New Heaven and Earth

Outline

Big Idea: The new Heaven and the new Earth are about God’s unfiltered, unobstructed, and unlimited glory coming down to dwell with man in unimpeded intimacy and fellowship.

Introduction

**Just jump into reading. No fancy introduction. It is powerful enough. :)

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. 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. 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.”

Revelation 21-22 could arguably be some of the most blessed text of scripture ever.

Church, we are at the end of this revelation. And if we were to step into the text, we would be at the end of time.

Revelation 21-22 shows us the promised, blessed ending of everything.

As we consider this text this morning… I really only want us to see one thing:

Big Idea: The new Heaven and the new Earth are about God’s unfiltered, unobstructed, and unlimited glory coming down to dwell with man in unimpeded intimacy and fellowship.

4New Heaven and Earth - Revelation 21:1-8

In verses 1-8, we are given a tangible and powerful preview of this new heaven and earth.

Then I saw - Rev 21:1

Kai Eidon - Used throughout Revelation (Rev 6:1,2,5, 8, 12; 8:2,13; 19:1; 10:1; 13:1, 11; 14:1, 6, 14; 15:1; 16:13; 17:3; 19:11, 17, 19; 20:1, 4, 11) to indicate chronological progression.

After the judgment

After creation’s uncreation

After final rebellion

After all dead are judged in that final judgment and sentenced

THEN

This is AFTER all sin and evil are dealt with.

THEN John saw…

A new heaven and new earth

New - a quantitative sense. New, as in never seen before. Fresh. New in kind.

The first heaven and earth had passed away.

Twice, we will see this phrase “passed away.” Here, the 1st heaven and earth do so.

Later, in verse 4, we will see that the former things have passed away.

The old is gone.

The corrupt is removed—forever.

The first heaven and earth (in which we are currently living) has been judged and ravaged—and then in the end—it had been uncreated, fleeing before the very presence of holy God.

This new heaven and earth—however—has not—nor ever will be—infected by sin and its curse.

The first heaven and earth is irrevocably tainted and ruined by sin. God sets out to keep His word and make it “new” again. Isaiah 65:17; 66:22

Isaiah 65:17 ESV

17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

Isaiah 66:22 ESV

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.

God is not yet done with His creation. The millennium will see a partial restoring and healing, but it will be in much more need than that…but only after sin is finally and fully dealt with, will God bring the final and utter restoration.

And when He brings it, we see some marked changes.

For one, there will no longer be any sea.

No Sea - Rev 21:1

A literal reading of the text would suggest to us that the new heaven and new earth, no longer have seas.

That would be an interesting change since 3/4 of our plant right now is water. A good percent of earth is salt water and oceans.

Everything we know revolves around water.

Cities grow up near water sources, because water is essential for life.

Our entire hydro cycle is what keeps crops growing, water being purified, and keeps the planet alive.

What would the world look like without seas?

This would be a dramatic shift.

Does this mean there are no bodies of water anywhere? Or just seas?

We don’t know. There could be rivers, lakes, ponds, etc. Maybe there will be fresh water sources but the seas and salt water are what God gets rid of.

It is hard to know for sure, since the text is not explicit and just says there are no “seas.”

John simply tells us “the sea was no more.” I take that naturally and literally, though perhaps there is a symbolic reason for the literal absence of the seas in the new heaven and new earth.

Scripture does associate the sea with turbulence, chaos, nations, and even the emergence of the beast in certain contexts.

Whether that symbolism explains its absence or not, John doesn’t tell us. What we can say is that this new creation lacks nothing God intends for it to have. Nothing chaotic, threatening, or disordered remains.

BUT what really seems to capture John’s attention—and rightly so—in this vision is the the New City. It takes up the majority of this chapter.

Coming down out of heaven was the New Jerusalem—the Holy City.

The Holy City - Rev 21:2

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.

This holy city “comes down” out of heaven.

It already IS.

It does not have to be created.

It is prepared and waiting to come down when the time is right.

Why is this important to note?

For one, because scripture notes it.

For two, because it highlights that this is and always has been God’s plan.

This was not plan B that he had to scramble to prepare when plan a fell to disaster.

From before time began—God has wanted to dwell with His people.

And we are blessed enough to behold a preview of what is to come!

The back half of this chapter is going to give us a stunning description of this city. We will look more deeply into that in a moment.

But I want you to notice how this city is described here.

The city is prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Again in verse 9, the angel introduces the Holy City, the New Jerusalem as the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.

Revelation 21:9 ESV

9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

This angel who introduces her as such is one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls.

It is intriguing that the specific detail of it being one of the bowl judgement angels is included.

What was the purpose of the bowl judgements?

To judge Babylon, the wicked city.

It seems fitting then, that one of the angels who brought condemnation and judgement against THE wicked city, now comes to announce it’s holy counterpart.

The same angel who announce Babylon’s doom now gets the joy and privilege of announcing the beloved of the Lamb!

But here, John’s first glimpse of the city gets no formal introduction. He sees it descend and sees its bridal beauty.

Some have understood this city to be heaven’s new capital—not all of heaven itself. This is probably true. Heaven, I would imagine, is significantly larger than even this mammoth city.

This New Jerusalem, this new city is the same one that Hebrews 11:8-10 spoke of when Abraham was said to look forward to it.

Hebrews 11:8–10 ESV

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Abraham may not have known fully what it was he was looking forward to when he set out by faith, but He trusted God and He knew the faithfulness of the God he served.

Church, this city is the very same one to which we ought to look with hope, confidence, and anticipation. We ought to be daily motivated to be ever faithful, growing increasingly so, until the day that we reach it!

This city represents every promise God has ever made to us.

There is a reason why God is showing it to us.

In fact, this city is precisely what Jesus referred spoke of in John 14:1-3

John 14:1–3 ESV

1 “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.

This new city will have abundant dwellings for ALL of God’s redeemed.

This new city is THE HOME of all God’s redeemed.

It is THE HOME where God will dwell with His people.

Despite its description as being a bride, do not make the mistake of allegorizing or symbolizing the city.

This is a literal city!

The description of it from verse 9ff makes that abundantly clear.

So, why the question is, why is it described this way?

How can a city be adorned as a Bride for her groom?

It may not be as unclear as it appears at first glance.

The word “adorned” comes from kosmeo/kosmos which means “to order or arrange.”

This is the root word for our English word, cosmetics.

Essentially, the city has become appropriately ordered in all her beauty.

She has gotten glammed up for her groom.

The city is appropriately ordered in all of our bridle beauty.

She is wearing her “Sunday best.”

She is at her finest beauty and glamour.

Church, she is holy without blemish.

Sin is no more.

Evil and death have been judged.

Heaven and earth are made new.

And now the Bride reflects and displays her radiant holiness without taint.

She now perfectly reflects the holiness and beauty of her Groom without spot or blemish.

Furthermore—

The city contains the bride

And a city who contains the bride, takes on the character of the bride.

In the same way that a city takes on the character of the people living there, this city takes on the likeness of the Bride of the Lamb.

The character and personality, the likeness of the city will be reflective of the people dwelling in it.

Additionally, as we have considered previously, though the Bride has been considered as the church throughout the NT, this Bride, this City bears the marks of the fullness of God’s redeemed people—Israel and the Church.

Whatever distinctions God has maintained throughout redemptive history, this city gathers together the entire redeemed people of God. Israel is represented in its gates; the apostles of the Lamb are represented in its foundations. This is the home of God’s redeemed.

The declaration of Heaven’s Loud voice is the centerpiece of this chapter.

The Dwelling Place of God - Rev 21:3-4

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.”

Church, slow down here—will you.

With me—

For a moment—

**Pause**

This loud voice from heaven is perhaps an angel, perhaps Christ—honestly, it does not matter does it.

It’s what he declares that ought to capture our attention—not the speaker. (and maybe that is why we are not told who the speaker is)

The dwelling place of God is with man.

Does that statement not just stagger your sensibilities?

God will dwell with His people.

They WILL BE God’s.

GOD HIMSELF will be with them.

Are you feeling lonely and isolated today?

Do you feel unknown?

Do you feel hidden from true intimacy and fellowship with others?

Church—

There is coming a day—when you will never feel these things again.

Ever.

No more will sin hinder true intimacy and oneness.

No more will sin keep you from the God you love—and desire to love more wholly.

No more will sin keep you hidden and isolated.

Those days are coming to an end.

I love that phrase—“dwelling place.”

Literally, that phrase means to tabernacle or tent.

God will tabernacle/tent with man.

When I hear this, I hear the idea of “tenting” with God. Sharing a common shelter.

Sleeping in a sleeping bag, next to Jesus, under the same polyester tent AS THE GOD OF ALL THINGS.

I mean, I know I have a unique perspective from Trail Life and tent camping, but this is the imagery that strikes me.

And I don’t think it is invalid.

Gone are the separations that keep God from us in His fullness.

Gone is sin to bar the way.

Gone is selfishness and pride to be a wall between us.

Gone is our sin and His Holy Justice

Gone is the veil, the cloud that obscures the view of God from our sight.

He WILL DWELL AMONG Us and we will see Him—AS HE Is. Rev 22:4; 1 Jn 3:2

Revelation 22:4 ESV

4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

1 John 3:2 ESV

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

We shall see Him.

His name will be on our foreheads—we will belong to Him.

We shall be LIKE Him

This is the true beauty of the bride, of the Holy City, of the New Jerusalem.

It radiants the glory of God.

It contains His presence.

It reflects the sinlessly glorified presence of the redeemed of the Lord.

And the utter ONENESS of their union.

We will know unhindered, perfect fellowship with Him

We will worship Him fully and unhindered - Rev 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 11:1; 16; 19:4

We will serve Him - Rev 22:3

This is the climax of God’s redemptive plan.

From before creation until after creation, God’s intent was for Himself to tent with us.

All of redemptive history has been preparing and moving towards this moment.

We have this movement from Eden to the New Jerusalem

Eden → Tabernacle → Temple → Incarnation → Church → New Jerusalem.

God walks with man in Eden.

Sin brings exile.

God dwells among Israel in the tabernacle.

His glory fills the temple.

Then: “The Word became flesh and dwelt [tabernacled] among us…” (John 1:14)

Then believers become God’s temple through the Spirit.

And finally: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.”

What was mediated becomes immediate.

What was veiled becomes unveiled.

What was approached through sacrifice is inhabited because the Lamb has accomplished redemption.

And then: “They will see his face.”

History has been about showing us God’s desire to dwell with man.

The end of history is about the full reality of that coming home.

But it is not even done yet.

No more Tears - Rev 21:4

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.”

No more pain

No more sorrow

No more tears

In this glorious future, there will be a profound absence of anything to be sorry about—to ever have sorrow over again.

No disappointment—ever again.

No misfortune—ever again

No remorse—ever again.

No regret—ever again.

No more future pain or sorrow or mourning to ever come to be.

What about past pain, sorrow, loss? What becomes of that?

Many of us struggle with past pain, sorrow, loss, grief, regret.

What happens to that?

I do not believe this means every bad memory, every hard time, every remembrance of suffering will be stricken from our minds.

The truth is, eternity is all the more glorious because of what we have been saved from; what we have been redeemed from—both sin and suffering alike.

In fact, Christ, the Lamb who was slain, is forever a centerpiece of worship in eternity.

And the reason for his being slain cannot be forgot, or else the gospel loses it’s wonder and majesty.

So no—the pain, suffering, sorrow, loss, and trouble of this world will not be fully forgotten.

But somehow, the remembrance of those things will not bring pain, regret, sorrow, or grief anymore.

HE HIMSELF will wipe those tears away.

I imagine

The remembrance will only bring joy, gladness, celebration, and worship.

In this new heaven and new earth, in this new Jerusalem, this holy city—there will be a profound lack of any new pain—physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual.

Death and it’s entourage is no more - Is 25:8; 1 Cor 15:54

The former things have passed away.

There is nothing more to cause pain.

And all God’s people say—

So sure and and firm is this that the voice says…

Write this down - Rev 21:5

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.”

In case it was not obvious—I am making all things new.

So firm and concrete is this—

So resolutely does God want us to know it—want John to know it that he says, “Write this down—”

Some think this is because John lost focus in what he was seeing and taking in—and maybe he did.

But I also think it could be a statement that—so certain and firm is this—it needs to be written and recorded.

A written statement is admissible as evidence.

A written statement is defendable.

This is firm. Write it down.

I am making all things new!

And then he follows it up with such a resounding statement of affirmation that we HAVE to believe it to be true.

IT IS DONE - Rev 21:6

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.

It is Done

1 Cor 15:24-28

1 Corinthians 15:24–28 ESV

24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

The end has come.

The kingdom has been delivered.

Evil and sin have been judged.

The bride has been cleansed.

Everything has been given over to the Son—in totality.

Very reminiscent of Christ’s words in the cross — “It is finished.”

The work is complete, at an end. It is fulfilled.

There is no more to do.

And to validate the claim, he says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.”

I am the He who came before and He will be here at at the end.

I am God, sovereign, and ruler over all.

“On the authority of who I am—”

I declare—

It is done.

And because of WHO He is AND What He has done, the promise of verse 6-7 lands with a punch.

The Promise - Rev 21:6-7

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.

To the thirsty

This refers to spiritual thirst.

It bears the idea of Psalm 42

Psalm 42:1–3 ESV

1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

What does it mean to thirst for God?

To desire Him

To want Him

To earnestly crave.

The imagery of this text is like a deer, hot, dehydrated from heat, in desperate need of hydration.

To be parched and in desperate need and want for refreshment.

To thirst after God is to desperately ache for, long for, and be in need of the life sustaining nourishment that water gives.

To thirst after God is to be parched spiritually and longing to drink deeply from spiritual life that God offers.

This thirst is something we should (and we do) experience now.

The satiation of this thirst is something we can experience now when we run to Christ.

BUT, that fullness of that satiation—and the length of it’s duration—are both dramatically affected by the ongoing presence of sin.

The promise of this verse is that one day—neither the depth of that thirst NOR the fullness of the satisfaction of it will be tainted, limited, or hindered.

Church, God says, TO THE THIRSTY

I WILL GIVE

From the springs of the water of life

WITHOUT PAYMENT

Living water—for free.

Forever.

This future thirst—will be shared by all

Gone are those who resist, rebel, and reject.

At this stage, spiritual thirst for God will characterize EVERYONE remaining.

This future thirst—will be unhindered

There will be nothing to stop its desire

This future thirst—will be completely satiated.

Church—while we wait with eager anticipation for this day—

How are you daily encouraging your spiritual thirst for God?

How are you daily seeking satisfaction for that thirst in God?

Are you thirsting for God—Do you thirst for God—even now—albeit imperfectly?

The fact of the matter is—God WANTS to satisfy You with Himself.

God is not begrudgingly handout satisfaction to His children.

He delights in it.

The issue is not His willingness to satisfy our spiritual thirst.

The issues is our thirst and our willingness to seek satisfaction in Him.

God WILL satisfy even now, when we thirst for Him and seek Him.

No, it may not be perfectly so—or indefinitely so—

We have to keep coming back

We have to keep fighting to desire Him above other things

And we have to keep returning to the spring for nourishment.

But there is a coming a day—when we will not fight against competing passions

And there is a day when we will not have to keep coming back to the spring because it will be a constant flow into our very existence.

The concluding words of this promise bring us back to the promises to the conquerors, the overcomes that ended each of the letters to the churches. To the one who conquers—

This is his heritage

I will be His God

and he will be my son,

God will dwell among us—and we will be his.

Church (read big idea)

Conclusion

Big Idea: The new Heaven and the new Earth are about God’s unfiltered, unobstructed, and unlimited glory coming down to dwell with man in unimpeded intimacy and fellowship.

Yes, this is future

But that future reality ought not to discourage us in this period of waiting for it. Quite the opposite actually.

How does the promise of this future affect us now?

It grounds us in hope. This world is not our end. Suffering, sorrow, death, and disappointment do not get the final word. God does.

It motivates us to endurance. If this is where history is going, then faithfulness now is worth it. Don’t quit before you get home.

It supplies us with strength. We can endure what is temporary because we know what is eternal. Today’s burden has an expiration date.

It delights us in worship. The greatest promise of eternity isn’t what will be gone or even what will be there. It is Who will be there. We will see His face.

The reality of this moment may yet be future—

But the promise of it—

Empowers, motivates, and encourages us—TODAY

And everyday

Until we reach it.

Does it for you?

Are you growing in your hope, endurance, strength, and worship—every day becoming more like Jesus for the glory of God?

This is where history is going. This is where your history is going, believer. God with us. No curse. No death. No sorrow. No separation. And finally— we will see His face.

Until then, hope. Endure. Be strengthened. Worship.

And encourage one another with these words.

Pray

Application

Revelation 21:3 says, “The dwelling place of God is with man.” Why is God’s presence—not the absence of pain, the beauty of the city, or even eternal life—the greatest promise of the new creation?

The sermon traced God’s dwelling with His people from Eden → Tabernacle → Temple → Incarnation → Church → New Jerusalem. What does that progression teach us about God’s desire to be with His people?

Revelation 21:4 promises that death, mourning, crying, and pain will one day be gone. What present sorrow or burden becomes different when you remember that it has an expiration date?

God promises, “To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” What competes with your thirst for God right now? What helps awaken or deepen that thirst?

The sermon said this future “grounds us in hope, motivates us to endurance, supplies us with strength, and delights us in worship.” Which of those four do you most need right now, and why?

Revelation 22:4 says, “They will see his face.” How should the certainty of seeing Christ face-to-face shape the way you live, worship, suffer, and pursue holiness this week?