Waters of Life

Biblical Studies in Multiple Languages

Search in "English":
Home -- English -- Revelation -- 210 (Burning Questions in the Churches)
This page in: -- Arabic -- Armenian -- Bulgarian -- ENGLISH -- French? -- German -- Indonesian? -- Polish? -- Portuguese -- Russian -- Yiddish

Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson

REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 7 - YES, I AM COMING SOON! (REVELATION 19:11 - 22-21)
PART 7.5 - THE NEW WOLRD OF GOD (REVELATION 21:1-8)

1. Burning Questions in the Churches of Minor Asia


  • By means of the vision of John about the Last Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) and the elimination of the satanic trinity and its everlasting punishment (Revelation 19:20, 20:10), Jesus, the Lord of all lords, offered to the shocked Jewish and Jewish-Christian refugees in the region of Ephesus and at the same time also to the Hellenistic Christians in Minor Asia, who were suffering and dying from persecution through the Roman Empire, a legally well founded and spiritual answer to their cry for righteousness.
  • Additionally, the Lamb of God relieved pious believers from any hidden conceit of self-righteousness by the vision to John referring the Millennium. This revelation teaches us that it is quite right that everybody will be judged, because the thoughts of the heart of man prove to be evil from his youth (Genesis 6:5; 8:21), even in the time of full blessings of grace during the Millennium. Before God no other righteousness is in force than the granted justification of sinners by their faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ, which offers them at the same time the grace of becoming written into the book of life (Romans 3:21-24; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21; Ephesians 2:8).
  • In the hearts of the Jewish-Christian church members, however, there were further probing questions crucial for them: what will happen to Jerusalem, the chosen place, whereof the Lord had promised to dwell forever? (1 Kings 11:13; 2 Kings 21:4.7; 1 Chronicles 23:25; 2 Chronicles 33:4; Psalm 135:21; Jeremiah 3:17; Joel 4:21; Micah 4:7; Zechariah 1:16; 8:3; Matthew 23:37-39; and other verses.). Have the promises of God to the children of Abraham and Jacob not been effective forever any longer, even though he had assured them by oath that the Holy Land is their eternal inheritance? (Genesis 12:1-3; 18:18; 22:15-19; 28:4; Exodus19:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:6-7; 11:24; Joshua 1:2-6; and other verses.). The most important question, however, was: When will God dwell among his chosen people again in a real manner? (Exodus 34:8-10; Deuteronomy 32:9; Psalm 23:3-4; 28:9; Isaiah 41:10; 43:1; 54:7-8; 60:1-3; and other verses.). The Jewish-Christians believed in the truthfulness and faithfulness of the Lord, but in their live and suffering they thought of seeing the exact contrary of his promises.
  • The Lord Jesus had pity on the confused saints and sent them through their pastor, who was banished to the waste island of Patmos, graceful answers by new visions. The Lord confirmed them therewith his promises to the prophets of the Old Testament and repeated them in part verbatim, extended them, however, also tremendously. He revealed his believers a new, ideal world where righteousness of God will dwell (Isaiah 65:17-18; 66:22; Jeremiah 33:16; 2 Peter 3:13; and other verses). He shows them New Jerusalem not being built by men's hand, but coming down out of heaven (Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21:2). In particular, God assured those following the Lamb of his presence.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we give thanks for Your mercy and all-knowing and for answering the questions of Your saints and their worries through Your inspiration that they may recognize the developments of your plan of salvation. Help us to understand Your ways and follow Your steps even if Your ways were beyond our understanding, and keep us from misleading inspirations that we may not miss the narrow door that leads to Your vast expanses. Amen.

QUESTION:

  1. How did God answer the questions of the confused saints of the Old and New Testaments?

www.Waters-of-Life.net

Page last modified on November 28, 2012, at 09:12 AM | powered by PmWiki (pmwiki-2.3.3)