This post includes an excerpt from my new book “A Quest for the Ultimate.” After reading from Revelation 21 Pastor Jacob asks:
“What does this tell us about the bride?”
Ashley responds, “She’s glorious and glitters like a huge jewel. And she has 12 gates and there’s an angel at each gate. It’s hard to picture this. How can the believers be a city?”
Jacob responds, “I agree. The city represents God’s people, but it is also the dwelling place of his people, so the symbolism is complicated. But for now, let’s think about the appearance of the bride. Have you noticed a theme yet?”
Ashley answers, “Earlier in the chapter it said the bride was beautifully dressed. In these verses it says she has God’s glory and she’s like a jewel. Revelation keeps emphasizing the beauty of the bride.”
DeShawn adds, “And yesterday Revelation 19 said the bride was wearing fine linen.”
“Right,” Jacob affirms. “Scripture is teaching us how beautiful we will be. This is another idea we probably don’t think about very much. We will be beautiful and luminescent one day. And this is not in the way males and females are attractive to each other. God will see us as completely beautiful; even the angels will think we are beautiful.
How often do you think of yourself as becoming beautiful to God? In what way do you think you will be beautiful to God? Consider how pure and perfect you will be. You will shine with God’s beautiful character qualities.
Seven seekers travel to beautiful San Juan Island in Washington State for a retreat, hoping to find answers and make progress in their spiritual journeys. Each one is looking to overcome their hurts, challenges or misunderstandings. Ashley is reconstructing her faith. DeShawn is frustrated with his progress. Gabriella lost the sense of God’s presence. Kwan wants more than career success. Melissa wants to understand God’s big picture as she graduates from college. Kevin wants a deeper purpose in God that will capture his heart. Sarah is yearning for true community.
