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Revelation 21:6-7 - David’s Son Reigns (Part 4 of 5)

Will Nielsen
April 11th, 2006
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Conquering, Inheritance and Sonship
“But there is more in this word than the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. It contains the very heart of John’s vision of heaven. Before he attempts to summon up the full resources of language to depict what is beyond language and thought, he leaves us with this first indelible impression that heaven is belonging to the family of God.”1 That is to say all that are in Christ are heirs with Christ. It is Christ who has swallowed up death in victory (1 Cor. 15:54-57, c.f., Isa 25:8). This victory over death is shared by all who are united to Christ through the Gospel, through faith in Jesus (Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:26-4:7; Eph. 3:6; Titus 3:7).

Kistemaker notes well that in John’s citation of 2 Samuel 7:14, he replaces the word ‘father’ in the 2 Samuel verse with the word ‘God’ in the Revelation 21:7 verse, and suggests that this is because

For us, the link between being children of God and being heirs is unbreakable. Whereas Jesus is the one and only Son, we are adopted sons and daughters. And whereas Jesus inherits all things (Heb. 1:2), we as co-heirs share in all his blessings….in Jesus Christ God has adopted us as his sons and daughters and made us members of his family (compare 2 Cor. 6:18). In Revelation, John never calls God the father of believers; yet he is the Father of Christ (1:6; 2:27).”2

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1 Caird, 267.
2 Kistemaker, 560.

4 Responses to “Revelation 21:6-7 - David’s Son Reigns (Part 4 of 5)”

Jesus had a son?

Left by Anonymous on April 11th, 2006

Oh, David had a son. Sorry. So what. Lots of people have sons.rr

Left by Anonymous on April 11th, 2006

You are apparently missing the entire point of this article: Jesus is a Son like no other.

Left by W.Nielsen on April 11th, 2006

Genuine questions and attempts at honest discussion are most welcomed. If I am misreading your approach here, forgive me; however, you appear to be more interested in making unrelated comments rather than interacting.

If you do in fact have genuine questions about the article, please feel free to ask. Honest disagreements are most welcomed.

Left by W.Nielsen on April 11th, 2006

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