Beyond Description
Revelation 21:1-5
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
Dear Pastor Chat Friends,
First, thanks for your patience and your prayers as Edith and I have been recovering from Covid this past week. We really appreciate all the texts, emails, messages, cards, and words of encouragement during this time. I’m still dealing with the coughing and a sense of fatigue and weakness but wanted to start our Pastor Chats again anyway. Thanks again for all your prayers.
When we go from Revelation 20 to 21, we step out of time into eternity. When we start looking at the last two chapters of the Bible, we quickly realize that there are some things that are beyond description. It is impossible to describe eternity with our limited finite language. John is doing his best to tell us what he is seeing and experiencing with the Holy Spirit directing his pen.
When you read the different commentaries that have been written by wonderful Bible scholars you find that they all have different points of view of exactly John is writing about. Not only is eternity beyond description, but heaven and the Holy City, New Jerusalem is also beyond description. But John does gives us glimpse of what it will be like was he talks about the different characteristics of them.
Even despite Scripture's description, it is difficult to imagine what the eternal city will be like. John characterizes it as a holy city in Revelation 21:27 “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.” Jesus called heaven a prepared place in John 14:1-6.
The New Jerusalem is described by John as a beautiful city, as beautiful as a bride on her wedding day. He amplifies these characteristics in Revelation 21-22. Yes, my friend we can look forward to a place that the song writer talked about in his song, “I Can Only Imagine”.
Please continue to pray for us as also this week I will be talking to the cardiologist about the possibility of surgery for the blockages they have found in my heart.
God bless!
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