Revelation in a fascinating letter. There are visions, destructions, dragon, death, resurrection, hope, a future glory. This letter has just about everything that drives people to the movies. Great cast, great adventure, lessons and reassurances, hope. What else would you want?
For a recap of where we have been in this journey through Revelation, you can read the blog posts:
Beginning with the End, A Vision for Worship, A Vision for the Church
Revelation shows the difficulty in fully describing God, the heavenly realm, complete perfection.
The scripture for this blog is no different. Take time to read Revelation 21 & 22.
Keep in mind, this vision of a new heaven and a new earth is after all of the destructive events in Revelation 8 – 20. Here is a quick chart for the summary:
A big thing to remember is in between ALL scenes of destruction and chaos, there is a vision of worship in the heavenly realm. This is to show how keeping our focus on God and worshipping him and him alone allows us to be able to handle everything we face in this world. Worship keeps us grounded. Worship keeps our perspective.
Through all of the letter of Revelation, the original readers and hearers were being comforted to know God had not forgotten them. They were encouraged to remain faithful because they were given the promise the Church would never cease. The Church is triumphant, even through all kinds of evil and chaos, because of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we should live as people of hope and victory because we know and follow the One who was and is and will always be victorious!
As you look at Revelation 21 & 22, notice how we are shown the ending of all evil, of all sin, of all rebellion. We are being shown there is a definite point in history when all will be made perfect and the heavens will descend upon the earth.
Take some time and draw a picture, like this to remind you of this truth.
Now, draw a circle, like the picture below, to show and remind us how God is transforming and recreating the world. All of this is done in the power and presence of God, which is why this picture looks like a power button.
All things will be made new because of the power and presence of God.
Now, here’s the reality. Something has to end for a new beginning to happen. What ended? Sin, rebellion, chaos, all animosity/indifference to God.
It’s almost as if God picked up his brush, from the picture in Genesis 1 & 2 and reworks the world to compete, transform, fix everything. Revelation 21 & 22 is a picture of bringing the story of God and humanity full circle to show how we were made to follow and represent God in the original order of creation and how God is making it a reality, when the time is right.
Not only all of this, but we also see God’s creativity, power, and grace in action. We are given a picture of what paradise looks like. In other words, we go back to the picture of God living with humanity uninterrupted and in a complete, non-broken state.
Our challenge is this—to not focus on the negative we see all around us. There is so much beauty and grace we will miss if we take our focus off of God. So, be encouraged to stay focused on the One who holds everything together. Stay focused on the One who is working to make everything new.
The letter of Revelation is a call to all faithful Christians to respond to Christ and live as an example of the New Jerusalem here and now.
Stand strong. Stay focused on Jesus. Be the people of Jesus here and now so the world gets a taste of what is to come!
“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.Amen.” (Revelation 22:21 NIV)
R Y A N S T R A T T O N 