New Creation

COHEIRS AND BRETHREN

/ David R Maas / 2 Comments

The covenant with Abraham is fulfilled in Jesus, the heir, including the promised inheritance of land in the New Creation – Romans 8:1-23. 

The Apostle Paul presents Abraham as the great exemplar of faith, the model for all who would live from faith. God counted his faith as “righteousness” while he was still uncircumcised, and thus, justified him apart from the “works of the Law.” Consequently, Abraham became the father of everyone who is “from faith,” both Jew and Gentile, and the “heir of the world.”

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EPILOGUE – REVELATION

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If anyone fails to keep the words of the book, he will be excluded from citizenship in the city of New Jerusalem – Revelation 22:6-21. 

The Book of Revelation concludes with an epilogue that recalls the earlier promises to “overcoming saints,” reiterates warnings against faithlessness, summons believers to render homage to God alone, and calls for Jesus to “come quickly.” Testimony and assurances from uncontestable sources attest to the trustworthiness of the “words of the book,” which are “prophecy” and the “testimony of Jesus.”

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NEW JERUSALEM INHABITED

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New Jerusalem is populated fully in fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham to “bless all nations” – Revelation 21:24-22:5.

In the preceding section, “New Jerusalem” with its massive dimensions was unveiled. It will take far more than a tiny remnant of “saints” to populate it. Now, John sees the “city” populated with the “innumerable multitude” of the redeemed from every nation and ethnic group, including many from among the “kings of the earth.”

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DESCENT OF NEW JERUSALEM

/ David R Maas / 2 Comments

Following the final judgment, John saw the “holy city, New Jerusalem” descending from heaven to the earth – Revelation 21:1-8.

The next paragraph presents “New Jerusalem” to the reader and concludes the third literary division of the book. Having witnessed the destruction of “Babylon,” the “False Prophet,” the “beast,” and the “Dragon,” John received the vision of what awaits the faithful at the end of the age – “New Jerusalem descending from heaven to the earth.”

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LAODICEA

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The church at Laodicea receives no commendation, only corrections, and ominous warnings – Revelation 3:14-22.

Laodicea was founded in approximately 260 B.C. on the site of an older village named Diospolis, meaning the “city of Zeus.” It was sixty-five kilometers southeast of Philadelphia and one hundred and sixty kilometers east of Ephesus. Because of its location at the confluence of three major trade routes, the city depended heavily on regional trade.

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