Revelation - 3. Outline – Scene 4 - A High Mountain (21:9 - 22:21)

3. Outline - Scene 4 - A High Mountain (21:9 - 22:21)
The Messianic Kingdom
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• Characteristics
• Charges
• Comfort
• Challenges
• Benediction

The 4 scenes (or sections) of Revelation are separated by the author’s words I was in the Spirit.
Scene 4 transitions from the wilderness to a high mountain:

“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, ‘Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like…” (21:9-11a)

• In Scene 1, John communicated personally to each community in Asia Minor whom he pastored.
  
  
• In Scene 2, he drew them through an open door into the flourishing scene of Yahweh’s Heavenly Court, described its flourishing life, exposed the evil they faced, and illustrated and inspired them with truth they could experience and remember.
  
  
• In Scene 3, John gave visions of God’s promise of vindication, final judgment, and the New Creation.
  
  
• In Scene 4, John summarized the Messianic Kingdom – The New Jerusalem with its characteristics, charges, and comfort. He draws on Isaiah 65:17-25; 54, 60; and Exodus 28. Then, we explore the challenges given to us by the entire book of Revelation. Perhaps you can think of others!

Take a moment to read Revelation 21:9-22:21. (The text is on Page 3 of the printable PDF for your convenience; you may access it at the link under the title). Isaiah 35 is a beautiful picture of our homegoing when we are caught up together with Him in the air! (The text is on Page 4 of the PDF.) Declare it and rejoice in its truth!

The New Jerusalem (His Messianic Kingdom of Shalom, the New Creation, our Home)

Characteristics

• John uses four metaphors – a woman (bride), a city, a temple (God’s reign), and a garden (Eden).
  
  
• 21:10-21 – It is constructed of people – 12 gates of pearl (the 12 tribes of Israel), 12 foundation stones of varying gems (the 12 apostles). (John echoes the gems of Exodus 28:15-20; see also 1 Peter 2:4-5.) In Chapter 4, we learned that 1,000 is infinity, so the 144,000 (12 x 12 x 1,000) encompassed the entirety of Yahweh’s children, symbolic of “a number too numerous to count and yet all are accounted for.” Every believer is sealed with the Name of the Lamb and His Father (14:1), their names are written in the Lamb’s book of life! They are fully known and loved.
  
  
• 21:22 – The Almighty and the Lamb are its inner sanctuary – Yahweh’s presence among His people.
  
  
• 21:23-24; 22:5 – The Lamb is the lamp, the Light of the World, so there is no need for the sun.
  
  
• 21:24 – The doors are open. Everyone is safe, equal, and welcome in every part; no hierarchies or divisions exist. Kings bring their tribute! It is a place of thriving economy and governance.
  
  
• 21:27 – Total purity with no trace of uncleanness permeates every part, echoing Isaiah 35:8-9.
  
  
• 22:1-2 – A clear, crystal river of healing life flows from the Throne in the middle of its street lined with trees bearing 12 kinds of fruit that yield in their season with a continuous presence of healing.

Charges

• 22:7, 10 – Keep, guard, and share the words of this prophecy.
  
  
• 22:14, 17 – Receive Yeshua and be washed in His blood so you can eat of the tree of life and enter the gates. Come, all who are thirsty, and take the free water of life!
  
  
• 22:7, 20 – Anticipate the return of Yahweh’s kingdom with joy!

Comfort

• 22:1-5 – Ezekiel’s vision of healing was for Israel alone; John’s vision is for the entire world!
  
  
• Revelation 21 is the reinstitution of Yahweh among His people from Genesis 2.
  
  
• Revelation 22 is the return of the good Garden from Genesis 1 – the presence of the Lamb with His people in the fullness of fellowship. There is no fear or striving. We are covered by His blood!
  
  
• The Kingdom of Shalom is the old made new, created for joy, absent of pain and war, flourishing with ownership, success, building (creating), wholeness, and beautiful restful dwelling places. It includes creative, meaningful, satisfying, collaborative work that contributes to the new society, and is the culmination of intimacy with Yahweh, Yeshua, Ruach (Spirit), and His people.

Challenges

How did John challenge the first-century, Asia Minor Jewish Christians with the Apocalypse/Unveiling, and how are we challenged today? The Book of Revelation:

1. Reorients our understanding of present appearances with a heavenly, cosmic perspective – the Heavenly Court reality.
   
   
2. Asks us where our allegiance lies and what matters to us most.
   
   
3. Questions claims of prosperity, peace, and security on the terms of the kingdoms of this world.
   
   
4. Urges a pure kingdom simplicity and focus in the face of idolatrous, immoral luxury and pleasure.
   
   
5. Gives us a glimpse of the resurrected Messiah, allowing us to see His true character as the Lamb.
   
   
6. Takes the best of our human experience (the things that make us truly human) and gives us true worth as we live in the service of others and for the redemption of the world.
   
   
7. Exposes the nuances of the nature of evil, so we can recognize it and live lives set apart from it.
   
   
8. Fosters a global, universal hope for the coming Kingdom of Shalom.
   
   
9. Renews our mind as we meditate on the New Jerusalem and its reality, praying with Yeshua, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
   
   
10. Challenges us to live in the descriptions of a Faithful Witness, which is our part in God’s story.
    
    
11. Encourages us to envision the Kingdom of Yahweh in this-world, real, physical terms with the promise of a Voice on the throne that says, “Behold, I make all things new.”
    
    
12. Encourages us to make creative, imaginative, kingdom-inspired choices, decisions, and creations that build the Kingdom in the world around us.
    
    
13. Reassures us to rest in His finished work, to fear not nor strive but trust that we are complete in Him!

Benediction

“HalleluYah! for the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns! Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready!” (Revelation 19:6b-7)

Creating bits of newness in my garden:

Shale Fragments™ - writings by Beth Ann Phifer is a division of Flower Girl Greetings, LLC. ©2024, All Rights Reserved.
Blessings and love in Him,
Beth Ann