Revelation 21 has that uncomfortable sense of “now-not-yet” in it. It certainly reflects what God is doing in this world through, in and for His people, but there is also a sense that this work is waiting for a day of completion. John sees a new heaven and a new earth, pointing us ahead to the reality that we will live physically (with bodies) in God’s glory. There will be no sea – that is, none of God’s enemies will be there. Yet when the loud voice says, “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,” we are reminded that Jesus is Immanuel, and that God is with us even now. He wipes tears from our eyes now, but we look forward to a day when he will wipe those tears away for the last time because the root cause of our weeping, the pain brought into our lives through sin and death, will be no more.
God is making all things new, and as His people we participate in that work by bringing the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection to people. As it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone. The new has come.” This is possible because God is the Alpha and Omega. These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, and the saying means that God is the first and the last and everything in between. His power is at work in ever aspect of life to accomplish His will of bringing salvation to people. That He gives to drink from the water of life freely reminds us of Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well in John 4. In this time he is always reaching, searching and seeking to bring salvation to people.
John gets to see a vision of the Bride – that is the Church – in all her radiance. Interestingly, John does not see a woman, but the angel show him the holy city Jerusalem. This isn’t the physical city that is often in the news today, but it represents all of God’s people. Remember that twelve is the number for God’s people, and we see many radiant, glorious twelves here. Twelve gates, twelve angels, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve apostles, the city is 12,000 stadia – perfectly square – the wall is 144 cubit (12x12). The picture is that all of God’s people are here and it is magnificent! The bride is bedecked in the glory of God, glittering with jewels that reflect the radiance of God’s throne.
Most significantly is that there is no temple in the city. Instead, God Himself and the Lamb are simply present. In the Old Testament, the Tabernacle and Temple were places at which God was present for his people. Now he is simply present. Even now, God’s presence in this world gives light to the nations, but then there will not even be need for sun or moon! Much like the pillar of cloud in the wilderness shone as a pillar of fire by night, God’s very presence will give his people light.
It mentions that the gates of the city will never be closed. There are two messages here. First, the Church is always welcoming and inviting people in. God wants many people to come to this salvation. Second, there will finally be no enemies to shut out, and we will live in the security of God’s presence.
God is at work in this world through us, His people. Nothing unclean can ever enter God’s eternal glory. It is therefore our task to bring the message of who we became clean to this world. We have washed our robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and that is the only thing that can cleanse from sin.
Father help us to share the hope we have in Jesus’ blood so that Your holy city may be full with as many people as possible. Amen.
God is making all things new, and as His people we participate in that work by bringing the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection to people. As it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone. The new has come.” This is possible because God is the Alpha and Omega. These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, and the saying means that God is the first and the last and everything in between. His power is at work in ever aspect of life to accomplish His will of bringing salvation to people. That He gives to drink from the water of life freely reminds us of Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well in John 4. In this time he is always reaching, searching and seeking to bring salvation to people.
John gets to see a vision of the Bride – that is the Church – in all her radiance. Interestingly, John does not see a woman, but the angel show him the holy city Jerusalem. This isn’t the physical city that is often in the news today, but it represents all of God’s people. Remember that twelve is the number for God’s people, and we see many radiant, glorious twelves here. Twelve gates, twelve angels, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve apostles, the city is 12,000 stadia – perfectly square – the wall is 144 cubit (12x12). The picture is that all of God’s people are here and it is magnificent! The bride is bedecked in the glory of God, glittering with jewels that reflect the radiance of God’s throne.
Most significantly is that there is no temple in the city. Instead, God Himself and the Lamb are simply present. In the Old Testament, the Tabernacle and Temple were places at which God was present for his people. Now he is simply present. Even now, God’s presence in this world gives light to the nations, but then there will not even be need for sun or moon! Much like the pillar of cloud in the wilderness shone as a pillar of fire by night, God’s very presence will give his people light.
It mentions that the gates of the city will never be closed. There are two messages here. First, the Church is always welcoming and inviting people in. God wants many people to come to this salvation. Second, there will finally be no enemies to shut out, and we will live in the security of God’s presence.
God is at work in this world through us, His people. Nothing unclean can ever enter God’s eternal glory. It is therefore our task to bring the message of who we became clean to this world. We have washed our robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and that is the only thing that can cleanse from sin.
Father help us to share the hope we have in Jesus’ blood so that Your holy city may be full with as many people as possible. Amen.
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