At some point during college, I made the decision that I would truly begin to study Revelation. One of the first steps in that study was to realize that there is no “s” at the end of the name of this book and to become comfortable with the singular form of John’s vision from God. Soon after making that decision, I came to the conclusion that the final book of the Bible was one that spoke to the hope we have been given through Christ Jesus: the promise that one day everything on heaven and on earth will be made right. In my journey of studying the Bible, it was a profound moment. Dare I say, it was a revelation.
This passage contains what I have always liked to think of as the full culmination of the Kingdom of God. Throughout His teachings, Jesus would begin a parable with the phrase, “The kingdom of God is like. . .” These words framed the message of His story in a way that made the point clear while requiring the listeners to ponder its meaning more deeply. Here in Revelation, though, the kingdom is not “like” something or other; it simply “is.” God dwells among His people. The Almighty One has wiped away the tears from our eyes. Gone is the pain of death and the grief that accompanies it for those of us who remain.
When Peachtree developed our mission statement of “Joining Christ daily in the restoration of all things,” my mind immediately turned to Revelation 21, where we see God’s picture of the time when this restoration will occur. While we seek to join our Lord in this process, it is not for us to know exactly when it will happen. Nevertheless, we remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that in God’s timing, all shall be made well through His ultimate act of grace.