As we prepare new Christmas presents, and new year’s resolutions;
God prepares a new heaven, and a new earth; and a new Home…just for you.
Revelation 21:1
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.
Wow.
That was a big leap.
We just witnessed fire from
heaven, the demise of the devil, and the Great White Throne judgement; and
then, just like that, in a blink of a verse, we see a new heaven and a new
earth.
How’d that happen?
At first glance you might think
we skipped a chapter or two. But that’s not true. Nothing is missing. God
actually paints a pretty amazing, detailed, picture.
We just need to step back
enough to see the whole context of His perfectly, harmonious, Masterpiece.
The new heaven and new earth,
isn’t new to the picture, God added it a long time ago, through Isaiah the
prophet.
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. Isaiah 65:17.
Additionally, God uses Peter’s
pen, to feather in some details. 2 Peter 3:3-13.
But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:7.
The same Word, the same Voice,
that spoke the world into existence in the beginning of creation, holds our current
heavens and earth, in reserve, until renovation by fire, on the day of judgement—The
Great White Throne Judgement.
…the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10.
It’s so important to be on the right side of HIStory; because
no where does it say, our God is a big, soft, teddy bear, that lets us do whatever
we want, and He just keeps on smiling. But it does tell us to serve Him with
reverence and Godly fear…
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
For behold, the Lord will come with fire
And with His chariots, like a whirlwind,
To render His anger with fury,
And His rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and by His sword
The Lord will judge all flesh;
And the slain of the Lord shall be many.
In summary.
In preparation for the new heaven and the new earth; between the last verse of
Revelation 20, and the first verse of 21, God uses fire to purge the planet of the
wicked and the results of wickedness.
The eternal home created for the
devil and his angels—the lake of fire—also becomes the eternal home for those
who reject, one too many times, the nonstop knocking of Jesus Christ.
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13.
Whatever you imagine the new heaven and new earth to be like—it’s a, quadrillion times, better than that.
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.
Your New Home, will be
delivered to you.
Or, you will be delivered to
your new home.
You choose. (Clue: 2nd
option is the lake of fire).
Now, for the bow on top.
Let’s look at Revelation 21:1, one more time.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.
D0 you sense something familiar about our text? About that large leap between verses? Does it seem like you’ve already seen, the scene, where heaven and earth get a makeover?
Well, if it does, that’s because
we’ve been here before. Sort of.
Have you ever read a book, or
watched a movie, that in the final scene, it refers back to the beginning, as a
powerful clencher, to wrap it all up, tie it all together?
God does that here. He wraps it
all up, with a bow on top.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep… Genesis 1:1-2a
The end of Revelation and the
beginning of Genesis are tied together like the perfect Christmas bow.
But how? I don't see the connection?
Great question.
However, since we’re out of time today, like a Christmas present, we have to wait to unwrap it.
Until we meet again, Merry Christmas! And may God bless us, everyone.
Let’s pray,
Lord Jesus, thank
You for unwrapping Your Word, so we can understand it. Thank You for unveiling
Your plan, so we can be prepared for it. Thank You for Your Presence, that is
far more precious than any present, this world has to offer. We love You, and
want to be with You, now, and forever.
Amen.
Remember, we love you.
Most importantly,
Jesus loves you.
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