Well, it's my privilege this morning to preach, and you might think, all right, we're going
to continue our sermon series in Genesis, right?
Well, we're actually going to Revelation this morning.
So you might think, well, wait a minute, what in the world does Revelation have to do with
Genesis?
You might be surprised how connected they are.
So as we've been talking through or working through, reading through the book of Genesis,
we've heard several big truths there, one about creation.
We've seen the fall, that is, Adam and Eve committing sin in the garden.
We've seen the separation, how that they were forced to leave the garden, how that they suffered
much more difficulty at tilling the ground and farming and gathering food.
We've seen the promise that God has given to send a Messiah through the seed of the woman,
that God would raise up a Savior, that God would raise up a Messiah, that God would raise up
a snake crusher.
And then you might ask the question, where is all this going?
What is the end of the equation?
Where is all of this pointing?
And that is what we'll see this morning.
That's why we're looking at the book of Revelation this morning, to see how these two are so similar
and where it's all pointing to.
We'll be reading this morning out of the book of Revelation.
And let me just put a caveat in here, I love the book of Revelation.
Love it.
And I'll do my best to finish within two hours this morning.
Those of you who know me know that I can spend a lot of time, and we've done that in Sunday
school, about 14 months worth.
But this morning, I'll try to confine myself to a couple of points out of the book of Revelation.
But it's dangerous a little bit to jump into a book that's so symbolic.
It's hard to understand what these truths really mean without getting the grand scheme of how
the book is written.
It's a vision that was given to John.
And this vision is very symbolic in nature.
And I'll do my best to pull out some of that symbolism for us and make it as simple as possible.
If we're going to go anywhere in the book of Revelation,
it's fairly clear at this end in chapters 21 and part of 22.
So in honor of God's word, I'd ask that you'd stand as we open his word together.
We ream from chapter, starting in chapter 21 down through verse 5 of chapter 22.
If you're able to stand, I would invite you to do so and open your word and read along.
As I read, if you would read along silently there.
Chapter 21.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
And I 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 the throne saying,
Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,
and God himself will be with them as their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and death shall be no more.
Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.
For the former things have passed away.
And he who is seated on the throne said,
Behold, I am making all things new.
And he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.
And he said to me, It is done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
The one who conquers will have this heritage,
and I will be his God, and he will be my son.
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers,
the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars,
their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,
which is the second death.
Then came one of the seven angels,
who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues,
and spoke to me, saying,
Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
having the glory of God,
its radiance like a most rare jewel,
like a jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a great high wall with twelve gates,
and at the gates twelve angels,
and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed.
On the east three gates,
on the north three gates,
on the south three gates,
on the west three gates.
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations,
and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold
to measure the city and its gates and walls.
The city lies four square,
its length the same as its width.
And he measured the city with his rod,
twelve thousand stadia.
Its length with its width and height are equal.
He also measured its wall,
144 cubits by human measurement,
which is also an angel's measurement.
The wall was built of jasper,
while the city was pure gold,
like clear glass.
The foundations of the walls of the city
were adorned with every kind of jewel.
The first was jasper,
the second sapphire,
the third agate,
the fourth emerald,
the fifth onyx,
the sixth carnelian,
the seventh chrysolite,
the eighth beryl,
the ninth topaz,
the tenth chrysophthous,
the eleventh jasper,
the twelfth amethyst.
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls,
each of the gates made of a single pearl.
And the street of the city was pure gold,
like transparent glass.
And I saw no temple in the city,
for its temple is the Lord God,
the Almighty and the Lamb.
And the city has no need of sun or moon
to shine in it,
for the glory of God gives its light.
And its lamp is the Lamb.
By its light will the nations walk,
and the kings of the earth
will bring their glory into it.
And its gates will never be shut by day,
and there will be no night there.
They will bring into it the glory
and the honor of the nations.
But nothing unclean will ever enter into it,
nor anyone who does what is detestable or false,
but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life,
bright as crystal,
flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
through the middle of the street of the city.
Also on either side of the river,
the tree of life,
with its twelve kinds of fruit,
yielding its fruit each month.
The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
No longer will there be anything accursed,
but the throne of God and the Lamb will be in it,
and His servants will worship Him.
They will see His face,
and His name will be on their foreheads,
and night will be no more.
They will need no light or lamp or sun,
for the Lord God will be their light,
and they will reign forever and ever.
Amen.
Blessed is the reading of the Word of God.
Let's pray.
Father, would you open your Word to our hearts this morning?
Would you help us to see this grand,
beautiful picture of eternity?
God, would you bless us this morning,
I ask in Christ's name.
Amen.
You can have a seat.
Amen.
So it's my task this morning
to relate these two ends of the Scripture.
That is, what have we seen in the book of Genesis,
and how does it relate to the book of Revelation?
How do these things tie together?
Why would we leave the series in Genesis,
jump all the way to Revelation,
and preach a sermon in Revelation?
Well, number one, it answers the question,
where's all this pointing?
What is it all heading towards?
And if I was to share it in a word,
or in a phrase,
I would say it's heading to the wedding supper of the Lamb.
You know that all of the plan of God
is pointing to that?
This beautiful picture of a wedding.
And you and I know,
even earthly weddings,
there's celebration
as part of the wedding ceremony.
We have no idea
the celebration that's going to happen
at that wedding supper of the Lamb.
But I want you to see this.
You know, many people would say,
I would certainly be included in this
early on in my Christian walk.
I would say,
you know what we really need?
Now that this sin has entered the world,
and it's a struggle,
everything seems to be a struggle,
wouldn't it be great
if we were back in the Garden of Eden
where everything was right?
But you know,
there's something even greater
than the Garden of Eden.
If we listen to the vision of John,
and we hear what he says,
I would make this claim
that there's something greater
that awaits us
than even the Garden of Eden.
Why would I say that?
Well, let me share with you
some truths that we've heard from Genesis.
And I want to share with you
some truths that we've just read.
From Revelation.
I want you to hear
a distinction between the two.
So I'm just going to take this list.
I'm going to go Genesis, Revelation,
Genesis, Revelation,
Genesis, Revelation.
I want you to hear
how beautiful it is,
this heavenly kingdom that awaits us.
You know,
Genesis talks about
the creation of heaven and earth.
You know,
Revelation talks about
a new heaven
and a new earth.
Genesis talks about
the sun,
which is the picture
of God's glory,
and the moon,
which is the reflection
of God's glory.
But do you know
that in the new heaven
and new earth,
there is not going to be
a need for the sun and moon
at all?
all of us will be
in the very presence
of God's glory.
He will be the light
of the place.
There was a physical river
flowing out of Eden.
And in Revelation,
we see a spiritual river
of life
flowing from the very throne
of God.
You know,
God is the source
of life,
and we see it
in this book of Revelation.
Man was banished
from the garden
and from the presence
of God.
In Revelation,
man is invited
to enter into
the very presence
of God.
In the book of Genesis,
we see a curse
that was placed
on the land
because of sin.
We see toil
and sorrow
affecting all.
You know,
in the book of Revelation,
there's going to be
no more curse
ever again.
No more tears.
All things
will be redeemed
forever.
We see
Adam and Eve
were covered
in Genesis,
were covered
with animal skin.
In Revelation,
we see
the bride
covered in fine
white linen.
A beautiful picture
of the righteousness
of Christ.
In Genesis,
we see
that a bride
was formed
for Adam.
In Revelation,
we see
that a bride
was prepared
for the second
Adam for Christ.
We see
in Genesis
that the bride
was susceptible
to sin.
But in Revelation,
we see
that the bride
is free
from sin.
There will never
be any more sin.
In the garden,
we see
that it was accessible
by the liar Satan.
that he had access
into the garden.
But in Revelation,
we see
that the
serpent,
Satan,
the liar,
is cast
into
the lake
of fire
and he will
not have access
to the city
of God.
We see
in Genesis
that man's
dominion
ceased
and Satan's
dominion
began.
In the book
of Revelation,
we see
Satan's
dominion
ceases
and man's
dominion
is restored.
In Genesis,
we see
that
redemption
is promised.
but in
Revelation,
we see
that
redemption
is
accomplished.
His bride
will be
with him
forever,
fully
redeemed.
All of
creation
will be
fully
redeemed.
And so
if I
ask you
this question,
how would
you summarize
the whole
Bible?
Now,
we've heard
a few
sermons
in Genesis
and I
will be
able
this morning
to talk
a little
more about
Revelation.
I trust
that everything
in between
you all
already know.
So,
how would
you summarize
the whole
Bible?
I'll give
you four
words.
Creation,
fall,
redemption,
restoration.
Again,
creation,
we see it
as we've
looked at
it in the
book of
Genesis,
how God
created
all of
this and
it was
good until
sin entered
in the
fall.
We see
the
temptation,
we see
the yielding
to temptation,
we see
the rebellion
towards the
rule of
God doing
something he
said they
should not
do,
and we
see the
separation
that resulted.
So we
see creation,
we see
the fall,
and we
hear this
promise of
redemption
that he
will send
a seed,
a seed of
the woman
who will
be a
snake
crusher.
He will
crush the
head of
the serpent,
Satan.
We see
all through
the Old
Testament
this pointing
towards a
Messiah,
this coming
of the
seed of
David,
this coming
of the
one who
he promised
to be the
source of
our redemption,
our Savior,
Jesus.
And then
in Revelation,
we see this
beautiful picture
where it's all
heading.
It's headed
to this
restoration
where all
things will
be made
right,
all sin
will be
wiped
away,
all of
us will
be glorified,
those of
us who
are part
of his
bride.
So if
you will
turn with
me,
hopefully
your Bible
is still
open to
Revelation,
and I
want you
to see
two main
points this
morning out
of these
passages.
That is
just chapter
21 and
22.
And the
first I
want you
to see
is this.
When we
talk about
this heavenly
kingdom,
we have
this beautiful
picture in
verse 1 of
chapter 21.
It says
this,
there will
be a new
heaven and
a new
earth.
It will
be restored.
And I
love the
beautiful
truths that
are wound
into verse
2.
And this
is our
first point.
The point
is this,
the bride
prepared.
The bride
is prepared.
Let me
just say
this.
As we
look at
this passage,
you'll see
in verse 2,
let me read
it.
And I
saw the
holy city
in New
Jerusalem
coming down
out of
heaven from
God,
prepared as
a bride.
Let me
take a
moment to
unravel what
this means in
symbolic language.
So when we
see this
picture that's
referred to
as a city,
we have to
understand that
even in Isaiah
and even in
the Psalms,
often in the
Old Testament
as well as
in New,
there is a
symbolic
reference of
Jerusalem.
Here in New
Jerusalem,
it's referring
to the people
of God.
And so when
we see that
this city is
called a bride,
it's just
another way of
saying that the
bride is the
church.
So we see
it here,
that is in
verse 2,
is this holy
city,
New Jerusalem,
prepared as
a bride.
It's talking
about the
church.
The beautiful
picture of the
bride of
Christ.
And I want
you to note
the bride had
to be prepared.
You know,
in truth,
the bride can't
prepare herself.
We know that,
right?
Because we,
the church,
apart from the
shed blood of
Christ would
have no hope
of ever being
in the heavenly
kingdom.
Something has
to happen for
us to be made
right with God,
to be placed in
relationship with
God.
And as this text
shares,
I saw the
holy city.
What does it
mean to be
holy?
Holy means to
be set apart
for the purpose
of God.
Who sets the
church apart?
God himself
does.
God sets the
church apart
as holy.
holy.
This city is
holy,
is his.
For his
purpose.
I want you to
also,
in line with
that,
see this,
as we keep
reading in this
verse,
it says that
New Jerusalem
coming down
out of heaven.
This text,
this phrase
means that
it's from
God.
The source
of this
redeemed
church,
this beautifully
prepared bride,
is God
himself.
when we see
this phrase
coming out
of heaven,
that is a
phrase that
means that
God has
done this,
that God
has prepared
this bride.
I want you
to also
notice,
if we go
back into
the previous
chapter,
we did not
read it,
but I want
you to look
at the
verse that
preceded
chapter 21
and it
says this.
I feel
like I need
to give you
a little
context here
for us to
understand what
this verse
says.
So the
context is
this,
if we were
to read
the previous
chapter,
chapter 20,
we would
see that
it's talking
about judgment.
It's talking
about the
final judgment,
judgment day.
And if we
read verse 14,
it says,
then death
and Hades
were thrown
into the
lake of
the fire,
a lake
of fire,
this is a
second death.
It's referring
to the
final judgment
when everything
that's not
of God,
that everything
that's not
a part of
the bride,
the church,
is going
to be judged
and going
to be thrown
into the
lake of fire.
And then
verse 15,
it says this.
And if anyone's
name was not
found written
in the book
of life,
he was
thrown into
the lake
of fire.
Everyone's
name was not
written in the
book of life.
You know,
it talks about
that too in
chapter 21,
the last
verse.
That is
verse 27.
And I'll
read that now
because it ties
into this
concept of
this Lamb's
book of
life.
That in
this book
of life
is written
the name
of every
person that's
ever been
saved.
And we
see in
this holy
city,
it says,
but nothing
unclean
will ever
enter into
this holy
city,
ever.
Nor anyone
who does
what is
detestable
or false,
but only
those whose
names are
written in
the Lamb's
book of life,
they're the
only ones
that will
enter this
city.
And what
does that
mean?
What is
being shared
here?
This holiness,
this what God
has done on
behalf of
his bride,
this concept
that there
is a Lamb's
book of
life,
where all
of the names
of all the
saints that
have ever
lived are in
this book
of life.
I want you
to hear it
from Paul.
So Paul
shares in
Ephesians
chapter 2,
I want you
to hear a
few verses
about the
bride of
Christ being
prepared.
So before
I read that,
I just want
to say this,
is that we
are, that
is those of
us who are
born again,
those of us
who are
Christian,
those of us
that are in
the kingdom,
those of us
are a part of
the bride of
Christ, the
church.
Something has
happened in
our life.
Nicodemus
would know
it's this,
that you must
be born again.
And it's
my prayer
that everyone
here this
morning is
born again.
If you're
not, then
this is the
need.
What I'm
about to
read in
Ephesians
chapter 2
is going
to reveal
that this
is what it
looks like
to be born
again, to
be saved,
to be a
part of
the bride.
Chapter
2 of
Ephesians
verse 3
says this,
we once
lived in
the passions
of our
flesh,
carrying out
the desires
of the
body and
the mind,
and we
were by
nature
children of
wrath.
Do you
identify with
that?
Do you
know a
time in
your life
when you
were in
rebellion to
God, where
you were
not his
child?
Where we
were in
sin, we've
looked in
Genesis, and
we've seen in
Adam that the
sin of Adam
is carried on
to everyone
in the race.
All men
are now born
in Adam, and
they're born
with this
sin nature, with
this propensity
to sin, and
we are called
enemies of
God, and by
nature we're in
opposition to
God.
We want to
build our
kingdom, we
don't want to
honor God's
kingdom.
We want to
be God, we
don't want to
honor him as
God.
That's just
who we are
because we're
born in sin,
we're born in
Adam, we're by
nature children
of wrath, but
God, isn't that a
beautiful phrase?
Verse 4, Paul
says, but God,
God intervened
into the world,
into the
situation, on
behalf of
those that
would be a
part of the
church, those
whose names are
written in the
Lamb's book of
life, God
entered into, and
he did this, but
God being rich in
mercy, because of
the great love
with which he
loved us, even
when we were
dead in our
trespasses, he
made us alive
together with
Christ.
By grace, you
have been saved
and raised up
with him and
seated us with
him in the
heavenly places
in Christ
Jesus, so that
in the coming
ages, he might
show the
immeasurable
riches of his
grace and
kindness toward
us.
for by grace
you've been
saved through
faith.
Let me just
say that again.
Apart from the
grace of God, we
would never enjoy
the wedding
supper of the
Lamb.
Apart from the
grace of God
and salvation, we
would never know
what it means to
be his child.
We would be
also cast into
the lake of
fire, apart from
the incredible
grace of God on
our behalf, that
we might be
saved.
God.
This is the gift
of God.
It's not your
own doing.
It's God's
gracious gift that
he would allow
us to look
forward to this
beautiful picture
that's coming.
So again, back
to Revelation,
this whole phrase,
this first point
I'm making has
three parts.
The first point
is that the bride
is being prepared.
Who is doing the
preparation?
God himself.
In what way is
he preparing?
Well, the first
way is salvation.
Only those who
are saved, only
those whose names
are written in
the book of life,
the Lamb's book
of life, will
enjoy this
restored kingdom,
this heavenly
kingdom.
And the second
aspect is this.
I want you to
see.
Make sure I'm
on the right
chapter here.
Yes.
21 verse 2
says this.
It says,
I saw the
holy city,
New Jerusalem,
coming down out
of heaven from
God, prepared
as a bride
adorned.
I want to
emphasize the
word adorned
for her husband.
This bride will
be adorned.
Now, you can
picture the
wedding in
this world.
You can picture
that that is a
day that ladies
look forward to
all their life.
The day when
they will be
wed to a man
that they love.
And it's the
day when they
go out and
they buy this
perfect dress,
this beautiful
dress.
And they
spend all
day, and I
don't know how
they can do
this, but they
spend all day
getting their
hair done.
And they
doll up.
It's as
beautiful as
they can be.
They get their
friends to come
over.
They enjoy the
whole process
on this
incredible day.
But I want us
to really dig
into this word
adorned.
What does it
mean for the
bride of Christ,
the church,
to be adorned?
A woman would
get dressed and
put on a dress
and jewelry and
do up her hair and
she would be
adorned ready for
the wedding.
What does it
look like for the
church to be
ready?
What does it
look like to be
adorned?
Well, I want you
to see it.
As Paul talks
about it, I want
you to see it in
Colossians chapter
three.
I'm just going to
read it.
What does it
mean to be
adorned?
There's this
beautiful truth
where Paul
talks to the
church and he
says, put off
anything that
has to do with
the world.
Put off anything
that has to do
with Satan.
Put off anything
that has to do
with self.
And put on,
adorn yourself
with, listen to
the word of God,
as chosen ones
of God, holy
and beloved,
put on
compassionate
hearts,
kindness,
humility,
meekness,
patience,
bearing with
one another.
If anyone
has a complaint
against another,
forgive each
other as the
Lord has
forgiven you.
So you also
must forgive
and above all
these put on
love, which
binds everything
together in
perfect harmony
and let the
peace of God
rule in your
hearts to which
indeed you are
called in one
body and be
thankful.
Let the word
of Christ dwell
in you richly,
teaching and
admonishing one
another in all
wisdom, singing
psalms and
hymns and
spiritual songs
with thankfulness
in your hearts
to God.
And whatever
you do in
word or deed,
do everything
in the name
of the Lord
Jesus, giving
thanks to God
the Father
through him.
How are we
doing, church?
Do you hear
the beautiful
picture of what
he's doing in
the life of
his church to
prepare his
church for the
wedding supper
of the Lamb?
You know, the
word of God
talks about
Christ and
what he did
on behalf of
the bride.
It's such a
beautiful picture
of what Christ
has done.
There is a
preparation that
is happening for
the bride right
now.
And as
Christians, we
are part of
that preparation.
What is he
doing in the
life of the
church?
What is he
doing in your
heart?
You know what
he's doing?
He's changing
us into the
very image of
Christ.
He's given
us a new
heart with
new desires
and he said,
seek my
kingdom and
my righteousness,
everything else
I'll take care
of.
You just
focus your
eyes on
Jesus, the
author and
perfecter of
your faith.
And listen
to what it
said Christ
did.
Christ loved
the church
and he gave
himself up
for her.
He died.
He loved
the church in
such a great
measure that
he died for
the bride.
Christ loved
the church and
gave himself up
for her that
he might
sanctify her.
There's the
word,
sanctify.
You know the
church right
now is being
sanctified?
What does it
look like to
be prepared?
It looks like
that God is
doing this work
in our life
that we're
more and
more like
Christ.
That we
turn away
from worldly
ways and we
turn toward
godly ways and
we begin to
reflect the
very image of
Christ in
our lives.
He goes on
to say that
he might
sanctify her
having cleansed
her.
You know we
need to be
cleansed?
Cleansed her
by the
washing of
water and
by the
word.
You know the
word of God
cleanses us?
So that he
might present
the church to
himself in
splendor.
Man.
man.
I don't
know that we
grasp the
greatness of
what's being
done for
us.
He goes on
to say
without spot
or wrinkle
or any
such thing
that she
might be
holy and
without
blemish.
You know
what he's
doing?
He is
doing a
work in
the life
of the
church so
that the
church will
be totally
without
blemish.
You know
what that
work is
called?
Sanctification.
So we've
seen one
aspect of
a prepared
bride that
is justification
to be
saved.
We've seen
another look
another aspect
of what it
means to
be prepared
as a bride
and that is
to be
sanctified.
That more
and more
we look
like Christ.
More and
more we
live like
Christ.
More and
more we
honor God
with the
way we
think,
what we
say,
and what
we do.
And then
thirdly I
want you to
see this
amazing,
amazing
picture of
the bride
prepared in
chapter 21
of Revelation.
Starting in
verse 9 it
says this,
I'm going to
skip down to
the place
that says,
come I
will show
you the
bride.
So John
is seeing a
vision,
you know what
he's seeing?
He's seeing a
vision of the
bride.
Who is the
bride?
The church.
I will show
you the bride,
the wife of
the Lamb,
and he carried
me away in
the Spirit to
a great high
mountain.
You know what
that means?
Great high
mountains?
It means you
can see
everything.
You're on
this high
mountain,
it's just
great visibility
is what it
means symbolically.
And he showed
me the holy
city Jerusalem,
it's the church
coming down out
of heaven for
God.
Listen to this,
having the glory
of God.
You know there's a
day coming when
you and I are
going to be
glorified.
God.
This old sin
nature that
drives us
crazy and
causes us to
stumble,
tempts us all
the time,
feeds on our
flesh that
desires and
craves to be
filled,
it's going to
be done away
with.
We're going to
receive a brand
new body,
a glorified
body.
He's going to
make us new.
He's going to
restore us in
such a way that
we're going to
be glorified.
You know that in
Revelation he says
no sin can come
near me because
of the great
holiness of God.
You know that all
sin will be taken
away.
You know that
to Moses he
said,
God show me
your glory and
what did he say
to Moses?
No man can see
my glory and
live because of
your sin.
Do you know in
Revelation it says
we're going to be
able to see him
face to face?
You know why?
Because our sin
is taken away.
We've been
glorified.
We individually
and we as a
body that is the
church will be
totally glorified.
We will be
with him in
such a way
that it was
meant the way
that God meant
it to be with
no sin,
no enemy,
no sin nature,
no crying,
no tears.
We will be in
the very presence
of God.
We'll see him
face to face.
We'll enjoy the
fellowship fully.
You know we've
tasted it now.
Individually if
y'all experience
those moments when
you know you're
in the presence
of God.
It's like
to be in the
presence of a
holy God is
powerful.
Do you know we
will eternally be
in the presence
of God?
We will experience
the fellowship that
we know momentarily
now.
This concept of
abiding with him,
this concept of
fellowship,
this close
relationship,
closer than any
other relationship,
right?
We will be
married to
Christ.
And the
beautiful picture
here is the
holy city
Jerusalem coming
down out of
heaven from God,
having the glory
of God.
It's radiance
like a most
rare jewel.
You know when I
was younger,
I grew up in
inland South
Carolina, but we
had a little
camper at the
beach in Myrtle
Beach.
And I tell you,
I was on that
beach looking for
shark's teeth like
you can't imagine.
I had a little
glass thing in my
camper.
We had a camper at
the campground.
I had every summer I
would try to fill that
thing up.
And over time I did,
I filled it up.
They were so tiny you
couldn't hardly see
them.
I was always looking
for that big one,
you know, the one you
can make a necklace
out of.
Or when I would go
to one of the stores
in downtown Myrtle
Beach, they had
megalodon teeth and
they were bigger in my
hand.
I'm like, that's what
I want.
Never did find it.
But I was always
looking for it.
When I was in
college, I was a
geologist.
And the thing that I
really loved about
being a geologist was
the gems.
I love the gemstones.
I love all the
crystals.
I just, I don't know
why in me I always
wanted to find the
big, important,
beautiful crystal that
would, I could just
stare at and wonder.
And I know we, as
a guy, as a
geologist up in the
mountains of North
Carolina, I found
emeralds, I found
rubies, I found
sapphires, I found
gold, I found some
of these things.
But it was always
fun for me to go
searching for it.
I found kyanite.
Y'all probably don't
know what that means.
But that is something
that ended up in the
trophy case at
Furman.
I didn't even think
it was all that
impressive, but they
did.
My point is that
there's just something
in me that wants to
find this incredible
rare jewel.
Went to Arkansas and
looked for crystals,
quartz crystals.
That long, that
long, that long.
They had them sitting
there.
They were literally,
you couldn't put your
arms around, just
beautiful crystal clear
look right through
them.
It always amazed me.
But listen to this.
That we, the church,
will have radiance.
We will shine.
If you take a diamond
and put it in the light,
what happens?
Light goes everywhere
and it's amazing.
You can do that with
an emerald and it
does the same thing.
It throws green light
everywhere.
It's just beautiful.
And he likens the
church, the bride,
glorified to this
most rare jewel.
It's the most rare.
It means there's no
more rare jewel.
There's nothing more
beautiful than that.
You found it.
In a sense.
I found what I was
always looking for,
but this far exceeds
it all.
Like a most rare jewel,
it shines off the glory
of God.
Why?
Because the church
has been glorified.
You know,
we don't know
what it's like
to be glorified.
We can't imagine
not having the temptations
and not having
the constant battle
against sin.
You know,
there's a day coming
we'll enjoy
that fellowship
with Him,
a beautiful fellowship.
So the bride prepared
and secondly,
eternity entered.
Do you know that
as a church,
as believers,
that one day
we will enter heaven
and we will enjoy
this incredible
love-filled relationship
that's far beyond
even our wildest imagination?
You remember what Christ
said when He was
on the cross?
He's about to die
and He says,
God, God,
why have you
forsaken me?
What was He saying?
Why have you
turned your back on me?
Why do I not
have fellowship
with you now?
You know,
He didn't say it
about the beating.
He didn't say it
about any of the
difficult physical aspects.
He did say,
if this can pass,
take it from me,
but I'm willing
to walk this road
for the sake
of the prize
that's on the other end
and that prize
is the bride,
the church.
But Christ
lost fellowship
with God
because He took on
the sins of the world.
it's the most precious thing
He ever had.
He lost it.
Do you know
we're getting it
as a gift?
This fellowship
that the Father
and Son
and Holy Spirit
have shared
from eternity past
that He's allowing us
to enter into
the beautiful fellowship
that we'll enjoy
in the heavenly kingdom.
Chapter 22.
You know,
the symbol is this,
the picture of the symbol
is like this throne room
of God
and flowing out
of the throne room
is life.
You know that there is
no life apart from God.
He spoke life
into existence
and you and I
would not have life
except for God
that He's given it to us.
And in heaven
we will have life
abundantly,
far more abundant
than we can imagine.
Notice what's flowing
out of the throne.
It's a river of water,
a living water,
this water
that gives life.
And if we look
at these verses,
the water of life,
the tree of life,
the fruit that comes
from the tree,
the healing that is
a part of that
whole process,
the picture is this,
is that life comes
from God
and we will enjoy
it in full.
The fullest element
of life we will enjoy
in the heavenly kingdom
here.
Notice it says
there will no longer
be anything accursed.
We look back up
and we can see
the same thing
in chapter 21
is there will be
no night there,
they will,
sorry,
where am I?
No,
there it is,
27.
Nothing unclean
will ever enter into it.
No longer
anything accursed.
Everything will be
purified.
Everything will be
redeemed and restored
by his power.
I love the beautiful
picture.
It says we will see
him face to face.
Have you ever
pondered that?
Have you ever
put yourself
in the shoes
of Moses
in the cleft
of that rock
if you ever
so desperately
wanted to see
the glory of God?
I think the more
we read scripture,
you know what happens?
We have a desire
to see the glory of God.
And we see it
in the pages
of scripture,
but if you ever
wanted to see,
if you ever wanted
him just to be
right here
and just to see
him face to face
and talk to him,
I know we can
talk to him now.
I'm not trying to say,
but there's just
this longing for more.
Do you all know it?
Do you all feel it?
Do you sense it?
Do you want more?
Well, it's coming.
It's coming.
We'll be able to
experience perfect fellowship.
We'll be able to stand
in his presence.
That's why it says
there's no need
for the temple.
What was the temple
to the life
of the church
or the life
of the Israelites,
the life of God's people?
What was the church?
It was,
I mean the temple,
it was a way
to shield the glory
of God
so they wouldn't
be consumed.
So he said,
build the tabernacle
like this.
Make sure there's
heavy curtains
in there all the way around
and make sure there's
more curtains
all the way around
and then my glory
will enter in
and when his glory
entered in
and it spilled out
from the bottom,
what did the people do?
Because of the great
holiness of God,
they back up
and yet it's shielded.
Moses goes up
and he sees the stardust
of the glory of God
go by
and he comes down
off the mountain
and what's happening
is glowing
because of the greatness
of God's glory.
You know,
there's no temple
needed in this heavenly kingdom
because we will be able
to be in the presence
of very God
because there's no more sin.
We will experience
his glory
and we will celebrate.
You know what we'll do?
We'll do what the angels did.
In chapter 19,
if we go back,
it talks a little bit
about the wedding feast.
I want you to hear it
and then we'll close
our time with the beauty
of what's getting ready
to happen.
And this is the,
in verse 4 of chapter 19,
it talks about the,
what's coming,
the wedding supper
of the Lamb.
You know,
all of the message
of Genesis,
the promise of a Savior,
the sanctification
of his people,
the building of his church
is all pointing
to this ultimate conclusion,
the wedding supper
of the Lamb.
Listen to the beauty.
Listen how the angels
long for it.
the cherubim
and seraphim,
they long for this moment
because God is worthy
of this worship.
This type of worship
is what we're made for.
This is what we're redeemed for
so that we can worship
in spirit and truth
along with all the host
of heaven.
Listen,
and the 24 elders
and the four living creatures
fell down
and worshiped God
who was seated
on the throne
saying,
Amen.
Hallelujah.
And from the throne
came a voice saying,
Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
small and great.
Then I heard what seemed
to be the voice
of a great multitude,
like the roar
of many waters,
like the sound
of mighty peals
of thunder
crying out,
Hallelujah.
For the Lord,
our God,
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice
and exult
and give him glory.
For the marriage
of the Lamb has come
and the bride
has made herself ready.
And it was granted her
to clothe herself
with fine linen,
bright and pure.
Praise be to Jesus
that we are called
by his name,
that we're sons
and daughters
of the King,
that we're part
of the bride of Christ,
that our names
are written
in the Lamb's book of life.
Let's pray.
Father,
get stirred up.
just thinking about
the wonders
of your kingdom,
the incredible nature
of being in your presence.
I mean,
Mary is in the presence
of Jesus
and she just
doesn't have to say a word,
just enjoy it.
I can't matter.
I can't imagine
how much more incredible
it's going to be
to see you face to face
and experience your presence
and the utter awe
and the incredible worship
that will spill out of us
because you're worthy.
God,
as you sanctify us
in this life,
help us to live for you
and not for self.
Help us to
adorn ourselves
with the beautiful picture
of your fruit
in our life.
Lord,
would you do a work in us?
We can't sanctify ourselves.
God,
you have to sanctify us
and God,
we ask you to do it.
We ask you to
pour fruit into our life.
God,
I know we have to
choose you
and I just pray
that you give each of us
a desire to choose you
and to live for you
and live for your kingdom.
God,
help us to always have
your kingdom in view,
God.
Give us this
unquenchable longing
for your presence
and the fullness
of your glory.
God,
I pray that you would
fill us with song
and worship.
Father,
you would give us
endurance
as we run this race.
God,
we await
the incredible wedding feasts
that we get to enjoy
because of your gift to us.
God,
we praise you this day
in Christ's name.
Amen.