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Rev 21:1 - 22:27
Surely I come quickly ...
... even so, come, Lord Jesus!
history of God's people begins and ends in paradise ...
GENESIS: Heavens and earth created (1:1), Sun created (1:6),
Night established (1:5), Seas created (1:10), Curse announced
(3:14-17), Death begins (3:19), Man driven from garden (3:24),
Sorrow and pain begin (3:17)
REVELATION: New heavens and earth (21:1), No need of sun
(21:23), No more night (22:5), No more sea (21:1), No more
curse (22:3), No more death (21:4), Man restored to paradise
(22:14), No more tears or pain (21:4)
v. 1 - "no more sea" - the sea meant danger, storms, separation
in John's day; he was exiled on an island!
v. 3 - "tabernacle" - God has always dwelled among his people
(Eden, Tabernacle, Temple, Jesus Christ, Church), but never in
such a literal sense as this!
v. 4 - "no more" - best way to describe Heaven - contrast!
v. 5 - "new" = "new in character" (old elements renewed?)
v. 7 speaks of the OVERCOMERS, v. 8 speaks of those that
were OVERCOME by sin ("abominable" = "polluted")
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HELL?
- a place of unquenchable fire (Mark 9:44)
- a place of consciousness (Luke 16:23-24)
- a place of unbearable eternal torment (Luke 16:28)
- a place of darkness (Matthew 8:12)
- a place of intense weeping (Matthew 13:42)
- a place of separation from loved ones (Luke 13:28)
- a place with no hope of release (Matthew 25:46)
- a place where memory will torment (Luke 16:28)
- a place where lustful cravings will torment (Rev. 22:11)
v. 12-14 - gates and walls speak of protection, while
foundations speak of permanence; saints from OT and NT
covenants will be united in this city!
v. 16 - "foursquare" = "equal on all sides" (2 possibilities: could
be shaped like a cube or like a pyramid)
foursquare - same as holy of holies (God's dwelling)
v. 16 - "12,000 furlongs" = "1,500 miles" - city will cover area
over half of United States, and be 1,500 miles high!
such a city could easily accomodate world's population!
v. 17 - "144 cubits" = "216 feet" - height of city wall
v. 18 - "jasper" - city's walls built of a transparent crystal
v. 18 - "pure gold" - city itself built of a transparent gold
v. 19-20 - "foundations" - usually hidden part of construction,
but these will be visible and beautiful, each made of a separate
jewel (some colors unknown)
v. 21 - "pearls" - an ancient "royal gem," produced by a mollusk
covering an irritating grain of sand in its shell; stepping through
gates of pearl is the ultimate reward for those who lived through
the "irritation" of trials on earth!
v. 22 - no temple, for God's presence is everywhere
v. 23 - no sun or moon, for "the Lamb is the light thereof"
v.24-27 - the mention of "nations" suggests that there will be
groups of people living eternally on the earth
v. 26 - reflects the ancient practice of kings and nations bringing
wealth and glory into the city of the greatest king!
v. 27 - although unredeemed men will live on earth in the
Millennium (Rev. 20:7-8), there is no sin on the new earth
when we were born again, we were saved from the PENALTY of
sin; as we abide in Christ daily, we are saved from the POWER
of sin; when we enter Heaven, we will be saved from the very
PRESENCE of sin!
Rev 21:1 - 22:21
v. 1 - from the base of the throne comes a River of
Life (Jesus gave living water - John 4:13-14)
v. 2 - man once again has access to the tree of life
(a TYPE of tree rather than a single tree?)
v. 2 - twelve month cyle - Heaven is not the absence
of time, but rather the infinity of time!
v. 2 - "healing" = "therapeia" - care, nutrition
v. 3 - "serve" - our service to God in this life is
preparing us for eternal service in Heaven
v. 4 - we will finally see our Redeemer's face!
v. 4 - "foreheads" - contrast to Mark of the Beast
many of our questions about Heaven must go
unanswered until we get there; however, John tells
us that we have responsibilities NOW because we
are going to Heaven in the FUTURE
Heaven is more than just a destination;
it is also our greatest motivation!
v. 6 - "shortly" = "quickly," not "soon"
v. 8 - John again falls down to worship an angel, but
is forbidden; why then did Jesus receive
worship? (Rev. 1:17, Luke 5:8) - He was God!
v. 10 - in contrast to Daniel (12:4), Revelation is
NOT a sealed book; since John's day we have been
in the "last times" (1 John 2:18)
v. 11 - no time to repent at Christ's coming!
today's decision determines your eternal destiny!
v. 13 - what God starts, He will finish - salvation!
service for the Lord involves not only expectancy (v.
12), but also occupying until he comes (v. 14)
v. 15 - "without" - "outside" of God's Kingdom
v. 16 - "mine angel" = "my messenger" (John?)
v. 16 - "root and offspring" - David's creator and
ancestor (root), but also his descendant (offspring) -
see Matthew 22:41-46
v. 16 - "morning star" - indicates coming of dawn
v. 16 - ROOT = 1st coming, STAR = 2nd coming
v. 17 - "come" = "be thou continually coming," or
"keep on coming until you finally arrive"
v. 17 - "whosoever will" = "whoever is desiring"
v. 18-19 - warnings of this type were commonly
added to ancient writings, because scribes who
copied them might be tempted to tamper with the
material - Don't tamper with God's Word!
v. 20 - "quickly" - one day is with the Lord as a
thousand years! (see 2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9)
v. 20 - "even so, come" - the cry of the church
Your beliefs concerning the various minute aspects of
prophecy are not crucial to your salvation; however, this
one thing IS crucial ... "unto THEM THAT LOOK FOR HIM
shall He appear the second time without sin unto
salvation" (Hebrews 9:28) LET'S BE READY! |
