Last part! We have made it! Human history begins in a garden and ends in a city that is like a garden paradise. God’s statements recorded in Revelation 21:5–6 summarise these final two chapters: He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. The Citizens of the City (21:1–8) Three things about the citizens of the New Jerusalem. They are God’s people (1–5) . The first heaven and earth were prepared for the first man and woman and their descendants. God had prepared everything for them when He placed them in the garden. God has promised His people a new heaven and earth (Isa. 65:17; 66:22). The old creation must make way for the new creation so God is glorified. Jesus called this event “the renewal” of ...
Revelation Part 12: Revelation 19—20: The King and His Kingdom! Here in Revelation 19—20, John has recorded five key events that will take place before God “wraps up” human history and ushers in His new heavens and earth. 1. Heaven Will Rejoice (19:1–10) There is a word not used elsewhere in the NT and reserved for this moment. It is as though the power of this world, the victory it declares, the universal power of God on display is so incredible, so over whelming that there is no other word that can encapsulate the praise song of victory. Want to know the word? Hallelujah! We throw it around, and that’s okay in one way. But why is heaven not singing it now? Because it is a powerful word. It means, “Praise the Lord”. Which we again say so often (or we used to) that we forget its power. Now, it appears in the twenty four times in Psalms (normally translated as Alleluia, praise the Lord) - Psalms 104–106, 111–117, 135, 145–150. Psalms 146, 147, 148, 149, and 150 begins a...