The Last Word – Revelation 21
A New Heaven and a New Earth
November 15, 2020
Show this photo - https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1949-ford-f1-pickup/
Have you ever waited a long time for something special? Story of seeing pictures of moms holding their newborns for the first time. It was worth it!
Revelation 21:1-7 NIV
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
Romans 8:18-19 NIV
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
Revelation doesn’t end with us going to heaven. It ends with heaven coming here.
This isn’t about an evacuation of earth, but an invasion of heaven.
We’re resurrection people. We believe Jesus had a real body that really died.
His real body really came back to life.
This was the first fruit of God restoring all of His creation.
Romans 8:22-23 NIV
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
When John was writing Revelation, the city of Jerusalem was a pile of ruins, but here he sees the city completely restored.
New Creation isn’t an ending. New Creation is a fresh, new beginning.
The Bible begins with a story of a new creation and ends with a story of the new creation restored.
The sin-ruined creation of Genesis is restored in the sacrifice-renewed creation of Revelation.
“Earth is crammed with Heaven.” Poet Robert Browning
Then John shows that the new heaven and the new earth doesn’t appear as a garden paradise, but a city.
Cities are where all the problems exist. We want the safety of a country garden, not the messiness of city streets.
God can bring order to the messiest parts of our lives.
What’s messy and disordered in your life, right now?
I have good news; Jesus can bring everything back to order.
John 16:21-22 NIV
A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
