Revelation 21

Bible Passage:  Revelation 21

Isn’t it exciting?

We have come to the 2nd last chapter of this year’s Bible reading plan.  But more excitingly, in today’s chapter… after all the plagues and terrible things that we have read in the preceding chapter, we are now welcomed into the vision of the new heaven and new earth!

I liked the picture of the bride in yesterday’s posting.  And the image of the bride continues to serves as a needful reminder for me today as we end the year.

The Bride of the Lamb

We see John using the image of the new Jerusalem as the bride of the Lamb (Jesus) to convey a message of God’s intimacy with and love for His people.

Our hope is founded in the conviction that one day all sorrows will cease and all injustices will end.  God will wipe away all tears.  There will be no more mourning, crying or death.  God will dwell among us and make all things new.  It is just like back to the early days in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve could walk and talk freely with God – this is what all the redeemed of the Lord will be doing in the new Jerusalem.

Jesus had said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21).

We have to keep this treasure before us always and in our sight at all times as we pass through life so that we are not distracted or deceived into devoting our lives to second-rate treasures.

And as a reminder once again on what a bride must be, this chapter ends by saying “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev 21:27).

The warning is clear.  If we want to be this bride that joins Jesus in the new Jerusalem… we must be holy and pure.