Read:
Revelation 21:1-8; 22:12-20[1]
[1]We understand that being washed in the blood of the lamb means to accept that we are forgiven and made acceptable for heaven by the blood Jesus shed in His death on the cross. Very soon after Jesus’ death (70 CE), the temple was destroyed and sacrifice by Jewish priests for the forgiveness of sins has not been possible since. They seek atonement through study of the Torah (Old Testament), and, in place of sacrifices, service of the heart through prayers, and giving charity and of one’s self. Yet they ask God in prayer, when He will be back in the temple so sacrifice can resume. We trust in Jesus blood as atonement for our sins, with no further sacrifices necessary.
Reflect:
For Reflection: Think about why the almighty God, creator of all that is, visible and invisible, would establish a new covenant with His blood as the once and for all time sacrifice to forgive the sins of all who accept this gift.
Lagniappe:
Matthew 24:10-14; Hebrews 10:10-18
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The New Heaven and the New Earth
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“See, the home[a] of God is among mortals.
He will dwell[b] with them;
they will be his peoples,[c]
and God himself will be with them and be their God;[d]
4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for[e] the first things have passed away.”
5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless,[f] the polluted, the murderers, the sexually immoral,[g] the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”