From Everlasting to Everlasting
The Bible starts with the account of the creation of the universe:
‘In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.
God said, “Let there be light”’ and there was light. God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day’, and the darkness he called ‘night’. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.’ (Genesis 1: 1-5. World English Bible.)
The Bible ends with the creation of the eternal dwelling place of God’s people with him:
‘And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven of God, having been prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and he will reside with them and they will be his people and God himself will be with them and will be their God. And he will wipe-away every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”
‘And he who is sitting upon the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And he says to me, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” And he said to me, “I have become new. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give freely to him who is thirsty out of the spring of the water of life. He who is overcoming will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But to the cowardly and unbelieving and sinners and detestable and murderers and fornicators and sorcerers and idolaters and to all the false witnesses, their part will be in the lake which is burning with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.”
‘And one out of the seven messengers who had the seven bowls full of the last seven wounds came and spoke with me, saying, “Come-here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the spirit to a mountain great and high and showed me the great holy city Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her illumination was similar to a most precious stone, like a crystal-like jasper stone; having a great and high wall; having twelve gates and upon the gates twelve messengers, and names have been written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
Three gates were on the east and three gates were on the north, and three gates were on the south, and three gates were on the west. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he, speaking with me, was holding a measure, a golden reed, in order that he might measure the city and its gates and its wall. And the city lays four cornered and the length is as the width and he measured the city with the reed in furlongs, twelve thousand and twelve furlongs, the length and the width and its height are equal. And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, which is, of a messenger. And the structure of its wall was jasper and the city was purest gold, similar to purest glass.
The foundations of the wall of the city have been adorned with every precious stone. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, carnelian; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, hyacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was from one pearl, respectively and the street of the city was purest gold like transparent glass. And I saw no temple in it; for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb, are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun, neither of the moon, that they should appear in it; for the glory of God illuminated it and its lamp is the Lamb. And the nations will walk in its light and the kings of the earth bring their glory and the honour of the nations into it. And its gates may never be locked by day (for there will be no night there). And they will bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it. And any desecrated thing may never enter into it or anything practicing an abomination and a lie; except those who have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
And he showed me a river of the clean water of life, bright like crystal, travelling out from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. And on this side and on that side of the river was the Tree of Life, producing twelve fruits, giving its fruit monthly and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there will be no curse there and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it. And his bondservants will give-divine service to him; and they will see his face, and his name will be upon their foreheads. And there will be no night there, and they do not need a lamp or a light, because the Lord God will illuminate them and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 21:1- 22:5. Modern Literal Version)
The scope of the Scriptures extends from the beginning of creation to the final destiny of creation – its recreation. The purpose of the divine project is that we will dwell with God for ever. But not everyone will. What we do on this earth matters. For those of us who have sinned, Christ offers reconciliation with God through repentance and faith in Christ. For those who refuse, they do not share in this destiny. I pray we will all choose wisely.
God bless you all,
Graham Ford
President – Jesus Christ for Muslims