As the New Year has begun, we have greeted each other with the words “Happy New Year!” All of us are hoping the future will be truly happy both personally and for the peoples of the world. Yet there are many people in the world today who have every reason to be unhappy. War, conflict, oppressive regimes, financial pressures, sickness and death are the plight of many. We may also be facing problems in our personal lives or in the lives of those we love. The prophet Jeremiah, who lived in dark days, tells us where true happiness is found, “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.”
The last book in the Bible is called Revelation. It was written towards the end of the first century by the apostle John. He was an old man, the last surviving disciple of Jesus, and was living in lonely exile on the rocky island of Patmos. He and his fellow Christians were experiencing terrible persecution because of their faith in Jesus. Some his fellow apostles had already been martyred. God gave John a wonderful revelation of Jesus Christ that gave him strong hope personally and that has also encouraged and sustained Christians throughout history.
The book is a series of visions that vividly portray the course of human history in which there are times of great wickedness and suffering. The visions also show that God’s gracious purposes in Jesus Christ will ultimately triumph and his people will be kept safe. John himself received comfort and hope through the words of Jesus to him, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
The book of Revelation closes with a wonderful vision of the new heaven and the new earth. John writes, “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” Then a loud voice from the throne said, “Look! God’s dwelling is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Behold, I am making everything new!” Whatever we may be facing as this year and whatever may happen in the wider world, we can find a sure hope in God’s promises and in his ultimate purpose for his world in Jesus.