Notes of Meeting Sunday 6th February 2022

Prayer Time

Please continue to remember the following needs:

• Ruth Holmes – for peace as Colin’s funeral is held on Thursday
• Peter (Covid-19) and Jan still suffering a harsh cough
• Charmaine asks for prayer for her daughter-in-law Mary-Lou who is expecting a babe in March – for a safe delivery, as the babe is very small
• Jacqueline Brewell, as she mourns the loss of her Father (funeral on Friday), and her Mother’s second husband who also passed away this weekend.
• Situation in Ukraine – for wisdom for leaders, to bring peace between nations.
• Liam – ongoing eye treatment, and plans for eye surgery at ESH
• Thanks for a sunny day for Sally’s brother-in-law’s funeral
• Sally and the carers looking after John
• Tessa asks for prayer for Amanda as she begins 3 months of chemotherapy treatment
• Celine – Covid-19
• Chris tells us that Tilly’s operation went well, but she has been in hospital for 3 months; also Jacky as she awaits results of another scan

Euan’s Message

What lies ahead in 2022?

Bible demands we look/consider beyond this life/these bodies/these horizons to eternity & new world order

Much of what we can know about the future from Bible is in Book of Revelation – not given lot of detail – its possibly beyond human description & beyond understanding so we are just a glimpse of what lies ahead

Revelation

• Last book in Bible – letter to churches – probably a circular
• Written by one of disciples John; later in life, in exile on Island of Patmos (just off E coast of Turkey)
• What God gave him -> show God’s people the things that must take place – “prophecy”

• Different kind of literature to much of Bible – drama - symbols, strange creatures & momentous happenings
• Picture book with colour, words & sounds – dazzle/shock – what John sees, hears & experiences
• Called “Revelation” – “unveiling” of what God wants us to know about future
• “Of Jesus Christ”- chief subject; without Him no fulfilment of God’s plans/purposes

Why read it? So people know how to live today

• John calls himself your brother & companion in the suffering & kingdom & patient endurance
• Then & now Christian life can be hard – persecution/life’s challenges -> encouragement & hope
• offers a tremendous hope for the future for the Christian, the believer

Eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him & these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

So much could be said but limiting ourselves to Ch21. I want us to consider 4 things

1. All things will be made new

We associate new things with potential & opportunity. They generally bring fresh enthusiasm/delight

Out goes what is old, broken, grimy, dilapidated; in comes what is bright, shiny & ready to enjoy

Ch21

• Cannot help but hear word “new” repeated 4x
• New heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem, all things being made new
• New world, new order of things because former things have passed away
• Of a new kind/superior to what has gone before
• Whether a 2^nd creation or radical renewal or transformation of 1^st – key thing is its NEW

This was always the plan & God will deliver on His plans and promises

Psalm 102 says Of old God laid the foundation of the earth, & the heavens are the work of His hands. They will perish, but God will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. God will change them like a robe, and they will pass away but God is the same and His years are without end

Apostle Peter writes of time when old creation will be purged by fire

Heavens will disappear with roar; elements will be destroyed by fire, earth & everything done in it will be laid bare

OT prophet Isaiah foretold time when God will create new heavens and a new earth, & the former things will not be remembered or come into mind

Not just old physical elements but old spiritual realities are swept away too

• Ch 17-20 shown all God’s enemies defeated - evil people, evil systems & Satan Himself – comprehensively & finally & rightly judged – sin, death, hell all dealt with
• Here is a new world without rebellion, ruin & brokenness that sin brings + sadness & suffering

• v4-5 describes wonderful place of blessing without tears, death, mourning, crying or pain – because God will take these away
• “no mores” - no hearses, no hankies, no hospitals – real comfort to so many who struggle with these -something to truly look forward to

Throughout Bible we see God in a sense always making things new

He restores

• LJC restores sight to blind, ability to walk to crippled, hearing to deaf, & clean skin to diseased  bringing not just physical healing but  life, security, & hope to broken people.
• God enables broken relationships to be restored – Jacob, Joseph, Ruth come to mind
• Supremely God has restored relationship with mankind & himself through Jesus Christ death on cross

He renames

• names carry significance in Bible & quite a number of people receive new names as a sign of new purpose & redeemed life – Abraham, Peter & Paul come to mind
• Supremely all who trust Him are given a new identity – in Christ
• if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself 

He resurrects

• Jesus Christ literally brought people to life again –  Lazarus, Jairus daughter
• God brought back his own Son from the dead – well attested accounts with many witnesses
• God promises likewise to raise those who trust Him from dead  & give newness of life

2              God will be at the centre

v2-3 holy city comes down from God (repeated in v10)

v3 city is called - dwelling place of God – abode, residence

v3 the people are called His people & He is called their God (repeated in v7)

v3 God is one enthroned – displaying authority

v4 God is one who removes all crying & tears, pain & suffering

v5 God is one making all things new

v6 God is one delivering on his promises – trustworthy & true,

v6 God is A & O - beginning & end – accomplishes what He starts & brings assurance

v6 God is giver of the free water of life – which satisfies

To be very clear - God is Author of all, Sustainer of all, Owner of it all – at centre of it all

God will be at centre of new heaven & new earth

God ought to be at centre of our lives now

Easy to usurp his place – ourselves at centre or something else – work, family, leisure pursuit

3. A place fitting for God’s glory

• most developed image in chapter is that of city, mentioned in v2 & then extensively in v10-27 when John is taken up mountain to get panoramic view of city

• is it a literal city? – no reason why not….but book of Revelation as genre might suggest it is symbolic
• wonderful city - size & scale, beauty & glory – a city fitting for a very great God

1. City as a welcoming home

1. Dwelling place for God & His people – where they both will be, meet & live together
2. Place of relationship, place of intimacy, of rest, of comfort

2. City as a place of stunning beauty

• described as a Bride beautifully dressed ready for husband

• described as like a very rare jewel, clear as crystal – such is its radiance & beauty
• walls built of jasper stone & studded with 12 others
• city & streets built of gold, clear as glass
• gates each made of a single pearl

3. City as a secure stronghold

• perfect cube but 1400 miles in each direction – size of Europe
• great high walls, >200ft thick
• 12 gates but open & never shut – freedom from threat & fear
• 12 foundations/buttresses – solidly & permanently secured

4. City as totally self sufficient place….because God is there

1. own light – no need for natural light – ie sun/moon or lamp because glory of God gives it light
2. no need for temple – as place to meet God or to bring any sacrifice for sin because God is dwelling there permanently & sin has been dealt with completely

4              A people who are ready

Although new world made for God to dwell with mankind, not everyone will be there

2 verses v8 and v27 are a stark & sombre reminder

Those who will not be there

v8 

1. Fearful & unbelieving – lacked courage to put faith & trust in LJC
2. Vile & abhorrent - lack of control of passions – murder & sexual immorality
3. Those in error – magic arts, idolatry & lies cf wrong relationship with truth

v27  Impure, shameful, deceitful – those who have not sought forgiveness for sin

People whose names are not in Lamb’s book of life – see Ch 20 – record of those who have trusted work of Jesus Christ at cross

Those who will be there

• Name is in Lamb’s book of life
• People who will have God as their God & so called God’s people – OT covenant promise
• Described as conquering/victorious ie pursuing a life consistent with trusting in God
• Described as inheritors – enjoying what God has provided – beauty, safety, satisfaction of new world

CLOSING SONG: 1041  There’s a place where the streets shine

NOTICES

• Wednesday 7.30pm Zoom Bible Study and prayer time
• Next Sunday – speaker Ken Cowell
• Saturday 19^th Feb – 10.00am Church Cleaning
• Sunday 27^th February – 12 noon – Annual Church Members Meeting