“ Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,in the middle of its street. 

On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  

There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 

And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. 

And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. “ —- Revelation 22:1–6

Heaven - X

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The LORD  has taken us on quite a journey in this series! 

We have been shown the root cause of the angelic rebellion ( against an ordained change to the rule of -Man in Heaven uprooting the rule of the -angels ), the very surprising regeneration and presence in the New Earth of ALL humanity ( not just Israel and the Church ), the amazing construction of a celestial city that descends from space onto earth, and lastly, the disappearance of many Institutions ( The Temple, Marriage, Death, Hell etc ) that were part of the overall plan and purpose of God in a fallen creation, but there is no place for them anymore in the New Creation…. Hallelujah!!

Our text this week is the capstone that completes the picture. The curse, night, sickness and death are shown to be banished as well….

The Tree of Life is back and it’s not just one solitary tree, a RIVER of the Water of Life, emanating from the throne of God and running through the city , waters —TREES— ( plural ) of Life planted on either bank! What was a little garden in Eden is now the Mountain and City of God that rules the planet !

The city is populated by those that have faithfully served the LORD, by sharing in His suffering, rejection, humility. They have shown forth His Love for humanity…by serving their fellow man with acts of kindness, charity and service. They have loved Him more than their families, possessions and their own lives, staying faithful even upto their death.They were strangers and pilgrims in this world, misfits in a culture that prized power, prestige, wealth and luxury. These people are those we know well… from Enoch and Noah to Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Elijah…. to all the prophets and apostles….

Hebrews 11:13–16 - “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.  And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, ——they desire a better country——, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a —city for them. “

Their journeys are over…. and they have come Home… not to the temporary institutions of Mt Sinai or the Millennial Temple, but to ….. Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,  to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. 

They are the servant-rulers of a kingdom that was promised to Man, before Abraham was promised a Nation or David a Throne! 

The rest of humanity ( that did not undergo the trials of those who believe in the LORD ) lives on an uncursed planet, in harmony with nature/animals and their fellow man … outside the city… worshipping Him who redeemed them as well, bringing their tribute to Him, and being served by those who suffered with Christ, and now rule with Him.

“So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.  For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. 

And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,  equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen!