We are finally in the last two chapters of Revelation! This has been quite a study and a learning experience, hasn’t it? When I began studying John’s Revelation, I thought that I would see all of these end time events. I have seen events, but I have gained a greater insight of how the enemy does all he can to fight God and His people. If believers are not watching and in a very close daily walk with God, Satan will easily distract us from doing all that God wants for us to do and show other people Christ as well. This is why the apostle Paul encourages us to pay attention in Ephesian 5.
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16
John begins chapter 21 with “then I saw a new heaven and a new earth…”. The title of this post is “All Things Are New.” Imagine what that means!
All Things Are New – But Why?
“A new heaven and a new earth.” Why would God create all things new, especially heaven that we all hear is amazingly beautiful? He has a purpose in all that He does. The first heaven and earth passed away. Why? Keep in mind that the existing heaven and earth are now terribly corrupted by the sin of mankind. Got has never given up on his original vision for his original creation. When He created it new back in Genesis, He created it perfect with no sin, with no tears, with no death. In the first section of Revelation 21, we see a new heaven and earth restored to that utopian state that He originally created.
Now you may be asking yourself “how is heaven tainted by sin? Isn’t that where God lives and God doesn’t allow sin in His presence.” Yes, that is true, but scripture also uses the word “heaven” to reference the sky and the celestial bodies (sun, moon and stars, etc). This is what He is making new! It will be so beautiful when all of God’s glorious, new heaven and earth are created and untouched by sin.
Jerusalem and the temple change many times throughout history. But God will change and make all things new!
The Bride And Groom On Their Wedding Day
I’m sure that you all have attended a wedding or have been a bride or groom at some point in your life. Most people dress up but the bride especially is the highlight and the most “glorious”. She usually is wearing white which symbolizes purity. Her hair and face are beautiful and the decorations at her wedding all look extra pretty. Imagine a wedding in a church building. Most days, the church does not look the same as it does when a wedding occurs. For a wedding, it is extra beautiful with the bride’s and groom’s favorite colors and decorated just for them.
Revelation 21 depicts Jerusalem, the city of God, as the bride in this wedding, but the bride is made extra beautiful not of itself, but because it shines with the glory of God like perfect gems. This is how it is when the bride comes out of the sky at this point, in order to meet her husband.
Daniel and I are going to our niece’s wedding in a few weeks. We are really excited for her and her soon to be husband. They will both go through changes in their life as they start their life together. That is the joy of each person in the marriage becoming “new” and even their relationship becoming “new”.
No More Trouble Some Day – We Have Hope!
A loud voice from heaven says
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.
Revelation 21:3
Verses 3-4 are probably my favorite verses in the Bible right now.
4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:4
What are you going through right now that has you in tears or great pain? Guess what? He is going to dry your tears and make everything new. Change is coming! We all see great problems in the world right now and the world is getting more and more wicked. If we aren’t facing difficulty now; we certainly see others that are going through trouble. But God says that there will be NO MORE! What incredible hope we have! The old order of things has passed away by this point. It amazes me just to think about no more suffering, pain, death and tears. Why would many people in the world NOT want this incredible hope? I don’t understand that!
Everything New
The one who sits on the throne says that He is making everything new! Do you see a theme in this chapter? A New Heaven and a New Earth created, a bride and groom begin a New life together as a married couple, the old order of things like pain, tears, death, crying and mourning pass away replaced by a perfect new world. New things are coming! The one who sits on the throne said to write these things down because they are true and worthy of trust. God says,“it is done.“ This is another great thing to hear! What God planned, He did! God is eternal, He always existed and always exists. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
No Temple in New Jerusalem? God And The Lamb Are The Temple
John did not see a temple in Jerusalem. That is unusual, isn’t it? I mean, the church building is where we go to worship, right? The temple is even a must-see when people go to Jerusalem. But the Bible says that the “Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” The temple, where God dwelt, is not a building, it is Himself and Jesus, the Lamb of God, His Son. Often as believers or anyone who goes to church, we get have a habit of saying “we are going to church.” But the church is not a building that we drive to but a movement that we choose to be a part of”. This is a quote that our pastor often uses. When Christ dwells in us, we are the church, not going to church. For many years people go visit the temple. It is a beautiful building, that was built then destroyed over and over again. What is new though, is that God and the Lamb are the temple like we are the church. Our life will be non-stop worship in the very presence of God and Christ himself!
No Light Needed
The New Jerusalem does not need the light of the sun or the moon because God and the Lamb give light. The presence of the glory of God lights the entire city. No gates shut and nothing impure inside of it. The gates don’t have to be shut because there is no risk of the city of God being attacked. God is the fortification of His city. Only those of us who know Him as our Lord and Savior will be in the city and only because Jesus paid our admission.
“The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Revelation 21:24-27 NIV
From the time that we are born to then receive Christ, we live in the flesh, then are born again and made new in Christ.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! “
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
When we live our lives here on earth then die or go meet the Lord in the air; the Bible tells us that He has made all things new! He changes us! Then in eternity, in heaven, we will have even more and a better life and a new body. Remember, He will wipe our eyes dry! All will be new forever!
“Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.”
That was really refreshing. You explained it with compassion which is hard to do. I loved the way you explained the Temple and the Church. It ministered to me in many ways. You have given it the great ending it deserves!
Great article and I love the song. Congratulations on your granddaughters upcoming wedding.
Thank you 🙂
Amen 🙏🏾. This is a blessing and very comforting and reassuring. Those aren’t the words I would generally use to describe the book of Revelations as the thought of end times can seem scary. Thank you for making it simple and relatable. This will encourage people to read and understand more of this book. Stay blessed. 🙏🏾
It is scary for those who don’t have hope and really sad! As we think of those at the school in TX yesterday who were shot and so many other tragedies; they are happening more and more, many of us really hurt for those who lose family. We don’t understand why. But we do have hope! The enemy, Satan, just keeps working on people, tempting and doing terrible things that seem beyond comprehension. Our hearts break and they should. But we have hope. The hope that only God gives that someday this will be completely over. I find great peace and comfort in this.
Amen 🙏🏾. Hard times, but God is able.
Thank you!