Day 312 (Final post): Revelation 19-22

On January 12, 2011 I began this blog. The idea was to read through the Bible in around a year and write whatever seemed to bubble to the top for me on that day. I wanted to do a "flyover" of scripture. I wasn't going to concern myself with deep study and research but I wanted to make sure I covered all the territory. In the process I was listening for God to speak. Today, January 13, 2012, is the final day for this blog. I think I'm going to miss it.

Today's reading is packed with exciting stuff! It's just what you would expect when you come to the end of a great epic. I had to resist the urge to simply quote the last four chapters in their entirety.

Notice the books mentioned in this passage:

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

There are "books" and there is another single book called the "book of life". If I read this right (and I think I do), everyone is judged according to what is written in the "books" about them. E-v-e-r-y-o-n-e. And it's not good. The only thing that keeps anyone from being thrown into the "lake of fire" is if their name is also found in the "book of life".  Your name must be in that book. And, based on my reading of the rest of the Bible, it seems there's only one way you can make sure your name is in that book. You have to let Jesus write it there. I believe he really wants to...but he won't do it unless you  give him the go ahead.

But, if your name is in the book of life here's what you can expect:

    Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘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.”
    He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
    He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. (Revelation 21:1-7)

I love that passage. It's another one that I often use at funerals of those who have lived as Christ-followers.

And now the story comes full circle. In Genesis Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden because of their sin. Along with that banishment they were barred from the "Tree of Life". It was part of the curse they received for their sin. It's part of the curse we receive for our sin. But we can look forward to the day when that changes. Access to the "Tree of Life" is restored. The curse is lifted. It's the climax of all history.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5)