the
THINK SHEET
THE FINAL TEMPLE
Every worldview has an idea of what life beyond death will be like. How we understand the future shapes how
we live today. By knowing that the story ends well, we’re encouraged to keep going in the midst of difficulty. We
can endure much hardship if we know the reward. The book of Revelation shows us the end of the story. In the
final two chapters of the Bible it describes what God’s future, or the New Creation, will look like.
»» Read Revelation 21.9–27.
Four Features of the New
Creation
1. Perfect Spirituality
Without a doubt, the stand out feature in this text
is the undiluted presence of God in the new city.
Throughout history, people have built temples to
connect with God. Even atheists have built what they
call a temple to atheism. Everyone senses the need
to connect the mortal with the divine, yet they know
there is a divide between the two. The city described
here had no such divide.
In verse 16, the city is described as a perfect cube.
The only other famous cube in biblical history is the
Holy of Holies—the part of the Jewish temple where
God’s presence dwelled. The new city doesn’t need a
temple because it is a temple itself. God’s presence is
tangible and undiluted. No longer will we struggle to
hear His voice or feel His love.
2. Perfect Safety
Much of verses 12–27 is taken up talking about
the walls of the city, describing their gates, their
foundations and their size. This emphasizes the fact
that the New Creation is perfectly safe. In verse 25 it
says, “On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there
What is the nature of
Christian hope? Can we look
forward to anything bigger
(and better) than the
American Dream?
will be no night there.” This city is illuminated by
the glory of God. Everything that opposes human
flourishing has been destroyed. We will have no
reason to worry because our safety will be certain.
What would it be like to live in a world that is entirely
safe? If we stop to think about it, fear drives a lot of
what we do. We spend so much time worrying about
health, money, jobs, kids, safety, politics and so on.
Many of our decisions are driven by these fears. In
the New Creation thing will be entirely different. We
will have a truly worry-free existence.
?
Question: What decisions have you
made out of fear? What do you find
yourself worrying about the most?
3. Unified Community
We were made to be in community with people from
different cultures and backgrounds than us. John
describes people coming together from all different
places, not fearing each other, but rejoicing in God’s
image present in each culture. It is a place of united
diversity under Christ. It will be a community where
every skin color, accent, economic status, body shape
and family background will be embraced. Those
present will be fully excited about and affirming of
each other’s uniqueness. What an amazing place.
?
Question: When have you experienced
a taste of this kind of community? How
have you learned to appreciate the
uniqueness of those different than you?
The new city doesn’t need
a temple because it is a
temple itself.
Questions to Consider
As we read this vision of the New Creation, it prompts
some important questions:
Are we headed toward the new city?
The text gives a test for how we can know if the new
city is our ultimate destination: “Nothing impure
will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what
is shameful or deceitful” (Revelation 21.27). This
doesn’t mean that God only cares about our behavior.
We need to look deeper. The reason that we do things
that are shameful or deceitful is because we think
those behaviors will get us something we want, like
pleasure, respect, money, etc. In other words, we’re
looking to things other than God for our ultimate
purpose, comfort and joy.
If we look to things other than God for our ultimate
happiness, we will not find a home in the new city.
The New Creation is the place where God is the
ultimate joy. You can know you’re headed to the new
city if God is your ultimate joy.
How do we get in?
»» Read Revelation 21.27 again.
4. All Citizens Have Meaningful Work to Do
Israel’s temple represented God’s domain on earth.
Overseeing that temple was the high priest who wore
a kind of satchel that had twelve precious stones on
it (See Exodus 28.17–20, 39.8–14). These stones
match up exactly to the stones John lists in verses 19
and 20 as part of the new city.
As we’ve already seen, the new city doesn’t need a
temple because the whole city is a temple. Well, it
also doesn’t need a high priest because everyone in
the new city is a high priest. They all oversee and
manage God’s world. We don’t know exactly what it
will involve, but it will fulfill what God commissioned
in Genesis 2 when He called Adam and Eve to work
and cultivate the garden. It will be meaningful, joyful,
fruitful work—work we’ll be excited to do!
?
Question: What work do you find
meaningful here on earth? How do you
think that will translate to the New
Creation?
Our behavior tells us if we are in, but it’s not what
gets us in. Having our names written in Jesus’ book
of life is what gets us into the new city. It’s like trying
to get into a party where you know you don’t have
the credentials on your own to get in. It requires
an invitation from someone who does have the
credentials.
While we can’t get into the new city on our own
merits, we can get in on Jesus’ merits. He was the
only person who was actually qualified to inhabit
the new city. When Jesus was crucified, He took
on our spiritual and physical darkness so we could
experience a city of light. He experienced de-creation
so we could experience being raised with Him in New
It will be a community where
every skin color, accent,
economic status, body shape
and family background
will be embraced.
Creation. He was taken outside the city of Jerusalem
and crucified so we could be brought inside the New
Jerusalem fully alive. To get our names written in
Jesus’ book, we just need to put our trust in Him.
How do we live as citizens of the new
city right now?
If the new city is where we’re headed, that should
impact how we live in the here and now.
First, it should strengthen our commitment to the
local church. In verse 9 and other parts of the New
Testament, the church is described as the bride
When people experience
the church, they should get
a glimpse of what the New
Creation will be like.
house. He could live by faith because he knew he was
headed toward the New Creation.
Followers of Jesus realize that as much as we may
think our life in this world is important, we were
created for a new world to come. That frees us up to
take risks and to live adventurously. Our hope in the
new city is much bigger than the American Dream.
?
Question: Is your ultimate destination
the new city? How does/should that affect
the way you live?
Songs sung during worship:
»» For The Beuaty Of The Earth
»» Come Ye Sinners
»» Without End
»» Take My Life
»» The Revelation Of Jesus Christ
of Christ. That means the local church is the first
installment of the New Creation that is to come.
When people experience the church, they should get
a glimpse of what the New Creation will be like. That
is why it is so important that as a church we love well,
serve freely, give generously and resolve conflicts
graciously. We should be a picture of what’s to come.
Second, it should increase our passion to help the
world hear about Jesus. The passage says the kings
of the earth will be present in the New Creation. How
will that happen?
»» Read Matthew 24.14.
The nations are going to be present in the New
Creation because those who have been transformed
by the grace of God have gone to the far corners of
the world and told them about Jesus!
Finally, it should encourage us to live by faith instead
of fear.
»» Read Hebrews 11.8–10.
Abraham knew he was headed for a new city. Because
of that, he could follow God’s lead when he didn’t
know where God was taking him. He could sacrifice
by living in tents when he could have built his dream
Speaker: Brian Aulick
Date: May 6, 2012
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