Our natural life here on earth ends in our funeral. As the Scripture declares: What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave (Psalm 89:48)”? None.

But the Good News of Jesus Christ proclaims that the final chapter in the story of our lives is not death but resurrection. This is true of us because our Trailblazer, Jesus, has gone before us and defeated death. In Acts 2:24 we read these words regarding Jesus: “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” In John 11:25 Jesus declares: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies.” No wonder they call this “Good News” or “Gospel”.

Come! You’re Invited To The Greatest Wedding

On the basis of this “Gospel” we shouldn’t be surprised that the Judaeo-Christian Bible does not end with a funeral but with the joyous occasion of a wedding (Rev. 19:5-9). I should say not a wedding but The Wedding which all other weddings are a faint portent. This Wedding is the ultimate consummation of the union between Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom, and His Bride, the Church. The Church is made up of all true believers and followers of the crucified and risen Christ. Revelation 19:9 calls it the wedding supper of the Lamb.

It is because Jesus was slain as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world that He has made possible our forgiveness with God and justification by Him on that last and glorious day. A day when we will see our Bridegroom Jesus face-to face (1 John 3:1-3) and when God will wipe every tear from our eyes. And there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away (Revelation 21:1-4).

The Tale Of Two Women……Two Cities…..Two People

In the last chapters of the Book of Revelation, there is a sharp contrast set up between 2 cities: Babylon (Rev. 14:8, 16:17-21, 17:1-18:24), pictured as a prostitute (Rev. 17:1-6), and the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21-22), which comes out of heaven, as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband (Rev. 21:2). It is quite clear that Babylon has an immediate reference to Rome. She sits on 7 hills (Rev. 17:9) and she is described as “the great city that rules over the kings of the earth” (Rev. 17:18). The city of Rome is built on 7 hills, and she was the capital of the Roman Empire, which ruled over many nations.

To John and his first readers, Babylon would have been clearly Rome. It is the place where the worship of the Roman Emperors originated. (See also 1 Peter 5:13, where Peter refers to Rome as Babylon). It would also have the spiritual meaning of any world city or civilization that would set itself up in opposition to God. It is man and his society living in idolatrous pleasure, and which has opened itself up to all sorts of demonic deception and bondage (Rev. 18:1-24). It is also the City where Jesus’ faithful servants are persecuted for proclaiming and living out the Gospel (Rev. 18:20).

It is also quite clear that right before Christ comes back, that the City of Man will abound in idolatrous pleasure and demonic deception (1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Rev. 17-18). This final world civilization will be led by the final beast out of the sea, the final and ultimate Antichrist (Rev. 13:1-10). He will be supported and abetted in his sinister work by an ultimate and final false prophet (Rev. 13:11-18). They will be defeated by the True Christ, Jesus, at His Second Coming (Rev. 19:11-21).

In the end, life and love triumph over death and hate. This is so because in the Gospel of Jesus, God in Christ has triumphed over Satan, human evil and death. At the end of this present age, we see the devil and his cohorts put away in hell once for all (Rev. 20:7-10). No more of his deceiving and alienating work in God’s creation. Their will be perfect harmony between the new heaven and the new earth. Shalom will reign fully and God’s will be perfectly done in the New Jerusalem and the lives of redeemed humanity (Rev. 21,22).

This Gospel birthed the Church 2000 years ago and will sustain it until Christ comes back a second time. Let us keep trusting the Good Shepherd Jesus because He died for us and was raised for our justification. He cares for His sheep and He always intercedes for us at the right-hand of God. This is the Good News of Jesus!

Congratulations for reading through the New Testament! I trust that it has been as much a blessing for you as for me.  Be encouraged and be strengthened in God’s grace, as you serve the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who has taken our sins away. Pastor John