Exploring the Scripture
The Book of Revelation is an apocalyptic prophecy. In this sense, the word apocalypse means revealing divine mysteries. It is credited to John, although modern scholars identify the author as John of Patmos. It is addressed to the seven churches of Asia and features three literary styles: epistolary, apocalyptic, and prophetic.
It was written to strengthen the members’ faith as the church suffered persecution by the Roman Empire. It seeks to bring a message of hope as we move toward John’s vision of final events. Today’s text introduces the New Jerusalem.
It is an apocalyptic vision of “a new heaven and a new earth” (v. 1), signaling a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophetic promise. Words filled with hope are amid images of sky, sea, bride, and groom, followed by the grand announcement interpreting the vision.
God’s home is with the people. God lives with us and calls it home. We can understand this to mean the tabernacle of God is with humanity, creating a mutual home where hope flows prophetically, and all that once brought suffering, pain, grief, and tears is gone.
An age-old promise now is made possible through Christ with so much certainty that you can write it down and record it for all posterity as “done.” Living water from the spring flows, hope never-ending—God with us—the beginning and the end.
Powerful words and images cast the vision of liberation, which prophetically speaks across the timeline of humanity and all creation. The freeing truths of the gospel are made plain in New Jerusalem, where all things are made new. The image contrasts sharply with the unjust reality of empire, be it Roman or any other unjust world power. Redemption and making all things new are not otherworldly. They come to this Earth and meet the people right where they are, echoing God’s dream for the world as Jesus prayed, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
John’s vision captures our imagination of what can be. When God, revealed through Jesus Christ and made known through the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit, finds a home in the hearts of the genuine community, the light of Christ can rise through the people of God, speaking truth to power and bringing light from the darkness. This is hope and a new vision for a world where all who thirst, drink; hunger, eat; and pain will be no more.
Project Zion Podcast
Hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith consider how this week's scripture connects to our lives today.
Central Ideas
- God’s home is with humanity and all creation on Earth.
- Living with us, God makes all things new and wipes every tear.
- God with us is our hope and God’s vision for all creation.
Questions to Consider
- How does the Christ event, which God revealed through the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, make the hope described in John’s vision of the New Jerusalem possible?
- How does the vision of a new heaven and a new Earth bring hope and assurance to today’s world?
- How have you or your community experienced God’s indwelling presence as “a gift from the spring of the water of life”?