Okay, we're here now for our final message on the book of Revelation as Craig indicated tomorrow morning
I'll be talking about the man of lawlessness and 2nd Thessalonians 2, which is related to what we're talking about in Revelation
But it's not found in Revelation itself, but there are some overlaps there well
We've come to the end of Revelation our study together, and I want us to consider
God's goal for Revelation or the results of these judgments now
Hopefully you've seen John's main point or at least you've seen my understanding of John's main point
the general flow and some of the big issues
involved in the judgment scenes in Revelation
but revelation is not totally about judgment and now I want us to focus on some of the more glorious and peaceable and
loving aspects of Revelation in its conclusion
And we'll be talking about the Millennium and the new creation
These are blessed results of the judgments against Israel
They are the happy conclusion to this very judgment oriented book the woes are not an end in themselves
But they lead to a glory that it's only from God himself
So we're going to learn that all things work together for good even the judgment of Israel in AD 70
Let's consider first the millennial reign of Christ and once again
You'll have to pardon me for moving so quickly
But I have given you the references so that it might help you let some of the stick with you
But we do need to move quickly
Remember John has specifically declared, and I keep reiterating this that the events are shortly to take place because the time is near
Well now having shown how this is so through much. I believe compelling exegesis and
historical awareness
We need to ask a question. Yeah, but what about Revelation chapter 20 that speaks of a thousand year reign of Christ?
How does that fit into a book with the near timeframe as we've been talking about?
Well the answer is it lies in this fact
Heavens having spoken about the judgment of God upon the Jews and the gate great catastrophes that occur and the upheaval
here in Revelation 20
John takes a long view glance to the future
to show the outcome of what all these judgments are ultimately to be
you see if
If we try to say that every single event in the book of Revelation must occur
Shortly, then we're saying the thousand years must be concluded shortly
and that would mean therefore that the whole book that shortly could be long I
Mean do you see the problem there a thousand years is not a short amount of time?
even if it's a symbolic figure
which I believe it to be it's a symbolic figure not of a short period of time but of a long period of time
So the way that I understand this is
the theme and bulk of the book have to do with
Events that are shorted to come to pass
but John at this time
Gives a glance off into the distant future
To show that the Christians who are dying as martyrs
are not dying to be forgotten there are consequences
historical long-term consequences to their suffering and
so
that's how we understand the thousand years fitting in the context, but and
this is very important I
Believe the thousand years do begin in the first century
and therefore the thousand years begin shortly
Because a time is near and that's what we want to be looking up
Now let's briefly look at the key components of the thousand year reign of Christ
That's look at the thousand years first themselves
and you must realize upfront
This remarkable feature, which you wouldn't suspect
reading the dispensational literature
Even though the idea of a millennium is common in the eschatological debate
It's not very common in Scripture in fact
It is intensely rare in Scripture
in fact it only occurs in one passage of Scripture in fact
It's only in one third of that one chapter in Scripture and
in fact that chapter and book that it occurs
Then is the most symbolic book in all of Scripture,
and yet there are those who believe there's going to be a literal
1000 year reign of Christ
Because we read about it in the most symbolic book in scripture well.
Let's see what's going on here and all of this
Let's consider symbolic images
We must recognize that revelation is filled with symbolism
Computers considered just a few examples
in Revelation 4
Surrounding the throne of God we have a strange compound of creatures who are filled with eyes in
Chapter 9 verse 6 we have locusts who have the faces of men the teeth of lions
crowns of gold and Tails like scorpions in
Chapter 9 verse 17 we have line headed serpent tailed horses that belch fire and smoke
We have in Chapter 12 verses three and four
Actually chapter yeah chapter 12 verses three and four a seven headed red
Dragon with ten horns and seven Crown's and with his tail he pulls down one-third of the stars of heaven
In Chapter 12 14. We have a woman with eagle's wings who's standing on the moon
and
Then chapter thirteen verse two we have a mini crown seven-headed beast that is a compound of three carnivores in
Chapter 19 verse 15 we have Christ returning from heaven on a horse
with a sword in his mouth
and in chapter 21 verses 10 and 16 we have this city coming out of heaven that is a
1500 mile, cube
Which means?
Since the space shuttle flies about 200 miles above the earth
this city extends
1,300 miles higher than the space shuttle
That is not literal. It is symbol and
In fact the city would cross half the United States and its size and its dimensions and extend up into space
And so this is a book that is the book replete with
Symbolic imagery the next time times somebody claims
all you need to take Revelation literally
Ask them about these things and say do you take them literally and you'll find out they don't and they're gonna have to realize they
Have to approach the book in a symbolic fashion
and consider secondly symbolic value
To understand the thousand-year reign of Christ we must see how the idea of a thousand is used elsewhere in Scripture
It is very often a symbolic value. That is not tied to a literal timeframe or numbering
It's an emblem of far-reaching
enormous perfect consequences
Exodus 20 verse 6 says
and that you remember that Exodus 20 is the 10 commandments
He shows mercy to a thousand generations of those who?
Loved him does that mean people living in the thousand and first generation are out
no the thousand generations is simply a
quantitative figure of great enormity
Deuteronomy Deuteronomy 111 may the Lord make you a
Thousand times more numerous than you are
but don't expect him to make you a thousand and one times more numerous
That's not what saying
it's a number that is just spoken of like we might say well go out
And if we see there's tons of shopping in our area. We don't go out weigh the shopping is happens to be tons
Psalm 50 verse 10 every beast of the forest is mine and the cattle on a Thousand Hills
But since there are 10 million Hills in the world
I only own a thousand of them God says so the rest of them belong to somebody else
no obviously this is symbolic
Psalm 84 verse 10
a day in your course is better than a thousand, but Lord don't keep me there two thousand
You know what? I'm saying.
This is not what's happening
the thousand is a figure of enormous consequence and
so according to the widespread symbolic usage in the Bible this perfectly rounded figure of a thousand is a
symbolic portrayal of a long period of time
Remember Christ's Kingdom is only constrained to the figure of a thousand in this most symbolic book and only in this one
portion of this one chapter
And so the Thousand Year reign of Christ is not talking about three hundred and sixty five thousand days
It's talking about a long period of time
and I don't think we can judge exactly how long it'll be
Thirdly the contextual assertion
chapter 20 verse 1
Clearly establishes the passage as a vision which lends itself to
symbolism and symbolic imagery and portrayal
because it opens and I saw
so it's a vision that he's seeing and
The first event seen is the binding of Satan with a chain, and we must ask well.
What kind of chain is that?
Satan is a spiritual being this is a symbolic portrayal of the constraint upon Satan and
So it's better to take the thousand years as a symbolic figure of quantitative perfection of great enormous
consequences and
Long-term success so whatever the thousand-year reign of Christ is it speaks of a great long period of time
of Christ's rule
Well, let's consider now the binding of Satan
we'll get back around to the reign of Christ in a moment
revelation 20 verses 1 and 2 say I
Saw an angel coming down from heaven having the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand
And he laid hold on the dragon
That serpent of old who's the devil and Satan and bound him for a thousand years that he might not deceive the nation's any longer
Now notice he sees a dragon, but he explains it as being the devil
so the vision is a dragon
But the reality is it's the devil and I doubt if he looks really like a dragon ok
Well, what is the significance of this visual imagery?
What is its meaning and its purpose in the book of Revelation?
what I think it's Teaching us is that Satan?
Because of something Christ as in the first century
will be constrained
So that the kingdom of Christ can spread to all the world
That's basically in a nutshell what this binding of Satan is all about
so that the kingdom of Christ Can go out into all the world and not suffer
satanic oppression and destruction
Well, let's let's consider a little more closely
Satan's binding openly declared
His binding began in the first century
Know what Christ teaches during his earthly ministry
in Matthew 12 crisis charged as being in a league with Satan
That he's casting out demons by Beelzebub
Well in Matthew 12 28 and 29 as Christ responds to this charge against him
That's fallacious and charge against him
He says this at verses 28 29
if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God surely the kingdom of God has come upon you or
How can one enter a strong Mans house and?
Buying and plunder his Goods unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house
Notice that Christ says in the first century during his ministry
the kingdom of God has come
if he's casting out demons by the Spirit of God which he is
then according to Christ's word the kingdom has come and
If the kingdom has come his casting out demons must be understood as Christ
Binding the strongman Satan so that he can plunder Satan's Kingdom and retrieve men from the bondage of Satan
Matthew 12 verses 28 and 29 is something of a functional equivalent of
Revelation 20 verses 1 and following, and we should they should be read together
And it helpfully can be read together so that you can understand revelation 20 a little better in
Fact it's very interesting
Those who go to Revelation 20 and talk about the kingdom of Christ where we shall
Know let me just read revelation 20 verse 6
the premillennial dispensation of love to read this passage
Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection
Then the last few words say they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years
So they are priests
reigning this priestly Kingdom revelation 20 verse 6
Well, lo and behold in the opening chapter. Where all the keys are located
in Revelation 1 6 John tells the reader already
He has made us a Kingdom priests to God and his father
So revelation 20 is already anticipated in Revelation 1, and what revelation 1 says, he has already made us a kingdom of priests
So we have to recognize that when Satan is bound
He is bound so that the kingdom of Christ rule can spread throughout the world
Secondly
Not only the Satan's binding openly declared, but Satan's binding is Legally accomplished
Satan is bound in legal fact
Through the death of Christ at his resurrection
now. There's there's a a Complexity to the imagery here
Christ binds him while he's alive in his ministry
But it's illegally accomplished at his death and resurrection because John 12 31 and 32 says
Now is the judgment of this world now the ruler of this world shall be cast out
And if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself
Revelation 20 says
Satan is bound so they do not deceive the nation's anymore
John 12 says
The ruler of this world is cast out. I will draw all men to myself
That's really saying the same thing the binding of Satan is the casting out of Satan
The non deception of the nations is drawing all nations to myself. This is the same thing
it's at the death and resurrection of Christ that we have the permanent binding and despoiling of Satan's Kingdom
Notice cautions 2 verses 14 and 15
He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross
Having disarmed principalities and powers. He made a public spectacle over them triumphing over them in it
hebrews 2 verses 14 and 15
In as much, then as the children have per taken a flesh and blood
he himself likewise Sheridan the same that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death that is the devil and
Release those who through fear of death were all their times subject to bondage
Destroying Satan who had the power of death to release those who are under his bondage?
Binding Satan so that he deceive the nation's No More
Casting out Satan so they draw all nations to himself. This is all talking about the same
concept at AD 70
Christ victory over Satan is complete, and it is publicly exhibited
The first enemy of Christianity was Judaism and the first enemy is defeated in AD 70
So that it becomes an exhibition of the fact Christ will overthrow all of his enemies
Not always by the means whereby he overthrew Jerusalem in Israel
But he will conquer his enemies until all of his enemies become a footstool for his feet
Let's consider Satan's binding redemptive Lee explained
The binding of Satan begins in the first centuries legally
determined by the death burial resurrection of Christ and is publicly exhibited in AD
70 and it continues throughout the Christian
Era, that is throughout the millennial period throughout the time of the church as we call it
except for a brief rebellion at the end
Which we may be able to get into
The binding of Satan does not demand his total inactivity though
We might read that and suspect that
rather it speaks of his constriction hist warning
Because you'll remember in Jude 1 and second Peter 2 it
Talks about the angels who were bound in chains of Darkness
We know that to be demons yet
We see demons at work in the world the fact is they're binding means they're constraint by God and here
There is a constraint not only of the Angels, but of the leading evil angels Satan
And we need to ask some people would say well
It doesn't
Seem that Satan's bound and he might really be on a long chain if he's bound and he's still doing his great evil the fact
Is Christ says in Matthew 12 28 29?
I must first bind the strongman, and then I will spoil its good
Goods Christ says he's binding the strongman to spoil its goods
So we're going to interpret scripture not by what we think that ought to entail, but what Christ says it entails
And we're talking about redemptive imagery
now at this point we have to recognize something about the progress of world history
The Old Testament period is a time in which basically?
Only Israel knew the true God now of course there were the Ninevites and others who are stray
figures brought in for a temporary period of time but on the whole
The Old Testament the Old Covenant is a time in which only Israel knows the name of God
Amos 3:2
God says you only have an own of all the families of the earth
That is you only have a love of all the families of the earth
Psalm 147?
Verse 19 he declares his words to Jacob and his statutes to Israel he has not dealt thoughts with any other nation
But since the cross
And the legal demise of Satan in his binding
We find The tables are turned
Matthew 28 verses 18 and 19
All authority in heaven and on earth had been given to me go therefore and make disciples of all the nations
Therefore Paul says in acts 13 47
for thus the Lord has commanded us saying
I have placed you as a light for the Gentiles that you should bring salvation to the ends of the earth
Acts 26 verses 17 and 18 Paul says
regarding a revival
and the the
revelation of Christ to Paul
Paul Paul is told
By Christ that Christ was delivering you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you to
Open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light from the Dominion of Satan to God
That's the same thing as saying Satan is bound that he not deceived the nations anymore Paul was sent
So that he can turn Gentiles from the Dominion of Satan and from darkness to light and to God
It's all the same story
different wording
And so Christ binding of Satan is so that the nation's can
Will not any longer be constricted and kept from the saving work of Christ and because
Satan has been bound the gospel now is going out into all the as having grapefruit as we've seen it happen in history
Canna speak of the rule of Christ for a minute
I looted to it when we're talking about the thousand years, but now I wanted to see that it's the thousand years of Christ's reign
particularly
Christ established his rule and his kingdom in the first century
Christ introduced the kingdom in his ministry and does not await 2,000 years or more to start a Millennial Kingdom
In mark one fourteen and fifteen in fact at the very beginning of Christ public ministry
We read
Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God saying the time is fulfilled the kingdom of God is at hand
It's near
Christ claims to be king while he's on the earth John 18:37
He's speaking to polit
you say rightly than I'm the king for this cause I was born for this cause I've come in the world
He claims to be a king
The first century Christians
Proclaimed him as a king not waiting to the second Advent
in acts 17 7
We read Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar saying there is another king Jesus
So the gospel announcement is that the kingdom of Christ has come in the first century the gospel parallels
Remember Matthew 12 that's very important passage in verses 28 and 29
Matthew 12 parallels revelation 20 in important respects because it speaks
both of the kingdom of Christ and of the binding of Satan
If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God
Surely the kingdom of God has come upon you or how can one enter a strong Mans house and plunder his Goods
Unless he first binds the strong man, then he will plunder his house
Because Christ has plundered Satan's Kingdom and bound the strongman
You living here in America a long way from Israel and Jerusalem and many many years after Christ are converted to
Christ because Satan has been constricted in Christ is now ruling so that his kingdom is moving out into the world to acclaim
sinners like you and me and even Craig and
thirdly I think
I don't want to don't want to get too far afield here, but I think that's possible
thirdly the gospel reality
Like revelation 20 Paul teaches that we are presently ruling with Christ
Revelation 20 says and they shall reign with him a thousand years
well if he is - 6 says
God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.
We are seated with Christ in reign
Colossians 1:13
he has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of his love we're
Already taken from Satan's Kingdom because Satan is bound and conveyed into the kingdom of his love
Revelation 1:6
he has made you a Kingdom priests unto God
These are things to say men about we have been delivered into the kingdom of Christ
Clearly I believe revelation 20 is a symbolic portrayal of Christ's victory over Satan in the first century
so that his kingdom will be established
So that you and I and others of untold millions could be converted to Christ
and no longer subject to the Dominion of darkness
Well, what about the two resurrections? How would you understand those
in Revelation 20 verses 5 & 6?
We read the rest of the Dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished
This is the first resurrection blessed, and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection
Over since the second death has no power
But they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years
What is this signifying? How does this begin in the first century and?
What are these two resurrections?
Well does the scripture speak of two separate and distinct bodily resurrection
separated by a long period of time of a thousand year reign and and the 70 year tribulation
so that there are thousand and seven
Year difference from the rapture through the tribulation through the thousand years to the second resurrection
Well, let's consider this let's consider first the bodily resurrection
We must realize if revelation
20 speaks of two physical bodily resurrection, then it's the only place in the Bible that does so
Elsewhere we only read of one
bodily resurrection the general resurrection of all men who have died
consider these facts
The bodily resurrection occurs on the last day in John 6 39 and 40 Jesus is speaking to the Jews and he says
This is the Father's will which sent me that of all which has given me
I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day
and
This is the will of him that sent me that everyone who sees the Son and believes on him may have everlasting life
And I will raise him up at the last day
Now in the dispensational scheme the resurrection of believers is before the tribulation
Which is before the thousand-year reign of Christ?
Which makes the resurrection of labor's one thousand and seven years before the end?
But Jesus says I will resurrect those who believe in me at the end
Not at the beginning of a millennium or anything of that sort
Believers are resurrected on the last day
He says the same thing in John 6 54 and 11 24 that this is the same author
Who wrote revelation?
Furthermore the bodily resurrection of all men simultaneously and concurrently
Is spoken of in various places in scripture?
John who wrote revelation
Says that records for us in John 5 verses 28 29
jesus' words
The hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth?
Those who have done good to the resurrection of life
those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation
Jesus says there is coming an hour in which all who are in the grave shall come forth
And there's only one resurrection at that hour, and it's a resurrection of the Lost and of the saved
That's the same author of Revelation
Paul agrees in acts 24:15 Paul says there will be a resurrection of the Dead both of the just and the unjust
So revelation 20 cannot be speaking of two separate and distinct physical resurrections
Separated by a hundred and thousand a thousand and seven years
So what are we to do with a another resurrection there do appear to be two resurrections?
Well one of those resurrections is a spiritual resurrection
verses 4 through 6 of Revelation chapter 20 indicates that their first resurrection
involves one class of people in two groups
It deals with Christians
under differing conditions
The first that John sees is notice what he says he saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the Word of God
These people because they had been beheaded, and they're just souls that he sees these are the souls of the deceased
These are martyrs and their special concern in the book of Revelation
but then he sees another group so he sees the martyrs and
Then it goes on to say and those who had not worshiped the beast in his image
And had not received the mark on the forehead and upon their hand he sees dead Christians. He sees living Christians
Thus what John is telling us in Revelation 20 is
That faithful martyrs as well as faithful living Saints
enjoy this first resurrection
Verse 5 though says the rest of the Dead did not live again until the Millenium of the thousand years were finished
the rest of that is another class of men altogether the class distinct from the Christian martyrs and living it's the
lost
And John specifically declares these do not reign with Christ
They are not resurrected with martyrs and believers, but they are resurrected at the end
ok
What he said basically is this
Christians
receive a
resurrection prior to the end
whereas
Unbelievers receive a resurrection only at the end well what's going on? What is this first resurrection? What is this second resurrection?
Well the clue
Resides in the writing of John again and John five he records the words of Christ and notice. I want you to notice
How Christ is going to speak of two kinds of resurrection one being spiritual and one being physical?
the spiritual resurrection is what believers receive whether they're martyrs are living either one and
The physical resurrection is what all men receive including even unbelievers
But notice the backdrop to Revelation 20 in John 5. I tell you the truth
Whoever hears my words and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned
He has crossed over from death to life
in other words he is spiritually dead and now he's alive
that is what resurrection is all about that is a spiritual resurrection I
Tell you the truth the time is coming and has now come
When the Dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live
That is my gospel going out to dead spiritually dead people will bring them to spiritual life
So that they will pass from death to life that is the spiritual resurrection
That's what the gospel is all about the gospel salvation is spoken of as a resurrection and new creation and various images
Then he says do not be amazed at this for time is coming
But it isn't now notice that he doesn't say and now is
Do not be amazed at this for time is coming when all who are in their graves
Will hear his voice and come out those who have done good will
rise to live and those who have done evil will rise and be condemned and
So there are two types of resurrection a spiritual resurrection in salvation that only believers have and then a physical resurrection
which
Unbelievers even will have at the end as they stand before God
and so Christ as
Written as recorded by John
differentiates two types of resurrection physical and spiritual
And we must recognize
That John in Revelation is picking up on that imagery so that he can speak of a spiritual resurrection in a physical resurrection
Salvation is often spoken of as a resurrection
consider two samples in addition to John 5
Ephesians 2 verses 5 and 6
Even when we were shared in trespasses and sins he made us alive together with Christ and raised us up together
That is resurrection imagery. You are resurrected spiritually according to Paul
if you believe in Christ
First John 3:14, we know that we have passed from death to life because we love the Brethren
Okay, first John 3:14 says that we have passed from death to life
therefore the first resurrection
his salvation for believers the second resurrection is a
physical resurrection of all men and the unbeliever has to wait for that resurrection
The first resurrection is throughout Christian history the second resurrection is only at the end of Christian history
at the end of the world and
Thus the millennium is an image of the present reign of Christ and his rule from the right hand of God?
So that he binds Satan's power
So that he draws out for himself men from all nations tongues and tribes to be converted to him
and to be spiritually Resurrected
and those who are not converted died, and they wade in the grave as it were and to the time of the resurrection
Well now what about the new creation?
revelation 21 verses 1 & 2 says
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
now remember the flow of Revelation from old
unfaithful harlot hrus Israel an unfaithful wife
Who's divorced who's judged stoned to death
and now we see the faithful wife?
Taking the place of the old unfaithful wife the New Jerusalem
Replacing the old the New Jerusalem is the church
The new creation imagery here is important for us to grasp
although I believe
That scripture teaches at the end of history in our distant future
Well who knows how far away in the future is it is,
but at the end of history?
There will be an end of history and there will be a consummate
reconstruction of the universe in a new heavens and new earth
a physical consummate new heavens and new earth
however I
Believe that this reference by John is to a spiritual reality which begins in the first century
And I want to give you those reasons why?
In the first place the timeframe suggests
the description of the new creation
Covers Revelation 21 verse 1 through 22 verse 5 and then the very next verse 22 verse 6 says
These words are trustworthy and true the Lord the god of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things
which must
Soon take place
So immediately upon mentioning the new creation he says this must soon take place
Then four verses later verse 10
Then he told me do not set up the words of the prophecy of this book because the time is near
Secondly the dramatic flow
remember John has presented the
divorce of Israel and her judgment in AD 70 as God's divorce of his wife and
The flow of Revelation would expect that God would take a new wife instead of waiting 2000 years
being without a people for 2,000 years
you would expect that once the old people have failed have been divorced and judged
he would take him a new people and
So we would expect that that to occur in the first century
And I believe that that the imagery of John is he especially does that in the destruction of the temple in AD 70
And he's not waiting for another 2,000 or 3,000 years to have his own people
thirdly the new creation language
the new creation that I believe by the way to remind you I believe that there will be at the end of history a
consummate new creation
But that new new creation begins in spiritual principle in the first century
It begins impacting history before the consummation
Remember John is picking up throughout his book on Old Testament imagery in here
We need to have Isaiah 65 verses 17 and following in mind.
This is the source of John's imagery here listen carefully
know how John Sounds like he's talking about either. Heaven above
or that consummate new creation at the end of history
I grant it sounds like that if you just read these verses, but I'm going to show you something fascinating
revelation 21 verses 1 & 4 I
Saw a new heavens and new earth for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there was no longer any see
verse 4
He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes and there shall be no longer any death
There shall no longer be any mourning or crying or pain the first things have passed away
that sounds like either a picture of heaven
where there's no death or more than anymore sorrow
or a picture of the end the very end of history at the consummation of the
Current earth and the consummation new heavens and new earth however
notice what Isaiah 65 says
This is very obviously the source of John's wording here verses 17 through 19
Behold I create a new heavens and new earth.
I mean, that's a quotation in revelation behold
I create a new heavens and new earth and the former shall but not be remembered or come to mind
remember that in Revelation 21
But be glad to rejoice forever and what I create for behold I create
Jerusalem as a rejoicing and her people as a joy
I will rejoice in Jerusalem
And joy and my people the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her nor the voice of crying
Again, this sounds like heaven or the consummate new heavens and new earth
But it cannot be it is impossible
because in the next few verses well the next verse in Isaiah 65
Right after saying he creates a new heaven new earth verse 20 says
No more shall any infant there live but a few days
Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days for the child shall die
at 100 years old
But this sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed now who believes that in heaven or the consummate new
Creation that there will be sinners
There will be cursed
There will be birth there will be infants there will be death
Those are not features of heaven or the consummate new creation
Clearly then Isaiah was not referring to the final order
Back to the pre final order the new covenant era the time of the church the time of the reign of Christ
Under this imagery that is leading towards the consummate new creation
Paul teaches us
That the Christian is a new creation and every one of you knows where I'm going
I know you know enough scripture to know that second Corinthians 5:17
If anyone is in Christ. He is a new creation the old has gone the new has come
Remember revelation 21 says the old has passed away, and the new has come
Each one of you is a little composite new creation and as our numbers
Intensifying growing the earth the new creation principle is growing with us
So that eventually it will give way to the final consummate new creation in
galatians 6:15 we read
for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything
But a new creation in Christ the new creation
The new creation concept is Christianity the church the kingdom of Christ
Well, let's consider how he describes this bride if the bride is the church
What does the bold dramatic language that John use?
Uses and applies to her meme
he is using elevated poetic imagery to proclick portray the glory of salvation,
and I'll just hit on a few of these and
chapter 21 verse 1
We read of the absence of the sea
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth pass away
And there's no longer any sea
This is an image of harmony and peace because a sea
Is often used by the prophets to be a symbol of discord
for instance isaiah?
57:20 the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire mire and dirt
But Christianity Christianity offers the opposite of a tumultuous sea discord in disharmony
rather Romans 5:1 says therefore
Having been justified by faith. We have peace with God
The world at war with God is like a tumultuous sea the Christian is that one is one who is at peace with God?
the absence of the temple in Revelation 21 verse 22
I saw no temple and in it for the Lord God the Almighty and the lamb are it simple
Well guess what I think you all know where I'm going with this
you are a temple of God because Christ dwells in you Ephesians 2:19 and 20 first Corinthians 3:16 and
6:15 in 2nd Corinthians 6:16
1st Peter 2 verse 5 and 9 these references that say that you are a temple of God, and it's because of
Christ living in you
Excuse me
Then what about the absence of grief and death in Revelation 21 verse 4
it says he shall wipe away every tear and
Their eyes from their eyes and there shall no longer be any death there shall no longer be any mourning or crying or pain
The first things have passed away
Now the new creation salvation removes grief and sorrow at death
in a certain way
1st Thessalonians 4:13 Paul says
I do not want you to be ignorant brethren concerning those who have fallen asleep
Lest you sorrow as others who have no hope
and death
We have hope when we have a Christian loved one who dies
We are sorry. That's for sure, but we're not sorry following as others who have no hope
There is a peace there in fact Jesus says in John 60 verse 50
This is the bread which comes down out of heaven so that one may eat of it and not die
That was Jesus lying that if we protect of him
We do not die because we all physically die no he's speaking in terms of spiritual reality
There is a non death spiritual reality in salvation
That's what John is portraying through the vivid picture that he's painting for us
Notice also the constituting of a family in Revelation 21 verse 7
he who overcomes shall inherit these things
And I will be his God, and he will be my son
the new creation introduces the family of God
First John 3:1 behold what manner of love the father has bestowed on those?
They owned us that we should be called the children of God.
That's all that John is saying there in Revelation 21
The majesty of the bride she shines like a brilliant light in chapter 21 verse 11
Jesus says your city set on a hill, that's to give its light in all the world
She is precious to God. It's costly gold and jewels
Revelation 21 tells us first Peter 1:7 says
the genuineness of your faith is much more precious than gold that perishes
She has a surer foundation and impregnable walls
You know the great pearl gates and the foundation Matthew 16:18 says on this rock
I will build my church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it
The source of nourishment in Revelation 20 to 1
he showed me a river of the water of life clear as crystal
Coming from the throne of God and of the lamb in the middle of its street
John 4:14 says
whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst
But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life
All of this imagery have only quickly tagged
But I think you can see that it's picked up elsewhere in the gospel record and so in conclusion
The Millennium is the same thing as the kingdom of Christ, but in John's visual imagery he calls the kingdom of Christ a millennium
It is the new covenant era the church age
The binding of Satan is Christ's work that began in the first century
through his death burial and resurrection and proclamation of the gospel
He had overthrow Satan and his power so that the gospel can go to all nations
The two resurrections are a physical resurrection and a spiritual resurrection
The new creation is an image of the glorious church that came
Because of what Christ did in the first century. It's a picture that redeemed people of God on earth
Therefore the persecuted men are the persecuted man any Christians in the first century
Need to be emboldened to endure the pains that they are undergoing
They must understand that they are not just there dying from for some local issue
Something that's going to fade out in history. They're being told
no you're giving your life for something. That's going to have long-term historical
Consequences hang in there through the persecute Oriole power of Israel and of Rome that's thank you. That's it
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