Week 10 - Day 3

Written By Karl House

THE STORY

Return

RE-CREATION

Revelation 21:1-4 (NLT)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Think back to the beginning of The Story in Genesis 1-3. 

  • When did God and people live together in unity? When was God’s space (Heaven) united with our space (Earth)?

  • What was life like?

  • How does the End of The Story come full circle back to the Beginning of The Story?

Revelation 22:1-5 (NLT)

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

Once again, think back to the beginning of The Story in Genesis 1-3.

Genesis 3:22-24 (NLT)

Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

  • Who was not allowed to eat of the Tree of Life? Why?

  • At the End, however, we are allowed to eat of the Tree of Life? Why?

  • What has happened to the curses pronounced at our Rebellion?

  • What curse of our Rebellion do you most look forward to being reversed in the New Heaven and New Earth? Why?

Revelation 22:5 (NLT)

And they will reign forever and ever.

Genesis 1:26 (NLT)

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

  • How does reigning take us back to God’s original commission to human beings?

Here’s how the Return looks as a graphic. Jesus comes back to wrap things up as we return to the Beginning all over again.

THE STORY.006.png

  • In light of what you have discovered through the Bible readings and your personal reflections, how will you respond? Finish this sentence: I will …

Karl House
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Week 10 - Day 2
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Week 10 - Day 4