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Bible passages:
Revelation 20:11-21:8
How do you think you will react when you are finally face to face with God? Does the prospect fill you with dread/joy/terror/peace? Try and explain your answer.
C.S. Lewis wrote:’In the end that Face which is the delight or the terror of the Universe, must be turned upon each of us, either with one expression or with the other, either conferring glory inexpressible, or inflicting shame that can never be cured or disguised.’
(Read Revelation 20:11-15)
This is the final destiny of every person, to come before the great white Throne
(2 Corinthians 5:10). For the saved believer, it is to account for
their stewardship of God’s grace and receive reward, or not (ie their eternal salvation is
not in question). For the unbeliever, it is to be judged, each, ‘according to what he had
done’. This is not suggesting that ultimately people are saved or condemned on the basis
of good deeds or merit, but it is saying, that it will be the actions of accepting or rejecting
Christ and His salvation, which will prove crucial in the end. Tragically, the unbeliever will
receive condemnation.
This passage underlines the importance of not leaving it too late to believe on Christ for
salvation.
Notice:
*Who is seated on the Throne? (John 5:22)
Jesus declares, in (John 16:9), that the most heinous offence to
God is with those who ‘do not believe in me.’ Can you give your personal affirmation to
the advice of Paul & Silas in Acts 16:31?
*The absence of an advocate. On that Day, there will be no more opportunity to call on
Jesus to be your Saviour. The only One qualified to stand and plead the case for sinners,
is now himself the Judge. That is why it is so important to call on Jesus to be your Saviour
now
*The universality and finality of the judgment. How we understand the horror of Hell is
debated, but at the very least, this text underlines how awful a fate to be separated from
God eternally, and notice the same fate befalls those who reject Christ, as befalls Satan
and his cohorts. We should shudder when we read this, and be more concerned to reach
the unsaved if we believe what it says.
(Read Revelation 21:1-5)
The scene switches to the glorious, ultimate reality of Heaven, where believers shall dwell
forever with God.
Notice:
*Some old things shall be no more, and some new things shall emerge.
OLD REALITY GONE
What does the absence of ‘sea’ suggest?
What does the fact that God will wipe every tear away, say to you?
What does the removal of all the destructive experiences of life mean for you?
NEW REALITY COME
What suggests that there will be joy in heaven?
What is the difference, do you think, between us simply being with God and ‘dwelling’
with God and He with us?
What is the significance of Heaven being described as a ‘city’?
A city is only a city, because it is filled with people. How do you respond to the thought that Heaven will be relational, not just us and Jesus,
but us in relationship with other believers?
Gone will be egotism, wounds, personality flaws, misunderstandings that can make
relationships so difficult here on earth. Should it not motivate us to sort out our fractured relationships with other believers, whilst
we are still on the earth?
(Read Revelation 21:6-8)
All of us, in this world, have legitimate longings that are unmet and unfulfilled.
What deep thirsts do you have? They shall be satisfied. Can you believe that?
Notice:
*’It is done’. The same phrase that Jesus uttered on the Cross (John
19:30). The phrase doesn’t mean ‘it is ended’, rather it means ‘it is completed,
fulfilled’.
Look at v7 (substitute in ‘daughter’ if you wish), what a prospect!
Look at 1 Corinthians 2:9, quoting Isaiah 64:4,
can you imagine it?
‘The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this
is the morning … all their life in this world … had only been the cover and the title page:
now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth
has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before’
(C.S.Lewis, The Last Battle)
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