Welcome to AtoZMom’s BSF Blog! Follow along in BSF International, or Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)’s study of the book of Revelation as we learn about Jesus’ Second Coming and what we can expect. From the Bowl Judgments to the seven seals and trumpets, you’ll learn the symbols and how we can prepare to meet Jesus one day. Be filled with hope in this amazing Bible study!
10)
Matthew 28:19-20: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
John 13:34-36: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 12:28: “Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”
1 Peter 1:13-16: “With minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”
2 Peter 3:10-14: “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth. Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him.”
11a) This can be challenging because we can get caught up in our day-to-day living/struggles that we forget that we belong in heaven. Rejoicing always is hard; praying continually is hard; being grateful is hard. We have to try every day to move towards that however, and baby steps are ok!
b) I need God’s help in what to do with my time, my calling, and my purpose. What does He want from me? I need to be better at loving people, making disciples of nations, being thankful, and more.
Such powerful words here. Trying to be holy and do good in this world is challenging. But, as long as I’m making some daily progress, I am grateful.
The above commands are great to add to our daily prayers. “Lord, help me to be more loving, be more holy, more grateful, more evangelical, etc. Show me how.”
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7) 1 Corinthians 15:42-44: Our bodies will be raised in glory and power. It will be a spiritual body. I truly don’t care what I look like in heaven; I just want to be there. However, it gives me some idea of what heaven will be like.
1 John 3:2: We shall be like Christ. This is so encouraging! We all strive to be Christ-like here, but we’ll only really be like Christ in heaven!
Revelation 22:1-5: A river will flow from the throne of God and Jesus down the middle of the great street in New Jerusalem. The tree of life stood on each side of the river, offering fruit and healing. There will be no curse. The throne of God and Jesus will be in the city and his servants will serve him. They will see his face and they are marked with his name on their foreheads. There will be no more night, only light. And they will reign forever. This offers such hope because the place is so beautiful and magnificent and God and Jesus will be there. It gives us all something to look forward to.
8 ) Their spirits are in heaven with God awaiting the resurrection of their bodies when Christ returns to earth at the Second Coming.
9a) I can share the truth by speaking about the saving power of Jesus and by living a Godly life where others can see God through me.
b) My sister-in-law, co-workers, and others I meet.
I love thinking about heaven and what it will be like there. I love to travel, so this will be a wonderful adventure indeed!
Such power and hope in God’s words. While heaven is wonderful to envision for believers, we cannot forget our calling to share the Gospel with others. I find that simply being God-like is one of the best ways to do this.
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5a) We all know the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 where the serpent/devil tempts Eve to eat the apple and then she convinces Adam to do so, too. Paul says in Romans 8:18-23 that creation was subjected to frustration and is now in bondage and decay because of sin. All of creation has been groaning with the pains of childbirth and the Spirit groans until it is redeemed.
b) I am saddened by sin’s impact on the world. It has brought evil, corruption, pain, fear, sadness, tears, war, violence, murder, pride, and so much more.
6) Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us that eternity is in our hearts and we long for it. Heaven is only full of goodness and love; earth is full of evil and hatred. Who wouldn’t want to forever be with God, goodness, and love?
All I know is heaven will be such a contrast with life on earth that none of us can imagine it.
I do long for heaven, but I know I still have a purpose here to fulfill. I think as I get older I will long for it more. I do love knowing where I am going!
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3) I picture a lion and a sheep lying down together. I picture nothing but smiles and happiness. I picture a lot of people. I think of the words hope, contentment, happiness, joy, and worship. I see everyone worshipping God and Jesus. Heaven is often portrayed as clouds and angels with halos.
4)
John 14:1-4: Jesus tells us that heaven has many rooms. This makes me think of houses in heaven where people live.
1 Corinthians 13:12: We shall see God’s face in heaven and know everything. This makes me think God will be everywhere, and we can talk to Him whenever we want.
Revelation 21:1-5: John describes the New Jerusalem. God sits on a throne and dwells with us. This tells me that God will be the center of everything we do, and He will still rule as He does here.
Thinking of heaven is fun, but I’m always hesitant to do so since we don’t know all that much about it. And, culture has so perverted it that it’s hard to get those images of angels on clouds out of your mind.
The only thing I need to truly know about heaven is that God will be there, and that’s where I want to be!
Of course, I want all of my family to be there, as well as my animals! I can’t wait to pet them all one day and forever have them by my side!
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John tells us that a river will flow from the throne of God and Jesus down the middle of the great street in New Jerusalem. The tree of life stood on each side of the river, offering fruit and healing. There will be no curse. The throne of God and Jesus will be in the city and his servants will serve him. They will see his face and they are marked with his name on their foreheads. There will be no more night, only light. And they will reign forever.
12) A river will flow from the throne of God and Jesus down the middle of the great street in New Jerusalem. The tree of life stood on each side of the river, offering fruit and healing. The throne of God and Jesus will be in the city and his servants will serve him. They will see his face and they are marked with his name on their foreheads. There will be no more night, only light. And they will reign forever. You’ll find the Tree of Life and the rivers of water referenced here: Genesis 3:22-24, Isaiah 48:18, Zechariah 14:8, Ezekiel 47:1-9, Psalm 46:4-5
13a) They ate of the Tree of Knowledge, which was evil, which God had told them not to eat from.
b) God’s people regain the Tree of Life. This is such encouragement because God meant for us to always have the Tree of Life and now we’ll get it back! I love seeing God’s future plans and looking forward to them! We are restored!
I love how the Tree of Life was the center of the Garden of Eden and it’s prominent in New Jerusalem. How great is our God!
Rivers in the Old Testament were always seen as places of provision and peace. Since water is essential for life, it is always welcome!
Many Bible scholars see the Tree of Life as being large enough to span the river. Others see it as many trees.
Regardless, the Tree of Life represents restoration in New Jerusalem.
There is food in heaven! Many people believe that we can eat in heaven but we won’t have to to survive. We saw Jesus eat (Luke 24:41-43, John 21:12-14) and angels eat (Genesis 18:6-8).
Healing here means giving health. The nations will be given health.
These could all be symbols, too, and not actually in heaven.
There will be no more curse! There still can be curses in the millennial earth (Isaiah 65:20), but not here!
We will still serve God in heaven, but not toil.
We will see God always. Many think this is because sin will no longer block us from his view and from him.
We will be identified with Him (his name on our foreheads). Heaven on earth shall never end.
The Bible opens with the Fall and ends with our eternal Restoration. How magnificent! Paradise lost but regained!
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John tells us that God and the Lamb are the city’s temple and that the city will not need light because God’s glory will light the entire place and the Lamb is the lamp. There will be no night. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be allowed in.
9) A temple because God and the Lamb will be the city’s temple. The Sun, Moon, and light because God’s glory will light the entire place and the Lamb will be the lamp. The gates will never need to be shut because there will be no darkness.
10a)
1 Kings 8:1-21: The temple had a Most Holy Place that only the priests could go. No one could be in the Holy Place when God’s glory filled the temple. The temple held the Arc of the Covenant, which held the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. What stands out to me is that no one could be in God’s presence, which will end in the New Jerusalem.
John 2:19-22: Jesus said that the temple is no longer needed because his death would replace the need for the temple. What stands out to me is how Jesus is speaking about his body and the people only saw the physical dwelling itself.
1 Corinthians 6:19: Our bodies are our temples now since the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us, so we need to honor God with our bodies. What stands out to me is that we are God’s and our bodies are His, too. We need to treat our bodies like a temple since we have the Holy Spirit inside of us.
b)
Exodus 13:21: Here, God provides the light for the Israelites to follow on their way to the Promised Land. I love this because God is light always.
Psalm 119:105: God’s word is a lamp and a light for our path. What stands out to me is that we can use God’s word to guide our path.
John 8:12: Jesus said he is the light of the world and whoever follows him will have the light of life. What stands out to me is that Jesus is light like God is and he lights our world forever.
11a) John says that God’s eternal kingdom will always be lit by His glory. Everyone will walk by this light and the splendor of kings and the glory and honor of nations will be brought into it. All those inside the city will have eternal life.
b) This study has deepened my appreciation of God’s presence in my life today, tomorrow, and forever. I look forward to the day of the Second Coming when we all will live in eternity forever. And, God is with me always thanks to the Holy Spirit. He is there when I need to call upon Him and His power. So great is our God!
I love the study of light and the temple in the Bible. Such inspiring scriptures that offer us hope even in our darkest days.
In the Holy City, the temple will be everywhere because God will be everywhere. Currently, we are His temple with the Holy Spirit.
In heaven, all we’ll need is God and nothing else. Our Creator!
With light there is beauty, joy, and knowledge.
The kings mentioned here are interpreted differently by Bible scholars. Just know that some kings will survive Armageddon and enter the eternal city.
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John continues to describe New Jerusalem, saying it shone with the glory of God. It had a great high wall with 12 gates and angels who guarded the gates. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The city was laid out in a square. The wall was made of jasper, the city was made of pure gold. The foundations fo the walls were decorated with precious stones. The streets were gold.
6a) Jasper, gold, sapphires, agates, emeralds, onyx, rubies, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, turquoise, jacinth, amethyst, and pearls.
b) The same jewels that adorned the foundations of the Holy City also adorned the priests’ breastpieces. They also represent the 12 Tribes of Israel. This is God’s chosen people.
7) We see the same symbols and reverence for God’s chosen people in the Old Testament carry over to our times in the New Testament. God never forgot His chosen people and the tribes of Israel. They are just as important to Him today as then. We see the foundations had the names of the 12 apostles on them, which shows how they helped spread the Gospel and were an intricate part of God’s plan. After all, our faith is built on Jesus and His Word.
8 ) The Holy City shone with God’s glory. It is perfect because God made it so. The Holy City is fortified for protection and security. It’s made from the best materials, so you know it won’t ever fall down. These attributes are important because they represent God’s Holy nature. This should encourage us that in the coming age, we will be made whole again. We will dwell with God forever and ever!
Again, so beautiful! Everything is thought out in advance, from the foundations to the gates. It’s so wonderful to envision!
You might ask why is there a wall if all of God’s enemies are vanquished. The wall gives the city boundaries and definition, and it excludes the non-righteous who cannot enter.
The layout of the gates can be compared to the camp layout in Exodus (Numbers 2).
The New Jerusalem and the church itself are founded upon the teachings of the apostles (Ephesians 2:20).
The point of the square is that it mimicks the fact that the tabernacle (a holy place) was laid out in a square, meaning the entire city is Holy.
The size of this space is large, showing there is plenty of room for God’s children.
The jewels and precious stones show us just how much God values us. It is means to show us beauty beyond compare, which is what God wants to give us! It shows God’s holiness, too.
Transparency shows we can see God’s glory everywhere.
We should not be able to comprehend the beauty of this place; after all, God made it!
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John is taken by an angel and shown the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.
3) John was carried away in the Spirit to a tall mountain and shown the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.
4a)
Revelation 1:10-20: John is told by Jesus to write on a scroll his letter to the 7 churches of what he has seen, what is now, and what will take place. This is important since the book of Revelation is the primary source of our knowledge of the Second Coming of Jesus.
Revelation 4:1-11: John sees the throne in heaven, and this is important because it is the primary source of what we know about God’s throne room in heaven and His Almighty power.
Revelation 17:1-6: John sees the punishment of Babylon, the great prostitute, and this is important because we see how evil/Satan is trying to prey upon God’s people but how God will ultimately defeat her.
Revelation 21:9-14: John is shown what the New Jerusalem will look like after Jesus’ Second Coming, and this is important because it gives us believers hope!
b) In Revelation 17:1-6, we see evil personified and how she just wants to destroy God’s people. In Revelation 21:9-14, we see Jerusalem after evil has finally left the world forever.
5) This gives us faith when we feel low and defeated that Jesus and God win and will ultimately defeat those against us.
Such a beautiful sight! I’m sure we all can’t wait to see this!
Fun Fact: “In the Spirit” appears 4 times in the Book of Revelation. Some Bible scholars use these appearances to separate the book.
Note how the city is called the bride. This is because a bride is usually at her most beautiful on her wedding day. Also, it’s because this is the place where God’s people (often called the bride) are gathered.
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