Week 20 (The Revelation) – Day 5: The New Jerusalem

Day 100 – The New Jerusalem – Revelation 21:1-22:21

Today we reach the great climax of victory.  There are many visual aspects of this which may overwhelm the senses, as it is meant to do.  One thing which is important to remember is that God is coming down to the new creation.  As we began in Genesis 1, with God creating that which did not have to be created, God’s plan is not one of abandonment of creation.  God’s plan is to fulfill creation, through Jesus.  Heaven, as it were, comes to earth.

I bring this up because many strains of discussion often tend toward the great heresy of Gnosticism in which only the spiritual is important.  God makes clear, in that we are resurrected with a body, as well as the great scene of reconciliation here, that God cares about everything. 

I hope you have enjoyed the great journey through some important part of the Bible.  We hit many things, and also skipped many things.  May this awaken a desire to spend more time with the written Word, so that you may come to know the living Word:  Jesus Christ.

In Christ,

Randy

Week 20 (The Revelation) – Day 4: Halleluiah

Day 99 – Halleluiah – Revelation 19:1-20:15

This passage could lead to months of discussion all on its own.  But here are a couple of key points to consider.  First and most important: God wins!  We all struggle with evil, sin and brokenness.  We see it in our personal lives.  We see it in our local community.  We see it operate in the wider world.  The great questions which so many ponder: Why does evil seem to win?  Why does bad happen to good and good to bad? are answered.  God will bring victory, righting every wrong along the way. 

Does this entail judgment?  It almost has to one some level to make sense that evil does not have the final say.

Babylon, mentioned in the beginning of this passage is a great example of polyvalent prophecy, or prophecy with multiple references.  First, Babylon was the great world power of the past.  At the time Revelation is written, this becomes a veiled reference to Rome, the world power of the day.  For purposes of meaning for us today and into the future, we need to be wary of empires which seem to have world dominion based on economic and military power, as was the case with Babylon and Rome.

In Christ,

Randy