In one sense, then, John’s final vision brings God’s drama of salvation to a fitting conclusion. But “behold, I make all things new”: in another sense it opens up a whole new horizon and a host of glorious possibilities. To update the theatre analogy I used earlier into the TV age, we might liken the drama of salvation which runs its course from Genesis to Revelation to a TV series which the writers end with an ingenious and unexpected plot-twist, leaving their viewers to re-assess all that they have seen in the light of this last-minute ‘revelation’, and eagerly awaiting (so, at least, the writers hope) the follow-up series. Thus the ‘skene paradox’ of the God who comes down to live on earth with his people leaves us with many intriguing questions. If the bible story, among a mulatitude of other possible titles, could be called ‘Life on Earth’, the next instalment would be ‘New Life on a New Earth’ What will that be like ? John does not tell us: he sees no more and hears not more, so he writes no more. Indeed, he invokes on any one who should presume to add to his book – God’s book – all the seven plagues he has so vividly described, so it is wiser not to speculate ! There are two things, however, that we can do. First, and most important, we cane ensure, by putting our faith in Jesus, that we are among God’s people in the New Jerusalem when it comes down from heaven. And, secondly, we must just wait and see, for we shall see for ourselves what God has in store for us as we “wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1.7).
Saturday, 10 December 2011
SKENE - 32: What next?
In one sense, then, John’s final vision brings God’s drama of salvation to a fitting conclusion. But “behold, I make all things new”: in another sense it opens up a whole new horizon and a host of glorious possibilities. To update the theatre analogy I used earlier into the TV age, we might liken the drama of salvation which runs its course from Genesis to Revelation to a TV series which the writers end with an ingenious and unexpected plot-twist, leaving their viewers to re-assess all that they have seen in the light of this last-minute ‘revelation’, and eagerly awaiting (so, at least, the writers hope) the follow-up series. Thus the ‘skene paradox’ of the God who comes down to live on earth with his people leaves us with many intriguing questions. If the bible story, among a mulatitude of other possible titles, could be called ‘Life on Earth’, the next instalment would be ‘New Life on a New Earth’ What will that be like ? John does not tell us: he sees no more and hears not more, so he writes no more. Indeed, he invokes on any one who should presume to add to his book – God’s book – all the seven plagues he has so vividly described, so it is wiser not to speculate ! There are two things, however, that we can do. First, and most important, we cane ensure, by putting our faith in Jesus, that we are among God’s people in the New Jerusalem when it comes down from heaven. And, secondly, we must just wait and see, for we shall see for ourselves what God has in store for us as we “wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1.7).
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