Burunche’s Blog

Revelation 22:6 – 9 “Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.” “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book. ” And I am John, who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

The vision is coming to an end, and John is stunned at what he has seen and heard. Little wonder that John feels he should fall at the feet of the angel who has shown him these things to worship him and to thank him! But the angel warns John, as angels have warned so many before and since, that he (the angel) is only a fellow servant.

“Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book. ” Ever since John recorded this vision and it began circulating among believers, people have wondered, “How soon, Lord?” Millennia have rolled by and the vision is still there, seemingly unfulfilled. Hundreds of years earlier, the Prophet Habakkuk complained to the Lord because all he saw was chaos. Here was God’s answer: “For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end, and will not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and not delay.” Many times we are CERTAIN that now God should act….and yet he doesn’t. But we cannot see behind the scenes. God is still giving as many people as possible the opportunity to come to Him. Jesus is speaking and promising that He WILL come.

v. 10 – 15 “Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near. Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”

“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to 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 may enter the city by its gates. But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “

Jesus is continuing to speak, warning that He will come back, and that He will reward each according to their actions, separating the righteous from the vile. Jesus is quite specific about those who will be excluded from the holy city.

v. 16 – 17 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.”

Here is one of the most wonderful invitations ever offered! Jesus, the Son of David, the Messiah, the bright Morning Star, is inviting anyone who is spiritually thirsty to come! There are no restrictions, if we will only respond. One old hymn says “The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.” None of us can earn our way into heaven. We can only confess our sins and call on Jesus to save us!

v. 18 – 21 “I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.”

That crusty old fisherman, John, is giving the most heart – felt testimony of his life and warning us all at the same time! “ If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.” We are not to add to the words of the vision. This vision came straight from God and is not to be toyed with! “And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” WATCH OUT! Jesus is putting up heavy electric fence with barbed wire around the words of Revelation! Anybody foolish or arrogant enough to try to chop off the parts he or she refuses to accept will pay the penalty of eternal damnation.

And John’s heart – felt response at the end of this is, “Amen.” ”Let it be so.” “Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.”

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, imprint every word on our hearts! Do not allow anyone who reads this to go away unmoved or unchanged. Lord, do come quickly and let your grace be with all of us. Amen!

Revelation 22:1-2 “Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”

We live in rural northern Ghana, where our dry season has started. The streams that were full of water during the rainy season are drying up, presenting all kinds of problems. Even though some villages have dams and reservoirs and others have bore hole wells, the quality of the water may be questionable. Borehole well water is clean; however, it sometimes has a high sulfur content, giving it a bitter taste. The sulfur also turns porridge and other foods yellow. Some people are so put off by the bitter taste that they prefer to collect water anywhere they can, even if that means getting water from the same pond in which the local animals are drinking, urinating, and defecating. Sometimes people will even dig holes in the ground in hopes of finding water. You can imagine the quality of the water in those holes!

The Bible speaks about “living water,” that is, water in a flowing stream. This water is generally far cleaner than water that has been sitting and that has become stagnant. Even in cities with pipe – borne water, if there is a pause in the flow of water, bacteria may build up so that the next time the water flows, those collecting that water will ingest large amounts of bacteria and become sick as a result. Now there is a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God, the Source of light and life and purity.

There are trees of life on either side of the river, perpetually bearing a different fruit for each month. Even the leaves of these trees contain healing properties. In recent years, horticulturists in Ghana have heavily promoted the growing of moringa trees. Moringa trees grow rapidly, are drought – resistant, and their leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals and have many health – restoring properties.

If lowly moringa trees here on earth are so wonderful, what must these heavenly trees of life be like? But why mention the healing properties of these leaves? Perhaps those who go to heaven continue to need spiritual healing after they arrive. These trees would then become sources for that healing.

v.3 – 5 “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.” No more curses! No more evil of any kind! No more darkness! Instead, God the Father and God the Son will be within the city and their servants will worship them forever. Forget many of the “worship” experiences you might have had! This heavenly worship will be exhilarating, delightful, and incredible!

Today, are you spiritually thirsty? Are you tired of recent political events? Wondering if God still cares about His creation? Take heart! God is still very much on the throne, and His ways are perfect. Come to Him, trust Him, and worship Him! Ask God to give you living water that will heal you and satisfy the longings of your soul. You will never be disappointed!

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for your great and precious promises! Thank you that you do not play games but that if you promise healing and health and wholeness, you will give those things when we ask. Thank you for every person who reads these words. Lord, touch their hearts. Move in ways that none of us can anticipate to satisfy the deepest longings. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Revelation 21:21 “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate consisting of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as pure as transparent glass.”

The twelve gates each are made out of one giant pearl. In John’s time, pearls were more highly prized than any other stone because they were produced by oysters and nobody could tell how large a pearl might become. In addition, pearls were considered symbols of purity. In some cultures, brides wore pearls on their wedding days as a sign of purity. Jesus told a story to his disciples about a merchant who looked for a pearl of great price and sold everything that he had to be able to buy it. For each of these gates to be made out of an enormous pearl implies unimaginable beauty and wealth.

The main street of the city was pure gold, as pure as transparent glass. quora.com states: “Gold when highly refined is actually a pale/white color. When heat is applied to m-state gold, it may melt and turn into a “glass-like” structure, making it transparent like glass. So, yes, completely pure gold IS transparent.” Again, the picture is that of unlimited wealth and splendor.

v. 22 – 25 “But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory. Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there.”

As long as God was at a distance, temples were necessary for worship. But now that God has come to be with men, the city itself has become the Holy of Holies, containing the Lord Almighty and the Lamb, Jesus Christ. With God forever present, His Glory shines forever. One prayer that is recited at funerals concludes “and let light perpetual shine upon him/her.” Here is the light perpetual spoken of in that prayer. Now perfect day has come without any need for darkness because there is no longer a need for physical rest. And darkness as a symbol of evil does not and cannot exist in the presence of God. In ancient cities, the gates were shut at night for protection; however, now the gates remain open because all danger has passed away.

v. 26 – 27 “And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” The righteous kings of the new earth will bring their glory as an offering in worship and praise to God and to the Lamb. And all the glory and honor of the nations, everything that is good and right and just and pure, will enter the city. But only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be allowed into that city. The liars, the cheaters, those that practice any sort of abomination, have been banished to eternal torment.

Why can’t anyone whose name is NOT in the Book of Life enter the city? Those whose names are not found in that Book spent their lives turning away from God and worshiping other things. Even if they were allowed to enter the city, they would not be able to tolerate one millisecond of the Glory of God. Remember, God does not send anyone to hell; people continually make their choices and move farther and farther down that path each day. What will you choose? The Glory of God, or anything less?

PRAYER: Father God, let everyone who reads these words choose YOU! In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Revelation 21:15 – 17 “The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and its walls. The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadiad in length and width and height. And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits,e by the human measure the angel was using.”

It was quite common for ancient cities to be built in the shape of a square, but here is a city that is actually not a hollow square, but a cube! Why? The cube was the symbol of perfection to both the Greeks and the Jews. A man of good character was considered to be a “four square man.” In the temple, the altar of the burnt offering, the altar of the incense, and the High Priest’s breast-plate were all in the form of a cube. In Ezekiel’s visions, the New Jerusalem and the temple were cube – shaped. And in Solomon’s temple the Holy of Holies was a perfect cube. Now God is giving John proof of the holiness of the New Jerusalem, the Holy of Holies, and the dwelling place of God.

Barclay explains: We must note the city’s dimensions. Each side of the city was twelve thousand stades. A stade is very nearly a furlong; therefore, each side was 1,500 miles long, and the total area of the city was 2,250,000 square miles…a city with that area would stretch nearly from London to New York. Surely we are meant to see that in the holy city there is room for everyone…Strangely enough it is different when we come to the wall. The wall is 144 cubits high, that is, 266 feet, not very high. The wall of Babylon was 300 feet high, and the walls of the porch of Solomon’s temple were 180 feet high. There is no comparison between the height of the wall and the size of the city. Again there is symbolism here. The wall cannot be for defense, for all hostile beings, spiritual and human, have been obliterated or cast into the lake of fire. The only thing the wall can do is delimit(demarcate) the area of the city; and the fact that it is so low shows that delimitation(demarcation) is comparatively unimportant. God is much more eager to bring men in than to shut them out–and his Church must be the same.”

v. 18 – 20 “The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.”

John is doing his best to describe the vision as God has given it to him, but it’s tough! So John is using the most magnificent comparisons that he can think of. Gold that has truly been refined is actually as pure as glass. The foundations of the walls are inscribed with the names of the twelve apostles, indicating that their faith helps form the foundation for the Holy City. There are twelve huge precious stones that help form the foundation.

Concerning these stones, Barclay explains:”In the city of God these foundation stones were all precious stones. The jasper was not the modern opaque jasper but a translucent rock crystal, green in color. The sapphire appears in the Old Testament story as the stone of the paving on which God stood (Exodus 24:10). Again, it was not the modern sapphire. Pliny describes it as sky-blue, flecked with gold. It was most likely the stone now known as lapis lazuli. The chalcedony was a green silicate of copper, found in mines near Chalcedon. It is described as being like the sheen of green on a dove’s neck or in a peacock’s tail. The emerald was the modern emerald, which Pliny describes as the greenest of all green stones. The sardonyx was an onyx in which the white was broken by layers of red and brown; it was specially used for cameos. The sard or carnelian took its name from Sardis. It was blood-red, and was the commonest of all stones used for engraving gems. The identification of the chrysolite is uncertain. Its Hebrew name means the stone of Tarshish. Pliny describes it as shining with a golden radiance. It could be a yellow beryl or a gold-colored jasper. The beryl was like an emerald; the best stones were sea-blue or sea-green. The topaz was a transparent, greenish-gold stone, very highly valued by the Hebrews. Job speaks of the topaz of Ethiopia (Job 28:19). The jacinth is described by ancient writers as being a violet, bluish-purple stone. It is likely that it was the equivalent of the modern sapphire. The amethyst is described as being very similar to the jacinth, but more brilliant.” It is highly significant that eight of these stones were also on the priest’s breastplate.

Are these descriptions really accurate? Probably not! But what is John to do when given a heavenly vision that is almost indescribable? The most important thing about these descriptions is that the heavenly city is going to be far lovelier than anything that we can think or imagine. God really does know how to create magnificently!

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for loving us so much that you are preparing a place of indescribable beauty where your children can enjoy your love and be with you forever. Thank you that your grace, your holiness, your righteousness, and all of your other attributes are more glorious than anything that we can imagine. Create in those who read these words a hunger to know you in your fullness and in your winsome love. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Revelation 21:9 – 14 “Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”

One of the same angels who poured out the bowls containing the plagues now gets to show John the New Jerusalem as it comes down out of heaven shining with the glory of God. The sight of this city is so magnificent that John has to strain to find words sufficient to describe it. There is a radiance over the city – the radiance of the glory of God and the radiance of the faith of the saints within the city. The city is well protected and has twelve gates, each having an angel and each inscribed with a name of one of the tribes of Israel.

There are twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. But WHO is the twelfth apostle included here? Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, so obviously, he is not included. Just after Jesus ascends into heaven, Peter pushes the disciples to vote on someone to take the place of Judas, and Mathias is selected. (Acts 1:26) Personally, I have always believed that the Apostle Paul was God’s selection for the twelfth disciple. Peter was impulsive and sometimes ran ahead of the Lord, as do many of us. Certainly, this is the last time we hear any mention of Mathias, although he was present on the Day of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit fell on him as it did on all the others.

There are twelve gates, three on each wall, allowing believers to come in from all directions. Barclay describes these gates: “There is one symbolic interpretation (of the gates) which was unlikely to be in his(John’s) mind, but which is none the less very beautiful and very comforting. There are three gates on the east. The east is the place of the rising sun and the beginning of the day. These gates could represent the way into the holy city of those who find Christ in the glad morning of their days. There are three gates on the north. The north is the cold land with a certain chill in it. These gates could stand for the way into the holy city of those who come to Christianity by the intellectual exercise of thought, and have found the faith through their minds rather than through their hearts. There are three gates on the south. The south is the warm land, where the wind is gentle and the climate soft. These gates could stand for the way into the holy city of those who have come to Christ through their emotions, whose love ran over at the sight of the cross. There are three gates on the west. The west is the land of the dying day and the setting sun. These gates could stand for the way into the holy city of those who come to Christ in the evening of their days.”

The important thing about the city of New Jerusalem is that God has made ways for all those who will believe to come and to be with Him forever. Nobody is excluded unless they choose to be by their actions. God is the Great Lover, always wooing us and drawing us to Himself, if we will only allow Him. If we will only open our hearts, God will come in and will change us into His Likeness.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for making so many ways for us to come to you! Thank you for sending Jesus to die for our sins! Thank you that you are always drawing us to yourself if we will only stop fighting and running away. Lord, soften hearts! Cause all those who are reading these words to come to know the height and depth of your magnificent love for them. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

For believers, this passage has some of the most precious promises in the entire Bible.

God is going to dwell with His people. Throughout the ages, God has been at a distance, but now that distance is gone. God in all His glory is going to live with those who love Him and they can worship him forever. When Moses was leading the Children of Israel through the desert, God would come down and meet with Moses in a tent that was set apart from the rest of the camp. And after those meetings, Moses’ face would shine so brightly that he had to wear a veil so that people could stand to look at him.

v.4 – 5 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away. And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” 2020 was the year when many people around the world watched loved ones of all ages die from COVID – 19 or problems created with delivery of medical care as a result of it. Who could possibly wish to suffer more? Who would want to cry any more tears? Who could possibly wish to follow one more coffin to a graveyard or to read one more obituary of a friend or loved one? The promises in these verses are precious beyond belief! God saying that all those things that were so difficult will be gone forever. God Himself will comfort His people. Incredible!

v.5 “Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” And He told me, “It is done!”

God Himself is ordering John to write the vision and words that are coming and assuring John that the very words themselves can be counted on. No more guessing what the Will of God is! God Himself is speaking. What does “It is done!” mean? After ages of watching, God has now acted decisively, making an end to evil and bringing in His new Kingdom.

v.6 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” John lived in a multicultural society in which Greek was one of the common languages. “Alpha” is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and “Omega” is the last letter. Here God is emphasizing that everything began with Him and all things find their final solution in Him as well. There are no hidden agendas, no loose ends.

v.6 “To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.” When John received this vision, he was sitting on the Island of Patmos, essentially a huge bare sun – baked rock in the middle of the Aegean Sea. One of the first rules of courtesy in any hot climate is to offer a visitor water, particularly if it is cool and fresh. What would be more appealing than the idea of a perpetual spring of water, particularly water ensuring eternal life?

v. 7 “The one who is victorious will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.” Forget concerns about gender equality. Here God is promising that all those who have been faithful and who have continued to follow God despite suffering and trials will be treated as favored sons who receive everything that a wealthy father can give. To be the favorite son in a household was to hold a place of honor. Steadfast believers of both sexes will enjoy God’s blessings and God will claim them as His worshipers.

v. 8 “But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

Here Barclay comments: “The cowards are those who loved ease and comfort more than they loved Christ, and who in the day of trial were ashamed to show whose they were and whom they reservedness highest courage is to be desperately afraid and in spite of that to do the right thing and to hold fast to loyalty. What is condemned is the cowardice which denies Christ for safety’s sake. The unbelieving are those who refused to accept the Gospel or those who with their lips accepted it, but by their lives showed that they did not believe it. The polluted are those who allowed themselves to be saturated by the abominations of the world.”

Murderers are condemned because only God has the right to decide who lives or dies. Sexual immorality of all kinds is condemned; in this day, that would include addiction to pornography or pederasty without any attempt to break free from the addiction. There have always been sorcerers and witches attempting to control by magic. Idolaters include anybody who worships something other than the One True Living God; money, fame, social status, success in business – there are so many idols! Liars will be punished – both those who lie outright and those who lie and manipulate by remaining silent and omitting the truth.

As we read this list, we must examine our hearts. There is nobody on earth who has never told a lie. Many of us have pursued success in some form; some churches even stress financial success as evidence of God’s blessings. And how many of us have ALWAYS stood up for the truth, no matter how inconvenient or dangerous that stance might be?

Left to ourselves, none of us is good enough to earn our way into heaven. This is why Jesus had to come to earth to live as a sinless man and to shed His blood for our sins. Only faith in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us will save any of us from eternal torment.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for the wonderful promises in your Word for those who will believe! Lord, let everyone who reads these words examine his or her heart and realize their need for a Savior. Lord Jesus, let them turn to you! Amen.

Revelation 21:1”Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.”

We have already seen the old heaven and earth pass into nothingness; now there is a new heaven and a new earth. Barclay explains:

The dream of a new heaven and a new earth was deep in Jewish thought. “Behold,” said God to Isaiah, “I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, or come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17). Isaiah speaks of the new heaven and the new earth which God will make, in which life will be one continual act of worship (Isaiah 66:22).

The picture is always there and its elements are always the same. Sorrow is to be forgotten; sin is to be vanquished; darkness is to be at an end; the temporariness of time is to turn into the everlastingness of eternity. This continuing belief is a witness to three things–to the unquenchable immortal longings in man’s soul, to man’s inherent sense of sin and to man’s faith in God.”

While God is giving John this vision, He is also using texts with which John would be familiar, such as Isaiah, to imprint images on John’s mind. For John, there must have been many “Aha! So that’s what you meant!” moments when he remembered God’s words in Isaiah and suddenly saw them coming to pass in the vision.

What’s so important about the sea? Again, Barclay gives us insight: In this vision of the future bliss we come on one of the most famous phrases in the Revelation–“And the sea was no more.” This phrase has a double background.

(i) It has a background in the great mythological beliefs of John’s time. We have already seen that the Babylonian story of the creation of the world is of a long struggle between Marduk, the god of creation, and Tiamat, the dragon of chaos. In that story the sea, the waters beneath the firmament, became the dwelling-place of Tiamat. The sea was always an enemy. The Egyptians saw it as the power which swallowed up the waters of the Nile and left the fields barren.

(ii) It has a much more human background. The ancient peoples hated the sea, even though, by the time of John, they were voyaging long and far. They did not possess the compass; and, therefore, as far as possible, they coasted along the shores. It is not till modern times that we come on people who rejoice in being sea-faring…. In Jewish dreams the end of the sea is the end of a force hostile to God and to man.”

v. 2 “I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

Barclay explains: Here, again, is a dream of the Jews which never died–the dream of the restoration of Jerusalem, the holy city.

 (i.) It has a background which is essentially Greek. One of the great contributions to the world’s philosophical thought was Plato’s doctrine of ideas or forms. He taught that in the invisible world there existed the perfect form or idea of everything upon earth, and that all things on earth were imperfect copies of the heavenly realities. If that be so, there is a heavenly Jerusalem of which the earthly Jerusalem is an imperfect copy. That is what Paul is thinking of when he speaks of the Jerusalem that is above (Galatians 4:26), and also what is in the mind of the writer to the Hebrews when he speaks of the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22)… This conception of preexisting forms may seem strange. But at the back of it is the great truth that the ideal actually exists. It further means that God is the source of all ideals. The ideal is a challenge, which, even if it is not worked out in this world, can still be worked out in the world to come.

 (ii) The second background of the conception of the new Jerusalem is entirely Jewish. Observant Jews still pray: And to Jerusalem thy city return with compassion, and dwell therein as thou hast promised; and rebuild her speedily in our days, a structure everlasting; and the throne of David speedily establish there. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the builder of Jerusalem.”

There are many descriptions of the New Jerusalem, but one of the most eloquent is found in Isaiah 54:11 – 12 “O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones.”

Obviously, the vision God gave John was so wonderful that it was almost beyond comprehension. Brides always dressed themselves in their finest clothes and their most magnificent jewelry as a demonstration of their love and respect for their bridegrooms. Now the New Jerusalem is gleaming on the horizon, stunning in its beauty. We will never know the full extent of this loveliness until the day that we see the New Jerusalem in God’s Kingdom.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for every detail of the vision you gave to John. Lord, we long to see your glory and your beauty and your majesty! Put a desire in the hearts of all who read these words, that they may truly follow you and come to the New Jerusalem to live with you forever. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Revelation 20:7 -10 “When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison, and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore. And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them. And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. “

Again, we are left wondering how this story fits into the rest of the vision. It’s possible that these are simply more details being given about the time when King Jesus rides forth leading the host of heaven to battle. Satan is still trying his best to overcome the hosts of heaven and moves all those left on the earth to a final battle. Here, it is understood that “the beloved city” mentioned is Jerusalem. Evidently, the camp of the saints is outside Jerusalem.

But the time for rebellion has run out. Fire comes down from heaven and consumes the entire army! In an instant, all these warriors are vaporized. And the devil joins the beast and the false prophet in the lake of fire and sulfur, where they will suffer eternal torment.

Judgment before the Great White Throne

v 11: “Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.”

In the beginning, God spoke a word and created the universe. Now God has come and earth and the galaxies and solar systems disappear forever. The time has come for final judgment. Is it God the Father or God the Son, Jesus Christ, who judges? The mystery of the Holy Trinity is such that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are actually united, rooted deeply in each other. Barclay explains: In Romans 14:10 he (Paul) writes: “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.” But in 2 Corinthians 5:10 he writes: “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” For Jewish believers, they anticipated that God would be the judge.

The old heavens and earth vanish. God foretold this many times throughout Scripture. “None the less it is still true that “they will perish … they will all wear out like a garment; thou changest them like raiment, and they pass away” (Psalms 102:25-27). “The heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment” (Isaiah 51:6). “Heaven and earth will pass away” (Mark 13:31). “The heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). Barclay states, “The new man in Christ must have a new world in Christ.”

THE FINAL JUDGMENT

v. 12 – 15 “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Everyone who has ever lived is now standing before the throne waiting to be judged. There are two sets of books: the book listing people’s deeds and the Book of Life. Nobody is to be left out of this final judgment. Even those who have drowned at sea and whose bodies could not be recovered are summoned to stand before the throne of God. But what about our deeds? Isaiah 64:6 says, ”…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.” Nothing any of us can do is good enough for us to earn our way into heaven! Even when we are trying to be noble, somewhere in the back of our minds, we are admiring ourselves! And this is why Jesus had to come to live as a man, to die for the sins of the world, and to conquer death, hell, and the grave. NONE OF US COULD DO IT EVEN FOR OURSELVES, LET ALONE FOR ANYONE ELSE!

That is where the second book comes in, the Book of Life. In the time of John, rulers kept record books with the names of their citizens. Whenever someone died, his name was removed from the record of the living, so in a very real sense, these record books were books of life, books of the living. Notice that it is not those who have done wonderful deeds who are saved from the lake of fire; instead, it is those whose names are in the Book of Life. “ And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Those whose names are in the Book of Life are those who have chosen to follow Christ Jesus, to make Him Lord of their lives, and to live for Him instead of for themselves. Nobody becomes a citizen of heaven apart from the Blood of Jesus!

These verses are not a fairy tale! One day, all of us will stand before the throne of God and every scummy thought, every bit of our shriveled souls will be on display. Nothing any of us can do is good enough to deserve heaven. On that day, will your name be found in the Book of Life? God doesn’t send anyone to hell; people choose to go there. How will you choose?

PRAYER: Father God, we tremble when we read these verses, and yet, we thank you for sending Jesus to deliver us from our sins and to save us. Lord, let everyone who reads these words turn to you! In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Revelation 19:14 – 16 “The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses. And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God, the Almighty. And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Jesus is leading the hosts of heaven. These warrior angels are dressed in white linen to demonstrate purity and righteousness. Barclay describes: From his mouth goes forth a sharp two-edged sword. This description of the warrior Christ comes from two Old Testament passages put side by side. Isaiah says of the heavenly king: “He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4). The Psalmist says of the Messianic king: “You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalms 2:9).

“ will tread the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God. The picture is of the warrior Christ trampling the grapes so as to produce the wine of the wrath of God, which his enemies must drink to their doom.” Poisoned and cursed drinks have been employed repeatedly as a means of ensuring defeat of one’s enemies. Ironically, the grapes in this winepress are the results of the persistent rebellion of the rulers of the world against the One True Living God. By rebelling and flagrant disobedience to God, these rulers have brought about their own destruction. Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” There is no salvation for any of us apart from that available in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:24 says “and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” But here is the problem: these rulers have persistently refused the grace of God. Truly, God does not SEND people to hell; people CHOOSE to go there!

How are we to understand the mention of the Name being written on the robe and on the thigh? Barclay explains: The name might be embroidered on his girdle or engraved on his sword hilt. The name might be on the skirt of his general’s cloak, for that is where it would be easiest to read on a horseman…It seems clear that the name is visible to all, and, therefore, probably the likeliest solution is that it was written on the skirt of the warrior Christ’s robe, lying over his thigh, as he rode upon the white horse. In any event, the name singles him out as the greatest of all rulers, the only true divine One and the universal King.

v. 17-21 “Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of all men slave and free, small and great.” Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army. But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.”

Ezekiel 39 describes the slaughter of the forces of Gog and Magog in the last days, complete with the invitation to vultures and other birds of prey to come feast on the dead bodies. The beast/Antichrist and the false prophet are thrown alive into a fiery lake of burning sulfur. All the kings of the earth and their armies – all those who have taken the mark of the beast – are destroyed. Scavenger birds swoop in to consume the dead bodies. Traditionally, Jews buried their dead as soon as possible, so for any body to be left to be consumed by vultures would be considered a truly horrible fate. It is also obvious that there is nobody left to bury these bodies.

What are we to learn from this gory discussion? A day of reckoning is coming for all those practicing corruption, thievery, lying, cheating, and perversions of every kind. The risen glorified Lord Jesus and the angelic armies will make an end of all those who have opposed Him. Is this a fairy tale? No! If you doubt, there is a simple solution: pray and ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you in a way that is unmistakable.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, some of us believe while others doubt whether or not you exist. Please make yourself so real to everyone who reads this that they cannot deny you. Help them to come to know you and the love you have for them. In your mighty and precious Name. Amen.

Revelation 20: 1 – 3 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.

Barclay explains the chaining of Satan this way: The abyss was a vast subterranean cavern beneath the earth, sometimes the place where all the dead went, sometimes the place where special sinners were kept awaiting punishment. It was reached by a chasm reaching down into the earth and this the angel locks in order to keep the Devil in the abyss. It was the abyss which the devils feared most of all. In the story of the Gerasene demoniac the request of the devils was that Jesus would not command them to leave the man and to go out into the deep, that is, the abyss (Luke 8:31). The seal is set on the chasm to ensure the safe-keeping of the prisoner, just as the seal was set on the tomb of Jesus to make sure that he would not escape (Matthew 27:66).

The Devil is to be kept in the abyss for a period of a thousand years. Even the way in which the word thousand is used in Scripture warns us against taking this literally. Psalms 50:10 says that the cattle on a thousand hills belong to God; and Job 9:3 says that a man cannot answer God once in a thousand times. Thousand is simply used to describe a very large number.

At the end of the period the Devil is to be let loose for a little time. H. B. Swete suggests that the reason for the final loosing of the Devil is this. In a period of peace and righteousness, in a time when the opposition, so to speak, did not exist, it might easily happen that people came to take their faith unthinkingly. The loosing of the Devil meant a testing-time for Christians, and there are times when a testing-time is essential, if the reality of the faith is to be preserved.”

This passage raises lots of questions. When in the events is this to take place? Is this to take place after the events described in Chapter 19? Remember that originally, there were no such things as “chapters” and that the chapters were inserted by later Bible translators to make things easier for believers. Why 1,000 years? This part of Revelation was very controversial in the early church with some church leaders refusing to accept it. Personally, I feel that this is one of those mysteries that will eventually be revealed at the end of time.

v. 4-6 “Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”

The martyrs and those who suffered by refusing the mark of the beast are singled out for a particular honor: they are to reign with Christ for a long time before the rest of the dead will come back to life. Barclay describes the privileges these people enjoy as follows:

(i) For them death has been utterly vanquished. The second death has no power over them. Physical death for them is not a thing to be feared, for it is the gateway to life everlasting.

(ii) They are to be the priests of God and of Christ. The Latin for priest is pontifex, which means a bridge-builder. The priest is the builder of a bridge between God and man; and he, as the Jews saw it, is the one man with the right of direct access into the presence of God. Those who have been loyal to Jesus Christ have the right of free entry into the presence of God; and they have the privilege of introducing others to Jesus Christ.

(iii) They are to reign with Christ. In Christ even the most ordinary man becomes a king.

Those who have suffered will receive eternal rewards. Now, nobody chooses to become a martyr! The only choice we have is this: will we serve the One True Living God, no matter what, or will we serve something lesser? The day we die, any rewards we have received by serving something or someone apart from God cease; however, that is the day that those who have served God will find their rewards forever.

PRAYER: Father God, let this scripture touch hearts and cause people to look to You, the One True Living God, as their only Hope. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.