Revelation 21:1-8

Revelation chapter 21 and reading the first eight verses of the chapter. This will be our main focus, although we will be looking at the chapters of whole in the introduction. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and 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 God himself shall be with them. and be their God. 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. He that sat upon the throne said, behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, write, for these words are faithful and true. And he said unto me, it is done. I am El Phanamaega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcome us 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 hormongers and sorcerers and idolaters and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. May God bless to us His sacred and holy word this morning. Revelation 21 doesn’t seem that complicated to me, but evidently there are questions that abound about its interpretation. Is this portraying a carnal earthly state or a perfect renewed state, eternity? Is the New Jerusalem a literal city? Or is it a new Jerusalem a literal city? Or is it a symbolic portrayal of the people of God. Does the new heaven and the new earth simply represent the spiritual realities here and now in the experience of the believer who is said to be a new creation? Or are they completely a renovation of the heaven and the earth? Purged by fire as the final home for the people of God. Now friends, I’m not going to argue all the fine details of this chapter, but simply present what I believe the chapter is teaching. This is a wonderful chapter which ought to bring comfort to every child of God, every believer in Christ. Let me begin by talking here about the new heaven. and the new earth. Now, chapter 21 is a continuation of what has taken place in chapter 20. The word and here helps connect this up with the previous chapter as a follow up. The binding of Satan, you recall, prevented him from keeping the nation’s decease. The binding of Satan, you recall, you recall, so that the great commission could be carried out as we saw in chapter 20 verses 1 to 3. Then the heavenly reign of the saints of Christ are mentioned in chapter 20 and verses 4 to 6. The departed saints are emphasized here because they’re the martyrs and they reign, all the saints do really, for a thousand years, alongside of Christ, as they’re the martyrs. kings and priests. Satan is loosed. He goes out and deceives the nations, leads a final rebellion to destroy the people of God in verses 7 and 8. Christ returns. Here we have the second coming. He comes in flaming fire. Satan is cast into the lake of fire. He receives his final doom in chapter 20, verses 9 and 10. and then in chapter 20 verses 11 to 15 we have the great white throne judgment. This is the final judgment. All men, small and great, stand before God to be judged. Even believers will be there. Chapter 20 ends with the casting of the wicked into the lake of fire. But it says nothing actually about what about the righteous? this time, whose names are found in the book of life. Well, chapters 21 and 22 tell you of the eternal bode of the righteous in a renewed heaven and earth, for the present heaven and earth have fled away, and they’ve disappeared. When Christ returned, verse 11, we read here that from whose face the earth, earth and heaven fled away. And in chapter 21 verse 1, says the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. They disappear at the coming of Christ. So we have the continuation of chapter 20 here. And let me say that I believe that the eternal state is in view in these chapters. the necessity of the new heaven and the new earth is because the first ones have passed away. You’ll notice in verse 4. He tells us here that there is no more death or sorrow. Now death is the last enemy which Christ destroys in 1 Corinthians 1526. The very last enemy that he puts away. And it means then that all. things are now put under his feet at this point. The wicked are suffering the second death. Verse 8 of chapter 21 tells us here that they are suffering in the lake of fire, which follows the the final judgment, as we saw in chapter 2011 to 15. They’ve entered their eternal above. The church enjoys the eternal glory. The church enjoys the eternal glory. The church. The church. which the present church awaits. Notice verse 11. It says, having the glory of God. The church is given the glory of God here. Now, let’s look at a couple of passages. And the first is 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 10. 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 10. But the God of all grace, who have called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus. After you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. They are, we are called under God’s eternal glory, which they have the glory of God. That’s what it says here in Revelation 21 verse. 11. Then look at 2 Timothy, if you would, and chapter 2 and verse 10. 2, 2. verse 10. Therefore, I endure all things for the elects sake that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Now notice in these epistles, the eternal glory is something awaits us. Here, it says in verse 11, that we have the glory of God. It’s been given to us here. These are the things that lead us to believe that there is some type of eternal state that we’re dealing with. Notice that there is no temple for God is visibly present with his people. In verse 22 of this chapter, I saw no temple therein for the Lord Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. Chapter 22, verses 3 and 4. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it. And his servant shall serve him. And they shall see his face and have his name, and his name shall be. in their foreheads. This idea of, you know, being in the very presence of God, seeing God, and so forth, are emphasized here. In verse 23 of chapter 21, no sun or moon, for God and the Lamb provide the light. You’ll notice in chapter 22 in verse 5, it says this. there shall be no night there. No need of a candle. Neither light to light in these people, for God giveth them light. No light of the sun. Now, you remember when the flood came, and after the flood, when God spoke to Noah, he made him a promise. While the earth remaineth, sea time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease. So God’s promise is while this earth remained, those things would remain. But the fact that they’re no longer present indicates here we’re not dealing with this earthly state as it is now, but a renewed heaven and earth, an eternal state, which seems to be pointed out here. There is no, night. There’s no sun or moon and so forth. Notice that the church is totally pure without hypocrites or false professors. Look at verse 27 of chapter 21. And there shall, in no wise, enter into it, the city of God. Anything that defauleth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or makeeth a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. They’re the only one. that are there. So here we have the idea of the purity of the church, without the hypocrites, without any of those who are fakes and frauds, if you would. There is no more curse. Chapter 22, verse 3. My friends, without the curse, we’re no longer in a world of sin. We’re no longer in a world of sin. We’re longer in a world that’s suffering under the curse. The ground was cursed by God when Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord. And you’ll recall in Romans chapter 8, when Paul writes about us and the earth and what awaits us and so forth. In verses 18 to 23, here’s what he says. For I reckon the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature or creation waited for the manifestation of the sons of God. Wait for us to be glorified. For the creature or the creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who have subjected the same in hope. Because the creature or the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth and pain until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves, grown within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption to wit the redemption of our body. The creation was subject to the curse, just as we were. But that’s going to be lifted. There’s not going to be any more curse, is what we read here in this text of scripture. Notice that access to the tree of life is available. Chapter 22 and verse 2. Now, chapter 2 and verse 7 of Revelation promised that those who overcame would be given access to the tree of life. Now they have it. Because now we’re in the eternal state. When you compare Genesis in Revelation, it’s interesting, you see the devil’s harm in the book of Genesis, but then we see the devil removed in chapter 22 in verse 10. Or chapter 20 in verse 10. We see the curse imposed in Genesis 3, but we see the curse removed. and Revelation 22. We see sorrow and death enter into the world in chapter 3 and following in Genesis. There’s no more sorrow and death according to this chapter, chapter 21. We see man separated from God. Cast out of the garden. Here we have restored communion with God. We see man barred from the tree of life in the book of Genesis. but here we see free access to the true. I’m sorry. We barred from the tree of life in Genesis here free access to the tree of life. These are the things that lead me to believe that chapter 21 is talking about the eternal state. Now look with me at 2 Peter chapter 3. To me this is the definitive statement on the subject. Now you’ll notice in 2. Peter Chapter 3, here’s the key, I believe, to understanding all this. The time that we’re talking about is prior to Christ’s second coming. People are asking, where is the promise of his coming? And we notice that in general, it’s classified as a thousand. year period, verse 8 of chapter 3 of 2. Peter. will come as a thief in the night, in which the heaven shall pass away with a great noise, and the element shall melt with fervent heat. The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing that, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming unto the coming of the day of God. wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the element shall melt with fervent heat. This refers to what we read in chapter 20 of Revelation verses 9 and 10, and chapter 21, verse 1, with the heavens and earth passing away. Now, this is literal because it corresponds to the perishing of the world by water in the days of Noah. You’ll notice in verses 5 to 7 in chapter 3 of 2 Peter. He says this. For this they willingly are ignorant of that by the word of God the heavens were of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, whereby the world that then was was being overflowed with water perished. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store reserved under fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly man. If the water is real of the flood, it seems to me that the fire must be real that purges the earth, and we can’t make this all symbol. It seems like this is what it’s talking about. Then in verse 13, and this is the key verse, with all this in mind, 2 Peter 3, verse 13, nevertheless, seeing these things are going to be dissolved, the earth is going to melt, be purged by fire, nevertheless, we, according to his promise, which is made in Isaiah 65, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. We look for. It’s not a present reality. So those who claim that the new heavens and the new earth are a present reality, I think, have a problem when we compare it with this verse of Scripture. Because he is saying that we’re looking forward to it. We don’t have it now. We are expecting this to occur, and it will occur after the purging of this earth by fire. It awaits second Christ’s second coming. The new heaven and the new earth is dwelt and dwelt by perfect righteousness. Right? He says here, in which will dwell righteousness. It’s not a present reality, where it requires the removal of Satan and all the wicked and sin and the curse in all these things. So with these things in mind, I suggest to you that Revelation 21 and 22 are talking about the eternal state and not a present reality as many of the post-millanalists would like to argue. Any question about this point? Because it’s the foundation for what I’m going to say for the rest of this study. Now with that in mind, let’s take a look at Revelation 21 verses 1 to 8. The new heaven and the new earth relates to the eternal state for the reasons I’ve already laid out before you. New here, Canos, suggests that the old earth is rejuvenated or renovated in some way, being purged by fire. Versus 1 and 2 give us the point that this planet will seem to be the final and eternal home of God’s people who are said to be the new Jerusalem, which comes down from heaven to earth. The renewed earth. In verse 2. And it’s said to be his bride. We’ll look at that and further detail later. There’ll be no more C. Now, this is somewhat puzzling here. I don’t know exactly why, but let me just say this. What comes out of the sea in the book of Daniel Chapter 7 and in the book of Revelation Chapter 13? What comes out of the sea? Anybody remember? The beast. Revelation’s Daniel 7 has four beasts to come on in succession. And Revelation 13 talks about the beast that comes from the sea. I take it perhaps the suggestion is that there will be no more evil that will arise. Maybe we can take that idea here. It may be that there’s no more actual sea. I, you know, I, it may be that’s the case. But at least we know none of this ugliness and no ugly head will be arisen, will rise from the sea to cause us trouble anymore. The believer is assured by God that the eternal dwelling place is beautiful, it’s safe, and it’s secure. Now notice verse 3. and I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he dwelleth with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. The old tabernacle conveyed to the true worshipper a sense, at least, of God dwelling among the people of God. Remember the glory cloud that would rest over the tabernacle of the people as they went through the wilderness and so before, the idea of God dwelling in the Holy of Holies, and that was his, like, place of his presence, if you would, before the Israelites. Even though the scripture tells us, of course, God can’t be contained in a human temple and so forth. It fills heaven and earth. But the symbolism was there. The New Testament brings the symbolism of the tabernacle into a blessed reality. In the eternal state, you are in the very presence of God. The promise, you recall, in Ezekiel 37, if you would look at that with me, in verses 26 to 28, we have a promise here that’s made. God says this, moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them, it shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them and set my sanctuary in the midst of them forever. Forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them. Yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people, and the heathen shall know that I, the Lord, do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them forevermore. So we have this idea of God here being present with his people in his tabernacle. In his tabernacle, is with men. God owns us as his people, and we claim him as our God. This is the promise of the covenant being fulfilled, really in its most complete sense, because now we’re brought into the very presence of God. All earthly woes which plague God’s people, death and sorrow and crying and pain, shall be no more, according to verse 4. and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things or passed away. These former things are associated with this present life, and a sin that taints us, and death that still plagues us. But that passes away when we enter into the heavenly state. And we’re with God in paradise. Verse 5 tells us that God has renewed all things to correspond to his new creation. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me right, for these words are faithful, are true and faithful. John has commanded, put this on record, for it is a secret. special comfort to the people of God. God promises this as one who is faithful and true and cannot lie. I promise that all things will be new. They will not be like they were when you were on this earth and all the suffering that you went through. Verse 6, it’s done. And he said unto me, it’s done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. It is done echoes the words of Christ on the cross. It’s finished. Now think about it. Christ’s death was not just for the purpose of saving us from our sins, but the reconciling all things in heaven and earth unto himself. as Colossians 1.20 indicates to us. Here we have the final result of Christ’s redemptive work, where we are brought into the presence of the Lord, made perfectly renewed, and enjoy all the benefits without the curse, without death, without sorrow, without pain, without all the things that we’ve suffered in this life. He won these eternal blessings, such as we find in this chapter for us. It’s the final result of his redemptive work being realized. Christ is the alpha and omega that is spoken of here. As chapter 1, verse 17 and 18, indicate to us, he promises to give the water of life to those. who are thirsty, a thirst, if you would. This is a promise given to those in heaven, according to chapter 7, verses 15 to 17. But in a way, it’s the same promise as we find in John chapter 4 to the woman at the well. He’ll give her the water of life. And we’re talking about his grace. The grace of God is resting upon us. Those who are thirst or those are spiritually thirsty. They’re provided with a bountiful provision of grace to satisfy their needs, such as we find in Isaiah 55 in verse 1. Oh, he that is thirsty, let him come and drink. Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. John 4.14. Here we find the idea that every need, every grace that we will need, everything that we would need, is provided. for us without exception and abundance. Verse 7. The promises that are made here are made for the overcomer. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be His God, and he shall be my son. This is just like the promises God made through Christ in the letters to the seven churches. He that overcomes, and he makes a man. promise to them each time. We read through those epistles. You see that very plainly laid out. 1. John 5.4 says, for whatsoever is born of God, overcomeeth the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who are those that are overcomers? They’ve been regenerated by God, and they have faith. those are the overcomers. Those are the people who do overcome the world. Overcomers are said here to inherit all things. As Romans 8 tells us, we’re heirs of God and join heirs with Jesus Christ. This is the idea I think behind, I will be His God and he shall be my son. Sons are heirs. And join heirs with Christ. Verse 8. In contrast to the righteous. who are enjoying the fullness of God’s blessings that we’ve been talking about. You’re reminded here of the suffering of the wicked in the Lake of Fire. Verse 8, with the fearful and unbelieving in the abominable and murderers and horomongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burned with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Here we have a description of those who end up in the lake of fire. They are the fearful. Now, friends, these are those who shrunk back from the spiritual struggle of the overcomers. These are the people who were not willing to face the battle with the enemies of the people of God. God, who cowardly submitted to the beast and so forth. They’re the unbelieving. They have no faith. Those of perverse hearts who have refused to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, have rejected the call to repent and believe on the Savior. They are abominable. We’ve mentioned this before in the book of Revelation. Whenever this word is used, if you look at it in the Old Testament in particular, it’s almost always associated with some type of idolatry, with idol worship. In scripture, we see that that is the case. In Revelation, the worship of the beast in his image is emphasized. Those who engage in those activities discussed God. They’re an abomination in sight. They are murderers, he says. These are those who kill the prophets and the people of God and are guilty of crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember we looked at Revelation 1-7 and we talked about when Christ comes in judgment, they shall look on Him whom they have pierced, emphasizing what they had done to the same. savior in putting him to death, and they will be held accountable. They’re horomongers. These are those who are sexually impure, who have given themselves over to impure lust. It’s interesting that the word that describes the false religion of the Jews is that of a harlot. It’s harlot tree, and it’s connected with. unfaithfulness and so forth. I’m not sure whether we should connect us with literally this actually impure, but certainly it would apply, but also would imply to those who who were unfaithful to God and his teachings. They are sorcerers. Those who use magic arts deal with familiar spirits. You know, talk with the dead, so forth. And they are idolaters. Those who worship the idols of gold and silver and brass and stone are actually worshipping devils as we studied. And the image of the beast would fit in this category. And they’re liars. They’re religious deceivers. Those who resort to lying as a common practice certainly would be included here, as well as those who would deceive others about the truth of God. so we have the new heaven and a new earth here the first eight verses. Do you have any questions about this section of scripture that we stopped this morning? Yes, Keith. Sometimes yes. But I’ve noticed that even the partial preterist, I think Chilton holds this position and others will hold this position. I don’t know how they do it. To be honest with you, I can’t read this without saying this looks eternal state to me. I mean, I tried to point out all things that I thought, you know, these are like guidelines. You’ve got neon signs here saying this is the eternal state. If you can’t, if you miss all this and what it says in 2nd Peter 3, what can I say to you? I mean, this is a lot. This is why some of the full predators try to take 2nd Peter 3 and make it into a present reality rather than a future situation, which, as I tried to point out, if the fire is real, as so as the water is real and the flood, the fire has to be real. I mean, it just makes sense to me. What our conclusion can you draw? And so that’s why I say that you look through this, it seems clear to me. But for others, like I said, it seems clear. they don’t see it that way. And I’m thinking, to me, it’s pretty plain. So I’m laying it out as I see it and as I think the scriptures lay out before us. And I realize that Revelation, or Isaiah chapter 65, you could try to manipulate that into trying to make it like a present reality for the people of God and so forth. But Peter’s interpretation of Isaiah 65, indicates to us that it’s the eternal state that’s being spoken of. And there is no way around that, in my opinion. That is the inspired interpretation of Isaiah 65. I don’t go to Isaiah 65 alone. I compare it with the other scriptures. Look at here, Revelation 21. 2 Peter 3. Compare all those together, and I think you end up with the eternal state. Anything else? Okay. Let’s close with a word of prayer. I’d like to ask Russell if he…