Eternal Glory - A New Heaven and A New Earth - Revelation 21:1-8

1 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. 3 Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.

Revelation 21:1–8 (ESV)

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. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. 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.” 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.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. T 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 sulphur, which is the second death.”

Introduction

We have seen that the time is to come when the Lord shall return. The dead will be raised, believers living at the time will be caught up to heaven we shall share in the full glory of heaven. Unbelievers will know the full horror of hell. The vision of a new heaven and a new earth are a vision of the at full glory to come.

New Heaven, New Earth v1

New Jerusalem v2

God’s Dwelling Place v3-4

All Things New v5-8

1. New Heaven, New Earth v1

Revelation 21:1 ESV

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.

a. New

The first heaven and the first earth have passed away. In our imagination let us try to see this new universe. The very foundations of the earth have been subjected to the purifying fire. Every stain of sin, every scar of wrong, every trace of death, has been removed. Out of the great conflagration a new universe has been born. The word used in the original implies that it was a ‘new’ but not an ‘other’ world. It is the same heaven and earth, but gloriously rejuvenated, with no weeds, thorns or thistles, and so on. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 198). Baker Books.

2 Peter 3:13 ESV

13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

b. Old

God will not annihilate heaven and earth and then create them anew out of nothing. Instead he will transform them in a process that is the same as calling forth the lowly bodies of the saints to make them like the glorious body of the Lord (Phil. 3:21). Just as Jesus’ body was transformed at his resurrection, so at the coming of the Lord the bodies of his people will be not annihilated but completely changed and glorified. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, pp. 554–555). Baker Book House.

2 Peter 3:10–13 (ESV)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

The ‘old’ order has vanished. The universe in which the dragon, the beast, the false prophet, and the harlot were carrying out their programme of iniquity has vanished. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 199). Baker Books.

c. Sea

The sea, as we now know it, is no more. At present the sea is the emblem of unrest and conflict. The roaring, raging, agitated, tempest-tossed waters, the waves perpetually engaged in combat with one another, symbolise the nations of the world in their conflict and unrest (13:1; 17:15). Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 199). Baker Books.

Revelation 13:1–2 ESV

1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.

2. New Jerusalem v2

Revelation 21:2 ESV

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

a. Holy City

This Jerusalem is called ‘new’ in contradistinction to the earthly, Palestinian Jerusalem. It is called ‘holy’ because it is separate from sin and thoroughly consecrated to God. This new and holy Jerusalem is very clearly the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 199). Baker Books.

Psalm 48:1–3 (ESV)

Isaiah 52:1 ESV

1 Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.

b. From God

We read that John saw this Holy City coming down out of heaven from God. This, too, is true with respect to both the ideal Church of the present and the Church of the future. It is always born from above. It is always the result of the transforming work of the Holy Spirit (3:12; 21:9 ff.; cf. Gal. 4:26; Heb. 11:10, 16; 12:22). Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 199). Baker Books.

Hebrews 11:10 ESV

10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:16 ESV

16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 12:22–24 ESV

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

c. Bride

Isaiah 54:5 ESV

5 For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.

Ephesians 5:32 ESV

32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

The one who has prepared and adorned the bride cannot be the bride, that is, the church herself. No, it is Christ Jesus who has cleansed her and then presented her without stain or wrinkle or blemish to himself (Eph. 5:26–27). The wedding ceremony is now about to begin, and from this time on bride and bridegroom will be together forever. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 556). Baker Book House.

Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

3. God’s Dwelling Place v3-4

Revelation 21:3–4 ESV

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. 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.”

a. God With Us v3

Revelation 21:3 ESV

Thus, beautifully, the everlasting marriage-feast of the Lamb, Christ, and of His bride, the Church, is pictured to us. It is the climax of that entire process whereby God comes to His people. So close is this eternal communion between God and His elect that He, as it were, dwells with them in one tent—His tent, the glory of His attributes (Rev. 7:15) Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 200). Baker Books.

b. The Former Things v4

Revelation 21:4 ESV

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.”

Revelation 7:15–17 ESV

15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Isaiah 25:8 ESV

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.

Isaiah 35:10 ESV

10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Hebrews 12:26–29 ESV

26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

4. All Things New v5-8

a. Trustworthy and True v5

Revelation 21:5 ESV

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.”

Only God can make new. People may vainly imagine that by means of better education, a better environment, better legislation, and a more equitable distribution of wealth they are going to usher in a new era, a golden age, the Utopia of man’s ardent desire. Their dream remains a dream! Neither economic nor disarmament conferences, neither better schools nor share-the-wealth programmes are going to bring about a really golden age, a new heaven and earth or a new order. It is only God who through His Spirit makes all things new. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 200). Baker Books.

b. It Is Done v6a

Revelation 21:6 ESV

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.

So certain is the fulfilment of this promise that the voice speaks as if it were already fulfilled (cf. Rev. 16:17). In fact, as far as p 201 John’s vision is concerned, these transformations had actually taken place. He sees the new heaven and the new earth. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (pp. 200–201). Baker Books.

c. Heritage v6b-7

Revelation 21:6–7 ESV

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.

In principle, that promise, which, as we have shown, runs through Scripture from beginning to end like a golden thread, is realized even in this life; in perfection it is fulfilled in the next, especially in the new heaven and earth. It is the great promise, for it includes all other promises. Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 201). Baker Books.

d. The Second Death v8

Revelation 21:8 ESV

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.”

i. Cowardly

Instead of living a life of dedication to the Lord, they fear danger and flee the consequences of confessing the name of Jesus. They are the people whom John describes as leaving us but not belonging to us (1 John 2:19). Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 561). Baker Book House.

1 John 2:19 ESV

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

ii. Faithless

These people are similar to the cowards in that they have been unfaithful to God and his commands and thus have fallen into scepticism and agnosticism. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 561). Baker Book House.

iii. Detestable

They pursue a lifestyle that is diametrically opposed to biblical teaching, and they are an abomination in God’s sight. They worship the beast (17:4). Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 561). Baker Book House.

iv. Murderers

But the concept of the enemies shedding the blood of God’s people appears repeatedly; the saints are martyrs for the sake of Christ. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 561). Baker Book House.

v. Immoral

The sins of murder and sexual immorality are frequently connected, as the one sin leads to the next. If prostitution was rampant in John’s time, so it is today. Fornication is the order of the day and so is adultery. The world is gradually sinking ever deeper into the morass of sexual immorality, including homosexuality. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 561). Baker Book House.

vi. Sorcerers

The word means the use of drugs to cast spells for practicing witchcraft and deceiving the people (Exod. 22:18; Lev. 20:6, 27). God condemns magic spells and witchcraft; he told Moses to kill those who consulted soothsayers; and the prophet Nahum links sorcery and witchcraft to sexual immorality. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 561). Baker Book House.

Deuteronomy 18:10–12 ESV

10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, 12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.

vii.Idolatry

Paul writes that idolatry and witchcraft are works of the flesh (Gal. 5:20). And John puts idolaters with sorcerers, fornicators, and murderers outside the gates of the new Jerusalem and consigns them to everlasting doom (22:15). Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 561). Baker Book House.

Galatians 5:20 ESV

20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

viii. Liars

All people who turn the truth into a lie God dispatches with the other sinners to the lake of fire and sulfur. They are forever cut off from the living God and suffer the second death. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 561). Baker Book House.

John 8:44 ESV

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

1 John 2:22 ESV

22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

Conclusion

Revelation 21:4 ESV

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.”

Related Media

Related Sermons