In The End, God

Well, it's my privilege this morning to preach, and you might think, all right, we're going

to continue our sermon series in Genesis, right?

Well, we're actually going to Revelation this morning.

So you might think, well, wait a minute, what in the world does Revelation have to do with

Genesis?

You might be surprised how connected they are.

So as we've been talking through or working through, reading through the book of Genesis,

we've heard several big truths there, one about creation.

We've seen the fall, that is, Adam and Eve committing sin in the garden.

We've seen the separation, how that they were forced to leave the garden, how that they suffered

much more difficulty at tilling the ground and farming and gathering food.

We've seen the promise that God has given to send a Messiah through the seed of the woman,

that God would raise up a Savior, that God would raise up a Messiah, that God would raise up

a snake crusher.

And then you might ask the question, where is all this going?

What is the end of the equation?

Where is all of this pointing?

And that is what we'll see this morning.

That's why we're looking at the book of Revelation this morning, to see how these two are so similar

and where it's all pointing to.

We'll be reading this morning out of the book of Revelation.

And let me just put a caveat in here, I love the book of Revelation.

Love it.

And I'll do my best to finish within two hours this morning.

Those of you who know me know that I can spend a lot of time, and we've done that in Sunday

school, about 14 months worth.

But this morning, I'll try to confine myself to a couple of points out of the book of Revelation.

But it's dangerous a little bit to jump into a book that's so symbolic.

It's hard to understand what these truths really mean without getting the grand scheme of how

the book is written.

It's a vision that was given to John.

And this vision is very symbolic in nature.

And I'll do my best to pull out some of that symbolism for us and make it as simple as possible.

If we're going to go anywhere in the book of Revelation,

it's fairly clear at this end in chapters 21 and part of 22.

So in honor of God's word, I'd ask that you'd stand as we open his word together.

We ream from chapter, starting in chapter 21 down through verse 5 of chapter 22.

If you're able to stand, I would invite you to do so and open your word and read along.

As I read, if you would read along silently there.

Chapter 21.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,

and the sea was no more.

And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.

He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,

and God himself will be with them as their God.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,

and death shall be no more.

Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.

For the former things have passed away.

And he who is seated on the throne said,

Behold, I am making all things new.

And he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.

And he said to me, It is done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

The one who conquers will have this heritage,

and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers,

the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars,

their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,

which is the second death.

Then came one of the seven angels,

who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues,

and spoke to me, saying,

Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great high mountain

and showed me the holy city Jerusalem,

coming down out of heaven from God,

having the glory of God,

its radiance like a most rare jewel,

like a jasper, clear as crystal.

It had a great high wall with twelve gates,

and at the gates twelve angels,

and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed.

On the east three gates,

on the north three gates,

on the south three gates,

on the west three gates.

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations,

and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold

to measure the city and its gates and walls.

The city lies four square,

its length the same as its width.

And he measured the city with his rod,

twelve thousand stadia.

Its length with its width and height are equal.

He also measured its wall,

144 cubits by human measurement,

which is also an angel's measurement.

The wall was built of jasper,

while the city was pure gold,

like clear glass.

The foundations of the walls of the city

were adorned with every kind of jewel.

The first was jasper,

the second sapphire,

the third agate,

the fourth emerald,

the fifth onyx,

the sixth carnelian,

the seventh chrysolite,

the eighth beryl,

the ninth topaz,

the tenth chrysophthous,

the eleventh jasper,

the twelfth amethyst.

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls,

each of the gates made of a single pearl.

And the street of the city was pure gold,

like transparent glass.

And I saw no temple in the city,

for its temple is the Lord God,

the Almighty and the Lamb.

And the city has no need of sun or moon

to shine in it,

for the glory of God gives its light.

And its lamp is the Lamb.

By its light will the nations walk,

and the kings of the earth

will bring their glory into it.

And its gates will never be shut by day,

and there will be no night there.

They will bring into it the glory

and the honor of the nations.

But nothing unclean will ever enter into it,

nor anyone who does what is detestable or false,

but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life,

bright as crystal,

flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

through the middle of the street of the city.

Also on either side of the river,

the tree of life,

with its twelve kinds of fruit,

yielding its fruit each month.

The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

No longer will there be anything accursed,

but the throne of God and the Lamb will be in it,

and His servants will worship Him.

They will see His face,

and His name will be on their foreheads,

and night will be no more.

They will need no light or lamp or sun,

for the Lord God will be their light,

and they will reign forever and ever.

Amen.

Blessed is the reading of the Word of God.

Let's pray.

Father, would you open your Word to our hearts this morning?

Would you help us to see this grand,

beautiful picture of eternity?

God, would you bless us this morning,

I ask in Christ's name.

Amen.

Amen.

You can have a seat.

Amen.

So it's my task this morning

to relate these two ends of the Scripture.

That is, what have we seen in the book of Genesis,

and how does it relate to the book of Revelation?

How do these things tie together?

Why would we leave the series in Genesis,

jump all the way to Revelation,

and preach a sermon in Revelation?

Well, number one, it answers the question,

where's all this pointing?

What is it all heading towards?

And if I was to share it in a word,

or in a phrase,

I would say it's heading to the wedding supper of the Lamb.

You know that all of the plan of God

is pointing to that?

This beautiful picture of a wedding.

And you and I know,

even earthly weddings,

there's celebration

as part of the wedding ceremony.

We have no idea

the celebration that's going to happen

at that wedding supper of the Lamb.

But I want you to see this.

You know, many people would say,

I would certainly be included in this

early on in my Christian walk.

I would say,

you know what we really need?

Now that this sin has entered the world,

and it's a struggle,

everything seems to be a struggle,

wouldn't it be great

if we were back in the Garden of Eden

where everything was right?

But you know,

there's something even greater

than the Garden of Eden.

If we listen to the vision of John,

and we hear what he says,

I would make this claim

that there's something greater

that awaits us

than even the Garden of Eden.

Why would I say that?

Well, let me share with you

some truths that we've heard from Genesis.

And I want to share with you

some truths that we've just read.

From Revelation.

I want you to hear

a distinction between the two.

So I'm just going to take this list.

I'm going to go Genesis, Revelation,

Genesis, Revelation,

Genesis, Revelation.

I want you to hear

how beautiful it is,

this heavenly kingdom that awaits us.

You know,

Genesis talks about

the creation of heaven and earth.

You know,

Revelation talks about

a new heaven

and a new earth.

Genesis talks about

the sun,

which is the picture

of God's glory,

and the moon,

which is the reflection

of God's glory.

But do you know

that in the new heaven

and new earth,

there is not going to be

a need for the sun and moon

at all?

all of us will be

in the very presence

of God's glory.

He will be the light

of the place.

There was a physical river

flowing out of Eden.

And in Revelation,

we see a spiritual river

of life

flowing from the very throne

of God.

You know,

God is the source

of life,

and we see it

in this book of Revelation.

Man was banished

from the garden

and from the presence

of God.

In Revelation,

man is invited

to enter into

the very presence

of God.

In the book of Genesis,

we see a curse

that was placed

on the land

because of sin.

We see toil

and sorrow

affecting all.

You know,

in the book of Revelation,

there's going to be

no more curse

ever again.

No more tears.

All things

will be redeemed

forever.

We see

Adam and Eve

were covered

in Genesis,

were covered

with animal skin.

In Revelation,

we see

the bride

covered in fine

white linen.

A beautiful picture

of the righteousness

of Christ.

In Genesis,

we see

that a bride

was formed

for Adam.

In Revelation,

we see

that a bride

was prepared

for the second

Adam for Christ.

We see

in Genesis

that the bride

was susceptible

to sin.

But in Revelation,

we see

that the bride

is free

from sin.

There will never

be any more sin.

In the garden,

we see

that it was accessible

by the liar Satan.

that he had access

into the garden.

But in Revelation,

we see

that the

serpent,

Satan,

the liar,

is cast

into

the lake

of fire

and he will

not have access

to the city

of God.

We see

in Genesis

that man's

dominion

ceased

and Satan's

dominion

began.

In the book

of Revelation,

we see

Satan's

dominion

ceases

and man's

dominion

is restored.

In Genesis,

we see

that

redemption

is promised.

but in

Revelation,

we see

that

redemption

is

accomplished.

His bride

will be

with him

forever,

fully

redeemed.

All of

creation

will be

fully

redeemed.

And so

if I

ask you

this question,

how would

you summarize

the whole

Bible?

Now,

we've heard

a few

sermons

in Genesis

and I

will be

able

this morning

to talk

a little

more about

Revelation.

I trust

that everything

in between

you all

already know.

So,

how would

you summarize

the whole

Bible?

I'll give

you four

words.

Creation,

fall,

redemption,

restoration.

Again,

creation,

we see it

as we've

looked at

it in the

book of

Genesis,

how God

created

all of

this and

it was

good until

sin entered

in the

fall.

We see

the

temptation,

we see

the yielding

to temptation,

we see

the rebellion

towards the

rule of

God doing

something he

said they

should not

do,

and we

see the

separation

that resulted.

So we

see creation,

we see

the fall,

and we

hear this

promise of

redemption

that he

will send

a seed,

a seed of

the woman

who will

be a

snake

crusher.

He will

crush the

head of

the serpent,

Satan.

We see

all through

the Old

Testament

this pointing

towards a

Messiah,

this coming

of the

seed of

David,

this coming

of the

one who

he promised

to be the

source of

our redemption,

our Savior,

Jesus.

And then

in Revelation,

we see this

beautiful picture

where it's all

heading.

It's headed

to this

restoration

where all

things will

be made

right,

all sin

will be

wiped

away,

all of

us will

be glorified,

those of

us who

are part

of his

bride.

So if

you will

turn with

me,

hopefully

your Bible

is still

open to

Revelation,

and I

want you

to see

two main

points this

morning out

of these

passages.

That is

just chapter

21 and

22.

And the

first I

want you

to see

is this.

When we

talk about

this heavenly

kingdom,

we have

this beautiful

picture in

verse 1 of

chapter 21.

It says

this,

there will

be a new

heaven and

a new

earth.

It will

be restored.

And I

love the

beautiful

truths that

are wound

into verse

2.

And this

is our

first point.

The point

is this,

the bride

prepared.

The bride

is prepared.

Let me

just say

this.

As we

look at

this passage,

you'll see

in verse 2,

let me read

it.

And I

saw the

holy city

in New

Jerusalem

coming down

out of

heaven from

God,

prepared as

a bride.

Let me

take a

moment to

unravel what

this means in

symbolic language.

So when we

see this

picture that's

referred to

as a city,

we have to

understand that

even in Isaiah

and even in

the Psalms,

often in the

Old Testament

as well as

in New,

there is a

symbolic

reference of

Jerusalem.

Here in New

Jerusalem,

it's referring

to the people

of God.

And so when

we see that

this city is

called a bride,

it's just

another way of

saying that the

bride is the

church.

So we see

it here,

that is in

verse 2,

is this holy

city,

New Jerusalem,

prepared as

a bride.

It's talking

about the

church.

The beautiful

picture of the

bride of

Christ.

And I want

you to note

the bride had

to be prepared.

You know,

in truth,

the bride can't

prepare herself.

We know that,

right?

Because we,

the church,

apart from the

shed blood of

Christ would

have no hope

of ever being

in the heavenly

kingdom.

Something has

to happen for

us to be made

right with God,

to be placed in

relationship with

God.

And as this text

shares,

I saw the

holy city.

What does it

mean to be

holy?

Holy means to

be set apart

for the purpose

of God.

Who sets the

church apart?

God himself

does.

God sets the

church apart

as holy.

holy.

This city is

holy,

is his.

For his

purpose.

I want you to

also,

in line with

that,

see this,

as we keep

reading in this

verse,

it says that

New Jerusalem

coming down

out of heaven.

This text,

this phrase

means that

it's from

God.

The source

of this

redeemed

church,

this beautifully

prepared bride,

is God

himself.

when we see

this phrase

coming out

of heaven,

that is a

phrase that

means that

God has

done this,

that God

has prepared

this bride.

I want you

to also

notice,

if we go

back into

the previous

chapter,

we did not

read it,

but I want

you to look

at the

verse that

preceded

chapter 21

and it

says this.

I feel

like I need

to give you

a little

context here

for us to

understand what

this verse

says.

So the

context is

this,

if we were

to read

the previous

chapter,

chapter 20,

we would

see that

it's talking

about judgment.

It's talking

about the

final judgment,

judgment day.

And if we

read verse 14,

it says,

then death

and Hades

were thrown

into the

lake of

the fire,

a lake

of fire,

this is a

second death.

It's referring

to the

final judgment

when everything

that's not

of God,

that everything

that's not

a part of

the bride,

the church,

is going

to be judged

and going

to be thrown

into the

lake of fire.

And then

verse 15,

it says this.

And if anyone's

name was not

found written

in the book

of life,

he was

thrown into

the lake

of fire.

Everyone's

name was not

written in the

book of life.

You know,

it talks about

that too in

chapter 21,

the last

verse.

That is

verse 27.

And I'll

read that now

because it ties

into this

concept of

this Lamb's

book of

life.

That in

this book

of life

is written

the name

of every

person that's

ever been

saved.

And we

see in

this holy

city,

it says,

but nothing

unclean

will ever

enter into

this holy

city,

ever.

Nor anyone

who does

what is

detestable

or false,

but only

those whose

names are

written in

the Lamb's

book of life,

they're the

only ones

that will

enter this

city.

And what

does that

mean?

What is

being shared

here?

This holiness,

this what God

has done on

behalf of

his bride,

this concept

that there

is a Lamb's

book of

life,

where all

of the names

of all the

saints that

have ever

lived are in

this book

of life.

I want you

to hear it

from Paul.

So Paul

shares in

Ephesians

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2,

I want you

to hear a

few verses

about the

bride of

Christ being

prepared.

So before

I read that,

I just want

to say this,

is that we

are, that

is those of

us who are

born again,

those of us

who are

Christian,

those of us

that are in

the kingdom,

those of us

are a part of

the bride of

Christ, the

church.

Something has

happened in

our life.

Nicodemus

would know

it's this,

that you must

be born again.

And it's

my prayer

that everyone

here this

morning is

born again.

If you're

not, then

this is the

need.

What I'm

about to

read in

Ephesians

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2

is going

to reveal

that this

is what it

looks like

to be born

again, to

be saved,

to be a

part of

the bride.

Chapter

2 of

Ephesians

verse 3

says this,

we once

lived in

the passions

of our

flesh,

carrying out

the desires

of the

body and

the mind,

and we

were by

nature

children of

wrath.

Do you

identify with

that?

Do you

know a

time in

your life

when you

were in

rebellion to

God, where

you were

not his

child?

Where we

were in

sin, we've

looked in

Genesis, and

we've seen in

Adam that the

sin of Adam

is carried on

to everyone

in the race.

All men

are now born

in Adam, and

they're born

with this

sin nature, with

this propensity

to sin, and

we are called

enemies of

God, and by

nature we're in

opposition to

God.

We want to

build our

kingdom, we

don't want to

honor God's

kingdom.

We want to

be God, we

don't want to

honor him as

God.

That's just

who we are

because we're

born in sin,

we're born in

Adam, we're by

nature children

of wrath, but

God, isn't that a

beautiful phrase?

Verse 4, Paul

says, but God,

God intervened

into the world,

into the

situation, on

behalf of

those that

would be a

part of the

church, those

whose names are

written in the

Lamb's book of

life, God

entered into, and

he did this, but

God being rich in

mercy, because of

the great love

with which he

loved us, even

when we were

dead in our

trespasses, he

made us alive

together with

Christ.

By grace, you

have been saved

and raised up

with him and

seated us with

him in the

heavenly places

in Christ

Jesus, so that

in the coming

ages, he might

show the

immeasurable

riches of his

grace and

kindness toward

us.

for by grace

you've been

saved through

faith.

Let me just

say that again.

Apart from the

grace of God, we

would never enjoy

the wedding

supper of the

Lamb.

Apart from the

grace of God

and salvation, we

would never know

what it means to

be his child.

We would be

also cast into

the lake of

fire, apart from

the incredible

grace of God on

our behalf, that

we might be

saved.

God.

This is the gift

of God.

It's not your

own doing.

It's God's

gracious gift that

he would allow

us to look

forward to this

beautiful picture

that's coming.

So again, back

to Revelation,

this whole phrase,

this first point

I'm making has

three parts.

The first point

is that the bride

is being prepared.

Who is doing the

preparation?

God himself.

In what way is

he preparing?

Well, the first

way is salvation.

Only those who

are saved, only

those whose names

are written in

the book of life,

the Lamb's book

of life, will

enjoy this

restored kingdom,

this heavenly

kingdom.

And the second

aspect is this.

I want you to

see.

Make sure I'm

on the right

chapter here.

Yes.

21 verse 2

says this.

It says,

I saw the

holy city,

New Jerusalem,

coming down out

of heaven from

God, prepared

as a bride

adorned.

I want to

emphasize the

word adorned

for her husband.

This bride will

be adorned.

Now, you can

picture the

wedding in

this world.

You can picture

that that is a

day that ladies

look forward to

all their life.

The day when

they will be

wed to a man

that they love.

And it's the

day when they

go out and

they buy this

perfect dress,

this beautiful

dress.

And they

spend all

day, and I

don't know how

they can do

this, but they

spend all day

getting their

hair done.

And they

doll up.

It's as

beautiful as

they can be.

They get their

friends to come

over.

They enjoy the

whole process

on this

incredible day.

But I want us

to really dig

into this word

adorned.

What does it

mean for the

bride of Christ,

the church,

to be adorned?

A woman would

get dressed and

put on a dress

and jewelry and

do up her hair and

she would be

adorned ready for

the wedding.

What does it

look like for the

church to be

ready?

What does it

look like to be

adorned?

Well, I want you

to see it.

As Paul talks

about it, I want

you to see it in

Colossians chapter

three.

I'm just going to

read it.

What does it

mean to be

adorned?

There's this

beautiful truth

where Paul

talks to the

church and he

says, put off

anything that

has to do with

the world.

Put off anything

that has to do

with Satan.

Put off anything

that has to do

with self.

And put on,

adorn yourself

with, listen to

the word of God,

as chosen ones

of God, holy

and beloved,

put on

compassionate

hearts,

kindness,

humility,

meekness,

patience,

bearing with

one another.

If anyone

has a complaint

against another,

forgive each

other as the

Lord has

forgiven you.

So you also

must forgive

and above all

these put on

love, which

binds everything

together in

perfect harmony

and let the

peace of God

rule in your

hearts to which

indeed you are

called in one

body and be

thankful.

Let the word

of Christ dwell

in you richly,

teaching and

admonishing one

another in all

wisdom, singing

psalms and

hymns and

spiritual songs

with thankfulness

in your hearts

to God.

And whatever

you do in

word or deed,

do everything

in the name

of the Lord

Jesus, giving

thanks to God

the Father

through him.

How are we

doing, church?

Do you hear

the beautiful

picture of what

he's doing in

the life of

his church to

prepare his

church for the

wedding supper

of the Lamb?

You know, the

word of God

talks about

Christ and

what he did

on behalf of

the bride.

It's such a

beautiful picture

of what Christ

has done.

There is a

preparation that

is happening for

the bride right

now.

And as

Christians, we

are part of

that preparation.

What is he

doing in the

life of the

church?

What is he

doing in your

heart?

You know what

he's doing?

He's changing

us into the

very image of

Christ.

He's given

us a new

heart with

new desires

and he said,

seek my

kingdom and

my righteousness,

everything else

I'll take care

of.

You just

focus your

eyes on

Jesus, the

author and

perfecter of

your faith.

And listen

to what it

said Christ

did.

Christ loved

the church

and he gave

himself up

for her.

He died.

He loved

the church in

such a great

measure that

he died for

the bride.

Christ loved

the church and

gave himself up

for her that

he might

sanctify her.

There's the

word,

sanctify.

You know the

church right

now is being

sanctified?

What does it

look like to

be prepared?

It looks like

that God is

doing this work

in our life

that we're

more and

more and

more and

more and

more like

Christ.

That we

turn away

from worldly

ways and we

turn toward

godly ways and

we begin to

reflect the

very image of

Christ in

our lives.

He goes on

to say that

he might

sanctify her

having cleansed

her.

You know we

need to be

cleansed?

Cleansed her

by the

washing of

water and

by the

word.

You know the

word of God

cleanses us?

So that he

might present

the church to

himself in

splendor.

Man.

man.

I don't

know that we

grasp the

greatness of

what's being

done for

us.

He goes on

to say

without spot

or wrinkle

or any

such thing

that she

might be

holy and

without

blemish.

You know

what he's

doing?

He is

doing a

work in

the life

of the

church so

that the

church will

be totally

without

blemish.

You know

what that

work is

called?

Sanctification.

So we've

seen one

aspect of

a prepared

bride that

is justification

to be

saved.

We've seen

another look

another aspect

of what it

means to

be prepared

as a bride

and that is

to be

sanctified.

That more

and more

we look

like Christ.

More and

more we

live like

Christ.

More and

more we

honor God

with the

way we

think,

what we

say,

and what

we do.

And then

thirdly I

want you to

see this

amazing,

amazing

picture of

the bride

prepared in

chapter 21

of Revelation.

Starting in

verse 9 it

says this,

I'm going to

skip down to

the place

that says,

come I

will show

you the

bride.

So John

is seeing a

vision,

you know what

he's seeing?

He's seeing a

vision of the

bride.

Who is the

bride?

The church.

I will show

you the bride,

the wife of

the Lamb,

and he carried

me away in

the Spirit to

a great high

mountain.

You know what

that means?

Great high

mountains?

It means you

can see

everything.

You're on

this high

mountain,

it's just

great visibility

is what it

means symbolically.

And he showed

me the holy

city Jerusalem,

it's the church

coming down out

of heaven for

God.

Listen to this,

having the glory

of God.

You know there's a

day coming when

you and I are

going to be

glorified.

God.

This old sin

nature that

drives us

crazy and

causes us to

stumble,

tempts us all

the time,

feeds on our

flesh that

desires and

craves to be

filled,

it's going to

be done away

with.

We're going to

receive a brand

new body,

a glorified

body.

He's going to

make us new.

He's going to

restore us in

such a way that

we're going to

be glorified.

You know that in

Revelation he says

no sin can come

near me because

of the great

holiness of God.

You know that all

sin will be taken

away.

You know that

to Moses he

said,

God show me

your glory and

what did he say

to Moses?

No man can see

my glory and

live because of

your sin.

Do you know in

Revelation it says

we're going to be

able to see him

face to face?

You know why?

Because our sin

is taken away.

We've been

glorified.

We individually

and we as a

body that is the

church will be

totally glorified.

We will be

with him in

such a way

that it was

meant the way

that God meant

it to be with

no sin,

no enemy,

no sin nature,

no crying,

no tears.

We will be in

the very presence

of God.

We'll see him

face to face.

We'll enjoy the

fellowship fully.

You know we've

tasted it now.

Individually if

y'all experience

those moments when

you know you're

in the presence

of God.

It's like

to be in the

presence of a

holy God is

powerful.

Do you know we

will eternally be

in the presence

of God?

We will experience

the fellowship that

we know momentarily

now.

This concept of

abiding with him,

this concept of

fellowship,

this close

relationship,

closer than any

other relationship,

right?

We will be

married to

Christ.

And the

beautiful picture

here is the

holy city

Jerusalem coming

down out of

heaven from God,

having the glory

of God.

It's radiance

like a most

rare jewel.

You know when I

was younger,

I grew up in

inland South

Carolina, but we

had a little

camper at the

beach in Myrtle

Beach.

And I tell you,

I was on that

beach looking for

shark's teeth like

you can't imagine.

I had a little

glass thing in my

camper.

We had a camper at

the campground.

I had every summer I

would try to fill that

thing up.

And over time I did,

I filled it up.

They were so tiny you

couldn't hardly see

them.

I was always looking

for that big one,

you know, the one you

can make a necklace

out of.

Or when I would go

to one of the stores

in downtown Myrtle

Beach, they had

megalodon teeth and

they were bigger in my

hand.

I'm like, that's what

I want.

Never did find it.

But I was always

looking for it.

When I was in

college, I was a

geologist.

And the thing that I

really loved about

being a geologist was

the gems.

I love the gemstones.

I love all the

crystals.

I just, I don't know

why in me I always

wanted to find the

big, important,

beautiful crystal that

would, I could just

stare at and wonder.

And I know we, as

a guy, as a

geologist up in the

mountains of North

Carolina, I found

emeralds, I found

rubies, I found

sapphires, I found

gold, I found some

of these things.

But it was always

fun for me to go

searching for it.

I found kyanite.

Y'all probably don't

know what that means.

But that is something

that ended up in the

trophy case at

Furman.

I didn't even think

it was all that

impressive, but they

did.

My point is that

there's just something

in me that wants to

find this incredible

rare jewel.

Went to Arkansas and

looked for crystals,

quartz crystals.

That long, that

long, that long.

They had them sitting

there.

They were literally,

you couldn't put your

arms around, just

beautiful crystal clear

look right through

them.

It always amazed me.

But listen to this.

That we, the church,

will have radiance.

We will shine.

If you take a diamond

and put it in the light,

what happens?

Light goes everywhere

and it's amazing.

You can do that with

an emerald and it

does the same thing.

It throws green light

everywhere.

It's just beautiful.

And he likens the

church, the bride,

glorified to this

most rare jewel.

It's the most rare.

It means there's no

more rare jewel.

There's nothing more

beautiful than that.

You found it.

In a sense.

I found what I was

always looking for,

but this far exceeds

it all.

Like a most rare jewel,

it shines off the glory

of God.

Why?

Because the church

has been glorified.

You know,

we don't know

what it's like

to be glorified.

We can't imagine

not having the temptations

and not having

the constant battle

against sin.

You know,

there's a day coming

we'll enjoy

that fellowship

with Him,

a beautiful fellowship.

So the bride prepared

and secondly,

eternity entered.

Do you know that

as a church,

as believers,

that one day

we will enter heaven

and we will enjoy

this incredible

love-filled relationship

that's far beyond

even our wildest imagination?

You remember what Christ

said when He was

on the cross?

He's about to die

and He says,

God, God,

why have you

forsaken me?

What was He saying?

Why have you

turned your back on me?

Why do I not

have fellowship

with you now?

You know,

He didn't say it

about the beating.

He didn't say it

about any of the

difficult physical aspects.

He did say,

if this can pass,

take it from me,

but I'm willing

to walk this road

for the sake

of the prize

that's on the other end

and that prize

is the bride,

the church.

But Christ

lost fellowship

with God

because He took on

the sins of the world.

it's the most precious thing

He ever had.

He lost it.

Do you know

we're getting it

as a gift?

This fellowship

that the Father

and Son

and Holy Spirit

have shared

from eternity past

that He's allowing us

to enter into

the beautiful fellowship

that we'll enjoy

in the heavenly kingdom.

Chapter 22.

You know,

the symbol is this,

the picture of the symbol

is like this throne room

of God

and flowing out

of the throne room

is life.

You know that there is