87. Revelation 21 - New Heavens And New Earth Series

IN GOD'S IMAGE - REVELATION 21 - NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH

This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli

We have finally reached that point in the narrative where God has achieved His goal of creating “man in His image” and as a consequence, God and man can dwell face to face in the New Jerusalem.

• Although the stunning description of heaven in Revelation 21 with its streets of gold and foundations of precious stones is meant to impress John’s readers, to focus on the splendour of the surroundings is to miss the real intention of life in heaven.

• As we have seen through this series, God has gone to extraordinary lengths to bring about this final conclusion of bringing God and humanity face to face.

• So the focus of the whole exercise is not to impress us with the splendour of the heavenly surroundings, but rather the reality of living with our God, face to face, sharing in the life and love of the Trinity (Revelation 21:3).

So what insights can we discern from scripture on what life will be like in heaven.

• 1) We will inhabit new heavens and new earth.

• We started this series speaking about the two dimensions of life in the cosmos, physical life in chronos time, and spiritual life in eternal time.

• Jesus injected Himself into chronos time in order to shatter the stranglehold sin and death had on humanity but also to establish the new creation based on heavenly eternal time.

• Our inclusion in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis then for the creation of the “new humanity” which will live on into eternity.

• 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ.

But it is not just man that is redeemed by Jesus’ resurrection; it has implications for the whole of fallen creation.

• As discussed earlier, because of Satan’s rebellion and Adam’s sin, mankind’s destiny and the whole creation were set on a trajectory of decay, corruption and death (Romans 8:20-22).

• And neither the natural world nor humanity can do anything about it; it is beyond our control.

• But it is not beyond the control of the one who is the source and creator of life who is Lord of both chronos and eternal time.

• 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.

• Notice Paul’s distinction between the two dimensions. The created first Adam was given life in a physical body in time and space, the second Adam, Jesus, not only was raised immortal, but has the power to give spiritual life to others, a life-giving spirit.

• V.46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

• As the purpose of the decaying four-dimensional world of time and space is now redundant, it is no longer necessary for a humanity that has passed from mortality to immortality.

• So God puts the sad decaying period of rebellion and sin to the torch and replaces it with the new heavens and the new earth.

• 2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.