(Revelation) the New Heaven Earth Jerusalem — Willie Mullan

Revelation 21 and the Consolations of the Eternal Home

The book of the Revelation, and we're at the twenty-first chapter again this evening. The book of the Revelation, chapter twenty-one. And for the past two weeks we have been looking very closely at all these great details in this chapter about our eternal home.

Remember that last week we were looking at the consolations of our eternal home. No more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. And we were looking at the illuminations of our home.

We'll have no need of the sun, neither of the moon. The Lamb shall be the light thereof. And I think the bit that the class enjoyed most was the dimensions of the home. You know, last Wednesday ever so many came to the door.

A red man stopped and said to me, Mr. Bohm, I've never seen my home like that before. And ever so many. And best of all, there's a little man sitting down there tonight. And last Tuesday he was not saved.

And as he sat and looked at this eternal home of ours, he said to himself, you're not going. You can see it, but you're not going. And then he waited behind and met with me in there. And for my peace, he's on his way to heaven, back at the class rejoicing.

And so for two weeks we've been looking right through this chapter at our eternal home. And you remember I pointed out that there was a palimpsestical portion in the chapter, verses 5, 6, 7, 8. And I left it out because I think we needed to go on with the whole chapter.

But we're coming back to the palimpsestical portion this evening. Let's read it over carefully together, verse 5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write.

For these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is accursed of the fountain of the water of life freely.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things. And I will be his God, and he shall be my son. The fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the nick which burneth with fire and brimstone.

This is the second death. And this is a very important palimpsestical portion this evening because you're going to look at this one who is seated upon the throne. Verse 5 begins, He that sat upon the throne.

And we're not only going to steadfastly and carefully look at this one who's seated upon the throne, but we're going to listen very carefully to what he has to say because he speaks. This one that's seated is speaking.

God himself again and again, he said unto me. And we're not only going to look at him sitting upon the throne and listen to him speaking, but we're going to watch him signing his own signature this evening.

I am Alpha and Omega, that's his name. That's his own signature. And you'll not only watch him sitting and hear him speaking and see him signing, but he paints a scene here for us. The fearful and the unbelieving and the abominable and so on, marching down into the lake of fire, which is the second death.

As we very carefully examine this palimpsestical portion, I think we should see to my, beyond any question whatsoever, that the deity of the Christ is here. If I were being put into a corner anywhere about the deity of Christ, I should run to this portion very quickly.

So, the deity of Christ is here. And then when we outline the things that belong to believers, I think you're going to see that the dignity of the Christian is here. Because there are things that belong rightfully to us, that makes us stand up and be proud.

But not only is the deity of the Christ here, and the dignity of the Christian here, but the damnation of the Christless is here. So, it's a very important little portion, isn't it? And so, let's start properly.

Christ Revealed in the Midst of the Throne

This side begins, He that sat upon the throne said. Now, let's get the throne properly into view, and let's get the person on the throne properly into perspective. Let's go back to the book of the Revelation, chapter 4.

Do you remember this? You remember when we were looking at this book right after its commencement? That I outlined the book for you. So, I said the first three chapters is God's revelation of Christ in the midst of the churches.

Yes, he was walking in the midst of the churches, of the Lord of the church. But when we came to chapter 4, it was God's revelation of Christ as the Lamb in the midst of the throne. And we want to get down to a few details that you just know.

Two of chapter 4. John says,. And immediately I was in the Spirit. And behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper on the far-dying stone.

And I think that when we were doing this chapter, we put great time at this that we can't take this evening. I went back to the breastplate. And the breastplate on the high priest's breast, just over his heart, had twelve stones.

And these two stones mentioned here, one of them is the first and one of them is the last. You see, there were twelve different stones. And if you go back, they're all different. But the jasper and the far-dying, they're turned around the other way on the breastplate.

It's the last and the first. It's the first and the last. And you know, this brings in another title that we're going to look at in a moment or two. Of course, Alpha and Omega is first and last. The beginning and the end.

And so we're beginning to sort of get a picture of the One that seated upon the throne. And then we learned in this chapter a whole lot more details about what was around the throne, these four beasts and all these saints crowned and so on.

And it was mine, it said in chapter four, and when those beasts gave glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, puts in another little detail now, who lives forever and ever. The one on the throne is the first and the last.

He's the one who lives forever and ever. The four and twenty elders fell down before him that sat on the throne and worshiped him that lives forever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying, Thou art worthy.

Oh Lord, did you get the word? Because it is Jehovah, you know. Thou art worthy, oh Lord, to receive glory and honor and power. For thou hast created all things. That's quite simple deduction, isn't it?

But the one who is seated upon the throne, he's the first and the last. He's the one who lives forever and ever. He's the one we address as Lord. He's the one who has created all things. This is the Creator.

It's quite simple, isn't it? Now, let's go from there to John's Gospel, chapter one. The Gospel by John. And we're at the first chapter, please. You know how John begins this Gospel. He says, In the beginning was the Word.

Capital W there. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Get the hold of this, you know. Sometimes people are a little bit put out by this word, words. Who is this, or what is this? It's quite simple if you go down to chapter, do you see, verse fourteen?

And the Word, that's the phrase we're looking at. And the Word was made flesh, dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory. Because this Word is a person. The glory of the only begotten of the Father. Words is the person of Christ, the eternal Son.

The only begotten. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. So that we're looking at the eternal Son now. And if we go back to the first verse again, it ends like this. And the Word was God.

The same Word in the beginning with God. Because there's God the Father and God the Son. And these are personalities in the Godhead. And you can see that quite easily. But when it said this, the same was in the beginning with God, it said all things were made by Him.

Let's get that bit in, because He was the Creator. And without Him was not anything made that was made. There's no doubt at all about it, you know. The One that's on the throne is the first and the last.

He's the One who lives forever and ever. He's the One who created all things. And without Him was not anything made that was made. And in case there's some sort of mystery running through your mind, let's go to Paul's letter to the Colossians.

Christ as Creator and Redeemer

And we're at Colossians chapter one, please. Colossians chapter one. And Paul talks in verse twelve about giving thanks unto the Father. And he's got the Father in view. Which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints and lights, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.

And so he's got both the Father and the Son into focus here. And then, talking about the Son, he said in verse fourteen, In whom, in the Son, we have redemption through His blood. Because there can never be any argument about in whom we have redemption.

We're talking about the One whose blood was shed. Even the forgiveness of sins. And to make it more clear, he says, who is the image of the invisible God? When Christ was here, you know, He declared God.

No man has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. He was God manifest in flesh. So we're looking at the Son, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.

For by Him, let's get this, were all things created. The God in heaven, the God in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created by Him and for Him.

And He is before all things. By Him, all things consist. This is the One that's on the throne, you know. This is the One. There isn't any troubles about it at all. He's the first and the last. He's the One who lives forever and ever.

He's the Lord of glory. He's the Creator. Now, this is the One that John sees right back here. Let's get this back to chapter 21. Verse 5, And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

Because that's what we have been studying right down through the chapter. There's the new heavens, and the new earth, and the new city, and the new order, and the new saints, because a whole lot of things had to be changed.

Gravity was changed. And our speculatory system was changed. Because the day that we meet Christ, this body shall be changed. Like unto His glorious body, it will be flesh and bones, but no blood. The emanating force will be spirit for all eternity.

And you see, He's just saying to John, Behold, I make all things new. He's the One who made all things, and He's making all things new. And He said unto me, Write. He wanted John to get this done for us this evening.

And unless He had given John these details, no mere man dare put them in, or could put them in. It is not possible. Somebody said to me after last Tuesday, You know, no mere man could plan a city like what you outlined this evening.

It's very little. So He's saying to John, Write. For these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done. I think that came out sharply, you know. It is done. You know, it's very interesting that when the Creator had made this vast and mighty and wonderful and gigantic creation, that on the sixth day, when the renovation of that creation was finished, He looked at it and He was satisfied, It's done.

Because this is the One who hung on the cross. And when He had finished that atonement and that wonderful redemption, then He cried, It is finished. This is the One who shall raise the saints and change our bodies.

And at that moment, He will see of the chaldea of His soul and shall be satisfied. It will be done then. He's going to step further, you know. He's going to take the whole solar system, take the planet, put the devil away and sin out and death out and fears out.

It's done. There's a lot of times He cried, Finished, right through this book, you know. And so you can see this One on the throne and you're getting a glimpse of who He is. Then He writes His name down.

Alpha and Omega: Christ’s Divine Identity

He says, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Oh, you ought to always remember, you young believers, that that's right there. There's someone speaking to John and we've just found out who he is.

And he says, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Go to the first book, the first chapter of this book of the Revelation. This is very interesting, you know. In fact, it's thrilling to me.

You know how the book begins. In verse one, it's called the Revelation of Jesus Christ. I don't know who put this title in this book. I know that men put the chapters in and put the verses in. I think they put the titles on the book.

This is called in my Bible before me, the Revelation of St. John the Divine. I'm perfectly sure he never wanted that in there, nor did God want it in. John never called himself St. John. And he certainly never called himself St. John the Divine.

And this is not the Revelation of St. John the Divine. If they had read the first phrase, they would have got it. It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave. And the Greek bears it out, which God gave us.

This book is God's Revelation of Christ. And, of course, he employed the angel and John to get the whole thing put together. When John starts writing, he starts in verse four, he says, John! Just John!

Not St. John! It's a pity some of these fellows couldn't read, isn't it? There's Popery again creeping in, you see. St. John the Divine. Well, he just calls himself John. John for the seven churches which are in Asia.

And then he starts properly at verse nine. That's just the introductory bit there. And at verse nine he says, I, John, who else am your brother and companion in tribulation. Now, from verse four to verse seven is the introductory part of this book that John put in.

And you can see that he's talking about Christ and God. And in verse seven he says, Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him. The Jewish nation will be looking on when he comes to earth.

And that's the day that every eye shall see him. And all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. And he said even so. Amen. Now, before he could get going on with the book as he begins in verse nine, God speaks first in verse eight.

God says, I am Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the ending saith the Lord, which is, which was, which is to come, the Almighty. God just spoke in there himself. I am Alpha and Omega. Once upon a time, I had a doorbell rang one morning.

When I went there, there was two men at the door, books below their arm. A big long one and a short one. Arm and butt. And they were set for battle, you know. Two Russellites, set for battle. A big fellow said to me, we understand that you believe that Jesus Christ is God.

I said, that's right, I do. He said, could you prove it? Brings the Bible over. He said, could you prove it? I said, have a look at this. And I turned this up, this verse. I read it to them. I am Alpha and Omega.

The beginning and the ending saith the Lord, which is, which was, which is to come, the Almighty. He said, there's somebody speaking here. And if you take the first two words and the last two, he's saying, I am the Almighty.

And I said, who's he now? And the big fellow said, that's quite simple, because it says, saith the Lord, in the middle. It's Jehovah. I said, that's very good now. Because that's who I believe it is. I said, you know, John starts writing now in verse nine.

And he says, I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that was called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

He was a prisoner, you see. He said, I was in the spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice out of a trumpet saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. I said, is that the same person?

Taking it easy now, you see. Taking it easy. I said, come on, I want to know this. Is this the same person? And he goes on and says, certainly it's the same person. It's the same wording. I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.

So, John heard the voice somewhere behind him. And the voice was saying, I am Alpha and Omega. That's right. It's the same person. I says, it says here, verse 12, And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me.

Turning around to see who's talking. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of Man. I says, who's he now? Look at one of them.

You can see them looking now. I says, is this who's talking? Because he's saying, I am Alpha and Omega. And you say, it's God. That's what I'm saying is. So, the wee one looks up at the big one and he says, You know, you were all wrong when you said it was the Lord up at first.

But I said, now listen boy. You drop out of this argument. Because your policy is you don't know what you're talking about. So, get out of the ring. You're not in the fight at all anymore. Your policy is you're just an ignorant and you don't know.

Get out. So, I said, come on you. We'll see what we can do with you now. All right. It wasn't God at first. All right. Who is it? Who's this saying, I am the Almighty. Let the Lord. It's not God. Who is it?

He said, there's a verse over here. Not on your life you're going to know verse over there. I never said it for you. I said, you're here asking me questions. Face this. He says, it's God. You say it's not.

You tell me who it is. He would be daft to say anything else, wouldn't he? The man would be completely mad. Why they got the books as quick as they could below their arm. He says, I'm not going to talk to you anymore.

I said, I never said it for you. Clear off. Funny enough how you can get out of a thing like. He comes round for a battle. And once you begin to put a strangle hold or two on him like. He's going to crawl out below the ropes, you know.

So he is. No problem with this, you see. Of course, I could have carried this a bit further, you know. Make it tighter still. Watch this. You see, in verse 8, I am Alpha and Omega. The Almighty. There's no problem with the verse.

Seth, the Lord, is in the middle of it. It's Jehovah. And then the voice that John heard say, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. When he turns round, he sees one like unto the Son of Man. You know, he walked for three and a half years with him down here.

And very often the Lord Jesus was called the Son of Man. In fact, many times when he was preaching, he talked about the coming of the Son of Man. John knew who he was. And it gives a wonderful description of him that I can't take time with tonight.

But here's what it says in verse 17. John says,. And when I saw him. Then he got a glimpse of him. I fell at his feet as dead, and he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not, I am the first and the last.

Is that the same saying? It's the same saying. That's Alpha and Omega. That's the beginning and the end. That's the first and the last. But maybe you see how clear this is. He laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not, I am the first and the last.

I am he that liveth and was dead. Fear not. That's the one who is the Alpha and Omega. That's the one who's the beginning and the end. That's the one that's on the throne back here that's talking to John.

That's the one. There are no problems in this. Of course, you know, you can go way back into the Old Testament and you see God standing out in all his glory saying, I am the first and the last. Get back to Revelation 21.

I don't want to carry this any further this evening about the one who sat upon the throne, the one who is the first and the last, the Jasper and the Sardine. Or do I want to carry this on any more? I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

But when we come to the chapter next week, and that's why I'm keeping it, just have a look at the beginning of the chapter next week. Verse 1,. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as the ceiling out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Because these two are co-equal for all eternity on the throne. And I don't want to go into that just any further this evening because I mean to develop this throne, which is the throne of God and of the Lamb, on next Tuesday.

But you'll find out that this one on the throne says, verse 12 of chapter 22, Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me. Forgive every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

And you're back to it again, aren't you? I think you can tie this knot so tight that no rattle like can unloose it. But this is the truth. We're back at chapter 21 just now. And I think that we have seen the deity of Christ.

Eternal Life Through Christ

I think the deity of Christ is here. But let's go on to the dignity of the Christian. He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write, for these words are true and faithful.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is the first of the fountain of the water of life. Free. You know, this is something that every believer has this evening.

He has life. Eternal. You know, the Lord Jesus came and he said this quite openly. He said, I am come that ye might have life and that you might have it more abundantly. And we sing in all hymns sometimes, Life, life, eternal life.

Jesus alone is the giver. Because you can't get this life anywhere else. You know, he alone gives life. He says, I give unto my sheep eternal life. And this is exactly what God wants us to get the hold of.

Let's look at 1 John just for a moment. 1 John chapter 5. It's the last chapter of 1 John. And here's what John said. John knew a lot, you know. John walked with Christ and leaned on his breast and all the rest of it.

1 John 5 verse 10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself. He that believeth not, God hath made him a liar. Because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. You know, God has given us a record of his Son.

And this is the record. You don't need to turn the page to get it. This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life. And this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life. He that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

There used to be a little man in this meeting here called Billy Dewey. He awaits us here this evening. She'll understand this. I came to Petersburg about 35 years ago. First, a young fellow came on the train.

Didn't know where Logan station was. Had to look out for him. Sitting up on the train, looking up. This little man met me at the station. This is the first Logan man I'd had dealings with. He was a great soul.

Met me on the station, shook my hand. I'm just a kid, you know, 35 years ago. Says, we're glad to have you. I'm taking you up to the meeting. Turned, walked out of the station. Came into William Street and walked on up there.

He says, told me how long he was saved. This was the first thing he said. I'll always remember this. You know how long he was saved. Saved through Jim McKendridge. That rang a bell for me because he helped me tremendously.

I said, is that right? Says, who is this? He that hath the Son hath life. He that hath not the Son of God hath no life. See the text. The biggest word in the text is only four letters. He that hath the Son hath life.

Son of God. You couldn't get muddled with it. Small words. If you haven't got Christ, you haven't got life. What do you have? You may have a Masonic church. You may have a Presbyterian church. Or any other church.

I'll tell you this. You don't forget this. You haven't got Christ. That's where you get life. And if you don't thirst for life, if you really thirsting for it. I'll tell you, he'll give you a treatment.

He says that here in this book where we're reading. Have another look at it now. We're at 21 again, aren't we? He says, I will give unto him that is the first fountain of the water of life. I will give him that is the first life.

You can read it, you know, if you want to. Yes, you know. You remember when he was at the well. Let's go over to John 40. You see this? John's Gospel, chapter 4. You remember the woman came to the well.

And Jesus said to her. We'll not read the whole story. Jesus said unto her in verse 13. Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.

But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into eternal life. And to the woman's everlasting honor, this is what she said. She said, Sir, give me this water that I thirst not neither come hither to draw.

You know, if you were big enough to bow your head tonight and say, Lord, give me, give me this water. We didn't come together, but I'm not sure. Give me it now. I'll tell you, you would get life eternal tonight.

That woman will be in heaven. It's an everlasting record that she asked for. And if you were a thirst tonight. If you really wanted life with a capital L. If you wanted life that's eternal. If you wanted life that's Christlike.

I'll tell you, choose for the asking. She says, I'll give you it freely. You don't need beads or Mary to get it, you know. Or money either. No purgatory. Just free. It's free to you, Sir. You don't need to come back to this place to get it.

You just can ask Christ. It's yours. It's free. You know, believers of life eternal. It's a wonderful thing, you know. That I'm the proud possessor of eternal life, you see. It's the poor creature from the back street.

But never mind. I've got life. Peter. Now let's go back to Revelation 21. There is a lot of things in here. He says, I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. And he said this, he that overcometh shall inherit all things.

You know, believers don't only get life. They get an inheritance. I was singing about this this evening. An inheritance reserved in heaven for us. All things. You know, believers don't only get life. They get an inheritance.

We were singing about this this evening. An inheritance reserved in heaven for us. Do you remember what Peter said? Let's go back to 1 Peter 1. Some of these great old phrases are really worth seeing again.

Peter, 1 Peter 1. And he said this in verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, through our inheritance.

You know, we've got an inheritance incorruptible, only silent, and that fadeth not away. Look at this bit. Reserved in heaven. You know, I've got an inheritance reserved in heaven. I went to London to preach at the City Temple.

Great, massive place, you know. Holding thousands of people. Where old Joseph Parker used to preach. It was a great thrill for me to stand in that pulpit where that mighty man of God had stood, where old Sturgeon stood at times.

Because Joseph Parker and Sturgeon changed platforms at times. And to see it tapped to the door, it was a very thrilling affair. And after the meeting, you know, I was there with two millionaires who got this venture up, you see.

And they took the place and they paid for it and they did so many things. And it was because of the work behind it that so many people were there. Then they took me to the post office tower, you know.

There's a great hotel right up there. It goes round and round. You can see all London. And there was the table reserved. Now, where do you see this? When I walk into this swanky place, you pay about ten pounds a time for your supper here.

And I'm with two millionaires and it says reserved for Mr. Mullen of London on the table. Why? Well, dare you sit down here? My! Boy, I must have thought I was somebody redneck. But there's something reserved in heaven for me.