Purpose: To describe the glories that awaits believers.
Aim: I want the listener to make everyday decisions based on the truth of Christ’s coming.
INTRODUCTION: "London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs.
Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior.
As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage.
"’Forget about the repairs,’ the buyer said. ’ When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different. I don’t want the building; I just want the site.’" [1]
Just like the way God changes a person who puts their faith in Christ, so God is going to completely change this old run down, sin cursed earth. When we become God’s, the old life is over. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (NAU). God is going to get out the wrecking ball one day soon and completely redo this world.
God’s renovation project started when Christ began opening the 7 sealed book.
REVIEW:
1:1-20 I. John’s Vision of the Past "the things which you have seen"
2:1-5:14 II. Christ’s Vision of the Present "the things which are"
Ch.6-22 III. John’s Vision of the Future "things which will take places"
6-7; 12-14 A. Satan’s war against God’s creation: the first six seals
8-11; 13:11-18; 15-18 B. The wrath of God: the seventh seal
Ch.19-20 C. The worship of God
LESSON:
Ch.21-22 D. The wonder of eternal bliss
We will see five things that God makes new, three of which we will see today. The word NEW does not mean "new in time, or recent." It means new in form or quality. The word NEW in verse one could be translated FRESH.
Psalm 102:25-26 "Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. " Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. (NAU)
Vs.1-8 1. God makes all things new
Hebrews 1:10-12 And, "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; They will perish, but You remain; And they all will become old like a garment, And like a mantle You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end." (NAU)
Vs.1 a. A new creation "a new heaven and a new earth"
God has a lot of NEW things in store for His own. They will receive a NEW NAME (Rev.2:17). Jesus will reveal His NEW NAME (Rev. 3:12). There will be a NEW SONG (Rev. 5:9). There will be a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH (Rev.21:1). There will be a NEW JERUSALEM (Rev.3:12; 21:2). Revelation 21:5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." (NAU)
There is only one physical change to the earth that is revealed in today’s text: there will no longer be an ocean. Since there is no indication that this is a symbol it appears that this will literally happen. It may mean that the ocean will become a body of fresh water.
Isaiah 65:17-18 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for gladness. (NAU)
Vs.2 b. A new city "new Jerusalem"
This city is HOLY. It is perfect. John repeats this description in verse 10 and God will KEEP it HOLY. Revelation 21:27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.(NAU)
This city was MADE READY, Jesus made it for us! John 14:1-6 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. " If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. "And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (NAU)
So we can know that our eternal dwelling place with Christ is a REAL place. Notice that John said, "I saw..." in verse one. The only symbol here is the bride in verse two. Heaven is a real place. Dwight L. Moody put it this way: "My heaven is a solid heaven. After the resurrection has come, you will have a resurrection foot and something to tread on; a resurrection eye and colors and substances to see with it; a resurrection ear and voices and music to regale it; a resurrection heart to love and to satisfy it. I have no patience with your transcendental, gelatinous [jelly like], gaseous heaven."
John is not the only one who got a glimpse of heaven. Paul did too, but he was not allowed to tell us what he saw. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-- was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. (NAU)
Abraham was looking forward to this very city: Hebrews 11:10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (NAU)
Notice that the first description of what this city looks like is "as a bride adorned for he husband." John gives us a better description of what this bride looks like in Revelation 21:11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. (NAU)
"It is not the splendor of the wealth of God that first confronts John in his vision of the new heaven and new earth. Rather, first he sees God’s beloved bride. We are shown first of all that of which the Lamb is proudest. It would be like visiting the estate of a great man who, as you first enter his estate, proudly introduces you to his family, his bride, his children; everything else is secondary in his mind. So it is in God’s eternal new order." [2]
"Think of it! The seven struggling churches of the province of Asia, made up of ordinary Christians, together with ordinary men and women like them throughout all time, are the beloved bride." [3]
Who is this HUSBAND? It is none other than Jesus Christ. Isaiah 54:5 "For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. (NAU)
Vs.3 c. A new closeness with God "God Himself will be among them"
This is the last of 21 times that we find the phrase "loud" or "great voice." There is nothing greater than the announcement that God will actually dwell with US for all eternity!
2 Corinthians 6:16 ... we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (NAU)
God’s Contact with Mankind
This completes a marvelous cycle we find in the Bible.
#1 God dwelt with Adam and Eve
Genesis 3:8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.... (NAU)
#2 God stopped dwelling with mankind
Cherubim were placed at the entrance to the Garden of Eden to keep Adam and Eve and their children out (Gen. 3:24).
#3 God revealed His limited presence in the Holy of holies
The tabernacle or tent was where God’s presence was manifested "...was divided by a veil into two chambers, the exterior of which was called the holy place, also "the sanctuary" (Heb. 9:2) and the "first tabernacle" (6); and the interior, the holy of holies, "the holy place," "the Holiest," the "second tabernacle" (Ex. 28:29; Heb. 9:3, 7). The veil separating these two chambers was a double curtain of the finest workmanship, which was never passed except by the high priest once a year, on the great Day of Atonement. The holy place was separated from the outer court which enclosed the tabernacle by a curtain, which hung over the six pillars which stood at the east end of the tabernacle, and by which it was entered.
"The order as well as the typical character of the services of the tabernacle are recorded in Heb. 9; 10:19--22.
"The holy of holies, a cube of 10 cubits, contained the "ark of
the testimony", i.e., the oblong chest containing the two tables of stone, the pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded. [4]
The only one who could experience the presence of God was the High Priest and he could only enter one day a year, the Day of Atonement, and he had to bring blood to symbolize his and the people’s need for forgiveness. The Bible says that it was set up this way to show Hebrews 9:8 ...that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed... (NAU)
#4 Jesus provided the unlimited presence of God
After Christ’s sacrifice for our sins on the Cross, the veil hiding the presence of God was torn in two from top to bottom. This symbolized that anyone can experience the presence of God if they come to God through the blood of Christ. Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, (NAU)
This is why Paul said, Colossians 1:27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (NAU)
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you ... (NAU)
#5 God dwells with mankind
[Read verse 3 again] Hebrews 10:12-13 but [Christ], having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. (NAU)
This will complete the promise in Matthew 1:23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated means, "God with us." (NAU)
Ezekiel 37:27 "My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. (NAU)
Note that there are 7 things that will not be in the new creation: 1. No sea, (v. 1,). 2. No tears (v. 4). 3. No death (v. 4). 4. No sorrow (v. 4). 5. No crying (v. 4). 6. No pain (v. 4). 7. No curse (22:3), nothing to harm the perfect bliss of God’s people. [5]
CONCLUSION: What does all of this mean to us today? Peter asked that question in 2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. (NAU)
Then Peter answered his question: 2 Peter 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, (NAU)
Is it possible "to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good"? C.S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity said, "If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this world."
New life begins when we make our marriage vows to Jesus Christ. Have you submitted to Christ as your spiritual husband?
They lose nothing who gain Christ.
Samuel Rutherford [6]
[1]Ian L. Wilson, Source unknown 10,000 sermon illustrations. 2000 (electronic ed.). Dallas: Biblical Studies Press.
[2]Palmer, E. F., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Vol. 35: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 35 : 1, 2 & 3 John / Revelation. Formerly The Communicator’s Commentary. The Preacher’s Commentary series (228). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.
[3]Palmer, E. F., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Vol. 35: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 35 : 1, 2 & 3 John / Revelation. Formerly The Communicator’s Commentary. The Preacher’s Commentary series (228). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.
[4]Easton, M. (1897; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Illustrations not included in electronic edition. (electronic edition of the 3rd edition.). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[5]Custer, S. (2004). From Patmos to paradise : A commentary on Revelation (237). Greenville, S.C.: BJU Press.
[6]Just like the way God changes a person who puts their faith in Christ, so God is going to completely change this old run down, sin cursed earth. When we become God’s, the old life is over.
