Revelation #67

Happy New Year everyone! Today we will pick up where we left off as we get close to the end of Revelation.



Revelation 21:1-4



The New Heaven and the New Earth

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”



In verse 1 we see that John sees a new heaven and a new earth as the originals have passed away. God is going to renovate the earth and the heavens. Sin has scarred God's creation and God will make them like new. Look at these verses:



2 Peter 3:7-12



7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!



Pretty wild huh? John also tells us there will be no more sea. Not sure why but I do know why John recorded this...he was isolated on an island, Patmos, this would be great news to him! In verse 2 John tells us that the holy city, new Jerusalem, he seen coming down out of heaven dressed for her husband. This Jerusalem is the church no longer to be trampled by man! Look at this verse:



Hebrews 11:10



10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.



In verse 3 John hears a loud voice from heaven and it says "the dwelling place of God is with man." Wow that is the greatest news we can hear! The voice goes onto say God will dwell with man, and the redeemed will be His people and God himself will be their God! What a way to start off the new year to be reminded of that promise! Verse 4 continues on with the good news....God will wipe a way our tears....shows His love for us. Death will be no more....eternal life is ours! There will be no more mourning....sorrow is gone! No crying....just celebrating with our Savior! No more pain...won't that be awesome! As you get older you realize more and more how great this promise is! For all former things have passed away....everything is new in Christ!



Oh what a day that will be my friends.....what a day that will be!



Tom