Midweek Advent 4 (2022)

Revelation 21:1-7

Our lesson for tonight focuses on the last vision of the Book of Revelation where after the world comes to an end through great tribulation and many trials both earthly and spiritually comes to its conclusion, these last 2 chapters show us what is to come after the end of this world, and all that was foretold and promised to mankind, our salvation, our redemption, and our restoration is before John’s eyes.

With everything that we the dear saints of God witnessed as the world drew to its cataclysmic end as the world passed away, we now witness the new creation. Here on earth we had a foretaste of it in the time of Christ and especially with his birth in Bethlehem that wherever Jesus went there were miracles and blessings that were given to God’s people in abundance, and now we finally enjoy it forever.

Our flesh which had come from the dust of the old earth will be replaced with that which will not perish. For we will no longer belong to that world that is passing away but dwell in this new paradise, which will not wear out, but endure forever.

There will be a place in this new heaven and new earth where God dwells with his people, not separate nor far away from us, but in our midst close with us and better than it was in the garden of Eden.

Now I teased a pastor that I worked with that there would be no fishing in the New Creation for the text says the Sea will be no more. But as we are learning in our Revelation Bible Study things are not always as they seem, the sea has represented a source of chaos, distress, and darkness, and separation from God. All of those things that were represented in the sea, will be no more. There will be peace in the new Creation and no separation from God.

In fact the city that has been prepared like bride, the bride that Christ prepared by His Death and Resurrection and washed clean from all blemishes and imperfections descends from the heavens above. Now this vision of Jerusalem would be of particular beauty to John who had walked its streets and saw its glory especially of the temple that Herod had built for it had been laid waste. Christ had foretold the destruction of the temple and the city, and sure enough in 70 AD the city fell to the Romans, but now Jerusalem has been restored to glory, and God will be there with his people in their midst.

After all of the tragedies and heartaches and troubles, we finally have the place that we have longed for. There as the prophets foretold God will be with us to provide comfort for us. Now he uses this language not to say that there will be tears in paradise, but express to us in terms that we understand, what God will do, by wiping away the tears of his people, he is wiping away all of the sorrows of this former life, which include, death, mourning, crying, and pain. These all belonged to the world that must perish, and they have perished along with the world that was cursed by Adam’s sin.

This is what it means he says that he is making all things new. He who is the source of all creation will then give to us the treasures that he promised, the waters of life here referring to eternal life, that is that stream that flows from the city of God to keep us alive.

The one who conquers, that is overcomes, not by their own powers or might by faith, trusting the work of Christ and the promises of God will receive all of these things as a glorious inheritance. It won’t be just that God dwells with us in the city of New Jerusalem in the new heavens and the new earth, but we will be called the children of God. This heritage, is our inheritance that we have received through Christ who has shared it with us freely.

This picture is quite beautiful, comforting, and sweet and there isn’t much bitterness in it, that is why we typically read this passage at Funerals. To encourage us in a moment of darkness to not lose hope but to trust in the promises of God. That just as God brought his people through hardship, he will bring the loved one we lost through it too.

The reason there is little Law in the funeral sermon is because the Law is before us, and we see the power of this world and its present curse, and the reminder that all of us are dust and to dust we shall return. Tonight we don’t have that Law before our eyes, and so we need to remember what is at stake.

In this new heavens and new earth, there is no place for those who love sin and have rejected Christ. This is why the v8 says, 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.

We don’t speak of this portion at the funeral for we are fixing our eyes on the Gospel, but tonight as we close our series, we want to understand why those words follow this beautiful vision. It ties in to the season of Advent and the End of this World

God does not wish for any to perish, he desires his people to be with him, and that is why he warns us so diligently about this world that is passing away, and the things that will bind us to its destruction, so that we might flee from them.

It is important for us as we wait for the end of the world that we do not abandon Christ nor give up on Him. For look at what the outcome is for those who cling to him to receive this heritage. It is marvelous and wonderful and why would we desire anything else?

Jesus gave up his life for you, that you might live, that you may spared the second death, so do not embrace the things of this world or hold on to them as the world is passing away. Rather cling to Christ who lives forever, that you might see Paradise. That you might live in the new Jerusalem, for He wants you there so badly, that He was willing to die for you. So lay them aside and cling to Christ.

It is only those who hold on to these sins that fear the ending of this world, for they fear the end of everything they love, but Christ has promised us something better.

So my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, cling to Christ, seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness, for He came to earth that you might be a child of God, and have a place in the new heavens and the new earth, and he does not wish to be separate from you, but to be with you forever. May none of us be lost, and should we meet any friends, any family who cling to this world, let us tell them of what Christ has prepared that they might lay down their sins, and not cling to a world that is coming to an end, for there is a place for them where they might dwell with God for eternity. In Jesus name. Amen.