Posts Tagged ‘new earth’
Scripture reading for August 4th: Isaiah 63-66
“Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before You! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make Your name known to Your enemies and cause the nations to quake before You!” (Isaiah 64:1-2) Isaiah longs for God to appear on the earth and reveal His glory and power. He envisions the mountains quaking at God’s revealed presence. He can see the glory of the Lord appearing as a consuming fire that causes the wicked to quake in fear.
Earlier in his prophesy, Isaiah has envisioned the coming of the Redeemer as the “servant of the Lord” who would suffer and bear the sins and iniquities of His people. (Isaiah 52-53) God would come in compassion and mercy and deal with man’s deepest predicament: separation from God! Now, Isaiah prays for God to come in judgment of the wicked and in mercy to His people.
God answered Isaiah in the form of several prophetic words. God assured His people that He would act on their behalf to save them. He would also deal harshly with those who would forsake Him to run after gods of good luck and fortune. (Isaiah 65:11-12) God assured his servants that they would be cared for in the midst of judgment. (Isaiah 65:13-14) He promised to restore Jerusalem as a joy and delight to His people and remove the sound of weeping and crying from it forever. (Isaiah 65:18-19) In fact, a new heavens and new earth would be made that would endure forever! (Isaiah 66:22)
This same God who is a Father to His people will come in a different way to His foes. “See, the Lord is coming with fire, and His chariots are like the whirlwind; He will bring down His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with His sword the Lord will execute judgment upon all men, and many will be those slain by the Lord.” (Isaiah 66:15-16) Not only will God’s many enemies be slain, but they will be tormented by worms and fire forever! (Isaiah 66:24) God is indeed compassionate and merciful to those who are humble and contrite and tremble at His word. (Isaiah 66:2) He is also an impartial judge to those who resist and rebel! Whose side will you be on, the many or the few?
Scripture reading for December 31st: Revelation 20-22
The end of the Bible tells of a new beginning! All who were faithful to Christ get to live in a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. All who enjoy this new beginning have been faithful and trusted Christ. He has faithfully done what He promised.
John sees a Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. This city is prepared like a bride for her husband. (Revelation 21:2) A voice from heaven announces that the dwelling place of God is among men and He will live with them. He will comfort them and change the order of their existence. There will be no more tears, crying or pain. God is making everything new and His word is sure!
There will be some who won’t enjoy these new eternal accommodations. These are the cowardly and unbelieving, those who put off deciding to follow the Lord. Those who are murderers and are sexually immoral will not be invited in. Those practicing the occult and living lies will also be excluded and sent to the lake of burning sulfur. This lake is the second death spoken of at the Great White Throne judgment. (Revelation 20:14-15)
However, the new Jerusalem contains the most precious and beautiful treasures for the redeemed. There is the river of life that flows from the throne of God. It’s waters are crystal clear and flowing abundantly. The banks of the river are lined with the tree of life, bearing fruit each month of the year. It’s leaves bring healing to the nations. The best treasure of all is that those who dwell in this city will have God and the Lamb dwelling in their midst and they will see His face! What blessed peace and joy will be ours when we see Him and behold Him in all His glory!
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 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.” (Revelation 22:12-14)
Three times in this final chapter the Lord speaks of His soon return, and the final “blessed” concerns those who have their wedding clothes ready for His coming! The Spirit and Bride conclude with an invitation to all to come and join the Bridal party of those waiting for the soon return! Just reading the invitation to this party makes me want to be ready! May you be ready too!
As we come to the last day of this year, I am so blessed to have been able to write through the entire Bible. It is something that I haven’t done before but hope to do again next year! I know that I have experienced Jesus Christ in every book. I also know the Lord’s heart better and feel that I have grown spiritually in ways that I would not have without writing. Thank you for sharing this journey with me and please join me again next year! In His Love, Pastor John Morse