The Eternal Home of the Saints

I have a series of Bible study books by a scholar named, Irving L. Jensen, so below are a few outline notes from the one on the Revelation. Why the Revelation? My church has an adult Bible study where we just started a study in this book. This is an outline of Jensen’s work with a few of my own additions.

We now move from the dark catacombs of the judgments into the fresh heavenly air of John’s last vision, which is a glorious message for believers.

Revelation 21:1-27 – John describes the New Jerusalem.

1. John’s vision (Revelation 21:1-8)
   1. The new creation (Revelation 21:1-2)
      1. The new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1) no longer any sea.
      2. The new Jerusalem descending from heaven. (Revelation 21:2) made ready as a bride.
   2. The new concept (Revelation 21:3-8)
      1. The words of the angel (Revelation 21:3-4)
         1. God will mingle with his people (Revelation 21:3) the tabernacle, among them, with them, Emmanuel.
         2. God will minister to his people (Revelation 21:4) wiping away every tear, no more death, no mourning, crying, pain; all have passed away.
      2. The words of the Almighty (Revelation 21:5-8)
         1. God will be the Father to the saved (Revelation 21:5-7)
            1. All things will be made new.
            2. These words are faithful and true.
            3. It is done, Alpha and Omega, First and Last.
            4. I will provide a spring of the water of life at no cost.
            5. He who overcomes will inherit these things.
            6. He who overcomes will be my son.
         2. God will be the foe to all the unsaved (Revelation 21:8)
            1. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars – not so much.
            2. These will be a part of the lake that burns, the second death.
2. John’s visit (Revelation 21:9-27)
   1. The new consort (Revelation 21:9-21)
      1. The angle will show off the bride of the Lamb (Revelation 21:9)
      2. John is shown the new Jerusalem coming down (Revelation 21:10-21)
         1. The glory of God, costly stones (Revelation 21:11)
         2. The 12 gates, named for the 12 tribes (Revelation 21:12)
         3. Three gates on each side (Revelation 21:13)
         4. There are foundation stones along the wall, named for the 12 apostles (Revelation 21:14)
         5. The one who spoke had a gold measuring rod (Revelation 21:15)
         6. The city is a square, 1500 miles of cube (Revelation 21:16)
         7. The wall is measured at 72 yards (Revelation 21:17) human and angelic measurements.
         8. The wall materials are listed (Revelation 21:18-20)
         9. The gates were made of pearl, one pearl for each gate (Revelation 21:21a)
         10. The streets were gold, like pure glass (Revelation 21:21b)
   2. The new conditions (Revelation 21:22-27)
      1. Sanctuary (Revelation 21:22)
         1. There is no temple.
         2. The Lord God and the Lamb are its temple.
      2. Sun (Revelation 21:23)
         1. There is no need for the sun or moon to shine.
         2. The glory of God has illumined it.
         3. The lamp is the Lamb.
      3. Saved (Revelation 21:24)
         1. The nations will walk by its light.
         2. The kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
      4. Security (Revelation 21:25-27)
         1. It will always be daytime.
         2. The gates will never close.
         3. They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
         4. There will be nothing unclean, nor abominable practices, no lying.
         5. There will only be those who names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 22:1-21 – John continues his description of the new Jerusalem.

1. The river of life (Revelation 22:1-3)
   1. Clear and fresh from the throne of God (Revelation 22:1)
   2. Course runs freely through the middle of the street (Revelation 22:2a)
   3. Crops and fruit available every month (Revelation 22:2b)
      1. Both sides of the river.
      2. Leaves of the trees will heal the nations.
   4. Curse is finished forever (Revelation 22:3a)
   5. Contentment for everyone serving there (Revelation 22:3b)
2. The radiant light (Revelation 22:4-6)
   1. They will see his face (Revelation 22:4a)
   2. His name will be on their foreheads (Revelation 22:4b)
   3. There will be no need for light or lamps or the sun (Revelation 22:5a)
   4. God will illumine them, reigning forever (Revelation 22:5b)
   5. These words are faithful and true (Revelation 22:6a)
   6. His angel will show the things which soon must take place (Revelation 22:6b)
3. The return of the Lord (Revelation 22:7-14)
   1. Behold, I am coming quickly (Revelation 22:7a)
   2. Blessed are those who heed the words of this book (Revelation 22:7b)
   3. I am John, who saw, and heard, and bowed to worship (Revelation 22:8)
   4. The angel said, “Don’t do that, I am a servant like you,” worship only God (Revelation 19:10, 22:9)
   5. Don’t seal up this book, the time is near (Revelation 22:10)
   6. Let all remain as they are (Revelation 22:11)
   7. I am coming quickly and my reward is with me (Revelation 22:12)
   8. I am the Alpha and Omega, First and the Last (Revelation 22:13)
   9. Blessed are those who wash their robes (Revelation 22:14)
      1. They have a right to the tree of life.
      2. They may enter the city by its gates.
4. The responsibilities of life (Revelation 22:15-21)
   1. Outside are dogs, immoral persons, murderers, idolaters, and liars (Revelation 22:15)
   2. I am Jesus who have sent my angel to testify of these things (Revelation 22:16)
      1. The descendant of David.
      2. The bright morning star.
   3. The Spirit and bride say, “Come” (Revelation 22:17a)
   4. Let the thirsty drink freely from the water of life (Revelation 22:17b)
   5. Don’t add anything from this book (Revelation 22:18) or else the plagues are yours.
   6. Don’t remove anything from this book (Revelation 22:19) or God will take his part of the tree of life and the Holy City.
   7. Yes, I am coming quickly (Revelation 22:20)
   8. The grace of Jesus be with all (Revelation 22:21)

NOTES:

1. The Triad of Heaven (G. Campbell Morgan) is Love, Light, and Life.
2. What will be our heavenly activities (Revelation 22:3-5)?
3. How can you describe heaven? Is that something that people look forward to, or does it seem boring to the average church-goer?
4. No More Sea (Revelation 21:1) – symbolic of trouble, and a separator of people in the world.
5. Nations (Revelation 21:24) – this is referring to the Gentiles.
6. Healing (Revelation 22:2) – meaning is health-giving with the idea of serving or ministering.
7. Blessed is He (Revelation 22:7) – this is the sixth of seven beatitude in the Revelation (Revelation 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:14).
8. Let Him Be Unjust Still (Revelation 22:11) – this does not mean that men should remain unmoved by the prophecies of this book, but rather that if the prophecies are rejected, there is no other message of hope for them.
9. Be With You All (Revelation 22:21) – some important ancient manuscripts read, “be will all the saints.”
10. Christ lights up heaven; what other verses support this? (John 1:7-9, 3:19, 8:12, 12:35-36, 1 John 1:5-7).
11. What ways will be serve God in heaven?
12. What are your thoughts about Revelation 22:4?
13. The Bible begins with the story of creation and ends with the story of recreation. The point of the Bible is that mankind cannot save himself, so we need the grace of God to intervene. Sin drove mankind from the garden and grace brings mankind back to an everlasting paradise.