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THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW
EARTH |
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There is a town in North Carolina called “Eden.” It is located just north of Greensboro and is about 2 miles off the Virginia state line. The town of about 18,000 was created in 1967 when the towns of Leaksville, Spray, and Draper consolidated. The name “Eden” dates back to 1728 and William Byrd. Byrd and his surveying party had the responsibility of establishing a dividing line between Virginia and North Carolina. Awed by the physical beauty of the land, Byrd wrote in his diary, “This is a land rich even unto the fabled lands about Babylon. The air is wholesome, and the soil equal in fertility to any in the world.” He later described it as the “Wonderful Land of Eden.”
In North Carolina we have a saying, “Carolina born, Carolina bred; and when I die, I’ll be Carolina dead.” Now being Carolina born and bred myself, I may not argue with you that North Carolina is the location of the wonderful land of Eden – the place of paradise.
However, there is a place of paradise that will be unlike any that has ever been known. It will be an unprecedented paradise for it will not be of this world, but of a new world.
Many recognize the name Larry Hagman. He played the astronaut Tony Nelson in “I Dream of Jeannie,” and J. R. Ewing in the "Dallas" television series. I read about him buying a mountaintop property near Santa Barbara, California. His mother, Mary Martin, suggested he call it Bali Hai after a song in the musical South Pacific in which she had starred. He said, "No, Mother, that's your show." He named the place “Heaven” because he said that it was as close to Heaven as J. R. would ever get.
Heaven for J.R. may be no more than Santa Barbara, California, but for me, it is much more. As we move into Revelation 21 we find a new heaven and a new earth. It is what we often refer to as heaven.
The Bible says in Philippians 3:20, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The word “conversation” means “citizenship.” All who are saved are citizens of heaven. Heaven is our eternal home.
What is heaven like? As we move through chapters 21-22 we will get a glimpse of heaven and be given a description of our heavenly home.
Let’s begin by noticing verse 1-8. John describes a NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH. Notice first:
1. THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW CREATION
John describes a brand new creation. He says in verse 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.” John speaks of heaven and earth as it is now, and a new heaven and earth that will one day replace it.
First, notice:
A) The Removal of the Existing Heaven & Earth
John says that the “first heaven and the first earth were passed away.” In our last study we saw the termination of the first heaven and earth. In Revelation 20:11 John saw “a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” We saw the time when this heaven and earth, as we know it, would no longer have a place to exist. Therefore the present heaven and earth will cease to exist. Actually, as we saw, it will be destroyed.
The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
Then in verses 12-13 Peter writes, “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
Peter describes a new heaven and earth replacing the old heaven and earth that were destroyed.
The Bible speaks of this present heaven and earth as a testimony to God’s creative power. We read in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork.” The fingerprints of God can be found all over this world.
I think of the Grand Canyon. Before I visited the Grand Canyon, I remember someone saying to me, “I don’t know how anyone could look at the Grand Canyon and deny there is a God.” I agree. It is one of the most awesome sights I have ever seen. When I first saw it, it took my breath away. All I could do was stand there and gaze in wonder.
Yet, in spite of this world’s beauty and magnificence, it is a world that has been stained and marred by sin. God originally created the earth to be man’s permanent home, but the entrance of sin corrupted the earth, therefore, one day God will completely destroy the heaven and earth as we know it.
John saw this heaven and earth passing away. The word “passed” in verse 1 simply means to “perish.” This world and heaven around will one day be destroyed.
But, with its destruction there will be:
B) The Revealing of the Eternal Heaven & Earth
John not only saw the present heaven and earth passing away, but he also “saw a new heaven and a new earth.” The word “new” does not mean new in a chronological sense, but new in a qualitative sense. It will be new as far as chronology is concerned, but its newness will mean much more. It will something brand new. There is not going to be a rehashing or refurbishing of the old, but a complete replacement with something far greater and grander.
A hint of its new quality is found in the statement “and there was no more sea.” On the present earth, nearly three-fourths of it is covered in water. The sea or water is emblematic of how all life on earth is dependent on water to sustain life.
This new heaven and earth will be based on a completely different life principle. There will be no need for anything to sustain life, for eternal life is the life principle of the new heaven and earth. Life in the new heaven and earth is not sustained but is eternal in its nature, therefore has no need of sustentation.
There are those who hold to the view that the absence of the sea represents sin and evil as if it so often portrayed in the Bible. The absence of the sea in the new heaven and earth speaks of a new heaven and earth free from all sin and evil.
Whatever the case, it will be a new heaven and earth, one far greater and grander than the one in which we live. It will be a new creation that exceeds anything we have ever known.
Secondly, we not only see the arrival of the new creation, but also:
2. THE APPEARANCE OF THE NEW CITY
John not only sees a new heaven and earth, but in verse 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.” John sees a new creation and a new city.
This city is called the “new Jerusalem.” The Bible speaks of 3 Jerusalem’s. First, there is the historic Jerusalem that we know from Bible history and the one that exists today. Then there is the restored Jerusalem from which Christ will reign during the millennium. Thirdly, there is the new Jerusalem that John saw descending from heaven.
As we move further in Revelation we will learn more about this city, but notice a couple of things that John describes as he first sees the city.
For one thing, he sees it as:
A) A Perfect Place
John saw it as a “holy city.” This is a city free from all sin, evil and any form of impurity. It is a city that bears the nature of its creator and designer.
Imagine a perfect city! I love the city of Chattanooga. I think it is a great place to live. But it is not perfect. But, here is a holy city that is perfect.
I once came across an article entitled “How to Find the Perfect City to Live In.” It gave the following steps.
I can give you a simpler process for finding THE perfect city to live in. It is found in Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” To believe on the Lord Jesus is to secure your place in THE PERFECT CITY.
John not only described it as a perfect place, but also as:
B) A Prepared Place
John saw the new Jerusalem “coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Just before Jesus returned to heaven, he said in John 14:2, “I go to prepare a place for you.” The city that John sees coming down from God is the place Jesus said He was going away to prepare.
The beauty of the place is indicated by its description as being a “bride adorned for her husband.” The noun form of the verb “adorned” is from where we get our word “cosmetics.” It is a city that is surpassing in all beauty. I read somewhere that Rio de Janeiro is often referred to as the most beautiful city in the world. I have never been there, but I am sure it is nothing compared to the new Jerusalem.
John saw it as a city that God has prepared for His people. As so often stated, it is a prepared place for a prepared people.
As we move further in Revelation we will learn more of the glory and grandeur of this city. It is a magnificent place, an unprecedented place. It is my future home. How about you?
Thirdly, notice not only the arrival of the new creation and the appearance of the new city, but also:
3. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW CONDITIONS
We read in verse 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.” Assuring John that what he is seeing is not a dream, but a reality, he speaks of how everything about this new heaven and earth is new. It is a place totally new in conditions.
What are these news conditions? First, we see:
A) Who is Present
We read in verse 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.”
One of the new conditions about this heavenly home is that we will dwell in the very presence of God, and He with us. John describes God’s presence as the “tabernacle of God” being with men. In the Tabernacle in the Old Testament, the presence of God was seen in the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. It was a visible sign that God was with them and present.
In our heavenly home God will dwell with us. He will not be some distant, transcendent God, but one that is dwelling among us.
A few years ago during our senior citizen trip to Washington, DC we took a tour of the White House. Even then you are limited to when and where you can go in the White House. During the early years of the White House, access was very easy. There was no fence around it and security points to pass through. You could just walk in off the street. You could even sit and wait to meet the president. Forget seeing the President today. That is the last thing you will be able to do.
In our heavenly home, access to God will be available. He want be isolated and restricted. He will dwell among us and be accessible to us. He will be our God and be with us. We also see in these new conditions:
B) What is Absent
In contrast to this heaven and earth, we read in verse 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.” You read that and it is hard not to shout “Hallelujah!”
This world is characterize by things that will be absent in the new heaven and earth. There will be no tears there; no death. There will be nothing there to cause one to be sorrowful. There will be nothing that will cause pain. These things that we are so custom to knowing in this life will all be absent in the new heaven and earth.
We read in verse 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.” In other words, we will be completely satisfied. There will be no thirst, longing for anything.
We read in verse 7, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be His God, and he shall be my son.” The Bible in 1 Peter 1:4 speaks of “inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” Overcomers are all those that are saved and in the new heaven and earth that will receive their inheritance. Instead of tears, death, sorrow, crying, and pain, we will enjoy only eternal bliss and satisfaction.
John tells of something else that will be absent in this new heaven and earth. We read in verse 8, “But the fearful, 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.”
There will be no sinners there. Only those that are saved will be there. This is a tragic thought. There will be so many that will miss out on what God has prepared for those who know.
I am glad that I am not among the missing. © 2006 by the Living Word |
