Revelation 21 +22
What is heaven like? How do you picture it?
Of course it’s difficult to imagine what we don’t yet see but a lot of people seem to think it will be something like the best bits of this life just without the hassle.
Christians are at an advantage here for God has given us some information as to what we might expect and it sounds really wonderful!
The Bible says God so loved the world He gave His only Son that whoever trusts in Jesus will not die without hope but have eternal life. Jesus reassured His disciples at the Last Supper He was going ahead to prepare a place in His Father’s house and would return to take us there that we might be where He is.
This is why Peter and Paul writing later in the New Testament and both suffering intense persecution wrote about desiring to ‘depart’ this present life and ‘be with Christ which is far better’.
So whatever else it will be like, the life that is to come will be ‘at home’ with our Lord, comforted and blessed forever.
The book of Revelation, in its vivid, picture language, gives us a bit more detail by contrasting two cities, Rome and Jerusalem. Rome is portrayed as a wicked prostitute, Jerusalem as a pure bride.
1st century Rome was capitol of a vast, seemingly invincible empire stretching from Britain to Asia. It was wealthy and sophisticated but also proud and cruel. Women, children and slaves were used and abused like property. The Emperor demanded he be worshipped like a god and Christians were persecuted if they refused. Even though Revelation 17 + 18 describe the city as being like Babylon in Daniel’s day the Apostle John would have had no problem identifying the regime that had killed his fellow Apostles and believers. The controlling, beastlike ruler with the number 666, for John that would obviously add up to Caesar.
This pattern has been repeated through the centuries all over the world. Human societies become wealthy and proud. They refuse to acknowledge God, they glorify themselves, ruthless governments and dictators seek to control people and brutally repress any who dissent.
But as the book of Revelation draws to a climax Jesus, Son of God, King of kings and Lord of lords returns in glory at the head of the angelic host and every last idolatrous, beastlike kingdom of the world is overthrown.
In radical comparison with corrupt, immoral and dangerous human cities and kingdoms like 1st century Rome the Apostle John is shown ‘new heavens and a new earth’ with as a centrepiece a ‘new Jerusalem’.
Here is the capitol city of God and His people forever! Here is the throne of God and His Messiah, the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb Who was slain but Who lives forever. It is a city ruled by Jesus and filled with His love. It is a city of exquisite beauty and unrivalled prosperity. It is a city renewed and at peace for there people of all nations and every background who trust in Jesus as Saviour are invited to live together, united with Him as our King.
Now country folk may be dismayed at the thought of heaven being a ‘city’ but did you notice it’s a garden city? Again borrowing imagery from OT prophets like Ezekiel John is shown a river of living water flowing down the main street watering the tree of life with plentiful fruit, whose leaves bring healing to the nations.
This is Eden restored! The fellowship with God and the harmony of the original creation which we human beings threw away and destroyed by our disobedience will be renewed through Jesus. The Creator will once again live with His creation and wipe every tear from their eyes. ‘No longer will there be any curse…There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.’ No more sin so no more tragic consequences. Everything will be ‘made new’.
Now did you also note that no human corruption is allowed to spoil this new city of God? The final verses of Scripture are absolutely clear – no one practising murder, deceit, idolatry, witchcraft or sexual immorality gets through the gate. Such things and those who practise them are completely banished.
The people given to inherit the new Jerusalem are redeemed by the blood of Jesus the Lamb and are pictured as a pure and beautiful Bride dressed in clean robes. Let us then be very sure our trust is in Jesus as our Redeemer and that our daily lifestyle is holy and pleasing to Him!
Christians have been given these precious promises to live in anticipation of heaven, no less than a glorious home with our Lord forever. Not surprisingly the closing lines of Revelation contain this prayer, ‘Amen. Come Lord Jesus’!
What is heaven like? How do you picture it?
Of course it’s difficult to imagine what we don’t yet see but a lot of people seem to think it will be something like the best bits of this life just without the hassle.
Christians are at an advantage here for God has given us some information as to what we might expect and it sounds really wonderful!
The Bible says God so loved the world He gave His only Son that whoever trusts in Jesus will not die without hope but have eternal life. Jesus reassured His disciples at the Last Supper He was going ahead to prepare a place in His Father’s house and would return to take us there that we might be where He is.
This is why Peter and Paul writing later in the New Testament and both suffering intense persecution wrote about desiring to ‘depart’ this present life and ‘be with Christ which is far better’.
So whatever else it will be like, the life that is to come will be ‘at home’ with our Lord, comforted and blessed forever.
The book of Revelation, in its vivid, picture language, gives us a bit more detail by contrasting two cities, Rome and Jerusalem. Rome is portrayed as a wicked prostitute, Jerusalem as a pure bride.
1st century Rome was capitol of a vast, seemingly invincible empire stretching from Britain to Asia. It was wealthy and sophisticated but also proud and cruel. Women, children and slaves were used and abused like property. The Emperor demanded he be worshipped like a god and Christians were persecuted if they refused. Even though Revelation 17 + 18 describe the city as being like Babylon in Daniel’s day the Apostle John would have had no problem identifying the regime that had killed his fellow Apostles and believers. The controlling, beastlike ruler with the number 666, for John that would obviously add up to Caesar.
This pattern has been repeated through the centuries all over the world. Human societies become wealthy and proud. They refuse to acknowledge God, they glorify themselves, ruthless governments and dictators seek to control people and brutally repress any who dissent.
But as the book of Revelation draws to a climax Jesus, Son of God, King of kings and Lord of lords returns in glory at the head of the angelic host and every last idolatrous, beastlike kingdom of the world is overthrown.
In radical comparison with corrupt, immoral and dangerous human cities and kingdoms like 1st century Rome the Apostle John is shown ‘new heavens and a new earth’ with as a centrepiece a ‘new Jerusalem’.
Here is the capitol city of God and His people forever! Here is the throne of God and His Messiah, the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb Who was slain but Who lives forever. It is a city ruled by Jesus and filled with His love. It is a city of exquisite beauty and unrivalled prosperity. It is a city renewed and at peace for there people of all nations and every background who trust in Jesus as Saviour are invited to live together, united with Him as our King.
Now country folk may be dismayed at the thought of heaven being a ‘city’ but did you notice it’s a garden city? Again borrowing imagery from OT prophets like Ezekiel John is shown a river of living water flowing down the main street watering the tree of life with plentiful fruit, whose leaves bring healing to the nations.
This is Eden restored! The fellowship with God and the harmony of the original creation which we human beings threw away and destroyed by our disobedience will be renewed through Jesus. The Creator will once again live with His creation and wipe every tear from their eyes. ‘No longer will there be any curse…There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.’ No more sin so no more tragic consequences. Everything will be ‘made new’.
Now did you also note that no human corruption is allowed to spoil this new city of God? The final verses of Scripture are absolutely clear – no one practising murder, deceit, idolatry, witchcraft or sexual immorality gets through the gate. Such things and those who practise them are completely banished.
The people given to inherit the new Jerusalem are redeemed by the blood of Jesus the Lamb and are pictured as a pure and beautiful Bride dressed in clean robes. Let us then be very sure our trust is in Jesus as our Redeemer and that our daily lifestyle is holy and pleasing to Him!
Christians have been given these precious promises to live in anticipation of heaven, no less than a glorious home with our Lord forever. Not surprisingly the closing lines of Revelation contain this prayer, ‘Amen. Come Lord Jesus’!
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