Note: I used many sources to study this book, one of my favorites is Revelation: God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept by Daymond Duck and some out of different study bibles.
Title: The new heaven and the new earth
Theme: To show the future of the world and heaven
Text: Revelation 21
Some things we will see
1) no sin
2) earth and all creation revolve around the New Jerusalem
3) Law of gravity will dramatically change or our bodies will not be affected
4) no sun because Christ is the light
5) no sea
6) presence of Christ and God shown.
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. cf. Mt 24:35; Is 65:17; 66:22
New Heaven-for those who are believers of this age
New Earth-for those redeemed apart from the church
2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13 AV)
a better country Heb 11:13-16
“there was no more sea”. It seems that there will no longer be large masses of water to contain all the people and to create a more social climate.
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.
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:12 AV)
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.
Although God now, through his Holy Spirit, dwells in people he will one day dwell among his people.
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.
Rev 7:17 all of sins effects will be obliterated
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 7:17 AV)
Compare this list with the first three chapters of Genesis and see what was introduced and then ended
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.
Jesus will not repair what is left of this world but he will make everything new.
who is on the throne 1 Cor 15:24-28
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.
Since Christ thirsted on the cross we will no longer have to thirst again. Why? Because of “I am” he is all.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22 AV)
8 But the fearful (cowardly), 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.
Here we get a glimpse of those who will be cast in to the lake of fire. ( the second death)
1) the fearful-those who fear mans approval more than God. This includes the compromiser's Mark 8:35 including preachers 1 Thes 2:4 note FLSB
2) the unbelieving-those who have never believed or those who use to believe
3) abominable or the vile-those who defile themselves with abominable sins such as stealing, taking the Mark of the beast, taking drugs, drunkenness
4) whoremongers or sexually immoral-fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals, and rapists
5) sorcerers or those who practice magic arts-astrologers, Satan worshipers, witches, and warlocks
6) idolaters-those who worship anyone or anything other than God
7) liars-Those who deceive the lost, falsely accuse Christians, falsely claim to be a Christian, or add to or take away from the Bible
It is strange what seems to be like a small sin to some is actually major when it comes to the Bible.
8) this would include all who participate in these activities. As I said it is hard to believe a Christian would do these things and still be worthy of heaven. We know what they deserve and we know God's justice 1Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 5:5-7
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.
Lamb's wife-symbol of the city in which the children of God stay.
A city is a people and a place.
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,
in the spirit (Ezekiel did this Ez 1;3,24:26)
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
In John 9:5 Jesus said “I am the light of the world”
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: cf. Ez 48:31-34
walls in the Bible times represent security. Here is the same but not for the defense of attack but as a symbol as God gives us symbols not for himself but for us to understand and see. Best thing about these walls is that they will not separate us from God but will keep us with him.
12 gates-twelve tribes of Israel
Satan had a counterfeit city called Babylon, on its walls were written Blasphemies Rev 17
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Mt 19:28 judging of the apostles
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28 AV)
12 foundations-apostles, Notice that the doctrines of the apostles are what is the foundation. It is that of Christ.
Also notice the unity of the Old Testament Gates and the New Testament foundations. God has a plan
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20 AV)
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Why measure?
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
12,000 furlongs = about 1500 miles
perfect square
about the same distance between New York and Dallas. It is also this high. But don’t forget he said he had to build many mansions
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
144 cubits is 216 feet
18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
Jasper is as a diamond
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Jasper-crystal clear gem as a massive diamond
Sapphire-clear blue gem as a diamond in hardness
Chalcedony-greenish agate with maybe few stripes or other colors mixed
Emerald-bright green stone
Sardonyx reddish white onyx similar color to a healthy finger nail
Carnelian-fiery red or blood colored stone from Sardis
Chrysolite-transparent golden yellow stone
Beryl-sea green emerald lighter in color than the third foundation
Topaz-a transparent greenish-yellow stone
Chrysoprase-yellowish pale green stone similar to the modern aquamarine color
Jacinth-violet hyacinth-colored gem
Amethyst-purple-colored stone
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
God's presence is everywhere. This is what we see as the theme of the Bible is God's presence. Adam had it but he lost it. Then we see each man that God used in the Old Testament to do a mighty work there was always the mention of them personally walking and talking with God. Then in the New Testament we see Emmanuel came which means "God with us". Then the Holy Spirit the comforter was sent. Finally in the end of it all the full purpose will be fulfilled in that his presence will be everywhere.
What is holding back the full presence of the Lord today? the redeemed body.
In the Israelite temple there was three kinds of lighting.
1) outer court: sun by day and moon by night
2) inner sanctuary: the candle sticks
3) Holy of Holies: the Shekinah glory of God John 1:4,9; 9:5
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
It seems that this new Jerusalem is going to be the capital of the world. People come to here.
We know there will be no night in the city but will there be night on the earth. Some say there will be because in Ps 148:36; Is 66:22-23; Jer 33:20-21,25 that the night will never pass away.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
There will be no barriers in this temple. All nations, all races, all people. Even the barriers of the church will be lifted.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
