I do not doubt that many of these have received these visions and revelations they claim they have received, but knowing the life of some of these, I do doubt that these visions and revelations came from God.
Some are quick to point out that many of the New Testament Saints had such visions.
Yes, they did, but they did not have the complete revelation of God’s Word that we have, and God would often speak to them through dreams and visions.
But two thousand years ago, John had a vision from the Lord.
• It was not some kind of MEDICATION that caused him to hallucinate and see things
• It was not something that he ATE for supper that caused this vision to occur
• It was not a bump on the head caused by falling off the back of a camel that caused this vision
God gave this vision to John, and the Word of God records what he saw.
Look at Revelation 21:1-3, we read, “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. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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.”
Notice, there is going to be a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH.
Now let me say upfront, I believe what God’s Word tells us that that God created a new HEAVEN and a new EARTH literally.
WHY DO I SAY THAT?
Because there are liberal preachers who do not preach the NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH literally!
They have a hard time believing God’s Word…I DO NOT!
For example, let me read to you of one liberal preacher who said this about this NEW HEAVEN and NEW EARTH.
Illus: “In John’s vision, he saw a heaven and earth that might appropriately be called new, having such transformations and such changes in their appearance that they seemed to be just created.
He does not say that they were created now, or that the old heavens and earth were obliterated; but all he says is that there were such changes that they seemed to be new.
If the earth is to be renovated by fire, such a renovation will give the world the appearance of being newly created; and such changes to the world might be accompanied with an apparent change in the heavens, so that it too might be said to be new.”
God’s Word tells us “And I saw a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away…”
The word NEW MEANS NEW!!!
This NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH is not created here on earth. God created it in heaven.
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT?
We read And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,
WHY MUST THERE BE A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH
Isaiah 65:17 gives us a clue as why there must be a new heaven and new earth.
We read “For, behold, I create new heaven and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
Notice these words, “…The former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
Is that significant? Yes!
Let me illustrate…
Illus: Years ago in Columbia, S.C. a young girl lived a very wicked life. She was a harlot, and her reputation was widespread!!!
Later she gave her heart to the Lord and was gloriously saved by the grace of God.
But as she lived in the same city that she did so much evil during her life it became very difficult for her to live there.
She told her pastor one day that she was thinking about moving to another city hundreds of miles from where she was living.
He asked her why she was moving?
She told him, “It was difficult for her to live the Christian life where she lived because it reminded her of all the evil places she had done these evil things.”
Suppose God did not create a new heaven and new earth would we not be reminded of the evil things we once did on earth?
Look at this verse of scripture the Lord tells us about this new heaven and new earth, “And the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
In this new heaven and new earth God’s Word tells us two things:
1) And the former shall not be remembered…
2) Nor come into mind…
Some folks have a difficult time dealing with the past that leads to a life of depression and suicide.
Illus: When they go to the doctor some doctors recommend WHAT IS KNOWN AS SHOCK TREATMENT.
WHAT IS SHOCK TREATMENT?
Shock therapy, known medically as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), is a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric conditions.
They try to go into the brain and destroy those brain cells that is causing the problem.
But the problem is after a period of time living in the same place and dealing with the same people those memories come back to haunt them once again.
But that will not be a problem in heaven because the Word of God tells us “And the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
But there is another reason God is going to create a NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH!!!
Because Satan has left a trail of sin and corruption wherever he has been.
Illus: Have you ever seen one of those slimy snails that crawl around, and everywhere they go they leave a trail of slime behind them?
Wherever Satan goes he has left a TRAIL OF CORRUPTION, TEARS AND SORROW BEHIND HIM.
• When he was in heaven, he rebelled against God and caused one-third of the angels to oppose God
• When he was cast to earth, he continued to rebel against God, and has caused the majority of the population to rebel against God
• When he is in full POWER during the tribulation period, he will leave behind him a trail of sin and sorrow
Everything that Satan has come into contact with has been corrupted by sin.
God’s word tells us the old heaven and earth will PASS AWAY!
God is going to completely wipe from existence the old heaven and the old earth that Satan has corrupted.
After the Great White Throne Judgment, there will be a new heaven and a new earth where we will live in our new glorified bodies. (Isn’t that exciting?)
In this NEW HEAVEN and NEW EARTH will become one.
Illus: Just like Columbia, S.C. and Cayce has become one. They are two separate cities, but they have become ONE. Yet the people have the joy of enjoying both places.
What will make this NEW HEAVEN and NEW EARTH special because GOD ALMIGHTY WILL DWELL AMONG HIS PEOPLE.
WHAT WILL WE BE DOING IN THIS NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH?
Illus: We are not going to be floating around on some cloud playing a harp like some imagine!!!
The imagery seems to point to Eden-like conditions.
Illus: For example, Adam and Eve were given the job of tending the garden and subduing the earth before the fall, and there is every reason to believe that the people of God who inhabit the new earth in their glorified bodies will continue the work of Adam and Eve before the fall, enjoying the work they do and the unhindered fellowship with God.
On the new earth, we will continue to work, learn, grow, develop, and accomplish things.
An old song says, “This world is not my home; I’m just a-passing through,” and a few lines later, “If heaven’s not my home, then, Lord, what will I do?”
It is true that this world is not our home. But it would be equally true to say that heaven is not our home either. THE NEW EARTH WILL BE OUR ETERNAL HOME.
When we die and go to heaven, it, too, will be a place that we are just “passing through” in our new bodies made to live, work, worship, and fellowship on the new earth.
He is not going to create this NEW EARTH without a REASON and so we can safely assume this new earth will be an EDEN-LIKE place for God’s people to live, work, worship and fellowship on the NEW EARTH.
In this sense, what we think of as heaven—a place of full enjoyment of the presence of God—will not be in heaven but on earth—the new created new earth.
The writer of Hebrews talks about this in the Book of Hebrews.
Look at Hebrews 1:10-12, we read, “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: THEY SHALL PERISH; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment. And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.”
Illus: The writer of Hebrews tells us that after the Great White Throne Judgment, this old existing heaven and earth will become like an old dish rag that has served its purpose, and it will be done away with.
After the completion of the Great White Throne Judgment, a new heaven and earth will be created. (Not refurfish)
But let me show you a few things about this NEW EARTH
I. WHERE WILL GOD BE DWELLING DURING THIS TIME?
God will be dwelling with mankind.
Look at verse 3 in our text again, we read, “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.”
Maybe the highlight of our life is that we have been:
• In the presence of Presidents
• In the presence of Queen Elizabeth
• In the presence of Celebrities
But the greatest privilege that will be bestowed upon mankind is for those who are saved to literally dwell with God.
There is no way anyone can describe what it is going to be like when God literally DWELLS AMONG US!
WHAT WILL LIFE BE LIKE WITH GOD DURING THIS TIME?
The Bible says He will tabernacle (dwell) with us.
II. WHAT WILL LIFE BE LIKE FOR THE CHRISTIANS DURING THIS TIME?
Look at Rev. 21:1, we read, “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.”
Notice, God’s Word talks about the heavens and the earth having passed away, then we read, “…And there was no more sea.
Currently, the seas and oceans occupy about three-fourths of the surface of the earth, and, of course, to that extent prevent the world from being occupied by people; except by the comparatively small number that are sailors.
But God’s Word tells us there will be no need for the sea and all the land will be inhabited by the saints of God.
But God’s Word has more for us to think about than just occupying land.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT DURING THIS TIME FOR US THERE WILL BE NO MORE SEA?
The sea stands for two things in our life:
(1) THE SEA STANDS FOR TURBULENT TIMES IN OUR LIFE
We read in Job 14:1 “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.”
This verse of scripture is saying two things:
• You are not going to be here long (Few Days)
• You can expect to have plenty of trouble while you are here
Illus: Some people act like this life on earth is heaven. They seem to be shocked when trouble comes into their life. No, this life here on earth is not heaven!
We see some Hollywood actors who try to give the impression that they have the perfect life, that they never have any trouble!
But they are only putting on a false front, the fact is, God’s Word says that if you are born of woman you are going to have trouble on this earth.
Illus: You can get in your car and drive through the finest neighborhoods in this town and look at all the beautiful homes and think these people have it made.
But every beautiful home is a family that has trouble of some sort.
But notice, it says life will be FULL OF TROUBLE!
Some days it seems that if something CAN go wrong, YOU CAN BE SURE THAT IT WILL.
Illus: English novelist James Payne stated it this way, he said,
“I never had a piece of toast
Particularly long and wide
But fell upon the sanded floor,
And always on the buttered side.”
In spite of the trouble we have in this life, we have to keep our chin up high.
Illus: A man once found a five-dollar bill. After that he always looked down when he walked along the street. Over the course of the years:
• He found twelve hairpins
• Five paper clips
• A ball point pen
• One nickel
• Four pennies
• And a very large assortment of gum wrappers
But during those years he never saw a flower, a tree, or the smile of a passing stranger. If we just look down at our problems, we will never succeed.
Man that is born of women can expect two things:
• To be here a few days (Life is short!)
• That those few days will be full of trouble
But here is the good news; the storms of life that we go through on the sea of life are going to come to an end one day.
Look at Rev. 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.”
• This OLD BODY is going to be replaced with a NEW GLORIFIED BODY
• This OLD EARTH that is full of trouble, is going to be replaced with a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH
God’s Word says that when this NEW HEAVEN and this NEW EARTH come into existence, there will be, “No more sea!” That is, there will be no more turbulent times in our life.
The sea represents the STORMS we all have to face in this life.
But also, the sea represents something else-
(2) THE SEA STANDS FOR SEPARATION
Illus: Many Navy housewives have kissed their husbands and watched them get on a ship and disappear out of sight, as they crossed the sea. They stand on the seashore longing to be with the one they love, but the sea separates them from their loved ones.
But one of these days, there is going to be a NEW HEAVEN and NEW EARTH, and when that time comes:
• There will be no more TURBULENT TIMES IN OUR LIFE
• DEATH will no longer separate us from our loved ones who have gone on before us
We have looked at:
• WHERE WILL GOD BE DWELLING DURING THIS TIME
• WHAT LIFE WILL BE LIKE FOR THE CHRISTIANS DURING THIS TIME,
But look at one more thing -
III. WHAT WILL LIFE BE LIKE IN THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH DURING THIS TIME?
Look at Rev. 22:5, we read, “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”
Two things that are going to make this NEW HEAVEN and NEW EARTH such a great place to live are:
• Satan will not be here to make life miserable for us
• Satan’s workers will not be here to make life miserable for us
Look at Rev. 20:10, we read, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Look at the word “Cast”! God is going to CAST the devil that has made life miserable for mankind into “The Lake of fire and brimstone”.
Illus: I know what the word CAST mean and you know. But I looked it up and the definition is…”an act of throwing something forcefully”.
But not only is the devil going to be CAST into the LAKE OF FIRE…
Look at Rev. 20:15, we read, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Illus: Look at the words BOOK OF LIFE!
God never intended for any of us to be CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. Every mortal that God has ever created name was written in the book of life when they are born.
But when a person reaches the age of accountability and do not accept the Lord as their Savior their name is removed from the Book of life.
That is why Rev. 20:15, we read, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
He certainly is not talking about a person losing their salvation as some teach.
Never does Scripture say that God erases a believer’s name from the Lamb’s Book of Life—
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Overcomers are those who accepted the Lord Jesus and He gives unto them ETERNAL LIFE.
In Rev. 3:5 He affirms that, once a name is there, it is there forever. I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.
Let me in closing say this to the lost people in this congregation. You do not have to be one of those who are going to be CAST into the LAKE OF FIRE.
You can come to Christ today and God will write your name in the LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE.
Conclusion:
Very soon, we can expect these events to take place.
(1) MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF MILLIONS (Rapture)
(2) SEVEN YEARS OF GOD’S JUDGMENTS: (THE TRIBULATION PERIOD)
(3) ARMAGEDDON
(4) MILLENNIUM
(5) NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH
In this sermon of a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH we have learned:
I. WHERE WILL GOD BE DWELLING DURING THIS TIME?
II. WHAT WILL LIFE BE LIKE FOR CHRISTIANS DURING THIS TIME?
III. WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE IN THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH DURING THIS TIME?
The utopia that man has longed for will be a reality.
Scripture explains the change in a beautiful way. “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Imagine a world where never again will there be a tear shed.
Look at Rev. 21:2, we read, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
Look at Rev. 21:9-10 we read of the bride, “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 show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.”
God is going to create a NEW HEAVEN and EARTH for His people to enjoy for eternity. Wow!
