Dr. Bradford Reaves
Crossway Christian Fellowship
Hagerstown, MD
www.mycrossway.org
Introduction
The City Bank of Binghamton, New York, sent flowers to the management of their new branch, on the opening of their new facility. Unfortunately, the card accompanying the flowers read, "Deepest Sympathy." The florist who made the mistake, called later to apologize for the mixup. What really worried him, he said, is the message meant for the bank was sent to a funeral, and it read, "Congratulations on your new location." (Sermon Central: Glenn Dale Pease)
Heaven isn’t a mere concept or a dimension. It is a real place. A physical place that many Jews, including the Apostle Paul, called the ‘Third Heaven.’ “In the sacred writings, three heavens only are mentioned. The first is the atmosphere… The second, the starry heaven… And, thirdly, the place of the blessed, or the throne of the Divine glory.” (Clarke)
"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." (2 Corinthians 12:2)
“There are several verses indicating heaven to be “above” the earth” are numerous. At the Tower of Babel, God says, “Come, let us go down” (Genesis 11:7) Heaven is described as “high above the earth” in Psalm 103:11, and the place from which the Lord “looks down” in Psalm 14:2. Jesus is described as having “ascended into heaven” and “descended from heaven” in John 3:13 (ESV). In Acts 1:9–11Jesus is described as being taken “up” into heaven, and when God takes John to heaven in Revelation 4:1, He says, “Come up here.” These passages have led to the conclusion that heaven is beyond the earth’s airspace and beyond the stars” (GotQuestions.org).
Jesus told his disciples, that he was going to go and prepare a place.
“And 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." (John 14:3)
I. The God of Life v.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.” (Revelation 21:5 LSB)
There is an essence of de-creation in the narrative of Revelation. However, unlike the enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). The purpose of God’s work is to restore, give life, and eliminate the curse of death. Those who continue to worship the system of this world and the father of death will find themselves in eternal death and those who put their faith and trust in the Author of Life (Psalm 36:9), will live eternally with Him.
This de-creation is believed to begin during the tribulation in association with all the judgments. Regarding this, John MacArthur wrote: “The traumatic upheavals of the tribulation period will have brought these conditions to a climax with devastating famine conditions and with terrestrial waters so depleted and poisoned that all the animals of the sea had perished. Had such conditions been allowed to persist much longer, all life on earth would become impossible. In some marvelous way, God will use the physical convulsions of that awful period to purge and cleanse the land and the earth's waters, as well as its moral and spiritual climate.”
"But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day." (2 Peter 3:7–8)
All of this happens at the end of the Millennial Kingdom when death itself is thrown into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14). That includes everything that is associated with death or the product of death: sickness, decay, pain, mourning, weeping, separation, grief, sin, etc. This is the result of the one who gives life and life abundantly assuming his throne over all the world.
And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” (Revelation 21:5)
What an amazing statement to make after such a magnificent promise.
“For behold, I am creating a new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come upon the heart. 18 “But be joyful and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for joy. (Isaiah 65:17–18)
Jesus tells John to write these things down. Inscribe them into the eternal words of Scripture.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. (Luke 21:33)
Forever, O Yahweh, Your word stands firm in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)
for you have been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:23)
For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes. Therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
As with every promise made by God to be true, so it is with what is yet to come. These are not allegories. These are not pie-in-the-sky kinds of images. This is the promise of the Almighty God and we as His children should not only find rest in these words but use them as a witness to an unbelieving world.
II. The Alpha & Omega v.6
Then He said to me, “They are done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. (Revelation 21:6)
This use of the statement “I am the Alph and Omega” underscores the authority of Jesus’ words and promises to John. This is a title Jesus uses for himself in Revelation 1:8; 21:6; and 22:13. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. We see an even greater significance of this title in Revelation 22:13
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, THE FIRST AND THE LAST, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13)
One of the meanings of Jesus being the “Alpha and Omega” is that He was at the beginning of all things and will be at the close. It is equivalent to saying He always existed and always will exist. (GotQuestions.org). This is also a quality ascribed by God to the prophet Isaiah:
“Who has worked and done it, Calling forth the generations from the beginning? ‘I, Yahweh, am the first; and with the last, I am He." (Isaiah 41:4)
“Thus says Yahweh, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts: ‘I am the first, and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. (Isaiah 44:6)
“Hear Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last. (Isaiah 48:12)
Christ, as the Alpha and Omega, is the first and last in so many ways. He is the “author and finisher” of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), signifying that He begins it and carries it through to completion. He is the totality, the sum and substance of the Scriptures, both of the Law and of the Gospel (John 1:1, 14). Only God could make such a statement (GotQuestions.org).
It is on this authority that we can be assured that what is being written will come to pass and it is also on this authority that He can give eternal life to those who put their faith in him. Jesus is saying, ‘All things are new, it is certain and upon my authority that this will happen. Now look at the promise to you that is attached to His authority
I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. (Revelation 21:6)
The promise of Christ is satisfaction for our souls from the desert of this life. Drinking and thirst are common pictures of God’s supply and man’s spiritual needs. Sin creates a thirst for satisfaction, but it comes at a high price - the price of death. But Jesus offers us the living water that permanently satisfies the thirst of our souls. Just as sure as his word promises the fulfillment of all things being made new, now Jesus assures all who are thirsty can drink from the well of eternal life, free of charge.
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. (John 7:37)
For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the overcoming that has overcome the world—our faith. (1 John 5:4)
These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, With the sound of a shout of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. (Psalm 42:4 LSB)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6)
Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst—ever; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” (John 4:13–14)
“What does a thirsty man do to get rid of his thirst? He drinks. Perhaps there is no better representation of faith in all the Word of God than that. To drink is to receive-to take in the refreshing draught-and that is all. A man’s face may be unwashed, but yet he can drink; he may be a very unworthy character, but yet a draught of water will remove his thirst. Drinking is such a remarkably easy thing, it is even more simple than eating.” (Spurgeon)
III. The Overcomers v.7
“He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I WILL BE HIS GOD AND HE WILL BE MY SON. (Revelation 21:7)
Jesus’ words are reminiscent of his letter to the 7 Churches. The word overcomers is a description of the victorious believer and our eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:11)
To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’ (Revelation 2:7)
‘He who overcomes will never be hurt by the second death.’ (Revelation 2:11)
‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5)
‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out from it anymore. And I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. (Revelation 3:12)
‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Revelation 3:21)
IV. Those Who Reject v.8
“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
These aren’t Christians. These are unconverted. Those who worship the god of the world and worship the false idols of this world. The believer is known by his fruit. It’s not that these sins are unforgivable, but Jesus is talking about the person who lives in continual rebellion against God to serve the flesh.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9–10)
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
We are saved from the chains of these sins. They are incompatible with the the Christian life and must be renounced. “Cowardly” isn’t referring to someone who is timid, but rather the faithless person who chooses security in themselves rather than their faith in Jesus Christ. They are the opposite of the overcomers. They are the ones to betray Christ under fear. They reject and blame Christ when things don’t go their way.
yet he has no root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. (Matthew 13:21)
Conclusion
The question we all must answer, is who are we putting our faith in for our eternal life? “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God ’Thy will be done’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right, then have it your way.’ Tragically, many people will have to endure eternity without God because they chose to live without him here on earth.” Warren adds “When you fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and you realize that life is just preparation for eternity, you will begin to live differently. You will start living in light of eternity, and that will color how you handle every relationship, task and circumstance’. (Sermon Central: Michael McCartney)
