Quoting from linked article:
The New Creation: Revelation (3) Revelation 21-22
The Bible Front to Back: Year Two
Week 37: June 22, 2014
This week we come to the “back” of the Front to Back
series. We come to the final two chapters of the
Scriptures. Ironically, the final two chapters connect
to the first two chapters, the “front.” In Revelation 21-
22 we read about how we get back to Genesis 1-2,
before sin entered the world. The final pages of
Scripture describe a new creation.
We’ve read some incredible passages in this series—
moving stories of God’s work in this world. But these
final two chapters are perhaps the most moving of all.
Bible commentator, Robert Mounce, has written of
this passage: “The entire presentation stretches the
limits of human vocabulary and thought to emphasize
the glorious reality of God dwelling among his
people.” Indeed.
The rich imagery of Revelation continues in these
chapters, but now the imagery is less frightening and
more comforting in that these chapters describe the
time when God will make things right and new. In the
Lord’s Prayer we pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will
be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” These chapters
paint a picture of how that line will be fulfilled.
Scholar N.T. Wright in his book, Simply Christian,
observes an interesting point about the Biblical view
of our future: “Despite what many people think,
within the Christian family and outside it, the point of
Christianity isn't ‘to go to heaven when you die.’
“The New Testament picks up from the Old the theme
that God intends, in the end, to put the whole creation
to rights. Earth and heaven were made to overlap with
one another, not fitfully, mysteriously, and partially as
they do at the moment, but completely, gloriously, and
utterly. … The great drama will end, not with ‘saved
souls’ being snatched up into heaven, away from the
wicked earth and mortal bodies which have dragged
them down into sin, but with the New Jerusalem
coming down from heaven to earth, so that ‘the
dwelling of God is with humans.’” (p.217)
- Meet Google Drive – One place for all your files
The New Creation: Revelation (3) Revelation 21-22
The Bible Front to Back: Year Two
Week 37: June 22, 2014
This week we come to the “back” of the Front to Back
series. We come to the final two chapters of the
Scriptures. Ironically, the final two chapters connect
to the first two chapters, the “front.” In Revelation 21-
22 we read about how we get back to Genesis 1-2,
before sin entered the world. The final pages of
Scripture describe a new creation.
We’ve read some incredible passages in this series—
moving stories of God’s work in this world. But these
final two chapters are perhaps the most moving of all.
Bible commentator, Robert Mounce, has written of
this passage: “The entire presentation stretches the
limits of human vocabulary and thought to emphasize
the glorious reality of God dwelling among his
people.” Indeed.
The rich imagery of Revelation continues in these
chapters, but now the imagery is less frightening and
more comforting in that these chapters describe the
time when God will make things right and new. In the
Lord’s Prayer we pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will
be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” These chapters
paint a picture of how that line will be fulfilled.
Scholar N.T. Wright in his book, Simply Christian,
observes an interesting point about the Biblical view
of our future: “Despite what many people think,
within the Christian family and outside it, the point of
Christianity isn't ‘to go to heaven when you die.’
“The New Testament picks up from the Old the theme
that God intends, in the end, to put the whole creation
to rights. Earth and heaven were made to overlap with
one another, not fitfully, mysteriously, and partially as
they do at the moment, but completely, gloriously, and
utterly. … The great drama will end, not with ‘saved
souls’ being snatched up into heaven, away from the
wicked earth and mortal bodies which have dragged
them down into sin, but with the New Jerusalem
coming down from heaven to earth, so that ‘the
dwelling of God is with humans.’” (p.217)
- Meet Google Drive – One place for all your files
Upvote
0