Lesson #57

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REVELATION AND THE SECOND COMING
LESSON #57
ETERNITY FOR THE BELIEVER – REV 21:9-22:5

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 22:7

• READ REV 21:9-22:5 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW JERUSALEM THAT IS PRESENT IN THE MILLENNIUM AND IN ETERNITY:
• THE PLACE PREPARED FOR THE REDEEMED, CALLED THE BRIDE, IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAUTY OF THE PLACE AS WELL AS THE BEAUTY AND GLORY OF THE REDEEMED.
• WHY DO THE GATES REPRESENT THE OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS AND THE FOUNDATION REPRESENTS THE NEW TESTAMENT SAINTS?
• THE JEWS WERE THE ONES THAT HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING OTHERS TO GOD (JOH 4:22).
• THE APOSTLES HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH OTHERS HOW TO ESTABLISH THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ON CHRIST (MAT 7:24-27 MAT 16:18).
• THE WALL OF SALVATION SETS ON THE TEACHINGS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT AND HOW TO BE BORN AGAIN.
• THE WALLS SYMBOLIZE THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN THE SAVED AND THE UNSAVED. THAT DIVIDING LINE IS JESUS CHRIST. ALL HUMANS MUST DECIDE WHAT THEY BELIEVE ABOUT WHO JESUS CHRIST IS. (JOH 14:6)
• THE GATES ARE OF PEARL (21:21)
• PEARL IS A SUBSTANCE THAT THE OYSTER SECRETS OVER SOMETHING IRRITATING THAT HAS ENTERED ITS SHELL.
• SIN IS AN IRRITATION THAT GOD COVERS WITH HIS GRACE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
• THOSE WHO ENTER THE GATES HAVE HAD THEIR SINS COVERED WITH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST.
• THE DIMENSIONS:
• WHY IS THE CITY MEASURED?
• THE MEASUREMENT INDICATES TO US THAT THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF BELIEVERS THROUGH HISTORY AND THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR FAITH.
• THE MEASUREMENT INDICATES TO US THAT THERE IS A LIMIT TO GOD’S PATIENCE. ONE DAY GOD WILL CLOSE THE DOOR OF SALVATION.
• THE MEASUREMENT IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO PERSECUTED BELIEVERS IN JOHN’S DAY THAT GOD HAS DETERMINED THAT NOT ONE WHO IS WILLING TO COME WILL BE LOST.
• THE MEASUREMENT INDICATES TO US THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL IS IMPORTANT TO GOD AND EACH ONE HAS HIS OWN SPECIAL PLACE.
• THE MEASUREMENT INDICATES THAT CHRIST’S PROMISE TO PREPARE A SPECIAL PLACE FOR US IS COMPLETED.
• IN GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE, HE KNOWS HOW MANY REDEEMED PEOPLE THERE WILL BE IN ETERNITY.
• THE SIZE IS 1500 MILES ON EACH SIDE AND HEIGHT
• FOR EXAMPLE, THIS IS THE DISTANCE FROM THE STATE OF MAINE TO FLORIDA AND FROM THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO THE COLORADO RIVER.
• THE WALL IS 216 FEET HIGH AND/OR THICK.
• THERE ARE 18-20 PRECIOUS STONES MENTIONED TO INDICATE THE ETERNAL BEAUTY OF BEING WITH CHRIST.
• THESE ARE NEARLY THE SAME AS THE 12 STONES ON THE BREASTPLATE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT HIGH PRIEST.
• ALL KNOWN GEMS OF THE WORLD ARE CLASSED INTO THESE SAME 12 CATEGORIES.
• REMEMBER THE KINGS OF THE EARTH THAT BROUGHT TRIBUTE TO JERUSALEM DURING THE MILLENNIUM. THIS TRIBUTE IS NOW TAKEN INTO THE NEW JERUSALEM (SEE VS. 26)
• THE SEVEN “NO MORES” OF ETERNITY:
• THESE SEVEN ASPECTS GIVE US THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ETERNAL LIFE:

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ETERNAL LIFE THE SEVEN “NO MORES”
=1= NO MORE SEA	REV 21:1
=2= NO MORE DEATH, SORROW, CRYING, PAIN, OR MEMORY OF IT	REV 21:4
=3= NO MORE TEMPLE	REV 21:22
=4= NO MORE SUN OR MOON	REV 21:23
=5= NO MORE NIGHT	REV 21:25
=6= NO MORE DEFILEMENT, ABOMINATION, OR LIES	REV 21:27
=7= NO MORE CURSE	REV 22:3

• =1= WHY IS THERE NO MORE SEA ?
• ALL THE AREA WILL BE INHABITED BY THE REDEEMED OF GOD.
• =2= WHY IS THERE NO MORE MEMORY OF DEATH, SORROW, OR PAIN?
• GOD WILL NOT PERMIT ANYTHING NEGATIVE TO SPOIL THE BLESSEDNESS OF AN ETERNAL PRESENCE WITH CHRIST.
• =3= WHY IS THERE NO MORE TEMPLE?
• THE PURPOSE OF A TEMPLE WAS FOR MAN TO GO AND GET IN TOUCH WITH GOD.
• THE OLD TESTAMENT TABERNACLE OR TEMPLE WAS TO FOCUS MAN’S ATTENTION ON GOD WHO DESIRED A RELATIONSHIP WITH MAN. THE TABERNACLE WAS A TYPE OR SYMBOL OF CHRIST AND HIS MINISTRY.
• THE MILLENNIUM TEMPLE WAS FOR HUMANS TO SEE THE TYPE OF CHRIST AND BE SAVED.
• IN ETERNITY ALL ARE SAVED, SO THE NEED OF A TYPE OR SYMBOL IS GONE. BELIEVERS WILL NOT NEED A SYMBOL OF GOD’S PRESENCE BECAUSE THEY WILL THEN HAVE THE REAL THING, JESUS CHRIST. BELIEVERS WILL BE FACE TO FACE WITH CHRIST WHO TABERNACLED AMONG US AND WILL FOR ETERNITY. (JOH 1:14)
• =4= WHY WILL THERE BE NO MORE SUN OR MOON?
• CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. THE GLORY OF HIS PRESENCE WILL BE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.
• THE SUN, MOON, AND STARS OF CREATION WERE TO BE SIGNS TO MAN THAT THERE IS A GOD. (ROM 1:19-20) ALL BELIEVERS KNOW THAT THERE IS A GOD. THEREFORE THERE IS NO MORE NEED OF THOSE ASPECTS OF CREATION THAT PROVE HIS EXISTENCE.
• IN THE MILLENNIUM, LIGHT IS INCREASED BY 7 FOLD. IN ETERNITY THERE IS NO SIN OR REBELLION, NO HUMAN FAILINGS OF THE FLESH TO DIM THE LIGHT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.
• =5= WHY WILL THERE BE NO MORE NIGHT?
• CHRIST IS ALWAYS PRESENT. HE IS ALWAYS THE LIGHT. WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF LIGHT, THERE IS NO DARKNESS.
• READ 1JOH 1:5-7
• SATAN’S DOMAIN WAS DARKNESS AND HE IS GONE FOREVER.
• =6= WHY IS THERE NO MORE DEFILEMENT, ABOMINATION OR LIES?
• ALL EVIL CAME UPON THIS EARTH AND MANKIND FROM SATAN AND HIS FALLEN ANGELS THROUGH REBELLION.
• ALL EVIL FROM MAN’S REBELLION IS GONE FOREVER THROUGH THE REDEMPTION OF JESUS CHRIST.
• =7= WHAT CURSE AND WHY IS THERE NO MORE OF IT?
• MOST OF THE CURSE OF GEN 3 AND DEU 28:15-68 IS REMOVED IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM. HOWEVER, ONE ASPECT REMAINED IN THE MILLENNIUM, AND THAT WAS ETERNAL DEATH.(ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD). DEATH IS FINALLY REMOVED FOREVER IN ETERNITY. (REV 20:14)
• ETERNAL LIFE IS THE ABSENCE OF PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DEATH FOR ALL OF THE REDEEMED.

• THE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ETERNITY:
• THE RIVER OF THE WATER OF LIFE (REV 22:1)
• WATER IS ONE OF THE SYMBOLS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
• READ JOH 7:37-39
• THE ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT OF JESUS’ PROMISE OF THE RIVERS OF LIVING WATER OCCURS IN ETERNITY.
• READ GEN 2:10
• JUST AS THE RIVER WATERED THE GARDEN OF EDEN, THE RIVER OF THE WATER OF LIFE WILL BRING ETERNAL LIFE IN ETERNITY.
• THE TREES OF LIFE-BEARING FRUIT (12 FRUIT). (REV 22:2)
• THE FRUIT:
• READ GAL 5:22-23
• THIS IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT THAT IS FULLY MANIFESTED IN ETERNITY.
• THE LEAVES:
• LEAVES FOR THE HEALING OF NATIONS
• THESE LEAVES ARE USED DURING THE MILLENNIUM FOR HEALTH AND AN EXTENDED LIFE SPAN (GEN 3:24)
• THE TREE OF LIFE (REV 2:7)
• READ GEN 2:9
• ACCESS TO THE RIVER AND THE TREE OF LIFE WERE FORBIDDEN IN GENESIS AFTER MAN’S SIN BECAUSE OF GOD’S MERCY TO PREVENT MAN FROM LIVING FOREVER IN SIN.
• WHEN THE CURSE IS REMOVED AND SIN IS GONE, ACCESS IS RESTORED.
• NOTICE THAT ACCESS IS LIMITED IN THE MILLENNIUM WHILE THERE ARE NATIONS BUT THERE IS NO LIMITATION IN ETERNITY.
• WILL THERE BE NATIONS IN ETERNITY?
• ETERNITY WILL PROBABLY NOT HAVE NATIONS, BECAUSE ALL PEOPLE ARE SAVED AND REDEEMED. ALL THESE BELIEVERS LIVE IN THE NEW JERUSALEM, WHILE ALL THE UNSAVED NON-BELIEVERS LIVE IN THE LAKE OF FIRE FOR ETERNITY.
• THE PROPHETIC DOUBLE FULFILLMENT:
• REV 21:24 AND 22:2 REFER TO NATIONS, BUT THIS IS PROBABLY A FLASHBACK TO THE MILLENNIUM BECAUSE THE NEW JERUSALEM IS SUSPENDED OVER THE EARTH AT THAT TIME.
• WE, THEREFORE, SEE A DOUBLE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY OF THE NEW JERUSALEM.
• THE FIRST FULFILLMENT IS IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM:
• IN THE MILLENNIUM, KINGS BRING TRIBUTE TO CHRIST FOR THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES CELEBRATION (REV 21:26).
• IN THE MILLENNIUM, HUMAN FLESH THAT IS STILL SUBJECT TO ILLNESS AND DEATH NEEDS THE HEALING LEAVES THAT WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE OBEDIENT FOR AN EXTENDED LIFE SPAN.
• THE SECOND FULFILLMENT IS ETERNAL LIFE:
• IN ETERNITY, THERE WILL BE NO OTHER KINGS, ONLY CHRIST.
• IN ETERNITY, THERE IS NO HUMAN FLESH, NO SICKNESS, NO DEATH, SO THERE WILL BE NO NEED FOR THE HEALING OF NATIONS.
• WHAT THINGS WILL BELIEVERS DO FOR ALL OF ETERNITY?
• CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, WE WILL NOT BE SITTING ON A CLOUD PLAYING A HARP.
• WE WILL WORSHIP (REV 21:3)
• WE WILL FELLOWSHIP (REV 22:4)
• FELLOWSHIP WILL BE PERSONAL AND INTIMATE…ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LOVE.
• WE WILL SERVE (REV 22:3)
• WE WILL PERFORM LOVING ACTS OF SERVICE TO CHRIST AND TO OTHER BELIEVERS.
• WE WILL REIGN (REV 22:5)
• THERE WILL BE LEVELS OF AUTHORITY FOR WHICH THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM IS THE TRAINING PERIOD.
• THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS A REVEALING OF JESUS CHRIST:

• THE MANY TITLES OF CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

=1=	FAITHFUL WITNESS	REV 1:5
=2=	FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD	REV 1:5
=3=	RULER OVER THE KINGS OF THE EARTH	REV 1:5
=4=	ALPHA AND OMEGA	REV 1:8
=5=	BEGINNING AND THE END	REV 1:8
=6=	WHO IS, WHO WAS, AND WHO IS TO COME	REV 1:8
=7=	THE ALMIGHTY	REV 1:8
=8=	THE FIRST AND THE LAST	REV 1:11,17
=9=	THE SON OF MAN	REV 1:13
=10=	HE WHO LIVES	REV 1:18
=11=	HE WHO HOLDS THE 7 STARS	REV 2:1
=12=	HE WHO HAS THE SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD	REV 2:12
=13=	SON OF GOD	REV 2:18
=14=	HE WHO HAS EYES LIKE A FLAME OF FIRE AND FEET LIKE FINE BRASS	REV 2:18
=15=	HE WHO HAS THE 7 SPIRITS OF GOD AND THE 7 STARS	REV 3:1
=16=	HE WHO IS HOLY	REV 3:7
=17=	HE WHO IS TRUE	REV 3:7
=18=	HE WHO HAS THE KEY OF DAVID	REV 3:7
=19=	THE AMEN	REV 3:14
=20=	THE FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS	REV 3:14
=21=	THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD	REV 3:14
=22=	THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH	REV 5:5
=23=	THE ROOT OF DAVID	REV 5:5; 22:16
=24=	THE LAMB (USED 28 TIMES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION)	REV 5:6,8
=25=	LORD, HOLY AND TRUE	REV 6:10
=26=	LORD GOD ALMIGHTY	REV 15:3
=27=	KING OF THE SAINTS	REV 15:3
=28=	THE WORD OF GOD	REV 19:13
=29=	KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS	REV 19:16
=30=	THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR	REV 22:16
=31=	LORD JESUS	REV 22:20
=32=	LORD JESUS CHRIST	REV 22:21

HOMEWORK
REVELATION 22:6-20
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF REV 21:9-22:5

• AS YOU CONTEMPLATE ETERNITY WITH CHRIST, WHICH ASPECTS OF ETERNITY ARE THE MOST ENCOURAGING TO YOU IN YOUR LIFE TODAY?
• HOW DO THESE ASPECTS HELP YOU TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO CHRIST?

• PREPARATION FOR REV 22:6-20
• READ REV 22:6-20
• WHAT INVITATION IS GIVEN IN THESE VERSES?
• WHY IS THIS INVITATION SO IMPORTANT?
• HAVE YOU TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THIS INVITATION? WHY OR WHY NOT?
• IF YOU HAVE NOT TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THIS INVITATION AND DESIRE ETERNAL LIFE WITH JESUS CHRIST, YOU NEED TO TALK TO YOUR PASTOR OR YOUR TEACHER ABOUT THIS DESIRE.

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 22:13