The new heaven and the new earth - Revelation 21:1-22:5

The new *creation - Revelation 21:1-8 v1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared. And the sea did not still exist. v2 And I saw the holy city, which is the New Jerusalem. I saw it coming down out of heaven from God. The city was like a woman who has dressed for her wedding. The city was like a bride, ready to join her husband. v3 And I heard a loud voice from the *throne. The voice said, Now the home of God is with people. He will live with them and they will be his own people. God himself will be with them and he will be their God. v4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Nobody will ever die again. Nobody will ever be sad again. Nobody will weep and nobody will suffer pain. These things all belonged to the old world, which does not now exist. v5 God, who sits on the *throne, spoke. He said, Look! I am making all things new. Then he said, Write this. What I am saying is true. You can believe it. v6 God said to me, All these things are now complete. I am the first and the last. I am the beginning and the end. I will give water to all who need a drink. This comes from a fountain where the water gives life. And they will not have to pay anything for it. v7 Those who overcome will receive these things from me. I will be their God and they will be my children. v8 But the future for many people will be in the lake that burns with fire and *sulphur. This is the second death. Those people include: cowards

 those who refuse to believe those who do evil things those who murder those who *sin in sex those who do magic those who *worship false gods those who tell lies. Verse 1 A new heaven replaced the old heaven. A new earth replaced the old earth. The old heaven and earth will not still exist. There will be no sea. The sea covers much of this old earth. The new earth will be very different from the old earth. But the new earth will be a better place for people to live. The future of Gods people is to live on the new earth. Verse 2 John did not only see a new heaven and a new earth. He saw a city that came down from heaven. This was the New Jerusalem. This city is the Jerusalem that is above (Galatians 4:26). God designed it and God built it (Hebrews 11:10). It is the city of God. It will come down out of heaven from God (see Revelation 3:12). The New Jerusalem is where Gods people will live. And God himself will live there with them. John saw that the city was beautiful. It reminded him of a lovely bride. It was like a bride who is coming to her wedding.

Verse 3 God himself will live with his people in the New Jerusalem. He will always be there with his people. They will come from every *tribe, language, people, and nation. God lives in his *church now. Gods people are like a *temple where he lives. But we know God only by *faith. We do not see him now. But in the New Jerusalem, his people will see him. They will know him in a new way. Verse 4 There will be no *sin there. The *Lord will remove all the effects of sin. The *Lord Jesus has defeated death. So nobody will ever die. There will be no reason to cry. There will be no more pain. Death and pain belonged to the old world. That world and all these things will not still exist. Nobody will weep or cry in the new world. There will be happiness, joy and pleasure. Verse 5 John had seen something of the new heaven and earth. Now God tells John that he is making all things new. What John has seen will really happen. See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. You will not remember the former things, nor will they come to mind (Isaiah 65:17). God then told John to write this. What God has said is true. All that he said will happen. We can be sure about everything that God has said. Verse 6 God told John that he had done all these things. To us, all these things are still in the future. John saw things as they will be after the 1000 years. He saw beyond the great white *throne where God will be the judge of all people. We cannot see the future because it has not happened. But God is in the past, the present and the future. He sees the future as if it were the past. He is the beginning and the end.

God will give water to those who desire to drink. This phrase describes those who look for the truth. God gives them life in Christ. This life is the gift of God. Nobody can earn or buy this life. Verse 7 Those who overcome will eat the fruit of the tree of life (Revelation 2:7). The second death cannot hurt them (Revelation 2:11). God will give them some of the hidden *manna. They will receive a white stone with a new name on it (Revelation 2:17). They will rule the nations (Revelation 2:26). Their names will be in the book of life (Revelation 3:5). They will be like columns in the *temple of God (Revelation 3:12). They will sit with Christ on his *throne (Revelation 3:21). More than all these things, God says, I will be their God. They will be my children. Verse 8 The list in this verse is of some people who will suffer the second death. These people refused to believe Jesus. So, they could not benefit from what Jesus has done. They have to pay the price for their own *sins. The second death is the lake of fire. Paul wrote that wicked people would have no part in the *kingdom of God. He writes a list of some of those who are wicked people. He then says some of you were like this. (See 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.) So, the people of God may have done such things. But God has *forgiven them. He has removed their *sins from them. They have trusted the *Lord Jesus Christ. He has paid for all their *sins by his death. So, their home will be with God in the New Jerusalem.