The Revelation of Jesus Christ
Is about the Gospel in the end times
And in the age to come
The aionion
The “forever”
Revelation 21:1-8 paraphrase
Then I saw
A new heaven
And a new earth
The Holy City
Coming down out of heaven from God
Prepared as a bride
God’s dwelling place is now among the people
He will wipe every tear from their eyes
There will be no more death
‘I am making everything new!
To the thirsty I will give
The water of life
But the unbelieving…liars
Will be consigned to the
Lake of sulfur / fire!’
This is after all people have died and been judged
The new heaven and earth has arrived
Those that “wash their robes in the blood of the lamb” are in heaven (Rev 12:11, 21:14).
The unbelieving liars (who still identify themselves as sinners) are in the lake of fire.
But where is this lake of fire?
Revelation 21:14-15
Blessed are those who wash their robes that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the
Gates
Into the city
Outside
Are the dogs who practise falsehood / unbelieving liars.
The lake of fire is outside the gate. Those who have washed their robes in the blood have entered the gate to the heavenly city.
Those who have not are outside in the lake.
But look at what the people in the heavenly city are doing:
Revelation 22:17
The spirit and the bride say
COME
Let those who hear say
COME
Let the one who is thirsty
COME
And let the one who wishes
Take the free gift of the
Water of life!
Wait a second!
This is after death and judgement!
The bride is with Jesus in the new heavenly city, through the gate
And the spirit and the bride are beckoning those
OUTSIDE to
COME INSIDE!!
Who is outside??
All those in the
Lake of fire!
Now the only question is
Do they come in?
Well you see, the climax in any good Jewish story, is always in the middle.
So we have a beginning in chapter 21 where there is a new heaven
And we have an ending in chapter 22 where the spirit and the bride say come
And we have a climax between them
Revelation 21:24-25
The nations (outside in the lake of fire)
Will walk by its (heavenly city) light
And the kings
WILL bring their splendor into it!
On no day will its
Gates
(the gate between the heavenly city and the lake of fire)
Ever be shut!!!
The glory and honor of the nations
WILL BE BROUGHT INTO IT!!!
HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and wealth
Wisdom and strength
Honor and glory and praise!”
Rev 5:12
“Then I heard
EVERY CREATURE
In heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea and
ALL that is in them saying:
‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
Be praise and honor
Glory and power
Forever and ever!'”
Rev 12:13
“SALVATION
Belongs to our God
Who sits on the throne
And to the Lamb!”
Rev 7:10
“Who will not fear you Lord
And bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy
ALL THE NATIONS
WILL COME and worship before you
For your righteous acts
Have been revealed!”
Rev 15:4
During the aionion / the forever / the age to come
All the people in the lake of fire
Will enter the gate
To the heavenly city
THIS is why we worship God!
THIS is why all honor and glory are due Him
THIS is why SALVATION belongs to GOD and not to the preachers and teachers or the Jews or the Muslims or the Christians!
THIS is why every knee will bow
And every tongue confess
THIS is the Gospel
THIS is the happily ever after of the entire creation
THIS is His holiness: that he would save every last soul and refuse to give up on a single one!
THIS Jesus is the only God worth worshipping
The only God I will ever bow to
The only God I could ever truly love and trust
Thank you Jesus!!!!!!!