New Heaven & Earth (Revelation 21)

Now the good news continues. After the defeat of all corruption and evil, a new heaven and a new earth are described in Revelation 21.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Foretold by Isaiah (Isaiah 65:17), foreseen by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 40-48), and alluded to by Jesus (Matthew 19:28), all things will be new. Whether this means brand new or renewed during a symbolic thousand years of peace, remains an open question.

New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Jerusalem above is symbolic of our mother, the church (Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22-24). She is populated by the saints. A significant hill in Jerusalem is mount Zion and also symbolizes the church (Hebrews 12:22-24). The church is the Bride of Christ (Matthew 25:1-13; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:21-24; Revelation 19:7-8). This Bride is not dressed for a worldly fashion parade, but for her husband.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

When we speak of going to heaven when we die, we often overlook the time when heaven and earth will be one and God will dwell with men.

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

We may ask questions about lost loved ones, children who died in infancy and people groups whose ancestors died without even knowing about Jesus. There is plenty of speculation, but one thing is sure, that if there will be no more tears, there will be no more reason for tears. Beyond speculation, we don’t know the answers, but we do know that God is a God of grace and mercy and His justice is righteous.

Revelation 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15).

Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

The task of making all things new is finished and access to eternal life is still available to those who want it. One crucial task was done on the cross and that work is finished completely by this renewal. It is completed in the Lord’s death, burial, resurrection, ascension return and renewal of heaven and earth.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Cheap grace without a life of overcoming is not a Christian life. The “double cure” of forgiveness of our sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39) to make overcoming possible, is the Christian life.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

This list of sins begins with fearfulness. Fear is the opposite of faith. The second death results after a resurrection and is the final destination of all sinners. Some take this as a literal death, and others take it as eternal suffering that is like a death. Either way, there is a bad and a good eternity. Let’s choose the good eternity.

Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

This pure woman is the bride of Christ, and is a contrast to counterfeit religion, apostasy and heresy.

Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Zion is actually a small hill in historic Jerusalem, but the true church has the stature of a “great and high mountain” spiritually speaking. So many are redeemed in the church that they fill a whole city, new Jerusalem which will come down out of heaven.

Revelation 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;