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VISIONS, PROPHECY
Bible Teaching
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What will eternity be like? What will it be like to live with God
forever and ever? All the bad and negative things of this world
are going to be conquered and destroyed. All the impurities and
pollution, all ungodliness and evil, all suffering and pain,
all corruption and death, all are going to be eliminated
and done away with.

God is going to take satan and all the ungodly and evil of this
world and destroy them. There will be a new heaven and a new
earth. All things will be made new.

Verse  1
In this vision John see's both a "new heaven and a new earth."
Our present heaven and earth have "passed away." The word "new
usually means brand-new, suggests something marvelous and
unheard of. The Psalmist in 102:25-26 says that the resent
creation will perish, be destroyed or vanish. It will grow
old "like a garment" and God will change it the way we
change clothes, by putting on a new, different set of clothes.

Isaiah 51:6
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the earth beneath.
For the havens will vanish away like smoke, the earth will grow
old like a garment, and those who dwell in it will die in like
manner: But my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness
will not be abolished.

What will the new heaven be like? 

We think the heavens are beautiful and glorious now when all
the stars out and shining. When they are made new they will
reflect the glory and splendor of God himself. It will be
perfect, nothing will burn or wear out, waste away or die.
All we can do is imagine the what it will be like. It will
be beyond anything our finite minds can ever imagine.

What will the new earth be like?

It will be fruitful, bearing all good. It will be peaceful,
serene and comfortable. That the earth will be completely
different is seen by the statement the will be no more sea.
The oceans are necessary for the replacing of oxygen in the
atmosphere of the present earth. The lack of the sea's suggest
that the whole economy of the new earth will be different.
Although it will have a river and an abundance of water,
it will not have land surface wasted by seas.


Verse 2
There will be the new city of God, the New Jerusalem.
The New Jerusalem will be the capital city of the new heaven
and earth. It will be the very place where the presence of God
is symbolized. The holy city will give believers a place with
which to identify as they serve God throughout the universe.
The heavenly city is the tabernacle, the very presence of God
that comes down to dwell with man. It will apparently be from
this New Jerusalem that Jesus Christ will rule the universe.

The city comes down out of heaven. It is not constructed here
on earth, God has it built in heaven and then moves it to
earth. Remember Christ told his disciples that He was going
away to prepare a place for them. There is the possibility that
he was referring to the New Jerusalem. 

Verses 3 and 4
The tabernacle (dwelling) of God from this point forward will be
with mankind on earth. In a sense heaven and earth will merge.
The New Jerusalem on the new earth will become God's
headquarters. No longer will we be on earth and God's throne and
the special manifestation of his presence be in heaven. He will
be with his people forever.

The one thing for which man longs is the presence of God.

Man may not know it, but the longing of his heart is for God.
Man tries to fill his longing with all sorts of worldly
pleasures and possessions, but nothing satisfies except God.
When man gives his life to God, he begins to fellowship with
and experience all the fullness of life. Man will
never be without the presence and glory of God.

The "great voice out of heaven" continues with wonderful comfort
and assurance for the overcomers. God will "wipe away all tears",
including the tears shed on earth while the believers
were enduring suffering for the sake of Christ and the gospel.

There will be no more death, for death is the wage of sin.

Romans 6:23
There will be no more death: no wars, aging, murder.
God will wipe away the tears of death.

There will be no more sorrow, no brokenness, divorces,
disappointment, regret, no more hunger, etc. There will be
nothing to make us sorrowful. God will wipe away all the tears
of sorrow.

There will be no more crying, arguing, cursing, drugs, evil
heartache, to name a few. God will wipe away all the tears.

There will be no more pain, diseases, accidents, abuse, fights,
no more physical or emotional pain. God will wipe away the tears
of pain. Never again will there be anything to cause sorrow,
pain, grief, or guilt.

Why will it be this way? Because the "former things are passed
away." Nothing will ever again mar the joy and fellowship we
share with the Lord, for God will not allow it.

There is a partial fulfillment of this in the Millennium.
What will it be like living during the 1,000 years?
Isaiah 35:10, Isaiah 65:17-25

Verse 5
The one sitting on the throne is believed to be the Lord Jesus
Christ. He reminds us how new the new heaven and earth are.
All things within the new heavens and the new earth will be
brand new. This of course does not apply to the outer darkness
of the lake of fire which are prepared for the devil and his
angels. That will continue on forever outside of the whole
new creation.

The one on the throne commands John to write. These things are
not of human reason or imagination. They are divine revelation.
Jesus himself bears witness that they are "true and faithful,"
therefore we can trust Him to bring them to pass. The message
of the Book of Revelation is genuine and real. We are not to
spiritualize away these promises of the new creation.


Revelation 21, Verses 6 and 7

TRINITY, Alpha and Omega 



Verses 6 and 7
Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished." Now God is saying
"It is done." All that has been revealed to John is as good as
done because God has said it.

He declares himself to be the Alpha and Omega. Alpha is the
first letter of the Greek alphabet. Omega the last. Here they
indicate completeness. The phrase "Alpha and Omega" also
indicates God (the entire Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)
is without beginning or end. Colossians 1:17 tells us that
Christ was before all things, and by Him all things consist or
hold together. God is the beginning and the end. He was before
all things and is the one who began all things.

If we thirst for God his invitation comes to us "freely" of
living water. Psalm 42:1-2 This receiving and continued drinking
of the spirit is the secret of being overcomers. When we stop
thirsting for God we die spiritually, therefore, we must not
allow anything to diminish our intense desire for the things of
God. We must beware of the cares of this world, the pursuit of
earthly things, and the pleasures which choke out our hunger
and thirsting for God and the desire to seek His face in prayer.

Those who overcome, those who are victors through persevering
faith and obedience, will inherit everything. That includes
eating of the tree of life, not being hurt by the second death,
eating of the hidden manna, a white stone with a new name
written on it, power over the nations, white clothing, and the
privilege of sitting with Jesus on His throne just to name a few.

So an overcomer then is the person who overcomes this world and
remains faithful and loyal to Christ. One who remains pure,
follows the Lord Jesus Christ, and conquers all the temptations
and trials of this life.

The promise "I will be his God, and he shall be my son" first
was given to Israel, to the line of David, and then to the
church and now here is fulfilled.

Verse 8
We see in this verse a contrast to the overcomers who share in
the blessings of life. We have a list of those who will have
their part in the lake of fire, the second death.
The first one is:

1. The fearful and cowardly
These are the ones who do not confess Christ because they fear
what others might say, those who are afraid to give up the world
and deny self, those who fear taking a stand for Christ, those
who fear to fellowship or become identified with Christian
people. They are quick to compromise truth. Matthew 10:32-33

2. The unbelieving
They treat the gospel and the promises as something incredible.
They have rejected the truth of the gospel, they once believed
but fell back into the practice of the lusts of the flesh, they
live hypocritical lives, those who make such things part of
their lifestyle cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21

3. The abominable
Those who are detestable to God and arouse his wrath. Both in
the Old and New Testaments show that to profess a faith in God
and continue to practice evil or anything idolatrous is an
abomination in the sight of the Lord. 
Luke 21:34, James 4:4, 1 John 2:25-16

4. The Murderers
Those who deliberately, willfully, take the lives of others.
1 Peter 4:15, Romans 13:9, 1John 3:15

5. The Whoremongers
This includes those who practice any kind of sexual impurity or
sexual immorality. They commit fornication , adultery,
homosexuality, and all other sexual acts that God forbids;
they look and lust, they read and lust, and think and lust.
Matthew 5:27-28, Ephesians 4:19, 1Peter 4:2-3

6. The Sorcerers
Those who engage in astrology, witchcraft, devil worship,
spiritism, seances, palm reading, fortune telling, drugs, and
any form of belief that controls ones fate, life and destiny,
often all used in the name of religion.
1 Chronicles 10:13, Isaiah 8:19-20, Galatians 5:19-20

7. The Idolaters
Those who worship idols, false gods, or who put something else
in the place of God. Those who put the things of this earth
before God, giving their devotion to someone or something other
than God.  1 Corinthians 10:14, Ephesians 5:5

8. The LIARS
Those who tell falsehoods and do not tell the truth, those who
deceive and mislead others, those who are gossipers and
talebearers and who pass rumors along. All false persons, such
as false prophets and false apostles, and those who deny their
faith in Christ.  Proverbs 19:5, Psalms 63:11

All of these 8 classes of people will have their part in the
lake that keeps burning with fire forever. Those religions,
cults, churches, or denominations that say a person can be
immoral, adulterous, homosexual, or practice any of the lusts
of the flesh and be a true child of God because they were once
saved or because they suppose a loving God would not send
anyone to hell are going against the scriptures.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:5-7

Verses 9 and 11
One of the angels who heralded God's wrath shows him a new
vision where he see's God's glory in the city. "In the spirit"
indicates a new and fresh vision. The promise to show John the
"Bride" is followed by a vision of the Holy City, the New
Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem will be as real as the present
Jerusalem, and its people will be what makes it a city.
The New Jerusalem will be the home city of the church,
for all eternity.

The angel carries John away in the spirit to a "great and high
mountain." >From this mountain John see's a vision of the great
city, the holy Jerusalem, come down out of heaven from God.
He see's the city descending. This marks the beginning of the
eternal kingdom of God. John see's it having the brilliant
"glory of God". John compared it to the most precious stone he
knew. He calls it a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Today it
would be identified as a giant blue white diamond,
the most beautiful gem.

Verses 12 and 13
The city has a "wall, great and high" which speaks of security.
There is the indication that the city is real and has limits.
The twelve gates indicate that there is abundant entrance,
free access in and out of the city. The city will be the home
and headquarters for all the redeemed, but they will be free to
go out into all the new earth. The angel at each gate does not
seem to be a gate keeper to keep anyone out, because nothing
evil or sinful will exist in the new heavens and the new earth.
It is true that only those qualified can enter, but the angels
seem to be welcomers and encouragers. One commentary stated it
this way: no person is allowed to enter the city unless
approved by God. A person could enter only if he came through
the salvation that God gave through Israel, speaking of the
Lord Jesus Christ.

Inscribed on the twelve gates are the names of the twelve tribes
of Israel. This indicates that there will be no wall between
Israel and the church anymore. There is one city, open to all
of God's people.

The three gates in each of the four walls remind us of the way
the camp of the twelve tribes of Israel was arranged and
organized at Sinai for their journey through the wilderness.
The gates here indicate that the New Jerusalem is to be central
for Israel and for all the redeemed during the eternal kingdom.

Verse 14
The "twelve foundations" with the names of the twelve apostles
inscribed in them snow that the New Jerusalem is built on the
foundations of the apostles, making the New Jerusalem a home for
the church. The apostles will already have been judging, or
ruling, the twelve tribes of Israel during the Millennium in
fulfillment of Christ's promise. Now they are recognized as
foundation apostles for the building of the church and now their
names are put on the foundations of the city. Ephesians 2:10-20

Today the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, having become a holy temple for the indwelling of God
by His Spirit, and it will if I understand this correctly be the
same in the new heavens and earth.

    

Verses 15 and 16
The angel talking with John now produces a "golden reed"
(made of gold but thin like a reed) as a measuring rod for
measuring the city, its walls, and its gates, which he does as
John watches. Here is another indication that John see's a
literal city, not a spiritual symbol of the church. God has
prepared this city and its foundations. Its symmetry, size,
perfection, and beauty reflect not only His glory, but the
wonderful love and care He has for his people.

The size of the city is beyond anything we can comprehend.

Twelve thousand furlongs, equaling almost 607 feet, about
1,380 miles. The city is foursquared, meaning that the length,
height, and width are equal.

Verses  17 and 18
It is believed here that the wall measured was the thickness of
the walls. The "measure of a man" means that though the wall is
measured by the angel, the angel uses human measuring terms
so John and his readers can understand.

The walls are built of jasper or of that blue white diamonds.

They will beautifully reflect the glory of God. The city within
the walls is built of pure gold, like crystal clear. But not
the type of gold we would think of today. It cannot obtain the
transparency of glass. This gold will reflect the glory of God.

Verses 19-20
The twelve foundations of the wall inscribed with the names of
the twelve apostles are also decorated with all kinds of
precious stones. The list of precious stones are listed here.

JASPER - The blue-white diamond.
SAPPHIRE - A deep blue stone similar to a diamond.
CHALCEDONY - group of precious stones, variegated with emerald,
  `   jasper, or agate.

EMERALD - A bright, light green, transparent stone.
SARDONYX - A red and white stone.
SARDIUS - Reddish in color.
CHRYSOLYTE - A yellow Topaz
BERYL - A sea green precious stone.
TOPAX - A golden topaz, sometimes greenish gold.
CHRYSOPRASUS - Another shade of green, apple green.
JACINTH - A bluish purple color.
AMETHYST - A clear purple or blue violet, glassy quartz.

The precise colors of these stones are not certain, but the
beauty John described is one of unmistakable beauty are
designed to reflect the glory of God in brilliant color.
This has to be the most impressive group of colors and stones.

One commentator made this statement: No matter what a man has to
sacrifice, he is a fool if he does not give up everything he has
to enter the heavenly city of God.

Verse 21
Each of the twelve gates(having the names of the twelve tribes
of Israel inscribed on them) is a giant pearl. In ancient times
pearls were owned only by the wealthy. The street of the city
is wide, as well as of a gold so pure as to be translucent.
Street may be used in a reference to all the streets of the city.

Verse 22
In the Old Testament times God manifested His presence and glory
in the Holy of Holies, the inner sanctuary of first the
tabernacle and then the Temple of Solomon. With the Church Age,
believers bodies became the temples of the Holy Spirit. But in
the New Jerusalem, the whole city will become the temple, the
sanctuary, the habitation of God and Christ. we will be
inconstant and direct contact with the Lord God Almighty and
His Son, the Lamb who saved us. We will dwell in the midst of
the God's presence.

Verses  23 and 24
The full revelation of God's glory in the city will make the sun
and moon unnecessary. Christ will be the light. He will be the
source of all power, energy, and light.

Jesus Christ will be the light of the New Jerusalem and the
new heaven and earth in full and complete fulfillment.

Isaiah 60:19-20
The sun shall be no more thy light by day, neither for
brightness shall the moon give light unto thee, but the Lord
shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Thy sun shall no more withdraw itself, for the Lord shall be
thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall
be ended.

Nations in this verse is a reference to people with various
backgrounds and from various parts of the present earth.
The important thing here is that they are all saved and they
all walk in the light of the glory of God.

Verses 25 and 27

    

The gates of the New Jerusalem will remain open, because there
will be no night there. The people of the city will be free to
go in and out. Because there is no night there gives the
indication that the new earth is brand new, not the present
earth merely renovated. The readers of the Book of Revelation
are warned that when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven,
only those written in the Book of Life will share its glory.
These are the redeemed of all ages. All others will be in the
lake of fire, in outer darkness, and completely outside the
entire new heavens and new earth.

Verse 27 tells us that there will be nothing that defiles, or
causes an abomination or a lie, what is detestable in God's
sight will enter into the New Jerusalem.

God keeps records and the names of all those who can enter the
New Jerusalem will be in the Lamb's Book of Life.