I know salvation is “by Grace.”

It is the “Gift of God.”

Yet today’s verse is still true.

It focuses on “rewards” in the Christian life, “blessings” given by God for our faithfulness in Christian service, for being determined and loyal and diligent and persistent!

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” Revelation 21:7, obviously with God as the Speaker!

As I understand Bible doctrine, soteriology specifically … what Scripture teaches about salvation … the moment I trust Jesus and am “washed in His precious Blood” … I am saved! I become a child of God. He becomes my Father in Heaven. John 1:12 comes to mind, as a “proof” text. “But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Amen!

But our text today seems to imply (perhaps) that as I successfully (via the presence and power of the Holy Spirit) live for God (become an “overcomer”) … my relationship with God as Father “deepens!” Becomes more vivid? And my sonship in the family of God becomes more real! This reciprocal fellowship matures! Read it here again, our verse today. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; AND I WILL BE HIS GOD, AND HE SHALL BE MY SON.”

The verb “overcome” is “nikao” in Greek, meaning “to prevail, to conquer.” To be a victor in Christ, through Christ our Lord! (In fact, in Romans 8:37 Paul says we can become “more than conquerors!”)

And to “inherit” means “to be given a portion.” Sounds like you’ve been granted a part of the Estate, placed in the Will of God Almighty!

Ruling and reigning with Him, Jesus, for eternity! Revelation 5:10 promises: “And (Jesus our Lord) hast made us unto our God KINGS and PRIESTS and we shall reign on the earth.”

God really seems to place a real “premium” on faithfulness … especially during trying, difficult times. Seven times in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 does the Lord say that He will give certain blessings to those who are “overcomers!” To each of the 7 Churches mentioned there is such a message delivered! Here’s a typical example: “To him that OVERCOMETH will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also OVERCAME, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:21 … then clearly our victory is based on His Victory!

Wow!

Ponder the verse today. I must do so as well. What resolve it should give us … to tenaciously live for our Lord, even in these dark days of apostasy. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

Remember, this verse is repeated as we enter the New Jerusalem!

Home, safe … forever!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

It happens all the way through the Bible. Especially (I’ve noticed) in the Book of Revelation! Of all places, I might add. A Portion of Scripture that is normally considered harsh, full of judgment!

What happens, Preacher Bagwell?

An invitation from our Lord, an offer of the saving Grace of God!

Let me show you what I mean, today’s verse, Revelation 21:6. It is beautiful!

“And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” Revelation 21:6

Here we have our Lord (Jesus Christ, God’s Son) talking to John the Disciple, while the latter is exiled on a small body of land known as “Patmos,” in the Aegean Sea. East of Greece but just off the west coast of what’s today called the nation of Turkey. “And he said unto me …” What sweet communion this must have been! (Yet I believe that in a sweet, definite way “He walks with me and talks with me” too! Via His Holy Spirit!)

The clause “It is done” translates a verb that 82 times in the New Testament means “to come to pass.” But, what things are “done?”

I believe this refers to the previous verse, studied yesterday and archived on the website here. “And he that sat upon the throne (again, this is Jesus) said, Behold, I make all things new.” Wow! Our great Creator has been at work again! Know what? Michael the Archangel can’t create! Nor can Gabriel! Even Einstein couldn’t (“Matter can be neither created nor destroyed!”)!

But Jesus can, “create!” Earth, Heaven, the eternal Capitol City! “All things,” really! All sin’s “fingerprints” are gone! Burned away, melted! Yes, Second Peter 3:10 will have been fulfilled, literally and completely! “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”

Then the re-creation, “all things new.”

Back to today’s verse now. “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”

Jesus is “Alpha” and “Omega.” He has said this before, in both Revelation 1:8 and 1:11. And will say it again, Revelation 22:13. But what do these terms mean? Jesus immediately tells us, an appositive follows. The “beginning” and the “end,” the in Greek “arche” and the “telos.” And, as most of you know, “Alpha” is the first letter of the alphabet (in John’s culture) and “Omega” is the last letter! What a way to describe the Creator! We’ve just sped from Genesis to Revelation, folks, from the beginning to the consummation! He created thousands of years ago … and will so so yet again! Hallelujah!

But now the invitation, given because of Who Jesus is! Creator! Eternal God! Merciful Saviour! I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”

Jesus, the Giver!

Because He died on the cross to forgive sins!

Only those who are “thirsty” need ask! Or perhaps only those who are thirsty will ask! Longing for the Water of Life! Remember John 4:11-14, Jesus at the well of Jacob, near the town of Sychar, talking to a Samaritan woman? “The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Jesus IS that Water of life!

And Jesus “gives” this “freely!”

The adverb “freely” is spelled “dorean” in Greek, meaning “undeservedly!” Once translated “without a cause,” John 15:25.

Yes, soul salvation is a Gift of God!

Listen to Paul the Apostle in Ephesians 2:8-9. This is classic! “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT OF GOD. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

To which I can only say, “AMEN!”

May I today testify? The Lord Jesus Christ has freely given me that Water of Life! I spiritually thirst no more! If you’re reading here today and do not personally know Jesus … I strongly recommend him to you!

He is STILL saying: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

One of the greatest facts in all the Bible! Revelation 21:5 tells us, with God Himself delivering the Message: “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

The first verb in the sentence (in English) is “sat,” revealing God’s “posture” as He rules the world. This word is expressed in the present tense in Greek, God is constantly sitting on His Throne! There will NEVER be a second when He is not “in control!”

Then the word “behold” is a verb, too, a command (imperative mood). Meaning something like: “Look, don’t miss this!” Be alert, be aware!

God then claims to “make” (in Greek “poieo” with an emphasis on order and beauty) “all things new!” This again is a present tense verb, active voice. God is RIGHT NOW in the process of making things “new.” Perhaps “New Jerusalem” in under construction, this very second! (As in the six days of creation.)

And the adjective “new” translates “kainos,” used 44 times in the New Testament. Each of those times the word is expressed (in the King James Version) as “new.” But in the sense of being “fresh, unused, unworn, recent!”

This subtly implies the scientific law of “atrophy,” that things in this old sin-cursed world are “wearing out,” aging, being depleted.

So eternity for us not only includes a new earth. And a New Heaven. Plus a New Jerusalem! There’s even more! God is making all things “new!” No doubt cleansing His creation from the “taint” of sin.

But not only is God busy doing this … He too wants us to know! To be aware what’s “planned” for the Believer in Christ! ” The Lord to John:  ““And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5b, today’s text.

“Write” is (obviously) an imperative verb, another command. (Once the Prophet Daniel was told NOT TO WRITE! (Daniel 12:4 … “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end ….”) In Revelation 10:4 John himself was given this unusual order concerning “seven thunders!”

BUT NOW GOD WANTS US TO BE AWARE! To encourage us, I suspect. “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

God’s Speeches are always “true” and faithful.” After all, He can not lie (Titus 1:2). These two adjectives are somewhat parallel in meaning. “True” (in Greek “alethinos” meaning “unable to forget”) and “faithful” (“pistos” meaning “trustworthy”) are attributes (traits, characteristics) of God’s very Essence, His very Being.

I close our study today CONFIDENTLY. Believing with all my heart what Revelation 21:5 has promised. One day, all things will be made new!

That’s God!

He is awesome, but beautiful!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

One of the most comforting verses, in all the Bible. Perhaps one of the most quoted, as well. Today’s Text: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4

Oh, the untold suffering Christians have endured through the centuries. Climaxing during the Tribulation, I suspect, martyrs and martyrs, multitudes. But when God comes to earth, when His new Heavenly City (New Jerusalem) descends … what a dramatic change will occur!

The Millennium has ended.

The Devil’s final revolt has been extinguished. (“The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 21:10)

The wicked have all been judged at God’s great White Throne.

And God’s “new things” have been instituted, a perfect (sinless) way of life!

All sadness is now to be dispelled! Again, our thought for today: “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

What a list!

No more tears!

No more death!

No more sorrow (from Greek “pascho,” sorrow due to suffering)!

Past tears gone, future tears impossible! No more crying! This includes the idea of “clamor,” Loud screams, wails of grief!

No more pain (hinting that “poverty” which causes so much suffering has now been obliterated)!

Think of the industries that will exist no more!

The Kleenex, tissue manufacturers!

All funeral professionals!

No more paid counsellors!

No analgesics, pain-killers, pharmacies!

No doctors or hospitals!

All the “wages” of sin … gone!

Those “former things” (in Greek “protos” … that which too long has occupied human time and attention and resources) have “passed away.” Have departed!

No wonder the Bible anticipates the Lord’s Return!

Again I close this way, for today. With the Bible’s last prayer: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Future events are being described.

John the Apostle (and Prophet) has been telling us about a time when God will reveal, create a new earth! And a new Heaven as well! “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:1-2

Then in today’s verse John adds: “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Revelation 21:3

The expression “great voice” is “megas phone” in Greek, our word “megaphone,” an obviously amplified sound. It (this term) is used (“great voice”) six times in Revelation, and no where else in the New Testament. Although twice in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 5:22 (giving of the Ten Commandments) and Jeremiah 51:55 (the voice of great Babylon, the world’s most wicked metropolis of that time).

“Behold” means “look” in Greek, the verb being “idou,” an imperative in our text here. “Don’t miss this, watch carefully!”

The noun “tabernacle” is “skene,” the word for “tent” literally. God Himself will “pitch a tent” and live on earth, in Jerusalem! This is the word often used of the Old Testament “tabernacle,” forerunner to the great Temple that King Solomon built.

By the way, this is the same verb John used when He described the Virgin Birth, the Incarnation of Jesus! “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (“skenoo”) among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Wow!

Then … “He (God) will dwell (“skenoo” again) with them (men and women), and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

The preposition “with” is spelled “meta,” literally meaning “among” them! Very intimate, personal, loving! Pure, as well. Mankind … God’s people! God, the Bible God, worshipped by the inhabitants of earth! Psalm 89:6 prophesied: “All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.”

Yes!

This is a Presence of God that seems to even outstrip the Garden of Eden! “And they (Adam and Eve) heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” Amazing!

The very Shekinah Glory of God come to earth … permanently!

“And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, A CLOUD AND SMOKE by day, and the SHINING OF FLAMING FIRE by night: for upon all THE GLORY shall be a defence.” Isaiah 4:5

What a Day that will be!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20, what a prayer! Is it ours?