The end at last. or is it the beginning?
The new heaven and the new earth
Revelation 21:1-8
The new Jerusalem
Revelation 21:9-27
The river of life
Revelation 22:1-5
Free invitation to all
Revelation 22:6-19
Final promise and blessing
Revelation 22:20-21
Here we are at the end of all things. And it looks surprisingly familiar. God makes a new creation, but it incorporates the best of the old. Jerusalem is still there, minus its blemishes, now looking radiant and sublime. All the promises that have been made all through the Bible are now finally coming true: “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.” (21:3-4)
I love the thought that God himself will wipe people’s tears from their eyes. For several reasons. Firstly, it implies that people arrive in heaven still weeping. The travails of life are not to be ignored or forgotten as if they were nothing, for God understands our pain. So people arrive with the tears still on their cheeks. But in a tender intimate moment with God, each person has their sadness smoothed away. Taken, understood, tears stored up in a bottle, that sort of thing. Precious, because loved, the jewel-like tears are wiped away so that smiles can take their place.
Then it all sounds a bit like Ezekiel for a while. Angels get their measuring sticks out, there’s a river, there are gates. But there’s no temple - because we don’t need it any longer. That vehicle for transporting us into God’s presence isn’t necessary any more.
As John begins to tear himself away from this vision, and return to earth, he is left with some final words from Jesus ringing in his ears. “Yes I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
The new heaven and the new earth
Revelation 21:1-8
The new Jerusalem
Revelation 21:9-27
The river of life
Revelation 22:1-5
Free invitation to all
Revelation 22:6-19
Final promise and blessing
Revelation 22:20-21
Here we are at the end of all things. And it looks surprisingly familiar. God makes a new creation, but it incorporates the best of the old. Jerusalem is still there, minus its blemishes, now looking radiant and sublime. All the promises that have been made all through the Bible are now finally coming true: “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.” (21:3-4)
I love the thought that God himself will wipe people’s tears from their eyes. For several reasons. Firstly, it implies that people arrive in heaven still weeping. The travails of life are not to be ignored or forgotten as if they were nothing, for God understands our pain. So people arrive with the tears still on their cheeks. But in a tender intimate moment with God, each person has their sadness smoothed away. Taken, understood, tears stored up in a bottle, that sort of thing. Precious, because loved, the jewel-like tears are wiped away so that smiles can take their place.
Then it all sounds a bit like Ezekiel for a while. Angels get their measuring sticks out, there’s a river, there are gates. But there’s no temple - because we don’t need it any longer. That vehicle for transporting us into God’s presence isn’t necessary any more.
As John begins to tear himself away from this vision, and return to earth, he is left with some final words from Jesus ringing in his ears. “Yes I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment