No Math Needed

No Math Needed

Revelation 22: 18 I, John, solemnly warn everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: if any add anything to them, God will add to their punishment the plagues described in this book. 19 And if any take anything away from the prophetic words of this book, God will take away from them their share of the fruit of the tree of life and of the Holy City, which are described in this book.

20 He who gives his testimony to all this says, “Yes indeed! I am coming soon!”

So be it. Come, Lord Jesus!

21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone

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Hearing the story about people enjoying themselves, I wanted to be included. I retold their story, implying that I was included. But when I was asked a question about the event, I could not answer.

• I felt embarrassed that I was not at the event, so I embellished the story.
• I added details to the story that were not true.
• I tried to make the story mine, when it wasn’t.

John, the disciple JESUS loved, concludes the book of amazing prophecies revealed to him by JESUS. He gave a stern warning to not add anything to the book or take anything away. No embellishments! He then gave a testimony of JESUS promising to return. John seemed to show value in this pending action and emphatically agreed.

My Observations:

• GOD had a reason for providing the prophesies and wants them to remain intact.
• JESUS seems to be preparing us for HIS imminent return, so HE gave us everything we need to know.
• I do not have to embellish something that is already amazing, so I place my full belief in what has been revealed.

Live life as if JESUS will return any moment, is what I get from reading this prophetic book. I mean, I still have to work to eat and do day to day things, BUT GOD wants me to be on the lookout for JESUS daily. What does that mean?

To me, it means seeing people HE wants me to serve for the purpose of bringing them back to HIM. HE also wants me to pray for those who seem to be rejecting HIM. GOD seems very serious about bringing the lost back to HIMSELF. I gladly join in on HIS plan.

Challenge

• What warning does the writer give?
• Have you ever embellished a story to make yourself look good or to make someone look bad?
• Will you read the Bible as a collection of books from GOD, written through humans, so HE could guide us to HIS love today?

What’s Not Seen

What’s Not Seen

Revelation 21: ²² I did not see a temple in the city, because its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. ²³ The city has no need of the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God shines on it, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴ The peoples of the world will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their wealth into it. ²⁵ The gates of the city will stand open all day; they will never be closed, because there will be no night there. ²⁶ The greatness and the wealth of the nations will be brought into the city. ²⁷ But nothing that is impure will enter the city, nor anyone who does shameful things or tells lies. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of the living will enter the city.

 

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When I got to the new office, I asked where the printer was. “We only have a couple of printers” was the reply. I questioned “why?” The reply was, “Because we don’t use paper very much anymore.”

 

• There was no more use for a printer.
• Things were different, so the printer was no longer needed.
• There was another way in place that freed everyone up.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, noticed a few things missing from the new city. He noticed there was no temple, sun or moon. He then was given an explanation of why these things were missing.

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s glory is bright enough to shine pure light.
• There will one day be no need for artificial light because JESUS will be our true light.
• No impurities that you and I have will be able to enter the city so GOD will change us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness so we can live with HIM eternally.

 

Wealth will be different. I mean, the current structure of money will not be needed in heaven. So what will wealth look like? I believe GOD will help you and me use our special gifts in ways we cannot imagine. Whatever our gifts produce, we will bring it into the city.

 

We will no longer have to worry about darkness, extension cords or batteries. There will be no more misinterpretation of what GOD is saying to us, because HE will be present to provide us with HIS light. I am glad religions, temples and lights will be done away with so we can simply be with GOD.

 

Challenge

• What observations did the writer present?
• Have you ever wondered if the tension over religion will ever stop?
• Have you pondered about GOD’s glorious light and wondered about HIS eternal love for you?

Building Materials

 Building Materials

Revelation 21: ¹⁸ The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself was made of pure gold, as clear as glass. ¹⁹ The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation stone was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh yellow quartz, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chalcedony, the eleventh turquoise, the twelfth amethyst. ²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls; each gate was made from a single pearl. The street of the city was of pure gold, transparent as glass.

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After following the instructions, I finally finished putting together the furniture. I had to force the shelves to align, but finally got everything to fit. I accidentally spilled some water on an exposed end and the wood began to swell in one spot.

• The furniture was made of particle board which could not withstand water.
• The machining of the furniture was not done well, so I had to force things together.
• The furniture was flimsy and broke easily when it was moved.

John, the disciple JESUS loved, was given the list of materials the city’s foundation was made of. Each foundation stone was a “precious” stone that was probably rarely seen, even in the new earth. The city and streets were made of pure gold as clear as glass. The wall was another precious stone and the gates were made from a single pearl.

My Observations:

• GOD wants us to have something special.
• GOD can create rare things that are precious.
• GOD made you and me and there is no one like us.

Precious things cannot be found everywhere. I mean, when something is rare, it is not only hard to find, it is impossible to replicate. GOD used precious stones for the city that HE made for HIS precious people.

No one is exactly alike. GOD spent time thinking about the building materials of your entire existence. Nothing was a mistake. HE made you and me and was delighted. Your very existence pleases GOD immensely! I am glad GOD thinks of you and me in a precious way!

Challenge

• Why does the writer give this detail?
• Have you ever seen precious stones or something valuable?
• Can you believe that GOD values you as precious to HIM and was excited when HE made you?

Clean City

Clean City

Revelation 21: ⁹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came to me and said, “Come, and I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” ¹⁰ The Spirit took control of me, and the angel carried me to the top of a very high mountain. He showed me Jerusalem, the Holy City, coming down out of heaven from God ¹¹ and shining with the glory of God. The city shone like a precious stone, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

 

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Asleep in the back seat, I woke up because I could tell we were getting close to home. The stench of the landfill was the first indicator that we were getting close. I anticipated the swampy smell of the shipping dock followed by the final chemical smell of the paint factory. I saw garbage on the sides of the road. Yep, I was almost home!

 

• Many cities I have been in were dirty.
• Many cities I visited had graffiti and grunge.
• Many cities I lived in had industrial stuff that belched carcinogens in the air.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, had the SPIRIT take control of him and was carried to a very high mountain. The Holy City was coming down out of heaven from GOD. It was shining with the glory of GOD.

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s glory was so bright, that humans could not look at it.
• The new Holy City will be so clean that no disease can live inside it.
• Brightness will shine from the Holy City like nothing seen before.

 

No more smells. No more rot. No more feeble attempts by humans to create something temporary that misuses GOD’s creation, causing people to be harmed. The plagues were over and a new city was presented. What happened to GOD’s people? You and I become recipients of a brand new city.

 

Remember that new car smell? Or that new house smell? Or new shoe smell? Think of a new city that shines with GOD’s glory. HE cannot wait to provide this gift to those who go through the grunge of life’s difficulties. When life is dirty, I am glad I can focus on a future that is bright and new!

 

Challenge

• Why was the writer taken to a mountain to see the city?
• Have you ever been deeply worried or saddened by circumstances or regretful because of sin?
• Can you imagine a place where you are free to love GOD and HE is right there, wiping away your tears?

Future Bright with Joy and Delight

Isaiah 65: ¹⁷ “See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
    nor will they come to mind.
¹⁸ But be glad and rejoice forever
    in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
    and its people a joy.
¹⁹ I will rejoice over Jerusalem
    and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
    will be heard in it no more.

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“Start on the bottom with both hands grasping a sponge. Edge the board to the top and proceed across, then down the other side. Rinse your sponges, wring them out until damp and go across the board until reaching the bottom.” These were the instructions of washing a chalkboard during my janitor days. After following these instructions, I had a “clean slate” in each room.

• GOD says to me “I will create new heavens and a new earth.”
• GOD says to me “The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”
• GOD says to me “I will delight in MY people, the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more.”

GOD reaches HIS hand out to me on a daily basis even though HE despises my sin. HE loves me and cares enough for me to erase my past and provide for me a bright future. All the sins that GOD would count against me will be wiped away, like cleaning a chalkboard.

• ALL of my sins are forgiven by GOD because I believe in the Risen SON.
• There will come a day when I will look back and see nothing but grace from the FATHER.
• One day all of my tears will be wiped away and every sin that has been accounted for will be thrown away.

Joy and delight is the plan GOD has for me. HE tells me to rejoice now because of the wonderful future HE has for me.

• Are you concerned about today’s problems?
• Are you worried about something?
• Can you look towards the future and see that GOD is holding HIS hand out to you to erase the past and provide you with a wondrous life?