Revelation 22:14-20 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
 
AMEN. This is the last appropriate and powerful word of God’s prophetic message. Even more, “Amen” is the name of the Son, who has brought the message: Revelation 3:14b “These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.” To say, “Amen.” is to testify you believe God is Lord of all. It is to testify God’s promises are true and sure: 2 Corinthians 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 
    Indeed, what else is there to say? Know and believe the message of this prophecy and of the entire Bible. Keep its words secure. Do not add or remove the Amen’s words. Receive and speak what is true. Be true to his commands in your heart. Love him with your thoughts, words and deeds. Trust in God, and he will welcome you into his city. You will eat of his tree of life and drink his living water.
    To reject the Amen, you will be outside God’s city. You will be condemned to the lake of fire. He has given himself entirely to you, so you may enter freely into his city as you confess, “Amen.” to the gospel of salvation.
    Is your future secure in  Jesus? Go to him from wherever you are – rich or poor, happy or sad, sick or healthy, hopeless or hopeful, confused or decided, indifferent or determined, proud or humble. Whatever your state of mind, body and soul, you can know the power of his living Word, Jesus Christ. The Amen is the Morning Star, who shines his transforming light into any darkness in your soul. He is David’s offspring, come in the prophecy fulfilled to affirm God’s kingdom is forever. 2 Samuel 7:13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
    He is Living Water, pouring into you the full expression of the Father’s love. The Amen is the Bread of Life whose body is broken for you. 
    Wherever you are in your faith journey, accept his invitation now to dwell more fully with him. Confess, “I have sinned, Jesus. You are my Lord and Savior.” Repent, “I have neglected your love, Abba Father.” Commit, “I will love you with all of my heart, soul and mind, Lord God.”
    Declare, “Amen!” to Living Word made flesh, who has given his all to your eternal life. Anticipate a wonderful life in the eternal city with your heavenly Father. Trust his salvation in all he gives to you. He is the Amen, who has given you himself.
    Amen.
 
Prayer: “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. From Life’s first cry to final breath, you Jesus, command my destiny.” (from “In Christ Alone” by Kristian Stanfill). Amen.
 
Now it is done. We have examined this magnificent epistle to he church of Jesus Christ. Once more, we have seen God’s sovereign majesty over his creation now and forever.
    I believe that too often Revelation is seen only as what will happen in the future. What God revealed to John is occurring now, isn’t it? And there will be a final time when all is fulfilled. We must live in the knowledge God is sovereign over the world; there are trials and tribulations opposing his church; Satan will deceive much of the world; God has marked his own to be delivered from evil; God will come for his own to re-establish his perfection on earth.
    Praise the Lord.
 
If you’d like these teachings in one collection, I will have a book ready by year’s end. I’ll let you know.
 
Thank you to the many who have expressed the ways Revelation has impacted your understanding of God.

Revelation 22:12-13 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
 
REWARD. The human desire is to be rewarded, to receive some payment or benefit for what we do and even who we are. Even in the first sin, Satan tempted Eve and Adam with the reward they would be as God: Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Another way of seeing this is that Satan was promising, “You’ll be God because you can define good and evil. You can be your own savior, your own lawgiver, your own reward!” Mankind has been following the lie, defining his own rewards of self-pleasure and purpose ever since.
   That’s why we must see once more the truth at the close of Scripture. The Holy God, who created the heavens and earth, defines our true, lasting reward. Jesus plainly corrects Satan’s lie, “My reward is with me.” He alone is the source of good. He is he Living Word, the Bread of Life and the Living Water. These names define God’s Word is our eternal, true, alive and saving reward when we consume it.
   But even in Jesus’ truth, doubters and unbelieves will ask, “What good is it to be a Christian, if I have no reward? I’ve gone to church, but  it doesn’t make me well, rich and happy. I even know many people who reject God, and they are doing well. Why would I care about God? Surely, I’ll be in heaven if I do more good than bad in my life.”
   This is the, “I can be God.” talk that burns the soul into Hell. When Jesus adds, “I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” he is referring not to our so-called good deeds in life. Our Lord is speaking of our faith in him. We know this because that is what the entire Bible tells us.
   One primary reason we study all of Scripture is to know the works God requires of us to receive his eternal reward. Yes, there is the aspect of physical reward as the Hebrews obey God’s law. But we see many prophets and leaders suffer as they follow God’s orders.
   Then Jesus comes to clarify how he is “the way” (John 14:6). Luke 6:20  Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because you follow the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” Your reward is given based on what you are – one who follows the Son of Man. When you follow Jesus, you will become as he is – holy and true before the Father. Your eternal salvation is not from what you decide is to be good or not.
   You’re not God. Jesus is.
 
Prayer: I pray to rejoice and be glad in your eternal reward, Lord Jesus. You have determined this; nothing else matters. Amen.
      

Revelation 2:10-11 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.”
 
WHEN the Lord gave to Daniel several visions of the future, he told Danial at one point, “But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”
(Daniel 12:4) God gave to the prophets of old many visions to point to Jesus and his eternal kingdom. But he did not reveal all.
    Then Jesus came in the flesh to more fully demonstrate God’s character: John 14:9b (Jesus said) “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”  Then God’s Spirit came to begin the church and prepare the world for God’s complete salvation plan.
    Now John is told, “Do  not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.” The Old Covenant is complete. The New has begun to lead to a new heaven and earth. It is time for John, the church and the world to know God’s plan. Earth’s calendar is moving more closely to God’s “Kingdom come, his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) We praise God the scrolls are no longer to be sealed. He has given us the Bible to be his Open Book. We see throughout its pages the power, purpose and provision our Father in heaven has for his children and for those who are not.
    Yes, it is essential to know mankind is not one family under God. John defines God’s children in his gospel: John 1:12-13 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
    This is a definite difference! Some people are vile, and some are holy. “Vile” is a harsh word, isn’t it? It means “dreadful”, “awful” and “revolting”. Sin is dreadful before God. He knows how it separates mankind from him. He despises evil because it has ignited a fire of discontent among his people. God’s created order revolts against him as we refuse to trust in the name of Jesus.
    But God’s children are holy – blessed and divine – when we receive Jesus as Lord and believe in his name. Our Spirit-empowered faith makes us clean before God. Jesus’ blood washes away the vile sin and dresses us in his holy robes of redemption.
    The Lord is not approving of sin here. He is affirming some will remain vile in his sight and some will be holy. When he comes, there will be no time for change. One’s relationship with God, either vile or holy at that moment, will be forever.
    Where are you today? Are you vile before God’s eyes? Or are you holy in Jesus’ atoning blood?
 
Prayer: Lord God, you have revealed to mankind all we need to know to be holy before you. I pray for many who are your enemies to become your children today. Amen.
 
 

Revelation 22:8-9 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
 
HAS John had a strange, magnificent dream? Or has he heard from God? Just as the prophets of old declared all they spoke was “the Word of the Lord”,  John affirmed the Lord’s words to him: Revelation 1:1 “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.” Each word, image and experience reveals what will soon take place. (Remember, “soon” is both a sudden occurrence and a measure against eternity.) Various angels, too, have revealed God’s future news to the apostle.
    It is interesting to consider that both “apostle” and “angel” mean “messenger”. An important element of understanding the Bible is to remember it is God’s message to his church. Messages are written and spoken to convey useful information. God’s kingdom was founded on God’s revelation to mankind. Jesus spoke specifically to 12 apostles. The church expanded from the first 12 apostles through an increasing number of messengers who preached, evangelized, taught, administered and defended Jesus’ true church. In the Greek language, those teachers were angels, gospel messengers.
    Each of us today in the church have inherited that legacy of declaring God’s message. Jesus has preached the gospel. The apostles and others have taught us more directly. We are instructed, commanded and challenged to be messengers of faith and purpose.
    Have you ever considered that as a Christian, you are a messenger as the prophets, the apostles, the angels and Jesus? Are you in awe of your great blessing, your extraordinary opportunity and high responsibility? Do you in wonder and joy obey the angel’s words, “Worship God!” to convey the Lord’s message?
    Yes, to “Worship God!” is to honor your God above all things, even your own desires. “Worship God!” means we live into God’s “messenger teachings” as in Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Yes, “Worship God!” is to be as Jesus: John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”   
    To “Worship God!” is the way of your redeemed life. What way have you chosen?   
 
Prayer: Lord God, if I have directed my worship anywhere but to you, awaken me to that sin. Turn my heart, my hands and my feet to worship you above all. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Revelation 22:6-7 The angel said to me, “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 that must soon take place.” 7 “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”
 
NOTICE there are two messages. The first is from the angel who has been revealing God’s victory come to earth. The second message is from the Lord Jesus. The angel affirms the truth has been delivered. The described events will “soon take place.” The Lord then confirms, “I am coming soon.”
    This messenger pattern is the way God has worked in history and is working now. The prophets of old were his first messengers to prepare the world for his incarnation as a man. Then Jesus came. Here the angel is a prophetic messenger preparing the world for Jesus to come again. The angel affirms all John has seen and heard is from the sovereign Lord. John assures the church this is God’s word, not his own.  
    “But what do both the angel and Jesus mean by ‘soon’?” you might ask. Do you wonder why the Lord hasn’t come “soon” since that day? “Soon” can mean to immediately appear. He will appear soon – suddenly without warning. “Soon” can also mean a short time within God’s eternal plan. Peter answers the “soon” question in 2 Peter 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  
    God’s pattern to reveal himself to his creation is very purposeful. We can trust these words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, is indeed “the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
    Do you confess his authority over your life? Rejoice and be glad! We are to be his messengers to tell, “Jesus’ words are trustworthy and true. He is coming suddenly one day. You will have no ‘next day’ to decide.” It is God’s gift. Receive it and live it.
 
Prayer: To you, O Lord, I lift my heart in praise. I consider your message and am overwhelmed with gratitude. I pray I worship you to faithfully be your messenger. Amen.

Revelation 22:1-5 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
 
A river of the water of life and a tree of life are images that spiritually flow and grow throughout Scripture. See the river and tree of life in Eden: Genesis 2:9 And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground – trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. This is God’s blessing, created for mankind to enjoy perfectly be with God and in his creation forever.
    But we know sin’s curse altered God’s paradise. In righteous judgment, God banished Adam and Eve from Eden and sealed them from the tree of life. Genesis 3:22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever."…24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Sin turned God’s face from humanity. Sin separates.
    Then our merciful God began to graciously move throughout history to restore his face-to-face relationship with man. He uses the river and tree of life images to prophesy he will reestablish paradise earth: (Again, note how often Ezekiel’s visions appear in Revelation.) Ezekiel 47:12 “Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."
    Then Jesus comes to reaffirm this life promise: John 7:37b “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” And our Lord assures the Samaritan woman in John 4:10 “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
    And so it will come to pass. The river of life will one day flow freely again through God’s new city. The tree of life is the symbol of the curse canceled and blessing restored. God’s people will again see his face to personally know, love and worship him. All who believe will be satisfied.
 
Prayer: “Give me this water, Lord, so I won’t be thirsty.” (John 4:15b) Amen.
 

Revelation 21:15-27 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man’s measurement, which the angel was using. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.  21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 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.
 
ONCE again a vision from the Old Testament, the Old Covenant, is repeated and enhanced to point toward the New Covenant. Read Ezekiel 40-41, and you’ll see the Spirit show to Ezekiel the measurements of a new city and temple. Now the apostle John views our God-designed heavenly home. The Lord’s plans are eternal. Revelation is not a new vision; it is the complete vision of God’s will for humanity.
    Here is an understanding of the city’s dimensions: “The city’s measurements are symbolic of a place that will hold all God’s people. These measurements are all multiples of 12, which is the number for God's people: there were 12 tribes in Israel and 12 apostles who started the church. The walls are 144 (12 x 12) cubits (200 feet) thick. There are 12 layers in the walls, and 12 gates in the city.
    “The height, length, and breadth are all the same: 12,000 stadia. The new Jerusalem is a perfect cube, the same shape as the Most Holy Place in the temple:1 Kings 6:20a The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty wide and twenty high.” (from the Life Application Bible Study)
    The city is strong, perfect, beautiful and complete. The city is also God’s home. Gone are the transient sun and moon. All light comes from the eternal glory of God. Jesus, is truly the “light of the world.” (John 8:12) as the Lamb is its lamp.
    God’s people from all the earth have come to dwell with their God and worship him. His holiness fortifies it from any sin ever. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will live with God and be his people.
 
Prayer: from Psalms 117 Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord. Amen.

Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars –  their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
 
WHO wants to read of the immoral,  burning sulfur and second death after reading the previous scripture of God’s triumphant, eternal victory? Isn’t it good to keep our eyes and mind focused on God’s life promises?
    Yes it is. The Lord promises eternal life to all who believe unto the very moment he descends from heaven to reclaim all creation. This is the sure life hope Jesus taught us: Mark 16:16a “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”  
    But then we must see Jesus’ complete teaching: Mark 16:16b “But whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Also, three times the gospels record Jesus’ warning and affirmation: Matthew 24:13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  
    It seems in many ways, Jesus’ church across the globe has forgotten about sin. Trying to please the world, too many preachers reject the Word. Eternal torment, a lake of fire and the second death – the eternal death in hell – are seen as preaching “fire and brimstone”. And “we’re not that kind of church”, preachers say. And who wants to hear that in church? Isn’t church a place to feel good?
    But it’s true, isn’t it? If we do not see and grieve the sin in our lives, we will not repent. If we do not see sin in our lives, we will have no use for a Savior. The cross becomes meaningless. We replace God’s sovereignty with our own pleasure. After all, God loves. He will let us choose our own way to heaven, won’t he?
    Such thinking is idolatry. Yes, God is love. And God also is holy. He is the Alpha and Omega. We are not. We are sinners born as enemies of God. Dead in our sins, we have no means to eternal life until God resurrects our souls into the kingdom of God. When we hear his voice to spiritually, “Come up here!” (Rev 4:1) and, “(Your name) come out ( of the grave)!” (John 11:43) we must celebrate and rejoice the Savior has spoken! For it is his way alone that will keep us from the eternal lake of fire. You can thank God he has taught us these true words:
    John 3:5-10 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
    Preaching the full gospel is not a preacher’s “fire and brimstone” judgment. Preaching the gospel is a preacher’s love to awaken the world to sin’s reality, sin’s penalty and sin’s salvation in Jesus Christ.  
    Why would anyone refuse to speak such good news?
 
Prayer: Teach us Lord to speak the entire truth of your gospel. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:14) Amen.

Revelation 21:5-8 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”
 
AS I sat down to consider this scripture, the song “Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)” by Casting Crowns was playing. Perfect fit:
 
One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me


One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine
Glorious day, Oh, Glorious day
 
Prayer: Thank you Lord God for the great promises throughout your Scripture that point to the glorious day you overcome death to give us eternal life. Amen.

Revelation 21:1-4 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. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 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. 4 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.”
 
“NOW,” says the angel. “the dwelling of God is with men.”  This is the renewal of Paradise. God dwelled with Adam and Eve until sin separated the Father from his children Adam and Eve. He formed them to be in fellowship and friendship with the Holy Trinity. But they turned from their God-given dwelling. They sought happiness through Satan’s lies and their own limited eyes.  So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. (Gen 3:23)
    Separation from God has marked mankind’s heart-breaking challenge since that ancient day. But God so loved the world he made a plan. In that plan was a promise. In the promise is a new beginning to the earth one day. Even more, it is a new beginning of God’s intimate relationship with all who receive his salvation.
    He spoke the promise to Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses affirmed the promise in Exodus 6:7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. The prophets promised, too, as in Ezekiel 36:28 You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
    Then came God in the flesh to offer this profound eternal promise: John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going." Yes, our dwelling will be with God, and he with us.
    Now is when all promises come true for those who are holy in Jesus’ blood. The first earth had passed away. Great physical change prepares the way for God’s entrance. He is the groom coming down th aisle to meet his bride as she is the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven. The new city is perfect, just as God originally intended. The city is Jesus’ church, a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Yes, the Husband has come for his Bride. God’s dwelling with his people is personal, intimate, loving and complete. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit join with the perfect bride for a joyful eternal union with Jesus Christ, Savior, Redeemer, King and Husband.
    What joy! The Comforter “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.”
    Praise God. This is true.
 
Prayer: O Lord God, thank you for dwelling with us now through the Holy Spirit. We look forward to dwelling with you eternally in the new home you have prepared for us. Amen!