Just as in the Old Testament, some passages focus on our call to care for the earth, some focus on the ways we’ve failed to live up to that call, and some focus on the promise of hope that remains, so, too, the New Testament reflects this pattern. In recent weeks we’ve explored the call and the failure; this week, let’s look at the hope that drives us forward.
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”
13 And I heard every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying,
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever.”
14 And the four living creatures were saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
-- Revelation 5:11-14, NASB
At the end of days, we will be unified with creation in our worship of Him who sits on the throne, glorifying and blessing His name. The elders, the living creatures, the angels, and every created thing in the heavens, earth, and sea, myriads and myriads, thousands and thousands, all raising our voices together. Where do you see yourself in that list? Whom will you be standing next to?
every created thing
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,
“We give You thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. 18 And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
-- Revelation 11:15-18, NASB
This passage is full of wrath and reward: reward for those who have walked with the Lord and wrath for those who have gone against Him. This passage is stark in its statements of coming judgment1, but I see hope here. Hope for justice, for setting things right. It’s important, though, that this is God’s justice, God’s judgment. We hold our fellow humans accountable, but it is God who has the final say. Do you find it comforting that a time will come when those who destroy the earth will be destroyed?
destroy those who destroy the earth
And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; 4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will reign forever and ever.
-- Revelation 22:1-2, NASB
This passage is a beautiful vision, full of images of creation and us flourishing. God’s presence is in our midst. There is water and food aplenty, free of pollution. There is medicine and safety. The curse that devours the earth is no more. Which of these promises speaks to your heart? Which do you most long to see come to pass? Which do you work toward?
river of the water of life
yielding its fruit every month
the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations
the Lord God will illuminate
there will no longer be any curse
Judgment is often misinterpreted by our Western context, with its focus on legal judgment. I have come to think of judgment as a ‘balancing of the scales,’ a different way of expressing that God will set everything right.
Thanks, the close reading of revelation helps me!
To answer the questions- the Lord God will illumine speaks to me,
there will be no more curse is what I look forward to,
and the leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations is what I would work towards
Do you think part of what we'll be doing is "dressing and keeping the earth" much as God had intended for Adam and Eve? I mean, I doubt we're going to sit around and look at what will then be a perfect world but will rather rejoice with fellow Believers at the beauty, wonder and productivity of that Creation. We will be nourished as much by what is cultivated there as by the presence of the other redeemed.
Praise the Lord!!
J.O.