86. Revelation 21 - The New Jerusalem Series

IN GOD'S IMAGE 86 - REVELATION 21 - THE NEW JERUSALEM

This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli

Last time we finished with the subject of hell.

• We saw that hell is reserved for those foolish enough to reject the gift of salvation offered to them by the righteous Judge and Savior, Jesus Christ.

• Although the odds are stacked in favour of them accepting God’s invitation to join Him in heaven, there appears to be some crazy enough to reject the invitation.

• So God gives them what they desire, life without Him.

The good news is at the end of this period of judgment, the terrible and repetitive history of man’s disastrous foray into deciding for himself to be their own god by rejecting His Creator finally comes to an end.

• Up to this point in the book of Revelation, we have identified the socio, political, economic and spiritual forces that have been in opposition to God’s purpose of creating man in His image.

• After this period of judgment, no longer will these forces that make up the Babylonian system be allowed to disrupt life in God’s heavenly kingdom.

• Revelation 21:4 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.”

• From now on there is only life in the new heavens and the new earth where there is no wickedness or evil of any kind (Revelation 21:27; 22:14-15).

• This is the final scene of the book of Revelation, the culmination of God’s purpose to create for Himself a holy people within whom He will dwell and who will participate with Him in the very life and love of the Godhead.

• This final scene in Revelation is a tale of two cities, a contrast between Babylon and the New Jerusalem.

• Babylon as we saw was depicted as a harlot riding on the menacing beast.

• By contrast we now see the New Jerusalem pictured as a beautiful bride betrothed to an animal with a totally different nature, the Lamb of God.

• Revelation 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

• The contrast between the two cites could not be more striking.

• Clients of a prostitute are seeking sexual pleasure while the harlot prostitutes herself for money.

• This lifestyle of pleasure and profit personified by the harlot and the beast dehumanises and degraded life.

• A bride by contrast personifies a lifestyle of faithfulness, commitment and integrity to her husband, principles which enhance and enrich life.

• Again, John is warning his readers not to be seduced by the outward appearance of the glory of Rome.

• The church as the bride of Christ has been chosen to faithfully reject the degrading lifestyle of the harlot and instead reflect the life promoting principles of her husband Jesus Christ.

• One path leads to destruction, the other promotes life.

Then in order to ram the message home as to whom their allegiance belongs, John contrasts the impressive glory of imperial Rome at its height with the coming glory of the New Jerusalem.

• Rome at its zenith was an impressive city. It still attracts thousands of tourists each year to see its crumbling ruins.

• Caesar Augustus had transformed Rome from a city covered with bricks to one covered with marble.

• It was even called the “Eternal City.”

• But it is nothing compared to the description John shares with his readers about the city they represent in Revelation 21.

• While the city walls of Rome are measured in feet, the walls of New Jerusalem are measured in miles, 1500 miles square, and 1500 miles high, in the shape of a cube.