BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “…Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:3,4 NLT

An important aspect of our faith is our hope in God making everything right. Everything new. Restoring that which was intended from the very beginning of creation. Restoring that which was lost due to sin and rebellion. We see that all described in Revelation as John’s vision comes to an end.

The place where God dwells, God’s, “home” is the place where all of His people are to view as their “home.” It is one thing to be in our “own” home. It is another to be in someone else’s home. What is pictured here is a sense of God’s home and our home being one. It is the place where we are destined to be, it is a place of refuge, safety and provision.

I think of Jacob at Bethel. As he received his vision of the ladder reaching heaven, he declares, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God…” (Genesis 28:17 NIV) The Lord brought the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt to settle them in their own land. A (temporal) place where they would live on earth and serve, honor and trust the Lord. Jesus words of comfort to His disciples were, “I go to prepare a place for you….that where I am there you will be also.” (John 14:3)

What is striking about this ultimate picture of the end of the age is not God’s people going to be with God, it is God coming to be with His people. It is the fulfillment at the end of Revelation of the spiritual promise at the beginning of the book when the Lord says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20 ESV)

Throughout scripture we see the “with them God.” This is emphasized in these verses. God “with” His people. God’s people “with” Him.

Then we see absent in God’s home, what is so prevalent in our “earthly” home.  “…and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 NLT) This life is filled with death, sorrow, crying and pain. Someone said, “If pain were water, the world would drown.” All that characterizes this life will be gone in the next and in God’s home.

When I read this verse recently, I found myself pausing and focusing on some of the key words. Words like, “no more.” And then the absence of all that challenges our worldly existence is underscored with the words, “All these things will be gone forever!” 

This is not some temporary relief. On an individual basis we may have season that is absent from death, sorrow, crying and pain. But they are the reality in our world for somebody, somewhere. But in God’s home, death, sorrow, crying and pain are gone for everyone, everywhere FOREVER.

That’s the home we need and we can look forward to when our faith and trust is in Christ alone.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!” Revelation 16:17 NLT

For most of us it is with a sense of relief or accomplishment that something is finished or the end of a task has come and we are “done.” While most translations use the word, “done” in Revelation to describe some key points in time, the words, “it is finished” are ones that get our attention.

The phrase is best known for the words of Christ uttered on the cross before He breathed His last breathe. But in God’s redemptive plan we find three key junctures that signal the fulfillment of what was long anticipated.

The Plan of Salvation. “When Jesus had tasted it [sour wine on a sponge], he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30 NLT)

The death of Christ on the cross was the fulfillment of that which the prophets had foretold. The man on the cross was the “seed of the woman” from Genesis. This was the suffering servant that Isaiah foretold would be “wounded for our transgressions.” This was the root of the stump of Jesse. This was the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” 

The coming of the Messiah who would restore the throne of David, was foretold and anticipated. It was believed, but also doubted. It was hoped for and yet misunderstood. John’s gospel, declared, “He came to His own, did not receive Him.”

But God’s plan is above the minds of man and the time of history. What God has determined with be fulfilled and accomplished. It will be different than what we can comprehend or image, but as sure as the sun rises each day it will take place.

The Jewish leaders thought they were getting rid of an antagonist and threat to their authority and status. The crowds worshiped Him and then turn on Him. The disciples followed Him and then fled. But in it all scripture was fulfilled and God’s plan for the salvation of humanity was taking place. So, with His last breath and His last words Jesus said, “It is finished.”

The Judgment of the earth. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!” Revelation 16:17 NLT

The Book of Revelation “reveals” Christ reclaiming His rightful rule over all the earth and the final judgments on the world for their idolatry and rejection of God’s plan and purpose. It is God restoring to Himself a people of worship and holiness, to be with Him forever. In the early chapters a scroll is depicted in the hand of God who is on the throne in heaven. Only the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” in all of heaven and earth is found as the “worthy one” who can take the scroll and open the seals that release the judgments of God on the earth.

Seven seals are broken. Each with corresponding events. The last seal is broken and it causes silence in heaven as the scroll unfolds in awe and anticipation. Seven angels sound their trumpets. With each, judgments in all of their forms take place. The seventh angel blows his trumpet and there are seven last bowls of judgment that are “poured out” on the earth. As the seventh bowl judgment is poured out a loud shout from the throne Temple. This is the voice of God Himself!! “It is finished!”

The restoration of heaven and earth. “And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.” (Revelation 21:6 NLT)

This is after the 1,000 years of Christ’s rule and Satan final deception and judgment. John sees in his vision, a new heaven and a new earth. There is a new Jerusalem coming down from heaven and the declaration of “I am making everything new!” What we see is the culmination of the history of the earth from beginning to the entrance of sin and the promise of a Savior and a restoration of what which was lost.

It is promised and prophesied. It is yet to take place and will only happen in God’s time and manner. Some will grow weary others will doubt. But, “one golden day break Jesus will come!” In the words of the old song of the Gaither’s there will be the realization that, “It is finished the battle is over, It is finished there will be no more war, It is finished the end of the ages, It is finished and Jesus is Lord.”