Paradise Found
I. What’s Lost and what’s Found (Rev. 21)
A. No Sea, but a Stream (21:1; 22:1-2)
B. No Death, but Life Abundant (21:4)
C. No Temple, but Real Knowing (21:22; 22:4)
D. No Sun or Moon, but the Light of God’s Glory (21:23)
E. No Closed Gates, but Fearless Life instead (21:25)
F. No Impure thing but the Glory of the Nations (21:24-26)
II. Back to the Very Beginning (Rev. 21:1-5; 22:1-5; Isaiah 65:17-19)
A. God Speaks (21:5-8; 1:8; Gen. 1)
B. A Garden City (22:1-5)
C. Servants will Reign (22:3)
D. The End is the Beginning (21:9; 22:5)
III. Living with the Revealed Jesus (Rev. 1:1; 21:3)
A. Serving the Slain Lamb King (Rev. 5; Rev. 22:3)
B. Trusting the One who Makes all New (Rev. 21:5; 2 Cor. 5:17)
C. Living in the Coming Kingdom now (Rev. 22:17)
Questions for Further Reflection
1. Kid’s Question: When have you experienced something new? What’s the difference between something like a new bike or a new game and a new family member or a new home?
2. Which of the promises of the New Jerusalem/New Creation sound most appealing to you? Are there any that don’t make much sense? Are there promises you’d like to hear that weren’t mentioned?
3. What has been your experience with the book of Revelation? What have you been taught that it is about? Do you believe it is a book that only describes the end? What does chapter 21-22 say about “the end” of the world?
4. What do you find to be significant about God’s words in chapter 21? In what ways has God offered you a drink from the spring of the water of life?
5. Do you more enjoy nature or the city? What would the perfect melding of the two look like?
6. Explore the tension of the idea of servants reigning. What would it look like for you to serve God and also rule?
7. What do the images of childbirth, of marriage, of homecoming say to you about the nature of this transformation?
8. If this book has “revealed” Jesus, who do you see? What does it look like to follow Him?