Talking Points:
- Through the Bible, God communicates the big and wonderful story of how he is making his home among us by reconciling the world to himself through Jesus. The video just recapped that story for us, but it left us to read the very last scene on our own. The last book of the Bible, Revelation, is like a signpost pointing us to the beautiful ending that awaits God’s people. As you read these passages from the last pages of the Bible, you’ll hear echoes from earlier parts of God’s story. Listen for as many as you can!
- Revelation 21:1-7 – 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.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
- Revelation 22:1-5 – 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.
- This is what you might call the ultimate “full circle moment:” The last passages of the Bible, the new creation, mirror the first passages of the Bible, God’s original creation! We learned in the video how in the beginning God created the heavens, earth, and all creatures within it. Then the finishing touch – humans were created in his image. And God made his home with them in the Garden. But through doubt and disobedience, the curse of sin and death entered the world, and people could no longer live in God’s home. But as we see in the book of Revelation, God and his people will finally enjoy the perfect home that was lost in the beginning. Did you hear the echoes from the earliest parts of the Bible? God’s people will finally return home to a perfect Garden once more; the curse is undone!
- Ephesians 1:9-10 – God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
- The entire Bible builds to the beautiful reunion between God and his people. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the climax of that story: It’s the turning point that changes everything that happens next. And it’s also the key to understanding everything that came before. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection revealed the “mysterious plan’’ the Old Testament prophets and people were longing for. And we get to look back and understand the full significance of every promise and story leading up to Jesus.
Discussion:
- How does thinking of the Bible as one epic story change the way you think about it? Does it make it less intimidating? More approachable? Why or why not?
- What is something new about the Bible that you learned from the video?
- One of the major themes of God’s story is God making his home among us. What does the word “home” mean to you, and what do you think it means for God to make his home among his creation, with his people?
- How is the scene in Revelation a full circle moment? What parallels do you see between the Garden and the new creation?
- What do these passages from Revelation tell us about who God is?
- According to the verses in Ephesians, what do you think it means for God to bring everything in heaven and on earth together?
- We have seen how, throughout time, God has been working his plan of reconciliation (or reunion) through the life and death of Jesus. How does knowing this and the ending of the story affect the way you view your current circumstances and the brokenness you see in the world?
- Like the first humans, we are imagebearers of God and called to trust and obey God’s Word. What would it look like for you to trust and obey God’s Word?
- Why do you think it is problematic to pull passages of Scripture without knowing their context within the full story of the Bible?
