{"id":808,"date":"2025-05-19T20:04:47","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T20:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/?p=808"},"modified":"2025-05-19T20:04:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T20:04:49","slug":"heavenly-realities-revelation-211022-225","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/19\/heavenly-realities-revelation-211022-225\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavenly Realities: Revelation 21:10,22-22:5"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Someone asked me recently if I thought the book of Revelation was “written in code.” Not really. At least, that’s not the way I would express it: I think it is written in symbols. It draws deeply from the Old Testament and from the symbolism in use in the apocalyptic literature<\/a> of its time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We should expect symbolism in the Book of Revelation, not literal description. We are tipped off to this in the very opening of the book. But, in many ways, this is what we should expect. How else can future and heavenly realities be presented to us except through symbols?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Revelation 1:1-3
\u0391\u0313\u03c0\u03bf\u03ba\u03b1\u0301\u03bb\u03c5\u03c8\u03b9\u03c2 \u0399\u0313\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b7\u0314\u0300\u03bd \u03b5\u0313\u0301\u03b4\u03c9\u03ba\u03b5\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03c9\u0345\u0342 \u03bf\u0314 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u0300\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b5\u03b9\u0342\u03be\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u0342\u03c2 \u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u0301\u03bb\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b1\u0314\u0300 \u03b4\u03b5\u03b9\u0342 \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03b5\u0301\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u0313\u03bd \u03c4\u03b1\u0301\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03b5\u0313\u03c3\u03b7\u0301\u03bc\u03b1\u03bd\u03b5\u03bd \u03b1\u0313\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9\u0301\u03bb\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u0300 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b1\u0313\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u0301\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03c4\u03c9\u0345\u0342 \u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u0301\u03bb\u03c9\u0345 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u0399\u0313\u03c9\u03b1\u0301\u03bd\u03bd\u03b7\u0345, \u03bf\u0314\u0300\u03c2 \u03b5\u0313\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03c5\u0301\u03c1\u03b7\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u0300\u03bd \u03bb\u03bf\u0301\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c4\u03b7\u0300\u03bd \u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03c5\u03c1\u03b9\u0301\u03b1\u03bd \u0399\u0313\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03bf\u0314\u0301\u03c3\u03b1 \u03b5\u03b9\u0313\u0342\u03b4\u03b5\u03bd. \u039c\u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u0301\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u0314 \u03b1\u0313\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03b9\u03bd\u03c9\u0301\u03c3\u03ba\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03bf\u03b9\u0314 \u03b1\u0313\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u0301\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0300\u03c2 \u03bb\u03bf\u0301\u03b3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9\u0301\u03b1\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5\u0342\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b1\u0300 \u03b5\u0313\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0345\u0342 \u03b3\u03b5\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03bc\u03bc\u03b5\u0301\u03bd\u03b1, \u03bf\u0314 \u03b3\u03b1\u0300\u03c1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03c1\u03bf\u0300\u03c2 \u03b5\u0313\u03b3\u03b3\u03c5\u0301\u03c2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near.”<\/em> (NRSV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it says, in verse 1 that “he” [God through Jesus Christ] “made it known” it uses the verb \u03b5\u0313\u03c3\u03b7\u0301\u03bc\u03b1\u03bd\u03b5\u03bd, which means “to indicate, or signify.” We are tipped off right away, that this book conveys its meaning to us by the use of signs and symbols. We should expect symbolism in this book, not plain description.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
he “showed me the holy city Jerusalem”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Many years ago, I read a commentary on the book of Revelation that impressed me. I though: “there is a lot of good preaching material in this book of the Bible, but many preachers avoid it.” So, I formed resolved to preach a series of sermons on the book of Revelation. I don’t remember right now exactly how many were in my plan. But, as it turned out, it was too many. I started out well, but as the series went on, I began running out of gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, it was precisely passages like this one that presented the greatest difficulty for me. How was I to talk for 20 minutes or more on the future promise of God which no one has experienced yet. The problem was especially acute for me, since I had been preaching for several weeks in a row on the book of Revelation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Revelation 21:10
\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03b1\u0313\u03c0\u03b7\u0301\u03bd\u03b5\u03b3\u03ba\u03b5\u0301\u03bd \u03bc\u03b5 \u03b5\u0313\u03bd \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u0301\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9 \u03b5\u0313\u03c0\u03b9\u0300 \u03bf\u0313\u0301\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5\u0301\u03b3\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c5\u0314\u03c8\u03b7\u03bb\u03bf\u0301\u03bd, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03b5\u0313\u0301\u03b4\u03b5\u03b9\u03be\u03b5\u0301\u03bd \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b7\u0300\u03bd \u03c0\u03bf\u0301\u03bb\u03b9\u03bd \u03c4\u03b7\u0300\u03bd \u03b1\u0314\u03b3\u03b9\u0301\u03b1\u03bd \u0399\u0313\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1\u03bb\u03b7\u0300\u03bc \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b2\u03b1\u03b9\u0301\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03b5\u0313\u03ba \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03bf\u03c5\u0313\u03c1\u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b1\u0313\u03c0\u03bf\u0300 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c5\u0342<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.”<\/em> (NRSV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Wesley comments on this, noting the correspondence of this passage with the prophecies of Ezekiel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
John Wesley (1703-1791)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

And showed me the holy city Jerusalem<\/em> \u2014 The old city is now forgotten, so that this is no longer termed the new, but absolutely Jerusalem. O how did St. John long to enter in! but the time was not yet come. Ezekiel also describes \u201cthe holy city,\u201d and what pertains thereto, 40-48. Ezek. 40:1-48:35 but a city quite different from the old Jerusalem, as it was either before or after the Babylonish captivity. The descriptions of the prophet and of the apostle agree in many particulars; but in many more they differ. Ezekiel expressly describes the temple, and the worship of God therein, closely alluding to the Levitical service. But St. John saw no temple, and describes the city far more large, glorious, and heavenly than the prophet. Yet that which he describes is the same city; but as it subsisted soon after the destruction of the beast. This being observed, both the prophecies agree together and one may explain the other.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

We can only speak of the future in signs and symbols. It has not happened yet. We have not experienced it. We project, out of our imaginations, out of our experiences of the past, what we imagine it will be. But, John the Revelator speaks of a future reality such as none have experienced. It is something greater than anyone has ever know. Symbolism is the only way to talk about such things. And, this also is the great challenge to the person attempting to preach on this: how to we even speak of such things?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John has to stand on a mountain to see it all. The promise of God is grand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
the holy city<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Revelation 21:22-27
\u039a\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03bd\u03b1\u03bf\u0300\u03bd \u03bf\u03c5\u0313\u03ba \u03b5\u03b9\u0313\u0342\u03b4\u03bf\u03bd \u03b5\u0313\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0345\u0342, \u03bf\u0314 \u03b3\u03b1\u0300\u03c1 \u03ba\u03c5\u0301\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u0314 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u0300\u03c2 \u03bf\u0314 \u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u0301\u03c4\u03c9\u03c1 \u03bd\u03b1\u03bf\u0300\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03b5\u0313\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c4\u03bf\u0300 \u03b1\u0313\u03c1\u03bd\u03b9\u0301\u03bf\u03bd. \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03b7\u0314 \u03c0\u03bf\u0301\u03bb\u03b9\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c5\u0313 \u03c7\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u0301\u03b1\u03bd \u03b5\u0313\u0301\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b7\u0314\u03bb\u03b9\u0301\u03bf\u03c5 \u03bf\u03c5\u0313\u03b4\u03b5\u0300 \u03c4\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03c3\u03b5\u03bb\u03b7\u0301\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b9\u0314\u0301\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c6\u03b1\u03b9\u0301\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0345\u0342, \u03b7\u0314 \u03b3\u03b1\u0300\u03c1 \u03b4\u03bf\u0301\u03be\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b5\u0313\u03c6\u03c9\u0301\u03c4\u03b9\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0301\u03bd, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03bf\u0314 \u03bb\u03c5\u0301\u03c7\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u0300 \u03b1\u0313\u03c1\u03bd\u03b9\u0301\u03bf\u03bd. \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03b7\u0301\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03c4\u03b1\u0300 \u03b5\u0313\u0301\u03b8\u03bd\u03b7 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u0300 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u03bf\u0300\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0342\u03c2, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03bf\u03b9\u0314 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u0342\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03b3\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03c6\u03b5\u0301\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03c4\u03b7\u0300\u03bd \u03b4\u03bf\u0301\u03be\u03b1\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03c9\u0342\u03bd \u03b5\u03b9\u0313\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0301\u03bd, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03bf\u03b9\u0314 \u03c0\u03c5\u03bb\u03c9\u0342\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c5\u0313 \u03bc\u03b7\u0300 \u03ba\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03c3\u03b8\u03c9\u0342\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03b7\u0314\u03bc\u03b5\u0301\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2, \u03bd\u03c5\u0300\u03be \u03b3\u03b1\u0300\u03c1 \u03bf\u03c5\u0313\u03ba \u03b5\u0313\u0301\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u0313\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u0342, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03bf\u03b9\u0313\u0301\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03c4\u03b7\u0300\u03bd \u03b4\u03bf\u0301\u03be\u03b1\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c4\u03b7\u0300\u03bd \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03b7\u0300\u03bd \u03c4\u03c9\u0342\u03bd \u03b5\u0313\u03b8\u03bd\u03c9\u0342\u03bd \u03b5\u03b9\u0313\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0301\u03bd. \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03bf\u03c5\u0313 \u03bc\u03b7\u0300 \u03b5\u03b9\u0313\u03c3\u03b5\u0301\u03bb\u03b8\u03b7\u0345 \u03b5\u03b9\u0313\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0300\u03bd \u03c0\u03b1\u0342\u03bd \u03ba\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u03bf\u0300\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 [\u03bf\u0314] \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03c9\u0342\u03bd \u03b2\u03b4\u03b5\u0301\u03bb\u03c5\u03b3\u03bc\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c8\u03b5\u03c5\u0342\u03b4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b5\u03b9\u0313 \u03bc\u03b7\u0300 \u03bf\u03b9\u0314 \u03b3\u03b5\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03bc\u03bc\u03b5\u0301\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9 \u03b5\u0313\u03bd \u03c4\u03c9\u0345\u0342 \u03b2\u03b9\u03b2\u03bb\u03b9\u0301\u03c9\u0345 \u03c4\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03b6\u03c9\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b1\u0313\u03c1\u03bd\u03b9\u0301\u03bf\u03c5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“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 on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day \u2014 and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb\u2019s book of life.”<\/em> (NRSV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the visions of Ezekiel, John sees no Temple in the new Jerusalem. And, he says, there is no sun or moon, the presence of God provides its illumination. There is no temple because there is no need for such a thing \u2014 the presence of God pervades the whole city. There is no sun or moon because there is no need \u2014 the illumination of God, the Creator of light, fills it all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How can we speak of things? We can speak of the life of grace and forgiveness as a foretaste of an even better reality yet to come. The hope of a better world sustains us in the midst of this world \u2014 where we experience much disappointment and sorrow along with our joys. The apostle talks this way when he writes: “But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.” (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22 NRSV.) The Holy Spirit is spoken of here as the \u03b1\u0313\u03c1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b2\u03c9\u0342\u03bd\u03b1, the “down-payment” or (as in the NRSV) the “first installment.” What we experience of the grace of God now, is just a first taste of the far greater blessings that lie ahead. So, also here: “we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved.” (Romans 8:23, 24 NRSV.) And again: “He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee (\u03b1\u0313\u03c1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b2\u03c9\u0342\u03bd\u03b1).” And yet again: “In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge (\u03b1\u0313\u03c1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b2\u03c9\u0300\u03bd) of our inheritance toward redemption as God\u2019s own people, to the praise of his glory.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We live in a world of joy and sorrow. Often our joys are mixed with sorrow. Every good thing of God’s grace in this life \u2014 bringing us freedom and hope and forgiveness \u2014 inspiring love and allowing us to believe in it \u2014 is a foretaste of something greater. We move forward in hope. We enjoy the good things in life believing that every good we experience here points to something greater yet to come. This does not call us away from the enjoyment of life \u2014 but, toward it. We are able to invest ourselves in this life \u2014 even with its sorrow and pain n the confidence that something greater lies ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The presence of God which we experience in this life only momentarily and sometimes fleetingly \u2014 will be then a steady and constant reality, illuminating all of life. The temple will be no more because everywhere will be the temple. Living in such a world is beyond my comprehension, but I can at least say this: it sounds good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
the river of the water of lifee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Revelation 22:1-5
\u039a\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03b5\u0313\u0301\u03b4\u03b5\u03b9\u03be\u03b5\u0301\u03bd \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u03bf\u0300\u03bd \u03c5\u0314\u0301\u03b4\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b6\u03c9\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03bb\u03b1\u03bc\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u0300\u03bd \u03c9\u0314\u03c2 \u03ba\u03c1\u03c5\u0301\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd, \u03b5\u0313\u03ba\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u03bf\u0301\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd \u03b5\u0313\u03ba \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b8\u03c1\u03bf\u0301\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b1\u0313\u03c1\u03bd\u03b9\u0301\u03bf\u03c5. \u03b5\u0313\u03bd \u03bc\u03b5\u0301\u03c3\u03c9\u0345 \u03c4\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bb\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9\u0301\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b5\u0313\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c5\u0342\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03b5\u0313\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u0342\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u03be\u03c5\u0301\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd \u03b6\u03c9\u03b7\u0342\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf\u03c5\u0342\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5\u0300\u03c2 \u03b4\u03c9\u0301\u03b4\u03b5\u03ba\u03b1, \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u0300 \u03bc\u03b7\u0342\u03bd\u03b1 \u03b5\u0314\u0301\u03ba\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03b1\u0313\u03c0\u03bf\u03b4\u03b9\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u0300\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03c0\u03bf\u0300\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c4\u03b1\u0300 \u03c6\u03c5\u0301\u03bb\u03bb\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03be\u03c5\u0301\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b5\u03b9\u0313\u03c2 \u03b8\u03b5\u03c1\u03b1\u03c0\u03b5\u03b9\u0301\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03c9\u0342\u03bd \u03b5\u0313\u03b8\u03bd\u03c9\u0342\u03bd. \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c0\u03b1\u0342\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u0301\u03b8\u03b5\u03bc\u03b1 \u03bf\u03c5\u0313\u03ba \u03b5\u0313\u0301\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u0313\u0301\u03c4\u03b9. \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03bf\u0314 \u03b8\u03c1\u03bf\u0301\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b1\u0313\u03c1\u03bd\u03b9\u0301\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b5\u0313\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03b7\u0345\u0342 \u03b5\u0313\u0301\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03bf\u03b9\u0314 \u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342\u03bb\u03bf\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03bb\u03b1\u03c4\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u0301\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03c9\u0345\u0342 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03bf\u0313\u0301\u03c8\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u0300 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u0301\u03c3\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c4\u03bf\u0300 \u03bf\u0313\u0301\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0342 \u03b5\u0313\u03c0\u03b9\u0300 \u03c4\u03c9\u0342\u03bd \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03c9\u0301\u03c0\u03c9\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03c9\u0342\u03bd. \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03bd\u03c5\u0300\u03be \u03bf\u03c5\u0313\u03ba \u03b5\u0313\u0301\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u0313\u0301\u03c4\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03bf\u03c5\u0313\u03ba \u03b5\u0313\u0301\u03c7\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03c7\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u0301\u03b1\u03bd \u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u03bf\u0300\u03c2 \u03bb\u03c5\u0301\u03c7\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u03bf\u0300\u03c2 \u03b7\u0314\u03bb\u03b9\u0301\u03bf\u03c5, \u03bf\u0314\u0301\u03c4\u03b9 \u03ba\u03c5\u0301\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u0314 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u0300\u03c2 \u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u03b9\u0301\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b5\u0313\u03c0\u2019 \u03b1\u03c5\u0313\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0301\u03c2, \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u0300 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u0301\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03b5\u03b9\u0313\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u0300\u03c2 \u03b1\u03b9\u0313\u03c9\u0342\u03bd\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c4\u03c9\u0342\u03bd \u03b1\u03b9\u0313\u03c9\u0301\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“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. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of 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 there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”<\/em> (NRSV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are building (as I said before) on Old Testament imagery: the earthly paradise is restored. Genesis 2:10: “A river flows out of Eden to water the garden….”<\/em> Ezekiel 47:7-9: “As I came back, I saw on the bank of the river a great many trees on the one side and on the other. He said to me, \u201cThis water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the sea, the sea of stagnant waters, the water will become fresh. Wherever the river goes,a every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Adam Clarke ((1762-1832)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here it is the River of Life, flowing from the throne of God: the source of all being. God brings life and salvation and hope. When we hear and understand the Good News of Christ, we are offered forgiveness, new beginnings, hope, and life. The water of baptism is a reminder of the much larger River of the Water of Life that flows to us from the Throne of God \u2014 again, we can think of it as a foretaste. Adam Clarke remarks (on Ezekiel 47:9): “Life and salvation shall continually accompany the preaching of the Gospel; the death of sin being removed, the life of righteousness shall be brought in.” God is in the business of giving and renewing life. And, when we have gone astray \u2014 away from the source of life and peace and fulfillment \u2014 repentance and faith brings us back. The book of Revelation envisions and uninterrupted stream of life, flowing constantly. Or, as Clarke says: “…incessant communications of happiness proceeding from God.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This envisioned future includes “the healing of the nations.” We must remember that God’s redemptive plan is for all nations and all races. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be no more curses on human life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be a close relationship with God: “and his servants will worship him; they will see his face<\/em>….” We read in 1 John 3:2: “Beloved, we are God\u2019s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when hea is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This future hope buoys us up in the disappointments and struggles of this life \u2014 allowing us to commit ourselves fully to life in the here and now without becoming overcome with discouragement. We only know heavenly realities through signs and symbols. They are beyond our present experience. But, they are promised \u2014 to give us hope to persevere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Wesley remarks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

And they shall reign for ever and ever<\/em> \u2014 What encouragement is this to the patience and faithfulness of the saints, that, whatever their sufferings are, they will work out for them \u201can eternal weight of glory!\u201d Thus ends the doctrine of this Revelation, in the everlasting happiness of all the faithful. The mysterious ways of Providence are cleared up, and all things issue in an eternal Sabbath, an everlasting state of perfect peace and happiness, reserved for all who endure to the end.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A FREE GIFT TO PREACHERS: Here is a PPTX file for a sermon based on this passage . You can use this, edit this, change this however you wish \u2014 it is free for you to use (or not). Click this link: Heavenly Realities.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We should expect symbolism in the Book of Revelation, not literal description. We are tipped off to this in the very opening of the book.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":810,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,14,367,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bible-studies","category-preaching","category-the-book-of-revelation","category-theology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=808"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/808\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":840,"href":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/808\/revisions\/840"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.craigladams.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}