ST. PAUL SCHOOL OF SERVANT-LEADERSHIP

“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1)

(With Frank Eiklor, Walter and Cecilia Contreras, and Christopher Lucey)

LESSON 44 (Part 8)

INTRODUCTION

This is the final lesson in our Book of Revelation series. After completing this lesson, you will have been given the major life-changing truths in this incredible book. You have also received four other lessons on the signals to watch for (most are already happening) before our Lord Jesus returns as He promised.

What is the hope that we in the St. Paul School of Servant-Leadership have in sending you these lessons? It is more than just having you grow in your knowledge of the Bible. Our hope is that with the new knowledge you have gained will come new action in your Christian life. God wants to use you to reach your family, friends, neighbors and others in your personal world. Jesus died for every individual on planet earth. The Holy Spirit desires to reach them—one by one. He does that by filling you with His purity power and purpose so that you can build bridges of unconditional love to others through your actions and words.

Why not re-dedicate your life to Jesus right now and ask the Holy Spirit to empty you of any self and sin and fill you with His presence? And don't forget to keep all twelve of these last lessons handy for easy review and as a tool to teach others.

· Our Future Home—(There is a future eternal home reserved for those who trust in Christ alone as Savior and Lord. Hallelujah, no foreclosures or evictions—because our home has been bought and paid for by Jesus' blood).

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” (Revelation 21:1,2)

· When Tears Are Wiped Away—(One day—soon—every tear will be tenderly wiped away by our Heavenly Father. And four things will be destroyed and never touch us again—death, mourning, sorrow and pain.)

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'” (Revelation 21:3,4)

· Christ's Call To The Thirsty—(There is a thirst that only Christ can satisfy. That's why no one or anything else can fill the hole in the heart of man that is reserved for only God. May you come to His Word daily with a fresh thirst—and may the Holy Spirit use your witness to help satisfy the thirst in others.)

“He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.'” (Revelation 21:6)

· The Greatest Inheritance of all—(Any inheritance you receive in this life ends when you die. But the inheritance God is preparing for those who love Him will last forever.)

“He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” (Revelation 21:7)

· A Fearful Reservation—(Speaking of “reservation”—here is one that you and I want no part of.)

“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

· Jewels That Need No Safe-deposit Box—(Here men will die for gold—then die and leave it all. Others place their jewels under lock and key—fearful of thieves. May you and I live simple lives where we live to give to others. Just look at what is waiting for those who love Jesus—including a street of pure gold to be walked on by those with pure hearts.)

“The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.” (Revelation 21:18-21)

· When Glory Lights A City—(While on earth, don't forget to pay your electric bills so that you don't pass your nights in the dark. But what a day when even the sun and the moon are no longer needed because of the greater glory of God the Father and Jesus the Lamb.)

“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is it's lamp.” (Revelation 21:23)

CHAPTER 22

· When Men Shall Behold God—(There is one desire that you and I should have above all desires. That is to know the intimate presence of God more and more as we learn to spend more time alone with Him in our Bibles, prayer and worship. One day we shall behold Him fully—face to face.)

“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 22:3-5)

· The Right To Eat What Adam Could Not—(Adam and Eve were chased from Eden before they could eat from the tree of life and live forever in selfishness and sin. But in the new heaven and new earth, we whose hearts have been purified by God's Son are invited to eat from that tree and live in His presence—forever!)

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:12-14)

· The Great Invitation—(The Lord's great invitation to man has always been “Come!” May He speak that invitation to others through you and me as we urge and encourage them to come to Jesus.)

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!' And let him who hears say, ‘Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.'” (Revelation 22:17)

· God's Final Warning—(God's Word will live forever. Never add to it or subtract from it. Just study it, appreciate it, live it and share it.)

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)

· Christ's Guaranteed Promise—(We serve a God who cannot lie. There is only one wonderful way for Jesus Christ to close this book that reveals His love, power and glory. The Head of the body He calls His “church” makes a solemn promise that He is coming soon. And those who love Him answer with a cry that echoes to the heavens, “Come, Lord Jesus”. Until that day, we are promised His invisible presence and His G-R-A-C-E—God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Hallelujah! What a Savior!!

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen” (Revelation 22:20-21)