Recreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley—Service, Sunday, September 5, 2021

Happily Ever After.

Today Pastor Michael is wrapping up the “End Times” series, the twelfth and final message.  

Today we pick back up with New Jerusalem and John the Apostle gets a glimpse of a river, the Water of Life.  Growing around that river is the Tree of Life.  Although spread over a vast distance, it is spoken of as a singular tree.  We’ve seen the Tree of Life before…it was in the Garden of Eden!

Verse 3 says there will be no more curse on humanity from sin and Verse 4 says we will see the Face of God and His Name will be written on us.  In Verse 5 we find that there will be no more darkness and Verses 6 remind us how important it is that we understand these truths and apply them to our lives.  

(CSB Baker Illustrated Bible Study Notes) 22:1–5. John’s attention turns to the surroundings and landscape of the city. He beholds a glorious paradise of overflowing streams and fruit-bearing trees where there is no longer any curse (22:1–3). Like the garden of Eden (Gn 2:5–6) prior to the fall of Adam, this new Eden is unblemished by sin or the curse of suffering, toil, and death (Gn 3:4–19). Yet the new Eden is much more than a return to a prefall state; it exceeds the old garden in glory and splendor.

The last verses of Revelation 22 serve as a fitting conclusion for the whole Bible.  Verses 18-19 warn us not to add or take away from the Word.  We can’t pick and choose which parts of the Bible we will accept and which parts we reject.  

The Bible represents the whole truth.  

(Disciple's Study Bible Notes) 22:18-19 HOLY SCRIPTURE, Inspired—The God who breathed into each of his messengers the words of revelation declared that no one is to add to or take from his words. They are subject to God’s judgment if they do. The revelation of God is not to be altered, tampered with, or distorted. The book of Revelation is thus consciously presented as sacred Scripture.

Revelation 22: 20 is one of Pastor Michael’s favorite sayings, “He Who testifies these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen! Even so, come Lord Jesus!”.

We live in times that are difficult and frustrating.  It feels harder than ever to live for God and the values of the Kingdom.  We might even suffer for our loyalty to Jesus.  But it is worth it.  

This whole study on the “End Times” should show us that living for Jesus is worth it.  The Endgame is GLORY in the end!

Today’s bible verses are found in Revelation 22:  1-17  and 1 Corinthians 13: 12.