Revelation 21:1–8

Review…

• OUTLINE…
  • THREE times – PAST – PRESENT – FUTURE – Revelation 1:19
  • THREE events – RAPTURE – WRATH – RETURN of Jesus
  • THREE judgements – SEAL – TRUMPET – and BOWL judgments
  • White Throne…
  • Millennial Kingdom…
    • After the battle of Armageddon – and the fall of the Antichrist…
    • John saw an angel [Michael] bind satan for THOUSAND years in the PIT [ἄβυσσος]
    • Then Jesus will RULE over the earth from Jerusalem – Isaiah 2:3-4
    • And there will be a time of PEACE [lion and the lamb] – Isaiah 11:9
    • Where the saints [church] will RULE alongside Jesus – I Corinthians 6:2
  • Final Judgement
    • Satan will be released for one final rebellion – CHOICE…
    • Then ALL men will stand before the WHITE throne to be JUDGED by Jesus…
    • The BOOKS will come out with the record of their LIVES…
    • They are JUDGED according to what is written in the BOOKS – then cast into the Lake of Fire…
    • But there is another BOOK – anyone whose name is written in it will NOT be judged!

All things new…

• 1^st – New Things… vs. 1–4
  • 1^st – Heaven and Earth… vs. 1
    • New Universe…
      • Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth!
      • AFTER the Great White Throne judgement – God will create a NEW heaven and a NEW earth…
      • HEAVEN [singular] – is NOT talking about the dwelling place of God…
      • There are THREE heavens [plural] – SKY – SPACE – and HEAVEN – II Corinthians 12:2
      • It is outer SPACE and the EARTH that are made NEW…
      • God is going to go back to the beginning [very good] – recreate the UNIVERSE – Genesis 1:31
      • To a place before SIN came into the world and corrupted it [cursed] – Genesis 3:17
    • Old Earth…
      • For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away!
      • We will NEED a NEW heaven and earth – because the OLD one will be GONE…
      • Psalms tell us – God will change the earth like an OLD dirty shirt – Psalm 102:26
      • Isaiah tells us – we will NOT even remember the OLD earth – Isaiah 65:17
      • Peter tells us – that it the OLD earth will go out in the BLAZE of glory!
    • Destroyed by FIRE…
      • II Peter 3:7 – “The heavens and earth which are now preserved by the same Word – are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men!
      • God promised Noah He would never again destroy the earth with WATER – Genesis 9:11
      • But he never said anything about FIRE – this world will NOT last…
      • Jesus [Word] who holds the UNIVERSE together – will LET go!
      • If you hold TWO positively magnets together – they REPEL each other…
      • Yet within every ATOM there are REPELLING forces that should cause them to explode…
      • When they are released – it is what we call a NUCLEAR blast…
      • Jesus literally HOLDS the whole universe together – atom by atom…
      • And when He lets go – the whole universe will just explode in a NUCLEAR blaze!
      • II Peter 3:10 – “The heavens will pass away with a great noise – and the elements will melt with fervent heat – both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”
      • People strive their whole lives to find success – but what is success worth apart from God…
      • Everything in this life is destined to BURN – we cannot take any of it with us…
      • We might end up RICH – but all we really get is a lot of nice FIREWOOD…
      • Therefore – why should we devote our TIME to something that is DOOMED…
      • How much better to invest our TIME into a Kingdom that will NEVER fade!
    • Also there was no more sea!
      • There are different views on WHY there will be no SEA on the NEW earth…
      • FIRST – some believe it is meant to allow for more SPACE for people to live on…
      • Potentially because so many people will be SAVED – we will need the room…
      • But I do not think so – as we will see next week – there is LOTS of room!
      • SECOND – some believe the SEA is a picture of the source of EVIL – Revelation 13:1
      • Therefore no SEA – speaks of the fact there will be no EVIL!
      • THIRD – our world is mostly [two thirds] covered by WATER today…
      • But that was not always the case – all that WATER is the result of the JUDGEMENT of God…
      • After the FLOOD – much of the WATER remained on the earth – Genesis 8:11
      • It was meant to be a permanent reminder that God JUDGES sin!
      • We will NOT need a reminder in on the NEW earth…
      • There will be NO more SIN – it will be perfect like the Garden of Eden!
  • 2^nd – New City… vs. 2
    • Holy City…
      • Then I – John – saw the holy city – New Jerusalem!
      • Having seen the NEW heaven and NEW earth…
      • John then saw the CAPITOL city of this NEW world – the NEW Jerusalem…
      • We will look at this city more in depth NEXT week – Revelation 21:9-27
      • This is NOT the same Jerusalem that we know today [in Israel]
      • The Jerusalem today is NOT a good place – like SODOM and EGYPT – Revelation 11:8
      • This NEW Jerusalem will be HOLY [ἅγιος] – set apart for God…
      • Because this will be the CITY where God dwells – where He RULES from!
      • The NT word for church [ἐκκλησία] – means to be called out of this world…
      • God wants us to be HOLY – we are to be SAINTS [ἅγιος]
      • What makes us HOLY – having Jesus dwell in our LIVES!
      • II Corinthians 6:16 – “For [we] are the temple of the living God.”
    • From God…
      • Coming down out of heaven from God!
      • Men can NEVER be able to create a HOLY city on earth…
      • No matter how many RULES men make – no matter how many POLICE they hire…
      • The only way to have a HOLY city – is for it to come from God!
      • It turns out our BIGGEST problem – is us…
      • We can make PROMISES – be determined to live a GODLY life…
      • But we end up FAILING – because we are not GOOD…
      • It is not that we do not WANT to do the right things – we CANNOT do the right things!
      • Romans 7:18 – “I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn – I cannot make myself do right…” [NLT]
      • But what we CANNOT do – God CAN do…
      • When God comes down into our lives – He can transform us – make us HOLY
      • He takes our BROKEN lives – and makes them BEAUTIFUL!
      • Mark 10:27 – “With men it is impossible – but not with God. With God all things are possible.”
    • Like a Bride…
      • Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband!
      • BRIDES put a LOT of effort into getting prepared for their weddings…
      • They make sure to have the perfect LOOK [κοσμέω] – cosmetics!
      • When Jen came waking down the AISLE in her wedding dress…
      • It did NOT matter what the design was – her hairstyle – or her makeup…
      • All I saw was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen coming to marry me!
      • The NEW Jerusalem is NOT beautiful because of what it LOOKS like…
      • It is beautiful because of WHO is inside of it [the church]
      • We are the BRIDE of Christ – and the most beautiful thing in His eyes!
      • Song of Solomon 4:1 – “How beautiful you are – my beloved – how beautiful!”
  • 3^rd – New Tabernacle… vs. 3
    • Jesus Christ…
      • I heard a loud voice from heaven saying: Behold the tabernacle of God is with men!
      • John heard a LOUD [μέγας] voice commanding [imperative] him to LOOK [behold]
      • The TABERNACLE of God was DWELLING [σκηνόω] with men…
      • This is NOT talking about a building – or a TENT – this is Jesus!
      • John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and dwelt [σκηνόω] among us.”
      • In the garden of EDEN – the Lord walked daily with Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:8
      • They could come into His presence whenever they wanted to!
      • In the NEW Jerusalem – it will be that way again – daily WALKS with Jesus…
      • But we do not have to wait till then – we can come into His Throne room today!
      • Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace.”
    • New Covenant…
      • He will dwell with them – they shall be His people. God will be with them and be their God!
      • Because Jesus WILL be with us – we WILL be His people – and He WILL be our God…
      • This is a quote from a PROMISE given to Jeremiah!
      • Jeremiah 31:31-33 – “I will make a new covenant… I will put My law in their minds – and write it on They shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God!
      • their hearts. I will be their God – and they shall be My people.”
      • When Moses FIRST gave Israel the OLD Covenant – Exodus 20-23
      • They answered – ALL the WORD the Lord has said – we WILL do – Exodus 24:3
      • That was the right answer – but it was not the TRUTH – the people quickly rebelled…
      • Just FORTY days later they would make a GOLDEN CALF – Exodus 32
      • The NEW Covenant is NOT about what we have to DO – but what God DOES for us…
      • Because Jesus is LIVING with us – He can transform our hearts and give us new life…
      • As we come to Him – we are CHANGED – and we become His people!
  • 4^th – New Creation… vs. 4
    • God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
    • There shall be no more death – nor sorrow – nor crying – there shall be no more pain.
    • The former things have passed away!
    • We often hear this verse quoted to bring COMFORT…
    • When we get to HEAVEN – God will WIPE [ἐξαλείφω] away ALL [πᾶς] our TEARS…
    • Because we will no longer have loved ones DIE – or get SICK – or have PAIN…
    • But the source of those TEARS is not our suffering – it is our SIN!
    • Acts 3:19 – “Repent… that your sins may be wiped away [ἐξαλείφω].”
    • SIN – is what causes DEATH – Romans 6:23
    • SIN – that causes us so much SORROW and TEARS…
    • SIN – that causes PAIN – because we continually battle it – Galatians 5:17
    • But When we get to the NEW Jerusalem – where Jesus will LIVE with us…
    • We will NO longer have to deal with SIN – it will be WIPED away…
    • The person we used to be BEFORE [πρῶτος] will be gone – and we will be a NEW creation!
    • II Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away – behold all things have become new.”
• 2^nd – New Life… vs. 5–6
  • 1^st – Faithful words… vs. 5-6
    • No Entropy…
      • Then He who sat on the throne said – Behold I make all things new.
      • And He said to me – Write for these words are true and faithful!
      • Then the one who sat on the throne SAID – the WORD of God [λόγος] – Jesus…
      • LOOK [imperative] – He is MAKING [present] all things NEW…
      • It was such an IMPORTANT statement – Jesus told John to WRITE it down!
      • There is a LAW of physics called the law of ENTROPY…
      • It states that all things go from ORDER to CHAOS…
      • If we CLEAN our house – a day later [less with kids] – and it is MESSY…
      • If we BUY anything NEW – it does not take long before it gets OLD!
      • But that will NOT be the case in the NEW Heaven and Earth…
      • The LAW of ENTROPY will be gone – Jesus will make all things continually [present] NEW…
      • And we know it is TRUE – because God who is FAITHFUL will do it!
    • Already done…
      • He said to me – It is done!
      • Jesus told John – it has already happened [γίνομαι]
      • Meaning in the MIND of God – this is not something to look forward to…
      • It is something He that has already taken place [perfect]
      • Because God – who sees the END from the BEGINNING – Isaiah 46:10
      • Having seen the END – knows this is what the NEW world will be like!
      • Imagine a world where we buy something once – and never have to buy it again…
      • A world where our bodies NEVER grow old – they are ALWAYS new…
      • Even though we live in a world defined by DEATH…
      • We can be confident the NEW world will be defined by LIFE!
    • First and Last…
      • I am the Alpha and the Omega – the Beginning and the End.
      • For the THIRD time Revelation Jesus uses the title – the ALPHA [Α] and OMEGA [Ω]
      • These are the FIRST and LAST letters of the GREEK alphabet…
      • But it turns out this is NOT a new title – is a VERY old one!
      • Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
      • There are TWO letters that sit untranslated next to the word GOD [אֱלֹהִים] – the [אֵ] and the [ת]
      • They are the FIRST and LAST letter of the HEBREW alphabet!
      • The God who CREATED all things in the BEGINNING – is the same God who will be there in the END…
      • He is the ONE who always has been – and always will be TRUE!
  • 2^nd – The Fountain… vs. 6
    • I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts!
    • Jesus has a FOUNTAIN in the NEW world – for anyone who is THIRSTY…
    • We are all made up of THREE parts – BODY – MIND – and SPIRIT – I Thessalonians 5:23
    • Our BODY thirst for WATER – we need it to survive physically…
    • Our MIND thirsts for RELATIONSHIPS – we need it to survive emotionally…
    • Our SPIRIT thirsts for JESUS – we need Him to survive spiritually…
    • People often try and quench SPIRITUAL thirst – with PHYSICAL or RELATIONAL things!
    • How many times have we SEEN something and thought – this will make me be HAPPY…
    • It might be a new GADGET – or OUTFIT – or e new PERSON…
    • And when we get what we WANTED we are happy for a moment – but it does NOT last…
    • When we try and drink the WRONG water – we get thirsty again!
    • John 4:13 – “Whoever drinks of this water [from the world] will thirst again…”
    • We were not CREATED by God to be FULFILLED by the things of this world…
    • We were CREATED by God to KNOW Him – WORSHIP Him – John 17:3
    • And only when we use our life for the purpose God intended for it – are we SATISFIED…
    • The GOOD news is the fountain of LIFE is available to all to FREELY drink from!
    • John 4:14 – “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.”
• 3^rd – The Choice… vs. 7-8
  • 1^st – The Inheritance… vs. 7
    • The Victory…
      • He who overcomes!
      • This same statement Jesus gave to all SEVEN churches…
      • There were a variety of REWARDS described – but all with the same CONDITION…
      • OVERCOME [νικάω] – to those who have VICTORY [present]
      • How do we have VICTORY over SIN over DEATH…
      • I Corinthians 15:57 – “God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
    • The Reward…
      • Shall inherit all things – and I will be his God and he shall be My son!
      • The REWARD we get for having VICTORY over SIN…
      • God will give us ALL [πᾶς] things – because we become His CHILDREN…
      • Romans 8:15 – “[We] received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out – Abba – Father.”
      • When we were in Israel – I heard little kids running after their dads – crying out ABBA…
      • It is an extremely intimate and personal title – like PAPA!
      • And our ABBA [Ἀββᾶ] does not want to give us just what we need…
      • He will give us His whole KINGDOM – bless us beyond imagination – I Corinthians 2:9
      • Because we have become HEIRS [κληρονομέω] to all that God has – Romans 8:17
      • To the extent we will even sit on Jesus throne with Him – Revelation 3:21
      • God does not just provide for our needs – He will give us EVERYTHING!
      • Luke 12:32 – “It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
  • 2^nd – The Second Death… vs. 8
    • The List…
      • BUT – sadly there is a SECOND option for what will happen in ETERNITY…
      • John is given a PARTIAL list [not exhaustive] of who will NOT be in the NEW world!
    • Spiritually…
      • COWARDLY – those who DOUBT the Word of God [disciples in the storm] – Matthew 8:26
      • UNBELIEVING [ἄπιστος] – anyone who does NOT have FAITH in Jesus…
      • ABOMINABLE – the word means to STINK – spiritually corrupt!
      • This is the most important part of this list – because it means a REJECTION of Jesus…
      • Those who do NOT believe the BIBLE – are NOT going to believe in Jesus…
      • As a RESULT – they will STINK spiritually before the LORD!
    • Practically…
      • MURDERER – those who kill – or even HATE others – Matthew 5:22
      • SEXUALLY immoral [πόρνος] – any act outside of marriage – I Thessalonians 4:3
      • SORCERERS [φαρμακεύς] – those who use DRUGS
      • IDOLATERS – anyone who puts something in life before Jesus – Exodus 20:3
      • All [πᾶς] LIARS – this is where the list get convicting!
      • We might ask – how many LIES does it take to make us a LIAR…
      • Well – how many MURDERS does it take to make us a MURDER…
      • The point being – we have ALL told a LIE – so we are ALL liars!
      • This LIST is NOT even complete – it is just a partial list of SINS…
      • Yet even this LIST make it look BAD – because we are ALL guilty of at least one…
      • But we must remember – it is NOT about what we have DONE – but what God DID…
      • When God looks down at us He does NOT see our SINS – He sees Jesus!
      • Hebrews 10:17 – “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
    • Fire and Brimstone…
      • [They] shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone
      • Which is the second death!
      • We are ALL guilty sinners who deserve the Lake of Fire…
      • But we ALL have the opportunity to put our FAITH in Jesus and be FORGIVEN…
      • Where we will spend ETERNITY hangs on that ONE decision…
      • Either we will get what we DESERVE – and end up in the LAKE of FIRE…
      • Or we will be given GRACE – and get to cry out ABBA Father – in a NEW world!