Thru the Bible in a Year
As we come to the final day of the calendar year, we also arrive at the final chapters of Scripture. Revelation 20–22 does not merely conclude the Bible; it gathers every longing, promise, and unanswered ache of the human story and carries them into God’s eternal future. After pages filled with conflict, judgment, endurance, and costly faithfulness, the Bible ends not in fear but in hope. The closing vision is not of chaos but of a city, not of abandonment but of communion. As one commentator observed, “The Bible begins in a garden and ends in a city, showing God’s intention to redeem not only souls but the whole of human life.” These chapters are meant to steady the reader at the threshold of eternity and to remind us that history is not drifting aimlessly—it is being brought home.
John’s vision of the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21:1–22:5 is intentionally rich with imagery that speaks to both the heart and the mind. The city does not rise from human achievement; it “comes down out of heaven from God.” Redemption is received, not constructed. The absence of sorrow, pain, death, and tears is not presented as wishful thinking but as divine action—“He will wipe every tear from their eyes.” The Greek phrase exaleipsei pân dákryon conveys a deliberate, personal wiping away, not a distant decree. God Himself tends to the wounds of His people. What has marked human existence since Genesis 3 is finally undone. Death, the great intruder, is no longer present, and with it goes the grief that has shadowed every generation.
The description of the city’s structure is equally important. The great wall and twelve gates, named for the tribes of Israel, remind us that God’s promises to His covenant people were never abandoned or replaced. The city’s cubic shape—equal in length, width, and height—echoes the Holy of Holies in the temple, where God’s presence dwelt most fully. Here, the entire city becomes sacred space. There is no separate sanctuary because the Lord Himself is the temple and the light. As G. K. Beale notes, the imagery communicates not architectural detail alone, but theological meaning: God’s immediate presence fills every dimension of life. The splendor of precious stones, pearls, and transparent gold points beyond material wealth to the beauty of holiness and the clarity of unbroken fellowship with God.
Safety and nourishment are also central to this vision. Nothing evil enters the city, not because of exclusionary fear, but because evil itself has been finally judged and removed. Flowing through the city is the river of the water of life, nourishing the tree of life, whose leaves are “for the healing of the nations.” What was barred in Eden is now freely given. Humanity does not return to innocence, but moves forward into restoration. Healing here is not remedial but sustaining—life as God intended it to be, whole and secure. The curse that fractured creation is gone, and God’s servants see His face, the ultimate fulfillment of covenant relationship.
Revelation 22:6–21 brings the Scriptures to a close with urgency and tenderness. John emphasizes that these words are “faithful and true,” grounding hope not in imagination but in God’s character. The repeated promise of Christ’s return—“I am coming soon”—is not meant to provoke speculation but faithfulness. “Soon” speaks to certainty and readiness, not chronology. The closing call is deeply pastoral: worship God alone, hold fast to the truth, and resist the temptation to alter the message for convenience or comfort. The warning against adding to or subtracting from the book underscores how seriously God treats His self-revelation. Grace does not negate truth; it depends on it.
What stands out most to me as a pastor is the final invitation: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’” The Bible ends not with a threat but with an open call. Those washed in Christ are welcomed into the city; those outside are still being summoned. Scripture closes as it has spoken all along—with grace offered and a future promised. As Eugene Peterson once wrote, Revelation does not withdraw us from the world but trains us to see it truthfully in light of God’s ultimate victory.
Ending the year in Revelation reminds us that our personal stories are nested within a far greater one. As another year closes, we may carry regrets, griefs, or unanswered prayers, but Scripture assures us that none of these have the final word. God does. The final sentence of the Bible—“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people”—is not only a benediction for eternity but a blessing for today. We walk into the coming year not with fear of the unknown, but with confidence in the One who declares, “I am the Alpha and the Omega.”
For a thoughtful overview of the hope and assurance found in Revelation’s final chapters, see this article from Christianity Today:
https://www.christianitytoday.com/faith/2020/december/revelation-new-heaven-new-earth-hope.html
FEEL FREE TO COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE, AND REPOST, SO OTHERS MAY KNOW