Revelation 21:1-8 Series

Revelation 21:1-8

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

I am sure you can imagine that after years of war against Satan and the devastation of the Seven Bowls being pored out that there isn't going to be much left.

The first bowl poured out on the earth created painful sores, the second bowl contaminated and poisoned the sea that killed every living thing in it, the third bowl killed everything in the rivers and springs, the fourth bowl was poured out on the sun and scripture says it scorched with fire, the fifth bowl was poured out on the beast and his followers and it caused great pain, the sixth bowl, the sixth bowl dried up the river Euphrates, the seventh bowl was pored into the air and it caused great storms and earthquakes.

What if anything could be left after all this? Surely not much I imagine....

There is a mention in verse one about the sea being no more, is it talking about the actual sea? In Isiah there is a reference that possibly could give some clarity...

Isiah 57:20 ~ But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.

So the sea most likely is a metaphor for unbelievers. The sea is a mighty thing so my conclusion is that this is talking about a great number of unbelievers, so many they are like a sea, a sea of wicked unbelievers.

So, John sees out of Heaven the new Jerusalem. The old Jerusalem was a Jewish place, now the new Jerusalem is a Christian place. It is not a restoration of the old earth, it is a complete replacement just like what will happen with our bodies. God wants to insure there is not contamination from the first.

There is a section of verses in the book of Romans that I think is worthy to read here.

Roman 18:19-23 ~ 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God, 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

So you see it isn't just us waiting for this all to happen, verse 22 says “the whole creation” that's everything that has been created is waiting for this moment.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

So not only are we going to have Jesus with us but God himself will be with us as well. We will have no sin within at this point, see God can't be among sin and sinners in this way. We know God is everywhere now but that isn't the same as what this will be.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

What an experience it will be when this day comes. We will be it seems God's perfect human creation as it was meant to be.

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

What a great contrast, Jesus first came as the Lamb to be slaughtered and now Christ is the great conqueror, a mighty warrior, the Lion of Judah.

Revelation 5:5 ~ And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

It goes on to say ~

To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.