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“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.” (Revelation 22:1-3)

Recently, two dear friends from Penticton brought us a large bag of delicious Okanagan apples. I decided to blend some of them into a puree to enjoy each morning.

In the opening verses of the last chapter of the last book in the Bible, Revelation 22:1-3, we’re given a picture of peace, restoration, and fulfilment. The tragedy of human rebellion in the garden in Genesis 3 is reversed. The curse of the Fall is “no longer”. The nations are healed. Life is abundant.

One sign of these is the fruit: the tree of life will bear fruit each month. Why? Because Jesus’ work of salvation is complete, and he reigns supreme: “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,” verse 3 says. It’s a glorious image of eternity, where there is no more suffering, sin, or separation from God. Jesus is Lord.

Saturday is November 11, Remembrance Day. We remember those who gave their lives for their country, who suffered because of war, who lost loved ones. We pause to weep and grieve the ongoing hostility we see in the world today, where people – no matter their nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, or status – continue to suffer. We remember.

And we pray and long for that day when the nations will be healed, when the curse of sin and death is forever ended, when the fruit of the tree of life can be enjoyed. We know this day comes because Jesus, the Lamb of God, died, was buried, rose again, ascended to his Father’s side, will return in glory, and will sit upon his throne forever.

Please pause at 11.00 this Saturday to remember and to grieve. But also look ahead to that glorious image of eternity and be glad, for Jesus is Lord.

視頻大意翻譯(video Chinese translation):

嗨，大家早。

“天使又指示我在城內街道當中一道生命水的河、明亮如水晶、從　神和羔羊的寶座流出來。在河這邊與那邊有生命樹、結十二樣果子、每月都結果子．樹上的葉子乃為醫治萬民。以後再沒有咒詛．在城裏有　神和羔羊的寶座．他的僕人都要事奉他．”

幾周前，來自Penticton的兩位好朋友給我們帶來了一大袋美味的Okanagan蘋果。我們已經吃了大部分。所以，我決定把剩下的一些做成蘋果泥，每天早上享用。

在聖經最後一卷書啟示錄 最後一章的開頭幾節22：1-3，我們看到了一幅平安、恢復和實現的畫面。創世記第3章中人類在伊甸園中反叛的悲劇被顛倒過來了。墮落的詛咒是「不再」; 列國得醫治; 生命是豐富的。一個跡象是果實：生命之樹每個月都會結果實。為什麼？因為耶穌的救恩工作已經完成，而且他至高無上掌權： “神和羔羊的寶座要在城裡”， 第3節說。這是永恆的榮耀形象，不再有苦難、罪惡或與神的分離。耶穌是主。

星期六是11月11日，陣亡將士紀念日。我們緬懷那些為國捐軀的人，那些因戰爭而受苦的人，那些失去親人的人。我們停下來哭泣和悲傷我們今天在世界上看到的持續敵意，那裡的人們——無論他們的國籍、種族、宗教、年齡或地位如何——繼續遭受苦難。我們記得。

我們禱告並盼望那一天，那時列國將得到醫治，生命樹的果子可以享用，罪惡和死亡的咒詛將永遠結束。我們知道這一天的到來，是因為耶穌，神的羔羊，死了，被埋葬了，復活了，升到他父的身邊，將在榮耀中再來，永遠坐在他的寶座上。

本週六，請在 11：00 停下所有的是來紀念和緬懷。但也要向前看永恆的榮耀形象：耶穌是主。

讓我們一起禱告。 

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum