Date: April 30, 2023

Bible Text: Revelation 21:9-27 |

Series:

I find the description of New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:9-27 to be overwhelming. Commentators do too, apparently. Some interpret New Jerusalem as the people of God themselves. Others as the city the people of God live in on the New Earth. Still others concede that it may be both. What is obvious is how awesome the city is. The details are striking and the measurements precise. The building materials are precious beyond our imagination; things such as TRANSPARENT GOLD! It blows the mind. It is meant to blow the mind. It is as if God is saying through the Apostle, make no attempt to understand this simply accept and anticipate the glory that awaits. Push through everything and anything as you contemplate the inexplicable awesomeness that awaits you. Somehow, I have to preach this on Sunday. We’ll see what happens.

Series: Great & Amazing—Revelation (Part 2)
Todd Dugard
Message: 31 – No night there
Harvest Bible Chapel
Text: Revelation 21:9-27
April 30, 2023

It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

2 Corinthians 4:17

The glory of God chases away the night…

…inviting me into an eternal union with Christ (v. 9-10)

…made radiant and precious before all (v. 11)

Revelation 4:3

Romans 8:18

…bound with the one people of God (v. 12-14)

Ephesians 2:13-14

Moving from the darkness of withdrawal and withholding into the light of Christ, moves us into true belonging. We encounter the healing of Jesus Christ as he cleanses us from the filth and infection of sin and we encounter joyful unity with other Christians who have also entered the light.
Barnabas Piper, Belong

…dwelling together in the perfected creation (v. 15-21)

Our anticipated future has a strong influence on our present identity and conduct, and if we live in light of that future now, we will bear living witness to the world around us that human life can be different from what we all have come to accept as the status quo.
Buist M. Fanning

…and enjoying unhindered relationship with God forever (v. 22-27)

It is doubtful that John intended to give astronomical information about the new world; his purpose is to affirm the unsurpassed splendor which radiates from the presence of God and the Lamb.
George Eldon Ladd

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