Session 12: The Finale

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ
his only begotten Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
he descended into hell [to the dead];
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and
sits on the right hand of God
the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge
the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body; and
the life everlasting.
Amen.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Revelation 19:11–22:21
• Scripture Memory - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
• Catechism - Q: What fuels kingdom mission? A: Hope.

Introduction

For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

The true Christian … has no home here: he is, and must be, a stranger and a pilgrim upon earth: his citizenship, treasure, and real home are in a better world; and every step he takes, whether to the east or to the west, is a step nearer to his Father’s house.

God sustains believers in the journey of faith. Undeniably, the present world is rife with hardship and heartache. In the face of danger, death, and despair, God outfits us with hope. Hope stirs God’s people onward in the Christian life. Hope is fuel for kingdom mission, a salve for painful suffering, an anchor during unforgiving storms, and a ballast for a strong faith. Unlike popular usage, hope is not wishful thinking or vain aspiration. It is the certain expectation of a future good. It is a guarantee of an inheritance. It is full and unashamed confidence that God will bring his good promises to consummate fruition. Armed with Christian hope, believers anticipate a future reality as if it has already happened. In the beauty of God’s redemptive work, disciples experience bits of future promise in their present reality. Whetting our appetites and confirming our faith, these foretastes of a glorious future give us a preview of life in the world to come. For those devoted to Jesus, the vision of this future world and eternal life is energizing, sustaining, empowering, and encouraging. A vital aspect of our faith, the Bible bears a living testimony to Christian hope.

In Revelation 19:11–22:21 we read about future events that will take place at the end of the world. A final vision of the Bible and human history, this vision narrates a time when God’s great and glorious promises are fulfilled. The sure and certain hope of all believers is that the resurrected Jesus will bodily return to earth. He will come in power, righteousness, and glory. All of God’s enemies will be defeated. The dead will resurrect from the grave and will give an account of their lives before God. Believers will physically resurrect to receive the promised reward of eternal life. Unbelievers will resurrect to receive the just sentence of eternal punishment. The former creation will pass away, and God will make a new creation. In a world of perfect bliss, God will dwell with his people in unhindered fellowship for all eternity. The reliability and certainty of this vision serve as a compelling summons for faithful devotion to Christ.

This final scene of the Bible is where the story of this present world ends. But, in reality, it is precisely where the stories of the new world begin. Certainly, a vision of the future world enables us to endure the pain and hardship of this present life. Even more, however, the vision of life in the world to come confronts our loyalties. It is both a warning and an invitation, a caution and a call. It appeals to us with urgency, insisting that we consider our future destiny. The side-by-side vision of two futures—blissful paradise and everlasting torment—compels us to evaluate our faith and devotion. Eternity is at stake. In this way, this future vision sets all other stories in their right context; it is the culmination of the story behind it all. As such, it demands our full attention. For those who have yet to pledge faith in Christ, it pleads for their humble and serious reflection. For those who are devoted followers of Christ, the vision narrates their certain inheritance in the life of the world to come. Consequently, let us study this final vision with attentive minds, watchful spirits, and earnest hearts.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

God promises hope of a better world through the return of Jesus, the defeat of Satan, the resurrection of the dead, the judgment of evil, and the new creation of the world.

Passage Overview

God is a God of hope. Hope, however, is not a fleeting and fragile daydream that equates to wishful thinking. Hope, in the disciple’s life, is certain and sure. It is an anchor that we can cling to and a foundation we can depend upon. It sparks courage in witness, sacrifice in service, and promise in faith. Without hope, we despair, resign, and capitulate; with hope, we faithfully endure the most menacing trial or grueling heartache. Hope creates resolve inside God’s people, fortifying their commitments to God and to his purposes. John’s vision in Revelation is a firm and fitting foundation for Christian hope. The precious and promised realities of life in the world to come—the return of Christ, the defeat of evil, the resurrection of the dead, the judgment of evil, and the new creation of the world—form and fashion a strong and resilient faith. Read the commentary below to help illuminate details of the text and grow your hope in what God promises to do at the end of time.

Passage Outline

Making All Things New

For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.

True devotion will rather ask to be allowed to give, and will count as loss all which may not be given up for the Lord’s sake.

Introduction

Encountering hardships in life is a basic human experience. Ranging from disappointment to despair, life’s hardships remind us that the current world is under a divine curse. Groaning with the pain and sorrow that are our daily experiences, we long for the removal of this curse and the restoration of the world. The difficult agony in life or the inescapable reality of death both remind us that the world is in a broken state of disrepair. Evil has invaded God’s world and has wreaked havoc and horror. Sickness, poverty, injustice, violence, and death are common realities in this world. To this fallen cosmos, God speaks his revealed word of gospel truth, a message of good news. Core to the biblical witness is a message of hope. To a discouraged and distressed humanity, the Bible offers a promise of a joyful future for all who place their faith in Christ. God’s redemptive plan involves a transformed future of paradise and bliss. As such, it is important to hear and heed what God says will take place in the final days of this present existence.

The apocalyptic vision of Revelation 19:11–22:21 foreshadows the events that will take place at the end of the world. At the end of human history, Jesus will return as a triumphant King, with all strength, power, and glory. All of God’s evil enemies will be fully and finally defeated. As for humanity, all the dead will resurrect from the grave. Believers will enter into eternal life, and unbelievers will experience eternal punishment. Eventually, God will make a new and perfect world. In this new creation, God’s people will enjoy unimpeded fellowship with God. Only the Father knows when Christ will return (cf. Matthew 24:36). Therefore, all people must heed the warning and invitation contained in God’s word.

This vision is a glorious depiction of true events that will unfold at the end of this present world. For unbelievers, this vision is an urgent appeal to repentance. For believers, this vision galvanizes faith with hope. The hopeful reality of these future events helps believers to endure suffering, grow spiritually, and bear witness to Christ with boldness and sacrifice. Like an anchor, hope supports and sustains God’s people through the journey of life. Believers fueled by hope can overcome formidable obstacles. A community whose homeland is in the world to come, the church traverses this earthly life as a wilderness wandering of faithful devotion to God and missional service to the world. As we explore this otherworldly vision in all its vivid detail, may we be attentive to the practical manner in which it instructs our present journey of faith.

The Rider on the White Horse: Longing for the Return of Jesus

Biblical Narrative (Revelation 19:11–21)

A powerful and hope-filled description, John’s final vision in this passage is a clear and culminating vision of the book of Revelation, the Bible, and human history. The opening of this vision offers a vivid description of Christ at his second coming to earth. John saw Jesus in his glory, power, might, and justice. Seeing future reality in full disclosure, John “saw heaven standing open” (19:11). Standing before John was a rider on “a white horse” (19:11). The rider on the white horse was called “Faithful and True” (19:11). Embodying righteousness, the rider “judges and wages war” (19:11). A judge able to know and evaluate all by his righteous character, the rider “has eyes like blazing fire” (19:12). The rider was also a royal figure with “many royal crowns on His head” (19:12). He has all authority, having “a name written on Him that only He Himself knows” (19:12). His robe was “dipped in blood” (19:13), recalling either Jesus’ shed blood from his crucifixion or the spilled blood from his vengeance upon his enemies.

The rider did not travel alone. He was followed by “the armies of heaven” (19:14). These heavenly armies were “dressed in fine linen, white and pure” (19:14), signifying the rider’s own holiness and purity. These celestial armies “follow [the rider] on white horses” (19:14) as those going into battle. A warrior with superlative might, the rider had “a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations” (19:15). In fact, “His name is The Word of God” (19:13). Equal to God in authority, his word wields divine power. He rules the nations “with an iron scepter” (19:15). Incomparable is his rule above all other authorities such that “He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: King of kings and Lord of lords” (19:16). An image of judgment, the rider “treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty” (19:15).

Upon seeing this brilliant depiction of the returning Jesus, an angel cried out loudly to “all the birds flying overhead” (19:17). The angel invited the birds to a feast: “Come, gather together for the great supper of God” (19:17). The birds were invited to the feast to “eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great” (19:18). At this time the beast, the earthly kings, and their armies gathered together. These forces convened “to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army” (19:19). At this precipice of cosmic conflict, the beast and the false prophet were captured and “thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (19:20). Agents of Satan, the beast had deceived people into false worship (cf. 13:1–18), and the false prophet “had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image” (19:20). Before the conflict even started, the Warrior Messiah used the sword coming from his mouth (cf. 19:15) and “the rest were killed” (19:21). Upon this instant slaughter of God’s enemies, “all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh” (19:21).

Biblical Principles

Christ’s Second Coming. The rider on the white horse is a depiction of Christ at his bodily return to the earth. Accordingly, this opening vision narrates the second coming of Christ, fulfilling God’s promise that Jesus would return to earth (19:19; cf. Acts 1:11; Matthew 16:27). Coming from heaven (19:11), Jesus will return to earth as a conquering Warrior and sovereign King. The earthly forces and evil entities that convene in hostile opposition to God will be definitively defeated in a final battle (19:19–21). This culminating conflict is not really a battle at all. Through his unconquerable word, Jesus defeats all of his foes (19:21). Whereas Jesus’ first coming involved a sacrificial death on the cross, his second coming will entail a total triumph over all his enemies. The humility of Jesus’ first advent is accentuated by the glory of his second. By his return, Jesus finalizes the salvation accomplished in his earthly ministry. Christian hope is based upon the return of Christ because his return represents the final defeat of evil.

Christ’s Character and Work. In this vision of the second coming, we learn important truths about Christ. The many names reveal the character of Jesus. He is called “Faithful and True” (19:11). Jesus is reliable and trustworthy (cf. 22:6), the full and complete disclosure of God. That is, given the name “The Word of God” (19:13 cf. John 1:1), we know that Jesus is equal to God, and he is the way to be reconciled with God because he is the full revelation of God to man. Jesus also has “a name written on Him that only He Himself knows” (19:12). This special name exhibits Jesus’ sovereign and supreme authority. As knowing a person’s name may give someone authority over that person, no one holds authority over Christ. Confessed to be the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (19:16), Jesus is all-powerful and almighty. Equal to God the Father, Jesus is worthy of our worship, honor, and devotion.

This passage also reveals Jesus’ mighty acts as Warrior, King, and Judge. Riding a white horse (19:11) and followed by the armies of heaven (19:14), Jesus is a strong and mighty Warrior. Not needing weapons of human invention, Jesus fights with his authoritative word (19:15). He only needs to speak the word, and all happens as he commands (19:21). His power extends over all the nations (19:15), and he wages war with decisive victory (19:11, 17–21). Jesus is also the sovereign King. He has “many royal crowns on His head” (19:12), and he rules the nations with an “iron scepter” (19:15). Although there are many rulers on the earth (and in the spiritual realm), Jesus is King and Lord above all other authorities (19:16). Jesus is also revealed as Judge. His fiery eyes show that he is all-knowing (19:12). Jesus judges “with righteousness” (19:11), and he will deliver all evil enemies to “the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty” (19:15). Warrior, King, and Judge, Jesus is our returning Lord and Savior. For all believers (and for groaning creation), Jesus is our promised hope.

Facing the Second Death: Waiting for the Defeat of Satan and the Resurrection of the Dead

Biblical Narrative (Revelation 20:1–10)

After Christ’s glorious return and a decisive defeat of evil, John “saw an angel coming down from heaven” (20:1). In addition to his dramatic entrance from the celestial sphere, the angel appeared “with the key to the Abyss” and was “holding in his hand a great chain” (20:1). The angel came to apprehend and imprison the dragon. At this time, the angel “seized the dragon” and “bound him for a thousand years” (20:2). The dragon represents “that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan” (20:2). Satan was thrown “into the Abyss” (20:3). The angel “shut it, and sealed it over him” (20:3). Confined to this pit, Satan “could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete” (20:3). After a thousand years, Satan “must be released for a brief period of time” (20:3).

After Satan’s arrest and imprisonment, John “saw the thrones, and those seated on them” (20:4). Displaying clear and genuine power, those on the thrones “had been given authority to judge” (20:4). Various suggestions have been made as to who is occupying these thrones and exercising this judgment. Whoever they are, it is at least a reference to those who are faithful to Christ and his kingdom. At this time, John “saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God” (20:4). A reference to Christian martyrs, these faithful saints were killed for their faith in Christ. They did not worship the beast or its image, and they did not receive the beast’s mark (20:4). Faithful saints of God, “they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (20:4). Only after “the thousand years were complete” did “the rest of the dead … come back to life” (20:5). Those who participate in this “first resurrection” (20:5) were “blessed and holy” (20:6). Because they were raised to life again, “the second death has no power over” these resurrected saints (20:6). In fact, as Christ was raised to life as triumphant King, so saints will physically rise to life again to be “priests of God and of Christ” and to “reign with Him for a thousand years” (20:6).

After a thousand years, “Satan will be released from his prison” (20:7) and will continue his reckless and underhanded work. Specifically, he will “deceive the nations … to assemble them for battle” (20:8). The crowd will gather from “the four corners of the earth” and will be as numerous as “the sand of the seashore” (20:8). This assembled army will march against God’s people. They will surround “the camp of the saints and the beloved city” (20:9). Like the defeat before the rider on the white horse (cf. 19:17–21), the defeat of these enemies will be instant and complete. In a display of divine power, fire will come down from heaven and consume them (20:9). Then, Satan will be “thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur” (20:10). This is the same place where “the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown” (20:10; cf. 19:20). In this hellish place, these enemies will “be tormented day and night forever and ever” (20:10).

Biblical Principles

Defeat of God’s Enemies. At the return of Christ, all of God’s enemies are defeated. All human foes are conquered by Christ (19:17–21). The beast and the false prophet are cast into the fiery and burning lake of eternal judgment (19:20). Satan is seized and bound for one thousand years (20:2), confined to a bottomless pit (20:3). Although Satan will lead one last rebellion against God (20:7–9), God will destroy Satan’s allies with consuming fire (20:9) and the devil himself will be thrown in the tormenting and everlasting punishment of the fiery lake (20:10). Eventually, the final enemies of “Death and Hades” (20:14) will also be thrown into this pit of ultimate condemnation. Christian hope is based upon the promise that all of God’s enemies will be fully and finally defeated at the return of Christ.

Resurrection of the Dead. Since all of God’s enemies are defeated, not even death holds power over God’s people. During the thousand-year reign, Christ’s followers will come to life and rule with Christ for this millennial period (20:4; cf. 20:6) and for all eternity (22:5). Believers who resurrect in “the first resurrection” (20:5; cf. 20:6) are blessed because they will never die again: “the second death has no power over them” (20:6). The reference to “the rest of death” (20:5) who come to life is plausibly a reference to unbelievers who physically resurrect to eternal judgment (cf. 20:12, 13). The resurrection of the saints to eternal life is a firm and secure hope. Believers can sacrifice their present comforts (and even their present life) because they know they will live forever in the life to come (20:4). Conversely, the resurrection of unbelievers to eternal judgment is a just (yet terrifying) sentence for those who lived in rebellion and perpetrated evil on the earth. A final vindication for the martyrs and a future promise of life, the hope of the resurrection from the dead emboldens believers to live sacrificially, witness boldly, view their mission holistically, and maintain their undivided allegiance to Christ.

Before the Throne: Anticipating the Final Judgment

Biblical Narrative (Revelation 20:11–15)

After the vision of Satan’s defeat, John “saw a great white throne” with “One seated on it” (20:11). So awesome was this figure that “earth and heaven fled from His presence” (20:11). Although there was “no place found” for heaven and earth (20:11), “the dead, great and small, [were] standing before the throne” (20:12). Before the throne were “open books” (20:12). One particular book was “the Book of Life” (20:12). These opened books were a revelation of peoples’ lives. As such, “the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books” (20:12). Each person standing before this throne is judged by the way they lived their lives. It is a final reckoning before a holy God. The sea, death, and Hades “gave up their dead” and each person “was judged according to his deeds” (20:13). After this, “Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire” (20:14). These final enemies of God are cast away into eternal destruction, never again to plague God’s people. Tragic but true, the “lake of fire” is a place of “the second death” (20:14). All people whose names were “not written in the Book of Life” were “thrown into the lake of fire” (20:15) and will be tormented forever (20:10).

Biblical Principles

Judgment. John’s vision of “a great white throne” depicts God as judge over all creation (20:11). Not even heaven and earth can stand before this throne (20:11), let alone sinful humans. Yet, all those who did not follow Christ will gather before the throne for a final day of reckoning. The dead will physically resurrect from the dead (20:12, 13) and will be “judged according to their deeds” (20:12; cf. 20:13). Even Death and Hades are judged by God, receiving a just and fitting condemnation (20:14). The scene before the great white throne is a warning to all humanity. All humans will face God’s judgment. Believers in Christ will not face eternal judgment—the second death—but will rule with Christ. Unbelievers will answer to God for all their deeds, receiving painful and unending punishment in the lake of fire. While this vision is a prophecy of the final day of judgment, it is also a grave appeal for sinful humans to repent and turn to Christ in faith.

Eternal Punishment of the Second Death. Those who rise to life in the first resurrection (20:5–6) are those whose names were written in the Book of Life (20:15). These will escape the second death (20:14; cf. 20:6; 21:8) because of their faith in Christ (cf. 20:4). Those who did not place faith in Christ face eternal punishment in the lake of fire (20:14-15; cf 20:10). They will experience unending agony and relentless misery in some form of physically resurrected body. This final reckoning is God’s just and righteous retribution against sin and evil. It vindicates God as a righteous judge, exacts revenge on all who are unjust, and fittingly delivers punishment for all wrongdoing. Moreover, God’s final judgment serves as a just requital on behalf of all those who have suffered for their testimony in Christ (cf. 20:4). The conscious and horrific torment that awaits unbelievers serves as an urgent plea for people to make sure that their names do appear in the Book of Life.

A New Heaven and New Earth: Groaning for the New Creation

Biblical Narrative (Revelation 21:1–22:5)

The final vision of Revelation (and the Bible) details the future world in which God will dwell with his people for all eternity. Describing a redeemed, restored, and perfected creation, John saw “a new heaven and a new earth” (21:1). Descending from heaven was “the holy city, the new Jerusalem” (21:2; cf. 21:10). In this new creation, “the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them” (21:3). Enjoying eternal and unencumbered fellowship with God, all believers will live in this new world: “they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God” (21:3). The beauty, majesty, purity, and communion of this new creation will be “as a bride adorned for her husband” (21:2; cf. 21:9). The architect of this new world of everlasting bliss is God: the one who will “make all things new,” the one who speaks words that are “faithful and true,” and the one who is “seated on the throne” (21:5). With the coming of a new creation, the former things of the present creation will have “passed away” (21:1; cf. 21:4). All sadness and sorrow will be removed (21:4). Consequently, in the new creation “the sea was no more” (21:1) and “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (21:4). Heirs of this new creation, the faithful and devoted (21:6–7) will “inherit all things” and delight in fellowship with God (21:7). In contrast, the faithless, idolatrous, unrepentant, and immoral will suffer the eternal torment of the second death (21:8).

John gave more specific details of this future world. In this vivid narration, the beauty of the new creation and the community of saints are both described in this united vision. The people of God dwelt in restored paradise in fellowship with God. As such, the brilliance of the New Jerusalem is described as “the bride, the wife of the Lamb” (21:9). The New Jerusalem, “the holy city” (21:10), was “shining with the glory of God” (21:11). The resplendent and dazzling character of this city was consummate. The radiant beauty of this new world “was like a most precious jewel” (21:11). Its splendor was “like a jasper, as clear as crystal” (21:11). This holy city “had a great and high wall with twelve gates” (21:12) and “the wall of the city had twelve foundations” (21:14). The names of the Israelite tribes were written on the gates and the names of the apostles were written on the foundations (21:12–14). The dimensions of this city formed a cube, demonstrating the perfect symmetry, order, and structure of this new world (21:15–17). The incalculable value of this world was depicted by the jewel-studded wall, foundations, and gates (21:18–21). Even “the main street of the city was pure gold, as clear as glass” (21:21).

John’s vision of the future showed that fellowship with God in this new world was intimate and unimpeded. There was “no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (21:22). In fact, “the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it” (21:23; cf. 22:5). The threat of evil will be completely removed such that the gates of this city “will never be shut at the end of the day” (21:25). The unclosed gates testify that God will be the ever-present protection of his people. The complete banishment of evil means no darkness, sin, or evil can threaten this new world or God’s redeemed people. Amazingly, “nothing unclean will ever enter it” (21:27). Indeed, “there will be no night there” (21:25; cf. 22:5). The only ones in the city will be “those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (21:27). The brilliance of God will be the guiding light of his people in this newly created world. Because “the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp” (21:23), the nations of faithful believers who populate the new creation will walk “by its light” (21:24). A multiethnic community of redeemed, God’s covenant people will come from all the nations: “into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations” (21:26).

John described a city in which there was “a river of the water of life” (22:1). This river was “as clear as crystal” (22:1). It flowed from God’s throne and went down the middle of the city’s main street (22:1–2). A tree straddled the river and was “bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month” (22:2). John’s description of the constant supply of fruit highlights that nothing will be lacking in this new life. The leaves of this tree will be “for the healing of the nations” (22:2). The tree of life barred from fallen humanity (cf. Genesis 3:22–24) will stand as an immovable fixture to this new world, meaning the curse will have been fully and finally removed (22:3). In this future paradise, God will make a “new Eden”—a perfect paradise in which God restores his creation to a perfect and glorified state. The centerpiece of the new creation is God: “the throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him” (22:3). Believers will see God face to face and they will be marked with his name (22:4). In perfect communion, God will be the guiding light of his people and his people will reign with God “forever and ever” (22:5; cf. 21:23–24).

Biblical Principles.

New Creation. Everlasting life will be lived in a new and perfected creation. God’s work to “make all things new” (21:5) will result in the creation of “a new heaven and a new earth” (21:1) and a “new Jerusalem” (21:2). The certainty and finality of this new world are affirmed by the words, “it is done” (21:6). With the coming of the new world is the passing away of the former things of the first world order (21:1, 4). Life in the world to come will have continuity and discontinuity with life as we currently know it. While we do not know exactly all that this entails, we look forward with hope to a world of complete paradise and bliss. This new creation is described as a temple (21:9–27). As a place of everlasting worship (22:3), the central city in this new world—the new Jerusalem—is pure in holiness (21:2, 10), glorious in beauty (21:11, 26), precious in worth (21:11, 18–21), sturdy in design (21:12–14), perfect in character (21:15–17), and secure against all evil (21:25). The brilliance, luster, majesty, security, and symmetry of this city describes a place, like a temple, where God’s people will worship God in unending praise. The new creation also appears like a garden paradise, a new Eden (22:1–5). A river flows from God’s throne, and a special tree bears fruit and grows leaves for the healing of all who dwell therein. The river is called the “water of life” (22:1), and the tree is called the “tree of life” (22:2). Life in this newly created garden will be characterized by everlasting fellowship with God. Truly, this paradise will be all that God intended for the Garden of Eden to be.

Fellowship with God. Describing the new creation as a temple and garden paradise, this vision of the future world highlights the deep and abiding fellowship that God and his people will enjoy. In this new world, “the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them” (21:3). God’s people will experience life as an eternal covenant relationship with God: “they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God” (21:3; cf. 21:7). In fact, fellowship with God will be intimate and substantive as “they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads” (22:4). Communion with God and his people will be like the inseparable union of a marriage (21:2, 9; cf. 19:1–10). God’s people will be composed of saints from all ages (21:12–14) and all nations (21:24, 26; 22:2). God himself will guide (21:22–24; 22:5), govern (22:1, 3; cf. 21:3, 5), and guard (21:25) his people.

Eternal Life. Life in the world to come will be perfect bliss. Not only is this world described as one of eternal life (21:6–7, 27; 22:1–2, 5), but it is also described by the absence of all evil. In the new creation, there will no longer be sea (21:1), sorrow (21:4), pain (21:4), evil (21:8, 27), death (21:4), night (21:25; 22:5), or curse. All that is opposed to God will be removed. Also, the new world will no longer have a temple (21:22), sun (21:23; 22:5), moon (21:23), or lamp (22:5). God will illuminate this world with his presence such that people will not need a special place of worship. The entire new creation will be a temple paradise where God will be worshiped (22:3, 9). Access to God and the absence of evil make for an everlasting existence of joy and delight. In a restored creation, God himself will be the pleasure of his people. God’s people will live in the shining glory of God. And they will rule together in the new world forever and ever (22:5).

The Words of This Book: Heeding the Word of God in the Present Time

Biblical Narrative (Revelation 22:6–21)

Making a statement about John’s revelation which is also true of all Scripture, the angel asserted that “these words are faithful and true” (22:6). This divine revelation was given “to show His servants what must soon take place” (22:6). Knowing these realities is of great importance because Jesus is “coming soon” (22:7; cf. 22:12). Consequently, people should keep “the words of prophecy in this book” (22:7). Overcome by the weight of this revelation, John fell down before the angel who showed him these things (22:8). The angel rebuked John and told him that he should only “worship God” (22:9). Additionally, the angel told John to not conceal this revelation “because the time is near” (22:10). John recorded that the eternal Son of God, Jesus, will return soon and reward all according to their deeds (22:12–13). The righteous are those who “who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gate” (22:14). The unrepentant wicked will be cast out forever (22:15). This revelation of truth is a warning to the wicked and an encouragement to the righteous (22:11). In essence, it is an appeal for people to come to Christ in faith before the end (22:16–17). Judgment awaits any who tamper with these divinely inspired words (22:18–19). Written to churches, this revelation calls believers to live in light of the soon return of Christ (22:20–21).

Biblical Principles

Scripture as Divine Revelation. The final scene in the Bible is a mixture of statements about God’s revealed word, affirmations of Christ, and appeals for faithful devotion. The statements about God’s word specifically address the book of Revelation, but are also applicable to the entirety of the Bible. Trustworthy and reliable, Scripture is made up of words that are “faithful and true” (22:6; cf. 21:5). The book of Revelation is a book of prophecy (22:6, 7, 9, 10, 18, 19), which means that the words which speak of future realities and faith concerns are inspired by God (22:6). Although not every part of the Bible can be specifically characterized by the genre of prophecy, all Scripture is prophetic in that it speaks the unchanging truth of God into an ever-changing world, summoning people to repent of sin and place their faith in God. As such, the book of Revelation and the whole Bible enjoin people to “keep the words of this book” (22:9; cf. 22:7). God’s revealed word is both a serious warning to the unrepentant and a gracious invitation to salvation (22:11, 14–15, 17). Although the word of God is God’s revelation to all humanity in general, it is also a specific revelation to God’s people. It is “testimony for the churches” (22:16) and a revelation for “His servants” (22:6).

A book of revelation, John’s visions were given “to show His servants what must soon take place” (22:6; cf. 22:8). Consequently, John was instructed, “do not seal up the words” (22:10) so that the knowledge of this truth—a truth one could not know by their own reason or experience—could be understood by human beings. In fact, the Bible is a divinely inspired revelation recorded by human beings. This is evidenced by the fact that John was an apostolic witness to the contents of Revelation—“I am John, who heard and saw these things” (22:8)—and Jesus himself bears testimony to the words (22:16, 20). Since Scripture is God’s divine communication to humanity, the substance of it should never be changed: no one should add to or subtract from its contents (22:18–19). Divine in character, truthful in content, urgent in appeal, prophetic in manner, ecclesial in focus, apostolic in credibility, and kerygmatic in intent, God’s revealed word is the only reliable source for faith and godliness in this life and for the life to come.

Centrality of Christ. The message of God’s word (and the visions of Revelation) centers upon the person of Christ. In this final vision, John records important affirmations about Jesus. The “Lord Jesus” (22:20) is “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (22:13). Jesus is “the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star” (22:16). Promised Savior, eternal Son of God, messianic King, and divine Lord, Jesus is the Creator, Redeemer, and Sovereign of humanity. In his first coming, Jesus accomplished salvation for sinful humans. The Bible also testifies that Jesus is “coming soon” (22:6; cf. 22:12). Since “the time is near” (22:10), John’s revelation records “what must soon take place” (22:6). The “faithful and true” character of Christ (19:11) mirrors the faithful and true character of divine revelation (21:5; 22:6). Christ is the centerpiece of the Scripture account. While the Old Testament record anticipates the coming of Christ, the New Testament faithfully testifies to his first coming and also predicts his second coming. As all Scripture and all human history revolve around the coming of Christ, so the final condition of our lives is determined by our response to Christ.

Faithful Devotion. The final words of the Bible call people to heed God’s revealed word and respond in faithful devotion to God. Each person will face judgment before God “according to what he has done” (22:12). Consequently, only those who accept God’s gracious invitation to “come” (22:17)—an act of faith and trust—can experience the promised reward (22:12) of life (22:14, 19) and blessing (22:7, 14). Faithful believers live in worship (22:8–9) and purity (22:11) because they have had their sins forgiven in Christ (22:14–15). Although the Bible is a reliable record about God and the world, it is also an invitation for people to respond in faith, obedience, repentance, devotion, and worship. To hear and to heed God’s word grants us good and glorious promises. As the Bible accurately narrates the truth about God and his world—the story behind it all—our responsibility is to humbly “keep the words of this book” (22:9).

Conclusion

The final scene in God’s revealed word prophesies about the end of human history. This final picture establishes the basis of Christian hope. At the end of time, Christ will return as a conquering King, defeating all of his enemies. Satan, evil, and death itself will be vanquished in eternal torment. Believers will resurrect to eternal life, and all unbelievers will (tragically) be condemned to painful and unending misery. All will stand before God’s judgment, answering God for their deeds. Believers escape condemnation because of their faith in Christ; unbelievers face righteous retribution. A time of complete renewal and restoration, God will remake his world into a new creation, a temple-garden paradise in which God’s people will worship God and enjoy eternal fellowship with him. God’s word is faithful and true in its record of these future events. Accordingly, all people should heed all of God’s word as a warning and accept its invitation to new life.

The life of faith is a life of hope. While we enjoy blessings and benefits from Christ’s redemptive work, we await the completion of salvation at the end of time. Fueled by hope, Christians are emboldened to live a life of sacrificial witness, inspired with a spirit of pure worship, mobilized for a purpose of holy living, and encouraged in a faith of steadfast endurance. A Christian’s glorious future secures and sustains believers in their present existence. Even more, when Christians live out their faith with hopeful certainty, they become a living testimony to the watching world, a cosmos suffering in despair and distress. The end of the story behind it all—the true narrative of God’s work in the world—is really only the beginning of a never-ending story of uninterrupted communion with God. The climactic and culminating vision of that life equips us for faithful living in this life, a life that amounts to a journey of faith in the wilderness of this present world.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 12 SYNOPSIS
Future Hope	In this passage, we learn about future hope. John’s revelation records the return of Jesus and his triumphal defeat of his enemies. It details the binding of Satan and the ultimate defeat of death and evil. It narrates the resurrection of the dead: believers to eternal life and unbelievers to eternal death. This vision culminates in an account of the future recreation of the world and an appeal to heed God’s word as we wait for the return of Christ. The elements of this future vision offer solid and substantive hope to believers. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
Future Hope	The Christian faith possesses a future hope. God promises to bring his plan of salvation to full and final culmination (22:6). The Bible describes these things as happening suddenly and soon (21:1–3, 5–6; 22:6–7, 12, 20). For unbelievers, these future events are a warning, calling people to faith in Jesus and repentance of sin. For believers, the events of the future are a comfort and hope, encouraging us to persevere in the faith until the end.
Return of Christ	Christians look forward to the return of Jesus (19:11). When Jesus returns, he will come as a conquering Warrior (19:11, 13–15, 17–21), a righteous Judge (19:12, 15), and a glorious King (19:12, 16).
Defeat of God’s Enemies	When Jesus returns, all of God’s enemies will be defeated. Satan will be bound (20:1–3) and condemned to eternal destruction (20:7–10). All of Satan’s evil forces will be condemned (19:19–21). Death itself will be defeated (20:14). All those who rejected Jesus will face eternal judgment and everlasting torment (20:15).
Resurrection of the Dead	At the end of time, the dead will be resurrected again. Faithful followers of Christ will resurrect to eternal life (20:4–6) and will reign together with Christ (20:4, 6). Unbelievers will be resurrected to eternal judgment (20:5, 11–15) and experience everlasting torment (20:15; cf. 19:20; 20:10).
Final Judgment	Jesus’ return to earth will also bring about the final judgment. Everyone will be judged according to their deeds (20:12–13). Those who placed their faith in Christ will receive life (20:4, 12, 15). Those who rejected Christ will be justly judged for their deeds (20:12, 15).
Recreation of the World	In the future, God will recreate the world, and all things will be made new (21:1–2, 4–5). The new world is described as a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem (21:1, 10). The new world will be like a holy temple (21:9–27) and a garden paradise (22:1–5). Everything in the new world will be holy (21:2, 10), glorious (21:11, 26), precious (21:11, 18–21), sturdy (21:12–14), perfect (21:15–17), and secure (21:25). God’s people will live forever in this new world without sin, evil, death, or curse (21:1, 4, 8, 24–27; 22:1–3), and God’s people will enjoy communion with God forever (21:2–3, 7, 9, 22–23; 22:4–5).
God’s Word	God’s word is his inspired and authoritative revelation to humanity. The entirety of God’s word is trustworthy and accurate (22:6; cf. 21:5). It is a complete revelation (22:18–19) and testified by human and divine witness (22:8, 16, 20). The Bible reliably speaks about past, present, and future reality (22:6, 7, 9, 10, 18, 19). The Scripture is a warning of judgment and an invitation to eternal life (22:11, 14–15, 17–19). It reveals God’s truth to general humanity (22:10) and also to God’s people (22:6, 8, 16). The whole of the Bible centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ (19:11; 21:5; 22:7, 12–13, 16, 20–21). It is a call to faith (20:4; 22:17), obedience (22:7, 9), devotion (20:4), and worship (20:4; 22:3, 8–9).

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.