In this Bible Story, we see Jesus giving way to a new heaven and earth. A place with no more mourning or suffering. A place where the perfect will of God unites with the willing hearts of mankind. This story is inspired by Revelation. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.
Today's Bible verse is Revelation 21:1 from the King James Version.
Episode 244: In the final vision John was given, he saw the earth and everything in it fade away. It was replaced by a Holy City on a New Earth. God and man now dwelt together in the same space. No more mourning, no pain of heart. Jesus spoke from His throne that He has made all things new and has given the fountain of living water for all who are thirsty or weak. The radiant city was covered in jewels and its gates were inscribed. There was no temple to be found because no temple was needed. God would dwell openly with His people forevermore!
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Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max Bard
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Music by: Andrew Morgan Smith
Bible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn
Let us pray, and I saw a new heaven and a new Earth, for the first heaven and the first Earth were passed away Revelation twenty one one. When I ponder and listen to to day's reading, I thank you, Lord that you invoke newness through John's account. My heart is overwhelmed with the glorious new world you've appointed for us as your children, a new world filled with peace, joy, love, abundance, and your never ending grace. As I reflect on the journey that my life is taken, I will rest on the fact that, from Genesis to Revelation, you've proved the ultimate love story of a father who desires to win the hearts of his children back, no matter how far they've gone or mad they've become. I now see God, that your love is a perfect love. I now see that the life of Jesus isn't only beneficial to my purpose, but necessary for me to even live my purpose. I declare that, no matter what I hear, my life will be dedicated to honoring and serving You forever until I see you face to face. Thank you for your perfect love. Thank you that I am brand new that I have been redeemed with the ultimate price your son in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for an incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible in a Year dot Com.
A New Earth. In our last story, John saw a vision of past, present, and future evil reigning on the earth. He saw mighty dragons and great beasts devouring the earth and corrupting mankind. Then John saw a hero emerge from the gates of heaven, the Finisher and Messiah, Jesus Christ descended on a white horse with a robe dipped in blood. He defeated the beasts and cast the armies of darkness into destruction. Now we see Jesus giving way to a new heaven and Earth, a place with no more mourning or suffering, a place where the perfect will of God unites with the willing hearts of mankind, inspired by the Book of Revelation.
Hello, this is past to Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible in a Year. This is in fact the last episode in this series, and we're so grateful for so many who have joined us, over twenty seven million who have downloaded the Bible in a Year. Pray dot Com God bless you each one of you. In our previous episode, we heard about the War to end all wars, the great battle between Satan and his army and God's army led by the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a vision full of symbolism and one that ultimately gives us great hope that one day, and we believe one day soon Christ will come in victory to conquer evil for good. So as today we come to the conclusion of our journey through God's word, we will hear what John saw when God revealed things to come as the world passes away and everything is made brand new. So let's listen now to this great reading from the Book of Revelation.
Then I saw the earth fade away. Cities, kingdoms, and armies dissolved like snow under the bright warmth of God. The conquests of Man blew away like ashes in the wind, and its evils along with it. The sea was no more, and in its place I saw a holy city come in glory. I saw the perfect will of God meet the earth like a dance. From the ruins of the Kingdom of Man emerged a new Jerusalem. The city was beautiful and its people were adorned like a bride prepared for its groom. I heard a gentle yet strong voice call out, saying, this is the dwelling place of God and Man. Here they will exist together and unity. They will be His people, and he will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and the sting of death will be no more. There will be no more mourning or pain, for all the former things interweaved with darkness, have passed away, and all that remains is the light of Christ. Then I saw him, the Hero, the one who created the galaxies with a breath, the giver of life, the shepherd of the flock, the son of Man. He sat upon his throne with gentleness and grace. He spread his arms to his people and said, behold, I am making all things new. I fell to my knees and watched him in awe. All who were with me bowed before him. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and end. He said, all who are thirsty and all who are weak, come to the fountain of living water. An angel stood behind me. As I watched. He held my hand and said, come, I will show you the bride of the Lamb, the one who is redeemed, so I was taken up again to see the new city. Its radiance was like a rare jewel. It had a great and mighty wall with twelve gates, and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve Apostles of Christ were inscribed on its walls and gates. Its streets were like gold and fine jewels, and its gates were as pure as pearls. There was no temple, for the glory of God was among the people. There was no need for the sun or moon, since the glory of God gave it light. I saw a society with people giving honor to God and basking in the light of his goodness. The Angel then showed me a river of living water. It was flowing from the Throne of God. On one side of the river was a great city, and on the other was the Tree of Life. Its leaves gave healing, and its fruit fed the nations. The people of God met him face to face. They dwelled with him and reigned with him, creating good things for his glory. And with that I heard the voice of Jesus saying, to all who are on the earth, come to me, all you who thirst. Behold, I am coming soon. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Thus ends the great story of God given to mankind. It is not a story of man ascending to perfection or enlightenment. It is not a story of good people doing good things. Nor is it a story to teach moral behavior. No, it is the story of a loving God who pursues a broken and far off people. It is a story of a loving husband that courts his bride. It is a story of a shepherd who goes after his lost sheep. The story of God brings hope to all who feel lost, lonely, and trapped in their sin. It points to a loving and merciful savior who will laid down his life to save those he loves. The Bible is the story of Jesus.
So here we are at the end, or should I say, the beginning of what will never end eternity. As we open today's reading, John tells us about his vision of a new earth, a new heavens, and a new earth. The world as we know it fades away in something brand new. A new heavens and a new earth is born. The sun is God's glory finally dwelling with mankind again, just as he wanted it when He first spoke light and life into the world at creation. There is a beautiful symmetry and strategy in the Bible. The first two chapters of Genesis speak of the creation of the heavens and the earth at the very beginning of time as we know it. Now Here in the final two chapters of the Revelation, it begins a new restoration of a perfect creation which is forever. The old, the sick, the dying, and hurting world has passed on. Heaven now comes to earth, and there is a new Jerusalem, God's holy city. The city John saw was beautiful and ornate. Words failed to do it justice. But this is God's word, and so we have this magnificent portrait of what the afterlife is going to be. All that was broken has been restored, and those who are in Christ will dwell in God's presence throughout all eternity. There will be no need for a son that is a physical son, because Jesus Christ will be the light of eternity. Every tear will be wiped away, and all that overwhelms us now will be swept away with joy and satisfaction in God's presence and his great glory among us. When Christ came the first time, he gave humanity glimpses of what the future would look like, the Kingdom of God, the day that He would wipe away all of our tears and restore the broken and heal the sick. He did that temporarily in his first coming, but he does it permanently when he comes again and establishes the new heavens and the new Earth. When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, he told her of the living water he had to offer now in this new Earth, this new heaven. John saw the fountain of living water, the very thing Jesus spoke about. And through the city runs a river of living water that flows from the very throne of God. This is a reminder that God is and always has been, the giver of all of life and goodness and satisfaction. The people whose names are written in the Book of Life will live in this city. They will find complete rest and restoration. John heard Jesus speaking to him once more, saying in Revelation twenty two, verses six and seven, these words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophet, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the word of the prophecy of this book, as we await the return of Jesus in glory to bring us to our eternal home, where there will be no sorrow in sickness or strife, where we will dwell in the presence of God forever. May we take these words to heart. Jesus is our Savior, our redeemer, our Lord and Master, the one who was there from the very beginning and will be with us at the end and throughout all eternity. He is the one and the only one that gives us eternal life. If you have listened to this podcast from beginning to end, start to finish, and have yet to believe and trust in Jesus as your savior, I want to encourage you to do that right now. Jesus loves you. God has a wonderful plan for your life. And sin had broken our relationship with God. And so Jesus came to this earth, perfect in his humanity, perfect in his death. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and rose again so that we could have forgiveness and forever life life with him. Life with a capital L. Call upon his name today. Here's what the apostle Paul said in Romans ten, verses nine and ten. If we confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus, and believe in our hearts that God has raised him from the dead, we will be saved. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Whoever means you you can trust him. Today. In the book of Revelation that we have been reading recently, Jesus stands at the door and knocks and Revelation three twenty and he says, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. So right now where you are, invite Jesus into your life, and I promise you he will come in. He will give you an abundant life, an eternal life, the forgiveness of your sins, and a full filling life. Here and now he will write your name in the Lamb's Book of Life, and you can be secured and safe forever with him. If you are already a believer in Christ. I hope today's episode, as all the episodes in the Bible in the year, have encouraged you, what a wonderful hope we have in Jesus. But I also would encourage you to share this hope with others, tell them of what Christ can do in their lives, just as He has changed your heart. Jesus has charged us, commissioned us to make disciples of all the nations, beginning with our neighbors and telling the story of Jesus. Wherever we go is the wonderful story of God's love and grace through Jesus, Our Lord. Let's pray together. Dear God, we thank you for this promise of heaven and the hope of eternal life that has provided for us in Jesus Christ. We thank you for the Bible. Dear God, this wonderful word that you have inspired from beginning to end and everything in between. We praise you for a word that is infallible and inerrant. May we always trust your word and obey it. And Lord, may we be witnesses of the Gospel wherever we go. In Jesus's name. Amen. Once again, I want to thank you for listening to the Bible in a Year podcast. Many of you have been with us a good while and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to speak God's word into your life in these days. I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Let me encourage you to continue to follow along the scriptures with us. You can repeat the Bible in a Year, and I certainly would encourage you to invite others to join you in this journey. As we walk through the Bible. You can help ensure that more and more people hear these life changing scriptures by giving a gift today. If you would like to keep these gospel centered christ centered messages going around the world reaching people everywhere, please give at www dot bibleinayear dot com. And if you want more resources as to how you can live the Christian life, then you can find these through my sermons and books and devotionals that you can find at Jack Graham dot org. That's jac K g r aha M dot org. Once again, thank you for allowing me to share with you through the podcast the story of Jesus, who is the Light and Hope of the world. Jesus, our Lord and Savior. The Bible is all about him preaching the Gospel of Christ. Teaching God's Word has been my life's calling throughout my days, and I am so very grateful for this opportunity that we have had to share the Bible in a year. God bless you, and may God bless his word through your life. In Jesus' name, Amen,