Studying Scripture with Pastor David Higa at CCEP David Higa

Studying Scripture with Pastor David Higa - Our Future Hope The New Jerusalem
Revelation 21:1-8
Revelation 21:1-8 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. [Rev 21:4]
Our future hope is the New Jerusalem, the Eternal State. It is where the tabernacle of God is with men, not in part but in the fullness of His glory.
Can you imagine? I cannot, and I really dont think anyone can to be honest. You know those visions of heaven books that go on the market every so often? Save your money; they are not worth reading.
The New Jerusalem [heaven] is indescribable, and for good reason. It is a God reason. We cannot fully experience and comprehend the fullness of God on this side of heaven. It is simply a fact. Now we know in part; but then [in heaven] we will know the fullness of the glory of God! Heaven is impossible to describe in our tepid contemporary words. And so, we must receive the truth of heaven by faith, so we never diminish its glory.
Have you ever wondered why there is so little Scripture on the Eternal State? It is because our Lord has saved the best for last, and He wants to be the very One to show us.
It is like a little child opening a birthday present. The anticipation is killing him, so he conjectures all these ideas on what it is. But the surprise, only known by you, is unwrapped at an appointed time.
You see, heaven, the New Jerusalem, the Eternal State, comes at an appointed time when we leave this life of faith and enter in through the better blood of Jesus Christ.
Paul described it like this, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Jesus said, I go and prepare a place for you. These are brief insights into the New Jerusalem, Heaven, our Eternal dwelling. It is a glorious place; impossible to fully comprehend in this life; yet our Fathers eternal gift, to us, in His Son Jesus Christ. Revelation 21-22 are the Bibles glorious chapters on Heaven. While there are numerous ones on the Millennium, the new heaven and new earth, and New Jerusalem are found here. Therefore, we are going to take our time and feed upon these best chapters over the next several weeks.

Studying Scripture with Pastor David Higa - The Great White Throne Judgment
Revelation 20:11-15
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away. And there was found no place for them. [Rev 20:11]
Like the seven seals of judgment that prepares for the Lords return [ref. Rev 19:11-16], there will be a final judgment [the Great White Throne Judgment] that prepares for a new heaven and a new earth [Rev 21:1].It is important to distinguish the new heaven and new earth [i.e., the New Jerusalem] from the Millennium [Rev 20:1-10]. The New Jerusalem is the Eternal State. Citizens of this Eternal City will all be in resurrected bodies dwelling in the presence of God forever.
The Millennial Kingdom, however, will be a place where the Church, the Old Testament saints, and the Tribulation saints are in their resurrected bodies ruling and reigning with Christ. But there will be multitudes in the Millennium with mortal bodies [i.e., the 144,000 Jews in Rev 7:1-8; 14:1-5; a remnant of Jews sealed in the wilderness [Rev 12:6; Isa 16:3-4]; and Gentile believers who survive the Tribulation. These live into the Millennium and repopulate the earth, which will be re-established in glory like the time of Creation.
At the end of the Millennium, however, Satan will be loosed from the abyss and lead a final rebellion. He will deceive many who are born in the Millennium. But John records, fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. [Rev 20:9]
There then remains a final work before the New Jerusalem: Judgment of nonbelievers, i.e., the unfaithful dead. This comes at the Great White Throne judgment. It will be a judgment of the souls in Hades from unfaithful Cain to the unfaithful rebellious at the end of the Millennium [i.e., from Gen 4 through Rev 20, respectively]. It will be a final purge of sin that ushers in the Eternal State. Our citizenship will finally be fully in heaven. This is the place where Jesus said, I go and prepare a place for you.
The final chapters in Revelation are without a doubt the best! And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. [Rev 21:4].
Be encouraged ye saints of the Lord; the best is yet to come!

Studying Scripture with Pastor David Higa - Rebellion in the Millennium
Revelation 20:5-10
Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth. [Rev 20:7-8]
This is difficult to understand! Is not Jesus ruling and reigning? Was not sin dealt with in the Tribulation? Isnt there going to be peace and justice and righteous rule?
Well, the answer is yes, yes, and yes. The Millennium will be a world dominated by righteousness, justice, and peace. But remember, during that time Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit [ref. 20:2] no longer tempting and deceiving people into rebellion. However, at the end of the Millennium, Satan will be loosed and will go out to deceive the nations.
So, the question is why? Why would God allow this? Why not just cast Satan into Gehenna where the Antichrist and False Prophet are?
The answers lie in a fundamental philosophical principle called choice. A person must choose faith in Jesus as Lord. Forced faith is a contradiction of terms. It is like a professed atheist saying, Oh my God. If one is forced to have faith in Jesus, it is not faith.
But lets press this thought further. To be able to choose faith in Jesus, one must be presented the option not to choose Him, i.e., the option to rebel. Well, that option will be presented when Satan is loosed.
There will be multitudes born in the Millennium that will not have the option to choose faith until the choice of rebellion comes with Satans temptation. It was a similar philosophical principle presented in Genesis 3, was it not?
The interesting thing is that many, according to our text, will be deceived and choose wrongly; and this is as Jesus [God] is in their very midst. It disproves the misnomer, If I can just see God and a miracle I would believe.
Faith is something entirely different and without it, it is impossible to please God. We must come by faith, not by sight, even though our faith will one day turn to sight. But faith involves choice; the two cannot be separated.
The application for us, on this side of the Millennium, is never to underestimate the power of deception; it is Satans weapon of choice. That is why we must remain set apart from this world [sanctified]; and while in this world, continually set our minds and hearts upon Jesus.

Studying Scripture with Pastor David Higa - The Thousand Year Reign of Christ
Revelation 20:1-4
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. [Rev 20:1-2]
When Jesus returns [Rev 19:11-16] one of the first things that will happen is that Satan will be bound for a thousand years. Interestingly enough, it will be another angel that does the binding. This gives us insight into the Devils limited power. While we are never to underestimate Satans power, we should always know that greater is He Who is in us than he who is in the world [ref. 1 Jn 4:4]. When it comes to a power encounter, the battle not only belongs to the Lord, it is already won. As Jesus put it plainly on the Cross of Calvary, It is finished! Our part is to believe and walk in that truth.
During the Millennium Satan will no longer be able to deceive the nations. His influence to tempt and lure away will cease. He will literally be chained in the bottomless pit [the abyss, ref. Lk 8:31].
Imagine a world dominated by righteousness and goodness, a world where there is no injustice, where no court ever renders an unjust verdict, and where everyone is treated fairly. Imagine a world where what is true, right, and noble marks every aspect of life, including interpersonal relations, commerce, education, and government. Imagine a world where there is complete, total, enforced, and permanent peace, where joy abounds and good health prevails, so much so that people live for hundreds of years. Imagine a world where the curse is removed, where the environment is restored to the pristine purity of the Garden of Eden, where peace reigns even in the animal kingdom, so that the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them (Isa 11:6). Imagine a world ruled by a perfect, glorious Ruler, who instantly and firmly deals with sin. [MacArthur]
That world will become reality in the Millennium. It will be a thousand years of perfect rule by a Perfect King, and we [His Bride, the church] will rule with Him. It will be a glorious time of reaping [by sight] what was sown by faith in the here and now. And after that it will even get better in the Eternal State [Rev 21-22].
Stay faithful. Be encouraged. Revelation 1-19 was only the introduction: The best is yet to come!

Studying Scripture with Pastor David Higa - KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
Revelation 19:11-21
And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. [Rev 19:16]
It is this title, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS that puts the exclamation point on our Lords Return. He is Immanuel, God with us; He is our Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, and Mighty God. He is the Lamb of God, the Root of David, and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He is the over 170 names and titles given Him throughout Scripture. But it is this one, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, that precedes His Return. In fact, this title is inscribed on both His robe and thigh. There is no higher King; no greater Lord; no superior to Jesus, and here in our text this morning He returns in the fullness of glory.

Judgment has gone before Him. Seven seals of judgment have been loosed; and within the 7th seal seven trumpets of judgment have been sounded; and within the 7th trumpet seven bowls of judgment have been poured out. Spiritual, political, and commercial Babylon has been judged [ref. Rev 17-18]. Jesus now brings judgment upon Antichrist and his world army at the valley of Megiddo, and then sets up His Millennial Rule. This ushers in the great marriage supper of the Lamb [ref. Rev. 19:7-9]. Christ will return with His Bride [the church] to rule and reign for a thousand years. This will bring in the fullness of Christs glory.

This latter half of Rev 19 is a new beginning. It is not the beginning rendered in the born again experience [ref. John 3]; rather it inaugurates a new beginning physically. The Kingdom from this time on will be a spiritual and physical rule. Jesus will no longer be worshipped only by faith. In the Millennium, faith will turn to sight, and yet the two will coexist. Jesus will be in the midst of His people physically and spiritually.

From this point on, it simply gets better and better! Revelation 20 are the details on the Millennial Kingdom and Rev 21-22 the Eternal State, i.e., the New Jerusalem. We certainly do have a blessed hope to look forward to, and knowing this future hope helps us to live lives today in a fuller way, to persevere and not give up, while looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

Remember, as hard as it gets today, it will be nothing compared to the glory of that day! Stay faithful and true. The best is yet to come!

Studying Scripture with Pastor David Higa - Heavenly Hallelujahs
Revelation 19:1-10

After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! [Rev 19:1]
Here is yet another After these things in the book of Revelation. This one takes us [finally] to our Lords Return. There is, however, more to come. Three more chapters remain in Revelation. With Christs Return one might think that thats the end of the story. In reality, it is only the beginning!
The only thing that ends in Rev 19 is the Tribulation. What follows is a new beginning; the Millennium [ref. Rev 20], and after that the New Jerusalem [the Eternal State, ref. Rev 21-22]. And so, yes, while Rev 19 ends the economy of judgment, it also prepares the way for Gods eternal economy of glory!
This morning we are going to look at the first ten verses of Rev 19. It is a record of Heavenly Hallelujahs. Can you imagine? After what seems like an eternity of missing the mark [from Gen 3 to Rev 18], sin is finally purged from this earth.
John has described seven seals of judgment; seven trumpets of judgment; seven bowls of judgment; and the final judgment upon spiritual, political, and commercial Babylon [Rev 17-18]. Now after every aspect of sin has been dealt with, Jesus opens the scroll [ref. Rev 5, the title deed to the earth] and reclaims this earth for Himself, its rightful owner.
Jesus will rule and reign with a rod of iron [Ps. 2:9], and His reign will be both spiritual and physical. A multitude of hallelujahs will indeed be the rhythm of heaven. The prayers of the saints [ref. 6:9-11] will finally be answered.
An interesting observation to note in the text is the marriage supper of the Lamb [v.9]. This is the great wedding banquet of Christ [the Bridegroom] and His Church [His Bride]. The two will be united and will return to the earth to rule and reign together.
Interestingly enough, at this marriage supper, Christ Himself will gird an apron and serve His bride [ref. Luke 12:37], similar to the Last Supper. This is almost too difficult to comprehend. Jesus, in all His glory, will serve you and I [His church] at the marriage supper of the Lamb.
This should humble us to the core. It should cause us all to be that living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto Him [ref. Rom 12:1]. It should cause us to even more serve Him in this life of faith.