Eternity with God Part One
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Revelation 21:1.
1 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.
The OT background for this verse is Isaiah 43:18–19; 65:17–19; 66:22.
18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.
19 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.
17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.
22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain.
What is meant by new?
Does it mean “bran spankin new” out of nothing, or does it mean the same matter totally renewed?
The context here does not tell us. However, Romans 8:18-23 and 2 Corinthians 5:17 shine some light on this.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
These passages give the idea of renewed creation - the same material with all things referring to the curse removed.
This brings us to what is meant by “the first heaven and first earth had passed away.”
It is speaking of the curse placed on all of creation because of sin. The first heaven and earth represents all that is wrong with creation. Praise Jesus all this will pass away.
What is meant by “the sea is no more”?
Scripture speaks of the sea in five ways.
First, the sea is related to cosmic evil. Isaiah 27:1 says, “In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.”
Here we see Leviathan, the sea serpent, who represents Satan, being destroyed by Yaweh. Furthermore, in Revelation 13, we see the first beast comes from the sea.
Second, the sea is related to the wicked who persecute the people of God, as seen in Isaiah 57:20, “But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.”
Third, the sea is a holding place for those who died at sea, since it gives up the dead that were in it in Revelation 20:13 for the Great White Throne Judgement.
Fourth, the sea is were idolatrous trade took place and was judged in Revelation 18:1-19.
Fifth, the sea is also spoken of as a literal body of water in Revelation 5:13; 7:1–3; 8:8–9; 10:2, 5–6, 8; 14:7; 16:3.
So which of these does John intend for us to apply?
Well, I think he wants us to apply all five, though I think, given the context of the new heaven and earth, he would be making an emphasis on options one through four.
Revelation 21:2.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Is the new Jerusalem a people, or a structure, or is it both? Come back next week to find out.
The new Jerusalem is coming out of heaven and is from God. This reminds me of Jesus’ words to his disciples in John 14:1–3 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
How does the new Jerusalem appear?
As a bride adorned for her husband, which is picking up on the imagery of the church being the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27), and Israel being the wife of Yaweh (Hosea 2:18-20).
Revelation 21:3.
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.
The OT background is Leviticus 26:11-12 and Ezekiel 37:27.
11 I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you.
12 And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.
27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
God is going to dwell with us, his creation. We will get to know him in ways that are unimaginable, enjoying his creation with him to its fullest, not dimly and diminished like it is now, but face to face, clearly. Oh, what a day that will be. I am excited for eternity with God in his renewed creation.
Revelation 21:4.
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.”
The OT background for this verse comes from Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 30:18-21.
8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
18 Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
19 For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.
20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.
21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
God himself will wipe away the tears that this broken world has wrought. He will meet you with empathy, bringing you understanding.
Heaven and earth are renewed; the curse is gone. Praise Jesus, no more death or things related to it such as pain and mourning and crying. It will all be no more. Praise the Lord!
Revelation 21:5.
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.”
Do you believe it?
God said it. He is making all things new. All things new! What a hope we have in his promise. He is working in your life right now to renew you and prepare you for this eternity. Wow! He is making all things new. It will happen. Let’s believe it, for it is trustworthy and true.
Revelation 21:6-7.
6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
The OT background for living water is Jeremiah 17:13.
13 O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.
What is done?
Everything is made new. Oh, what a day that will be. Thanks be to Jesus, for he will accomplish it. There is nothing too great for him. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He, the Creator of the universe, the Redeemer, has it all in hand. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Oh, the beautiful grace of God to give living water to the thirsty without price. Come drink of Jesus. Believe in him and never be thirsty again. Just like the woman at the well in John 4, receive living water from Jesus. Please do not forsake him for your own water.
May we never forget Romans 8:37, that in the trials of life we are more than conquerors through Jesus who has loved us.
Revelation 21:8.
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Our identity must be found in Christ. We do not want to identify with sin. Instead we want to walk in repentance of it, for those who choose sin rather than Jesus will have no part in eternity, but will suffer eternal damnation. Please choose Jesus; identify with the work that he has done. Drink of the living water he provides walking in repentance.