Woodland Hills Church of Christ

By Woodland Hills Church of Christ

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Woodland Hills Church of Christ episodes:

March 09, 2025 Sell Your Possessions
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42min
March 09, 2025 The Fruit of the Spirit – Lesson 10
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44min
March 09, 2025Revelation 22 Restoration! In the Garden Again
Restoration! In the Garden Again
Revelation 22
Introduction: This last chapter of Revelation, and the last chapter of our Bibles, is very, very special. The message doesn’t speak to the “end,” but to the beginning of God’s plan since before the foundation of the world.
As we read it, we must ask ourselves, “What then has the thousands of years since the beginning been all about? What is it that God has been doing?” This chapter is truly an answer to David’s question in Psalm 8: “What is man that you are mindful of him?”
Therefore, amazingly the picture is of another creation. We have seen the creation of the heavens and earth, the re-creation of man in God’s on image, and now, the creation of a “New Garden,” new dwelling place, a new heavens and new earth where God and his creation enjoy eternity together forever. I’m sure God has told us all that our finite minds can understand, and even what he has told us is beyond our imagination.
Reminder: this is our reality! There are only two futures: the lake of fire or the new Jerusalem. There is nothing else. It is nothing more than a fantasy to think that we can live the “reality” we desire and then find a third option. It is God or suffering, and it is past time to make a decision!
Concluding Picture of the New Jerusalem: 22:1-5
The words of 21:2-3 is the reminder of where we are in the description of our future home – “…prepared as a bride adorned for her husband…the dwelling place of God is with man.”
Pictures of Life: “the river of the water of life” and “the tree of life.”
Jesus said in John 10:10, “I came to give you life and give it to you more abundantly.” When Jesus says “life”, he is not talking about existence. He is speaking of truly living. When things go really rough for us or those we know, we might say, “This isn’t living!”
We remember in John 4 that Jesus offered to give the woman at the well “living water.” Consider Jesus’ words: “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.” We live our lives with a constant thirst. We try to quench it with one activity after another, but the thirst always returns. Jesus gives us the water of life so that we never thirst again. Why? Because he is all-satisfying. How foolish to continue seeking this earthly water.
“The tree of life with 12 kinds of fruit” now lines the river. It is always available year after year. It is for our healing, the healing we needed after being defiled by sin.
NIV translates verse 3: “No longer will there be any curse.” Curses were placed on man throughout the Bible.
The curse of death was placed on mankind.
Curses were given because of the sin of both Adam and Eve. The ground was cursed and the fertility of the woman was cursed.
Curses were pronounced on all who violated God’s law (Deut. 27:26).
These curses were a reminder of our failure, the perfect holiness of God, and our need for a reversal of the curse. Thus the blessing of Jesus who “became a curse for us” that we might no longer suffer the consequences of sin.
Now as we enter the New Jerusalem, what a blessing to know there is no longer any curse. If there is no curse, then there is no sin. And if there is no sin, there is no temptation. And the reason there is no temptation is because there is no longer an adversary, the devil. He has been judged and we are now, free indeed just as Jesus promised in John 8:36, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
“They will see his face.” This is truly a sign of our absolute holiness! That is an unimaginable condition. Scripture has repeatedly told us that no man can see the face of God and live. We are not even given descriptions of him in visions! But when that time comes, we will see his face. What peace! What comfort! What joy! What beauty! If we have ever thought we have seen beauty, it is utter darkness compared to the glory of the Lord.
The Final Confirmation and Testimony: 22:6-16
The pattern of this text begins with “testimonial confirmation” of the truth of the vision John has seen. The law stated that on the basis of two of three witness truth is established. Therefore we see three confirming witnesses:
Vs. 6: the testimony of God through his angel and the spirits of the prophets.
Vs. 7: the testimony of Jesus.
Vs. 8: the testimony of John “who heard and saw these things.”
Vs. 8: it is incredible how overwhelmed John is in the seeing of this vision and of being in the presence of an amazing angel who has taken him before the throne of God and shown him the vision. John is so overcome that for the second time he falls down and worships the angel. And for the second time, the angel strongly rebukes him. Worship only God!
This is a warning for us. We worship what we love. We worship what stirs our hearts and causes our eyes and feelings to light up. It must only be God! He will not share us with any other. He is the one and only true pleasure. Therefore, remember the words of the angel: “You must not do that!”
The angel proclaims that he is like John, “a fellow servant” of God. We think to ourselves, “What a wonder it must be to see an angel.” But they are created beings of the heavenly realm and we are created beings of the earthly realm. We are servants of the Holy God.
Verse 10: “Do not seal up the words…” You will remember in Daniel 12 that Daniel was told to seal up the vision since it was for “the time of the end.” But for the vision of Revelation, it was not to be sealed up, “for the time is near.” This is a repetition of the beginning words of the book (1:1). The fulfillment of the visions we have seen were to happen soon, not thousands of years later as so often is taught concerning Revelation.
The book was sent to the churches at that time and would first be relevant to them. The relevance to us is that nations and peoples are still following the “beastly pictures” that we saw with Rome and the nations. The trials and persecutions of these beastly nations still takes place. And it is still necessary for us to overcome. Remember what we saw:
First, the judgment on Jerusalem and Israel for their rebellion. This happened shortly after the book was revealed.
Then there was judgment on Rome an the nations that followed her. These judgments took place successively until she was finally destroyed.
All that is left is the judgment on the dragon and all of mankind.
Verses 7 & 14: This “blessed” state is the sixth and seventh blessing of the book. “Keep the words… and blessed are those who wash their robes.” This is so important: “keep and keep keeping” and keep yourself clean and holy in the blood of the Lamb.
Verse 12-13: the proclamation of Jesus himself.
“I am coming soon.” This coming is not the end of time judgment, but the judgments mentioned by Jesus while on the earth (Matthew 24) and the judgment on Rome. To hear this would have been such a blessing to the first century listeners who were being persecuted.
“I am the alpha and omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Simply put: when all is said and done, he is the only one left, and therefore our only hope.
How should we respond to this? Time and again we get the same message –– loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength should be your pursuit. As Jesus said, if you will be his disciple, you must hate father, mother, brother, sister, wife, and your own life also. (Luke 14:26).
Vs. 11: “Let the evil doer still do evil…” This is similar to the angels words to Daniel : “Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:10)
The message of the text is not an encouragement for the evil to continue in their wickedness, but a statement of reality. In spite of the preaching and warnings, the evil continue to be evil. Those who truly love the Lord will continue to be faithful and those who have determined to live wickedly will continue to be wicked. This is a grave warning!
Again we see there are only two groups. It is one or the other. Either those who love the Lord and love righteousness or those who choose evil.
Therefore consider: the message is that those who choose evil will sink deeper into their evil. The ASV margin has, “He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness yet more.” The same is with the righteous.
Paul summed this up in 2 Timothy 3:13, “…while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Therefore, the message is that both evil and righteous will develop a permanent character over time that is nearly impossible to change. A person either grows into the image of the Lord Jesus or falls deeper and deeper into hard-heartedness and indifference.
It you are not doing what you ought, you are in an extremely dangerous condition. If you are in sin and think you can at any time just jump back into righteousness, be aware! You are far deeper than you think, and every moment that passes sinks you further from the Lord and from a heart that will bring you back to him.
Invitation and Warning: 22:17-21
What a conclusion! From the Spirit to the Bride, to the hearer and the thirsty, the call is to “come.” Isaiah 2:2-3 “Many will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up the the mountain of the house of the Lord…” What a wonderful invitation. We can “take the water of life without price.”
Verse 18-19: the warning. These words were uttered as Moses began a reminder of the Law (Deut. 4:2). They were said again in the Proverbs (30:5ff). And Paul warned also in Galatians 1:8-9. And now appropriately at the end of the Bible. Add to this book and the plagues will be added to you. Take away from the words of the book, and your name will be taken from sharing in the tree of life. God does not tolerate messing with his words!
Verse 20: Beautiful words whether referring to the immediate judgments and the Lord’s final return. Surely I am coming soon! Amen! ‘Come Lord Jesus!’
Verse 21: And then the sweet last words, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.” Sweet, sweet grace of the Lord Jesus.
Berry Kercheville
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45min
March 06, 2025 Kings Intro, 1 Kings Chapter 1
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45min
March 03, 2025Teaching a First Lesson with a Friend
Teaching a First Lesson with a Friend
Introduction: Why are we here? If there is a God, what is his purpose. What is this who “religion” thing all about?
In a world where religion and the knowledge of the Bible has become more and more distant from the average person, we can no longer assume that the people we talk to have a foundational knowledge of God. To them, it is just a plethora churches all believing and doing different things. God and God’s purposes are lost in a mixture of worship services that seem to be more like religious entertainment.
Therefore, I designed this lesson in order to “introduce God” to the average person. Whether with a religious background or not, most people struggle with an understanding of how Genesis foretells God’s eternal purpose.
Genesis 1-3
“In the beginning, God…”
The “beginning” indicates that God was before the beginning and reminds us that God has already created a “heavenly realm” with angels and other spirit beings.
“God” is a collective noun, indicating though there is one God, it is a “God family.” We know from John 1:1-3 and Genesis 1:2, that Jesus is the one who created all things and the Holy Spirit was also a part of this creation (See Job 33:4).
The rest of Genesis 1 tells us about the creation of the heavens and earth.
God marks the ending of each day with the phrase, “there was evening and there was morning”…and then the number of the day. He does this through six days.
God also mentions that what he creates is “good” and finishes the creation on the sixth day by saying, “It was very good.” Thus, a beautiful “earthly realm” creation that operates perfectly for mankind, God’s highest creation.
Man’s creation foretells our purpose in God’s creation.
We are made in his image and are to be fruitful and multiply to fill the earth with God’s image.
We fractured his image with sin, but everything that God is doing in the rest of scripture is bringing back into that image so that God is promoted through us in his world (Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
Note especially verse 28 and God’s mention of man having dominion over all that is on the earth. In Hebrews 2 we learn that this dominion has not yet come and that God will create a new “world” in which we will be crowned with glory and honor like Jesus and have dominion over that new world with Jesus.
Genesis 2:1-3 This section introduces the seventh day. This “day” is unique in comparison to the other days.
God rests from his creation work
God “blesses” the day, indicating that it will have a special purpose for mankind.
The day never ends. There is no conclusion of “evening and morning” like the previous six days.
This emphasis of the seventh day is “rest.” God will key off this day of rest throughout the rest of scripture:
Israel’s Sabbath rest every seventh day
Israel’s command to rest every seventh year
Israel’s “reset” and rest every fiftieth year (Jubilee)
Israel’s intended rest in the land of Canaan
In Hebrews 4, the writer proclaims that God’s ultimate rest with him is yet to come for those who are faithful to him.
Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (This is God’s ultimate plan for us)
Genesis 2:4-17 tells us about the Garden God created in which he places Adam and Eve. The Garden is unique, and foreshadows a heavenly Garden spoken of at the end of the Bible (Revelation 21-22).
God comes into the Garden every day and to spend time with man (3:8).
Man is able to enjoy all the trees/fruit of the Garden, but not the hard work by the sweat of his brow after his sin.
Further, he has plenty of time to spend with God. The Garden is all about being with God, because with God, there is joy and pleasure forever.
Genesis 2:18-25 describes the creation of the woman as a “helper fit/suitable” for man.
Man is in a not good state without the woman.
Made as a “helper” is not a secondary position. The same word “helper” is used repeatedly to describe what God is to man.
The final picture before man’s sin is marriage. This special relationship and union seems at first to only be a blessing for man in our earthly life. However, in Ephesians 5:22-34, we are told that “marriage” is a foreshadowing of how those who follow Jesus will be prepared to be his bride, and that our eternity with him will be like a perfect, joyful marriage throughout eternity.
Now that we have seen God’s initial purpose, let’s see how this is described in the New Testament.
Ephesians: God’s Eternal Purpose
1:3 Every spiritual blessing is found in Christ. Out ultimate joy will only be found in Jesus. That is where every spiritual blessing is found. It is the reason that serving Jesus is so important. Without him, eternity will be without any blessings.
“Heavenly Places” is a unique phrase. This phrase is used five times in Ephesians and never in any other book of the Bible:
1:3 All spiritual blessings are found in the heavenly places in Christ. Notice 3-6 and the conclusion that all that God has done is for the praise of his glorious grace.
1:20 Jesus has been raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God in the heavenly places.
2:6 We have been raised up with Him and seated with him in the heavenly places.
3:10 The manifold wisdom of God is made known by the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
6:12 Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Conclusion: How do we sum this up?
Satan rebelled against God and brought with him a host of angels and spiritual beings who also rebelled.
If you were God, what would you have done about this? Just destroy them? To do so would have only proved that God was “bigger and badder” than Satan – like a dictator.
Instead, God proved his goodness and love for his creation by giving up his life to buy his creation back from sin and Satan’s power. Without Jesus’ sacrifice, we would be doomed to suffer the “justice of God,” eternally separated from him. Because God rescued us by giving up his own Son for us, we in turn owe our lives to him.
Therefore, God proved to all principalities and powers both good and evil that a created being with freewill, subject to fleshly sins, would turn and love Him just because He is so great, so wonderful, so precious, so pure, so flawless. They would love Him without bribery, regardless of trial, and in fact, would gladly lay down their lives for Him. They would serve Him just for the special privilege of being with Him. And show the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places God’s manifold wisdom. (1 Cor. 6:3, “Do you not know that we are to judge angels?) That was all done, to the praise of His glory and be presented to him as a bride in splendor, holy and without blemish!
Berry Kercheville
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48min
March 02, 2025 The Fruit of the Spirit – Lesson 9
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41min
March 02, 2025Enhancing Personal Bible Study
Enhancing Personal Bible Study (WH)
Introduction: I mentioned briefly after the first of the year a Bible study plan for the year that is better than the typical “read through the Bible in a year” plan. The reasoning is that though reading through the Bible quickly provides a good foundation for a beginning Bible student, it is not a means by which we can attain maturity in our Bible knowledge.
There are 66 books of the Bible that God left for us to study. Each of these books has their own theme and message, but are also interrelated to all the others. A theme/message/application of a book cannot be discovered in a quick read-through. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 tells us that it takes all 66 in order to be prepared…
To teach
To be reproved
To be corrected
To be trained in righteousness
And therefore be a “man of God that is complete, equipped for every good work.”
Notice that Paul is addressing all of us as listeners. This is a requirement for maturity. Be careful that you do not complain about the difficulty of a text or a text that doesn’t interest you.
We should begin with this question: How serious are you about attaining this goal?
Jesus condemned the Jews for their poor Bible study: “The Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness of me. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.” (John 5:37-39, 42).
There is a right and wrong way to study the Bible. We must study so that we truly “hear his voice, see his form, and have his word abiding in us.”
Therefore, in this lesson we will take a look at how to be more efficient and profitable in our study, and how to avoid some of the common mistakes (like the Jews).
Attaining the Goal: Hosea 6:1-6
I know you have heard verse 6 before, but most people have not seen verse 6 in context with the previous verses. Notice how Israel tried to heal their relationship with God. Their definition of “returning to the Lord” was a quick fix. They are going to get back to “obedience.” In other words, their approach is typical of all kinds of religions, including idolatry – “What do I have to do? What does God require of me to stay in his good graces?”
On the surface, that approach sounds good. In fact, even some commentators miss the point of the first three verses, thinking that the Jews are sincerely wanting to get back to worshiping God. No, they are following the accusation Satan made concerning Job – he only serves God for the physical benefits.
Consider the biblical problems with this approach:
Verses 4-6 make clear God is not interested their “return to the Lord.” It would be like us having some tough upheavals in our life and thinking if we just go to church more it will solve our problems. Just “do more for the Lord” is not what God desires.
It is putting the cart before the horse. “Sacrifice and burnt offering” (that is, more worship, more doing, more application of what God wants, is to be generated by love for him. Paul said it well, “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him” (2 Cor. 5:9). Cf. Isaiah 1:10-14.
As verse 6 points out, steadfast, faithful love for God that is generated by the knowledge of God is what he desires. Now which is easier to do? Find out the commands and applications and do them? Or, do the work it takes to have a knowledge of God so that you develop and steadfast, faithful love that is honestly with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?
Christians and other religious people have an inordinate desire to try to grab (and leave out) certain parts of the Bible to attempt to find a short-cut to whatever they find to be immediately understandable and practical. It is not our job to search the Scriptures for what we need. We are children: we often don’t know what we need. We are sheep: we often don’t know where green pastures are. We are to receive and delight in all of the Scriptures.”
We are being disrespectful to God, our Father when we think that to be a faithful Christian doesn’t mean I need to know all scripture, I just need to make sure I’m keeping the commands. (Imagine treating your own father or mother that way if they sent you a letter?)
What Is a Biblical Application and How Do I Look for It?
This is where people like the Jews made a serious mistake just like many do today in that their definition of application was far too narrow. For most Christians who grew up in the 20th century, the bulk of preaching was to (1) know the facts, (2) understand what to do to be saved, and (3) know the right and wrong side of “doctrinal issues” and morality. You couldn’t define what it means to be a Pharisee any better! Jesus, in his sermon on Pharisees in Matthew 23 blew that approach up!
Consider what is involved in “practical application.”
It may be, “go do something.”
It may be, “worship, praise, awe of God.”
It may be, “am I serious about reforming me?”
It may be, “Am I bringing my thoughts to be captive to Christ?” (2 Cor. 10:3-5).
It may be, “I am truly denying myself and taking up his cross, or am I leavened with the world” – lacking radical discipleship?
It may be, “Has my study of this text caused me to desire God and love God more? Cf. Psalm 63:1-8
The result of narrowing the definition of application is to justify ourselves for not spending the time needed to know books like Chronicles, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and many of the minor prophets. Example: Isaiah 29:11-12
Example: Hebrews 5:10–6:7
What is the spiritual condition of the Hebrew Christians and how did they get in that position?
The writer wanted to teach them about the significance/importance of Jesus being a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Give an application that would somehow change the way you should live your life day by day because you know that Jesus is a priest like Melchizedek?
The point is that there isn’t a typical application as we would think of it that specifically says, “do this…” The “application” is not given until 10:19-39! But how is that an application from Jesus being a high priest like Melchizedek? It is the CONFIDENCE that we now have in Jesus! With that confidence and boldness to enter the holy places, we get endurance! That is not typically the “application” we are looking for when we say, “what’s the application I should take away from this text?” Or, “Where were the applications in that sermon or class?”
Many times the application is, Look at your glorious God! Look what he has done! But if we keep thinking that every paragraph is supposed to have something that tells me what to do, we are going to never see the glory of God! (Back to the Jews’ problem, Jn. 5)
When we study the way we do, taking a paragraph at a time and spending 35-40 minutes either discussing it in a class or preaching it, and then expect to find a “practical application” but can’t seem to find it, what happens? We get bored with the text, shove it out of our minds and just one of those “facts” that God stuck in the Bible that might be on the “final exam,” and go off looking for other parts of the Bible that will give you some commands, some specific applications. Admit it! Did you ever get excited about “the significance of the Melchizedek priesthood!” Nope!
When that happens, what part of the Bible will you go to? THE MILK. That’s what the Hebrews did! 6:1 – they didn’t “leave the elementary principles of the doctrine of Christ.” They just looked for the simple what must I do?!
Want a simpler analogy? If your primary focus on your wife is, “What do you want me to do for you today,” and at the same time spend little time or effort in deeper conversation to actually know your wife so that you feel closer, more intimate, more connected, and more in love, WHAT KIND OF MARRIAGE IS THAT!
Conclusion: I have talked to many, many preachers who have said that they don’t preach on “hard or difficult texts” because the members complain. What spiritual condition will this leave those Christians? A better question: Is that what God wants? Does God want an evangelist to ignore parts of the Bible that present-day people find difficult? God didn’t seem to see it that way when he gave Isaiah to Israel. Cf. Isaiah 29:11-13
Berry Kercheville
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48min
February 27, 2025 1 & 2 Samuel Review
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45min
February 23, 2025 The Fruit of the Spirit – Lesson 8
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43min
February 23, 2025Revelation 21:9-27 A New Heaven and New Earth
The Bride, Wife of the Lamb
Revelation 21:9-27
Introduction: The last three chapters of Revelation summarize the message of all scripture. God created man in his own image for the purpose of having an eternal relationship with him. Man was given a freewill to choose that relationship or to rebel against his own Creator. God offered perfect joy and perfect peace to those who accepted. But for those who rejected, all that remains is eternal separation from God and from the joy and peace that can only be found in him.
These final chapters present the end result of both choices.
Consider: This is reality! I have talked to many people who do not like this reality and would like to pretend that it just won’t end up that way. They can live as they desire and escape condemnation. When the Babylonians surrounded Jerusalem in the book of Jeremiah, that’s what they thought!
These chapters place Judgment and Glory side by side. Both are intended by Jesus to be strong motivators to us so we will make the right choice. Judgment is sure –– illustrated time and again throughout history both on the whole world in the Flood and on empires and nations who rejected God.
But though Judgment is usually the initial motivator of sinful man, glory was God’s first motivation, and in the final pages of scripture, it is his last motivation.
“Come, I Will Show You the Bride…”
What an invitation this angel gives to John! We have already been introduced to the Bride, but now John will actually see her. We feel that! We love to see a bride ready on her wedding day. In this picture is the bride of all brides!
Verse 10: Instead of seeing a woman, John sees a city, a holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, having the glory of God — Created, made by God.
Compare a similar scene in chapter 17, where we already saw a city, but that city was depicted as a prostitute, dripping with the blood of the saints, and described as the “great city that rules of the kings of the earth.”
You will remember that in Isaiah 24-26, there was also a contrast of two cities, one a “world city” that promoted all the wickedness of the evil one, and the other God’s “strong city” on the “mountain of the Lord of hosts, filled with righteousness and holiness. See Isaiah 24:1-16
There is also a contrast of where these two women/cities are seen. In chapter 17, the prostitute is in a wilderness. But the Bride is seen on a great, high mountain. Cf. Ezekiel 40:2 beginning the description of the temple of the Lord.
In scripture, those who are “dead” and without God and hope are pictured as a wilderness full of thorns and briars.
But when God speaks of his kingdom and his people, it is a mountain that is above all other mountains (Isaiah 2:2), and it is a fruitful, life-giving land. That is who we are.
But again, the choice is placed before us – a mountain or a wilderness? Which will it be?
The following description causes most people to think of heaven as jewels, streets of gold, and pearly gates. But remember, this “city, the new Jerusalem” is a picture of the bride. The bride is a community, the collective of all the righteous, and it is pictured as strong and pure and beautiful and everything that is desirable.
For reference sake, this description is borrowed from Ezekiel 40-48 that describes the coming temple of the Lord during the time in which there was no temple and that the physical temple that would be rebuilt had nothing to do with the description that was prophesied. It could be nothing else but what John now describes, a heavenly temple city.
Let’s consider the symbology:
Vs. 10: “coming down from heaven from God” – said here a second time and indicates that we have now been perfected by God himself ready for our marriage to the Lamb.
Vs. 11: “having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel…” Scripture repeatedly promised us that we would be glorified, having God’s glory. Reminds us of Moses’ tabernacle completion and Solomon’s temple –– the glory of God filled each.
Vs. 12-13: “great high wall…names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed… symbolizing the perfect number of God’s true Israel (do you remember the origin of the name “Israel?” The wrestling of Jacob with the angel and winning the fight, demanding to be blessed: Israel: “wrestles with God and prevailed.” (Cf. Hosea 12)
The gates are not for protection, but a means of entrance for the righteous.
Vs. 14: “twelve foundations…twelve names of the twelve apostles.” That is so interesting/significant! This city is built on the teachings of the apostles and prophets. It is build on what is revealed in the NT. If we are this city, the only way is our adherence to its foundation!
Vs. 16: “the city lies foursquare…12,000 stadia in each direction.”
People usually want to know how far that is. Well, it is about 1300-1500 miles depending on who you are reading. But that is not the concern! 12,000 is the concern, because the number is symbolic. Twelve is God’s perfect number of the saved and multiples of 1000 is the power number.
Notice also that it is a cube, just like the Most Holy Place. We are living with the Lord in the real Most Holy Place where no one was allowed in the physical without suffering death.
Vs. 18-20: “foundations of the wall were adorned with every kind of jewel.” These precious stones have an interesting background. Nearly the same stones are mentioned in at least three OT texts:
Exodus 28 identifies these stones on Aaron’s high priest garment, reflecting the holiness of being in the presence of God in the Most Holy Place.
Ezekiel 28:12-13 inserts these stones to describe the perfection of Adam or possibly Satan at their original creation.
Isaiah 54:11-13 fits perfectly with the foundations of our text as it refers to God exalting his people and giving them foundations for their restoration that provide peace and righteousness.
The jewels, pure gold, and pearls all represent the beauty and splendor of being a glorious city. And remember, it is the bride who is being described!
This picture may be hard to imagine. As we all sit here together, we know enough about each other to recognize our flaws. We know we are not worthy. How can the Lord invite us to be his bride? But that is what he is doing – giving us an invitation. I can just see all of us looking down and away, unable to look up at him. We mumble the words, “you wouldn’t want me.”
But Jesus sees something in us that we all ought to see in each other –– a heart that desires him more than anything even with a flesh that is weak.
In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, he will clothe us “with fine linen, bright and pure…having the glory of God, a radiance like a most rare jewel.”
Imagine all of us perfected, gazing around at each other, the Lord God having brought us to be everything we have always desired – “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing…holy and without blemish.”
Vs. 22: “and I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God…” Remember in John 2:19-21, Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up…But he was speaking of the temple of his body.” As Jesus first cleansed and then destroyed the earthly temple, he replaced it with himself. There is no longer need for intercession in an earthly temple, for we are present with Jesus and he is our temple.
Vs. 23: “…no need for sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the lamp is the Lamb.” Isaiah also prophesied of this: “The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” (Isaiah 60:19).
Vs. 24-27 Nations and kings will now come into the city bringing glory and honor to God (Isa. 2:2-3). The gates are never shut because there is no fear of anyone wicked entering. And most beautifully, “nothing unclean will ever enter it…but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Conclusion: How do you think of yourself?
Do you see yourself as beautiful and glorious? Do you think of yourself as being worthy to be courted and invited to be the bride of the Lamb, who gave himself up to present you to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing…holy and without blemish?” That’s what he has done! Will you deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him? What is your decision?
Berry Kercheville
The post Revelation 21:9-27 A New Heaven and New Earth appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
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