God’s final Word – Chapter 21, verses 1 through 8

God’s final Word – The new heaven and earth

The following comes through the notes of Mark Ramsey and the responses of the class.

1. Where is your focus?

   Typically, in our daily life, we tend to focus on certain things that provide economic security, safety, good physical and mental health, healthy relationships, happiness and peace is there anything wrong with this?

   One class member noted that temporarily focusing on these might be helpful, but Christ must be the overall focus of our lives.

   Is there anything wrong with desiring material wealth or comfort?

   Again, that class member noted that there is nothing wrong with desiring wealth or comfort; however, those points must not be the focus of our lives. he further noted that Abraham, David, and Solomon were each very rich, but also drew close to God.

   Instant gratification?

   One class member noted that the miracles of Christ were points of instant gratification. The issue with instant gratification does not rest with the delivery system, but the focus.

   Do you ever focus on heaven? Explain.

   Yet another class member explained that he focused on heaven by using Christ’s model prayer (known as “the Lord’s Prayer” and “Our Father”). And another said he focused on Christ through the study of the Word.

   What does the Bible say about focusing on heaven?

   Philippians 3:19-20 tells us that the minds of the enemies of God are on earthly things while our citizenship is in heaven. In Colossians 3:1‭-‬2, we are told to set our hearts and minds on things above and not on earthly things. Also consider James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15-17.

   Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Philippians 3:19‭-‬20 NIV)

   Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1‭-‬2 NIV)

   You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:4 NIV)

   Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15‭-‬17 NIV)

   What do you think the Bible means when it says we are to sat our minds and hearts on things above and not to love the world nor the things of the world? A heavenly perspective is vital since everything connected to our spiritual life and destiny is there. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Fellow believers who have already successfully run their earthly race. Our names are recorded in heaven we are citizens of heaven. Our inheritance is there as well as our rewards; we will receive glorified bodies.

   … the day of death better than the day of birth. (Ecclesiastes 7:1b NIV)

   I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; (Philippians 1:23 NIV)

   Do you believe that desiring heaven exerts an influence on your life here on earth? Explain (character, endurance, perseverance; sin; joy, thankfulness; honor God).

   The wholesale response from the class was that such a desire would influence our lives and would result in our speaking of Christ.

2. The appearance of the new heaven and earth — Revelation 21:1
   

   Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. (Revelation 21:1 NIV)

   God created the world to be ideally suited for mankind, whom He created to enjoy an disharmony and hostility. Creation has groaned for redemption since the Fall in God’s plan, sin will absolutely not have the last word and after the Great White Throne judgment. God will replace this present fallen universe with a new one. The phrase “a new heaven and a new earth” derives from Isaiah 65:17. What Isaiah predicted is now a reality in John’s vision.

   “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17 NIV)

   Καινόν (pronounced “kainon” and meaning “new”) means new in a qualitative sense-brand new, fresh, never seen before. In the book of Revelation, the sea serves as a “principle of disorder, violence or unrest that marks the old creation,” As there is no longer any sea, this illustrates the fact that the ordering of the new world will be radically different from the present earth.

3. Twelve “No Mores” in the new heaven and earth
   1. No more sea — Revelation 21:1
   2. No more tears — Revelation 21:4
   3. No more death — Revelation 21:4
   4. No more mourning — Revelation 21:4
   5. No more crying — Revelation 21:4
   6. No more pain — Revelation 21:4
   7. No more thirst — Revelation 21:6
   8. No more wickedness — Revelation 21:8
   9. No more temple — Revelation 21:22
   10. No more night — Revelation 21:23-25
   11. No more closed gate — Revelation 21:25
   12. No more curse — Revelation 22:3

   How does this make you feel?

   All around, the class agreed that it was reassuring to see no more tears, no more thurst, no more closed gate
   and no more curse. One class member noted that no more wickedness and no more closed gate seemed to go hand in hand. Yet another noted that the illumination provided by Christ would both eliminate both night and the need for a temple.

4. The Capital — Revelation 21:2
   

   I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (Revelation 21:2 NIV)

   This is the third city named Jerusalem in redemptive history. The first is the historic Jerusalem, the City of David, which currently exists in Palestine. The second Jerusalem will be the restored Jerusalem where Christ will reign during the millennial kingdom. This is the new eternal city. It is called the holy city because everyone who lives in it is holy. The city comes down out of heaven from God, its “architect and builder.”

   For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:10 NIV)

   The implication that it already exists, a truth reinforced by Hebrews 12:22-23.

   But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, (Hebrews 12:22‭-‬23 NIV)

   All of heaven is currently contained in the new Jerusalem; it is separate from the present universe which a tainted by sin. When God creates the new heaven and earth, the new Jerusalem will descend into the new universe and serve as the dwelling place of the redeemed for all eternity.

   By this post in Revelation, the “bride” concept expands to include the church and the rest of the redeemed from all the ages.

5. The supreme reality — Revelation 21:3
   

   And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “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 NIV)

   God will dwell among us. The supreme glory and joy of heaven is the Person pf God. We will enjoy fellowship with Him; we will see God as He is the pure in heart will see God, we will worship Him, we will serve him and most astonishing of all, the Lord will serve believers.

   “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. (Luke 12:35‭-‬37 NIV)

6. The changes — Revelation 21:4-6a
   

   ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 21:4‭-‬6a NIV)

   There and be nothing to be sad about worry about or sorry about. There will be no more pain, Amazing!

   When God says. “It is done, the term carries with it absolute finality. This is not the same as Jesus’ final statement on the cross. “It is finished.” That emphasized something in the past that has come to its intended end – the suffering and payment for the sins of the world. When God says, “It is done, He is pointing forward to a permanent condition that has finally arrived.

7. The residents — Revelation 21:6b-7
   

   To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. (Revelation 21:6‭b-‬7 NIV)

   Two descriptive phrases reveal who will live in this glorious new heaven and new earth.

   1. One who thirsts
      

      Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6 NIV)

      “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. (Isaiah 55:1 NIV)

      As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalms 42:1‭-‬2 NIV)

      Their thirst will be satisfied.

      Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13‭-‬14 NIV)

      On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37‭-‬38 NIV)

   2. And the one who overcomes.
      

      for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:4‭-‬5 NIV)

      And the closing promise of each of the 7 letters in Revelation 2 and 3. Do you consider yourself as one who thirsts? Do you consider yourself as an overcomer? Explain.

      These citizens of heaven will “inherit these things”

      and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:4 NIV)

      The most wonderful promise is “I will be his God and the will the my son.” When we come into our inheritance our adoption all the fully realized.

8. The outcasts — Revelation 21:8
   

   But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8 NIV)

   A solemn warning to those who will not participate in the blessings of heaven-all the unforgiven and unredeemed sinners. The choices men and women make in this life determine in which of these realms they will live in forever. Remember this: there is no sin you can commit for which you cannot be forgiven. If you have trusted in the blood of Jesus Christ to forgive and cleanse you, then you are saved and secure forever. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Do you recognize the urgency of sharing the gospel?