20111230: Rev21 - 2 Cor 5:An eternal house in heaven

The year 2011 is coming to a close.  This Christmas, I received a lovely devotional "Sparkling Gems from the Greek" - so wonderfully timely as I started this series of Rev 21 study on the City of God and its foundation gem walls.  The rainbow was captured by another friend who was in Hanoi - in a village in Fannispan, near Sapa Valley, Vietnam.

A great year to end with great photos above. Awesome gems and rainbow of covenant of love!

I am reminded of this verse in 2 Cor 5:1 "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven , not built by human hands."
I am also reminded of this wonderful song "You are God Alone"



2011 in restrospect:

1. The year has passed us by with much shaking - the tsunami in Japan, the earthquakes in diverse places and much global economic shakeup especially in the Euro.  How true of 2 Cor 5:2 " Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groaned and are burdened because we do not wish to be unclothed byt to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 
2. Despite the shakings around, I thank the Lord that He has set eternity in our hearts. 2 Cor 5:5"Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come"  Living in the last days require us to have greater sensitivity to the Spirit of God. Rom 8:14 those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God. John 16:13 the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will guide us into all truth..and he will tell us what is yet to come. Oh what a deposit ! what a guarantee! Thank God for the Holy Spirit!
3. So what is our goal to be? 2 Cor 5 :9 "So we make it our goal to please him whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear beofre the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body whether good or bad"

May we invest more than those precious stones & treasures here on earth. 1 Tim 6:19  we exhort ourselves to "lay up treasures for ourselves as firm foundation for the coming age, so that we may take hold of the life that is truly life"

YWHW: Unchangeable, Unshakeable, Unstoppable!

You are God Alone !

Amen!

20111224:Rev21/Heb12v22:Jingle bell rock?Zion?The city of the living God

Heb 12:22 "But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.  You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven"

"Zion" means "fortification. It is more than a physical place - it has spiritual implications.  It implies the city of the living God.

Firstborns too have lots of spiritual implications. They have the inheritance rights and blessings. Just like the cute little boy , Aaron , above- he is a firstborn in the family and just celebrated his 1st year birthday in December 2011.

Ps 87 is a wonderful psalm - "the one was born in Zion" mentioned 3times V4,5 and 6! and the Most High himself will established her. The Lord will write in the register of the peoples. All his fountains are in her.

This is the Christmas season. Heb 12:14 exhorts all to make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.  Can we be godless and yet see the Lord? No, see that no one is godless like Esau who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.  Afterward as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected.

So there is a warning in Heb 12 for refusing God. It is 2-way: Either you receive Him or reject Him. Further in Heb 12:26 God promised "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. The words once more indicate the removing of what can be shaken- that is created things - so that what cannot be shaken may remain."

What are we receiving here on earth for those born in Zion? It is a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Today, Christchurch is hit by another 5.8 earthquake - about ten months from the earlier one this year. Pakistan too had an earthquake later today. Followed by Philippines ( the latter already facing a storm crisis that claimed about 1000 lives todate)

Reflection of this Season:

Is this another warning for us here? It is "Christchurch" that the Lord is intensively shaking. In June this year, I wrote about the alarm bells and clock ticking....

Now - is it the "Jingle bell Jingle bell Jingle bell rock"?? Jingle hop has begun? Better giddy up jingle horse and pick up your feet now? What a bright time, it is the right time! Wake up , arise and shine for the light has come!

Here's wishing all a blessed christmas 2011! May you be fortified in your faith in the midst of all that is being shaken around us!

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock

Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun
Now, the jingle hop has begun

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell twist
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air

What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh

Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
That's the jingle bell rock, yeah

20111218_Rev21/ Heb11: Another city?

Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city, which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God
Heb11:13 These all died in faith...confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb11:16 But now they desire a better country , that is heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he had prepared for them a city.


Hebrews is a book of people of faith. 
What exactly is faith?
Heb11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.


About 2 weeks ago, I brought home the above little cute green ball of grass from this orchid farm in Jurong. Unknowingly that it could flower! Just barely few days back, all of the sudden some of the green leaves turned red and purple. One day earlier I couldn't see any thing but next day -POP! A little yellow flower appeared . Another day later, POP! Another flower bloomed!


I was not expecting it so I did not hoped for a flower. But having seen one flower, I started to hope to see more!


Going through the glorious picture of the new city in Rev 21, I came across Heb11. Abraham was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance. Well he obeyed, not know where to go. He looked for a city which had foundations  - whose builder and maker is God! His desire was for a better heavenly country! And God had prepared for them new city!


Having tasted the Lord's goodness, I would expect us to long for more! It is exciting! The exercise of Faith! The green grass ball experience : Anticipation! Yes, the eagerly awaiting in the morning -for more of those pretty blooms!

20121212-Rev21: No diamonds?

Exactly one month ago, I started on studying the new city wall 12 layers of precious foundation stones. So far, collected 3 of the 12 gemstones through the national geographic magazines.

I realised that Geology which is the science of studying the Earth - its origin, composition and revolution through time so fascinating. It can be divided into many branches and draws on related sciences such as physics, chemistry, astronomy and biology!

To have a better understanding of those precious gems mentioned int the coming city wall foundation, one has to understand the basic raw materials of geology! Which are minerals!

What exactly is a mineral? it is an element or compound made of 2 or more elements with a unique set of properties and usually with a regular crystal shape.  Many are of considerable economic significance and some are used as gemstones

The value of gemstones is determined by their scarcity and beauty, but it can be greatly enhanced by the cut and faceting. There are 3 main types of gemstones:-
1) The precious stones : Diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds ( hard and durable)
2) Semi-precious stones : Opal, jade, amethyst and quartz (not as hard)
3) The most rare and precious stones : Platinum and gold.

Interesting - most of these gemstones are classified according to their group types with attributes of differing hardness, density ,cleavage, fracture, colour, streak, lustre and flourescence.  Each having its own chemical formula. 


Reflections
Why are diamonds not specially mentioned in the Rev 21?

Diamonds are the hardest mineral known on earth. Yet the recent discovery was that it is actually carbon based.

Perhaps that is the main reason why.....
However, diamonds are mentioned in Ex28:18 and 39. There were part of the ornaments on the garment of the priests. These 12 stones were according to the names of the children of Israel- like the engravings of a signet.  

The city to come in Rev 21 and the earlier tabernacle in Exodus - there is so much similarity. The wall had 12 gates, and the gates the 12 angels, and the names of the 12 tribes. And the wall had 12 foundations and in them the 12 apostles of the Lamb.

With such glory of God, could this not have been what the late Steve Job had seen at his death bed? He "oh wow" 3 times!

We man can be so fascinated with just one precious stone. Oh much much more in awe to see so many of them laid out in the new city that is to come?

AWESOME : Updated 25/3/2012 : Through my sister-in-law's email today!! THE ANSWER To why no diamonds in heaven!! AWESOME!!!

20111207: Rev 21 New Earth Discovery Kepler 22 - Rev 21

Today, I read about the new planet discovered recently! Whoa! Just when I am studying Rev 21 - all the gems - the new earth and new City of God!

For a moment this morning, I really thought that Kepler-22 System could be the new earth the Lord has mysteriously stored for us. But the only issue is that in the bible "the sea existed no more" So if the new found Kepler is found to have water, then it would throw the equation right off! Well the temperate at 22 degrees celcius seems perfect place to live in!

So I hope that perhaps scientist would not find liquid on it but yet signs of the trees of life on it!

New planet discovered to be first in habitable zone

New planet discovery excites scientists: the discovery of a new planet 600 light years away with roughly the right temperature for plant and animal habitation is causing a buzz in the science community.  Though much larger than Earth, scientists haven't ruled out the possibility of life being discovered.

By SETH BORENSTEIN, Associated Press / December 6, 2011

• 

A diagram comparing our own solar system to Kepler-22, a star system containing the first 'habitable zone' planet discovered by NASA's Kepler mission. Kepler-22b, the most Earth-like planet ever discovered is circling a star 600 light years away, a key finding in an ongoing quest to learn if life exists beyond Earth, scientists said on Monday. Kepler-22b joins a list of more than 500 planets found to orbit stars beyond our solar system. It is the smallest and the best positioned to have liquid water on its surface - among the ingredients necessary for life on Earth.

Photo Illustration/Ames/JPL-Caltech/NASA/Reuters

Enlarge

A newly discovered planet is eerily similar to Earth and is sitting outside Earth's solar system in what seems to be the ideal place for life, except for one hitch. It is a bit too big.

The planet is smack in the middle of what astronomers call the Goldilocks zone, that hard to find place that is not too hot, not too cold, where water, which is essential for life, does not freeze or boil. And it has a shopping mall-like surface temperature of near 72 degrees, scientists say.

The planet's confirmation was announced Monday byNASA along with other discoveries by its Kepler telescope, which was launched on a planet-hunting mission in 2009.

Space photos of the day: A Blue planet

That is the first planet confirmed in the habitable zone for Kepler, which already had found Earth-like rockyplanets elsewhere. Twice before astronomers have announced a planet found in that zone, but neither has been as promising.

"This is a phenomenal discovery in the course of human history," Geoff Marcy of University of California, Berkeley, one of the pioneers of planet-hunting outside Earth's solar system, said in an email. "This discovery shows that we Homo sapiens are straining our reach into the universe to find planets that remind us of home. We are almost there."

The new planet, named Kepler-22b, has key aspects it shares with Earth. It circles a star that could be the twin of Earth's sun and at just about the same distance. The planet's year of 290 days is even close to Earth's. It probably has water and rock.

The only trouble is the planet's a bit big for life to exist on the surface. The planet is about 2.4 times the size of Earth. It could be more like the gas-and-liquid Neptune with only a rocky core and mostly ocean.

"It's so exciting to imagine the possibilities," said Natalie Batalha, the Kepler deputy science chief.

Floating on that "world completely covered in water" could be like being on an Earth ocean and "it's not beyond the realm of possibility that life could exist in such an ocean," Batalha said in a phone interview.

Kepler cannot find life itself, just where the conditions might be right for it to thrive. And when astronomers look for life elsewhere, they are talking about everything ranging from microbes to advanced intelligence that can be looking back at us.

So far the Kepler telescope has spotted 2,326 candidate planets outside Earth's solar system with 139 of them potentially habitable ones. Even though the confirmed Kepler-22b is a bit big, it is smaller than most of the other candidates. It is closest to Earth in size, temperature and star than either of the two previously announced planets in the zone.

The confirmation of one of two, though, has been disputed. The latest discovery has been confirmed several ways, including by two other telescopes.

This year, a European team of astronomers said they had confirmed another planet in the habitable zone, but that one was hot and barely on the inside edge of the habitable zone.

For Marcy, who is on the Kepler team, the newest planet is a smidgen too large. But, "that smidgen makes all the difference," he said.

Because its size implies that it is closer to Neptune in composition than Earth, "I would bet my telescope that there is no hard, rocky surface to walk on," Marcy said.

Chief Kepler scientist William Borucki said he thinks the planet is somewhere between Earth and gas-and-liquid Neptune, but that it has a lot of rocky material. It is in a size range that scientists do not really know anything about. Measurements next summer may help astronomers have a better idea of its makeup, he said.

The planet is 600 light years away. Each light year is 5.9 trillion miles. It would take a space shuttle about 22 million years to get there.

Kepler spots a planet when it passes in front of its star. NASA requires three of those sightings before it begins to confirm it as a planet. Borucki said the third sighting for 22b happened a year ago, just before the telescope shut down for a while. It took several months to finish the confirmation.

"It's a great gift," Borucki said. "We consider this sort of our Christmas planet."