The Finale

Rev. 21:1-3

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

 

The fatal infection of sin with all of its corruption has been put away. In the new heaven and earth there will be no death, tears, mourning, crying, or pain because the former things have been wiped away. Praise! God will make all things new. To the one who is thirsty is a spring of the water of life and to the conqueror is the heritage of family [He will be their God and they will be His son], but for the cowardly, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral,  sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars is the lake of fire, which is the second death.

 

The holy city Jerusalem contains the glory of God with a radiance like a rare jewel, like jasper and clear as crystal. Around it is a great high wall with 12 gates on which are inscribed the sons of Israel.  Also, the wall had 12 foundations and on them are inscribed the 12 apostles of the Lamb. The city itself is foursquare, 1200 stadia [1 stadia= 607 ft.] in its length, width, and height with a wall that is 144 cubits high [1 cubit=18 in.]. The wall is made of jasper and clear as glass with the foundations being adorned with every kind of jewel [jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, amethyst]. The 12 gates are 12 pearls each gate being made of one pearl, and the streets of the city are gold. Wow! What beauty! There is no temple because the temple is the Lord God, the Almighty and the Lamb. In place of the sun and moon is the glory of God for light and the Lamb for the lamp. By this great light, the nations and the kings will walk bringing their glory into it. Since there is no night, nothing will be shut. No uncleanness, nothing detestable or false will ever enter but only those written in the Lamb's book of life. The Romans 7-8 struggle is over. The law of flesh will no longer be at war with the reborn spirit.

 

In the middle of the street and flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb is the river of the water of life and on either side of the river is the tree of life yielding its 12 kinds of fruit. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed because the curse has been removed. All the servants of God will worship God and the Lamb seeing His face and with His name on their foreheads. They will reign forever. How glorious is that!

 

Blessed is the one who keeps all the words of this prophecy who does not add or subtract from the words, adding brings a plague and subtracting takes away a share of the tree of life. These words are to be read not sealed because the end time is near. Life constantly draws to the end with the evildoer doing evil, the filthy still filthy, and the holy still holy. Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Jesus sends this message that is trustworthy and true! The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price...Surely I am coming soon.

 

Like John, I must say, Come, Lord Jesus! What an inheritance, imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for me, who by God's power am being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Of this city, I am a citizen, and on earth merely a stranger, an alien, someone passing through. It is all of grace and it is fitting that John ends with , The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.

 

Father,

What a glorious hope! Keep my eyes and my heart ever focused on this heavenly treasure. My robes are washed clean in the blood of Jesus, but I need so much of grace to live like I should, to share the message of salvation and to be faithful and true.

In Jesus name,

Amen