like a cube and will be 1500 miles on each side.  That means that it will be nearly as large as our moon.  Imagine a gem stone that big.  In addition it will have a wall extending all the way around it and 216 feet high.  Understand that the wall will seem very small in comparison to the city.

--The wall is a gemstone, the city is pure gold, the foundation is garnished with all manner of precious stones, the gate is a single pearl, and the street is even paved with pure gold.  Pure gold is transparent and clear as glass.  This will not be the cheap stuff they use to make a Rolex.

--There will be no church building or temple in this city (vs.22-27).  There will be no need, because our Lord God Almighty and His Son will dwell there.  That means that we will not need a sun or moon.  The city will never know darkness.  It will be forever day, and with our glorified bodies we will need no sleep or rest..

--The city will be filled with saved people from all nations.  The kings of the earth (that's us) will bring their glory and honor into it.  Think of this!  There will be no more crime, sin, hurt or harm.  Everyone will treat each other as Christ would.

--The gates of the city will never be shut.  There will never be another dark night and never anything to fear.  There will never enter into this city anything that defiles.  Only those written in the Lamb's book of life will enter.

 

II.) Chapter Twenty-Two:

--Then John saw a pure river of water of life (vs.1-5).  This river proceeds from the throne of God and is crystal clear.  It makes bottled water look like sewer water. 

--In the midst of the street and on either side of the river is the tree of life.  Adam and Eve were put out of the garden lest they partake of this fruit in their sin.  Now we will freely eat of the fruit and drink of the waters.  There will be no more curse.  The sting of death will be gone.  God's throne will be there and we will serve Him.  We will actually see His face and have His name written in our foreheads.  We will need no light.  He will be our light and we will reign with Him forever and ever.

--God assures John that these sayings are faithful and true (vs.6-7).  They will come to pass shortly.  That is now two thousand years ago, but with God one day is as a thousand years.  These things are certainly much closer than they were.  Christ is indeed coming quickly and probably very soon.

--John was so overwhelmed that He fell down to worship the messenger (vs.8-9).  He was told once again, "Worship God."

--John was told to write and make known this prophecy (vs.10-13). Christ said, "Let every man keep doing what he is doing, but understand this:  Behold I come quickly; and, when I come, my reward is with me."  Christ will give us according to our works.  Will we receiving blessing or cursing?

--God says that the blessed ones keep His commandments (vs. 14-15).  We who have received Christ, as Savior, will have the right to the tree of life.  Those who have not will be left outside—condemned to the eternal lake of fire.

--Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star for the church (vs.16).  He is the Sun of righteousness for Israel (Malachi 4: 2).  They look for the Sun rising in the east.  We look for the Morning Star that precedes it.  Christ is coming at any time.

--The Spirit extends the call, "Come while you still may." (vs.17)  "Take of the water of life freely."  Don't put off the decision to receive Christ.  Today is the day of salvation.  Tomorrow is judgment day.

--If any man adds to the book or takes from it, God will judge them. (vs.18-19).  If we try to add our works to the free gift of salvation or try to deny the need for Christ, we will be cursed indeed.

 

Conclusion:

--In one final warning, Jesus says, "Surely I come quickly." (vs.20).  John says, "Even so come."  Those who truly know Christ look for His return and desire it to be soon. 

--In the mean time, we depend on His grace to get us through (vs. 21).  Without God's grace we would not make it.  That should cause each of us to want every one to know the grace of God in the person of His Son.