![]() Those verses, along with verses 9 and 10 of this same chapter, and the rest of the NT, help us understand the symbolism employed here. If you recall, the last time we heard about this Bride, it was in 19:7, 8. That's what we see in verse 2: And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Lewis does an excellent job describing this connection and transformation in the last book of The Chronicles of Narnia, when the door is closed on the new Narnia as the faithful enter a new Narnia).Īnd so, if when Genesis 1:1 speaks of the creation of the heavens and the earth, it is preceded by God, then in the same way, the mention of a new heaven and earth in Revelation 21:1 must point us to the same God, the God who creates.Īnd He isn't simply the God who will create a new universe, He's the God who will create and is creating a people for himself. (Eugene Peterson)īut just as our mortal bodies will be transformed to be like the resurrected and glorified body of Jesus, I believe this heaven and this earth will not simply be replaced, but transformed into something new (C.S. The sin-ruined creation of Genesis is restored in the sacrifice-renewed creation of Revelation. Now it draws to an end, not quite so logically, also with a beginning. The biblical story began, quite logically, with a beginning. I like how the pastor and writer Eugene Peterson described this: Notice how the final section of the Bible takes us right back to the very first section of the Bible. Remember in the last chapter, when God came to judge humanity, we are told, From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. John picks up language from Isaiah 65 and 66 and describes the “new heaven” and “new earth” that God will create after this present heaven and earth pass away. We'll use these points to go verse by verse through this section.įirst of all, look back at verses 1 and 2. ![]() This morning in our time together in God's word, I'd like to show you seven truths this passage reveals about God. The Passage: “I am Making All Things New ” (21:1-8) These verses are all about God, from beginning to end. The central theme? The big idea? While many would tend to focus on our future home and the quality of life we will enjoy and our eternal vocation and all the juicy details of how it will all work, how can there be, in the end, any theme other than God. 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.” The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 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.” 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.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ![]() 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. ![]() What connects these verses together? This is what John writes. As I read through verses 1-8, think about the central theme of this passage. This is all we need to know about what is beyond the life and world we know beyond God's final victory beyond God's final judgment. As we open up this morning to Revelation 21, as we prepare to immerse ourselves in God's word to us in the opening verses of this chapter, we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of the final scene of the entire Bible. ![]()
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