Our Faith Shall Be Sight

For many people, when they think of the book of Revelation they think about how the world ends. They think of themes like Tribulation, Antichrist, Mark of the Beast, and more.

Revelation is written differently than many other books in the Bible. You might think of the four Gospels as historical biographies and the epistles as personal letters. But Revelation is another animal all together.

It’s what’s called Apocalyptic literature. Stemming from the Greek word “apocalypse” which means to “reveal.”

The book of Revelation is quite simply a “book of Revelation.” It was written to “reveal” something.

It’s common for apocalyptic literature to use metaphor, symbols, and picturesque language to communicate and that’s certain going to be the case this morning as we get close to the end.

Future Hope | Present Faith

When you study the book of Revelation it’s important to remember WHY it was written and to WHOM it was written.

It’s easy to just assume Revelation was written by some guy who was lonely on an island and had nothing to do but dream up what heaven might be like. That’s not the case.

Go back to the beginning. Revelation was written to people who were about to face (or who were already facing) tremendous tribulation, pain and suffering.

It is to THOSE people in THOSE circumstances that John paints a compelling vision of their future hope. He gave a picture of their hope in the future to strengthen their faith and love for Christ in the present.

That’s the power of hope. It always has been and it always will. We lit the hope candle last week for our advent series.

This morning we light the candle of faith. There’s a direct link between our future hope and our present day faith. Faith and obedience in the present is fueled by our hope in the future.

The Hope of Heaven

The hope John is giving us in Revelation 21 is the hope of heaven. The Bible talks about heaven often. Especially in the New Testament.

Jesus talked about heaven.

Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice in persecution. Why? Your reward in heaven is great.”

Jesus talked about the treasures of heaven, the reward of heaven, the riches of heaven.

The Apostle Paul talked about heaven.

He talked about a crown of righteousness, a crown of rejoicing, a crown that belongs to those who love Christ’s appearing.

Peter wrote to suffering Christians about heaven.

“We have an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved for us IN HEAVEN.” (1 Peter 1:4)

Heaven is our place. It’s where our inheritance is. It’s where our reward is. It’s where our hope is.

In Revelation 21-22 we get to put our eyes on that eternal state, the new Jerusalem, the holy city, our forever home.

John is telling those first century believers, endure through this tribulation. Maintain your faith in Jesus, and eventually God will be faithful to bring you home.

A People & A Place

We’ve been studying this chapter for the past several weeks.

We’ve seen that Heaven is a place restored by God’s glory. And Heaven is a people enjoying God’s presence.

We were made for both of these things. To reflect God’s glory and to enjoy God’s presence.

Our text today has two main sections. First, what is missing or absent in this eternal heaven that will one day come down. Secondly we’ll see what is central.

Let’s begin with what is absent.

Revelation 21:22–27 (CSB)

22 I did not see a temple in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never close by day because it will never be night there. 26 They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 27 Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.

What Is Missing

John mentions at least three things that are missing in the future heaven that were shocking enough he decided to call them out by name.

There’s no more temple

There’s no more night

There’s no more sin

Each of these three things have theological and symbolical importance when it comes to understanding what heaven will be like.

Moreover, the better we understand our hope of heaven, the better equipped we’ll be for living out our faith in the present.

No More Temple

First John notes the absence of a temple. There was no temple because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are it’s temple.

What is John getting at here?

We know from the Old Testament that the temple was a place people went to experience the presence of God. In the Old Testament, God’s presence had to be mediated.

There’s no need for a temple in the New Jerusalem because the unmediated presence of God is fills the entire city.

Remember, God’s city is in the shape of a cube, covered in gold. In the OT it was the Holy of Holies formed in the shape of a cube that was covered in gold.

John is being symbolic but he’s not being unclear. The worship of God in heaven is unmediated worship. There’s no “go between” because you’re relating to God directly.

As Jesus told the Samaritan woman, you make worship a debate about this mountain or that mountain. That’s not the essence of true worship. God is seeking after people who will worship him in Spirit and in Truth.

That’s the worship of heaven. It’s not localized in a place or an institution, it’s universal and fills the earth because God’s people no longer need a mediator.

We will finally be the true worshippers our Father is looking for. We will be worshipping God in perfect Spirit and perfect truth in His eternal presence.

Sacred/Secular Split

Another way to think about this: in Heaven, there is no split between the sacred and the secular.

Francis Schaeffer used to talk about this. Brilliant philosopher and cultural apologist. He described how many Christians create two stories: an upper story where people put their subjective faith and values and a lower story where people put science and facts and verifiable knowledge.

For many people - they put their Christian faith in that upper story with their subjective values that are no imperial or verifiable.

In other words, REAL LIFE is in the lower story but my upper story is for me only.

In heaven, there are not two stories there is one story and it all belongs to God.

Which means, believers today need to live for the city that is to COME not for the city that is right now. We must reject this “sacred secular split” and live all of our lives under the conviction that ALL OF LIFE is worship.

No More Night

The absence of a temple is followed by the absence of the night. Revelation 21:23-25

Revelation 21:23–25 (CSB)

23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never close by day because it will never be night there.

Notice that the text says “there’s no NEED” for sun or moon not that there is no sun nor moon nor celestial bodies.

Some take this passage like they do the one that says there will be no more sea and begin to make inferences about the nature of the new heavens and the new earth. (I supposed that’s possible but likely not what John has in mind.)

Darkness in ancient times was a symbol of danger. They didn’t have the city lights like we have today and cities that never sleep like New York.

In the ancient world the night was a dangerous place. At night sin and rebellion run wild. At night you put up the city gates because you don’t know what’ll sneak through.

But according to Revelation 21:25 “25 Its gates will never close by day because it will never be night there.”

The absence of night conveys the unconditional protection of God’s people in the New Jerusalem.

At night there’s shady things taking place in the shadows. In heaven, there is no danger because there is no night.

In Christ, there is no darkness at all.

He is the “light of the world.” (John 8:12; 12:46)

Our Heavenly Father is the “father of lights.” (1 John 1:5)

There’s no place for shadows. No place for shades. No impurity at all.

Nothing Impure

John makes that point explicitly in Revelation 21:27

Revelation 21:27 (CSB)

27 Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.

There have been times when I’ve wondered what my life would’ve been like if I never acted on those worst impulses in my sin nature.

What if I would’ve avoided what are now my greatest regrets?

What if I wouldn’t have said/done/thought those things?

What if I had never lied, never lusted, never critical or afraid?

What if I was never lazy, never greedy, never bitter, never mean?

Have you ever wondered what you life would be like if there were no sinful choices ever made? How much better things might be?

And it’s not just the negative. Think of the positives!

What if you had always loved God with all of your heart soul mind and strength?

What if you pursued your spouse in a way that they needed to be pursued?

What if you empowered and unleashed perfectly the gifting of your children or the potential in your career?

What if you might the right decision at the right time in the right way at ALL times?

That’s what heaven will actually look like. Everything sad, come untrue.

The absence of sin conveys the unmitigated potential of a world without brokenness.

All of those negative things will be avoided and all of those positive things will be achieved.

The Glory of Nations

Finally John describes the implications of these things in verses 24-26. If these things are “no more” what does that mean for the future.

Revelation 21:24–26 (CSB)

24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never close by day because it will never be night there. 26 They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

This puzzles many commentators because what nations are we talking about? Which kings are going to be on the earth during this time period?

Are these the same kings and nations we saw earlier who had joined the unholy trinity in their rebellion of God and his people? Are these the same kings assembled for battle on the great day of Armageddon?

Or are these another set of kings from the 1000 year reign of Christ that mount their offensive against Christ and his saints at the battle of Gog/Magog? (premil interpretation).

Were these sinful kings who’ve now repented and coming to bow the knee and kiss the ring of Christ?

I really don’t think that’s the case. Why? Because Christ destroyed all of those people at his second coming!

Nations/Kings = Covenant People

I think the “nations” and “kings of the earth” are two ways of talking about the same group. They are the covenant people of God who’ve been purchased by the Lamb.

Remember, the Lamb is the one who purchases people from every NATION, tribe, tongue and language. (Rev 5:9; 7:9)

Notice, they’re coming “through the gates” which earlier was used as a way of describing God’s covenant people in the OT.

Through Abraham all of the nations of the earth are now being blessed in Christ.

So why does John refer to them also as “kings?”

It could be that many of these redeemed believers are “kingly” in their status in the New Creation.

It could be they’re kings in the sense that they now reign with Christ in the millennial kingdom.

Walking In The Light

Notice that they are “walking in the light” of the glory that shines from the Almighty and the Lamb.

If you’re familiar with John’s other writing you know that “walking in the light” is a euphemism for “walking in obedience” to God’s will.

In other words, the people of the Lamb both great and small are walking in perfect obedience to the will of Christ and their submission to God’s design in all things brings about great glory in and through their lives.

But in the eternal heaven even that glory is brought into the New Jerusalem and laid at the feet of the true king of kings and true Lord of Lords.

Old Testament Fulfilled

All of this language is appealing to God’s promises in the OT that He would restore His people and through their restoration he would draw other people from among the nations to behold God’s glory in the city that is to come.

A perfect example of this is Isaiah 60:1-3

Isaiah 60:1–3 (CSB)

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you. 2 For look, darkness will cover the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the Lord will shine over you, and his glory will appear over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to your shining brightness.

We could keep pointing out similarities.

CHART:

Already / Not Yet / No More Not Yet

Certainly, we see some of these things partially fulfilled in our day and age. We are living in an already/not yet “tension”

Already we see people from unreached tribes, tongues and nations entering into God’s kingdom.

Already we’re done with the temple and the Old Covenant means of mediating God’s presence.

Already we’re free from the penalty of sin and the power of sins sway in our lives through the Spirit.

Already we’re safe and secure in the arms of our heavenly Father, waiting for the day when “not yet” is no more.

This vision is the END of “not yet.” The not yet of God’s kingdom will finally be no more. No more not yet. We will be finally home.

What Is Central

That leads us to our next section which is what’s central in this eternal state.

Revelation 22:1–5 (CSB)

1 Then he showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the city’s main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, 3 and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Theres a famous poem by T.S. Elliot called the Four Quartets. It opens with the line “In my beginning is my end....” and closes with the line “In my end is my beginning.” By the time you finish the poem you feel like you’ve travailed this long distance. The same is true of the Scripture.

Genesis begins with Paradise Given but lost. The book of Revelation ends with Paradise Regained and Restored. Eden was lost in Genesis 3. Eden is restored in Revelation 22.

CHART:

So much of what we read in Revelation 21-22 is familiar with the paradise in Genesis but it’s so much better. It feels like home, it feels familiar but to an even greater degree.

Home is such a desirable place because it feels familiar and safe. That’s what heaven will be but to an even greater degree. We will finally be home where we belong.

The End of Our Thirst

Let’s start with the river. It’s the River of Life. The same thing is seen in Ezekiels vision but it comes from a temple. (Ezk 47:1-12)

People debate whether this will be a literal river or whether it’s symbolic of something else.

John has mentioned this river at least three times before. (Rev 7:17; 21:6; 22:17) It’s a central part of the blessing in the eternal state.

The river at the center of heaven points the end of thirst.

Some suggest this rivesr is representative of the blessings we have in the Holy Spirit, the new life that he gives.

Some say it’s a reference to immorality or the abundant life Jesus promised to give his followers. Remember he told his followers, “If anybody is thirsty let him come to me and streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37-39)

Or the water that the Psalmist saw in Psalm 46:4 “There is a river— its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.”

I believe even if this points to a literal river that the symbolic meaning is also implied by this River of Life in heaven.

It’s the end of our thirst. It’s the end of yearning all together because we will feast and drink from God himself.

It flows directly from his throne. An oasis after wandering in the wilderness for so many years.

The End of the Curse

Past the River of Life is the Tree of Life. We also see the tree of life in the book of Genesis. Remember there God had two important trees in the garden.

Genesis 2:9 (CSB)

9 The Lord God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The tree of life was a tree of immortality. But when Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil then they brought about the curse of sin and were forbidden from eating the tree of life.

Why? Because then they’d live forever in a state of brokenness and decay.

So they were cast out. But now they’re being brought back in and welcome to eat of that tree.

The fact that they’re able to eat from the tree of life means that the curse of sin has finally been lifted. It points to the end of the curse.

Fruit in Every Season

The perpetual fruit in every season is symbolic of the curse on the ground being lifted.

The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil brought an awareness of their nakedness. The fruit of the tree of life brings healing to the nations.

12 different types of fruit for all 12 months of the year.

Some point out that the lack of a definite article means this tree could be many trees that line the river and separate it from the main street of gold. Ezek 47:7, 12 seems to suggest that.

Some have said this is the food that sustains our glorified and resurrected bodies. I’m not sure our bodies will NEED food. Not food for sustenance. But perhaps for enjoyment.

We will enjoy God’s creation as it was originally meant to be enjoyed.

Sin interrupted that and that is why every time you get to enjoy something, something goes wrong with it.

The new car gets old.

The new marriage gets old.

The new baby get old.

The new job gets old.

The new house gets old because everything that happens in this life happens under the curse.

Everything in this world that causes you frustration and suffering is because of the curse. In heaven, that curse is removed. So that also means the suffering and frustration derived from that curse is removed.

Work will be ENJOYABLE. Productive. Nothing feels as good as the reward of hard work. Such will be the reward of heaven.

His servants will serve him. Worship = serve (Cf Rom 12:1)

Seeing The Face of God

Finally, the last thing that is central in the eternal state of glory is the face of God.

Revelation 22:4–5 (CSB)

4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever.

His name is on our foreheads. It’s a mark that we belong to God. We are him and He is ours. We will see his face. We will behold him.

The face of God is central in the New Jerusalem and it points to the final end of our search.

Face to face with Christ, my Savior,

Face to face—what will it be,

When with rapture I behold him,

Jesus Christ who died for me?

Face to face I shall behold him,

Far beyond the starry sky;

Face to face in all his glory,

I shall see him by and by.

Only faintly now I see him,

With the darkling veil between,

But a better day is coming,

When his glory shall be seen.

The End of Searching

Every thing you do in this life, every pursuit you go after every craving you try and satisfy. At the end of the day, the face your looking for is the face of God.

You were made to behold him - look upon his eyes and him look upon you as well.

“Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself as he also is pure.” This is where our treasure must lie.

There was a time when the church disputed endlessly over the details of eschatology. A lot of that mindset has gone away. Unfortunately, however, some threw the baby out with the bathwater.

We don’t live in the light of the end. This vision signals the triumph of the Lamb, our ultimate prospect, the place of our treasure, and calls us onward, demanding that we be homesick for heaven so that, with the saints in every generation, we too cry, “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” Amen.

Conclusion

In heaven, we will finally be given what our hearts have always desired. God himself.

Some people think it’s arrogant for Christians to say that the only people who go to heaven are people who repent of their sin and believe the Gospel.

But if you think about it, the only people who would WANT to go to the heaven of the Bible are the people who believe in the Jesus of the Bible.

Because at the end of the day that’s all heaven is. It’s God. The fullness of God’s glory and presence.

In heaven, we will finally be given what our hearts have always desired. God himself.

There are so many hymns that paint a picture of this hope.

What a day that will be

When My Jesus I shall see

I will look upon his face

The one who saved me by his grace.

He will take me by the end

And take me to the promised land

What a day, glorious day that will be

Will you be ready for that day? Is your heart longing for that day?