John's Vision

Read a couple of portions from the book of the Revelation. Revelation chapter 21 Revelation 21 begin to read verse 13 down through verse eight, and then read a portion from Revelation chapter 22. This is John the Revelation are John the apostle, he says now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea than I John 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 heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, God himself will be with them and be their God, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, there shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away. Then he who sat on the throne said, behold, I make all things new.

And he said to me right for these words are true and faithful, and he said to me, it is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him, verse, he over. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. In Revelation chapter 22 beginning in verse one, and he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life which bore 12 fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations and there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him, they shall see his face and his name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there. They need no lamp nor light of the sun for the Lord God gives them light and they shall reign forever and ever. This message was born out of a couple of circumstances. One is the message I brought last Sunday night on the subject of fleeing the wrath to come in the subject of hell. And I've been I have been studying that subject for some time and I thought you know I want to go to the end of the book of the Bible and see what the Bible says about hell are the references to it and that's what directed me initially to Revelation chapter 21, where we have reference, there of the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone, which the second death.

The second thing was a recent time in devotions where on that particular day devotional material. I was using had this for a title God Google God and Google. He says this. I want a lifelong guilt trip for not reading my Bible.

I can understand why it's so hard. Where do I start. What do I redo I read all the way through, take a single book and studied deeply. Do I take a topic and read every verse about it or follow a guide of some sort. Then there's the question of circumstance. Some folks whereby reading early in the morning.

Other say reading the Bible at night helps press, meaning into the events of the day. Let me offer a different approach.

Google, instead of cramming God into a time slot, try turning to him throughout the day. Google what you're thinking or feeling type in a fragment of Scripture and Google usually takes you to a Bible website where you can find the full verse with one click you can read it in any translation in God speaks from his word specifically to what you're facing or feeling, and he goes on to say some other things and then at the end of the devotionals. This challenge will you use Google and other web tools to move toward God. Well, I suppose there's some benefit to do what he is saying. I've often done that I'm studying. I'll can remember a portion of the Scripture and all type in a phrase and it'll take me to it and all find my way and so on and so forth.

But is helpful as that might be.

There's also some downside to it and the downside obvious. I think on face that we do not want to treat our Bible like index for every trouble we might face in life. Now saying that does not negate the fact that I believe that the Bible sufficient for all of life and godliness. Okay, so everything that we need for life and godliness we can find in the word of God have a sufficient word from God, but I do not think that it's healthy to look at the Scriptures as a simple simply an index to find a verse address this issue and that issue. Why do I say that well because it's it violates the structure of the Scriptures. The Bible is history itself. It's a record of history when I say history. Think of the word history. It's his story. It's God's history at selective history. It's salvation history and the Bible is a drama it's a drama of redemption. It's a story and I don't know if you've thought about this. Perhaps you have but in one sense, we are we are actors we are participants on that stage of history and God is working toward an a decree then and we are moving in redemptive history for children of God. Toward that end.

So the Bible we can think about it in this way, it's worth noting that the last three chapters of our Bible book of the Revelation actually revisits the first three chapters of the Bible and tells us how the story ends and are a lot of situations in life where we want to know how's this going to play out. How is this going to resolve itself. What's the what's the end of the story we find ourselves at various places in life in various situations. Wondering about this here's this open-ended situation in his going somewhere. We want to know how house is going to end what will this get resolved well the whole matter of salvation history. We have a record we have an accurate record, weave a reliable record but trustworthy record of how everything is going to end in this world and that should be of great comfort to us. But think about this in Genesis chapter 1, we have what the record of God creating the heavens and the earth. In Revelation chapter 21 we have the unfolding of the new heavens and earth in Genesis 1 we have the creation of the great luminaries the sun and the moon which control our lives and structure its rhythm in order our lives in Revelation what we have. We are presented in Revelation 21 with a world in which the sun and the moon are no longer necessary for God and the Lamb will be the light of that place in Genesis 3 we witness what we witness paradise lost. Revelation 22 we see paradise restored in Genesis 3 we encounter a seductive devil in Revelation chapter 20 we encounter a condemned double. Genesis 3 fellowship with God is broken in Revelation 21 eternal communion with God is consummated in Genesis 3. Access to the tree of life is denied.

In Revelation 22 the right of access to the tree of life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations is restored seat you see the picture that I'm painting for you that we have the first three chapters of our Bible are paradise lost the fall and then at the end we have God restoring the fall, and in between is the history of redemption. God working toward that end, so any approach to studying the Bible reading our Bible that Mrs. that is II believe deficient. We must not lose sight of that now we sign this morning.

I him blessed. Jesus at my word and one of the stanza stuck out to me in regards to the sermon tonight stands number two says all our knowledge, sense and sight lie deepest darkness shrouded till thy spirit breaks are night with the beams of truth unclouded and it goes on you.

We are completely and totally in the dark. Apart from the redeeming work of the Spirit of God in our lives. But even his redeemed children we see through a a glass dimly, there are things we do not understand are things that are kept from us because we are on this side of the veil of tears so I thought I find great benefit in studying the book of the Revelation because we have here, the record of the future. God shows a man John things that are yet future and he tells him to write these visions down fact back to Revelation 1 verse 10 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last what you see writing a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia to Ephesus and Smyrna. The program must, if I retire to Sardis, to Philadelphia and to Laodicea. But the main point.

What you see right in a book, write it down so John is given this glimpse of what is to come. What is future and he's permitted to write it down some of the vision in order to tell us what is to come. Why so that we might be encouraged that we might take heart, we might rejoice in the God who is ordering all things after the counsel of his own will that things have a purpose and a plan that God has not forgotten where this all started in the garden and his design design and desire is to restore that which Adam forfeited. So we have here recorded in the Revelation what we want to look at tonight. Revelation 21 and 22 John is permitted to look into the future to look into a reality that is not yet experienced by any of God's people, even those who've gone on the glory have not experienced this final eternal glory which will be unveiled after the rain of Christ is commenced at his second coming. So John has been given a picture of what is to come. We have recorded here verse two of Revelation 21 then I John Saul, the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of the heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with man, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, God himself will be with them and be their God. What John is telling us here what he's been privileged to see is that what he is privileged to see the new heaven and the new earth is something that is sourced in God it's produced by God. It's created by God is not built on earth doesn't come down from God. It is prepared by God, now. Why is this important, well it's important for us as we seek to understand our role in this world. As believers, as ambassadors of Christ as representatives of Christ in this world often we hear people talk about wanting to build God's kingdom. But the Bible never uses that language of loss in relationship to God's kingdom. The New Testament insists that there is only one who builds the kingdom and it's not you, and it's not me it's God. We can pray for the kingdom. We may preach for the kingdom. What we are to live for the kingdom, but it is God who builds and brings about the kingdom of God is the one who produces the reality of the new heavens and the new earth. He's the one who builds the new Jerusalem. He's the one who sends it down. It's something that has been produced and created by God. And again, notice now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea than I John saw the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. This is something first thing he saw was a masterpiece of God's doing. The new heaven and the new earth and and I lost at the details of that, but simply to draw your attention to the fact that what John Saul and the source of what he saw. You see God calls us to be faithful in our service for him on this earth. Whatever it is that we are assigned to do in many times we do not see the fruit of our labor. We don't see the end result. We don't see the fruit of our efforts in our service of the Lord. But here at the end of the book of Revelation. John is pointing us to the reality that God is building his kingdom and no matter how fruitful or how frustrating our labor may be here. God will not waste the labors of this people the reality that he will give to us will far outstrip anything that we can imagine anything that we have accomplished or any frustration we have experienced in this life. So the first thing John tells us about this vision related to the new heaven and the new earth is that this new heaven and new earth are God produced an God created a second thing we hear about this new heaven and the new word from John is that it is Jesus focused, Jesus focused he says there Revelation 21 verse 22 but I saw no temple in it for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

The city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light, and the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. It's gates shall not be shut at at all by day there shall be no night there and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. Yes, Jesus is going to be the focus of that place. The new heaven and the new earth.

I read to you versus one, two and three of Revelation 22 earlier. Let me read them again with this particular focus that Jesus is the focus of the center of what's going on in that place.

Verse one of chapter 22 and he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear and crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore 12 fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations and there shall be no curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him. Jesus is the focus of the worship of the saints in heaven and he's worshiped as the son of God on the throne in heaven say well this is so obvious. Well it's obvious to us because were committed to what the Bible tells us in were committed to a biblical Christology but you know and I know the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and the necessity of Jesus Christ for salvation, or both being called into question.

In our day. There are many people who think that there are other ways to heaven, not through Jesus. What we say to those think that what is John's vision say to people who claim that there is a way to God other than through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me answer that with another question. Where are those different ways and saviors. When John watches the worship of heaven. John doesn't record any other ways or save yours being worshiped. Why, because our current any Jesus is the only Savior is the only one worthy of worship. Yes, Jesus is the way the truth and the life and no man, to the father except through him. So Jesus is being worshiped because he is the true and only Savior, whose death alone is sufficient to cover the sins of his people.

So this is what John is picturing force. This is what he saw. This is what he recorded for the churches and for their edification. We are to be Jesus focused were not to lose sight of Jesus these the Alpha and the Omega, he's the beginning and the end.

He's everything in the reason that they are focused on Jesus in heaven is because he is the one who has brought them to God, who has reconciled them to God and others. 1/3 thing that John tells us that he sees no we might be thinking okay were not surprised that God is the architect of the new heaven and the new earth were not surprised that heaven is predominant preoccupied and focused on Jesus, not surprised by that either. But tell us John.

What is heaven like what is this new place like in John answers with descriptions that are initially predominantly negative notice with me what he says again in verse one. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.

Also there was no more sea. No more sea. Now on the face. This may trouble some people disappoint some people because people love the sea. People love to go to the beach you see me I will be will be no beach will be no waves to listen to and enjoy notion well you need to think about Hebrew culture. The Hebrew people saw the sea is something dangerous. They were afraid of the sea. The sea was filled with tears and storms so I think John is just reminding us in a picturesque way that there be no danger. No danger in the new heavens and the new earth danger is gone is done away with. I think this is again some commentators think this is what John is conveying by telling us this number looked down to verse four we see another description and it's a negative description wasn't saying verse four. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

There should be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, there shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away. Interesting that he would begin his description of this place with what's not there as opposed to what is there. After we established the fact that God is everywhere, God is predominant. Jesus is the focus, but in terms of the particulars of what heaven is like couched his description in negative terms.

But it's helpful is never again will there be funerals for our loved ones no danger here, no death here.

No morning here. No crying here no pain here. John is saying he's telling us that all the things that he does not see their and how precious are these descriptions these things will not be there and if you were, you know, when you read a passage of Scripture you can't read a passage of Scripture without thinking of the context in which you have have come to understand it sung about it and as I read these passages from Revelation 2122 my mind went to the choir singing that beautiful beautiful him no night there it, it's just gripping it.

It's moving its it's it's a wonderful description no night there. But that's unique.

I think to the beacon saints because that's part of our church culture. We we have been here we've enjoyed being led in worship by the singing of that marvelous him so that moved me as I read those descriptions in these two chapters, but we still want to say to John okay John, you've told us what is not there, we would still want to know what is there. Here's what John tells us in Revelation chapter 21 in verse two, he says then I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. He says the same thing in a slightly different way. In verse nine. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talk with me saying, I will show you the bride the lamb's wife. So what is John seeing John to sing the redeemed church he sing the bride of Christ.

He sing men and women Boys and Girls Club from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. What a glorious depiction.

This is of the consummation of God's grace and God's great plan to redeem a people for himself. I've had some very precious and rare occasions to worship with brothers and sisters of other nationalities who spoke a different language to whose style of worship was completely different from what I'm accustomed to. But in those times and those on those occasions. It was just a glimpse in a in a small way of what it will be like in heaven where will be with brothers and sisters from every tribe and tongue and nation worshiping the Lord and what harmony, what beauty, what majesty and when we come together on the Lord's day to worship the Lord is what we are anticipating the day when all of God's children will be brought together. We have a him in our hymnbook that I found in my mind went to was appropriate at this point it's entitled for all the saints for all the saints who from their labors rest who the by faith before the world confessed thy name. Oh Jesus be forever blessed that I was there rock their fortress and there might now Lord, their captain in the well fought fight thou in the darkness drear their one true light all may thy soldiers faithful, true and bold fight as the saints who nobly fought of old and win with them. The victors crown of gold old blessed communion and fellowship divine. We feebly struggle they in glory shine. Yet we are one. Through Christ's blood are thine. And when the strife is fierce.

The warfare long steals on the ear and the distant triumph song and hearts are brave again and arms are strong from Earth's wide bounds promotions forest coast through gates of pearl streams in the countless host singing to the father, son and Holy Ghost. Hallelujah, hallelujah for all the saints, and is good to think that there is this solidarity that there is this union that we have with all the saints of all the ages. It's what awaits the people of God is beyond our wildest imagination, but God's reserves these things that we would enjoy them together.

There are saints in glory that have not experienced what John had the privilege of seeing and vision.

Those things await the consummation of the ages, and we will be there to enjoy them with all the saints of all the ages. It's it's amazing when we really stop to think about. Think about this Christchurch is bride no. The church may not look that attractive to you today with all of its faults.

With all of its failures with all of its shortcomings, but God is not done with his church is not done with his people and when he unveils his bride. At the last day she is going to be breathtakingly beautiful, shall be without spot or blemish she will be suitable for the bridegroom in that day. John sees her in this vision, in her perfection and what he sees is glorious so we need to be encouraged. We may not see what John saw in August were not seeing what John saw in the condition of the church at present, but there is a day coming that we will be able to see what John had the privilege of saying, that's why it's important for us to love the church now love the church because Christ died for his church not be critical of the church not be faultfinding about the church, but the love the church with all of her imperfections with all of her weaknesses in the strive for her perfection and her improvement want you to see what else John saw John is reminding us here of something else that he doesn't see in the new heaven and the new earth. John Revelation 21 verse eight he says the cowardly, the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

And then he says there in verse 27 of chapter 21 but there shall be there. There shall by no means enter it. That is the new heaven and the new earth. Anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. So here's something else that John does not see the new heaven and the new earth, and it is those who have lived in wickedness.

He does not see those who did not trust in the lamb. He does not see those who refused to bow the knee to King Jesus, they're not there. They will not be there is reminding us of the reality of hell, the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, and even here in the final chapter of the Bible worries painting this beautiful picture of glory. He's reminding us of the reality of hell.

You often hear people say in their denial of the existence of hell. I just can't believe you just I can't believe in this I can't believe in that it's not what you can believe or what you can't believe it. Why has the Bible revealed what has God said, because wishing something doesn't exist doesn't make it go away. And it's not pleasant to dwell on this. I thought of many reasons that people find and justifications to dismiss this whole subject from their consideration because of the unpleasantness of it because of the emotional feelings that come from consideration of it. We don't like the unpleasantness of these things, but the apostle John is reminding us of the reality awful place, even as he is encouraging us with a picture of eternal glory. There's 1/4 thing that we see here in this great passage in its worship. John is shown shown us a God produced new heaven and new earth is shown as a Jesus focused heaven.

He is shown as a church filled heaven. Now he's showing us a warship preoccupied heaven noticed that the worship of God and of the Lamb is the framework verse three of chapter 22 and there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him see everybody.

Warships something and we worship what we value the most. Warship says this person this thing this activity. This status this blessing or what I value the most and therefore I give my time my energy.

I in heaven.

The triune God and fellowship and communion with him or the things value the most. And that's why worship is unending in that place see the world is not divided between people who worship and people who don't is divided between people who worship God in worship. Everything else one of the reasons why God has ordained that we gather on the Lord's day on a regular basis because this is what were going to be doing throughout all eternity. And if we don't like that here we will be what well gobs because I we want to enjoy it there, but we won't be people who are participating in it there because we won't be there. Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people and this earth in our time in corporate worship is time of preparation for that worship in heaven.

So heaven will be a place in which people worship God because they have chosen to worship him. There they love to worship him.

There John tells us one more thing that he saw and what is that John saw communion and unhindered fellowship in heaven. Notice again.

Verse three I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, God himself will be with them and be their God. Verse seven says he who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. Chapter 22 in verse four says they shall see his face and his name shall be on their foreheads. John is speaking of communion, of fellowship with the living God is what we were created for but lost. It is our sins that made God cry out Galway from here. The way to communion and fellowship with him, was barred but the Lord Jesus Christ has drawn near to us and said come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest in the ultimate consummation of the invitation that Jesus gives there in Matthew 11 is found right here in glory when we do in fact see what God face-to-face is what the end of Psalm 23 reminds us of dwelling. What in the house of the Lord forever. Isaac Watts paraphrases the end of this Psalm. This way there would I find a settled rest while others go and come no more a stranger nor a guest but like a child at home. That's what will be like to be the most natural thing.

It'll be the most enjoyable thing it'll be the most contented things satisfying thing unhindered fellowship with the God of heaven. You get the sense that the enjoyment is as much on God then is it will be on RN Hill delight to dwell with us to be our God and for us to be his people looking forward to that day you will be here before you know it.

Rob McDormand prayed in our service this morning and as I listened to him lead us in prayer. He said a thousand years from now and I thought thousand about 50 years from now hundred years from now, but a thousand years from now what will matter see in this world.

We have no lasting city, but in the new heavens and the new earth we do. There is a city where with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. See even John won't see the fullness of that glory until the eyes of every one of us who trust in Jesus see it together at the end of the consummation at the end of the second coming. When God brings everything to final consummation will we be able and are into these things that John had a glimpse of had a vision of and was encouraged to write down so is good is encouraging its faith building to be able to know that there's a God whose superintending all of history and God whose busy restoring what was lost in Genesis 1, two and three and restoring it at the very end, and he's doing at all for the praise of his own glory and grace and for our enjoyment.

St. I hope you're looking forward to it because glorious things of the spoken Zion city of our God. He whose word cannot be broken on the four what his own abode on the rock of ages founded what can shake thy sure repose with salvation's wall surrounded thou mass smiled at all thy foes see the streams of living water springing from eternal love well supplied, thy sons and daughters and all fear of want, remove who can faint, while such a river ever flows their thirst to assuage grace, which, like the Lord, the giver never fails from age to age. Round each habitation hovering see the cloud and fire appear for a Gloriana covering showing that the Lord is near blessed inhabitants of Zion washed in the Redeemer's blood. Jesus honed their salt souls rely on makes them kings and priests to God last stanza save your if of Zion city.

I threw race, a member of RAM. Let the world do you ride or pity. I will glory in thy name.

Fading is the world's world lends pleasure.

All his boasted pomp and show solid joys and lasting treasure. None signs children know spring father, thank you for encouraging us and thrilling us through the apostle John with this vision that you afforded him and that it is recorded for our consideration for our edification for our preparation for that day, Lord. Thank you for being such a God that you're able to come and fix this broken world. Everything that was affected by the fall, and that is everything all of creation was ruined in the fall. You have purpose to restore through the redeeming work of your dear son, so thank you father for this time together in your word. Thank you for the book of the Revelation and we thank you for these words that he who testifies to these things says Shirley I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, Lord Jesus, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen