The New Heavens And The New Earth Series

What will eternity be like? What will it be like to live with God forever and ever? Chapter 21 tells us. All the bad and negative things of this world are going to be conquered and destroyed. All the pollution, the ungodliness, the evil, all the suffering and pain, even death will be gone. It’s all going to be erased

God is going to take Satan and the evil of this world and destroy them. He is going to make a new heavens and a new earth. All things will be made new. This is the subject of tonight’s passage.

Read 1. Here we see the new creation. The heaven and the earth that we know are going to pass away. This means that all the heavens above—the sun, moon, starts and planets—are going to be destroyed and remade. This means there will be no more violent thunderstorms, or typhoons, or hurricanes or any kind of destructive rains and weather.

We look up at night and are awed by the beauty of the moon and the stars. But the new heavens will be even more splendid. All things in the universe will be alive and reflect the glory and splendor of God Himself.

The universe then will be perfect, a place where nothing burns out or wears down or wastes away or dies. We can’t imagine the glory and beauty. It’s beyond our finite minds.

The earth is going to pass away. There is going to be a new earth. The present earth suffers under all kinds of natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, destructive storms, floods, scorching heat, deserts, famines, diseases, and death. But when God remakes the earth, all that will no longer exist.

The new earth will flourish and be fruitful, bearing all the good that can be imagined. Just think how beautiful, green, lush, productive, and fruitful it will be. Note the statement, “there was no longer any sea.” This can mean one of two things.

The sea will be eliminated and the new earth will have no sea. Or it can mean the same thing that is meant with the heavens and the earth. The heavens and the earth and the sea are to pass away and be made newly created. The sea that causes devastation and destruction will be destroyed right along with the earth and the heavens, but it could mean that there will be a new sea along with the new earth, a part of the new creation. A perfected earth is beyond our comprehension. But the Scripture declares that is exactly what will happen. READ 2.

Here we see the new city of God, the Holy city, the New Jerusalem. The idea is that the New Jerusalem will be the capital city in the new heaven and earth. God’s presence will be manifested everywhere in the new heavens and the new earth.

The holy city will give the believers a place that they can identify with as they serve God throughout the universe.

The heavenly city is the tabernacle, the very presence of God that comes down to dwell with man. The New Jerusalem is discussed in detail in the next passage. But the point in this verse is to show that God has prepared His own capital city to sit upon the earth. The Lord’s throne will sit in the New Jerusalem and from there He will rule and reign throughout eternity. Note that the city comes down out of heaven.

It’s not constructed here on earth. God has it built in heaven and then moves it to earth. It is said to be as beautiful as a bride who is prepared for her husband. Remember when Jesus told His apostles that He was going away to prepare a place for them. There is the possibility that He was referring to His preparing the New Jerusalem. READ 3.

There will be immediate fellowship with God. Here’s the picture: when the New Jerusalem, the capital city of eternity, is moved to earth, then the very presence and glory of God will dwell and live right here upon earth. When the New Jerusalem is established on earth, God’s glory and presence will be forever on earth. God’s presence will never again be dulled or removed from the presence of people.

Think how wonderful it will be: we will never be without the presence and glory of God. God says He is going to live and dwell with us. We will serve and work for God face to face. That is what eternity will be like. READ 4-6

Here we see the perfection of all things. Let’s note a couple of things.

1. Life will be perfected. This means that the body of man will be perfected, so will the environment and earth. Life will be totally different from what it is now. The utopia that man has longed for will be a reality. Scripture explains the change in a beautiful way. “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Imagine a world where never again will there be a tear shed.