November 13
Lesson 11 (KJV)
NEW JERUSALEM
DEVOTIONAL READING: Genesis 1:28–2:3
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Revelation 21:9–27
REVELATION 21:9–14, 22–27
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Photo: papparaffie / iStock / Thinkstock
KEY VERSES
I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
—Revelation 21:22, 23
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
Unit 3: Alpha and Omega
LESSONS 10–13
LESSON AIMS
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. List features of the Jerusalem that descends “out of heaven from God.”
2. Describe the function of “the Lamb’s book of life” and locate other references to it.
3. Describe one way that the lesson text should change one’s attitude or behavior, and make a plan to implement that change.
LESSON OUTLINE
Introduction
A. Firm Foundations
B. Lesson Background
I. Holy City from the Outside (REVELATION 21:9–14)
A. Angel and Bride (v. 9)
B. Spirit and Glory (vv. 10, 11)
C. Wall and Gates (vv. 12–14)
II. Holy City from the Inside (REVELATION 21:22–27)
A. No Need for a Temple (v. 22)
B. No Need for Sun or Moon (vv. 23, 24)
Life Without Light
C. No Need for Closed Gates (vv. 25–27)
Parade of Nations
Conclusion
A. Eternal Temple
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
HOW TO SAY IT
Babylon Bab-uh-lun.
chalcedony kal-suh-din-ee or kal-sah-doe-nee.
Corinthians Ko-rin-thee-unz (th as in thin).
- Ezekiel Ee-zeek-ee-ul or Ee-zeek-yul.
Isaiah Eye-zay-uh.
Jerusalem Juh-roo-suh-lem.
Nebuchadnezzar Neb-yuh-kud-nez-er.
Zechariah Zek-uh-rye-uh.
What Do You Think?
If an angel said to your community “I will show you the bride” while pointing to your congregation, what would you want people to see?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ With regard to purity
■ With regard to devotion to the bridegroom
■ Other
What Do You Think?
How can we make our “mountaintop experiences” have lasting spiritual impact?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ In the context of the natural world (real mountains)
■ In the context of church endeavors
■ In the context of family activities
■ Considering Matthew 17:1–13; Hebrews 12:22–24; 2 Peter 1:18
What Do You Think?
How can we relate the future fact of God as the temple with the current reality that we as the church are God’s temple (2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1; Ephesians 2:21, 22; etc.)?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ As a witness for fellow believers to see
■ As a witness for unbelievers to see
Visual for Lesson 11. Start a discussion by pointing to this imperative as you ask, “How do we know when we’re doing this and when we are not?”
What Do You Think?
In what ways can we make sure the doors of our church are not shut in a welcoming sense?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ To those seeking God
■ To those seeking acceptance
■ To those needing help
■ Considering Romans 16:17–19; 1 Corinthians 5
What Do You Think?
How can we use various familiar listings to illustrate to others the importance of being named in the Lamb’s book of life?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Immigration records at Ellis Island
■ A Who’s Who publication
■ A preferred guest list
■ Voting rolls for a community
■ Other
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Activity Page (November 13—New Jerusalem)
Krause, Mark S., Laura McKillip Wood, and Ronald G. Davis. “New Jerusalem.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2016–2017. Ed. Ronald L. Nickelson, Jim Eichenberger, and Margaret K. Williams. Vol. 64. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2016. 94. Print.
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