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Today’s readings come from Psalm 143, Revelation 6, Malachi 1:1-2:16

Revelation 21:3-4

[John wrote:] “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Here, John gives us a wonderful vision of heaven. If our present world is characterised by the gap between God and humankind, heaven is the place where no such gap exists. God will live with his people with an intimacy that we cannot fully experience here on earth. In consequence, it will be a place where death, sorrow, crying and pain have come to an end. All four have to do with separation, and when we are in the nearer presence of God, there will be no separation. What a joy and relief that will be!

Christians have varied enormously in their thinking about heaven. Some have devoted so much time and energy to focusing on heaven that they have been distracted from their responsibilities here on earth. To use the famous expression, they have been ‘so heavenly-minded that they have been no earthly good’! However, I have met far more Christians at the other end of the spectrum. They have been so earthly-minded that they have barely thought about their eternal home. I believe that God wants us to keep our eyes fixed on our eternal home because that will give us confidence and peace as we live our lives here on earth.

When Jesus was preparing to leave his disciples, he sought to give them reassurance by pointing out that there was more than enough room in his Father’s home. He told them that he was going ahead of them to prepare the way and, in answer to Thomas’ questioning, replied that he himself was the way, the truth and the life (John 14:1-6). We don’t need to know the details of heaven, and the Bible offers no more than clues about what it will be like, but we do need to know that we are in safe hands and that everything has been prepared for us. That’s precisely the assurance that we have been given.

Question

What do you think heaven will be like?

Prayer

Lord God, thank you that my future is totally secure in your hands. Amen

Revelation 5:12

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered – to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing.”

Life is full of mysteries. The evil of our world is agonising, and the innocent suffer in ways that continually horrify and distress us. In this chapter, John shares his vision of a scroll which held the answers to the mysteries of the world, but there was a problem. There were seven seals to this scroll, and nobody could be found to open it. John wept bitterly at this, but the 24 elders pointed out that somebody had been found who was worthy to break open the seal. He was the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, none other than Jesus Christ himself.

Jesus was the victorious lion but also the lamb. He had only won his great victory because he had been willing to become a sacrificial offering. In response, millions of angels burst out in song, praising him. This takes us to the heart of this amazing book. It recognises the terrible evil of the world but directs us to the one who both understands what is going on and has won the greatest victory over darkness.

I love that this momentous event was celebrated by singing, and the singing only grew in intensity. The following verse talks about every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea singing in celebration of the greatness of the Lamb. When we sing in our churches, we need to remind ourselves that we are taking part in an eternal chorus of praise to God. As we sing, we enjoy a unique form of unity not only with those around us but with the whole of God’s people in every place and in every age.

There are many aspects to the book of Revelation that are strange and unfamiliar to us, but amid the strangeness, we need to cling tightly to those things which are incredibly clear. The greatest of them is that Jesus is Lord. To a society which believed that Caesar was Lord, and in which the Church faced continual persecution and rejection, this brought great encouragement. To us today, as we gaze at the brokenness and sadness of an ungodly and destructive world, we need to draw new encouragement and strength from the fact that Jesus is Lord.

Question

What encouragement do you draw from this passage?

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, I worship you, for blessing, honour, glory and power belong to you. Amen

Today’s readings come from Proverbs 30:11-23, Revelation 5, Esther 9 and 10

1) What is your position on altar calls?2) Can you explain the symbolism in Psalm 22:21?3) Did Jesus’ soul go to a place of torment to suffer the flames of hell for us when He died?4) What is the meaning of the name of Boaz in the book of Ruth?5) When will the Rapture occur, before or after the Tribulation?

At Christmas, holiday lights and festive displays, often including nativity scenes, abound. But while the manger scene is familiar, many don’t understand why it’s significant. Explore key questions surrounding Christ’s incarnation, on Truth For Life with Alistair Begg.

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This listener-funded program features the clear, relevant Bible teaching of Alistair Begg. Today’s program and nearly 3,000 messages can be streamed and shared for free at tfl.org thanks to the generous giving from monthly donors called Truthpartners. Learn more about this Gospel-sharing team or become one today. Thanks for listening to Truth For Life!

Does the hustle of the Christmas season distract you from the Savior who was born for you? Take a deep breath with Shona Murray, Kristyn Getty, and Nancy as they remind you what it means to be unhurried—during the holidays and all year long.