Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

DoxologyDoxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Amen.Amen.

New Memory VerseNew Memory Verse

John 17:4, “I glorified You on the earth,

having accomplished the work which You have given

Me to do.”

John 17John 17

The Great High Priestly The Great High Priestly Prayer of our Lord!Prayer of our Lord!

John 17:2John 17:2

Doctrine of Eternal Life!Doctrine of Eternal Life!Part 17Part 17

John 3:36,John 3:36,“He that believes on the Son “He that believes on the Son has eternal life, but he who has eternal life, but he who does not believe on the Son does not believe on the Son

shall not see life, but the shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”wrath of God abides on him.”

M. The New Jerusalem M. The New Jerusalem

Rev 22:1-5Rev 22:1-5An inside look at the New CityAn inside look at the New City

Let’s Look InsideLet’s Look Inside

The inner life of the city will The inner life of the city will amount to Paradise restored, amount to Paradise restored,

Rev 22:1-5; cf. Rev 2:7, a Rev 22:1-5; cf. Rev 2:7, a reversing of the conditions reversing of the conditions imposed at the human fall imposed at the human fall

of Genesis 3. of Genesis 3.

Verse 1Verse 1, The presence of this , The presence of this river indicates the abundance river indicates the abundance of spiritual life which comes of spiritual life which comes from God, to those who have from God, to those who have

put their trust in Him.put their trust in Him.

The river symbolizes the flow The river symbolizes the flow of Christ’s Spirit, out from of Christ’s Spirit, out from God, to supply all of God’s God, to supply all of God’s

people with life in the eternal people with life in the eternal state, cf. John 7:37-39.state, cf. John 7:37-39.

The river is an emblem of The river is an emblem of peace, happiness, plenty; and peace, happiness, plenty; and

the essential thought in its the essential thought in its flowing from the throne is, flowing from the throne is, that all of the happiness of that all of the happiness of heaven proceeds from God.heaven proceeds from God.

The Water of Life emphasizes The Water of Life emphasizes the fact that the believer in the the fact that the believer in the

eternal state is in a place eternal state is in a place where there are no changes. where there are no changes.

You can not lose your You can not lose your eternal life. eternal life.

Just as the rainbow was God’s Just as the rainbow was God’s guarantee that the earth would guarantee that the earth would never again be destroyed by never again be destroyed by water, so the Water of Life is water, so the Water of Life is the eternal guarantee of the the eternal guarantee of the

eternal state.eternal state.

““Clear as crystal”, is symbolic Clear as crystal”, is symbolic of the holiness and purity of of the holiness and purity of

God and the city, God and the city, cf. 21:8, 27; 22:14-15.cf. 21:8, 27; 22:14-15.

Both the Father and Son have Both the Father and Son have their throne in the new city their throne in the new city

because it is the headquarters because it is the headquarters of the universe in the eternal of the universe in the eternal

state. state.

Christ has given all His glory Christ has given all His glory to the Father in the eternal to the Father in the eternal

state, 1 Cor 15:24, yet He still state, 1 Cor 15:24, yet He still has a throne as “King of kings has a throne as “King of kings

and Lord of lords” for all and Lord of lords” for all eternity, cf. Rev 17:14; 19:16.eternity, cf. Rev 17:14; 19:16.

Also because they are the two Also because they are the two members of the Godhead who members of the Godhead who

are directly involved in the are directly involved in the provision of our salvation.provision of our salvation.

Vs 2, “in the middle.” The Vs 2, “in the middle.” The river is the first monument of river is the first monument of eternal life in the eternal city, eternal life in the eternal city, which tells us of the guarantee which tells us of the guarantee

of eternal life. of eternal life.

The 2The 2ndnd monument and monument and guarantee of eternal life is, guarantee of eternal life is,

“the Tree of Life.” It is only “the Tree of Life.” It is only mentioned in three areas of mentioned in three areas of

Scripture: Genesis, Proverbs, Scripture: Genesis, Proverbs, and Revelation.and Revelation.

In Gen. as the source of In Gen. as the source of eternal life for Adam and the eternal life for Adam and the woman in the Garden of Eden woman in the Garden of Eden which they were forbidden to which they were forbidden to

eat from, post fall. eat from, post fall. Gen 2:9; 3:22-24 Gen 2:9; 3:22-24

In Proverbs, a symbol of In Proverbs, a symbol of God’s Word that gives man God’s Word that gives man

wisdom to produce wisdom to produce righteousness (Divine good righteousness (Divine good production), and happiness production), and happiness

(+H of God): Prov 3:18; (+H of God): Prov 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4.11:30; 13:12; 15:4.

““The Tree of Life” is a The Tree of Life” is a memorial to the Cross of memorial to the Cross of

TLJC, whereby He took on TLJC, whereby He took on our curse, Deut 21:23; Gal our curse, Deut 21:23; Gal 3:13, giving the believer 3:13, giving the believer

eternal life, Gal 3:13.eternal life, Gal 3:13.

Gal 3:13, Gal 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the “Christ redeemed us from the

curse of the Law, having curse of the Law, having become a curse for us; for it is become a curse for us; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone written, “Cursed is everyone

who hangs on a tree.”who hangs on a tree.”

The Cross of Jesus Christ is The Cross of Jesus Christ is the place of the true Tree of the place of the true Tree of

Life through which we Life through which we receive eternal life.receive eternal life.

Rev 22:14, 19Rev 22:14, 19

Rev 2:7, Rev 2:7, “He who has an ear, let him “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who the churches. To him who

overcomes, I will grant to eat overcomes, I will grant to eat of the Tree of Life which is in of the Tree of Life which is in

the Paradise of God.” the Paradise of God.”

““Paradise” – PARADEISOS, Paradise” – PARADEISOS, used three times in the N.T., used three times in the N.T.,

Luke 23:43, 2 Cor 12:4 Luke 23:43, 2 Cor 12:4 and Rev 2:7. It is not used and Rev 2:7. It is not used

in the O.T.in the O.T.

Luke 23:43, that portion of Luke 23:43, that portion of Hades where O.T. believers Hades where O.T. believers

went prior to the resurrection went prior to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. of Jesus Christ.

AKA Abraham’s Bosom, AKA Abraham’s Bosom, Luke 16:19-31. Luke 16:19-31.

Once Jesus was resurrected, Once Jesus was resurrected, this compartment of Hades this compartment of Hades was removed from inside was removed from inside

planet earth and brought to planet earth and brought to the third heaven, Eph 4:8-10. the third heaven, Eph 4:8-10.

Paul used it to refer to the Paul used it to refer to the third heaven, God’s throne third heaven, God’s throne

room, where “paradise” now room, where “paradise” now resides, 2 Cor 12:2-4. resides, 2 Cor 12:2-4.

In Rev 2:7, the Tree of Life is In Rev 2:7, the Tree of Life is found today in the heavenly found today in the heavenly abode called Paradise, and abode called Paradise, and

after the Millennium it will be after the Millennium it will be a part of the New Jerusalem a part of the New Jerusalem

of the eternal state.of the eternal state.

The “Tree of Life” is a The “Tree of Life” is a memorial to the completed memorial to the completed work of Jesus Christ on the work of Jesus Christ on the

Cross, as we enjoy our eternal Cross, as we enjoy our eternal life in the New Jerusalem.life in the New Jerusalem.

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchTuesday, October 4, 2011Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Tape # 11-111Tape # 11-111

Doctrine of Eternal LifeDoctrine of Eternal LifeThe New JerusalemThe New Jerusalem

Great High Priestly Prayer, Part 22Great High Priestly Prayer, Part 22

John 17:2; Rev 22:1-2; Gen 2:9; 3:22-24; Gal 3:13John 17:2; Rev 22:1-2; Gen 2:9; 3:22-24; Gal 3:13

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2011James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2011