The New Heaven and the New Earth Part 4

Revelation 21:1–8 AV

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Introduction:

In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus said these very important words:

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

In this passage, Jesus speaks regarding the difference between genuine faith and false false.

Genuine faith does not have anything to do with what a person claims, if that claim is contradicted by their life.

Genuine faith is revealed in a life that is patterned by doing to the will of God.

I did not say that there was sinless perfect there, by there is a life that is patterned by a habitual desire and fulfillment of God’s will.

But the Church today is permeated with teaching that contradicts the very basic principles of what the Word of God says is involved in true salvation.

In his book, So Great Salvation, Charles Ryrie makes the following claim:

The Gospel according to the Apostles What Does the No-lordship Gospel Teach?

Repentance is a change of mind about Christ ( SGS 96, 99).2 In the context of the gospel invitation, repentance is just a synonym for faith ( SGS 97–99). No turning from sin is required for salvation ( SGS 99).

The whole of salvation, including faith, is a gift of God ( SGS 96). But faith might not last. A true Christian can completely cease believing ( SGS 141).

Saving faith is simply being convinced or giving credence to the truth of the gospel ( SGS 156). It is confidence that Christ can remove guilt and give eternal life, not a personal commitment to Him ( SGS 119).

Some spiritual fruit is inevitable in every Christian’s experience. The fruit, however, might not be visible to others ( SGS 45). Christians can even lapse into a state of permanent spiritual barrenness ( SGS 53–54).

Only the judicial aspects of salvation—such as justification, adoption, imputed righteousness, and positional sanctification—are guaranteed for believers in this life ( SGS 150–52). Practical sanctification and growth in grace require a postconversion act of dedication.3

Submission to Christ’s supreme authority as Lord is not germane to the saving transaction ( SGS 71–76). Neither dedication nor willingness to be dedicated to Christ are issues in salvation ( SGS 74). The news that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead is the complete gospel. Nothing else must be believed for salvation ( SGS 40–41).

Christians may fall into a state of lifelong carnality. A whole category of “carnal Christians”—born-again people who continuously live like the unsaved—exists in the church ( SGS 31, 59–66).

Disobedience and prolonged sin are no reason to doubt the reality of one’s faith ( SGS 48).

A believer may utterly forsake Christ and come to the point of not believing. God has guaranteed that He will not disown those who thus abandon the faith ( SGS 141). Those who have once believed are secure forever, even if they turn away ( SGS 143).

Although, in some individuals attempt to make salvation “market friendly” they will adopt some obscure and down-right unBiblical thoughts.

In his book, Absolutely Free!, Zane Hodges makes the following affirmations:

The Gospel according to the Apostles What Does the No-lordship Gospel Teach?

Repentance is not essential to the gospel message. In no sense is repentance related to saving faith ( AF 144–46).4

Faith is a human act, not a gift from God ( AF 219). It occurs in a decisive moment but does not necessarily continue ( AF xiv, 107). True faith can be subverted, be overthrown, collapse, or even turn to unbelief ( AF 111).

To “believe” unto salvation is to believe the facts of the gospel ( AF 37–39). “Trusting Jesus” means believing the “saving facts” about Him ( AF 39), and to believe those facts is to appropriate the gift of eternal life ( AF 40). Those who add any suggestion of commitment have departed from the New Testament idea of salvation ( AF 27).

Spiritual fruit is not guaranteed in the Christian life ( AF 73–75, 119). Some Christians spend their lives in a barren wasteland of defeat, confusion, and every kind of evil ( AF 119–25).

Heaven is guaranteed to believers ( AF 112) but Christian victory is not ( AF 118–19). One could even say “the saved” still need salvation ( AF 195–99). Christ offers a whole range of postconversion deliverance experiences to supply what Christians lack ( AF 196). But these other “salvations” all require the addition of human works, such as obedience, submission, and confession of Jesus as Lord ( AF 74, 119, 124–25, 196). Thus God is dependent to some degree on human effort in achieving deliverance from sin in this life ( AF 220).

Submission is not in any sense a condition for eternal life ( AF 172). “Calling on the Lord” means appealing to Him, not submitting to Him ( AF 193–95).

Nothing guarantees that a true Christian will love God ( AF 130–31). Salvation does not necessarily even place the sinner in a right relationship of harmonious fellowship with God ( AF 145–60).

If people are sure they believe, their faith must be genuine ( AF 31). All who claim Christ by faith as Savior—even those involved in serious or prolonged sin—should be assured that they belong to God come what may ( AF 32, 93–95). It is dangerous and destructive to question the salvation of professing Christians ( AF 18–19, 91–99). The New Testament writers never questioned the reality of their readers’ faith ( AF 98).

It is possible to experience a moment of faith that guarantees heaven for eternity ( AF 107), then to turn away permanently and live a life that is utterly barren of any spiritual fruit ( AF 118–19). Genuine believers might even cease to name the name of Christ or confess Christianity ( AF 111).

What about:

2 Corinthians 5:17 AV

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Romans 6:4–6 ESV

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Romans 6:1–2 ESV

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

And the point is that when someone is in Jesus Christ, there will still be a struggle with sin (as illustrated by Paul’s own testimony is ), but there will be newness of life.

And I turn your attention to these things because that is exactly what the Apostle John records for us regarding the New Heaven and the New Earth.

He concludes his record of of the appearance of the New Heaven and the New Earth by explaining who are the characters of the New Heaven and the New Earth and who are the Cast Outs of the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Show Flyover of Jerusalem

Show picture of the New Heaven and the New Earth

I. The Coming of the New Heaven and the New Earth (vs. 1)

II. The Capital of the New Heaven and the New Earth (vs. 2)

III. The Companion of the New Heaven and the New Earth (vs. 3)

IV. The Changes of the New Heaven and the New Earth (vs. 4-6a)

V. The Characters of the New Heaven and the New Earth (vs. 6b-7)

Revelation 21:6–7 AV

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Nestled within this passage on the New Heaven and the New Earth, is an explanation of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

This great voice from heaven that has been speaking is now explaining to John, and to us, who will actually reside in the New Heaven and the New Earth and who will not, in the coming verse.

Christ begins in the middle to end of verse 6 and goes on into verse 7 to describe the people that will reside in this new dwelling.

And He breaks it down into three distinct designations regarding salvation; and they are all found in the text and the marks of the one who resides in this holy place are very clear.

A. Humbly

Revelation 21:6 AV

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

The initial designation of the one who resides in this holy place is humility.

The initial designation of the one that will reside in this holy place is the huni

Jesus says that He will give (and the understanding of item that is given is water) to the one that is thirsty.

But what exactly is Christ talking about here.

This beautiful expression is a figure of speech that represents the sense of a spiritual need.

In this final invitation, the Lord Jesus says that He will give spiritual water to anyone that will sense their need of spiritual thirst.

It is the same way as saying that the Lord Jesus Christ will give spiritual life to all the recognize that they did it and turn to Him as the only source of that life.

When someone humbly comes knowing they have a need, they will find the Savior with the water of life ready to give it.

Salvation is not arbitrary, but it is available to all of those that will sense their spiritual need.

It is for these people that our Lord spoke on the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:6 ESV

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Matthew 5:3 ESV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus says that Happy are those people who recognize their spiritual need and turn to Christ, for they shall find Him to be the perfect Savior and the only one that can satisfy the longings of their soul.

I find it very fitting that they final call that the Lord gives is also His first call.

When our Lord began His ministry He preached that the persons who see their need will be satisfied and as we come near the end of the Revelation, we find the same wording and the same invitation.

Isaiah 55:1 ESV

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Revelation 12–22: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Residents of the New Heaven and the New Earth

Those who will be redeemed and enter heaven are those who are dissatisfied with their hopeless, lost condition and crave God’s righteousness with every part of their being.

Matthew 11:28 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

The Promise to those who will recognize their need and come is that they will find refreshment for their thirsty souls.

Those that try and come with their own feelings of self worth and self righteousness will not be given the satisfying refreshment of the water from God’s spring.

Luke 18:11–12 ESV

The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

But only those persons that come with humility.

Luke 18:13 ESV

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

Just how far away from God did he stand?

Show picture of outer temple

This man knew he was worthy of only judgment and that is the type of people to whom Christ will give the drink of living water; to those who are humbled and ashamed at their life and rebellion.

And, by the way, this kind of humility can only be given to a sinner by the Sovereign hand of God’s Grace.

If let to ourselves, we would be like the Pharisee and not like the tax collector.

So, the ones that will reside in this holy place will be those who come humbly.

B. Graciously

Revelation 21:6 AV

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Jesus says that this is given to those that humbly “freely”.

This water is without cost, it is without merit.

It is of absolute and total grace.

The New American Commentary: Revelation (1) Heavenly Relationships (21:1–7)

Spiritual thirst can never be slaked by what humans find, conquer, obtain, or desire. Rather, as a part of God’s being with us, he provides water from the fountain of the water of life; and no payment is sought—not because the water of life is of little value. Indeed, it is the only remedy to slake human spiritual thirst. But the price for this purchase has already been paid with the death of the Lamb, and consequently the water of life is now free to those who thirst for it.

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Titus 3:5 ESV

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Hosea 14:4 ESV

I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.

Romans 3:24 ESV

and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Romans 8:32 ESV

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

C. Perseveringly (vs. 7)

Revelation 21:7 AV

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

According to John, the one that overcomes is the one that has exercised faith in Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:4–5 ESV

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.

1 John 5:4–5 ESV

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John

To say that a person is a believer and then through some act on their part they “fall from grace” and die in their sin, is not in alignment with he Word of God.

When you come to God sick of your sin and self and embrace Jesus Christ as the only Savior and take of the water of life that He gives freely (because His Spirit drew you to want to receive it), your faith that is a gift of God is a persevering faith and you will overcome.

When a person makes a claim for Christ and then falls away, it isn’t that they lose their salvation, it was that they never had it.

1 John 2:19 ESV

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.

Calvin’s Calvinism: A Treatise on the Eternal Predestination of God A Treatise on the Eternal Predestination of God Etc., Etc.

But it is an insult to Christ, by no means to be endured, for a man to say, that the elect of God are saved by Him, provided they take diligent care of themselves. In this manner, that protection of Christ is rendered wholly precarious and doubtful; against which, however, Christ himself declares, that the devil and all the machinations of hell shall never prevail. Christ himself promised, that He would give eternal life unto all those that were given unto Him of the Father. And He testified, that He had been a safe keeper of them all up to the day on which He thus promised: and that ‘none of them was lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled.’ (John 17:2 and 12.) In another place He declares, that the elect of God are in his hands, and that no one shall pluck them out: because God is mightier than the whole world. If, then, eternal life is certain to all the elect; if no one can be plucked from the hand of Christ; if they can be torn away from Him by no violence, no desperateness of assault; if their salvation stands in the invincible might of God; what a brazen and audacious brow must Pighius possess, to attempt to shake such a certainty and security as this?

The true believer overcomes and thereby proves the reality of their faith.

Although, not by there own strength do they overcome, but by the strength of the Sovereign Grace of God given to them in Christ.

VI. The Cast Aways from the New Heaven and the New Earth (vs. 8)

Revelation 21:8 AV

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 21:8 AV

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

John concludes his overview of the New Heaven and the New Earth with a list of people will not be there; namely, the unrighteous and the unforgiven.

A. The Cowards

These are the the ones who lack endurance.

Matthew 24:13 ESV

But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Mark 8:35 ESV

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

They fell away when their faith was challenged or opposed., because their faith was not genuine.

Jesus described such people in the parable of the sower.

Matthew 13:20–21 ESV

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

Jesus defined those people who are true believers as those people who continue in His word.

John 8:31 ESV

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

B. Unbelieving

These are the ones that outright reject and refuse to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.

C. Abominable

Detestable persons that are caught up in all sorts of vileness, wickedness and evil.

D. Murderers

E. Sexually Immortal Person

“πόρνος” from where we get our English word “Pornographic”.

People whose life is characteristic of sexual immortality, do not have a place in heaven.

F. Sorcerers

“φάρμακος” from where we get out English word “Pharmacy”

Those persons whose life is characterized by and unceasing use mind-altering drugs will not have a place in Heaven.

G. Idolaters

H. Liars

Those who life is characterized by a continued lifestyle of telling a untruth in order to deceive.

Why is this so serious?

Because a person is never more like the Devil then they are when they are telling a lie.

John 8:44 ESV

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.

A person whose life is characterized by lies, shows signs that they have a dead conscience.

1 Timothy 4:1–2 ESV

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,

Lying is positively condemned by Scripture

Leviticus 19:11 ESV

“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.

Proverbs 12:22 ESV

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Ephesians 4:25 ESV

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Revelation 12–22: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Outcasts from the New Heaven and the New Earth

The new heaven and the new earth await believers and the final hell awaits resurrected unbelievers. For believers, it will be a universe of eternal happiness as they dwell forever in the glorious presence of God. For unbelievers, it will be a terrifying place of unbearable torment and unrelieved misery away from God’s presence (2 Thess. 1:9). The choices men and women make in this life determine in which of those realms they will live forever.