“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Rev 21:1-4 

 

The book of revelation by its title is highly revealing of the future of humanity, the end time dispensation and eschatology (the part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind) because of the language and terminologies used, the average Christian doesn’t read it and even minsters rarely preach from it. However, circumstances do force us to do the necessary. In the New LivingTranslation Yearly Plan, the book of Revelation is what we are reading this month. The passage above was part of what was read on October 20, 2020. 

 

This passage, Revelation 21 is mostly believed to be exclusively about the literal and physical heaven. I also believe that the book of Revelation is a book of prophecy. Prophecy has two dimensions, fore telling ( predicting the future) and forth telling ( decrying  the present to make for a better future) . 

 

October 20,2020 has been declared on the social media in Nigeria as a Black Tuesday because of the reckless, wicked and unnecessary killings of innocent Nigerian youth at Lekki toll gate in Lagos by the Nigerian army. It is a shame that this lacklustre army that has fluttered and are unable to battle Boko Haram, a self declared enemy of Nigeria has suddenly become trigger happy to waste the future leaders of Nigeria in their prime.

 

Nigerians have been going through hell in the hands of their rulers for the past 60 years. They have gone through tribal wars and national wars. The most terrible of all is the failure of successive governments to develop Nigeria. Nigeria a nation highly endowed with unimaginable human and natural resources has wallowed in abject poverty, lack of infrastructure, no rail road, no power supply and no water supply for the life of its existence. Successive governments have promised heaven and earth but things have been from fry pan to fire. There are many institutions that government have established to fight the tetra headed problems in Nigeria including the Police Force. The police force also has sub units, one of the notorious ones is SARS- Special Anti-Robbery Squad. This unit has changed its role from protection to extortion particularly with the Youth of Nigeria. The youth felt they have had enough and started a peaceful protest across the nation, engaged the cyberspace with #EndSARs and its various versions and asked the government to disband this unit. The government slowly responded that they have done so. The youth persisted with this peaceful protest. Curious minds like mine asked why did they continue despite this promise, I gathered that this is the fourth time this promise will come from the government, that they never fulfill such promises. The youth cannot trust the government, there is a distrust and disconnection. 

 

But reading the word of God this morning The Holy Spirit  in the book of Revelation gives us the  hope , prophecy and impetus to see a new Nigeria emerge. There is need for to forge the past and construct a new future. How shall we have a new Nigeria ?

 

1. Stop shedding the blood of Nigerians. There is only one blood that was shed for the remission and sins of humanity the blood of Jesus Christ. 

 

2. You are in power for a purpose. Anybody in power should realize that they are there by God’s express permission to build Nigeria and make Nigeria a better place .

 

3. Stop using Armed forces against Nigeria and Nigerians. ALL arms of government in Nigeria should stop using the apparatus of the armed forces and Police to harass, intimidate, kill, destabilize, oppress innocent Nigerians whether they are engaged in civil protest or they are about their businesses. 

 

4. Develop the infrastructures of Nigeria. Government should not just be intrested in elections and coming to power they should be genuinely intrested in developing the nation. Nigerians must develop Nigeria. Government should provide infrastructure, particularly power supply that will make the industrial giant in the heart of Nigeria come up. If the nation is not developed there will always be various forms of agitation from simple peaceful protest to violent secession .

 

5. Patience is a weapon.The citizens of this nation should realize that Rome was not build in a day. Nigeria cannot be an exemption, but we must not use that as a platform to fail to do what is expected of us as Nigerians.

 

6. Stop cursing Nigeria. Curses are negative pronouncements that affect the victim in the negative way. A curse is a  solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something. The curses of our fathers are hurting us enough, we must stop compounding this problem. 

 

7. The Church should have a new strategy:If Muslims are focusing on taking the South. Christians should focus on taking the North. The approach is what will be different, while they are using force we shall use love, if they are using guns we shall use our bible. Instead of using billions of dollars to build church buildings in the south let us use it to build hospitals, health centres, schools, shelters, orphanages, tertiary institutions in the north. Let us back this up with prayer. It is never too late to carry out what I call Jesuslization of the North if the North is bent on Islamization of the south. The advantage we have is that Jesus the maker of the world, the Captain of the Host of heaven who has never lost a battle is leading us. He promised “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” He can be trusted. We are on the winning side.

 

8. Start prophesying (praying ) for a better Nigeria, what you say to God is what God will do to Nigeria (Num 14:28). The church should use a prophetic voice and physical engagement to turn Nigeria around. Pray for peace. Pray for wisdom for government to rule Nigeria well. Pray for God to deal with the enemies of Nigeria. Pray that God will uproot the sons of the bond woman that sees Nigeria as there birthright and install the promised Sons who will rule Nigeria well. Pray for transformation of Nigeria  from underdeveloped nation to a developed nation that will take its position among the commonwealth of prosperous nations. Pray that the blood of the innocent ones will cry for vengeance and as Cain did not escape the wrath of God the perpetrators of this nation shall never escape God’s wrath of justice.

 

9. The youth must be ready to work hard, innovate and create. Simple protest will not make this vulture mentality leaders to change their minds. While the pressure is maintained, the youth must imbibe the spirit of entrepreneurship, hard work to transform Nigeria. The emerging youth must deviate from the evil past of corruption and prepare to offer Nigeria a better leadership. 

 

10. The government must perform their statutory role . Provide security. Diversify economy.  Create an enabling environment. Eliminate corruption. Be willing to integrate the youth to the ruling class.

Conclusion: See a new Nigeria. What you see is what you will possess. See a better economy. A better police force, a better army. See a better legislative house, judiciary and a responsive executive that will no more waste the future leaders of Nigeria. See a Nigeria where there is no more corruption. See a nation that is developed with the youth engaged in viable employment and no more wasted. A nation with a youth that is filled with creative and innovative minds. See a nation where our economy is diversified and we are no more dependent on crude oil. A nation where there is rule of law. A nation devoid of sacred cows and impunity. A nations where our youth will no more be wasted by the people that are supposed to protect them. See a nation where innocent blood will no more be shed on the streets of Nigeria. See a nation where our Green-White-Green flag will no more be stained with the blood of our youth.  Like John in the Island of Patmos, (wherever, you are as a Nigerian or friends of Nigeria), see how God “will wipe every tear from their(our) eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain”. All these things are gone forever.” A new Nigeria has come. Hallelujah ! Amen

Shalom