Revelation 21:1-2 |
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Elder
Phillip N. Conley |
Revelation 21:1-2, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:
for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away;
and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband."
This
morning, there are passages that are discussed and debated
more than others, and this account is one of the ones at the
top of the list. A few weeks ago, one of my segments
mentioned (in passing) a view of passages like this that
many have requested that I write further about.
These
last two chapters of the Bible are rich, deep, and certainly
contain more than this little segment can discuss. But,
perhaps we can hit some high points to stir up our pure
minds by way of remembrance to search and dig in these
things for the furtherance of our understanding of the truth
for God's honour and glory. From the outset, it should be
noted that all discussions about the church and heaven can
get difficult to rightly divide, for the same substance
dwells in both. If you have a piece of pie that is sliced
but situated with the rest of the pie, it takes examination
(due to the type of pie, sometimes strict examination) to
see what the piece is in relation to the pie (and vice
versa). Therefore, texts like this one that have both
situated together are difficult (for me anyway) to discern
sometimes whether it is one, the other, or both.
It is
interesting to note from the outset of the 21st chapter of
Revelation that John mentions two things. He first mentions
the new heaven and new earth, and then follows that
statement by talking about the holy city. In the verses to
come, he will go back and forth between both cases in
different forms and fashions, but it is necessary to see
that he mentions two things.
Perspective is key in rightly dividing certain concepts in
the Bible. Many times, I think discussions of this passage
are from a perspective of one viewing John from the flank or
side. Let us try to imagine (in our mind's eye) the
perspective of John. He obviously is looking upward as he
later says that he is in the mountain watching the city come
down from heaven to tabernacle with men. So, instead of
looking from a sideways perspective, let us try to put
ourselves in John's shoes and look upward. By doing so, we
see the new heaven and new earth (wherein dwelleth
righteousness), and we behold the downward procession of the
holy city. From this vantage point, we see that the holy
city is the extension of the plane (new heaven and earth)
above it. If we stared at a portrait that had raised and
lowered indentions to denote changes in elevation, it is
obvious that the raised and lowered sections are still part
of the picture. However, they are not all the picture.
Likewise, when we are dwelling in the holy city (worshiping
in spirit and in truth), God has extended the earnest of our
inheritance downward to us for the purpose of partaking of
the joy of His salvation for His ultimate glory. But, by
going up the mountain (laying aside the things of the
flesh), there is an indication that our inheritance extends
to us in a REAL fashion as we partake of the fat things of
God. However, as wonderful as this time and experience is,
if we are looking upwards in the direction that this
extension (holy city or church) comes from, we can see that
it still pales in comparison with the whole.
Sometimes, we mistakenly think of the church as the place
designated or set aside to worship, but in point of fact,
the church is when members of the kingdom are earnest in
their venture to press into it in a visible fashion together
in worship to God. By doing so, we are not focusing our
attention around the location that the holy city has
extended to, but rather, we are looking upward in the
direction it has come from. With the eye of faith in focus,
we begin to realize that what resides above us is where
there are no more sufferings at all.
While
God wipes away our tears in this life when we are comforted
in His city, up there, we have no tears, since there is
nothing to cry about. It is all peace and love, and the love
of God flows freely through all. When looking at this higher
and nobler plane, words begin to fail us to describe its
inestimable worth. We long and yearn to see it with our own
eyes.
Our new
man seeks release from the bondage of corruption and death,
and one sweet day, we will be there wholly (body, soul, and
spirit). At that day, we no longer will need to look upwards
by faith, but rather, we can then look around us in real
manifestation. No wonder why John concluded this awesome
sight by saying, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
P.S. It
is my hope that this is not offensive or divisive to any.
This subject has been the source of much conversational
discord, but my hope is that this signifies the correctness
of both positions. Both sides of the argument make valid
points, and I believe, in point of fact, they are both
right. If I have erred in my thinking, please brethren
instruct me as I stand as one that still needs to be taught
and learn much.
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