Year 2, Week 52, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 52, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Revelation 21-22.

Today’s reading, the last of our two-year Bible reading plan, consists of the last two chapters of Revelation. The Book of Revelation, which was written by the Apostle John to seven churches, serves as an unveiling from Jesus Christ about Jesus Christ as it pertains to matters concerning the end of time. Revelation reveals the plans and purposes of the Lord Jesus Christ with a view toward encouraging suffering and struggling believers to persevere. Revelation 6-16 depicts, primarily through a series of seals, trumpets, and bowls, the unleashing of God’s judgment, while also displaying the Lord’s preservation of His people. Revelation 21 describes what John saw concerning the eternal state: “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” (Revelation 21:1). The final element of Christ’s redemptive restoration is a completely transformed creation that features a new Jerusalem. Revelation 22 continues the description of the new Jerusalem and likens it to a new Eden: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:1-2). The very fellowship that God and man experienced in the Garden will be reinstated and even elevated. The Book of Revelation ends with a series of admonitions that concludes with a reassuring word about Jesus’ return: “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the vision of the new Jerusalem: “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. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:2-4). The promise of a new heaven and a new earth is not new: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17). Nor is the promise of a new Jerusalem: “But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness” (Isaiah 65:18). The anticipation of the Lord fully present with His people has been noted throughout Moses: “And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people” (Leviticus 26:12); and the prophets: “So shall you be my people, and I will be your God” (Jeremiah 11:4b). But what had been anticipated and even partially experienced, would not be completely realized. As the prophets promised: “He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8a); so the fully realized presence of the Lord will provide complete comfort. Sorry will be replaced with joy: “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).

The new Jerusalem will be the dwelling place of the Lord’s Bride: “Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:9-10). The same angel who unleashed the final bowl of judgment, which destroyed the harlot who dwelt in the city of Babylon (see Revelation 17:1-5), unveiled the Bride city of the new Jerusalem. The King and His Bride will dwell together in the new Jerusalem: “And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:6-8). But only the King and His Bride will dwell in the new Jerusalem; all others will be excluded: “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27). But to those who will dwell in the new Jerusalem, it will be the presence of God Himself, who satisfies them: “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:3-5).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe