PART 22 THE ETERNAL AGE REVELATION 21
TEXT- REV. 21:1-8
INTRODUCTION
AS WE BEGIN TO STUDY THESE LAST TWO CHAPTERS, IT IS IMPORTANT ONCE AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PLACED THESE VERSES INTO THEIR PROPER CONTEXT.
WE HAVE SEEN THUS FAR, THE TRIBULATION PERIOD END; THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS; THE MILLENNIUM; SATAN, THE BEAST, AND THE FALSE PROPHET CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE; THE GREAT WHITE THROWN JUDGMENT OF GOD; AND ALL THE LOST THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.
WE ARE NOW STUDYING IN THESE LAST TWO CHAPTERS, WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE LIKE THROUGHOUT ALL ETERNITY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PUT THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOR.
TRULY THESE TWO CHAPTERS DO NOT FURNISH US WITH EVERY DETAIL OF WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE LIKE IN ETERNITY.
NEITHER WILL THESE CHAPTERS ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS WE MIGHT HAVE CONCERNING ETERNITY.
FOR INSTANCE; WILL WE EAT FOOD OR BREATH AIR AS WE DO NOW?
JESUS ATE FOOD WHILE IN HIS GLORIFIED BODY, BUT WILL WE NEED FOOD?
LUKE 24:36-43 WHILE THEY WERE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS, JESUS HIMSELF STOOD AMONG THEM AND SAID TO THEM, "PEACE BE WITH YOU." 37THEY WERE STARTLED AND FRIGHTENED, THINKING THEY SAW A GHOST. 38HE SAID TO THEM, "WHY ARE YOU TROUBLED, AND WHY DO DOUBTS RISE IN YOUR MINDS? 39LOOK AT MY HANDS AND MY FEET. IT IS I MYSELF! TOUCH ME AND SEE; A GHOST DOES NOT HAVE FLESH AND BONES, AS YOU SEE I HAVE." 40WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, HE SHOWED THEM HIS HANDS AND FEET. 41AND WHILE THEY STILL DID NOT BELIEVE IT BECAUSE OF JOY AND AMAZEMENT, HE ASKED THEM, "DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING HERE TO EAT?" 42THEY GAVE HIM A PIECE OF BROILED FISH, 43AND HE TOOK IT AND ATE IT IN THEIR PRESENCE.
TRULY THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS LIKE THIS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE, THAT WE CAN NOT ANSWER AT THIS PRESENT TIME, BUT WE WILL KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THEM WHEN WE ENTER ETERNITY WITH THE LORD.
ANOTHER CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ETERNAL AGE THAT IS HARD FOR US TO COMPREHEND AT THIS PRESENT TIME IS, WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE TO LIVE WITHOUT THE CURSE OF SIN, THE PRESENCE OF SIN, OR THE INFLUENCE OF SIN?
THE ONE CHARACTERISTIC OF ETERNITY THAT STANDS OUT THE MOST IN THE SCRIPTURES IS THE FACT THAT IT WILL BE ENTIRELY PERFECT.
THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS THE MILLENNIUM, FOR THERE IT WILL BE "NEAR PERFECT".
THE ETERNAL AGE GOES ONE STEP FARTHER THAN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, AND BEYOND THE MILLENNIUM IN THAT IN THE ETERNAL AGE IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR SIN OR ANY OF THE EFFECTS OF SIN, EVER TO TOUCH IT.
ANOTHER CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ETERNAL AGE IS BROUGHT OUT BY THE WORD "ETERNAL".
TODAY, EVERYTHING WE DO IS.REGULATED SOME HOW BY TIME.
BUT IN THE ETERNAL AGE THERE WILL BE NO TIME AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.
TRULY THE ETERNAL AGE IS ONE THAT WE KNOW LITTLE ABOUT, BUT ONE THAT WE SHOULD ALL LOOK FORWARD TO AS CHILDREN OF GOD.