Dig In:
Chapter Overview:
THE END IS NEAR: Each of the seven perspectives of Christ's return we've read through in Revelation have given progressively more and more details. We've seen that especially in the last couple of chapters as the viciousness of the coming wrath and judgment was articulated in ways that has been so difficult to understand. We now are up to this final description of the new heaven & earth, and it is nothing short of amazing, but at the same time it is almost impossible to comprehend and picture.
NO OCEAN FRONT PROPERTY AVAILABLE: One of the first things John mentions about the new heavens and earth is that there is no longer any sea (v1). Basically everything will be like the beautiful great plains many of us call home. But it's not the beautiful ocean views that will be gone, but rather the chaos and turmoil ancient people associated with the sea. Go back and read Bible stories or any other ancient literature and you'll see those early people had a great fear of the ocean because it was wild and unpredictable. Those traits will be no more when all things are made new.
SEEMS A LITTLE BOXY: We read the new Jerusalem resembles a massive cube 1,400 miles deep, wide and tall. The walls of this city are said to be 200 feet thick and made of jasper (a silica based jewel) with everything else made of pure gold. We also read that this massive cube has twelve foundations. None of this seems very practical. But John is not trying to tell us the specific details of this New Jerusalem, rather he just wants to convey that this city is so mind blowingly awesome that it's indescribable.
NO CHURCH, BUT SUNDAY LASTS FOREVER: The other really cool feature about this city is that it has no temple, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are it's temple. David writes in Psalm 27,:
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
When we take up residence in this new city, everyday will be Sunday. Everyday we will be in the direct presence of the Father and Son and Spirit, as the angel announced:
“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (v3-4)
Discuss:
EYE FOR DETAIL— Besides 'inheriting all this,' what other benefit will 'those who are victorious' receive? (v7)
Follow the AAA Prayer Pattern:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: He is our God and we are His people (v3, 7)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God to be preparing you each day to live as a citizen of His new heaven & earth right now.
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
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