Today you should read: Revelation 16:17-21
Consummation is the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom.
Fulfillment – a feeling of satisfaction at having achieved your desires; the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation; the act of bringing to completion or fruition.
Have you ever accomplished something big in your life? A goal was set, hard work was put into that goal, and when you fulfilled it, think of the joy and satisfaction you got from it. You had a job and you fulfilled it. Think about the hard work put into parenting and seeing your kids graduate and becoming responsible, God-fearing, Jesus loving ADULTS. A single person who finds the fulfillment of the marriage covenant.
The first thing my wife did when we got into the car after our wedding reception was just yell out a huge “sigh”.. no more wedding plans, no more in-law drama, our engagement had been fulfilled. That’s the joy and peace of fulfillment that is proclaimed throughout Scripture, including in verse 17 when God says “it is done.” You may have never felt that in any of those things because of the sin and suffering that effects how you do your job, how you get grades, how you raise kids, when you’re getting married or how you pursue that guy or girl for marriage.
Sometimes it’s hard for us to experience this because of the lack of ambition in accomplishing things or the constant let down in not achieving our goals because of sin and the fall.
But that’s not the issue when it comes to the Kingdom of God and ushering Heaven onto Earth as we read about in the book of Revelation. This final fall of Babylon was not only a sign of what was to come, but what was finished with Satan’s reign on the Earth. God’s plan had reached completion.
The other famous time this similar phrase was mentioned was in John 19:30, when Jesus cried out “It is finished” and submits His spirit to His Father.
Jesus coming down to Earth, what He did on the cross and the resurrection was not just a kind visit from our Creator. It was the launching of God’s full and final counteroffensive against all sin, death and destruction that had entered the world when Adam fell. It was the ushering in and fulfillment of God’s kingdom. We get to see that in finality in what we read today and anticipate what’s to come.
What are you looking forward to the most when we will finally experience the new heavens and Earth where sin, Satan and death are defeated once and for all?
By: Erik Koliser — West Campus Pastor
JumpstartCPC.com 