Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 3 * PART 4 * BOOK 77
CONNECTING THE DOTS OF SCRIPTURE – PART 48
Genesis – Revelation (Eternity)
Okay, good to see everybody. This is program number 4 for this afternoon. We’re hopefully going to wind-up “Connecting the Dots of Scripture” with this program. So they will all be in books 74, 75, 76, & 77. We’re going to finish the Book of Revelation hopefully, and we’ll trust that the Lord will use it for His glory.
Okay, for those of you in television, again, we are just an informal Bible study. We don’t want anybody to get the idea that I am a pastor. I don’t have a church. All I’ve got is a herd of black cattle, so don’t call me Reverend and don’t ever say I’m anointed, because in my Book, there was only one that was anointed and that was Christ Himself. So, I’m kind of picky about what people call me.
All right, let’s go to Revelation 21 and all of a sudden, we’re into eternity. And it’s a whole new ballgame, once again. Verse 1:
Revelation 21:1-2
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2. And I, John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” All right, now I’m going to spend the biggest portion of our time, I think, on verse 1, because we want to look at what it really says compared with other Scripture.
Revelation 21:1a
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:…” All right, go all the way back to Genesis. If you know it from memory, you can see it in your mind’s eye, well and good. Don’t bother. But otherwise, go back and look at it once again. It’s where we started 17 or 18 years ago. Genesis 1:1 and I made the point then, and I’m going to make it again today.
Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created (What?) the heaven and the earth.” And if you’ll remember, I made the point that not right away but after two thousand years of human history, the Nation of Israel appears. And from the onset of Israel, they are God’s what kind of people? Earthly! And all that God dealt with was the Nation of Israel, until He sent the Apostle Paul to the Gentile world with another whole new ballgame and called them the Body of Christ. But what kind of people were they? Heavenly!
This is what you have to do with Scripture. Is God addressing His earthly people Israel? Or is He dealing with the heavenly people, the Body of Christ? Now Revelation 21 just told us that everything is going to be made new just like it was in Genesis, a new heaven and a new earth.
Now as you come back up through your New Testament, go all the way with me to II Peter chapter 3. Now again, not everybody is going to agree with me. But I feel as though Peter here is referring to what we’re seeing in Revelation 21. II Peter chapter 3 and go all the way to verse 4, so we get what I call the flow of Scripture. And remember, Peter is writing. And who is he writing to? Jews. This is not an ecumenical book at all. This is Peter addressing fellow Jews.
II Peter 3:4
“And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? (That’s what the scoffers said up there in verse 3. That’s why sometimes I should go further up than I do, but the scoffer said–) for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” Sound familiar?
Well, we’re hearing the same thing today. You try to talk to people about the signs of the times and hear, “No, Les, it’s always been this way.” No, it hasn’t! We are in a time that’s different than anything else. Oh, granted, it’s all connected, but we are in the signs of the times. All right, now verse 5:
II Peter 3:5-7a
“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now,…” Now remember, when Peter is writing in the first century, A.D. 60-65, the world is as it is now. The oceans and everything haven’t changed.
II Peter 3:7-8a
“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, (In other words, God has not permitted anything to happen to it, but He has reserved it for His own purposes, remember, which is–) reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years,…” Now I’ve been alluding to that all afternoon, haven’t I?
God is eternal. Time means nothing to God. A thousand years is no different to God than a day. A second is no different than a hundred years. He’s eternal. He’s timeless. All right, verse 9:
II Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Now remember, Peter is dealing with his fellow Jews. Now verse 10:
II Peter 3:10a
“But (In spite of dealing with the human race, and Israel in particular, for a total of 7,000 years as we get ready for eternity–) the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens (To me, that’s outer space.) shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements…” Now I’ve got to stop right there.
How many of you have ever taken high school chemistry? Have any of you had high school or college chemistry? Yeah. All right, what was the big chart on the wall? Huh? The Periodic Table.
They’ve got the atomic make-up of all the elements. That’s what they called it. See, this is such a scientific book. It’s the exact language that chemists use today and also physicists—the elements, the things that make up planet Earth. Now look what’s going to happen.
II Peter 3:10b
“…and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also (along with, I think, the whole universe) and the works that are therein shall be (What?) burned up.” What does that mean? Melted down to nothing! All right, the next verse, I think, makes it even more believable—verse 11.
II Peter 3:11
“Seeing then…” Now you want to remember, Peter wasn’t a university graduate. Peter was an uneducated fisherman. He was about in the same boat that I am as a farmer. You know, I don’t claim to have any education about anything. But you see, Peter writes by inspiration with the same language that scientists use today. And what’s the word I’m looking at? Dissolved–if you work in a chemistry lab, there are certain things that you can put together and it’ll just dissolve it into a liquid.
II Peter 3:11
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (or manner of living) and godliness.” Now he’s putting the frosting on the cake. He’s bringing it to the point.
II Peter 3:12a
“Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, (Now, I think he’s referring to the beginning of eternity, the end of 7,000 years of planet earth.) wherein the heavens (See? We’re not talking about the planet.) being on fire, shall be (What?) dissolved,…”
Now again, for those of you who have had a little bit of college physics and chemistry, you realize that the make-up of the atom is such. Let’s see, I’ve got my old blackboard up here. I haven’t done this in a long time. I hope I’ve got a piece of chalk that works. You see, the little old atom is much like the solar system. Here you’ve got the nucleus, which is comparable to our sun. And then out here in what we call the outer orbits are the (If I remember right. Boy, it’s a long time since I’ve done this.) electrons. And within the nucleus, I’m going to keep that a circle. Now remember, this is billions upon billions of multiplications for size, but within the nucleus–
Now let me put that in a bigger circle. Inside the nucleus, from the center to the outer edge, what’s happening? What’s going on? These little particles in the nucleus are zipping to the outer edge, but instead of going on out, their velocity drops to zero. They come back to the middle, and that’s going on constantly. All right, now when our scientists split the atom, what do they do? They permit these little particles to zip on out. Now when they zip out, what do they do to the atom next door? Split it, and that’s what we call nuclear fission. I think that’s right word. Been a long time since I’ve done this. I’m flying by the seat of my pants today. Maybe that’s why I’m getting tired.
But anyway, I’ll never forget my old chemistry professor and his explanation of this very phenomenon. That from the center–now this is the nucleus right down here. This doesn’t affect these outer electrons. These are protons and neutrons, but anyhow, I’ll never forget. He said, why does it drop to zero and come back to the center, instead of going out through the outer edge? Nuclear glue. I read another scientific article a while back, the guy still used the same terminology. Nuclear glue. It’s what holds the atoms together.
Now let’s use Scripture. On the one hand, it’s hard work today. But on the other hand, I’m having a ball, because I’m not tied to any particular line of thought. Come back with me to Colossians. Colossians chapter 1, because see this is why I love teaching this Book. I can show over and over how everything fits just like a jigsaw puzzle. All right, now remember what we’re talking about—that God in His providence has constructed the atom in such a way that it does not self-destruct. Man has to somehow trigger it. And that’s what they do with the atomic energy. They have to trigger those particles into breaking out and then in turn splitting all those around us, and then you have your energy.
All right, now look what the Pauline Scripture says. Colossians 1, dropping down to verse 15. We use them over and over. I had a letter again the other day that I had to answer right back with these verses. You have to understand who Jesus Christ really is, or you can never understand the Gospel. You can never understand the work of the cross unless you understand who He really is. And here it is. This is one of the best descriptions of Jesus Christ that you can find in this whole Book.
Colossians 1:15-16
“Who (the Son up in verse 13) is the image of the invisible God, the first born (or before) of every creature: 16. For by him (this Jesus of Nazareth) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things (anything that you can imagine) were created by him and for him:” Now here’s the verse I’m heading for.
Colossians 1:17
“And he is before all things, and by him all things (What?) consist.” Held together. It’s the power of Jesus Christ that keeps that atom from disintegrating. Now come back to Peter. When he speaks of this whole creation being reduced to solvency, down to a fluid of some kind, it’s going to be dissolved. II Peter chapter 3 again, looking at verse 12. That’s the capstone.
II Peter 3:12a
“Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved,…” What’s He going to do? He’s going to release all the atomic energy of the universe. And it’s going to be a meltdown. Totally.
Now, I’ve referred to it in the past. I’ll never forget an article I read years ago in a scientific magazine. Probably back in the ‘60’s before we even moved to Oklahoma. This guy at the time was a physicist, if I remember correctly, down at the University of Texas. And he was writing an article on the origins of the universe. And he went through all these scientific formulas and this and that and everything. But then he came to this conclusion—that everything originated from an original source of light. Now those of you who have a little science, light is equal to what? Energy. What’s God? He’s Light. He’s Energy.
So, I remember telling Iris that this guy is so close. Even though he’s probably miles away, he’s so close to the truth that, yes, God was that source of Light out of which the universe came. And then he came to the end of his article. And this really put me through the ceiling. He said, I can further see that sometime way on out into the future the whole thing will come back into that original source of light. And you know, that just gives me goose bumps. Yeah, I think that’s what’s going to happen. And that’s what Peter says. It’s all going to be reduced. It’s going to dissolve. And God’s going to pull it off.
Now I just shared this with somebody on the phone the other day. Somebody called and said, “Well, why will God destroy everything?” What do you suppose was my stock answer? Who has defiled everything? Satan has. Heaven? Yes. Satan’s had access to Heaven. His filthy presence has polluted everything that he’s ever touched. So I think God is just going to have to show that, yes, Satan diluted and polluted everything in His creation. And He’s going to make it all brand new. Now isn’t that a thrilling concept? Everything is going to be brand new for eternity. Reading on in verse 13, then we’ll run back to Revelation for a few minutes.
II Peter 3:13
“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth (What?) righteousness.” Oh, it’s going to be glorious!
Now let’s come back to Revelation 21, where John is saying the same thing inspired by the same Holy Spirit. And along with this new heaven and new earth, we see something that I sometimes think will be evident during the millennium. It won’t be on the earth. It will be out in space. And that is the Holy City.
Revelation 21:2
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
Now, that’s not anything but a city. Whether it is square or pyramid, there again, is a lot of debate. But it’s going to be 1500 miles by 1500 miles by 1500 miles. That’s huge, you know that? That’s the City, not the planet. I’ve always maintained, since I understood a little bit of this, that if you’re going to have a city 1500 miles wide and long, it would never sit on this planet. My goodness, half of it would be out over the Atlantic Ocean. So in order to have a planet big enough to hold a city 1500 miles square, can you imagine how huge that will be? But it’s going to. It’s going to come down, and it’s going to rest on this new earth. I think it’ll be bigger than Jupiter. It’s going to be humongous, but whatever. It’s going to be a city 1500 by 1500 by 1500, whether it’s up to the point of a pyramid, or if it’s a cube. You take your pick.
Okay, now verse 3. First, before you read any further, to what people is John writing the Book of Revelation? Israel. There’s not one Gentile word in here. This is all directed to the Nation of Israel. Reading on:
Revelation 21:3
“And I head a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Who did God say that to way back in Jeremiah? Israel. Go back to Jeremiah 31. This is the new covenant, and it’s going to carry Israel right into the eternal state.
Jeremiah 31:33
“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” You see how Scripture identifies itself with Scripture?
All right, come back to Revelation once again. John is saying the same thing in chapter 21. That God, dealing with His people Israel, will be their God and they shall be His people. Verse 4:
Revelation 21:4-7
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 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. 6. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, (I’m the A and the Z.) the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
Now there’s that word “overcometh.”’ Where else did you see it? In the seven letters to those seven assemblies in the first three chapters of Revelation. And you know, I’ve made a point. Those weren’t Gentile churches. Those were Jewish Synagogues. Same language.
Now down comes the city in verse 10. The city four-squared and, again, I’m going to make the point. Look how Jewish this all is. I’m still in Revelation 21 verse 12.
Revelation 21:12
“And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names were written thereon, which are the names of the (Body of Christ? No. Who?) the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:” Now verse 13:
Revelation 21:13-14
“On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” But were they the apostles of Israel or Gentiles? Israel!! So, this is all Jewish. I don’t care what they say. You can’t put Gentile language in there!
I’ve only got three minutes left, so let’s skip over and glean a little out of the last chapter of the book—chapter 22 verse 1.
Revelation 22:1
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month:…” And I feel that all of this is primarily the promises made to Israel.
Now, we’re in there someplace as the Body of Christ. I’m not going to leave you destitute of an eternal hope. But all of these things are first and foremost God’s promises to His covenant people Israel. Now for just a couple of minutes that we have left, come on down to verse 9.
Revelation 22:9
“Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not, for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, (that’s Old Testament) and of them who keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 10. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Then the Lord Jesus Himself says, in verse 12:
Revelation 22:12
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” As we’ve already seen earlier this afternoon, when the lost will come before the Great White Throne. The saved of the ages, of course, will be in a different judgment. All right, so here again, verse 13:
Revelation 22:13-14a
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life,…” Now you want to remember, the Tree of Life disappeared back there in Genesis and has been off the scene until we get to the last chapter of the Book. Then it’s back in view. The tree of life is still alive and well, thank you. All right, now here’s a verse that causes a lot of questions.
Revelation 22:15
“For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosever loveth and maketh a lie.” Now it’s simply that those people will have no part in this eternal bliss of the new heaven and the new earth. They have already gone to their doom. It’s just a reminder, I think, of the kind of people that will not be in that glorious abode. All right, I’ve got to take time to make one point, verse 20.
Revelation 22:20
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.” Let’s pray for it!