The New Creation Series

Return of the King: Week 6

The New Creation

Scripture Revelation 21-22

This morning we are going to finish up our look to the future.

This subject is important for us because Jesus told us He will return, and what His return will be like.

I would encourage you to go back and listen to the podcasts to catch up on the end times teachings.

Prayer

Today, We put the cherry on top of the Sundae.

We spent a few weeks going over the horror of the tribulation, but Jesus wants his followers to know that all of that are like birth pains- you have to go through it to get the reward. What is coming is beyond nice. – It’s the fulfillment of the longing of our hearts.

Paul says in Philippians 1:23 that the place we are longing for is “better by far” and Hebrews 11:16 calls it, “a far better country.”

How will we get to this better country?

Revelation 21:1 says we won’t get to it. – It will get to us:

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 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:1-2

The final event that God has projected for us in His word is the coming of the New Creation.

Listen friends: God’s final act of creation is an entire new creation!

And it starts with a heat and ends with a home.

2nd Peter 3: 10 tells us that The cosmos will melt and be replaced by a new Heaven and a new Earth. 2 Peter 3:12-13; Revelation 21:1-2

Verse 12 says…

The heavens will be dissolved by fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:12-13

The new creation is God’s ultimate design and ultimate desire, and our ultimate destination. It’s the place we were made for, the place we are longing for, the place where we will spend eternity.

This New Creation has a new heaven, a new earth, and a new city [called the New] Jerusalem. Revelation 21-22

This is what we have been waiting for! Even the creation has been waiting and the bible says even groaning.

Romans 8:22 says…

The whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. 23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves… Romans 8:22-23

During these last few years, how many of you have you wished for a better world? Why do you want that?

Because when you surrendered to Christ, this world is no longer your home. You were made for a better world.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3 that “God has set eternity” in our hearts- a yearning for something intangible that we can’t quite explain, but it’s something we feel on the deepest levels.

Some good news for us this morning- this eternity is coming, and it will be more than you can ask or imagine.

Let’s read about this future in Revelation 21.

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 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:1-2

3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.

I would note one thing here-

In the new creation, we won’t be His “people,” we will be His “peoples.” Heaven will be made up of people from every ethnicity. We’ll be diverse, but united, like our church and it’s members should strive to be every day. Heaven will be made up of cultures from every nation, tribe and language.

We will be a healed people

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. Revelation 21:3-4

Then he tells us-

5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.”

How much is He making? – Everything!

He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done!”

Jesus said that one other time. On the cross, the full payment for sin was “done.” At the coming of the New Creation everything affected by sin will be done, and done away with.