The Gift of Revelation

     Well, not quite.
     It’s only April. Or is it April already. Three months (one quarter) of 2009 is down the tubes. Blink your eyes and we’ll be singing ‘Jingle bells’ and ‘O, Holy Night’ and wondering where the year went. But at least you’ve accomplished everything you had planned on doing on your New years to-do list. Right?
     In case you’re wondering, yes, I am trying to depress you on purpose.
     Why?
     Because the book of Revelation provides us with a happy ending to this sad, tragic story we call our world.
     Revelation chapter 19 starting at verse 11 shows Christ returning and overthrowing the corrupt nations of this world. Chapter 20 shows Him setting up His earthly rule for a thousand years and dealing with Satan and those who rejected Christ.
     Chapter 21 is looking at our eternal home, New Jerusalem: That beautiful painless, sin-free city that should motivate us to endure this life a little longer.
     Enjoy!

Opening Discussion

-Which of your possessions do you consider most valuable?

Reading

Here is this week’s study passage.
Please pray before you begin.

Revelation 21:18-22 (CJB)

18 The wall was made of diamond and the city of pure gold resembling pure glass.

19 The foundations of the city wall were decorated with all kinds of precious stones-the first foundation stone was diamond, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,

20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh turquoise and the twelfth amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate made of a single pearl. The city's main street was pure gold, transparent as glass.

22 I saw no Temple in the city, for ADONAI, God of heaven's armies, is its Temple, as is the Lamb.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. www.messianicjewish.net/jntp. Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources. www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Study

Please read Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-15; 21:1-17.

Revelation 21:18-22 (NASB)

18 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;

20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

Verse 18:
-Of what was the wall made? (See CJB above.)
-Of what was the city made?

Verse 19:
-What were adorned?
-With what were they adorned?
-Define precious.

Verse 20:
-List the twelve types of stones mentioned in verses 19-20?

Verse 21:
-How are the gates described?
-How is the street described?
-How is the gold described?

Verse 22:
-What did the author not see?
-Why was this?
-Who was the temple?

-What do we learn about God?
-Christ?
-The Spirit?
-The author?
-His readers?
-His purpose?
-What do we learn about our eternal home?
-Read Job 28:12-19.
-What is the significance of the presence of gold, pearls and the other jewels in Heaven?
-Read Exodus 25:8; John 2:13-17.
-What was the purpose of the Temple?
-Why is there no need for a temple in Heaven?
-How do feel about spending eternity in the presence of god and your savior, Christ?
-How should that affect your walk with Christ?
-What has God shown you through this passage of Scripture?
-With whom can you share what you learned this week?

This Week’s Challenges

Challenge A-Reading

Continue reading the book of Revelation.
Read at your own pace.
Take notes as you go.

Challenge B-The Text

Read some or all of the verses below.
Note any similarities with this week’s passage.

Exodus 25:8; 27:21; 28:17-21;
1 Kings 6:20; 8:27;
2 Chronicles 2:6; 6:18;
Job 28:12-19;
Proverbs 3:15;
Isaiah 54:11-12; 60:17-18; 66:1;
Ezekiel 28:13;
Matthew 7:6; 13:45-46; 24:2;
John 2:13-21; 4:21-24; 17:21;
1 Timothy 2:9;
Hebrews 9:1-12;
Revelation 1:8; 4:3, 6, 8; 5:6; 7:17; 14:4; 16:7; 17:4; 18:16; 21:11-12, 15, 25; 22:2;

Challenge C-Strand Challenge

Read

Genesis 23;
Psalm 23;
Romans 11:1-12.

Note any similarities between each and with this week’s passage.