Book: The Way of the Word: Study Guide: Chapter 66: Revelation: The King is Coming
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- 1 day ago
- 9 min read
Summary of the Final Victory: The Consummation of All Things
The book of Revelation, and indeed the entire canon of Scripture, finds its majestic climax in the final two chapters. In Chapter 66 of our study, we arrive at the threshold of eternity, not as a vague, ghostly existence in the clouds, but as the robust, physical, and spiritually perfected reality of the New Heaven and the New Earth. This is the moment the "King is Coming" ceases to be a future hope and becomes an ever-present reality. From an Assemblies of God perspective, this represents the final fulfillment of our "Blessed Hope" and the ultimate realization of the Kingdom of God.
The narrative arc of the Bible began in a garden (Genesis 1-2) and concludes in a garden-city (Revelation 21-22). In the beginning, humanity walked with God in the cool of the day, but sin introduced a catastrophic rupture. The "former things", sin, death, mourning, and the curse, became the backdrop of human history. However, the victory of the Lamb, secured at the Cross and vindicated at the Resurrection, now reaches its cosmic application. The final victory of Christ is not merely a legal victory or a personal rescue mission for souls; it is a total, irreversible reclamation of the created order.
In Revelation 21:1, John sees "a new heaven and a new earth." The Greek word used for "new" here is kainos, which refers to something new in quality or character, rather than neos, which often means something entirely new in time or origin. This suggests a renewal, a purification, and a radical transformation of the existing creation. The old earth, scarred by the Fall and marred by the rebellion of the enemy, "passed away," making room for a world where righteousness is the very atmosphere we breathe.
The centerpiece of this new reality is the New Jerusalem. It is described as "coming down out of heaven from God." This is a crucial theological point: humanity does not build its way to God; God descends to live with humanity. The cry from the throne in Revelation 21:3 is the heartbeat of the Gospel: "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God." This is the Tabernacling of God, the ultimate fulfillment of the Incarnation.
In this final state, the "King is Coming" results in the total eradication of human sorrow. God Himself "will wipe away every tear from their eyes." This isn't just a sentimental gesture; it is a judicial and restorative act. It signifies that the reasons for the tears, death, mourning, crying, and pain, are gone forever. The "former things" have passed away because the King has made "all things new" (Revelation 21:5). This is the irreversible victory of Christ. The enemy is defeated, the lake of fire has quarantined evil, and the children of God are home.
Key Lesson 1: The End of the Curse and the Fullness of Presence
One of the most profound lessons we learn from the King's arrival in Revelation 22 is the definitive end of the curse. Genesis 3:17-19 outlined the consequences of the Fall: the ground was cursed, labor became painful, and death became the inevitable end. For millennia, the human experience has been defined by "the vanity of the creation" (Romans 8:20). But in the New Jerusalem, the proclamation is clear: "No longer will there be anything accursed" (Revelation 22:3).
This removal of the curse is not just the absence of bad things; it is the presence of the ultimate Good. The text tells us that "the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him." For the first time since Eden, the mediation of the Spirit and the shadows of the law are replaced by direct, unhindered access. We are told, "They will see his face" (Revelation 22:4). To see the face of God is the "Beatific Vision", the highest goal of the Christian life. In our current state, no one can see God and live (Exodus 33:20), but in our glorified state, the King’s presence becomes our life.
As Assemblies of God believers, we emphasize the "already and not yet" of the Kingdom. We believe in the present power of the Holy Spirit to heal and deliver, these are "foretastes" of the age to come. When we see a body healed today, we are seeing a momentary suspension of the curse. When the King comes, that suspension becomes permanent. There will be no more need for the "gifts of the Spirit" because we will have the Giver Himself. The healing of the nations by the leaves of the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:2) signifies the total restoration of community, identity, and physical wholeness.
This lesson teaches us that our current struggle against sin and suffering is temporary. The King is bringing a reality where "His name will be on their foreheads." This signifies ownership, identity, and character. We will finally be who we were always meant to be, reflections of the King, living in His light, without the shadow of the curse ever darkening our path again.
Key Lesson 2: The Materiality and Holiness of the New Creation
A second vital lesson is the nature of our eternal home. Too often, popular culture depicts "heaven" as a disembodied, ethereal existence. Revelation 21-22 corrects this by presenting a city with walls, gates, streets, a river, and trees. The King is not coming to take us away from "the earth" forever; He is coming to bring "heaven" to a renewed "earth." This is the theology of the "New Earth."
The New Jerusalem is described with immense physical detail, gold like clear glass, pearls for gates, and foundations of precious stones. While these are certainly symbolic of God’s glory and the value of His people, they also point to a tangible, material reality. The resurrection of Jesus was a physical resurrection; He ate fish and could be touched. Our future in the New Creation is a physical future in resurrected bodies. This matters because it affirms that God’s original design for the material world was "very good." Redemption is not an escape from matter, but the redemption of matter itself.
Furthermore, this new creation is defined by absolute holiness. John notes, "But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Revelation 21:27). The King is coming to establish a realm where righteousness "dwells" (2 Peter 3:13). In our current world, holiness is a battle, a pursuit of sanctification against the current of a fallen culture. In the New City, holiness is the environment.
There is "no temple" in the city because the "Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Revelation 21:22). This implies that the distinction between the "sacred" and the "secular" is completely dissolved. Everything is sacred. Every conversation, every act of service, and every moment of worship is done in the direct light of the Lamb. This lesson calls us to live with "eschatological urgency", knowing that our character is being shaped now for a city where only the holy may tread. We do not become holy to get into the city; we are made holy by the Lamb so that we can enjoy the King whose city it is.
Key Lesson 3: The Imminent Return and the Call to Overcome
The final lesson of the "King is Coming" is found in the repeated promise: "Behold, I am coming soon" (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). This imminence is a cornerstone of Pentecostal theology: the "Blessed Hope" of the Church. It is not a call to calculate dates or hide in fear, but a call to active, expectant readiness. The King’s arrival is the "omega point" of history, and it demands a response in the present.
This response is summarized in the promise to the "overcomer." In Revelation 21:7, the King says, "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son." Throughout the book of Revelation, conquering (or overcoming) is not achieved through worldly power or violence, but through "the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11). To overcome is to remain faithful to Jesus in a world that demands compromise. It is to maintain the "patience and faith of the saints."
The imminence of the King’s return serves as both a comfort and a warning. To those who are suffering, it is the promise that relief is near. To those who are wavering, it is a reminder that judgment is certain. The contrast in Revelation 21:8 between the overcomers and the "cowardly, the faithless, the detestable" is stark. The King is coming to set things right, which means a final separation of those who love the light from those who prefer the darkness.
As we wait for the King, the Spirit and the Bride say, "Come" (Revelation 22:17). This is the dual mission of the Church: we pray for the King to return ("Maranatha!"), and we invite the "thirsty" to come and "take the water of life without price." Our anticipation of the final victory fuels our current mission. We don't just wait for the King; we work for the King, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain because the King is coming with His reward in hand.
Small Group Reflection Questions
1. How does the promise of "no more tears" and "no more death" change your perspective on current suffering? In Revelation 21:4, the King promises a total erasure of the causes of grief. When we walk through "the valley of the shadow of death," we often feel that the darkness is permanent. However, this text reframes our present pain as "former things" that are destined to pass away. For a small group, discuss how holding onto this future reality helps you process a recent loss or a long-standing disappointment. Does knowing the "end of the story" provide you with a different kind of strength for the middle of the story?
2. The New Jerusalem has "no temple" because God's presence is everywhere. How can we practice "God's presence" in our everyday lives right now? If our eternal destiny is a life where every moment is lived in the direct presence of the King, how does that affect our current "secular" activities? We often compartmentalize our lives into "church time" and "work/home time." In the New City, that wall is gone. Discuss practical ways your group can acknowledge the King's presence in the office, in the grocery store, or in the home. How would your speech or your attitude change if you truly believed the Lamb was the "lamp" of your current environment?
3. What does it mean to be an "overcomer" in today's cultural climate? The promise of the New Creation is for "the one who conquers." In a world that often pressures Christians to abandon biblical truth for cultural acceptance, what are the specific "battles" you face? Being an overcomer in Revelation involves faithfulness to the King even when it costs us social standing, comfort, or security. Share with your group a time when you had to "conquer" a temptation to compromise. How does the "heritage" promised in Revelation 21:7 motivate you to stay faithful today?
A Closing Prayer for the King's Arrival
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the glorious vision of the New Heaven and the New Earth. We thank You that the story of humanity does not end in a grave or a wasteland, but in a City of Light where the Lamb is the Lamp. We confess that often our eyes are so fixed on the "former things": the pain, the sickness, and the shadows: that we lose sight of the King who is coming to make all things new.
Lord Jesus, King of Kings, we invite Your presence into our lives today. Help us to live as citizens of the New Jerusalem right now. Grant us the grace to be overcomers, to wash our robes in Your blood, and to stand firm in Your truth. We pray for those who are thirsty, that through our lives they would hear the invitation to come and drink from the water of life.
We look forward with joy to the day when You will wipe away every tear, when death will be no more, and when we shall see Your face and bear Your name. Until that day, keep us watchful, keep us holy, and keep us filled with the hope of Your soon return. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
About the Author: Layne McDonald, Ph.D.
Layne McDonald, Ph.D., is a dedicated author, educator, and minister within the Assemblies of God tradition. With a deep passion for biblical theology and cultural discernment, Dr. McDonald has spent decades helping believers bridge the gap between ancient Scripture and modern life. His work is characterized by a commitment to the "Blessed Hope" and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Through his books, Bible studies, and teaching resources, he seeks to equip the Church to lead with heart, integrity, and a clear vision of the coming King. Dr. McDonald resides in the United States, where he continues to write and mentor the next generation of Christian leaders.
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Is your heart prepared for the moment the King steps out of eternity and into your immediate reality?
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