Ark A New Vision God's Radical Inclusivity A Reflection on the Revelation 21 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller and hello my good friends, Dr.

Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.

This is where we come to you each and every day with a reading of the New Testament which brings you the Testament which is understandable, relatable and applicable to your life.

We use a Revised Common Lectionary which is the daily selective readings for each and every day.

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Let's get into our reading for the day.

From the Revelation 21:5 14 Reading from the message I heard a voice thunder from the throne.

Look, look.

God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women.

They're his people.

He's their God.

He'll wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death has gone for good.

Tears gone, crying gone, pain gone.

All the first order of things gone.

The enthroned continued.

Look, I'm making everything new.

Write it all down, each word dependable and accurate.

Then he said, it's happened.

I'm A to Z.

I'm the beginning.

I'm the from water of life.

Well, I give freely to the thirsty conquerors.

Inherit all this.

I'll be God to them.

They'll be sons and daughters to me.

But for the rest, the feckless and faithless degenerates and murderers, sex peddlers and sorcerers, idolaters and all liars.

For them it's lake, fire and brimstone.

Second death, the City of Light.

One of the seven angels who had carried the bowls filled with the seven final disasters spoke to me.

Come here, I'll show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.

He took me away in the spirit to an enormous high mountain and showed me holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, resplendent in the bright glory of God.

The city shimmered like a precious gem, light filled, pulsing light.

She had a wall, majestic and high, with 12 gates.

At each gate stood an angel, and on the gates were inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.

Three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, three gates on the west.

The wall was set on twelve foundations and the name of the twelve apostles of the Lamb inscribed on them.

Well, this is an incredibly powerful passage of scripture from the Revelation, which is all about a vision of hope, transformation and the divine presence in our world.

Let me give you three points to ponder.

One is divine neighborliness.

The text begins with a revolutionary image.

God has moved into the neighborhood.

This isn't about a distant deity, but rather a divine presence in our everyday lives.

In progressive theology, we embrace the idea that God is is found in community, in the straight, in the streets, in the struggle for justice, not separated from human experience, but deeply embedded within it.

A second point is about universal healing.

The vision of God wiping away every tear speaks to collective healing and liberation.

While traditional interpretations often focus on individual salvation, progressive Christianity sees this as a vision of systematic transformation, the end of oppressive systems that cause suffering, grief and pain.

This is all about both personal and societal renewal.

A third point is about reimagining sacred space.

The description here of a new Jerusalem with its twelve gates facing all directions suggests radical inclusivity.

While the imagery uses Jewish and Christian symbolism, the gates opening in all directions point to universal access.

This challenges us to break down barriers in our faith, communities and society that exclude or marginalize.

Here's your action step.

Identify one wall in your community, whether it's social, economic or religious, that creates a separation between people.

And take one concrete step to help break down that wall.

This might mean initiating conversations across the dividing lines or supporting organizations working for inclusion, or examining your own prejudices.

We're going to pray in just a minute, but I just want you to know that we have a resource for you.

It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.

It will help you in your daily personal Bible study.

You can pick it up at our website, voiceofgodaily.com here's our closing prayer.

God, who dwells among us in our neighborhoods and on our streets, help us to see your presence in unexpected places.

When we encounter walls that divide, give us courage to build bridges instead.

Where there are tears, may we offer comfort.

Where there is exclusion, may we create welcome.

Where there is despair, may we imagine new possibilities.

Make us partners in your work of creating a world where we all find home.

Amen.

Well, my good friends, it's always great to have you join me here here on Daily Bible Refresh.

I hope that you'll do the same tomorrow.

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Remember that God's law, loyal love, doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.