Pastor's Sunday Blog
Sunday School Lesson
“The Return of the King”
August 26, 2018
Revelation 21:1-8; 22:1-5, 8-15
Pastor’s Notes (Some additional thoughts for your Sunday school lesson):
The Book of Revelation is John’s record of the vision received while on the Isle of Patmos (probably written around AD 95).
While most of the New Testament is historical, Revelation is a futuristic glimpse of what will be.
The Book of Revelation (The Revelation of Jesus Christ) is filled with imagery of God wrath and judgment upon the unbelieving world; however, for the believer, it contains the promise of our future deliverance and final victory over sin and death, from the tragedy of terror to triumph, the conflict of civilization to the coronation of Christ, and from the horrors of hell to the hallelujahs of heaven.
The Book of Revelation is God’s timetable, the history of the future, the record of the events that will surely come to pass.
We are rapidly moving to the end as we know it, to a beginning known to us by faith. For some it will be the reward of eternity in heaven, while for others, it will be the retribution of everlasting hell.
Christ will return to make all things new (Revelation 21:1-5).
“First heaven and the first earth had passed away … See 2 Peter 3:1-13 ….
Why will the heavens (atmospheric) and the earth be destroyed? Answer: Sin’s curse (Genesis 3).
What do you think the “new earth” will look like? Pastor “I believe the new earth will look similar to God’s original creation; the Garden of Eden.”
Interesting question – “Will believers live on earth or heaven or both?”
“… the new Jerusalem … prepared” – John 14:2 Jesus told his disciples, “I go to prepared a place for you…”
God’s unique presence dwells in the New Jerusalem in similarity to His presence in the Holy of Holies. We will no longer walk by faith but by sight.
Perfect unity and perfect peace will exist between God the Father and His children in the eternal reign.
All the harm, hurt, and heartbreak caused by sin will be permanently removed “Discuss the ‘no mores’. Relate what happened to Molly Tibbet to the promise of “no more…”
The new heaven and the new earth, with all its perks, is the personal guarantee of King Jesus. His promise is true.
Christ will separate believers from unbelievers (Revelation 21:6-8; 22:8-15).
“It is done” - everything promised is completed allowing the believer to enter the eternal kingdom. He is faithful to finish what He started.
Compare verse 6 to the invitation offered by Jesus to the Samaritan woman (John 4). Compare “freely” to our understanding of “grace.”
“conquers” does not mean we enter into conflict, but rather our victory in Jesus … “For we are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ” (Romans 8:37). When we accept what Christ has done for us we enter His victory … when we deny what Christ has done for us, remaining in our sin, the final outcome is hell.
21:8 – Habitual sin denotes the absence of Christ’s salvation.
The only one worthy of worship is the Lord our God, no one else. While there are those who are used by God the only one worthy of worship is God. When a religious leader demands worship he is revealing himself to be a false prophet.
Verses 10, 11 tell us that too late is too late …
I don’t know when Jesus will return, but I know it is closer today than it was yesterday. To be prepare live every day as if it was the day.
“washed their robes” See Isaiah 1:18
“Outside” is not proximity, but meant to convey not a part of.
God’s people will live under God’s rule (Revelation 22:1-5).
The river and the tree are both literal and symbolic. They represent Christ redemption. The “tree” is, I believer, the same tree mentioned in the Book of Genesis.
“throne” speaks to Divine authority and power
We are God’s possession, purchased by Christ’s substitutionary death (Also see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Living in the presence of God will always produce praise.
The Light, which is God, dispels the darkness, which is sin. NO MORE DARKNESS
We are not, nor will we be slaves, but rather sons of God and will reign with Him throughout eternity.
Theological Theme: The climax of Christianity is to be in God’s presence in the new heaven and new earth.
Christological/Christ Connection: Christ’s death will have the result of reversing the curse of Genesis 3 which will find fulfillment when Jesus returns to the new earth to reign.
Missional Application: Hope for the heart comes from the promise that God will make all things new; sin and death will be vanquished from the Kingdom of God.