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Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,[Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17, 66:22] for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there. 2 Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “See! God’s Sh’khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God.[Revelation 21:3 Leviticus 26:11–12; Isaiah 7:14; 8:8, 10; Jeremiah 31:33(34); Ezekiel 37:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away.”
5 Then the One sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Also he said, “Write, ‘These words are true and trustworthy!’” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’ the Beginning and the End. To anyone who is thirsty I myself will give water free of charge from the Fountain of Life.
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Revelation 21:1-6
Verse 1
[1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I saw — So it runs, Revelation 19:11; 20:1,4,11, in a succession. All these several representations follow one another in order: so the vision reaches into eternity.
A new heaven and a new earth — After the resurrection and general judgment. St. John is not now describing a flourishing state of the church, but a new and eternal state of all things.
For the first heaven and the first earth — Not only the lowest part of heaven, not only the solar system, but the whole ethereal heaven, with all its host, whether of planets or fixed stars, Isaiah 34:4; Matthew 24:29. All the former things will be done away, that all may become new, verses 4,5; 2 Peter 3:10,12.
Are passed away — But in the fourth verse it is said, "are gone away." There the stronger word is used; for death, mourning, and sorrow go away all together: the former heaven and earth only pass away, giving place to the new heaven and the new earth.
Verse 2
[2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I saw the holy city — The new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem, are closely connected. This city is wholly new, belonging not to this world, not to the millennium, but to eternity. This appears from the series of the vision, the magnificence of the description, and the opposition of this city to the second death, Revelation 20:11,12; 21:1; 2,5,8,9; 22:5.
Coming down — In the very act of descending.
Verse 3
[3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
They shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God — So shall the covenant between God and his people be executed in the most glorious manner.
Verse 4
[4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And death shall be no more — This is a full proof that this whole description belongs not to time, but eternity.
Neither shall sorrow, or crying, or pain, be any more: for the former things are gone away — Under the former heaven, and upon the former earth, there was death and sorrow, crying and pain; all which occasioned many tears: but now pain and sorrow are fled away, and the saints have everlasting life and joy.
Verse 5
[5] And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he that sat upon the throne said — Not to St. John only. From the first mention of "him that sat upon the throne," Revelation 4:2, this is the first speech which is expressly ascribed to him.
And he — The angel.
Saith to me Write — As follows.
These sayings are faithful and true — This includes all that went before. The apostle seems again to have ceased writing, being overcome with ecstasy at the voice of him that spake.
Verse 6
[6] And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
And he — That sat upon the throne.
Said to me, It is done — All that the prophets had spoken; all that was spoken, Revelation 4:1. We read this expression twice in this prophecy: first, Revelation 16:17, at the fulfilling of the wrath of God; and here, at the making all things new.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end — The latter explains the former: the Everlasting.
I will give to him that thirsteth — The Lamb saith the same, Revelation 22:17.
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Daily Devotionals:
Monday, October 26, 2015
Text to Read: Revelation 21:1-6a.
- What do you suppose eternal life will be like?
- Why?
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Text to Read: Revelation 21:1-6a.
- How does our cultural teaching about death differ from the Christian understanding?
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Text to Read: Revelation 21:1-6a.
- Read the text from Revelation.
- What can we do to be a witness of this new age?
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Text to Read: Revelation 21:1-6a.
- How can you be a witness for the hope of eternal life?
- Why is it important?
Friday, October 30, 2015
Text to Read: Revelation 21:1-6a.
- If you had to answer the question, “Why am I here?,” what would your answer be?
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Text to Read: Revelation 21:1-6a.
- How does eternal life effect your purpose in this world?
- What are the implications?
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Text to Read: Revelation 21:1-6a.
- Pray for all those grieving the losses of loved ones.
First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, California 92108, United States
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Sermon Story "Anticipating through Action" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 1 November 2015 with Scripture: Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,[Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17, 66:22] for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there. 2 Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “See! God’s Sh’khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God.[Revelation 21:3 Leviticus 26:11–12; Isaiah 7:14; 8:8, 10; Jeremiah 31:33(34); Ezekiel 37:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away.”
5 Then the One sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Also he said, “Write, ‘These words are true and trustworthy!’” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’ the Beginning and the End. To anyone who is thirsty I myself will give water free of charge from the Fountain of Life.
How do you respond to this passage of Scripture? Many times this gives hope to believers in Jesus who see no hope in this life either because of their situations or how they perceive the world has getting more violent and in desapair, et what is God realing telling us here. We know that Jesus is coming back with His home for us, but He ust may be saying that as long as we are living in this world we are to be people of love and hope to all people we come in contact with. Yes, it will be great to have the final consummation of Jesus as the King of all Creation, but what is he asking us to do and be as we live and work in this world. We look at the many of the marginalized people being excluded from our communities, even our communities of faith, such as non-white people, people with different sexual orientation, people who are refugees or immigrants, or people who happen to have a disability or differently abled. We are able to look at many of the communities that have been developed to give hope to the hopeless, yet we look at what has become L'Arche International that was started over fifty years ago when a French-Canadian was obedient to God and an French priest when he began to live with two adult men who happen to be intelectual impaired. Through this experience, Jean Vanier began to realize the gifts that the people who are differently abled have to offer the communities as well as the faith communities. Within this concept of L'Arche we see the people with disabilities live and work alongside people who have no disabilities bringing a community of support for each other. It may be in the living arrangement or in the monthly community meals for the L'Arche connected and the people not connected to L'Arche. The observation of seeing people eating together and interacting with each other. Also the seeing of the people who are differently abled assisting with the food preparations, the set up, and the cleaning up before and after the gathering. We look at this example of how L'Arche has existed for over fifty years for the church or communities of faith to exist in love and peace. Have you ever spent time with a person or people who are differently abled? Have you been controlling of their actions and condescending in listening to them and allowing them to perform their talents? How would you desire the church to live in community similar to L'Arche who be connected to a L'Arche or a community similar to L'Arche that you have connected to your local congregation? What are your preconceived thoughts which have to be transformed into God-like thoughts? How would you support a ministry such as The Proposed Global United Methodist Church-Church of the Nazarene's Lamb's Hope Ministry? We come to seek forgiveness where we have failed to live as God has called us to live with all people and seek God's leading and blessings in our pursuit of a similar community as we take and eat the Body of Jesus and drink His Blood in our participation in the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. We come to receive from God singing the hymn "Revelation 21:4" by The Poet's Dance
He will dry every tear from their eyes
And death shall be no more
Neither will mourning, nor crying, nor pain
For the former things have passed away
Hymn: "Jerusalem, my happy home, Name ever dear to me" by Author: F. B. P.; Alterer: Joseph Bromehead; Author (attributed to): Augustine of Hippo
1. Jerusalem, my happy home,
when shall I come to thee?
When shall my sorrows have an end?
Thy joys when shall I see?
2. O happy harbor of the saints,
O sweet and pleasant soil!
In thee no sorrow may be found,
no grief, no care, no toil.
3. Thy saints are crowned with glory great;
they see God face to face;
they triumph still, they still rejoice;
most happy is their case.
4. Jerusalem, my happy home,
would God I were in thee!
Would God my woes were at an end,
thy joys that I might see!
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Gary Lee Parker
4147 Idaho Street, Apt. 1
San Diego, California, 92104-1844, United States
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