When John wrote the book of Revelation, he wasn’t giving the church a codebook to decipher or an abstract puzzle to solve. He was giving hope—living hope—to people who were suffering, persecuted, and tempted to despair.
In Revelation 21–22, John unveils a breathtaking vision of where the story of redemption is headed: not an escape from the world, but the renewal of all things. He sees “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1) and the holy city, the New Jerusalem, descending from God. The city shines with God’s glory, and unlike earthly cities, there is no temple—because God Himself and the Lamb are its temple (21:22).
This vision is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul calls Him the firstfruits from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20). Just as the first sheaf of grain signals the full harvest to come, Christ’s resurrection is the beginning of new creation—a foretaste of the day when all things will be made new.
In Revelation 22, the tree of life reappears—once barred in Eden, now accessible again. It bears twelve kinds of fruit, yielding every month, and its leaves bring healing to the nations. This is not poetic fancy—it is God’s promise to a broken, bleeding world.
What does it mean for us today?
- We have a living hope, not just a vague optimism, but a certain future anchored in Christ’s victory.
- We are part of a bigger story—one that ends not in ruin but in restoration.
- We are called to live faithfully now, knowing the final chapter has already been written.
The Spirit carried John “in the Spirit” to see these things—not to speculate, but to strengthen. The same Spirit carries us today, reminding us that Jesus is on the throne, that evil will not have the last word, and that every tear will be wiped away.
So we wait. We witness. We worship. And we live with hope—not a hope that fades, but one that bears fruit every month, nourished by the river that flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the living hope we have in You. Anchor my heart in Your promises. Let me live today in the light of what is coming—bearing fruit, offering healing, and looking always to You, who makes all things new. Amen.
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