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Point of Grace International
PGI - December 25, 2022 Sunday Service
In our church we aim to make it feel like a home, where strangers feel they are part of the family, where smiles are overflowing and hugs are natural, because we believe that life is a journey, and that we are simply channel of blessings. In our church we value three things, gratitude because it's the proper response to God, excellence because God expects nothing less, and grace because we all need it.
Locations & Times
Point of Grace Church
15601 Sheridan St, Davie, FL 33331, USA
Saturday 9:00 AM
https://www.facebook.com/PGIFortLauderdale
LYRICS FOR TODAY'S SONGS
CCLI License # 1613304
CCLI License # 1613304
Sermon Notes
Revelation 22:6-21 ISG
Literary Analysis
6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
---7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
---12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
------14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
---16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
---20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
Summary of the Passage
“Rev. 21:9–22:5 recapitulates 21:1-8 and amplifies the picture there of God’s consummate communion with His people and their consummate safety in the new creation. The bride of v. 2 is developed in vv. 9-11; the tabernacle of v. 3 is developed in vv. 22-24; the water of v. 6 is developed in 22:1; and the fate of the sinners of v. 8 is developed in v. 27. The reference to the “beloved city” under attack (20:9) suggests that the city portrayed in 21:9–22:5 is revealed in hidden, partial form throughout the church age as a result of Christ’s redemptive work (see on 20:9). The segment here reveals the perfected form of the city. The extensive parallels noted between vv. 1-8 and 21:9–22:5 argue against the contention of some that the second section portrays an earlier earthly millennium, while the first section describes the eternal state.”
Excerpt From: G. K. Beale,David Campbell. “Revelation.” Apple Books.
New Jerusalem
“In the world to come the community of the redeemed will be inviolable, completed, perfected, and glorious because of the consummated, glorious, and eternal presence of God (21:9–22:5). The remainder of the vision can be divided in the following thematic manner: initial view and appearance of the city (21:9-14), the measurements of the city (21:15-17), the material of the city (21:18-21), the internal features of the city (21:22-27), and the symbols of the presence of God in the city (22:1-5).Broadly speaking, the structure of the city is based on the vision in Ezekiel 40–48, which prophecies the pattern of the latter-day temple (chs. 40–44) and the arrangement of the city and the land around it (chs. 45–48). This section further interprets the yet-future fulfillment of Ezekiel by collapsing temple, city, Garden of Eden, and new creation into one end-time picture portraying the one reality of God’s communion with His people. Ezekiel does identify temple, city, and land as representing the same entity, while not merging them in quite the same way. He understands both the land and the temple (37:25-28), as well as the city (48:35), as signifying God’s everlasting dwelling place. The fact that here the bride is equated with the city (vv. 2, 10) shows that a literal city is not being described.”
Excerpt From: G. K. Beale,David Campbell. “Revelation.” Apple Books.
Online Supplement Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omsdHZDS29w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy2AQlK6C5k
Reflections
“On the church as God’s temple. The city in these verses is introduced in conscious contrast to the harlot Babylon of ch. 17. It is presented, by means of very clear allusions to the prophet, as the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s vision of the new temple. The primary characteristic of the city-temple is the presence of God’s glory, which is an escalation of God’s glorious presence in Israel’s old temple. The very same OT prophecies of the end-time temple alluded to in Rev. 21:3 are also appealed to by Paul in 2 Cor. 6:16 (Lev. 26:12 and Ezek. 37:27) in supporting the notion that the church is the temple of God. The practical conclusion that Paul draws from the church being the beginning form of the temple is found in 2 Cor. 7:1: Therefore, having these promises [the temple promises being uppermost in mind], beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Priests in the OT were to keep temples clean from defilement. Now that believers are part of the temple in this age, they are to keep the temple from sinful defilement. Now that believers are part of the temple in this age, they are to keep the temple from sinful defilement. To the degree that we do this, God’s glorious tabernacling presence will shine increasingly through us. There is likely some hint of this notion here, though ch. 21 does picture the consummated form of the purified and glorious temple in the final, eternal new creation. When sin infects believers now, they (being part of the temple) should see the tension between their present lives and this vision of the pure, consummated, and glorious temple. What implications does the contrast to the harlot have for “the present conduct of the church in its albeit imperfect inaugurated manifestation of God’s temple on earth? Have we lost an emphasis on holiness previous Christian generations may have had? To what extent does the world see the glory and character of God in us now? We are His image, a people placed in the end-time temple to reflect His glory.”
“On the significance of the measurements of the temple. The commentary presents evidence that the measurements of the city wall (based on Ezekiel 40–48) emphasize the security of the city, that is, the security of God’s glorified covenant community in the eternal new creation. Nothing can harm them any more, nor can any evil threaten them. This is already true of the church’s spiritual relationship to God, as we have seen from the significance of the “measuring” (also based on Ezekiel 40–48) of the church as the invisible temple in 11:1. But remember that the physical side of the church’s temple — our physical existence — is not protected in this age, since we must witness by sacrificing our bodies in various ways (see on 11:2). In what ways are we willing to sacrifice ourselves to witness to Christ in order that others may come into a secure relationship with God? When the time of witness is over in the final new cosmos, both our spirits and our bodies will be finally protected forever, which is pictured in this passage and is our hope.”
“On the significance of the materials of the city. The presentation of the city as composed of precious stones reveals it to be the fulfillment of Aaron’s breastpiece and, in turn, of the end-time symbolism of the Holy of Holies (which the breastpiece represented). The Holy of Holies was the very place of God’s dwelling in the OT, a place which pointed to His cosmic dwelling in the final new creation. Whereas under the old covenant the presence of God was purely localized, it now extends throughout the new creation. In addition, allusion is also made to the portrayal by Ezekiel of Adam as the original bearer of the precious stones. Now Christ, the new Adam, through the church, fulfills the mandate of God to extend Eden where the first Adam failed. It is important to understand the significance of the material of the city in order to understand its nature and purpose.”
Excerpt From: G. K. Beale,David Campbell. “Revelation.” Apple Books.
Revelation 22:6-21 ISG
Literary Analysis
6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
---7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
---12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
------14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
---16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
---20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
Summary of the Passage
“Rev. 21:9–22:5 recapitulates 21:1-8 and amplifies the picture there of God’s consummate communion with His people and their consummate safety in the new creation. The bride of v. 2 is developed in vv. 9-11; the tabernacle of v. 3 is developed in vv. 22-24; the water of v. 6 is developed in 22:1; and the fate of the sinners of v. 8 is developed in v. 27. The reference to the “beloved city” under attack (20:9) suggests that the city portrayed in 21:9–22:5 is revealed in hidden, partial form throughout the church age as a result of Christ’s redemptive work (see on 20:9). The segment here reveals the perfected form of the city. The extensive parallels noted between vv. 1-8 and 21:9–22:5 argue against the contention of some that the second section portrays an earlier earthly millennium, while the first section describes the eternal state.”
Excerpt From: G. K. Beale,David Campbell. “Revelation.” Apple Books.
New Jerusalem
“In the world to come the community of the redeemed will be inviolable, completed, perfected, and glorious because of the consummated, glorious, and eternal presence of God (21:9–22:5). The remainder of the vision can be divided in the following thematic manner: initial view and appearance of the city (21:9-14), the measurements of the city (21:15-17), the material of the city (21:18-21), the internal features of the city (21:22-27), and the symbols of the presence of God in the city (22:1-5).Broadly speaking, the structure of the city is based on the vision in Ezekiel 40–48, which prophecies the pattern of the latter-day temple (chs. 40–44) and the arrangement of the city and the land around it (chs. 45–48). This section further interprets the yet-future fulfillment of Ezekiel by collapsing temple, city, Garden of Eden, and new creation into one end-time picture portraying the one reality of God’s communion with His people. Ezekiel does identify temple, city, and land as representing the same entity, while not merging them in quite the same way. He understands both the land and the temple (37:25-28), as well as the city (48:35), as signifying God’s everlasting dwelling place. The fact that here the bride is equated with the city (vv. 2, 10) shows that a literal city is not being described.”
Excerpt From: G. K. Beale,David Campbell. “Revelation.” Apple Books.
Online Supplement Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omsdHZDS29w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy2AQlK6C5k
Reflections
“On the church as God’s temple. The city in these verses is introduced in conscious contrast to the harlot Babylon of ch. 17. It is presented, by means of very clear allusions to the prophet, as the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s vision of the new temple. The primary characteristic of the city-temple is the presence of God’s glory, which is an escalation of God’s glorious presence in Israel’s old temple. The very same OT prophecies of the end-time temple alluded to in Rev. 21:3 are also appealed to by Paul in 2 Cor. 6:16 (Lev. 26:12 and Ezek. 37:27) in supporting the notion that the church is the temple of God. The practical conclusion that Paul draws from the church being the beginning form of the temple is found in 2 Cor. 7:1: Therefore, having these promises [the temple promises being uppermost in mind], beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Priests in the OT were to keep temples clean from defilement. Now that believers are part of the temple in this age, they are to keep the temple from sinful defilement. Now that believers are part of the temple in this age, they are to keep the temple from sinful defilement. To the degree that we do this, God’s glorious tabernacling presence will shine increasingly through us. There is likely some hint of this notion here, though ch. 21 does picture the consummated form of the purified and glorious temple in the final, eternal new creation. When sin infects believers now, they (being part of the temple) should see the tension between their present lives and this vision of the pure, consummated, and glorious temple. What implications does the contrast to the harlot have for “the present conduct of the church in its albeit imperfect inaugurated manifestation of God’s temple on earth? Have we lost an emphasis on holiness previous Christian generations may have had? To what extent does the world see the glory and character of God in us now? We are His image, a people placed in the end-time temple to reflect His glory.”
“On the significance of the measurements of the temple. The commentary presents evidence that the measurements of the city wall (based on Ezekiel 40–48) emphasize the security of the city, that is, the security of God’s glorified covenant community in the eternal new creation. Nothing can harm them any more, nor can any evil threaten them. This is already true of the church’s spiritual relationship to God, as we have seen from the significance of the “measuring” (also based on Ezekiel 40–48) of the church as the invisible temple in 11:1. But remember that the physical side of the church’s temple — our physical existence — is not protected in this age, since we must witness by sacrificing our bodies in various ways (see on 11:2). In what ways are we willing to sacrifice ourselves to witness to Christ in order that others may come into a secure relationship with God? When the time of witness is over in the final new cosmos, both our spirits and our bodies will be finally protected forever, which is pictured in this passage and is our hope.”
“On the significance of the materials of the city. The presentation of the city as composed of precious stones reveals it to be the fulfillment of Aaron’s breastpiece and, in turn, of the end-time symbolism of the Holy of Holies (which the breastpiece represented). The Holy of Holies was the very place of God’s dwelling in the OT, a place which pointed to His cosmic dwelling in the final new creation. Whereas under the old covenant the presence of God was purely localized, it now extends throughout the new creation. In addition, allusion is also made to the portrayal by Ezekiel of Adam as the original bearer of the precious stones. Now Christ, the new Adam, through the church, fulfills the mandate of God to extend Eden where the first Adam failed. It is important to understand the significance of the material of the city in order to understand its nature and purpose.”
Excerpt From: G. K. Beale,David Campbell. “Revelation.” Apple Books.
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https://open.spotify.com/show/1PtjmWN3kTOagTfG1QPnbT?si=f76ab3059e7049beISG Material
Study & Reflection Guide
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Study & Reflection Guide
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