P3 Eternal Heavenly Glory - Revelation 21-22

Revelation 21:9-10 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” The New Jerusalem
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

Introduction & Review
In yesterday's post we listed some observations about the New Heaven's and New Earth.  We first of all noted 15 things that will be absent in the Eternal Heavenly Glory of Revelation 21-22.  Next we considered how the New Heavens and Earth are described by a theme of "better than", noting that in comparison to Genesis 3, God's aim is to have a "better than paradise".  These thoughts led us to the third consideration of how the New Heaven will be better than the current third heaven where believers go to now to be with the Lord.  We chose to pick up with today's post in further explaining how the New Heavens and Earth, particularly - the New Jerusalem, aid us in seeing just how glorious the Eternal heavenly Glory will be.

Pausing and reflecting on how the promise of heaven keeps our faith firmly planted in the ground
One morning I had occasion to share the text of Colossians 3:1-3 with some people: "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." This text can be equally used in practically applying the truths of the current heaven and the New heavens and earth described here in Revelation 21-22.  Reflecting upon both yields the same fruit - assurance, hope, encouragement and strength for the journey. 

Dr. John Piper notes concerning how Jesus functions as the anchor for the soul in Heaven in Hebrews 6:18-20 - "Now here is the burning question for me. Is the anchor of my soul as firmly attached to my soul as it is to the altar of God? In other words is the picture here of an anchor with its hook and chain bound unbreakably to the altar of God in the holy of holies so that nothing could loose it from that end, but with the rope just hanging out of heaven in the air? Is the only point of this text to say "Take hold of the loose end of this rope and you will have safety and firmness and assurance?" Piper later writes: "When he says in verse 19 that we have an "anchor of the soul" I think he means that the anchor is firmly anchored in heaven, and the anchor is firmly attached to the Christian's soul."1

The City whose builder and maker is God
We know from other scriptures that the concept of Heaven being likened unto a city is found throughout the Biblical authors.  According to Hebrews 11:9-10, Abraham the patriarch had been in search of it through faith.  We as Christians are already designated a citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem above. (Galatians 4:26; Philippians 3:20) Presumably these references are talking about the "third heaven" where believers in the Lord go when they die in Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:5-6; 12:4). Jesus then told his disciples in John 14:1-3 that He is going away to "prepare a place" which we can presume to be the grand city described in Revelation 21 and 22. 2   Evidently by being with Jesus through His Kingdom age (compare Revelation 20:1-6), where He is, we will be, and thus the whole point of Revelation 21-22 is to demonstrate that God in Christ with His people has come to tabernacle, and thus Heaven will characterize earth and earth's physical nature will characterize Heaven in the Eternal glory of these chapters. 

A quick tour of the New Jerusalem
We first of all note it is a Heavenly city. (Revelation 21:10-11) This is most likely the same city spoken of by Jesus in John 14:1-3. As a heavenly city is secondly a costly city, composed of solid diamond gemstones (Revelation 21:12) and other costly materials such as gems and transparent gold. (21:15-20) Thirdly it is a promised city, as seen by the names of the patriarchs and apostles inscribed on its gates and foundations. (Revelation 21:13-14)

The fourth thing we can note about this city is its size: 1500 miles in each direction, with the same length characterizing its height.  Quite literally this is a cube that is the size of North America or most of Europe.  The height of this city has led many sound interpreters to conclude that the city may be composed of multiple stories and levels. To wonder if there would be enough space to live, some rough calculations yield that if the New Jerusalem, with all of its levels being a mile of distance from top to bottom (and this 1500 levels high) had tracts of space laid out for 8 billion people, each person would easily have 250 acres! What we must realize of course is that God is a big God and that the whole point of large proportions in any of His creations is to display His glory. (Compare Psalm 19:1-6) So in being a heavenly, costly and promised city that is quite grand in scope, we can notice yet another trait, fifthly that this city is a God-centered city. (21:22-25) In as much as its studded gemstones and unfathomable beauty describe the New Jerusalem, without God as the light and the Lamb as the light, this city would never shine, would never be precious and would never be grand. We can note yet another trait, number six, that this city will be a life giving city. (22:1-5) Notice how this city has a healing tree, a river of life and unending light.

So let us quickly review what we have noticed thus far about the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21:9-22:5
1. Heavenly City
2. Costly City
3. Promised City
4. Large city
5. God-centered City
6. Living City


But now understand dear friend, John has been shown this glorious New heavens and earth with the glorious new Jerusalem, however right now that city is unoccupied.  Henceforth there is one last trait we must notice that will be true of this city, namely that God and the Lamb desire it to be an occupied city.  All those chosen in grace and so inclined to receive the free offer of such grace by faith will be in that city. Is that you? Are you a believer in Jesus Christ? 

Tomorrow we will consider the grand appeal to come and be a present citizen and future occupant of Eternal Heavenly Glory.

Endnotes:
1. http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/hope-anchored-in-heaven

2. Often in our songs of praise and even in our doctrines we tend to blend the truths of the third Heaven and the Jerusalem found here in Revelation 21:10-27 & 22:1-5. Clearly there are many similarities, however there are some differences to note as well.

P3 - Mary Magdalene: A mourner turned into a missionary - Life Applications

John 20:31 "but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."
Introduction and Review:
Yesterday we considered how Mary Magdalene had went through a three phase process in relationship to the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1. She was in a desparate situation that could be described by one word - mourning

2. She was directly encountered by the risen Christ

3. She had a dramatic change that resulted in her being changed from a mourner into a missionary.

Truly such an account is awesome and amazing to behold and read. With that said, we find the words from the Apostle John recorded above at the beginning of today's post in John 20:31.  Clearly such an account of the life changing power of Jesus Christ in the life of Mary Magdalene and the other disciples' encounters with the risen Savior was meant for the reader today. What life applications can we draw from her life? What relationship, if any, does Jesus' post-resurrection power have to do with you today? In reflecting upon what we have discovered in these last few posts, we can draw out the following life applications:

1). Salvation is described as an encounter with the post - resurrected Jesus
As one begins to explore the rest of the New Testament, it is clear how often salvation is connected with the resurrected power of Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost says in Romans 8:11 "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."  1 Peter 1:3 notes - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Peter wrote those words some 30 years after the events recorded in the Gospels. 1 Peter 1:21 states - "who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." Such a salvation includes provisions for delivery from fear of death and intense grief. (Isaiah 53:4-6; Hebrews 2:14) So we see that quite literally, by the agency of the Holy Spirit of God, every Christian living today can say like Mary Magdalene: "I have seen the Lord!" But now let us notice a second life application, namely....

2). Sanctification includes the indwelling post-resurrected Jesus
There was something that radically was altered in both the humanity of our Lord and the humanity of his followers.  For Jesus, His resurrection from the dead enabled Him to walk through walls and defy gravity. (Luke 24:43; Acts 1:11) He remained physical (John 20:27) and could eat food (Luke 24:43) and yet He could alter His physical body in such a fashion as to pass through closed doors and appear in physical form to his disciples (John 20:19,26). 
Clearly people like Mary Magdalene walked differently and talked differently.  Not only was there a one time dramatic change but there was ever increasing ongoing change - whereby the disciples were becoming more and more like their master - a process we called "sanctification". 

What makes Christians today have even more remarkable experiences than the disciples is the fact that the living Christ is described as not being just brought to them (salvation) but being ever increasingly revealed in them (sanctification). Romans 8:10 states - "If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness." The Holy Spirit says through Paul in Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." We then read in Ephesians 3:17 "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love". Colossians 1:27 records - "to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

What these passages indicate then is that because of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead - all of the spiritual benefits won for us on the cross are transmitted by the Holy Spirit as a result of His resurrection.  His post-resurrected power necessarily leads to change in a person who has been both impacted and indwelt by it. Truly for those who struggle with mourning over their past or in the present, the same power that changed Mary Magdalene the mourner into Mary Magdalene the missionary is available in an even greater measure to you and I as Christians today.  

P2 Eternal Heavenly Glory - Revelation 21-22

Revelation 21:4-5 "and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

Introduction & Review

In yesterday's post we did a brief overview of Revelation 21-22 to begin  a new series of posts: "Eternal Heavenly Glory". Though Revelation 21-22 occupies 2 of the 1189 chapters of God's Word, the "Age to Come" or what we're calling "Eternal Heavenly Glory" will know no end.  Here is a summary of the outline of Revelation 21-22 from yesterday:

I. Eternal Heavenly Glory Defined Revelation 21:1-3

II. Eternal Heavenly Glory Described Revelation 21:4-22:5

III. Final Invitation to Eternal Heavenly Glory 22:6-21

Yesterday we saw that in Revelation 21:1-3 a brief summary of the three main areas of Eternal Heavenly Glory to be described by John: New Everything (21:1); New City (21:2) and the throne of God and the Lamb (21:3). Those are the three main points John will use in this final vision of the New Heavens and Earth.  In today's post we aim to unpack that first element of "New Everything" (New Heaven's & Earth) in Revelation 21:4-22:5.

"The Land of No More"

Preachers of old have often referred to the New Heavens and New Earth in the Eternal Age to come as "the land of no more".  Consequently this title fits the context since so much referrence is made to what will not be present in the Eternal Heavenly Glory of these chapters.  By noting what is not in the glorious scene or what is "no longer" to remain, we can begin to grasp a little bit of what the Apostle John is communicating. Let the reader note the following things that will be "no more" or "no longer":

1. No longer any sea 21:1

2. No more death 21:4

3. No more mourning 21:4

4. No more crying 21:4

5. No more pain 21:4

6. No more past (i.e former things) 21:4

7. No more debt (i.e without cost) 21:6; 22:17

8. No temple 21:22

9. No sun 21:23; 22:5

10. No moon 21:23

11. No night 21:25; 22:5

12. Nothing unclean 21:27

13. No abomination 21:27

14. No curse 22:5

15. No lamps 22:5

As one preacher describes it: "No more sea means nothing to separate us; No more death means nothing to grieve us; No more pain means nothing to hurt us; No more night means nothing to frighten us and No more curse, therefore nothing to defile us."  

"The land of better than" 

Having considered what this heavenly glory will be missing, we can now consider what will be in the New Heavens and Earth.  Another theme that can be found in Revelation 21-22 is how this Eternal Heavenly Glory is better than anything we know of right now.  Oftentimes I have heard people say that the goal of God is to restore us back to paradise, being that is the first three chapters of Genesis we see paradise lost. I would suggest that God's goal is not merely to restore a paradise lost, rather His aim is to redeem that lost paradise and to make a "better than" paradise. A quick comparison of Genesis 3 and Revelation 21-22 will highlight this thought:

1. Genesis 3 there was death; Revelation 21:4 there is no more death and in 22:1 a river of life

2. Genesis 3 witnesses separation from God; whereas Revelation 21:3, 22:1 sees reconciliation to God

3. Genesis 3 see no access to the tree of life; whereas in Revelation 22:2 there is full access

4. Disease, sickness and pain come out of Genesis 3; whereas healing, wholeness and harmony come out of Revelation 22:2

5. Nothing but curse in Genesis 3; No more curse in Revelation 22:3

6. Broken fellowship persists in Genesis 3; Full fellowship in Revelation 22:3

7. Veiled faces of shame mark Genesis 3; unveiled faces mark Revelation 22:4

8. Darkness sinks into Genesis 3; No more Darkness in Genesis 22:5

9. Mankind lost his position in the first Adam in Genesis 3; All who are in the New Adam by Grace through faith are restored and more in Revelation 22:5

"Better than Heaven"

To add to this "better than theme", the New Heavens and Earth are going to be "better than heaven".  We know of 4 places in scripture defined by the term "heaven".  There is the 1st heaven or sky, the 2nd heaven or universe and the 3rd heaven or where believers go right now to be with the Lord.  In as much as the third heaven is a glorious place (2 Peter 1:11-12) beyond description (2 Corinthians 12:4), we know that the New Heavens spoken of here in these last two chapters of Revelation are beyond and better. 

To illustrate, when my family and I lived in Florida years ago, we would go sometimes to the part of Disney world called "down town Disney". That area was a little town-like place located immediately outside the park.  What many people don't realize is that one can enjoy a taste of the full Disney experience in places like Down Town Disney.  When we would go there we could spend all day without having to pay admission. We also would get on the park monorail and ride for free through the palatial hotel lobbies that dotted the outer perimeter of the vast acrage of Disney.  We could not get over how enjoyable it was. 

However a group of our friends decided to purchase tickets for Debi and me (they took the kids!) to enjoy The Epcot Theme Park and one of its Grandest Hotels. Let me tell you, the experience made Down Town Disney pale in comparision.  Though I had lived only an hour away from Orlando, when I got inside the actual park, I could see why people the world over will spend untold amounts of money to make what could very well be a trip of a life time.  And to think there were two other parks (The Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios) that we had not even seen!

Do you know dear friend, the place where our Christian loved ones and friends go now is undoubtedly glorious and comforting (Luke 16:19-21,25). Such a heavenly reality has gates to welcome us (2 Peter 1:11-12) and is saturated with the very presence of God (2 Corinthians 5:5).  Revelation 4-5 describes a little bit of what the activity and beauty of the third heaven is like, fully of light, sound, singing and rejoicing over the glory of God the Father, the Lamb and the Spirit proceeding out from the midst of that throne.  The saints of old pine after it (Psalm 73:24-25).  However the new Heavens and New Earth are going to be "better than" heaven.  How so? To answer that question will require us looking at the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:10-27 and inside that vast metropolis in Revelation 22:1-5 tomorrow. 

P1 Eternal Heavenly Glory - Revelation 21-22

Revelation 21:1-3 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them."

Introduction: Two great preachers comment on the eternal heavenly glory of Revelation 21-22

I thought I would open up today's post with two quotes from two great preachers who have been gifted by God to expound His word.  The first is from Dr. John MacArthur who writes concerning Heaven and the Christian:1

"Most Christians, I suppose, through the centuries could say with the psalmist in Psalm 73, "Whom have I in heaven but Thee and besides Thee I desire nothing on earth." That is the expression of the heart that longs for God. Much like Psalm 42 where the psalmist says, "As the deer pants after the water brook, so pants my soul after Thee, O God." The psalmist in the same Psalm 73 said, "Nearness to God is my good." He said, "God is my portion forever." Being preoccupied with the person of God, longing to be in the presence of God was on the heart of Christians. In fact, the pure in heart, according to the words of Jesus in the Beatitudes, are promised that they will some day see God. Through the centuries that desire to see God, to be in God's presence, to enjoy God forever, that desire that there is nothing in the world that can satisfy has been on the hearts of believers."

The second quote derives from the late Dr. W.A Criswell who penned in his opening sermon on Revelation 21 - "The Word is illimitable. The wisdom and truth and revelation of God is unfathomable. I’m like a diver that would go down into the depths of a southern sea to find pearls and gems on the floor of the ocean. And when I get down there, I am overwhelmed by the profuse, vast, illimitable treasures scattered all around me. Which jewel shall I take? And what jewel shall I leave behind? What shall I place in this sermon, and what of those thousand other things that I wish I had time even to mention? Ah, the riches of the revelation of God in Christ Jesus; how past finding out, how past exploring, how past understanding, much less exegeting and homileticizing and presenting and preaching, this rich, incomparably glorious Word of God!"2

A bird's eye view of Eternal Heavenly Glory in Revelation 21-22

With the opening thoughts above, it is very apparent that the final two chapters of the Apocalypose of John present to us scenes and realities that exceed imagination and which nearly escape human vocabulary.  If we were to view the entire Bible in terms of ages and time frames, we could assign at least five of them:

1. The Old Testament Age

2. The Church Age

3. The Tribulation Period or age

4. The Kingdom Age

5. The Age to Come 

The last age is to be an endless one.  Though it only occupies 2 of the 1189 chapters of God's Word, the "Age to Come" or what we're calling "Eternal Heavenly Glory" will know no end.  More will be said in future posts, however today I wanted to simply outline for the reader how Revelation 21-22 unfolds.

I. Eternal Heavenly Glory Defined Revelation 21:1-3

A. New Everything  21:1

B. New City 21:2

C. Throne of God and the Lamb 21:3

II. Eternal Heavenly Glory Described Revelation 21:4-22:5

A. New Everything described 21:4-8

B. New City described from afar 21:9-27

C. Throne of God & The Lamb inside the City 22:1-5

III. Final Invitation to Eternal Heavenly Glory 22:6-21

A. Appeal to heed the invitation 22:6-9

B. Warning to those who refuse the invitation 22:10-13

C. Blessing for those who welcome the invitation 22:14-21

Endnotes:

1. http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/66-80/the-new-heaven-and-the-new-earth-part-1

2. http://www.wacriswell.com/transcript/?thisid=9C63831F-2578-41A7-91CD49D7E17B1D48

Revelation 20:11-21:8 Outlining what God has to say on Jesus' Ending of the World

Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

Introduction:
Today's post aims at offering a summary outline of Revelation 20:11-21:8.  In the Apostle John's sequence of visions, Revelation 20:11-15 represents the final scene at the end of Jesus' 1,000 year reign where He will raise the unbelieving dead and judge all unbelievers on the grounds of their rejection of the redemption accomplished by Him.  Although Revelation 21:1-8 represents a new sequence featuring the beginning of the New Heavens and Earth, there are statements that tie back to the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15.  For these reasons I'm referring to these two visions together as Jesus' ending of the world.

Jesus' Ending of the World

I. The Final Judgment. Revelation 20:11-15 

A. The Judge.        20:11

B. The Judged.      20:12-14; 21:8

1. Deeds are Judged       20:12-13

2. Deathless death               20:14

3. Disbelief is the basis        20:15

4. Description of the Judged 21:8

C. Judgment            20:15; 21:4,8

Based upon what the Lord will be wiping away in terms of tears, we can say the following about the Final Judgment

1. Horrific                20:15

2. Sorrowful            21:4

3. Painful                21:4 

4. Souls perishing   21:8  

II. New Heavens and New Earth

Revelation 21:1-8

The reader may find reading this text in concert with 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 to be quite helpful. As we look at this second part of how Jesus will end the world and bring us into eternity, we can note the following details revealed in Revelation 21:1-8. 

A. New order  21:1

B. New City    21:2-4

C. No more curse  21:5

D. Never ending Provision 21:6-7 

E. No more wickedness 21:8

Conclusion:

The above outline was meant to convey the basic features of the two visions found in Revelation 20:11-21:8.  Together they comprise what this author deems: "Jesus' ending of the world". In comparing this text with other scriptures, the reader should be able to get a basic grasp of this significant portion of God's Word.  It is also hoped too that in reading such scriptures, we may gain the urgency to do missions in our community that includes warning people of escaping the wrath of God to come, as well as seeing how powerful the Lord Jesus Christ is as not only Savior and Lord, but also as having all power in Heaven and on earth.

An explanation about what Southern Baptists teach about the Final Judgment

Revelation 20:13-15 "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Introduction:
In today's post we want to specifically look at Revelation 20:13-15 and what Southern Baptists teach on the subject of the Final Judgment.

The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 Article on "Last Things"
The portion on "Last Things" in the confessional statement of the Southern Baptist Convention reads:

God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.

Explaining what Southern Baptists Teach
The wording of the article on "Last Things" is purposefully broad and general enough for allowances of differences of interpretation.1 Below is a proposed brief explanation of this statement:

1. God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end.
The article occurs between Article 9 - "The Kingdom" and Article 11 - "Evangelism and Missions", indicating that the fact of final judgment is seen as a motivation for doing missions and warning people of the coming judgment.  God is the orchestrator of all things and the purpose of life and history itself is in His hands.  2 Corinthians 5:11 notes - "Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences."

2. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness.
Acts 17:30-31 states: "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Jesus' second coming is stated most clearly in this portion of the Baptist Faith and Message.  One thing we learn from documents like the Baptist faith and Message is that whatever is deemed more central to that doctrinal truth is stated, whereas other issues are not stated for sake of allowing a variety of positions on that given topic.  At bare minimum, three essentials are asserted: Christ's visible bodily return, resurrection of the dead and authority of judgment.  On this point the BFM 2000 points us to other scriptures whereby we can study and arrive at conclusions on details beyond what is expressed.

3. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
In passages such as John 5:24-28 Jesus spells out the distinction between the resurrection of the righteous and the resurrection of the wicked.  In this final part of the statement we find the focus end specifically on the destiny and eternal state of the righteous.  Once again the statement is general and broad enough for various positions to fruitfully co-exist and dialogue between one another while yet being well within the boundary lines of historic, conservative Bible believing Christianity.



Endnotes:
1. Readers of this blog can note how in past posts we have dealt with the differing viewpoints on Christ's return and Kingdom reign (i.e where it will be Premillennial, Amillennial or Postmillennial).