Revelation 21 (The Message)
Everything New
1I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea. 2I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband. 3-5I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God. He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone." The Enthroned continued, "Look! I'm making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate."
6-8Then he said, "It's happened. I'm A to Z. I'm the Beginning, I'm the Conclusion. From Water-of-Life Well I give freely to the thirsty. Conquerors inherit all this. I'll be God to them, they'll be sons and daughters to me. But for the rest—the feckless and faithless, degenerates and murderers, sex peddlers and sorcerers, idolaters and all liars—for them it's Lake Fire and Brimstone. Second death!"
The City of Light
9-12One of the Seven Angels who had carried the bowls filled with the seven final disasters spoke to me: "Come here. I'll show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb." He took me away in the Spirit to an enormous, high mountain and showed me Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God, resplendent in the bright glory of God.
12-14The City shimmered like a precious gem, light-filled, pulsing light. She had a wall majestic and high with twelve gates. At each gate stood an Angel, and on the gates were inscribed the names of the Twelve Tribes of the sons of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, three gates on the west. The wall was set on twelve foundations, the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb inscribed on them.
15-21The Angel speaking with me had a gold measuring stick to measure the City, its gates, and its wall. The City was laid out in a perfect square. He measured the City with the measuring stick: twelve thousand stadia, its length, width, and height all equal. Using the standard measure, the Angel measured the thickness of its wall: 144 cubits. The wall was jasper, the color of Glory, and the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. The foundations of the City walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate a single pearl.
21-27The main street of the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. But there was no sign of a Temple, for the Lord God—the Sovereign-Strong—and the Lamb are the Temple. The City doesn't need sun or moon for light. God's Glory is its light, the Lamb its lamp! The nations will walk in its light and earth's kings bring in their splendor. Its gates will never be shut by day, and there won't be any night. They'll bring the glory and honor of the nations into the City. Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will get in.
The Christmas season is here once again. This season that so full of promise and hope, for many people, is a season of pain and grief.
Christmas memories can drench our minds with the whiff of a familiar scent such as pine trees or baking cookies. A song can bring the faces and surroundings of long ago celebrations into perfect view. These memories may be sweet recollections of family and traditions, but all too often they bring longing and sorrow - unwelcomed holiday guests of the heart. Or both.
This “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” can be especially difficult after the loss of close loved one. Whether from death or estrangement doesn’t matter, the heart doesn’t recognize the difference. The absence is there, demanding our attention. In a room fully decorated with lighted trees, brightly wrapped gifts, and mistletoe what is missing can often take center stage.
This is the third Christmas without Larry. This year I have made some changes. Instead of the 9’ tree that we’ve always had, the one that always sits in the corner (the same corner where Larry entered the glory of heaven), this year we have two smaller trees. My tree is white with blue. Not a traditional tree, but it comforts me. White for the purity of Jesus and blue for the peace that passes all understanding. Noah’s tree is red and white, spiral branches of red and white that closely resembles a big fuzzy candy cane. As Noah and I were decorating his tree last night he said, “This is our new tradition mom”. Perfect!
Change is ok. We don’t have to continue with holiday traditions that bring heartache. Change things up a bit. Have a different meal, find some new songs, look for Christmas in new places.
When Christ returns everything will change. No more tears, no more death, everything will be new. For our loved ones that have already gone home it’s already new. Imagine what wondrous Christmas celebrations take place in heaven….. every day!
This song is the most comforting song for anyone who has lost loved ones to death. The artist is Sarah Scheiber, a personal friend who is one of the members of our “club” W2Y – Widows Too Young. It’s through Sarah that I know Marni and Mary, the little one we’ve been praying for. I pray that you find solace in the music this season.
Dearest Lord, this season of celebration brings with it the loss of those we love that are now home with you. You know the pain of this loss God. When your son died the whole earth shook. Our hearts tremble each day with the longing of days past. My prayer is that we are able to find comfort and peace knowing that we are not isolated from those who are present with you. Separate but still connected. Grant us patience for the journey Lord, especially during times of celebration. In Jesus’ sweet name, Amen.
Everything New
1I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea. 2I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband. 3-5I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God. He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone." The Enthroned continued, "Look! I'm making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate."
6-8Then he said, "It's happened. I'm A to Z. I'm the Beginning, I'm the Conclusion. From Water-of-Life Well I give freely to the thirsty. Conquerors inherit all this. I'll be God to them, they'll be sons and daughters to me. But for the rest—the feckless and faithless, degenerates and murderers, sex peddlers and sorcerers, idolaters and all liars—for them it's Lake Fire and Brimstone. Second death!"
The City of Light
9-12One of the Seven Angels who had carried the bowls filled with the seven final disasters spoke to me: "Come here. I'll show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb." He took me away in the Spirit to an enormous, high mountain and showed me Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God, resplendent in the bright glory of God.
12-14The City shimmered like a precious gem, light-filled, pulsing light. She had a wall majestic and high with twelve gates. At each gate stood an Angel, and on the gates were inscribed the names of the Twelve Tribes of the sons of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, three gates on the west. The wall was set on twelve foundations, the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb inscribed on them.
15-21The Angel speaking with me had a gold measuring stick to measure the City, its gates, and its wall. The City was laid out in a perfect square. He measured the City with the measuring stick: twelve thousand stadia, its length, width, and height all equal. Using the standard measure, the Angel measured the thickness of its wall: 144 cubits. The wall was jasper, the color of Glory, and the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. The foundations of the City walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate a single pearl.
21-27The main street of the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. But there was no sign of a Temple, for the Lord God—the Sovereign-Strong—and the Lamb are the Temple. The City doesn't need sun or moon for light. God's Glory is its light, the Lamb its lamp! The nations will walk in its light and earth's kings bring in their splendor. Its gates will never be shut by day, and there won't be any night. They'll bring the glory and honor of the nations into the City. Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will get in.
The Christmas season is here once again. This season that so full of promise and hope, for many people, is a season of pain and grief.
Christmas memories can drench our minds with the whiff of a familiar scent such as pine trees or baking cookies. A song can bring the faces and surroundings of long ago celebrations into perfect view. These memories may be sweet recollections of family and traditions, but all too often they bring longing and sorrow - unwelcomed holiday guests of the heart. Or both.
This “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” can be especially difficult after the loss of close loved one. Whether from death or estrangement doesn’t matter, the heart doesn’t recognize the difference. The absence is there, demanding our attention. In a room fully decorated with lighted trees, brightly wrapped gifts, and mistletoe what is missing can often take center stage.
This is the third Christmas without Larry. This year I have made some changes. Instead of the 9’ tree that we’ve always had, the one that always sits in the corner (the same corner where Larry entered the glory of heaven), this year we have two smaller trees. My tree is white with blue. Not a traditional tree, but it comforts me. White for the purity of Jesus and blue for the peace that passes all understanding. Noah’s tree is red and white, spiral branches of red and white that closely resembles a big fuzzy candy cane. As Noah and I were decorating his tree last night he said, “This is our new tradition mom”. Perfect!
Change is ok. We don’t have to continue with holiday traditions that bring heartache. Change things up a bit. Have a different meal, find some new songs, look for Christmas in new places.
When Christ returns everything will change. No more tears, no more death, everything will be new. For our loved ones that have already gone home it’s already new. Imagine what wondrous Christmas celebrations take place in heaven….. every day!
This song is the most comforting song for anyone who has lost loved ones to death. The artist is Sarah Scheiber, a personal friend who is one of the members of our “club” W2Y – Widows Too Young. It’s through Sarah that I know Marni and Mary, the little one we’ve been praying for. I pray that you find solace in the music this season.
Dearest Lord, this season of celebration brings with it the loss of those we love that are now home with you. You know the pain of this loss God. When your son died the whole earth shook. Our hearts tremble each day with the longing of days past. My prayer is that we are able to find comfort and peace knowing that we are not isolated from those who are present with you. Separate but still connected. Grant us patience for the journey Lord, especially during times of celebration. In Jesus’ sweet name, Amen.
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