Scripture Union Encounter With God 10th October 2020 – Paradise Regained
TOPIC: PARADISE REGAINED
Opening Prayer: Lord, we thank You for redeeming us so that we can enjoy forever what is described here.
Read REVELATION 22 Eden Restored
22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
John and the Angel
6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”
10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
Scripture Union Encounter With God 10th October 2020
Epilogue: Invitation and Warning
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Footnotes
a Revelation 22:16 The Greek is plural.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate: We bless you, Lord, that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, the wonderful things that you have prepared for those who love you (See 1 Corinthians 2:9).
Think Further: Cities need gardens and green places to be their lungs. This city is no different. In the center flows the river of life, with its crystal-clear water, available at all times to the thirsty. Beside it grows the tree of life, from which humankind has been excluded since the fall. Now its fruit is there to be enjoyed. Its leaves have therapeutic qualities. The curse has been lifted. On another tree the curse was borne (Galatians 3:13, AV). As well as the river and the tree, there is a throne. Here all life is under the rule of God and of the Lamb – and rightly so. The face that was hidden throughout history is now in plain view. We shall indeed see him as he is. Knowing God, our natural desire is to serve him, and we will do so gladly and wholeheartedly without reserve.
The final section of this book provides an epilogue full of warnings and exhortations. John au-thenticates the book, affirming his words to be trustworthy and true. Those who read it are to keep it faithfully, unchanged until what is written comes to pass. Christ is coming, and we need to use the time to get ready before the terrible separation takes place. Trust in Christ, whatever lies ahead. He is more than sufficient and has no peers, no rivals, and no successors.
John goes on to exhort us to stand up for Christ, witness about him, and follow him wherever he leads, even if it be through death. Three times Jesus says, ‘I am coming soon’ (7, 12, 20). While there is often a gap between promise and fulfillment, it is that state of readiness, of prayerful and practical expectation, that is needed to keep us on our toes. Christ has come, he will come again. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Apply: One day the fall will be reversed. The promise will be fulfilled. Live now your future hope.
Closing Prayer: Truly, Lord, eye has not seen, neither ear heard the things which You have prepared for those who love You.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Jeremiah 13, 14; John 5
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