Conversation about...Open Heavens
The Biblical Creation Mapping website content presents information for consideration concerning the proper creation background of the kosmos of Genesis in the tabernacle of the heavens that controls the foundation for biblical conversation about the ministry of Christ in atonement and his present intercession for his people at death and judgment (Heb 9:27-28). The information is free and always open for congenial discussion, clarification, and your insights in conversation opportunities available. A Thesis, Dissertation, and 2024 book publication, with interaction to scholarly conversation are available to evaluate the evidence for plural heavens in a highly probable first-century tabernacle/temple background.
Subsections
Summary
This conversation provides a summary of the biblical mapping topic conversation about the end of the eternal-places when all is transformed into one new heaven and earth.
Question(s)
Questions are designed to focus the conversation and reveal either incoherence or knowledge gaps in hearing of God's speech. Each question links to related content in the biblical conversation below.
- Question: What happens to people at "the end of the eternal places" (Matt 24:3 συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος)?
- Question: What translator presuppositions lead them, for "the end of the eternal places" (Matt 24:3 συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος), to translate the sense as "the end of the age" (NASB, ESV) or "the end of the world" (KJV) without spatial attributes?
Myths
Myths consist of earthly focused philosophical and theological claims, which God has not spoken in his word-speech. These are commonly accepted as warrants among some people to flatten heavenly truth for correspondence with errant (supposed) earthly promises applied by adherents either alone or in a group thought about as interpretatively above other people not in their group (Matt 24:4-12; cf. Col 2:8). Each listed myth links to related biblical conversation in the material below concerning God's speech about the ability of Christ to bring all things to himself in heaven.
- Myth: The Greek term aiōn (αἰών) only refers to time in the place of this world of visible creation.
Related Conversation of God's Speech
through Revelation of his Word
This conversation engages a more in-depth biblical evaluation into the topic concerning the direct prophetic promises regarding the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem through the lens of Christ and the Christ foundation concerning understandings God's revelation to people (John 1:18). Other theological and philosophical foundations, mostly building upon personally chosen concepts about God, often negate the better hope (Heb 7:19) for those who repent of sin and with faith call upon Jesus as Lord to save them at death and judgment (Rom 10:8-13; Heb 9:27-28).
Introduction
End of the Age/Everything New
Man was made to enjoy a good celebration. There are birthdays, holidays and anniversaries. These are a time of praise for blessings, fellowship with others, traditional festivities, and special family gatherings. We accent our lives during these times with beauty, glimmer, and glitter.
God’s Word teaches us as children of God in our churches we have great reason to celebrate. Our celebration of each worship service when we assemble on the first day of the new week in our churches actually pictures the great celebration to come with the one God at the end of the age on the first day of the new week in heaven after the seventh day of rest in the millennial reign if Jesus Christ. The God with Us celebration we pattern every time we meet in assembly or congregation together does not occur till after this 1000 year reign of Christ.
Notice this very special celebration not at either the rising of the dead in Christ to heaven at death and judgment or at the second coming of Christ for the remaining living when he sets up his temporary earthly kingdom. As mentioned in Conversation 7A, 7B, and 8, either the rising of the dead into heaven by the shepherd ministry of Jesus or the second coming for those still living in the flesh, will truly be rapturous and filled with ecstasy and exultation for all believers. However, many confuse the events of death or the second coming with the hope of eternity future. Actually, the second coming to earth is a little more than 1000 years before the celebration of God with us at the end or the eternal/perpetual-places. Death and resting in heaven is much longer in earth sensed time than time in heaven (2 Pet 3:8). As mentioned in Conversation 10, at the second coming, Jesus leaves the throne at his Father’s side to once again come and to reign on the earth. He continues to the Mount of Olives to rescue Israel, rather than for salvation to shepherd newly deceased believers in intercession into heaven. As noted in Conversation 8, those deceased believers below God’s throne then will accompany Him, and those remaining alive in the flesh will gather together with Him on the way in the air. Then, both groups continue to the earth in rescue of Israel. Upon Israel's rescue and coming to faith in Jesus as the Christ, transformed believers will serve on earth as His priests at Jerusalem for 1000 years under Jesus's righteous rule and harvest of the earth with Irael preaching the everlasting/perpetual gospel. Confusion comes by flattening these many prophetic descriptions into one event fulfilled at the second coming to earth.
The final chapters of God's Word should always bring elation to the heart of every believer no matter what the outward circumstances. It is easy to allow the on goings of this world to rob us of our joy. A few years back we were celebrating my wife Tammy’s 30th birthday. In our early dating and marriage, we both often loved to practical joke. Her friends and I wanted to have a special surprise birthday party and we needed a distraction. So we designed a practical joke where we pretended to rent an expensive apartment since some of our friends managed an apartment complex. Now it was early in our marriage and Tammy did not know how to confront in a disagreement yet. We had been to a conference on the book His Needs and Her Needs teaching us how to properly love one another. As her birthday party grew closer, I spoke of the infamous apartment more and more. Even once, when I detailed again the wonders of this apartment we could not afford, she nicely dropped the marriage material for His Needs Her Needs in the floor gently and said meekly, “I guess this does not mean anything then.” When the day came, as we walked into the apartment meeting area, Tammy saw the cake with candles and decorations and said, “Someone is having a party.” Soon after, out came our friends with celebration and laughter with cake and ice cream. She was so surprised. While trying her best to have fun, Tammy did not understand the apartment was just a joke. About thirty minutes into her birthday party, she was still so concerned about the expensive commitment, she finally grew up in confrontation and said, “You can throw the biggest party in Little Rock but you are not going to get that apartment.” In that moment, I had taken the joke too far, and Tammy for a short while was missing the joyful celebration of her birthday party having her eyes on other matters. In the same way, many miss the joyful anticipation of our heavenly celebration, having eyes and thoughts fixed on the troublesome matters of this earth.
Let us consider for a few moments some of the details of the greatest moment of our lives...
The Framework of a New Creation
Rev 21:1 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. NASBJohn also sees the focal city of this new heaven and earth, the New Jerusalem. It descends out of heaven from God. John compares its beauty to that of a bride dressed for her husband. He is enamored and awestruck by the beauty of this holy city from which God reigns eternally. Later in this chapter John attempts description of his wonderful place.
John sees in his vision a new heaven and a new earth. The word “new”[1] here sheds light on God’s method of creating this new frame for his kingdom. That which we see before us is not all brand new in the sense of being young and never used. It is
a remodeling and reforming of the old, what already had existed from long ago.
All creation, which exploded in the wrath of God and the withdrawal of his light presence at the fall of Satan long ago as seen in chapter ;"Who Turned Out the Light?," will be drawn together as one again in a new form. As seen in chapter ;"The Temporary Dark Creation Transformed,", the chemical bonds of this present creation are broken with intense energy and heat until all creation exists in the smallest particles possible. Then all the matter of the sun, moon, stars, planets and galaxies will be redesigned as the New Heaven and The New Earth that the Apostle John sees.
The new creation has no sea. In our present creation the sea is responsible for maintaining stable energy production apart from God’s energy. These oceans currently are a major source of oxygen and food. It is essential for the present existence of life. Future existence will no longer depend on energy from the breakdown and utilization of the creation, but will come from God. The sea is no longer needed in its present function. The sea often in God's revelation typifies the cosmos in its ebbs and flows in chaotic tides and currents. The recent discoveries by the Hubble Telescope, call the Hubble tension, confirm the visibe cosmos is a sea of currents traveling and expanding at different and often faster speeds against the former theory that all creation is expanding at the same speed of a constant expansion from a singular event known as the big bang.
The use of the Hebrew in the OT owlam ( עֹ֝ולָ֗ם cf. Ps 90:1-2) and Greek aiōn (αἰών) in the NT carry the sense of both time and space and according to context infer either the temporary visible creation (cf. Matt 12:32; Luke 16:8; 1 Cor 1:20, 2:8; Gal 1:4; Eph 1:21) or the invisible eternal/perpetual-place (cf. Luke 18:30; ) of God's heavenly dwelling that was expanded at Jesus's death to achieve the greater and more perfect tabernacle. Jesus also refers to "in the age presently coming" (Matt 12:32 en tō mellonti ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι pres. prt.) regarding his future intended changes in both space and time by redesigning the visible creation in removal of his enemies of death and decay. The flattening or ignoring of the different senses lead to great variance in biblical message and interpretation (See Henry, Atonement, 4).
The Fabulous Shocking Beauty of the New Jerusalem
Rev 21:2 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. NASBThe new home for God's adopted children is something to behold. As far as we know it has not been made as of yet. A bride is perhaps the most beautiful object of man's affections. She goes to painstaking effort to look her best for her mate. God's preparation of this new Jerusalem is His best creative ingenuity for His new children. More details are given later beginning in verse Rev 21:9-27 below.
The Fellowship with God as the One
Rev 21:3 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, NASBThe answer to the model prayer “thy kingdom come” (Matt 6:10) that was realized on the cross with Jesus's enthronement in heaven (Psalm 110:1- 4), will be realized for the dark separated creation (Rom 8:18-25) for those apart from God's holiness. God the Father, known in the OT as the Ancient of Days from the eternal/perpetual past (Daniel 7:13-14), will be reunited as the One God with his creation. Like before the separations of creation in levels of holiness of God's created creatures, God will “live with them” and they will “be his people.” As God fellowshipped with His creation before “the beginning” prior to the Devil's destructive choice, God will again “be with them and be their God.”
1 Corinthians 15:20-28
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all. NASB (Emphasis mine)John 1:18
18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. NASBJohn 17:25
25 "O righteous Father, although the world has not known Thee, yet I have known Thee; and these have known that Thou didst send Me; NASB1 Peter 3:18
18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; NASBThe Former a Distant Form
Rev 21:4 4 and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." NASBThe existence and life of God’s people is wonderfully changed. In the glorified body will be no need for tears, no suffering of death, no mourning of loss, and no crying or pain. These are but a few of the many changes when the Father, Son, and Spirit return return as One, the visible, separated, dark creation to themselves as One (1 Cor 15:20-28). A new order comes as the old order passes away. The present creation proceeds from order to disorder. Then all will be new no longer suffering the present decay.
Isaiah 65:17
17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. NASBThe Faithfulness of God in this Promise
Rev 21:5 5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." NASBAt this point the plan of God the Father, the Ancient of Days, is completed. Just as Jesus cried, “It is finished” on the cross, God as One, will say, “It is done.” While we as believers in this present time of God’s plan greatly anticipate the “gathering together” to the Lord in the second coming we still will not be in our final home of heaven. Imagine how much greater the excitement when we hear the words of God announce, “It is done” as we experience the fullness of our hope in the new heaven and earth. In this new “home” God will provide “the water of life” to all thirsty without cost picturing his sustaining of every necessity of our new life.
The Fulfillment of the Father’s Promised Plan
Rev 21:6 6 And He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. NASBThe one God will reward those who remain faithful in service of Jesus Christ on this day. Jesus spoke of such reward for those who overcome in His message to the church at Philadelphia.
Revelation 3:11-13
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. NIVThe author of Hebrews tells of the day of revealing of the Sons of God. It will be a glorious assembly of the firstborn with a great host of angels watching.
Hebrews 12:18-29
18 For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word should be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned." 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I am full of fear and trembling." 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, " Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven." 27 And this expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire. NASBColossians 1:9-23
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created by Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. NASB (Emphasis mine)The Family We Together Become
Rev 21:7 7 "He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. NASB“He who overcomes will inherit all this” in the relationship as a child. Just as children receive an inheritance from earthly fathers God as our Father will give an allotment He as predetermined of His kingdom of the New Heaven and The New Earth to believers. The Father gives this new inheritance according as His children “overcome”[2] .
Hebrews 2:10-18
10 It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, "I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise." 13 And again, "I will put My trust in Him." And again, "Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me." 14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. NASBThe Final Address of Uncovered Sin
Rev 21:8 8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." NASB (Emphasis mine)Nothing sinful will exist in this new home but all will be separated in the second death forever. All who have not called upon the name of Jesus Christ for salvation from sin have an eternal destiny in God’s wrath (Matt 7:21-23; John 3:18; 5:24), as noted in the previous Conversations 6A - Remaining Outside of Heaven at Death - Sheol/Gehenna/Hell/Darkness, 6B - The Lake of Fire for all Temporary Sinful Creation, and 11 -The Temporary Dar Creation Transformed .
John 3:18
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. NIVJohn 3:36
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." NIVJohn 1:12-13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. NKJVThe Factual Description of the New Jerusalem
Rev 21:9-27 9 And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I shall show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. 12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And the one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16 And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. 18 And the material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 And the nations shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it. 25 And in the daytime (for there shall be no night there) its gates shall never be closed; 26 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. NASBAn angel gives John a detailed glimpse of the Holy City Jerusalem as it comes down from heaven. Finally is the heaven for which believers visualize, dream and hope. It is brilliant and bright from the Light of God the Father. No shadows will exist. Contrast and definition will exist by color and light intensity as shown by John’s descriptive use of stones and elements. The size measured is about a one thousand five hundred-mile cube.
No places of worship exist in this city. No temple is needed for “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” No sun or moon is needed because God will now be the Light. There is no night for darkness will never again exist in the presence of God the Father.
The “nations” or believers abiding in other geographical areas of the new earth will come and enter this Holy City Jerusalem to glory and honor God. The new earth will likely contain once again all material creation united as one. The stars and planets will be together again as before the destruction at Lucifer’s fall. To be sure only those names written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter this city whose gates shall never shut.
The Food of God's Light Sustains Creation
Rev 22:1-5 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.The basics of current existence require water and food. Without water and food life quickly decays to eventual death. Access to “the water of life” and “the tree of life” give the believer power to sustain eternal life without the decay of our present creation. Our life sustaining energy comes from God. In heaven there is no need for healing – the need for healing is prevented from occurring. No longer will we obtain needful energy inefficiently from the breakdown of creation. Having no flesh and blood we will no longer require oxygen to breath. No waste will exist of carbon dioxide and water from burning carbon chains for energy.
The curse of sin that brought decay and disorder will no longer exist. Nothing will wear out or breakdown any longer. No part of creation will destroy another part of creation for its own existence, as seen in Conversation 7A.
In this new home, as His servants we will serve and worship God as seen in Conversation 7B. As Lord, God in the New Heaven and Earth will reign forever and ever. We will see His face and enjoy His name. We can only imagine what it will be like to belong to His family.
The Finale is Easily Understood and Coming Soon
Rev 22:6-15 6 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place." 7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book." 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" 10 Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy." 12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (Emphasis mine)The promises of God to His children are not mysterious or hidden to them. We can know great in depth trustworthy words of truth about the new Kingdom to come in eternity. Those who keep the words of this prophecy as guides to earthly living and faith are promised special blessings for God. Elsewhere in Scripture the Apostle Paul tells the Corinthian believers God reveals the plans He has in store for His people through the spirit of God by combining spirtual with spiritual. Such comprehension is beyond the natural man who cannot understand and declares such hope in faith as foolishness. Yet such information is freely given to us by God.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16
9 but just as it is written, "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. NASBFrom God's perspective of time they are almost here. At present God allows the creation to continue in the state of chaotic battle of sin and righteousness separated from Himself. But He is coming soon! The prophecy of the book of Revelation is open to all, remaining unsealed. Understanding this prophecy we are to recognize the Lord is coming soon! When He comes He will “reward everyone according to what he had done.”
Those who have washed their robes will have the right to the tree of life and go into the city. Those who have failed to wash their robes in forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ have no access to this life sustaining eternal energy of God. They will forever remain outside.
The Faithful Churches Receive This Message
16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
The churches of the Lord have received this testimony as given from the angel to the Apostle John. True churches share faithfully this message of hope and promise looking for a city whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11:8-16
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-and Sarah herself was barren-was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. NIV (Emphasis mine)The Final Invitation, Warnings, and Promise
Rev 22:17 17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Emphasis mine)God invites all who will to “Come!” God says, “Whoever is thirsty, let him come, and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” God promises the blessings of heaven, that new home, to all who will receive Him.
John 6:35-40
35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." NIVGod warns the listeners of the churches to not corrupt this message of prophecy. Changing the content of the message results in God taking “away from him his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.” Believers never lose salvation, yet rewards with an inheritance in heaven are according to what was done. While all will have eternal life that have ever trusted in Jesus as Savior, not all life energy and blessing in that heavenly kingdom will be identical.
As believers continue to walk in faith, God’s final promise is always to remember the Lord says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Our prayer echoes with John… “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
End Notes
[1] new’ kainos NT:2537 denotes "new," of that which is unaccustomed or unused, not "new" in time, recent, but "new" as to form or quality, of different nature from what is contrasted as old. Not “new” neos NT:3501 signifies "new" in respect of time, that which is recent; Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers [2] ‘overcome’ NT:3528 nikao (nik-ah'-o); from NT:3529; to subdue (literally or figuratively): KJV - conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory. Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-HebrewConclusion
Conversation 12 attempts to view the promises of Revelation 21-22 throught the lens of the promise and fulfillment of the foundation of Christ. This includes both who Christ is and what Christ does from before the foundation of the visible temporary creation until the new. The view somewhat contrasts with some speculation from chosen theological or philosophical qualies built on a foundation about God. As always noted, the reader will find hope built on the foundation of Christ is better.