(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)
There are times you might like to have a stand-in, someone to take your place when you face a difficult task, especially if that someone would be better at the task than you.
The apostle John offers a rare and extended view of the future, including the rise and fall of the antichrist, the defeat of Satan, and the final disposition of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Throughout Revelation, John relates what he sees and hears in his vision, often through the guidance of an angel.1 That changes abruptly halfway through the final chapter, as Jesus speaks to him.2
* XXXII The Foremost Confinement3
...which is...
The second advantage of having your soul cleansed from sin is that...
Whereas both the wicked and the righteous will live forever,16 eternality is their only similarity. In other respects, their experience will be quite different. That difference for you will be because of the purity from sin Jesus provides. Your purity will determine your prize, and...
Two aspects of this arrangement may not be obvious and are difficult for some people to grasp. In this passage, John is describing what theologians term the 'final state' of the righteous and the unrighteous, the condition of the dead later, after the resurrection. It seems that the unrighteous, though separated from the righteous, may, nevertheless, be in 'shouting distance' of them. The situation in this 'final state' will be similar to what theologians term the 'intermediate state' of the righteous and the unrighteous, the condition of the dead now, before the resurrection. The story about the rich man and Lazarus, in Luke 16, which describes the 'intermediate state,' has the wicked separated from the righteous by "a great chasm [that no one can] cross" (v. 26) but where each side can see the other. The 'final state,' which John describes, will also have a permanent separation between the righteous and the unrighteous but a division that still allows each side to see the other. In fact, that may be part of the retribution for the wicked, consignment to a place that allows the unrighteous to witness the bliss of the righteous but never experience it.
According to John, the unrighteous do not have access to the New Jerusalem. That privilege will extend only to the righteous. He says in...
Still, if each side can see the other, will you (the righteous) not be troubled by the torment of the unrighteous, especially if it is accompanied by "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30)? ...Apparently not, perhaps because you will then "know fully," as Paul says (1 Cor 13:12), and will understand that these two very different situations represent the justice of God.20 In fact, that may be part of the reward for the redeemed, realizing how He will make everything right (avenging every wrong) at last. In any case, John lists some benefits of life with God in...
In this life, you have a restricted view of what lies ahead. You try to project and plan, but, the farther you attempt to foresee, the more of a guess it becomes. There will be moments when, for you—from your perspective—even the immediate future is unclear. At such times, remember that, for God—from His perspective—even the ultimate future is uncontested. For those who belong to Him, that is great news, as John reminds you, the readers of this revelation, with an occasional (complex) beatitude, indicating that you have advantages others lack.
The apostle John in his revelation offers a preview of what the future holds for the righteous and for the unrighteous. It is a fantastic prospect for the one and a fearful prospect for the other. Because Jesus faced God's wrath in your place, your future does not include The Foremost Confinement, which is the partition of God that will exclude the unrighteous from the New Jerusalem. Instead, your purity will determine your prize from God and your place with God, a glorious continuation of life eternal.
Having considered The Foremost Confinement, we will look next at The Foremost Confession, which is the profession before God, in Rom 10:9-10.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
The Pope met with his Cardinals to discuss a proposal from the Prime Minister of Israel. In the interest of ecumenical relations, the Prime Minster suggested that he and the pope play a friendly game of golf. The Pope thought it was a good idea, but he had never even held a golf club let alone played the game. "Would one of you Cardinals represent me?" he asked. "None of us plays very well," one of them replied. "But there is an American golfer named Jack Nicklaus, who is a devout Catholic. We can make him a temporary Cardinal, then ask him to play the Prime Minister as your representative. It would show our spirit of cooperation, and...we'd win the match." The Pope and the other Cardinals thought it was a good idea. Jack Nicklaus was, of course, honored and agreed to play.
After the match, Jack Nicklaus reported to the Pope. "I have good news and bad news, your Holiness." "Tell me the good news first, Cardinal Nicklaus," said the Pope. "Well, I don't like to brag, but even though I've had some pretty terrific rounds of golf in my life, this was the best I have ever played, by far. I must have been aided from above. My drives were long and true, my irons were accurate, and my putting was perfect. With all due respect, my play was truly miraculous." "So what's the bad news?", the Pope asked. Nicklaus sighed. "I lost by seven strokes...to Rabbi Tiger Woods."There are times you might like to have a stand-in, someone to take your place when you face a difficult task. You have a stand-in, not to take your place on the golf course but to take your place at the bar of divine judgment. That stand-in, of course, is Jesus, whose sacrifice spared you from The Foremost Confinement.
The apostle John offers a rare and extended view of the future, including the rise and fall of the antichrist, the defeat of Satan, and the final disposition of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Throughout Revelation, John relates what he sees and hears in his vision, often through the guidance of an angel.1 That changes abruptly halfway through the final chapter, as Jesus speaks to him.2
Rev 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.As part of his concluding remarks, Jesus offers encouragement to his followers. Whatever hardship they might be experiencing, especially persecution from those who oppose the faith, there will come relief, in part, through...
* XXXII The Foremost Confinement3
...which is...
- The partition of God (Rev 22:14-15)
Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city [the New Jerusalem]. 15 Outside are the dogs [an uncomplimentary reference to pagan gentiles4], those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.Jesus begins this section with a beatitude, similar to the series he uses in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are those who..." It is a proverbial formula (80+) that marks the way to success in life, whether in this world or in the world to come. That is what the word "blessed" implies: "O the advantage of those who do this or that."5 Here, it is the advantage of those who have been purified, including you.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.Jesus says that...
1. Your purity will determine your prize.His reference to washing is not physical laundering but spiritual laundering.6 Just as dirt can soil a person's robe, so sin can soil a person's soul.7 The saints' garments are white because they have given them a special treatment, one that may seem contrary to any conventional whitening process but one that is the only process effective for this task. As John states in...
Rev 7:14b [The saints] have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.Again, the cleansing of robes is not literal but signifies the cleansing of souls from sin. "Blessed are those who wash their robes." ...Jesus then cites two advantages.
The first advantage of having your soul cleansed from sin is that...
...the "tree of life." It is a familiar figure, representing what man lost after the fall back in Genesis, when God banished him from the Garden of Eden.8 The consequences of Adam's sin for the human race were disastrous and more far-reaching than he could have imagined. Adam and all who came after him lost the opportunity of eternal life. As Paul writes,a. You will have access to the tree.
Rom 5:12 ...sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.... 14 ...as did Adam....Only Jesus' atonement could remedy the problem,9 reversing the consequences of sin and regaining the prospect of living forever. Again, Paul writes,
Rom 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man [Adam], death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's...gift...through the one man, Jesus....
Rom 6:23b [and] the gift of God is eternal life....This is the first advantage of having your soul cleansed from sin, what the "tree of life" signifies—eternal life.
The second advantage of having your soul cleansed from sin is that...
...the heavenly city of Jerusalem, which John describes as a magnificent place of dazzling color.10 It also stands in stark contrast to the place of the wicked, which is "outside" the city.b. You will have admission to the city.
- The one includes both the tree of life and the water of life; the other is only a lake of fire, of burning sulfur.11
- The one shines with brilliant light, which is the glory of God; the other is devoid of light, utter darkness.12
- The one is a place of movement, with people going in and out; the other is a place of confinement, where those who go in never come out.13
- The one is a place of comfort in the presence of God;14 the other is a place of torment away from God.15
Whereas both the wicked and the righteous will live forever,16 eternality is their only similarity. In other respects, their experience will be quite different. That difference for you will be because of the purity from sin Jesus provides. Your purity will determine your prize, and...
2. Your purity will determine your place.From some passages in the book that describe the fate of the wicked, we might assume they are sent to a distant gulag, where they will suffer forever and alone, far away from the righteous.17 The wicked are finally where they belong: out of sight and out of mind, never to be heard from again.... That is probably the impression most people have, but that would be wrong. While the wicked do suffer forever, and while they may feel alone, unaware of the others who suffer with them, they are within sight of the righteous and are probably aware of their very different situation.18
Two aspects of this arrangement may not be obvious and are difficult for some people to grasp. In this passage, John is describing what theologians term the 'final state' of the righteous and the unrighteous, the condition of the dead later, after the resurrection. It seems that the unrighteous, though separated from the righteous, may, nevertheless, be in 'shouting distance' of them. The situation in this 'final state' will be similar to what theologians term the 'intermediate state' of the righteous and the unrighteous, the condition of the dead now, before the resurrection. The story about the rich man and Lazarus, in Luke 16, which describes the 'intermediate state,' has the wicked separated from the righteous by "a great chasm [that no one can] cross" (v. 26) but where each side can see the other. The 'final state,' which John describes, will also have a permanent separation between the righteous and the unrighteous but a division that still allows each side to see the other. In fact, that may be part of the retribution for the wicked, consignment to a place that allows the unrighteous to witness the bliss of the righteous but never experience it.
According to John, the unrighteous do not have access to the New Jerusalem. That privilege will extend only to the righteous. He says in...
Rev 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.Later, John makes a point of noting the exclusion of the wicked.
Rev 22:15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.However the wicked may trouble you (the righteous) on earth, preventing you from doing this or that, they will have no such affect in heaven.19 Even if they are within sight...
They will be "outside," no longer be able to exert any physical influence on you by hindering your movement.a. You will not be disrupted by the presence of the wicked.
Still, if each side can see the other, will you (the righteous) not be troubled by the torment of the unrighteous, especially if it is accompanied by "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30)? ...Apparently not, perhaps because you will then "know fully," as Paul says (1 Cor 13:12), and will understand that these two very different situations represent the justice of God.20 In fact, that may be part of the reward for the redeemed, realizing how He will make everything right (avenging every wrong) at last. In any case, John lists some benefits of life with God in...
Rev 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.Consequently, while you may see the wicked and what they are experiencing, you will recognize it as an appropriate outworking of God's plan, and...
They will be "outside," no longer be able to exert any emotional influence on you by hampering your mind.b. You will not be disturbed by the plight of the wicked.
In this life, you have a restricted view of what lies ahead. You try to project and plan, but, the farther you attempt to foresee, the more of a guess it becomes. There will be moments when, for you—from your perspective—even the immediate future is unclear. At such times, remember that, for God—from His perspective—even the ultimate future is uncontested. For those who belong to Him, that is great news, as John reminds you, the readers of this revelation, with an occasional (complex) beatitude, indicating that you have advantages others lack.
- First, you are not clueless; you can be aware of (and prepared for) what lies ahead. This is what the beatitude says in...
Rev 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Having a "heads up to what's coming up" is a significant advantage for believers, one New Testament authors stress with the repeated exhortation to pay attention. John often gives details about the future, adding, "He who has an ear, let him hear."21 Pay attention to the information available, because you are not clueless.
- Second, you are not fortuneless; you will be recompensed for your service. This is what the beatitude says in...
Rev 14:13 ...Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. [T]hey will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.
In the brevity of this life, prepare for the eternity of the next life. Jesus says, "I will give to everyone according to what he has done" (Rev 22:12). This means, regardless of your financial status, your faithful service for God will yield a great return from God, and will show that you are not fortuneless.
- Third, you are not purposeless; you will be productive in the future. This is what the beatitude says in...
Rev 20:6 Blessed...are those who have part in the first resurrection [because] the second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
These roles, the priestly and the kingly, are what believers will be doing in the Messianic Age.22 This is what John heard heavenly beings sing earlier: "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth" (Rev 5:10). This may not be a detailed job description, but, rest assured, you are not purposeless.
- Fourth, you are not homeless; you will have admission to the heavenly city. This is what the beatitude says in...
Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, [so] that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
Believers will not be wandering around the universe with nowhere to lay their heads.23 Jesus has gone "to prepare a place" for them (John 14:2). Not only will the saints be able to "go through the gates" of the New Jerusalem, Jesus says they will have a "share... in the holy city" (22:19). You are not homeless.From God's perspective, the ultimate future is uncontested, and these beatitudes highlight some of the advantages you can count on because you belong to Him.
The apostle John in his revelation offers a preview of what the future holds for the righteous and for the unrighteous. It is a fantastic prospect for the one and a fearful prospect for the other. Because Jesus faced God's wrath in your place, your future does not include The Foremost Confinement, which is the partition of God that will exclude the unrighteous from the New Jerusalem. Instead, your purity will determine your prize from God and your place with God, a glorious continuation of life eternal.
Having considered The Foremost Confinement, we will look next at The Foremost Confession, which is the profession before God, in Rom 10:9-10.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Relevant and civil comments are welcome. Whether there will be any response depends on whether Dr. Manuel notices them and has the time and inclination to respond or, if not, whether I feel competent to do so.
Jim Skaggs