The Final Judgement and the New Creation
If we have hope in the return of Jesus and the new creation, then we’ll meditate on it, we’ll dream about it, and we’ll live with hope today. Revelation 21 and 22 helps us to do that, because these chapters are a long meditation on the new creation and what it will be like. It nourishes our imaginations and gives us a picture of the future God has in store for us.
In that future we’ll be renewed in 4 ways: Spiritually, physically, in our relationship with the world and our relationship with God.
Spiritually, because we’ll be remade to live God’s way.
Physically, because we’ll have new bodies, like Jesus’ risen body.
In our relationship with the world, because the world will be renewed and no longer be a place of frustration and decay.
And in our relationship with God, because he will come down to live with us, and we will see him face-to-face.
We struggle now in our old, compromised bodies, and we keep having to repent and turn back to God. But we long for a new body, one completely empowered by the Spirit. As Jesus rose with an indestructible new body, when he returns we’ll also rise with an indestructible new body.
This hope will give us courage and perseverance as we long for that day.
Questions for reflection:
1. What are you looking forward to? How does that hope affect the way you live in the present?
2. Read Revelation 21:1 – 22:7. How do these chapters help us prepare for the future?
3. How can we have confidence in the truth of this description of our future? (Rev 21:3, 5)
4. How will we be renewed in each of these 4 ways:
Spiritually/ morally (21:6)
Physically (21:4 & Philippians 3:20, 21)
In our relationship with the world (21:1,2 & 22:1-3)
In our relationship with God. (21:3 & 22:3-5)
5. Revelation 21:8 describes the final end of those not aligned with God. How can this be good news for Christians reading this book?
6. The new Jerusalem will come down to us from heaven, and we will see God face-to-face. (Rev 21:2 & 22:4) How will that affect your life of discipleship?
