Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Wednesday after the Fourth Sunday in Advent

http://lifeinthescriptures.blogspot.com/2011/12/wednesday-after-fourth-sunday-in-advent.html

Wednesday after the Fourth Sunday in Advent

Lectionary

Morning - Ps.132, Zech. 8:1-23, Lk. 1:39-45
Evening - Ps. 139, Haggai 2:1-9, Rev. 21:9-27

Commentary
Revelation 21:9-27

The completion of everything foretold in the Bible is symbolised in the descent of the holy city of Jerusalem. Here we see the creation restored to God's original purpose and peopled by those who love and serve Him fully. Here evil is no more; all is righteousness and peace. Here God's will is done on earth as it is in Heaven, in fact, the distinction between the new (restored) creation and Heaven itself is very indistinct in this chapter.

But the message comes through clearly, the world is good again. The world, once given over to evil, once the dominion of Satan, has been reclaimed by God. Even people, once under the rule of Satan, have been redeemed by Christ and brought into the reclaimed earth. The world, created by God for His own glory, is His alone, and His glory shines in every part.

There are many interpretations of the symbolism of the dimensions of the city, the pearly gates, and the golden streets. We will not attempt to unravel them tonight. Let us rather keep our emphasis on the main point by looking at a passage that is closely related to this passage. In fact, the passage shows God's intention to do what this chapter of Revelation predicts, the full and final triumph of God's purpose in all creation. The passage is Ephesians 1:9-10:

"Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him."

Read chapters 21 and 22 as the fulfillment of God's purpose expressed in these verses, and you will understand their message.

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