Bible Study - Why (6) - What Happens Next? - Revelation 21:1-8 - July 8, 2018

Bible Study – Why (6) – What Happens Next? – July 8, 2018

This is lesson six (6) and final lesson in our series entitled “Why are we here?”

Our focus scripture is Revelation 21:1-8.

One day we will fully experience who GOD created us to be.

Many of us ask, “Why are we here upon earth?”

I think Ephesians 1:3-4 helps us to begin to understand the answer to this question:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ; 

4 for He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love

We were conceived in the mind of GOD before the foundation of the world. We have been held in the mind of GOD waiting to be born upon earth at just the moment HE chose for us to be conceived and born as a human. HE chose us to be holy and blameless in HIS sight because of HIS love for us.

We must keep in mind that GOD also created us with the freedom to choose. HE has chosen us but have we chosen HIM, through faith in JESUS, HIS promised Messiah?

What role does faith in JESUS have in our lives as humans?

Let’s consider John 5:24:

24 "I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. 

JESUS spoke these words while HE was upon earth. The purpose of HIS life was to be the perfect sacrifice to pay, in full, for the sins of all who would place their faith in HIM. GOD did not make us robots. Our earthly parents, Adam and Eve, chose to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Having the knowledge of good and evil means we choose. Do we choose JESUS for eternal salvation and the miracle of rebirth in our spirit by the Spirit of GOD or reject JESUS?

I thing is for certain, we will all die. Then what? Satan will attempt to have you think all sorts of things e.g. reincarnation, disappear into nothing, and his lies go on and on. Seek truth. Where can we find truth? The Bible is a good place to begin. Start by reading the Book of Mark followed by reading the Book of John. Let’s explore by considering scripture in Revelation!

First, I must say, many put an “s” on the end of Revelation. Revelation is not plural. It is singular.

Let’s read Revelation 21:1-3:

The New Creation

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer. 

2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 

3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God's dwelling 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. 

The Apostle John is the author of the Book of Revelation. John saw JESUS in HIS Glorified state as JESUS requested from GOD, HIS Father in John 17:5:

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 

Yes, JESUS was in Heaven and willingly came to earth to be born 100% human, yet 100% Divine. HE chose to leave HIS Glory in Heaven to be tempted in all ways as humans are tempted, yet without sin.

The Apostle John saw JESUS ascend into Heaven after HIS resurrection. In Revelation 1:12-18, the Apostle John saw JESUS after HIS Father, The One True GOD, restored The Glory JESUS had before the world began:

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 

13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,

15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 

16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, 

18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 

As our focus scripture and other prophesy reveal, the earth we know today will be destroyed by fire and replaced by a new Heaven and a new Earth.

The sea refers to the divide that currently exists between Heaven, where GOD dwells and current earth. There will not be a divide between GOD and the inhabitants of the new Heaven and Earth. There will be unity. Those present upon earth will be those who have been redeemed by the shed blood of JESUS. They the Children of GOD through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth.

The most exquisite example to explain the beauty was to compare the beauty of a bride adorned in splendor to present herself to her groom.

The Bible is very clear as recorded in 1 Corinthians 2:9:

9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"—

We, as humans, do not have the ability to envision or comprehend the things GOD has prepared for those who love HIM. Oh my, to miss Heaven and know that you had the opportunity to be there with GOD and JESUS would truly be Hell. Do not let this happen to you! Accept JESUS as your Savior now.

What will this new Heaven and New Earth be like? Let’s read on---

Let’s read Revelation 21:4-5:

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. 

5 Then the One seated on the throne said, "Look! I am making everything new." He also said, "Write, because these words are faithful and true." 

Once the LORD establishes a covenant with HIS chosen, it is forever. Those redeemed by the shed blood of the LAMB will be the new occupants of this new Heaven and earth for eternity.

Let’s read Revelation 21:6-8:

6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give to the thirsty from the spring of living water as a gift. 

7 The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.

8 But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars-their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

The final event is for a new Heaven and a new Earth to be established. JESUS made it clear that HE is the Beginning and the End by the use of the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Most of us know what it means to be thirsty.  But that is physical thirst. JESUS spoke to the woman at the well in John 4:10:

10 JESUS answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of GOD, and who it is who says to you, “Give me a drink,’ you would have asked HIM, and HE would have given you living water.”

Faith in JESUS quenches our Spiritual thirst, therefore nothing or no one else can. We, as humans, attempt to quench our thirst with other gods, material success, fame and the list goes on.

So what is our choice? It is to be a Child of GOD through faith in JESUS or to reject JESUS and be on the outside looking in to what you could have had if you placed your faith in JESUS? Verse 8, paints a dismal picture of those you will share eternity with, if you reject JESUS.

This is your opportunity to accept JESUS as your Savior and receive the living water, which is the indwelling Holy Spirit. Blessings!!!