Welcome again to our program,
00:00:22.88\00:00:26.14
"Revelation of the Coming King."
00:00:26.17\00:00:31.42
This program is a
part, as you know,
00:00:31.45\00:00:34.35
of a long series
in which we have tried
00:00:34.38\00:00:38.77
to cover all chapters
of the Book of Revelation.
00:00:38.80\00:00:43.50
I'm Ranko Stefanovic,
00:00:43.53\00:00:46.11
Professor of New Testament
at the Seventh-day Adventist
00:00:46.14\00:00:49.88
Theological
Seminary, Andrews University.
00:00:49.91\00:00:53.42
And I have really enjoyed
00:00:53.46\00:00:55.89
spending my
time with all of you.
00:00:55.92\00:00:57.80
I'm always excited
when we can take the Bible
00:00:57.83\00:01:01.68
and to study for ourselves.
00:01:01.71\00:01:04.87
The purpose of
the Book of Revelation
00:01:04.90\00:01:07.04
is indeed to tell us that
that a longer way to the day,
00:01:07.07\00:01:11.70
which is in the
Book of Revelation,
00:01:11.73\00:01:13.69
described in terms
of the Jewish wedding
00:01:13.72\00:01:16.29
that long
awaited day when finally
00:01:16.32\00:01:18.89
we will see our
Savior face to face.
00:01:18.92\00:01:21.92
Amen. It's a reality rooted
00:01:21.95\00:01:24.77
in God's
promise, in God's promise
00:01:24.80\00:01:28.19
that He will come again
00:01:28.22\00:01:30.55
and bring the
history of this world
00:01:30.58\00:01:32.64
to its end and to
establish His kingdom.
00:01:32.67\00:01:37.01
We would like to remind you
00:01:37.04\00:01:39.03
that once this program is
over, you can go and study
00:01:39.06\00:01:45.01
now the Book of
Revelation for yourself.
00:01:45.04\00:01:48.18
We got very good guidelines
and insights into how to do it.
00:01:48.21\00:01:55.35
But once this program is over
00:01:55.38\00:01:57.19
please take the
Book of Revelation,
00:01:57.22\00:01:59.42
because the many more insights
00:01:59.45\00:02:01.92
you can get from
this wonderful book
00:02:01.95\00:02:04.41
and to apply to
your personal lives.
00:02:04.44\00:02:06.40
Please don't forget,
this is the best textbook,
00:02:06.43\00:02:10.84
the infallible word
of God which is actually
00:02:10.87\00:02:13.80
the best commentary on
the book of Revelation.
00:02:13.83\00:02:17.91
It was 2,000 years
ago, it was 100 years ago,
00:02:17.94\00:02:21.80
it is now, it will always be
00:02:21.83\00:02:24.73
until the second
coming of Christ.
00:02:24.76\00:02:26.59
Nothing has ever, ever
changed in this commentary,
00:02:26.62\00:02:30.49
because the author of
this commentary is God himself.
00:02:30.52\00:02:33.92
But you need
also some other tools.
00:02:33.95\00:02:37.72
There are people who invested
a good part of their lives
00:02:37.75\00:02:41.68
doing research and using all
their skills and the knowledge
00:02:41.71\00:02:47.11
in order to get a
meaning of some difficult
00:02:47.14\00:02:50.26
portions of the
Book of Revelation.
00:02:50.29\00:02:53.50
And the summary of that research
00:02:53.53\00:02:55.68
is actually found
in this book titled,
00:02:55.71\00:02:59.59
"The Revelation
of Jesus Christ."
00:02:59.62\00:03:03.18
Actually, it is written
by me with one simple purpose
00:03:03.21\00:03:08.58
is to help serious students
of the Book of Revelation
00:03:08.61\00:03:13.43
who like to find the
meaning of this wonderful book,
00:03:13.46\00:03:17.67
to provide them
with the Old Testament,
00:03:17.70\00:03:20.13
New Testament
background text and to provide
00:03:20.16\00:03:23.01
many other
insights and tools as a help
00:03:23.04\00:03:26.57
as you're studying
the Book of Revelation.
00:03:26.60\00:03:29.60
You can always go to certain
portion of this commentary
00:03:29.63\00:03:35.10
and which--this is the
verse by verse commentary, okay.
00:03:35.13\00:03:38.74
And then go to the text
of the Book of the Revelation
00:03:38.77\00:03:42.11
and you will get so much help.
00:03:42.14\00:03:44.42
But please you have to do
your part as you're digging
00:03:44.45\00:03:47.91
through the text of
this wonderful book.
00:03:47.94\00:03:53.77
Our last lecture on
the Book of Revelation
00:03:53.80\00:03:56.41
in which we cover
chapters 21 and 22
00:03:56.44\00:03:59.48
of the Book of Revelation,
you can find a great help
00:03:59.51\00:04:02.95
in this
commentary from page 585.
00:04:02.98\00:04:07.06
You will see we have about
little bit more than 50 minutes
00:04:07.09\00:04:11.24
for this lecture but
here you have about 40 pages.
00:04:11.27\00:04:14.67
So how much you can find more
00:04:14.70\00:04:17.14
than what will
be presented here.
00:04:17.17\00:04:18.55
I would like really to
encourage you to go and to study
00:04:18.58\00:04:22.16
the Book of
Revelation for yourself.
00:04:22.19\00:04:25.62
But there is something
that is much more important
00:04:25.65\00:04:27.87
is that you-- that we seek
00:04:27.90\00:04:32.00
God and He to be present with us
00:04:32.03\00:04:36.37
and to give us his
us His Holy Spirit,
00:04:36.40\00:04:38.72
because only the
Holy Spirit can enable us,
00:04:38.75\00:04:41.16
give us that
wisdom and understanding
00:04:41.19\00:04:43.79
into the
meaning of this symbolic
00:04:43.82\00:04:46.41
text of the Book of Revelation.
00:04:46.44\00:04:48.32
And it is only the
Holy Spirit who can help us
00:04:48.35\00:04:51.63
to apply the messages
00:04:51.66\00:04:53.30
of the Book of
Revelation to our daily lives.
00:04:53.33\00:04:56.99
So may God bless each
one of you as you're making
00:04:57.02\00:05:00.66
that great effort to
study the word of God.
00:05:00.69\00:05:05.21
Keep in mind that
the Book of Revelation
00:05:05.24\00:05:07.82
was not given to a
group, selected group,
00:05:07.85\00:05:11.30
small group of scholars,
00:05:11.33\00:05:14.08
because according to
Revelation Chapter 1 and 3,
00:05:14.11\00:05:16.95
the Book of Revelation
is given to the church,
00:05:16.98\00:05:20.06
to every Christian
and every Christian
00:05:20.09\00:05:23.75
can get that meaning that
concerns his or her character
00:05:23.78\00:05:29.62
and how to prepare ourselves
for the kingdom of God.
00:05:29.65\00:05:34.08
So we will ask God for
His presence here in our midst
00:05:34.11\00:05:40.01
and for the
guidance of the Holy Spirit
00:05:40.04\00:05:42.63
as we're trying to understand
this wonderful message
00:05:42.66\00:05:45.63
of the last book of the Bible.
00:05:45.66\00:05:48.80
Our heavenly Father, thank
you so much for Your promises,
00:05:48.83\00:05:54.66
that when we take Your
word and study for ourselves
00:05:54.69\00:05:58.42
that You will
be present with us.
00:05:58.45\00:06:01.56
Thank you for the
promise of the Holy Spirit,
00:06:01.59\00:06:03.91
that the Holy Spirit will
direct us into all the truth.
00:06:03.94\00:06:08.34
This is exactly what we
are asking at this moment,
00:06:08.37\00:06:11.94
to give us Your Holy
Spirit and help us to understand
00:06:11.97\00:06:15.67
these wonderful messages
of the Book of Revelation.
00:06:15.70\00:06:18.43
Be with all of us.
00:06:18.46\00:06:20.69
And we're praying all of this
00:06:20.72\00:06:22.59
in the precious name of
our Savior Jesus Christ, amen.
00:06:22.62\00:06:27.20
In our last
presentation finally we came
00:06:33.79\00:06:39.17
to that point in
this wonderful book
00:06:39.20\00:06:43.02
which is telling us about
00:06:43.05\00:06:45.12
the close in the
history of this world.
00:06:45.15\00:06:49.20
And we saw that
the Book of Revelation
00:06:49.23\00:06:50.81
is telling us that it
is not some nuclear war,
00:06:50.84\00:06:56.29
some terrible
fight, whether in Palestine
00:06:56.32\00:07:00.00
or some other parts of the
world that will actually bring
00:07:00.03\00:07:02.61
the conclusion of
this world's history.
00:07:02.64\00:07:05.01
Actually, it is God Himself
00:07:05.04\00:07:07.54
who will come to intervene
on behalf of His people.
00:07:07.57\00:07:11.30
And finally there
will be that long awaited
00:07:11.33\00:07:15.66
union between Christ
and His faithful followers
00:07:15.69\00:07:19.51
which is portrayed in
terms of that Jewish wedding.
00:07:19.55\00:07:23.94
We saw that at the
second coming of Christ
00:07:23.97\00:07:26.69
two things will happen.
00:07:26.72\00:07:28.17
We will have that general
resurrection of God's people,
00:07:28.20\00:07:31.77
those who are faithful to God.
00:07:31.80\00:07:33.42
They will resurrect,
transform and be taken there
00:07:33.45\00:07:38.14
to the sky to meet
Jesus and finally Jesus
00:07:38.17\00:07:42.45
will take them for a
certain period of time
00:07:42.48\00:07:45.43
which is in the
Book of Revelation
00:07:45.46\00:07:47.05
referred to as the "Millennium."
00:07:47.08\00:07:49.57
They'll be there.
00:07:49.60\00:07:50.97
They'll be
involved in many activities.
00:07:51.00\00:07:53.29
We will be kept busy there
while the rest of the humanity
00:07:53.32\00:07:57.77
will wait for that
second resurrection
00:07:57.80\00:08:02.27
and the final judgment.
00:08:02.31\00:08:06.74
Friends, I just
want to remind you
00:08:06.77\00:08:10.58
that our God is God of love.
00:08:10.61\00:08:13.25
He doesn't like
to destroy anybody.
00:08:13.29\00:08:16.75
By the way, in
the Book of Zephaniah
00:08:16.78\00:08:20.38
we read that when God
will have to destroy sinners
00:08:20.41\00:08:23.66
and Satan himself for God
it will be a very unusual work.
00:08:23.69\00:08:29.54
That's not in His nature.
00:08:29.57\00:08:32.49
You know you have
maybe your old house.
00:08:32.52\00:08:36.57
In that house
your parents lived.
00:08:36.60\00:08:39.59
You were born there.
00:08:39.62\00:08:40.99
There are many memories.
00:08:41.02\00:08:43.07
But finally, you see that
that old house, it's useless.
00:08:43.10\00:08:46.45
It's not for use any longer.
00:08:46.48\00:08:48.33
You want to build a new house.
00:08:48.36\00:08:51.06
In order to build new
house on that location,
00:08:51.09\00:08:53.29
you have to
destroy the old house.
00:08:53.32\00:08:57.26
It's
heartbreaking event for you.
00:08:57.29\00:08:58.78
You don't like to do
it but you have to do it
00:08:58.81\00:09:02.39
in order to make something
new, something more beautiful.
00:09:02.42\00:09:06.34
This is what
we're talking about.
00:09:06.37\00:09:08.66
God will have to
bring the history
00:09:08.69\00:09:11.93
of this world to its end.
00:09:11.96\00:09:14.61
And God will have to
destroy this earth that suffers
00:09:14.64\00:09:20.03
so much under the burden
of sin and Satan's activities,
00:09:20.06\00:09:24.55
because God wants to build
something more beautiful for us.
00:09:24.58\00:09:30.08
He wants to
build the home for us
00:09:30.11\00:09:32.02
where we will live
through all eternity.
00:09:32.05\00:09:34.44
This is the purpose
00:09:34.47\00:09:35.84
of the Book of
Revelation to tell us about.
00:09:35.87\00:09:38.15
This is the
conclusion of this book.
00:09:38.18\00:09:40.97
And this is really
00:09:41.00\00:09:42.37
what the Book of
Revelation is all about,
00:09:42.40\00:09:44.80
to tell us as we are suffering,
00:09:44.83\00:09:46.99
as we are under the
pressure of some serious things
00:09:47.02\00:09:52.96
that make our lives bitter.
00:09:52.99\00:09:56.05
It's to tell us
just wait, just wait,
00:09:56.08\00:09:59.00
this life is just temporary,
00:09:59.03\00:10:01.34
because God is preparing
for us something more beautiful,
00:10:01.37\00:10:05.68
something better
and we are waiting,
00:10:05.71\00:10:07.99
waiting for the day.
00:10:08.02\00:10:09.51
I cannot wait to see
my Savior face to face.
00:10:09.54\00:10:15.28
So John, the
revelator, as he is watching
00:10:15.31\00:10:20.97
how God terminates sin
00:10:21.00\00:10:23.94
and the cause of
all sin Satan himself.
00:10:23.97\00:10:27.74
He is now in the conclusion
00:10:27.77\00:10:29.45
of that vision and
I'd like to invite you
00:10:29.48\00:10:33.70
to turn to the
Book of Revelation 21:1.
00:10:33.73\00:10:40.09
Friends, we are
dealing with two chapters.
00:10:40.12\00:10:41.49
We will not be able
to cover all verses,
00:10:41.52\00:10:43.16
but I would like
that we see in a nutshell
00:10:43.19\00:10:45.26
what really Revelation, these
last two chapters is all about.
00:10:45.29\00:10:51.02
John said, "Then
I saw a new heaven
00:10:51.05\00:10:56.76
and the new earth.
00:10:56.79\00:10:59.76
For the first heaven and
the first earth passed away,
00:10:59.79\00:11:06.37
and there is no longer any sea."
00:11:06.40\00:11:11.94
If we have just this one verse,
00:11:14.82\00:11:18.01
this one verse would be
enough to tell us everything
00:11:18.04\00:11:21.00
what our future is all about.
00:11:21.03\00:11:24.73
John is talking that God will--
after the destruction of sin
00:11:24.76\00:11:28.72
and evil and the
originator of that sin,
00:11:28.75\00:11:33.65
God will finally make a
new heaven and the new earth.
00:11:33.68\00:11:39.30
We want to dig
little bit into the text.
00:11:39.33\00:11:42.36
It talks here
about the new heaven.
00:11:42.39\00:11:44.42
We have to understand something.
00:11:44.45\00:11:46.62
We're dealing here reading
the Bible in English language.
00:11:46.65\00:11:50.70
We have to understand
that among the Hebrews,
00:11:50.73\00:11:54.72
also in my own
language, in Greek as well,
00:11:54.75\00:11:58.51
there are three heavens.
00:11:58.54\00:12:01.74
This is the way
how they understood.
00:12:01.77\00:12:03.57
There are three heavens.
00:12:03.60\00:12:04.97
By the way, if you
open 2 Corinthians 12:1,
00:12:05.00\00:12:09.67
Paul talks about how
he was taken into vision.
00:12:09.70\00:12:13.58
He was taken to
the third heaven.
00:12:13.61\00:12:16.23
What are you talking about?
00:12:16.26\00:12:18.28
Among the Jewish people
the first heaven was sky.
00:12:18.31\00:12:23.11
From that first heaven,
from sky, that rain comes.
00:12:23.14\00:12:26.28
Are you still with me?
00:12:26.31\00:12:28.12
There was the second heaven
00:12:28.15\00:12:29.65
which is really we
call universe, okay.
00:12:29.68\00:12:32.45
So in English we have
sky, we have universe.
00:12:32.48\00:12:34.50
In Hebrew there's first heaven,
third heaven--second heaven.
00:12:34.53\00:12:39.38
And third heaven is actually
the place where God dwells.
00:12:39.41\00:12:44.02
So when John here talks
that God created new heaven
00:12:44.05\00:12:48.73
and the new earth, he
really talks about the earth
00:12:48.76\00:12:51.98
and the atmosphere
that surrounds our earth.
00:12:52.01\00:12:54.88
He talks about the sky.
00:12:54.91\00:12:56.78
So God will
create everything new.
00:12:56.81\00:13:00.11
By the way, the text
00:13:00.14\00:13:01.96
that we have just
read, it's nothing new.
00:13:01.99\00:13:06.11
John is using here the
language of the Old Testament.
00:13:06.14\00:13:09.52
Because if you go here
to the prophet of Isaiah,
00:13:09.55\00:13:13.13
the prophet of
Isaiah, Chapter 65,
00:13:13.16\00:13:17.69
we read in verse 17,
"For behold"--God says,
00:13:17.72\00:13:23.06
Isaiah, 65:17, "For behold,
00:13:23.09\00:13:26.29
I create new
heavens and a new earth.
00:13:26.32\00:13:30.28
And the former things will not
be remembered or come to mind."
00:13:30.31\00:13:34.28
You see, there is nothing
new in the Book of Revelation.
00:13:34.31\00:13:37.55
That promise that
God will create one day
00:13:37.58\00:13:40.14
new heaven and the new earth,
00:13:40.17\00:13:41.92
actually, God's promise already
00:13:41.95\00:13:43.94
known to the Old
Testament prophets.
00:13:43.97\00:13:47.44
But finally now John is
witnessing in the vision
00:13:47.47\00:13:51.60
the fulfillment of that
promise that Isaiah prophesied,
00:13:51.63\00:13:59.46
new heaven and the new earth.
00:13:59.49\00:14:01.67
The keyword
that we're using here
00:14:01.70\00:14:06.33
it's actually
the Greek word koinos
00:14:06.36\00:14:14.08
which really means new.
00:14:14.11\00:14:16.74
But the problem is you
see when you're dealing
00:14:16.77\00:14:20.01
with the translation we
don't get the full meaning
00:14:20.04\00:14:23.38
of what is in Greek.
00:14:23.41\00:14:25.70
In Greek there
are two words for new.
00:14:25.73\00:14:30.47
One is koinos and
the other one is neos.
00:14:30.50\00:14:36.91
In Greek the basic differences
between the two words,
00:14:36.94\00:14:40.90
even though the
two words sometimes,
00:14:40.93\00:14:42.30
you know, in later development
the meaning was overlapping.
00:14:42.33\00:14:46.01
Koinos, it means
you have something
00:14:46.04\00:14:49.32
like you had the old house.
00:14:49.35\00:14:53.77
And you tear down that
house and you build another one.
00:14:53.80\00:14:57.56
So that house is on the
new location, that's koinos.
00:14:57.59\00:15:02.43
It means you have something
new that replaced the old one.
00:15:02.46\00:15:07.33
So that new house
is not really new.
00:15:07.36\00:15:09.27
It's what?
00:15:09.31\00:15:11.95
It's replacement
for that old house.
00:15:11.98\00:15:14.99
The word neos, it means
something really new in time,
00:15:15.02\00:15:19.08
something that is
made for the first time.
00:15:19.11\00:15:24.85
The word koinos is
used here to telling us
00:15:24.88\00:15:27.69
that our planet
earth will be brand new,
00:15:27.72\00:15:31.98
but it will replace the old one.
00:15:32.01\00:15:34.89
You see the same
God, the same God
00:15:34.92\00:15:38.33
that in Book of
Genesis Chapter 1,
00:15:38.36\00:15:41.77
He created this earth.
00:15:41.80\00:15:43.68
The word bara is used.
00:15:43.71\00:15:45.27
He created
everything out of nothing.
00:15:45.30\00:15:47.89
Now God recreates.
00:15:47.92\00:15:49.88
But this earth is not simply
a renewal of the old earth.
00:15:49.91\00:15:53.87
It's a brand new and that's
why John said here in the text
00:15:53.90\00:16:00.20
we'll see
later, "What was before
00:16:00.23\00:16:04.22
will not be a
reminder to us at all,
00:16:04.25\00:16:08.25
at all with the
creation of the new earth."
00:16:08.28\00:16:11.09
But then John
mentioned something else.
00:16:11.12\00:16:13.15
He said, "The
first earth passed away"
00:16:13.18\00:16:15.14
and then he said
"there is no longer any sea."
00:16:15.17\00:16:19.54
I know that we talk about that,
00:16:19.57\00:16:21.34
oh boy, at the
beginning of this series,
00:16:21.37\00:16:24.58
but please allow me one
more time to talk about that,
00:16:24.61\00:16:27.71
because in this phrase we
have the summary of everything
00:16:27.74\00:16:32.91
that Revelation
21 and 22 is about.
00:16:32.94\00:16:38.14
Because I know I
meet good Christians
00:16:38.17\00:16:40.34
and they come to this
phrase and they like to debate,
00:16:40.37\00:16:43.02
what does it mean
that on the new earth
00:16:43.05\00:16:44.65
we will not have
a sea any longer?
00:16:44.68\00:16:46.60
And sometimes our
English translation,
00:16:46.63\00:16:49.15
the Bible, it's very confusing,
00:16:49.18\00:16:51.03
"There is no longer any sea."
00:16:51.06\00:16:53.61
By the way, in Greek
it sounds "and the sea."
00:16:53.64\00:16:57.08
And the sea,
there is no any longer.
00:16:57.11\00:17:03.90
When John
mentioned here that the sea
00:17:03.94\00:17:06.10
there is no any longer,
00:17:06.13\00:17:07.50
he had one
particular sea in mind.
00:17:07.53\00:17:10.02
And that was the
sea of his experience.
00:17:10.05\00:17:13.95
It brings us back
00:17:13.98\00:17:15.35
to the beginning of
the Book of Revelation.
00:17:15.38\00:17:16.87
You remember John was on Patmos.
00:17:16.90\00:17:20.80
He was there in tribulation.
00:17:20.83\00:17:23.84
He was there in suffering
because of his faithfulness
00:17:23.87\00:17:27.33
to the gospel and to Christ.
00:17:27.36\00:17:29.39
And he was
surrounded by that sea.
00:17:29.42\00:17:31.47
By the way, I was on Patmos.
00:17:31.50\00:17:34.33
That's beautiful
scenery, but, you know,
00:17:34.36\00:17:36.93
when you are on Patmos
00:17:36.96\00:17:38.33
and when you suffer
all that beauty disappears.
00:17:38.36\00:17:41.70
That sea that is
beautiful, it's melodic.
00:17:41.73\00:17:45.60
In the Book of
Revelation the voice of Jesus,
00:17:45.63\00:17:48.21
the voice of God, said people,
00:17:48.24\00:17:49.74
always sound as the
sound of many waters,
00:17:49.77\00:17:52.50
the sound of that sea
that surrounded Patmos.
00:17:52.53\00:17:55.33
But all that beauty disappears
because you suffer there
00:17:55.36\00:17:59.79
and that scene prevents you
to get out of the tribulation.
00:17:59.82\00:18:07.75
That's why that sea
in the Book of Revelation
00:18:07.78\00:18:10.79
receives negative connotations.
00:18:10.82\00:18:13.19
By the way, in
the ancient world,
00:18:13.22\00:18:15.80
even we see that
concept in the Old Testament.
00:18:15.83\00:18:18.61
The sea has very
negative meaning.
00:18:18.64\00:18:21.11
It's the place where
those monsters dwell.
00:18:21.14\00:18:24.03
In the Old Testament
those monsters are the symbols
00:18:24.06\00:18:27.74
of the enemies of God's people.
00:18:27.77\00:18:29.57
They are always
coming out of the sea.
00:18:29.60\00:18:31.22
No wonder that
that terrible beast
00:18:31.25\00:18:34.68
that persecuted God's people
during the medieval period
00:18:34.71\00:18:37.56
and will do it again prior
to the second coming of Christ,
00:18:37.59\00:18:40.69
you remember that?
00:18:40.72\00:18:42.09
It's coming out of the sea.
00:18:42.12\00:18:45.28
It's the great prostitute
that sits on many waters.
00:18:45.31\00:18:48.19
Are you with me?
00:18:48.22\00:18:50.24
But that sea made
John to suffer there.
00:18:50.27\00:18:53.89
That sea for him
meant separation,
00:18:53.92\00:18:56.34
the cause of all
trouble that he experienced
00:18:56.37\00:18:59.16
while he was there on Patmos.
00:18:59.19\00:19:02.89
Everything that
John saw from day to day,
00:19:02.92\00:19:04.65
from week to week,
from months to months,
00:19:04.68\00:19:06.62
wherever he turned
around it was that sea
00:19:06.65\00:19:09.45
that make his life bitter.
00:19:09.48\00:19:14.70
No wonder now John is watching
00:19:14.73\00:19:18.15
the new heaven
and the new earth.
00:19:18.18\00:19:19.94
And what is the first
thing that he notices,
00:19:19.97\00:19:24.78
that he observes that there
is not there on that new earth?
00:19:24.81\00:19:29.59
There is no Dead Sea.
00:19:29.62\00:19:31.03
It's a particular sea.
00:19:31.06\00:19:32.59
It's not any sea.
00:19:32.62\00:19:33.99
It's that sea that make
him suffer here in this life.
00:19:34.02\00:19:39.47
And he said the cause of
my suffering has disappeared.
00:19:39.50\00:19:45.21
I cannot see it
there on the new earth.
00:19:45.24\00:19:49.70
Dear viewers, yeah,
00:19:49.73\00:19:53.47
we would like to
understand sometimes
00:19:53.50\00:19:55.65
some problematic statements
of the Book of Revelation.
00:19:57.97\00:20:00.24
We would like really sometimes
to deal with the things
00:20:00.27\00:20:02.91
that will not
help us spiritually.
00:20:02.94\00:20:06.07
And maybe as long as we live
00:20:06.10\00:20:08.85
we will never be
able to understand
00:20:08.88\00:20:10.52
every detail of
the Book of Revelation.
00:20:10.55\00:20:12.09
For some
insights we have to wait
00:20:14.55\00:20:16.26
until the time
of the fulfillment
00:20:16.29\00:20:17.69
of the prophesy of the
Book of Revelation comes.
00:20:17.72\00:20:22.50
But there is one
thing we have to understand
00:20:22.53\00:20:25.23
is if you have
anything in your life
00:20:25.26\00:20:29.39
that reminds you of
that sea that John suffered,
00:20:29.42\00:20:34.73
maybe, doctor told you
have few months just to live.
00:20:35.91\00:20:42.30
Maybe you don't know
how you'll pay your bills
00:20:42.33\00:20:45.18
at the end of the month.
00:20:45.21\00:20:48.15
Maybe you have
serious issues in your life
00:20:48.18\00:20:51.81
like family problems or
you're in desperate situation
00:20:51.84\00:20:55.56
when you see
how you're repeating
00:20:55.59\00:20:58.05
always mistake
over and over again.
00:20:58.08\00:21:00.87
And sometimes you say I
have to do away with my life.
00:21:00.90\00:21:06.01
I just want to tell
you, keep on longer.
00:21:06.04\00:21:11.80
Your Savior has
not forgotten you.
00:21:11.83\00:21:14.92
And He's reminding you
here in the Book of Revelation
00:21:14.95\00:21:18.30
that the day is coming.
00:21:18.33\00:21:20.13
Then when you find yourself
there on that new earth,
00:21:23.38\00:21:27.51
the first thing
you will observe that
00:21:27.54\00:21:31.55
that sea by which you were
surrounded in this present life
00:21:31.58\00:21:36.08
there is no longer
there on the new earth.
00:21:36.11\00:21:39.78
This is what we are waiting for.
00:21:39.81\00:21:43.12
That's the
reason I'm telling you
00:21:43.15\00:21:44.52
that this one verse we
have the summary of everything
00:21:44.55\00:21:47.28
what chapters 21
and 22 are all about.
00:21:47.31\00:21:51.86
But then the text moves on.
00:21:51.89\00:21:56.87
"And I saw the
holy city," verse 2,
00:21:56.90\00:22:00.12
"New Jerusalem, coming
down out of heaven from God,
00:22:00.15\00:22:06.04
made ready as a bride
adorned for her husband.
00:22:06.07\00:22:11.45
And I heard a loud
voice from the throne, saying,
00:22:11.48\00:22:15.36
'Behold, the
tabernacle of God is among men.
00:22:15.39\00:22:20.43
And He will dwell among them.
00:22:20.46\00:22:24.24
And they shall be His people
00:22:24.27\00:22:27.52
and God Himself
will be among them.
00:22:27.55\00:22:33.01
And He will wipe away
every tear from their eyes.
00:22:33.04\00:22:37.06
And there will no
longer be any death.
00:22:37.09\00:22:41.04
There will no longer be any
mourning, or crying, or pain,
00:22:41.07\00:22:46.85
for the first
things have passed away.'"
00:22:46.88\00:22:51.62
Boy, I'm tempted to
talk so much about this.
00:22:51.65\00:22:54.50
You'll notice here for the
first things have passed away.
00:22:54.53\00:22:58.05
This repetition of that phrase
that we have here in verse 1.
00:22:58.08\00:23:03.71
See the emphasis is that
God creates everything new.
00:23:03.74\00:23:07.54
And everything
that was before, okay,
00:23:09.20\00:23:13.05
that was distorted by sin
00:23:15.13\00:23:17.94
and all the
suffering in our life,
00:23:17.97\00:23:19.47
everything will be passed.
00:23:19.50\00:23:21.63
Okay. The keyword is new.
00:23:21.66\00:23:25.13
Count how many times the word
new is used in verses 1 to 5.
00:23:25.16\00:23:30.90
Friends, we are
dealing about something new
00:23:30.93\00:23:33.08
that God will give to us.
00:23:33.11\00:23:35.50
Verse 5, "And He
who sits on the throne,
00:23:35.53\00:23:38.70
He said, 'Behold, I am
making all things new.'
00:23:38.73\00:23:42.41
And He said, 'Write,
00:23:42.44\00:23:45.15
for these words are
faithful and true.'"
00:23:45.18\00:23:50.26
You'll notice here few things.
00:23:53.52\00:23:56.32
In verse 4 as John
observes the New Jerusalem,
00:23:56.35\00:24:01.19
we saw already
that New Jerusalem
00:24:01.22\00:24:03.94
comes down to the earth
00:24:03.97\00:24:05.89
after the
millennium, you remember that.
00:24:05.92\00:24:08.73
But John now wants
to remind us once again
00:24:08.76\00:24:12.80
that actually that New
Jerusalem has come from God.
00:24:12.83\00:24:16.58
By the way, when we go
00:24:16.61\00:24:17.98
to the Book of Hebrews
Chapter 11 we are reminded
00:24:18.01\00:24:21.62
that all those great people of
God of the Old Testament times.
00:24:21.65\00:24:26.67
They suffered a lot.
00:24:26.70\00:24:28.97
They faced many
uncertainties in this life.
00:24:29.00\00:24:31.69
But there is something that kept
them moving on. What is that?
00:24:31.72\00:24:36.36
According to Hebrews Chapter 11,
00:24:36.39\00:24:39.26
because they
looked into that city
00:24:39.29\00:24:42.79
whose founder and
builder was God Himself.
00:24:42.82\00:24:47.62
We understood already
that in the Book of Revelation,
00:24:47.65\00:24:50.36
the New
Jerusalem is God's answer
00:24:50.39\00:24:54.57
to all the problems and troubles
that we have in this life.
00:24:54.60\00:24:59.81
New Jerusalem is God's solution
to all human problems, Okay.
00:24:59.84\00:25:05.71
But you will notice
here something else,
00:25:05.74\00:25:08.57
in verse 3 as John is
observing New Jerusalem,
00:25:08.60\00:25:14.07
he hears the voice.
00:25:14.10\00:25:16.13
It said, "Behold,
the tabernacle of God,"
00:25:16.16\00:25:20.18
or we can use
different expression,
00:25:20.21\00:25:23.20
the tent of God, "is among men.
00:25:23.23\00:25:27.22
And He will dwell among them
00:25:27.25\00:25:30.44
and they shall be His people
00:25:30.47\00:25:33.06
and God Himself
will be among them."
00:25:33.09\00:25:35.50
Please, I want to
ask you one question.
00:25:35.53\00:25:39.04
As we have read these words,
00:25:39.07\00:25:40.80
what suddenly come to you
in mind from the Old Testament?
00:25:40.83\00:25:45.33
You remember when God
said to the people of Israel,
00:25:45.36\00:25:48.46
I want you that you
make a sanctuary, a tent,
00:25:48.49\00:25:52.46
because I would
like to dwell among you.
00:25:52.49\00:25:56.02
That sanctuary was
actually a symbol, okay,
00:25:59.08\00:26:05.31
a symbolic indication of
God's presence among people.
00:26:05.34\00:26:10.36
But do you
remember something else?
00:26:10.39\00:26:13.27
That it was only
allowed to the priest
00:26:13.30\00:26:15.58
to come there in
the presence of God.
00:26:15.61\00:26:17.99
Yet, even those priests
00:26:18.02\00:26:20.46
could not see God
there in the sanctuary.
00:26:20.49\00:26:23.51
By the way, I cannot--
00:26:23.54\00:26:29.20
not to mention
the words of Moses,
00:26:29.23\00:26:33.48
because the Bible talks
00:26:33.51\00:26:34.88
that there was no
person on this earth
00:26:34.91\00:26:37.07
who was able to talk to God
as to his friend face to face.
00:26:37.10\00:26:41.55
Yet Moses, on one
occasion he begged God,
00:26:41.58\00:26:46.09
"Please, would you
show me your face?"
00:26:46.12\00:26:50.40
And God told him, "Sorry, Moses.
00:26:50.43\00:26:53.86
A mortal man cannot see
My face and remain alive."
00:26:53.89\00:27:01.49
God says, "Moses, I'll
do something special to you.
00:27:01.52\00:27:04.58
You'll just see Me from back.
00:27:04.61\00:27:05.98
You'll see My glory,
but you cannot see My face."
00:27:06.01\00:27:08.19
Do you remember we talked
about second coming of Christ?
00:27:08.22\00:27:10.11
That's what will kill the wicked
at second coming of Christ,
00:27:10.14\00:27:13.71
because sinful human beings,
they cannot see God's face.
00:27:13.74\00:27:17.67
But see, there is basic
difference between New Jerusalem
00:27:19.94\00:27:23.12
because NewJerusalem is here
00:27:23.15\00:27:25.66
portrayed at the
temple of the new earth.
00:27:25.69\00:27:30.23
It's God's tabernacle.
00:27:30.26\00:27:31.63
The function of New
Jerusalem is the same
00:27:31.66\00:27:35.70
as it was the
tabernacle in the Old Testament.
00:27:35.73\00:27:38.65
But there is a difference.
00:27:38.68\00:27:40.22
In the Old
Testament the sanctuary
00:27:40.25\00:27:42.88
was just a symbol
of God's presence.
00:27:42.91\00:27:47.15
However, New
Jerusalem is not a symbol.
00:27:47.18\00:27:49.83
It's the reality
of God's presence.
00:27:49.86\00:27:52.27
When you read--we cannot
go through all those texts.
00:27:52.30\00:27:54.44
When you read later,
John sees the throne of God.
00:27:54.47\00:27:57.71
If you go to the
end of chapter 1,
00:27:57.74\00:28:01.39
you will see that actually
00:28:01.42\00:28:05.12
the throne of God
is there in the temple.
00:28:05.15\00:28:08.53
You remember we talked at
the beginning of this series
00:28:08.56\00:28:11.20
that actually New Jerusalem
00:28:11.23\00:28:12.60
is portrayed as
the most holy place.
00:28:12.63\00:28:16.07
It's put in square.
Actually, it's a cube there.
00:28:16.10\00:28:19.25
It's the same shape
00:28:19.28\00:28:21.36
as the most holy place
of the earthly sanctuary.
00:28:21.39\00:28:25.69
But there is
another difference is there.
00:28:25.72\00:28:29.07
Finally, this
city that functions
00:28:29.10\00:28:33.75
as the temple of the new earth
00:28:33.78\00:28:35.74
in which 144,000
will actually serve God
00:28:35.77\00:28:39.37
according to
Revelation Chapter 7,
00:28:39.40\00:28:41.92
it's not just a
symbol of God's presence.
00:28:41.95\00:28:44.93
Finally, all God's
people who come to New Jerusalem
00:28:44.96\00:28:48.17
will finally see God's face.
00:28:48.20\00:28:52.04
And that prayer of all
faithful through history,
00:28:52.07\00:28:56.29
that was indicated
in the prayer of Moses,
00:28:58.58\00:29:01.01
"Lord, please
show me Your face,"
00:29:01.04\00:29:04.25
finally, that
prayer will be answered.
00:29:04.28\00:29:07.39
Finally, we will see His face
00:29:07.42\00:29:09.32
and God will
finally be with His people.
00:29:09.35\00:29:13.23
His intention to be
among the Israelites,
00:29:13.26\00:29:16.98
but He could not be
fulfill that promise
00:29:17.01\00:29:19.81
because of their
unfaithfulness to God.
00:29:19.84\00:29:22.61
Finally, God's promise would be
realized with a New Jerusalem.
00:29:22.64\00:29:26.64
But now you have to
realize something else.
00:29:26.67\00:29:30.07
In the presence of
God, there is no sin.
00:29:32.01\00:29:37.11
If there is no sin,
there is no sickness.
00:29:39.11\00:29:44.64
If there is no
sin, there are no tears.
00:29:44.67\00:29:50.66
If there is no sin,
there is no any suffering.
00:29:50.69\00:29:55.11
That's what we read
actually in verse 4,
00:29:55.14\00:29:57.99
"He will wipe away
every tear from their eyes.
00:29:58.02\00:30:03.14
There will no
longer be any death,
00:30:03.17\00:30:06.59
no longer any
mourning or crying or pain,
00:30:06.62\00:30:11.38
for the first
things have passed away."
00:30:11.41\00:30:13.84
By the way, you'll
notice that this is exactly
00:30:13.87\00:30:19.48
the repetition
of what we've read
00:30:19.51\00:30:24.68
at the conclusion of chapter
7 with reference to 144,000,
00:30:24.71\00:30:29.27
that God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes.
00:30:29.30\00:30:33.95
But, you know, as I
am talking about this,
00:30:33.98\00:30:40.34
suddenly comes
something to my mind.
00:30:40.37\00:30:43.31
You see, in the
presence of God--
00:30:43.34\00:30:46.88
Are you still with me?
00:30:46.91\00:30:48.28
no tears, no death, no
mourning, no suffering.
00:30:48.31\00:30:54.83
Do you remember when you open
the gospel of John Chapter 11,
00:30:54.86\00:30:59.05
do you remember when
Lazarus died, you remember?
00:31:00.49\00:31:04.87
Do you remember his two sisters
00:31:04.90\00:31:07.58
who sent message to
Jesus, "Lord, please come."
00:31:07.61\00:31:10.81
Our brother who you
loved actually is sick.
00:31:12.17\00:31:16.60
But Jesus did not come on time.
00:31:16.63\00:31:18.82
Boy, I like that song the
gator group is performing.
00:31:18.85\00:31:23.56
Even if God is 4 days
late, He's never late,
00:31:25.54\00:31:31.69
because He is
still on time. Amen.
00:31:31.72\00:31:35.05
Yeah, sometimes we're
waiting when Jesus will come.
00:31:35.08\00:31:37.37
He will come in His own time.
00:31:37.40\00:31:38.77
But do you remember
when Mary came there to Jesus
00:31:38.80\00:31:42.05
and she said,
"Lord, if you were here
00:31:42.08\00:31:46.55
our brother would not die"?
00:31:48.70\00:31:50.27
Because Mary knew that
in the presence of Jesus
00:31:50.30\00:31:54.23
death does not have a place.
00:31:54.26\00:31:58.18
That's the reason
the New Jerusalem--
00:31:58.21\00:32:00.62
because of the presence of God
there are in the New Jerusalem,
00:32:00.65\00:32:03.78
there is no
death, there is no pain.
00:32:03.81\00:32:07.12
Can I put it in different words?
00:32:07.15\00:32:08.72
The sea there is
not there any longer.
00:32:08.75\00:32:12.31
This is actually the future
that God is promising to us.
00:32:12.34\00:32:18.80
Now you can go on.
00:32:18.83\00:32:21.06
I would like us to focus
especially to verse 7 here.
00:32:21.09\00:32:25.81
It says--I have here
many references, okay.
00:32:25.84\00:32:29.52
It says, "He who overcomes
will inherit all these things
00:32:29.55\00:32:35.79
and I will be his God
00:32:35.82\00:32:38.37
and he will be My
son or daughter," okay,
00:32:38.40\00:32:41.93
son and daughter.
It's verse 7 there.
00:32:41.96\00:32:45.24
As we read this text,
00:32:45.27\00:32:46.84
does something
suddenly comes to your mind?
00:32:48.37\00:32:50.76
Let me read it one more time.
00:32:50.79\00:32:53.05
"He who overcomes
will inherit these things.
00:32:53.08\00:32:57.33
And I will be his God
and He will be My son."
00:32:57.36\00:33:04.14
What does suddenly
comes to your mind?
00:33:04.17\00:33:06.98
Do you remember when we studied
00:33:07.01\00:33:08.38
the messages to seven churches?
00:33:08.41\00:33:11.64
How does each of those
seven messages conclude?
00:33:11.67\00:33:15.68
The one who overcomes I
will give him the white robes.
00:33:15.71\00:33:21.61
I will make him to be the pillar
00:33:21.64\00:33:24.43
in the temple of
my God, New Jerusalem.
00:33:24.46\00:33:28.30
I will give him--
and you have a long list.
00:33:28.33\00:33:31.95
When you put all
those messages together,
00:33:31.98\00:33:34.41
the long list, you
see, there are the promises.
00:33:34.44\00:33:38.38
Now here in chapter 21
we have the fulfillment
00:33:38.41\00:33:41.79
of those promises telling us
00:33:41.82\00:33:43.76
that the overcomers finally
are receiving all these things.
00:33:43.79\00:33:48.37
So really chapter 22
00:33:48.40\00:33:51.34
ties the content of this message
00:33:53.09\00:33:57.69
with the beginning of
the Book of Revelation.
00:33:57.72\00:34:01.71
The beginning of
the Book of Revelation
00:34:01.74\00:34:03.78
give us the promises, encourages
God's people to be overcomers.
00:34:03.81\00:34:09.91
But the conclusion of the
Book of Revelation is telling us
00:34:11.06\00:34:14.14
how finally God will fulfill
those promises to His people.
00:34:14.17\00:34:19.29
And now we are coming here
to the description of the city.
00:34:21.26\00:34:28.19
As John is
watching New Jerusalem
00:34:28.22\00:34:31.72
you see-- let's put it here.
00:34:31.75\00:34:34.40
Just imagine that this
is there New Jerusalem.
00:34:34.43\00:34:36.70
You want to portray that city.
00:34:38.27\00:34:40.30
Where do you
begin with what you see?
00:34:40.33\00:34:43.52
What is the first
thing that John sees?
00:34:43.55\00:34:45.34
First he sees the walls, okay.
00:34:45.37\00:34:48.27
And that's how he
describes from verse 10 on.
00:34:49.41\00:34:52.12
He portrays the
walls that he sees.
00:34:52.15\00:34:54.74
What is the next step?
Finally, John enters the city.
00:34:54.77\00:35:00.16
What does he see
there in the city?
00:35:00.19\00:35:02.49
First he sees the streets, okay.
00:35:02.52\00:35:05.15
He is walking there on streets.
00:35:05.18\00:35:07.35
Then he portrays a
number of other things.
00:35:07.38\00:35:12.63
It's the great glory
that beautifies the city.
00:35:12.66\00:35:16.55
Actually if you go there to
the conclusion of chapter 21,
00:35:16.58\00:35:21.15
this is
beautiful, from verse 22.
00:35:21.18\00:35:26.41
John said, "I
saw no temple in it.
00:35:26.44\00:35:30.63
For the Lord God Almighty
and the Lamb are its temple.
00:35:30.66\00:35:36.41
And the city has
no need of the sun
00:35:36.44\00:35:38.83
or of the moon to shine in it.
00:35:38.86\00:35:42.14
For the glory of
God has illuminated it.
00:35:42.17\00:35:45.64
And its lamps is the Lamb.
00:35:45.67\00:35:48.29
The nation will
walk by its light
00:35:48.32\00:35:51.43
and the kings of the earth
will bring the glory into it.
00:35:51.46\00:35:56.22
In the day time, for
there will be no night there,
00:35:56.25\00:36:00.61
its gates will never be closed
and they will bring the glory
00:36:00.64\00:36:05.05
and the honor of
the nations into it.
00:36:05.08\00:36:08.77
And nothing unclean
and one who practices
00:36:08.80\00:36:12.19
abomination and lying
shall ever come into it,
00:36:12.22\00:36:17.09
but only those
whose names are written
00:36:17.12\00:36:20.59
in the Lamb's Book of Life."
00:36:20.62\00:36:22.87
What is the passport or
the visa for New Jerusalem?
00:36:22.90\00:36:28.72
You have to be
registered in the Book of Life.
00:36:28.75\00:36:31.64
Dear viewers, if your
name is not there yet,
00:36:31.67\00:36:35.82
now is the time
for the registration.
00:36:35.85\00:36:38.10
Registration is
still open. Amen.
00:36:38.13\00:36:40.40
There is the deadline.
00:36:42.05\00:36:43.43
Praise God, we still have time.
00:36:45.60\00:36:47.81
If our name is
found in the Book of Life,
00:36:47.84\00:36:51.00
it means we have the visa
for that beautiful city, okay.
00:36:51.03\00:36:56.25
I know that sometimes Christians
when they're reading this text
00:36:56.28\00:36:59.27
and I have many people
who'd like to come to talk to me
00:36:59.30\00:37:02.59
and said, "Boy,
what does it mean
00:37:02.62\00:37:06.50
that there is no
sun on the new earth?"
00:37:06.53\00:37:09.92
Didn't God at the beginning
create the solar system?
00:37:09.95\00:37:12.92
Does it mean the solar
system will be removed?
00:37:12.95\00:37:14.61
Keep in mind that
the text does not say
00:37:14.64\00:37:17.57
that on the new earth
00:37:17.60\00:37:18.97
there is no sun any
longer, the solar system.
00:37:19.00\00:37:21.09
It says that the New
Jerusalem, please understand,
00:37:21.12\00:37:25.32
is surrounded by such
great glory of God's presence.
00:37:25.35\00:37:29.51
Unfortunately, John is lacking
00:37:29.54\00:37:31.86
any language to
describe that glory.
00:37:31.89\00:37:35.20
There is only one way
how to portray the glory.
00:37:35.23\00:37:37.65
Please, how would
you portray the glory?
00:37:37.68\00:37:39.27
It's by precious stones, okay,
00:37:39.30\00:37:43.90
gold, all those precious
metals, can you imagine.
00:37:43.93\00:37:48.08
And now you have
the glory of God, okay.
00:37:48.11\00:37:51.21
The light is so great
00:37:51.24\00:37:53.58
that the light of the
sun becomes insignificant.
00:37:55.61\00:38:01.63
You see, we have here lights.
00:38:01.66\00:38:03.47
What will happen if
by some miraculous means,
00:38:03.50\00:38:07.03
we are able to
remove all these walls
00:38:07.06\00:38:10.30
that we're
surrounded and remove the roofs
00:38:10.33\00:38:12.27
and suddenly
we're on the open space?
00:38:12.30\00:38:14.33
What will
happen to these lights?
00:38:14.36\00:38:16.28
We will just see some spots.
00:38:16.31\00:38:18.08
These lights would
lose any significance. Why?
00:38:18.11\00:38:21.33
Because there is much
stronger light outside.
00:38:21.36\00:38:24.28
So the New Jerusalem actually
does not have a need of the sun,
00:38:24.31\00:38:30.51
because that glory of
God will provide such a light
00:38:30.54\00:38:34.64
that New Jerusalem is beautiful.
00:38:34.67\00:38:36.96
I see sometimes Christians,
00:38:36.99\00:38:38.36
they're talking
about New Jerusalem,
00:38:38.39\00:38:39.76
they like to talk so much
00:38:39.79\00:38:41.16
about silver and
gold and precious stones.
00:38:41.19\00:38:43.62
I say, poor people, they don't
have this stuff in this life,
00:38:43.65\00:38:46.57
they hope they will have there.
00:38:46.60\00:38:47.97
Friends, New Jerusalem is not
about gold and precious stones.
00:38:48.00\00:38:50.64
It's about God's glory
and John is using the language
00:38:50.67\00:38:54.37
that in perfect
language, human language,
00:38:56.82\00:39:00.24
to portray something
that cannot be portrayed,
00:39:00.27\00:39:02.76
because Apostle Paul said,
00:39:02.79\00:39:04.16
do you remember
that, in 2 Corinthians.
00:39:04.19\00:39:06.45
He said "What our
eyes have not seen,
00:39:06.48\00:39:10.19
what our ears
have not heard at all,
00:39:10.22\00:39:12.96
what even cannot come
into our imagination."
00:39:12.99\00:39:17.03
I know people like
to use imagination,
00:39:17.06\00:39:19.96
but even our
imagination is not enough
00:39:19.99\00:39:23.53
to portray that heavenly city
00:39:23.56\00:39:25.97
and what God has
promised to His people.
00:39:26.00\00:39:29.13
Let me just mention briefly
00:39:30.11\00:39:31.61
as you will be
studying this text for yourself.
00:39:31.64\00:39:35.56
See John finds a
human language inadequate,
00:39:35.59\00:39:38.89
imperfect to portray the city.
00:39:38.92\00:39:40.74
How does he do it?
00:39:40.77\00:39:42.30
We have to go to
the Old Testament.
00:39:45.18\00:39:47.48
And he's using several
sources to portray city.
00:39:47.51\00:39:50.06
Number 1, the New
Jerusalem for John is portrayed
00:39:50.09\00:39:56.11
in the terms of the ideal
city of the ancient world.
00:39:56.14\00:40:01.71
You know, the human beings were
always thriving for that future
00:40:01.74\00:40:05.68
when finally there
will be perfect world.
00:40:05.71\00:40:08.83
And they had cities.
How did those cities like?
00:40:08.86\00:40:13.59
You will not be
afraid in those cities.
00:40:13.62\00:40:17.19
You have security and
safety in those cities.
00:40:17.22\00:40:20.75
That's why you
needed those huge walls.
00:40:20.78\00:40:23.15
Are you still with me?
00:40:23.18\00:40:25.78
We are talking
about ancient world,
00:40:25.81\00:40:27.18
you're
surrounded by those walls.
00:40:27.21\00:40:28.58
That's how you have
been. Without walls, no safety.
00:40:28.61\00:40:32.90
That's why Jerusalem
is portrayed in that way.
00:40:32.93\00:40:35.68
I believe if John writes today
00:40:35.71\00:40:37.34
he would not
talk about the walls
00:40:37.37\00:40:39.04
because that concept is
not important for us today.
00:40:39.07\00:40:43.38
But he would say, "Boy,
I saw angels in police cars
00:40:43.41\00:40:48.72
patrolling the streets,
no drug dealers, no gangs."
00:40:48.75\00:40:54.94
You don't need to
be afraid of anything.
00:40:54.97\00:40:58.14
So it's the concept of
those ancient safe cities.
00:40:58.17\00:41:01.73
The second language
that John is using is
00:41:01.76\00:41:06.67
the language of the
earthly sanctuary, we saw it.
00:41:06.70\00:41:11.57
I'd like to remind our viewers
00:41:11.60\00:41:13.06
if you want to
see more about that
00:41:13.09\00:41:14.92
that you take our
third presentation
00:41:14.95\00:41:17.34
that we talk about
the symbolic language
00:41:17.37\00:41:19.28
of the Book of Revelation.
00:41:19.31\00:41:20.68
We talk more
about this language,
00:41:20.71\00:41:22.08
because the New Jerusalem
is the temple of the new earth.
00:41:22.11\00:41:26.55
And the language
of the earthly temple
00:41:26.58\00:41:29.25
from the Old Testament
times and the sanctuary
00:41:29.28\00:41:31.08
is taken to
portray New Jerusalem.
00:41:31.11\00:41:33.25
It's a perfect
square. Actually it's cube.
00:41:33.28\00:41:37.51
In the most holy
place, we see the cube format
00:41:40.11\00:41:45.48
of the most holy place
with the Ark of the Covenant
00:41:45.51\00:41:49.39
that stood as a
symbol of God's presence.
00:41:49.42\00:41:52.02
That's why in New Jerusalem
John sees the throne of God
00:41:52.05\00:41:55.00
and everybody will have
approach to that throne of God.
00:41:55.03\00:41:58.21
So it's the
sanctuary, especially,
00:41:58.24\00:42:00.19
a sanctuary that it is portrayed
00:42:00.22\00:42:02.12
in the prophet Ezekiel
from Chapter 40 to 48, okay.
00:42:02.15\00:42:07.30
And there is the
third kind of language
00:42:07.33\00:42:11.06
that John is using to
portray the New Jerusalem.
00:42:11.09\00:42:14.82
Have you ever thought of that?
00:42:14.85\00:42:16.79
It's the language
of the Garden of Eden.
00:42:16.82\00:42:20.20
You remember the Garden of Eden
00:42:22.91\00:42:24.32
where God put
Adam and Eve there.
00:42:24.35\00:42:27.93
God wanted that place
to be the eternal home
00:42:27.96\00:42:34.11
for the humanity but
because of the coming of sin,
00:42:34.14\00:42:37.97
Adam and Eve, they were expelled
from the Garden of Eden.
00:42:38.00\00:42:44.01
It is from that time on that
00:42:44.04\00:42:45.48
human beings could not see
the face of God any longer.
00:42:45.51\00:42:49.82
When you open
the Book of Genesis,
00:42:49.85\00:42:51.49
the end of Chapter 3,
00:42:51.52\00:42:53.57
it says, that God
put angel guard is there
00:42:53.60\00:42:57.19
and human beings could not come
00:42:57.22\00:42:59.26
to the tree of
life any longer there.
00:42:59.29\00:43:03.53
And that's what from the time on
00:43:03.56\00:43:05.93
that human beings
always looking for that place
00:43:05.96\00:43:09.13
when God will
restore that original home
00:43:09.16\00:43:14.44
that was given to Adam and Eve.
00:43:14.47\00:43:17.09
That's why New
Jerusalem is also portrayed
00:43:17.12\00:43:19.83
in terms of that Garden of Eden.
00:43:19.86\00:43:24.59
So please would you go with me,
00:43:24.62\00:43:26.59
let us read it,
chapter 22, verse 1,
00:43:26.62\00:43:31.39
"Then he showed
me," Revelation 22:1,
00:43:31.42\00:43:35.93
"Then he showed me a
river of the water of life,
00:43:35.96\00:43:40.46
clear as crystal,
coming from the throne of God
00:43:40.49\00:43:45.88
and of the Lamb, in
the middle of its street,
00:43:45.91\00:43:50.91
on either side of the
river was the tree of life."
00:43:50.94\00:43:53.77
Do you say that?
It's Garden of Eden now.
00:43:53.80\00:43:56.53
"Bearing twelve kinds of fruits,
yielding its fruit every month
00:43:56.56\00:44:02.32
and the leaves of the tree were
for the healing of the nations.
00:44:02.35\00:44:09.75
There will be no
longer be any curse."
00:44:09.78\00:44:12.76
Can I stop here for a while?
00:44:12.79\00:44:14.55
It's because of the
curse that Adam and Eve
00:44:14.58\00:44:19.96
where expelled
from the Garden of Eden.
00:44:19.99\00:44:21.68
It's because of the
curse that human beings
00:44:21.71\00:44:24.03
could not go back
to the Garden of Eden.
00:44:24.06\00:44:25.98
Now what happens here?
00:44:26.01\00:44:27.61
The curse is removed.
Okay, The curse is removed.
00:44:27.64\00:44:33.20
"And the throne of God
and of the Lamb will be in it.
00:44:33.23\00:44:38.22
And His servants will serve Him.
00:44:38.25\00:44:41.15
They will see His face
00:44:41.18\00:44:45.38
and His name will
be on their foreheads."
00:44:45.41\00:44:52.59
On whose foreheads
God's name will be written?
00:44:52.62\00:44:56.70
Friends, I want to
remind you something.
00:44:56.73\00:44:59.09
It will not be
written on the new earth.
00:44:59.12\00:45:01.16
It will be written
when? Before Jesus comes.
00:45:01.19\00:45:04.30
Do you remember the seal of God?
00:45:04.33\00:45:05.89
That the faithful
people who are sealed,
00:45:05.92\00:45:07.95
they will have the name
of God on their foreheads.
00:45:07.98\00:45:11.07
Keep in mind, we have to
do it before Jesus comes.
00:45:11.10\00:45:14.56
And that name will be
always symbolic expression
00:45:14.59\00:45:17.93
to tell us that we
belong to God and nobody
00:45:17.96\00:45:21.85
and nothing in this world
00:45:21.88\00:45:23.51
will be able to separate
us from the love of God.
00:45:23.54\00:45:27.47
Please allow me to stop
here just for few moments,
00:45:27.50\00:45:34.54
because there is beauty here
00:45:34.57\00:45:36.63
and this is the
message very significant to me
00:45:36.66\00:45:39.49
in the light of my heavy accent.
00:45:39.52\00:45:41.16
And the text that is
very much misunderstood.
00:45:44.30\00:45:46.60
You'll notice here that
John talks in verses 1 and 2,
00:45:46.63\00:45:50.64
he talks about the
river of water of life.
00:45:50.67\00:45:53.21
I have here, you can see that
many Old Testament references
00:45:53.24\00:45:57.83
where you have almost repetition
00:45:57.86\00:46:00.24
what we have here in the
Book of Revelation, okay.
00:46:00.27\00:46:02.23
You'll find it in my commentary
when you study for yourself.
00:46:02.26\00:46:05.13
But then he said that in
the middle of the main street--
00:46:05.16\00:46:10.94
do you know that New
Jerusalem has the main street?
00:46:10.97\00:46:14.76
I don't know what's
the name of the street?
00:46:14.79\00:46:16.16
Is it the street of the Lamb?
00:46:16.19\00:46:20.11
You'll see that, okay.
00:46:20.14\00:46:21.75
It says, "There
was the tree of life
00:46:21.78\00:46:26.46
on both sides of the river.
00:46:26.49\00:46:29.93
And the tree of life was
bearing twelve kinds of fruits,
00:46:29.96\00:46:33.94
yielding its fruit every month."
00:46:33.97\00:46:37.12
Based on the Old Testament
text and the New Testament text,
00:46:37.15\00:46:42.12
the purpose of that
fruit as we are eating it,
00:46:42.15\00:46:44.39
like that tree of
life in the Garden of Eden,
00:46:44.42\00:46:47.53
it somehow in symbolical way
indicates our dependence of God
00:46:47.56\00:46:52.48
and the fact that
there is no death any longer,
00:46:52.51\00:46:55.40
that we will live
continually by eating that fruit
00:46:55.43\00:46:58.77
will show us our
dependence of God.
00:46:58.80\00:47:00.41
To remind us
always that that eternity
00:47:00.44\00:47:03.62
where, there is
no death and pain
00:47:03.65\00:47:05.22
is not something to be
just taken for granted,
00:47:05.25\00:47:08.04
that actually is the
result what God did for us.
00:47:08.07\00:47:10.76
Are you still with me?
00:47:10.79\00:47:12.47
But then there
is something else.
00:47:12.50\00:47:14.64
It says, "And the tree--
and the leaves of the tree
00:47:14.67\00:47:20.28
were for the
healing of the nations."
00:47:20.31\00:47:22.85
I can read now to you what
I find by different authors
00:47:26.66\00:47:30.60
who are commenting on this text.
00:47:30.63\00:47:33.69
They say, you know, we
will have to eat those leaves
00:47:33.72\00:47:38.13
and put those
leaves on our skin,
00:47:38.16\00:47:40.30
that's how we will not get sick
any longer on the new earth.
00:47:40.33\00:47:44.03
As I read those text I ask
myself question. Sick of what?
00:47:44.06\00:47:48.20
How can you get
sick on the new earth
00:47:51.61\00:47:55.65
when there is no sin any longer?
00:47:55.68\00:47:57.23
Actually people started being
sick after Genesis Chapter 3
00:47:57.26\00:48:01.42
with the entrance of sin.
Now sin there is no longer.
00:48:01.45\00:48:03.88
What is that that we
read in chapter 21, verse 4?
00:48:03.91\00:48:06.70
There are no tears any
longer, there is no death,
00:48:06.73\00:48:09.02
there is no sickness,
there is no suffering.
00:48:09.05\00:48:11.73
How people sometimes can
read the text and read ideas.
00:48:11.76\00:48:14.90
We have to to read--
00:48:14.93\00:48:16.31
When does it say that we
have to eat those leaves?
00:48:16.34\00:48:20.32
It says that the
leaves they serve them
00:48:20.35\00:48:22.41
for the healing of the nations.
00:48:22.44\00:48:23.81
I just want to tell you
00:48:23.84\00:48:25.21
I struggled here
with these texts.
00:48:25.24\00:48:26.61
And I noticed something, that
actually this text is not new.
00:48:26.64\00:48:30.03
It's a quotation
from the Book of Ezekiel.
00:48:30.06\00:48:32.76
Would you turn with me to
the Book of Ezekiel Chapter 47
00:48:32.79\00:48:38.99
where Ezekiel prophesied
that on the restored earth
00:48:39.02\00:48:44.10
there will be that tree?
00:48:44.13\00:48:46.34
Are you with me?
00:48:46.37\00:48:47.74
It's Ezekiel 47:12.
00:48:47.77\00:48:54.23
Actually Ezekiel
portrays that new temple.
00:48:54.26\00:48:57.91
John means that the new
temple is New Jerusalem.
00:48:57.94\00:49:00.16
That's why he's
quoting this text.
00:49:00.19\00:49:01.56
And he reads in verse 12,
00:49:01.59\00:49:03.14
please I would like
you read into this text,
00:49:03.17\00:49:05.66
because I would like
to ask you one question
00:49:05.69\00:49:07.11
to see if you have
observed something here.
00:49:07.14\00:49:09.80
Verse 12, it says,
00:49:09.83\00:49:12.25
"By the river on
its bank on one side
00:49:15.28\00:49:19.12
and on the other will grow
all kinds of trees for food.
00:49:19.15\00:49:24.38
The leaves will not wither
and the fruit will not fail."
00:49:24.41\00:49:29.97
You see that, friends.
00:49:30.00\00:49:31.84
Everything there in
the Book of Revelation.
00:49:31.87\00:49:33.49
"They will bear every month,
00:49:33.52\00:49:35.22
because the water
flows from the sanctuary."
00:49:35.25\00:49:37.99
Please, are you with me now?
00:49:38.02\00:49:40.39
"And the fruit will be for food
and the leaves for healing."
00:49:40.42\00:49:45.20
Did you see that, what we
have in the book of Revelation?
00:49:47.56\00:49:50.41
It's simply the repetition
of this prophecy of Ezekiel.
00:49:50.44\00:49:53.96
But please when
you look at the text--
00:49:53.99\00:49:55.36
viewers, would you
look there into the text?
00:49:55.39\00:49:58.93
Is there any
difference between Ezekiel
00:49:58.96\00:50:01.48
and the Book of Revelation,
talking about the leaves?
00:50:01.51\00:50:04.47
Let me remind you, I
don't want to waste the time,
00:50:07.15\00:50:09.55
in Ezekiel you read
00:50:09.58\00:50:11.58
"And the leaves
will be for healing."
00:50:11.61\00:50:14.11
Did you see that?
00:50:14.14\00:50:15.51
What do you have in
the Book of Revelation?
00:50:15.54\00:50:18.12
And the leaves will be for
the healing of the nations.
00:50:18.15\00:50:23.08
Actually John is taking
that prophesy from Ezekiel
00:50:23.11\00:50:26.65
and he adds what? Why nation?
00:50:26.68\00:50:30.36
Do you remember
when we studied that
00:50:30.39\00:50:33.50
the word for nations
is the same Greek word
00:50:33.53\00:50:37.77
that can be
translated as the Gentiles?
00:50:37.80\00:50:41.05
Which is the Greek word?
00:50:41.08\00:50:42.45
It's ethnos from
which the word ethnic comes.
00:50:50.33\00:50:54.50
It really means nations.
00:50:54.53\00:50:57.65
What does it mean that
the leaves of the tree of life
00:50:57.68\00:51:02.76
would be for the
healing of nations?
00:51:02.79\00:51:04.88
It does not say that
we will eat those leaves.
00:51:04.91\00:51:06.68
It simply says that the
purpose of the leaves is.
00:51:06.71\00:51:09.88
I'm coming from
very strange background
00:51:09.91\00:51:13.63
where I live with
people who still kept
00:51:13.66\00:51:16.78
that ancient culture
and practices and customs.
00:51:16.81\00:51:19.31
And I notice I was born
after the Second World War
00:51:19.34\00:51:22.69
when people did many
business outside of the house.
00:51:22.72\00:51:26.17
And that always brings
me back to the Biblical time
00:51:26.20\00:51:29.59
when people doing
all kinds of business.
00:51:29.62\00:51:31.15
Do you know where
people were doing?
00:51:31.18\00:51:32.72
Usually under the tree,
especially the fig tree,
00:51:32.75\00:51:38.17
because of those huge leaves
to protect people from the sun.
00:51:38.20\00:51:41.84
People would go there
and do all kinds of business.
00:51:41.87\00:51:44.58
By the way, if you
read there when Adam--
00:51:44.61\00:51:47.50
Abraham was visited by those
three angels, he prepared food.
00:51:47.53\00:51:52.16
They were eating
under the tree there.
00:51:52.19\00:51:53.56
Do you remember that?
00:51:53.59\00:51:54.96
You can see that
people are doing.
00:51:54.99\00:51:57.53
And then
something came to my mind,
00:51:57.56\00:51:59.28
for the healing of the nations.
00:51:59.31\00:52:01.04
Have you ever thought
00:52:01.07\00:52:02.44
when one day in
the New Jerusalem,
00:52:05.41\00:52:12.09
black and white they meet,
00:52:12.12\00:52:17.15
Serbs and
Croats from my country,
00:52:17.18\00:52:19.62
Arabs and Israelites who
are faithful God's people,
00:52:22.02\00:52:26.82
people in Rwanda
with those who killed
00:52:26.85\00:52:32.60
the members of their families,
00:52:32.63\00:52:34.50
because they're
from different tribes.
00:52:34.53\00:52:36.15
Are you-- remember me?
00:52:36.18\00:52:37.80
But those people
after that repentance
00:52:37.83\00:52:39.30
they became Christians
00:52:39.33\00:52:40.70
and they are
there in front of them.
00:52:40.73\00:52:42.10
Do you remember how
many different accents
00:52:44.08\00:52:47.59
we will have
there in New Jerusalem?
00:52:47.62\00:52:49.96
There will be many wounds
00:52:53.22\00:52:55.68
in the hearts of the
redeemed, many wounds.
00:52:55.71\00:52:59.17
Nationalistic,
you know, nationalism,
00:52:59.20\00:53:03.50
what has done in
the history of humanity?
00:53:03.53\00:53:07.69
Linguistics,
friends, we are divided.
00:53:07.72\00:53:10.71
We are divided.
00:53:10.74\00:53:12.44
I go to some
places, unfortunately,
00:53:12.47\00:53:14.22
I want to speak to the
people, we need translator
00:53:14.25\00:53:16.34
and in translation
many things are lost.
00:53:16.37\00:53:18.97
I cannot speak In
English I have a heavy accent.
00:53:19.00\00:53:21.55
By the way, I go
back to my country,
00:53:21.58\00:53:23.43
I go to Croatia, I have accent.
00:53:23.46\00:53:25.12
I go to Serbia, I have accent.
00:53:25.15\00:53:26.81
I go to Bosnia,
they said, get out.
00:53:26.84\00:53:28.23
You don't belong to
here. You don't speak like us.
00:53:28.26\00:53:30.99
Wherever I go I have accents.
00:53:31.02\00:53:32.39
Do you know when
they will be there,
00:53:32.42\00:53:34.77
it is under the
tree of life there.
00:53:34.80\00:53:38.14
All those
nations that were divided
00:53:38.17\00:53:41.10
starting with
Genesis Chapter 11,
00:53:41.13\00:53:42.84
you remember when
God confused languages,
00:53:42.87\00:53:45.09
that were divided by
nationalism different languages,
00:53:45.12\00:53:50.13
different accents,
different cultures.
00:53:50.16\00:53:53.98
Finally, God's people there
00:53:54.01\00:53:55.89
coming from all
those different nations,
00:53:55.92\00:53:59.42
finally, we meet together.
00:53:59.45\00:54:01.80
And it's under the
leaves of the tree of life,
00:54:01.83\00:54:05.46
finally, all
accounts will be settled.
00:54:05.49\00:54:08.78
And I imagine how
those former enemies,
00:54:08.81\00:54:12.75
who did not like each other,
could not stand each other
00:54:12.78\00:54:15.60
because of those
different issues,
00:54:15.63\00:54:17.97
finally will give
a hug to each other
00:54:18.00\00:54:21.09
and say, everything is over.
00:54:21.12\00:54:23.96
Friends, this is what the
Book of Revelation is all about,
00:54:23.99\00:54:29.94
because you'll notice how
many times the word ethnos,
00:54:29.97\00:54:35.25
nations and
Gentiles are mentioned
00:54:35.28\00:54:38.15
there in the Book of Revelation.
00:54:38.18\00:54:40.49
Those nations are
not Gentiles any longer.
00:54:40.52\00:54:44.47
They are now all
the people of God.
00:54:44.50\00:54:46.80
Now the Book of
Revelation concludes with that,
00:54:49.24\00:54:53.84
verse 17, "The
Spirit and the bride say,
00:54:53.87\00:54:59.94
'Come and let the
one who hears say come
00:54:59.97\00:55:04.32
and let the one
who is thirsty come,
00:55:04.35\00:55:07.06
let the one who wishes to
take water of life without cost.
00:55:07.09\00:55:11.43
I testify to everyone who hears
00:55:11.46\00:55:14.17
the words of the
prophesy of this book.
00:55:14.20\00:55:16.69
If anyone adds to them,
00:55:16.72\00:55:18.54
God will add to them the plagues
which are written in this book.
00:55:18.57\00:55:23.01
And if anyone takes away
00:55:23.04\00:55:25.94
from the words of the
book of this prophesy,
00:55:25.97\00:55:28.13
God will take away his
part from the tree of life
00:55:28.16\00:55:31.30
and from the holy city
which are written in this book."
00:55:31.33\00:55:34.62
Friends, the Bible does
not talk here about something
00:55:34.65\00:55:37.73
that we accidentally
add few letters here
00:55:37.76\00:55:40.60
or, you know,
this is not about that.
00:55:40.63\00:55:43.46
This is not about
linguistic corruption etcetera.
00:55:43.49\00:55:45.86
This is if people are
reading the book of Revelation
00:55:45.89\00:55:48.62
and try to add to the message
of the Book of Revelation
00:55:48.65\00:55:53.35
something that is their own idea
that is not there in the book.
00:55:53.38\00:55:58.39
And, friends, it's
very dangerous thing
00:55:58.42\00:56:00.14
that you add something
to the Book of Revelation
00:56:00.17\00:56:02.24
misleading
people, deceiving people
00:56:02.27\00:56:04.81
and because of
your message one day
00:56:04.84\00:56:07.15
they don't find themselves
in the Kingdom of God.
00:56:07.18\00:56:09.43
It's a dangerous thing.
00:56:09.46\00:56:11.58
It's dangerous thing to tamper
00:56:11.61\00:56:13.16
with the content of
the Book of Revelation.
00:56:13.19\00:56:15.05
We have to take this book,
00:56:16.85\00:56:18.32
understand as God's
intend it to happen.
00:56:18.35\00:56:20.69
"He who testifies
to these things says,
00:56:20.72\00:56:22.71
'I am coming
quickly.'" We have to answer,
00:56:22.74\00:56:26.02
"Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
00:56:26.05\00:56:27.69
The grace of the Lord
Jesus be with all of you. Amen."
00:56:27.72\00:56:31.83
Friends, and we come to the end,
00:56:31.86\00:56:33.78
but keep in mind the end never
comes in the Book of Revelation.
00:56:33.81\00:56:38.31
You remember in
the Book of Revelation
00:56:38.34\00:56:39.71
how many times
we came to the end?
00:56:39.74\00:56:42.04
When we concluded chapter
7, 144,000, the end is there,
00:56:42.07\00:56:46.51
there before the throne of God,
00:56:46.54\00:56:48.24
but suddenly we
have new beginning.
00:56:48.27\00:56:50.82
Then we go to the
end of chapter 11.
00:56:50.85\00:56:52.80
It's the end, the
second coming of Christ,
00:56:52.83\00:56:55.32
but then the Book of Revelation
takes us to the beginning.
00:56:55.35\00:56:57.80
Chapter 14, 15, it's the end,
but we have a new beginning.
00:56:57.83\00:57:01.85
The book of
Revelation never ends.
00:57:01.88\00:57:03.81
And even here, as
we conclude chapter 22,
00:57:03.84\00:57:07.39
the readers of
the Book of Revelation
00:57:07.42\00:57:09.85
are invited to the
beginning of this book
00:57:09.88\00:57:12.88
telling us Jesus is coming,
00:57:12.91\00:57:15.14
He is coming and He's
coming, but we are still here.
00:57:15.17\00:57:20.20
We have to keep in mind
that we live in the presence,
00:57:20.23\00:57:23.67
waiting for that
future and the One
00:57:23.70\00:57:26.35
who promised, "I
will be with you always
00:57:26.38\00:57:30.28
until the very
end of the age." Amen.
00:57:30.31\00:57:35.14