Tag: trustworthy and true
Sunday rest and reflection: Rest!
Dear Friends,
On this last Sunday of 2024, after reading and writing through the Bible, I can rest because we can finish on time! As I reflect on this journey, I have learned to see Jesus in a fresh way. I feel that I know Him better and have an understanding of His mercy for us. He longs to have fellowship with each of us and desires that none perish or suffer the wrath of God against sin.
We are secure in Christ and can rest today in our salvation and our future. Every promise of Scripture is given that we might escape the corruption in this world and enter the abundance provided by Christ. His power and wisdom exceed anything that we even remotely understand. He is working out His plans to bring everything in heaven and earth and under the earth into harmony with God the Father. He is confident and victorious and we can be too.
Government powers and world rulers are no match for Jesus either. All the armies, nuclear weapons, and political decrees can’t stop Him. Neither can religious deception and humanistic idolatry stop Jesus from destroying all sin and rebellion and ruling with absolute truth and justice. Both the Beast and False Prophet are thrown into the Lake of Fire, where they are tormented for ever and ever! The wicked are judged and get their just desserts!
The end of Revelation is a new beginning! A new heaven and new earth come into being and the righteous bask in the presence of the Lord and dwell with Him for ever and ever! These words are trustworthy and the One who spoke them is Truth Himself! We are so blessed to know these promises and by faith live in them today and for ever! Have a great day of rest!
In His Love, Pastor John
New Heavens, Earth and Jerusalem!
Scripture reading for December 30th: Revelation 21
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her Husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)
God had promised through Isaiah to bring a new heaven and new earth. (Isaiah 65:17-19, 25) 66:22) This would come after the time of judgment after the millennial reign of Christ. God’s kingdom would fully come. God would dwell with His people as a husband with His Bride and fulfill the prophesy of “Emmanuel”, “God with us”! He would comfort His people, wiping away their tears and removing their need to mourn! The former things would not even be remembered, because God would make everything new! The earth would not be subject to decay and the animal kingdom would live in harmony with mankind in peace known before only in the Garden of Eden before the fall!
The new Jerusalem would be home of the Bride of Christ–Jerusalem would be made new and become a city of peace and joy with God in it’s center and it’s very light! It would have streets of pure gold and would be adorned with jewels and 12 giant pearls as it’s gates! “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (Revelation 21:27) The kingdom would indeed be beyond what we, the saints, could hope for, think about or imagine!