Let's read the first five verses
here in Revelation chapter 21. And I saw a new heaven and a new
earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away,
and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city
of New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out
of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people,
and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be
no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there
be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. And he
that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write, for
these words are true and faithful." After the judgment, we read of
in chapter 20, we have this, the bride and her bridegroom
in chapter 21, united forever. After the storm, the great calm. After the darkness, only light. The psalmist said weeping may
endure through the night, but that's not the end of the story.
That's not all, but joy cometh in the morning. After the warfare
we read, or rather previously recorded in Revelation, after
the warfare you have eternal peace. There is presented to
John this blessed vision of Christ and his church. Now the day breaks,
the eternal day breaks. I'm sure I've told you this before,
but one old preacher said that Enoch was translated, we're reading
Genesis, it was as if God told him, Enoch, come up and spend
the night. And he never came back, John, because there's no
night there. This eternal everlasting day
opens up before us. Now all the shadows flee away. And a new heaven and a new earth
appear. The slime, the slime of the serpent's
trail is gone forever. Forever. Turn back, if you will,
to 2 Peter chapter 3. He speaks of this here. This
blessed event that John tells us of in chapter 21. Peter speaks
of the same thing. 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 10. But the day of the Lord will
come. In spite of the mockers and the
scoffers, the unbelievers, the day of the Lord will come. There's
no question about that. As a thief in the night, in the
which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and
the elements shall melt with a verbant heat. The earth also
and the works that are therein shall be burned up, seeing then
that all these things shall be dissolved." Everything. What
matter of persons ought ye to be? What sort of life should
the believer live? What should be their attitude
with everything around us we see that's going to be destroyed?
All these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought
ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and
hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens
being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with
a verment heat. Nevertheless, We, and this is
what we read of in chapter 21, nevertheless, we, according to
his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth
righteousness. Righteousness. Think of that. Righteousness always. Righteousness only. Righteousness
for eternity. No more sin. No more sin. No more effects of sin, such
as sorrow, such as tears, such as pain, such as sickness, such
as death. All those are former things.
All those are things that are the result, the fruit of sin. But all that will be passed away
because sin shall be no more. Listen to what Paul says in light
of this in 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Paul wrote, for which cause
we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward
man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which
is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not
seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly
house of this tabernacle were desired, we have a building of
God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." The
psalmist said, the Lord will give grace and glory. Grace is glory in the bud, and
glory is grace in full blossom. Full blossom. Glory is the triumph,
the sure victory of God's reigning grace. Glory is the sure victory,
the sure triumph of God's reigning grace. In Isaiah 53, we read
of our suffering redeemer. But we read of the fruits of
his suffering. Christ died to bring us to God. Christ died and in doing so he
put away sin. Christ in his death made an atonement
for all the sins of all of his people. He redeemed us from the
curse of the law and the effect, the fruit of his death, his sufferings
is that he shall see his seed we read in Isaiah chapter 53. He shall see his seed. A good
verse, a good commentary on that verse is what our Lord said in
John chapter 12 verse 24. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth
alone. But if it die, it beareth much
fruit. He shall see his seed. just as
we read here in chapter 21 of Revelation. Verse 2 is a picture
of that. In John chapter 17, in his high
priestly prayer, he said, Father, I will also that those whom thou
hast given me be with me where I am. I want the bride to be
with me. I want the sheep to be with their
great shepherd. I want the bride to be with their
bridegroom. that they may behold my glory
which thou givest me." This is it. John said, I saw them coming
down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Philippians 1 and 6. He that
hath begun a good work in you will perform it, will continue
it on, will perfect it till the day of Jesus Christ again. Verse 2 of Revelation 21 is it. Turn back a few pages here in
Revelation chapter 4 where John is first caught up to heaven.
We read in verse 1 that John saw a door. He looked. Revelation
4 and 1. After this I looked, and behold,
a door was opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard
was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, which said, Come up
hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter."
What we read in chapter 21 is one of those things that must
be hereafter. And notice how it reads, not
things that might be. It doesn't read that way, does
it? God's purpose of grace is not a might be concerning it. Not things that might be or could
be, but John, I'll show you things that must be. That must be. Why? Because it's the will of
Him who sits on the throne. Are you still there in chapter
4? Look at verse 2. After hearing these things that
John will see that must be hereafter, John says, immediately I was
in the Spirit and behold, behold, look at this, a throne was set
in heaven. A throne. And only one sat on
the throne. It's his throne. As we read in
verse 5 of chapter 21, He that sat upon the throne said, John,
write, these things are true and faithful. And our Lord upon
the throne is no mere figurehead without power or without authority. Christ says, I have all power
in heaven and in earth. What an encouragement it was.
to those disciples before our Lord ascended back to glory in
their very presence when he appeared to them on Mount Olivet and said,
all power in heaven and in earth is given unto me. Go ye therefore,
oh what an encouragement, go ye therefore in light of that
and preach the gospel to every creature. He that sits upon the
throne He who is king of kings and lord of lords, the only potentate,
the mighty God. He always fulfills his will. Mike, the Lord Jesus Christ has
never failed. Has never failed. He's never
been defeated. I like that, don't you? You were in the service, Mike.
You saw some conflict. I'm sure some were won and some
were lost, but oh, the Lord Jesus Christ, our commander-in-chief,
he's never been defeated. He's never lost a conflict. He's
always victorious. Look at, if you will, here in
Revelation chapter 11. We're told that very thing concerning
him. He's never known failure. Indeed,
the prophet said, more than that, God himself said concerning his
righteous servant, the Lord Jesus Christ, that he shall not fail. He shall not fail. Oh, I like that. Mmm, I can sleep
on that. I can rest there. Concerning
my great God and Savior, He shall not fail. You hear anybody? a reverend, a priest, a doctor
of theology, no matter who they are, you hear them talking about
a Christ, a Jesus that can fail, that will not realize his purpose,
that can't accomplish his will, that's not the Jesus of Scripture
because he shall not fail. Here in verse 17 of chapter 11,
saying, we give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art
and watched, and art to come, because thou hast taken to thee
thy great power, and hast reigned." Not only does he possess all
power, he exercises that power. He rules in the armies of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth. You know what that
means, that none can stay his hand. None can stop him from
accomplishing his will. If there is a devil in hell,
or a man on earth that can stop the Lord of Glory from accomplishing
His purpose, we need to bow down and worship Him, whoever that
may be. But there is no such creature.
Our God is in the heavens and He hath done whatsoever He hath
pleased. Look here in chapter 12 of Revelation,
verse 7. And there was war in heaven.
Michael, the Lord Jesus Christ. And his angels fought against
the dragon and the dragon fought in his angels. And what? And prevailed not. Prevailed not. Neither was their
place found anymore in heaven. Look in chapter 17. Chapter 17
of Revelation. Verse 14. These shall make war
with the Lamb. Whoever they are, whoever these
are, it doesn't matter. Whoever they are, this will be
the result. These shall make war with the
Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them. He shall overcome them
for He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with
Him are called and chosen and faithful. That's why we read
in chapter 4 things that must be. Things that must be. What we read in chapter 21 The
church of God coming down out of heaven as a bride prepared
and adorned for her husband? That's the thing that must be. It must be for God's glory. It must be for Christ to be satisfied
and see the travail of his soul. It must be. The salvation of
God's people has something to do with his glory. Turn, if you
will, back to Luke's gospel, rather. Luke chapter 18. Our Lord often spoke of things
that must be. Must be. And here in chapter
18 he does so. Christ speaks of things that
must come to pass. Christ was sent by God into this
world for a purpose. Our Lord didn't come to attempt
something. He accomplished something. He
didn't come to make something possible. No, no, He obtained. He didn't come to do so much
and leave it to the sinner to do the rest. The glory of our
Redeemer is not that The success of the mission of the Son of
Man doesn't depend on you and I. Oh no, it depends on Him. The success of salvation is dependent
upon He who is mighty to save. Listen to Him speak here in Luke
chapter 18 verse 31. The Son of Man on a mission of
mercy. A mission of mercy. Oh, it must be realized. It must
be realized. Someone will experience his mercy. God said, I will have mercy. I will have mercy. I purpose
to have mercy on a multitude of sinners and God will have
mercy. Behold, behold. Oh, listen to
the captain of our salvation. Can you picture him? Oh, glorious
in power. Behold, we go up to Jerusalem.
In all things, not some things, but all things that are written
by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be what? Accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto
the Gentiles and shall be mocked and spitefully entreated and
spit it on. And they shall scourge him and
put him to death. But that's not the end of the
story. And the third day he shall rise again. all things that are
written shall be accomplished. It doesn't say that he shall
attempt to do something. That sounds like me. I can attempt
things, John, and when I do, I usually fail. The Son of God
doesn't attempt, he does. I saw on the evening news the
other day, on national news, every time the Pope scratches
his nose, they have a broadcast about it, but he's coming to
the United States and he has declared a year 12 months of
mercy. 12 months! I'm afraid that won't help me,
but he was going to allow the priest to give them more power
to forgive certain sins for those 12 months. The Son of God doesn't give a
pretend mercy. He doesn't pretend to save sinners. No, he saves sinners. He saves
sinners to the uttermost. Why? Because he that sits upon
the throne is mighty to save. My soul is in the hands of the
great shepherd of the sheep. Would you look at that hand?
That's the hand that upholds the universe. And I'm in that
hand and nobody can pluck me out. That feels good. I like
that, don't you? He shall not fail. In Luke chapter 19, you have
an example of what he said here in Luke 18. And what is said
concerning him? He said, the Son of Man has come
to seek and to save. Seek and to save. Oh, Son of
God, if you don't have power to save this helpless sinner,
don't even bother seeking man. Because once you find me, if
you're not able to lift me up out of the miry pit and set my
feet upon a solid rock, don't bother looking for me. If you're
not able to keep me and to bring me all the way to glory, don't
even come looking for me. Oh, but he said, I've come to
seek and to save. And he does both. He does both. And he does both successfully. That's why the gospel is good
news. A few moments ago we sang, what did we sing? We've heard
the joyful sound. We have heard the joyful sound,
Jesus tries, Jesus tries. Oh no, no, no, no. We've heard
the joyful sound, what makes it so joyful? to the ears and
the hearts of needy sinners. The joyful sound is. The good
news is. The gospel is. Jesus saves. Jesus saves. He doesn't try to
save glory to His name. He saves. Another one, another
example of those things that must be, or one of my favorites
in Mark's gospel. We read in chapter four, the
Lord said that he must, that he must pass over. Let us pass
over, he said, unto the other side. Why? Why, oh son of God? Why? Because he was seeking one of
his sheep. He was seeking one of his sheep.
on the other side of the sea there was one of his lost sheep
and he came to seek and to save that sheep in chapter 5 of Mark
and they came over to the other side of the sea into the country
of the Gadarenes and when he, that is Christ, was come out
of the ship immediately there met him out of the tombs a man
with an unclean spirit who had his dwelling among the tombs
and no man No man could bind him, no, not with chains. Oh, but that was about the chains,
because now it was no man, no mere man that had come to the
scene. Oh, no, it was the God-man. Because, verse 4, he had been
often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been
plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces, neither
could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he
was in the mountains and in the tombs crying and cutting himself
with stones. That's a picture of what we are
by nature. Bound. Bound. Shackled. Shackled with a heavy fetter. Oh, but look at verse 6. The
great shepherd says, I've come to seek and to save my sheep. I'm going to search for them
until I find them. And when I find them, I'm not
going to stand and say, well, if you'll allow me. No, I'm going
to reach down and pick them up. I'm going to pick them up in
my mighty arms, and I'm going to put them on my shoulders,
and I'm going to bring them all the way home, all the way to
glory. But, verse 6, O blessed, blessed
but. Blessed interruption, amazing
sovereign grace. Oh, but when he saw Jesus, everything
now was about to change. When he saw Jesus afar off, he
ran and worshipped him and cried with a loud voice and said, What
have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God?
I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not. For Jesus had
said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he did. He did. You talk about a before and after
picture. We read in the first few verses
of the chapter the before picture, before Christ came, before grace,
before mercy. Oh, but when Jesus came, look
at verse 15. Here is an example of what Paul
said, if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. And they
came to Jesus and they saw him that was possessed. He's not
possessed anymore. Paul said, I'm not a blasphemer
anymore. I'm not injurious anymore. I'm
not a persecutor anymore. I'm not a blind religious Pharisee
anymore because I am what I am now by the grace of God. I'm
not what I used to be anymore. That's what old John Newton said,
didn't he? Oh, that captain of a slave ship. He experienced the mercy and
grace brought to him by the great shepherd of the sheep, and he
said, I'm not what I ought to be, and I'm not what I want to
be, and I'm not what I'm going to be, but bless his name, I'm
not what I used to be. Grace makes God's people that
differ every time, no exceptions, no exceptions. If any man's in
Christ, he's a new creature, just like this demoniac. And
they came to Jesus and saw him that was possessed. Was possessed. I once was lost, but I'm not
lost anymore. Christ found me. I once was blind,
Joe, as blind as a man can be. But I'm not blind anymore. And
the only reason is Jesus Christ came to me and said, let there
be light. He opened my eyes to behold Him,
my Redeemer. He that was possessed with the
devil and had the legion, oh but not anymore. Now he sits
clothed in his right mind and they were afraid. In Matthew
chapter 1, we read before he was ever born while he was still
in the womb of the virgin. The angel told Joseph when he's
born call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from
their sins. Did he? Did he? Was sin put away
when Christ died? Did he bring in an everlasting
righteousness? Did he make an end of transgression?
Did he redeem his people? Did he do it? Did he accomplish
it? Did he accomplish it? Oh, we
read in John's Gospel, chapter 19, Jesus knowing that all things
had come to pass that was written, cried, I thirst, I thirst. He checked off every prophecy
one by one. And he took that drink and then
he said, hmm, it's finished. And the angels in glory are still
marveling about that. They're still wondering about
that. They're still adoring the accomplishments of the Son of
God. Oh, what he did still rings out
through the halls of eternity. It is finished. He redeemed his
people from their sins. Hallelujah, it's done. And he's
that same Jesus. and he's able to save the day.
Look at verse 2 here in Revelation chapter 21. Here's a picture
of the triumph of the great shepherd. Here's a bride prepared and adorned
for her husband. A bride that completes. All the chosen, all the redeemed,
All those that were called by his grace are brought home to
glory. That's what he said. Oh, I love
to hear the words of our great God and Savior, don't you? No
wonder at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, John and Matthew
7, the people said, oh, he's not like the Pharisees. He's
not like the Sadducees. He's not like these other teachers.
He teaches as one that has authority. He teaches with power. He talks
like somebody that knows what he's talking about. He's not
like these other fellas. Indeed he's not. Never a man
spake like this man because he said matter-of-factly, without
a doubt, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and
him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out, because
I came down from heaven for this purpose, for this very purpose,
to redeem all of his people, and they shall all come to him.
This bride is not only complete, but she's prepared. Look what
grace has done. Look what God's mighty grace
has done. We read in Ezekiel that she was
perfect through my comeliness that I put upon you. This bride is made worthy of
her bridegroom. Think about that. Made worthy
of her bridegroom. I'm reading from Isaiah chapter
61. Listen to this, verse 10. I will greatly rejoice in the
Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my
God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He
has covered me with the robe of righteousness. As a bridegroom
decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself
with her jewels. That's the picture we have here
in Revelation. In Galatians, Paul says that
He has made us meet to be partakers of the saints in light. Made
us meet, that is, made us fit, made us worthy. Are you still
in Revelation? Look in chapter 14. I love this
passage. I love these verses. In Revelation
chapter 14, look at verse 4. Concerning that multitude before
the throne, these are they which were not befouled with women.
for they are virgins. These are they, chapter 14, verse
4, these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.
These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto
God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found
no guile, for they are without fault. Whoa! Without fault? or without sin, but without fault,
without blemish, without spot, without wrinkle, perfect before
the throne of God, made worthy by His grace. They are without
fault before the throne of God. In John's day, in Old Testament
times, the wedding of a man and woman consisted of four stages. There was the betrothing of the
bride and groom. In Genesis chapter 2 we have
a picture of that. Turn there if you will for a
moment. Genesis chapter 2. The father, the family of the
groom usually chose the bride. And this is what God the Father
did. This is a picture of it here in Genesis 2 verse 21. And
the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept.
And he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead thereof.
And the rib which the Lord had taken from man made he a woman
and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone
of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman
because she was taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave
his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they
shall be one flesh." God from Adam made the woman
and brought her unto the man. Paul said, we are bound to give
thanks always to God, to you brethren, because he had from
the beginning chosen you to salvation. God had chosen you to salvation
before the foundation of the world. Between that betrothing
and the actual wedding, there was usually an interval. It could
last up to a year between that and the wedding. And during that
time, The groom would pay a dowry to the bride's father for the
honor of her hand in marriage. The dowry might consist of money,
property, or even service. Remember Jacob? We read of Jacob concerning his
working for the hand of Rachel. Listen to this. He labored for
her hand. to his future father-in-law.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel. He served seven years. He labored for Rachel seven years. And they seemed unto him but
a few days for the love he had to her. And the Lord Jesus Christ,
he labored for his church. He travailed for his church.
He paid down his own precious blood to redeem his church. That he might present it back
to himself a precious redeemed bride without a spot or a wrinkle
or any such thing. Let me read to you from Hosea. Here's a good picture in Hosea.
Chapter 2 verse 19, And I will betroth thee unto me forever,
yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment,
and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. And I will even betroth
thee unto me in faithfulness, and thou shalt know the Lord.
Chapter 3, Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, go yet, love
a woman, beloved of her friend. Hosea, go yet and love a woman. Having loved his own, our bridegroom,
having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto
the end. Christ loved his church and he
gave himself. No holding back. He gave himself. He gave all of himself for his
church. Go yet, love a woman, beloved
of her friend and adulteress, according to the love of the
Lord toward the children of Israel who took to other gods. So I brought her to me for 15
pieces of silver and for a homer of barley and a half homer of
barley. And I said unto her, thou shalt
abide for me many days. thou shalt abide for me many
days thou shalt not play the harlot and thou shalt not be
for another man so will I also be for thee. Oh that's Christ's
bride that we see here in Revelation chapter 21 coming down out of
heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The third thing
in the days of John and in Old Testament times as well, there
would be the wedding procession. And our Lord spoke about this,
and this literally happened. The time would come that the
bridegroom with friends with him would go from his house or
his father's house to the home of his bride to bring her back
to be with him. Behold, the bridegroom cometh. The bridegroom cometh, go ye
out to meet him. And there would be singing and
a procession to the home of the bride. And once he received his
bride, they would return. They would return back to his
house of his father's. And then there would be, last
of all, the wedding feast. It was a lavish, extravagant
banquet provided entirely by the groom and his father. All
things are ready, our Lord said. Go ye out. Compel them to come
in. Everything's ready. Don't bring
nothing of your own. Everything's ready. Look, if
you will, here in Revelation chapter 19. This is what we read
up here. Verse 7. Revelation 19 and 7. Let us be glad and rejoice and
give honor to Him. For the marriage of the Lamb
is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. How did she do
that? The next verse, To her was granted,
granted, given, provided, that she should be arrayed in fine
linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness
of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write,
Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the
Lamb, And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God. The marriage of our bridegroom,
the Lord Jesus Christ and his bride, the church, has not taken
place yet, but it will. It will very soon. Very soon
he shall say, time will be no more. And he shall come to get
that one he purchased. that he bought with his own precious
blood. And this is what we read in chapter
21. And I, John, saw the holy city,
New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as
a bride, adorned for her husband. I read this story just the other
day in an article that Brother Moose Park sent. During World
War II, there were two brothers serving in the army. two brothers
from West Virginia. After a battle one time, one
brother was sent out to try to help find the wounded and he
found his own brother. His own brother on that battlefield
lay dying and he was told to leave him. Leave him, he's beyond
hell. He's not going to make it. And
the man said, I can't do that, that's my brother. That's my
brother. So he took him, brought him back,
saw that he was tended to, and he finally recovered. And Moose
said, by God's grace, during the ministry of Moose's father,
a few years after that, the Lord Jesus Christ found that man.
And his spiritual condition at that time was worse than his
physical condition on that battlefield. He was dead in trespasses and
sins. Can you imagine someone saying
to the Lord Jesus Christ, leave him alone. Leave him alone. He's beyond help. He's beyond
hope. There's no hope for him. Oh,
but the Son of God, the great physician of souls, John, there's
no case too hard for him. And by his mighty, reigning,
sovereign grace, he said to that sinner, live, live. And that man being a part of
the bride of Christ recovered from all his spiritual infirmities
and lived forever a spiritual life to the glory and honor of
God afterwards. Behold what manner of love. Behold. Larry Crist You don't
do that very often. You forget it most of the time. You take it for granted most
of the time. Behold what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth us
not, because it knew him not, beloved. Now are we the sons
of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be. But we know
that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall
see him as he is. I, John, saw the holy city, New
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a
bride, adorned for her husband. Amen. God bless you.