Chapter 21
Before we begin our study of the New Heaven and New Earth, we need to understand that some of the Old Testament prophets saw the time of Christ’s reign on earth as a continual reign from the time He returns and begins his rule during the thousand -year reign all through eternity. It is one time period divided into two distinct parts, the first thousand years and eternity.
We have already seen the first portion of 1,000 years, and tonight we will look at the second period, eternity, timeless and endless.
1. The new heaven and new earth.
Verse 1 “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.”
The fact that there will be no more sea doesn’t mean there will not be bodies of water. It simply means that seas and oceans will no longer divide the lands.
This does not necessarily mean no large bodies of water, but that the oceans and seas will no longer exist, so there will not be any tsunamis or hurricanes. No El Nino or El Nina to affect our weather. No thorns or thistles. That was part of the curse which has been removed. These are just a few of the many wonderful things God has planned for this new earth and new heaven.
There will be one large body of land. Today we understand that according to Google Search the oceans make up 71% of the earth’s surface. If all that area were dry land there would be plenty of room for all the redeemed to live very comfortably. There will still be lakes, rivers, ponds and streams.
In my study I found much discussion and disagreement over whether the old heaven and the old earth were completely demolished and no longer exist and a totally new heaven and earth created or whether they are just renovated by fire.
A few references are found in Scripture in relation to the new earth, including Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; and 2 Peter 3:10–13.
Isaiah 65:17 tells us this; “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered; nor come into mind.”
Isaiah 66:22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, So shall your seed and your name remain.”
And one that we are more familiar with 2 Peter 3:9-14 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Do these verses speak of total destruction and replacement of this earth or the renovation of it?
There are probably as many good arguments for each way, and as many bible scholars expounding each way. I cannot say for sure which way it will be, but at this point in time it does not matter. God will take care of that in His way and time. Whether it is a totally new heaven and earth or this one just renovated it will be new to us and be a perfect place to be for all eternity.
All the powers of evil will have been expelled from the earth and imprisoned in the Lake of Fire forever. The atmosphere of the new earth will have no place for germs or disease, because there will be no sickness or death. The heavens shall not move themselves in angry storms or flash with thunderbolts. There will no longer be hail, snowstorms and blizzards or ice storms, no draught or flooding. As in the Garden of Eden, there will be a mist go up from the ground to water the earth. There will be no more seas.
2. The new Jerusalem
Verses 2 and 3
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband 3 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.”
Not only does God create a new heaven and a new earth for His redeemed people, but He also creates a new city for us to inhabit.
We will look at this city in more depth beginning with verse 9. But to give a fore view I want to say a few things about this city.
I have often wondered about the heaven that our departed loved ones in the Lord are in. Surely it is not the same place that Satan has access to. Nor just as surely it is not the same place that we know that there is a spiritual warfare being waged. If that were the case, how could it be a place of perfect peace and tranquility?
I want to offer a thought that I have about this New Jerusalem.
In John 14:1-3 we read “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.”
So, rather, I believe that Jesus on returning to heaven created the New Jerusalem for these people that die in the Lord. After creating this new city, He would have called up the saints from the Old Testament to live in this new city or paradise.
These three verses are very familiar with most Christians and we hold onto them dearly. They are our promise that someday we will be with Jesus in our specially prepared place just for us.
Comparing these three verses with the first two verses of chapter 21 of Revelation the thought occurred to me that when Jesus ascended to heaven to prepare for us a place, He has already finished that work. If John saw a new heaven and a new earth descending from heaven, then it must have been in heaven before descending.
And He will live there as well. We will finally get to see the face of God. We will at last be able to feel His presence in the most intimate way.
This place then would have been off limits to anything that defiles (verse 27). As we shall see the walls and the gates will prevent anything that defiles to enter. These walls and gates are for the present heaven, not this eternal city.
The old Jerusalem that we know today and will still be in existence during the millennial reign of Christ, it is pock-marked by the ravages of centuries of wars. It has been polluted by commercialism and idolatry from the Catholic Church and Islamists.
Many of the sacred places have been turned into meccas of commercialism by people that are interested only in wealth. Much of the city has been destroyed by Islamic radicals that only want to erase any evidence of a historical Jewish ownership or any trace of Christian history. The New Jerusalem will change all of that. It will be what God desired it to be all along, a holy city, entirely given and devoted to Him. The city of Jerusalem will finally be realized on earth in all of its beauty and perfection.
This New Jerusalem, the holy city, will be the capitol of the new heaven and new earth. It will not be the only place on earth to live but it will be the center piece of God’s new creation. It doesn’t say that only the bride will live there, even though there may be many bible commentators that believe that it is only for the church age saints, but only that it will be adorned as a bride for her husband.
As we shall see later, this could not be for only the Church age saints.
The term “adorned” is how she will be dressed. This dressing is known to us by the way God builds it. We will study the New Jerusalem in verses.9-27 where the details are given.
The fact that John saw the city descend from heaven makes it clear that it was in heaven first.
2. The New People
Verses 3 thru 8
How will this new earth and new heaven affect us?
Verse 3. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he swill dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall live with them, and be their God.”
The first thing that we note is that we will be in the presence of God our Creator. While we understand that our God is everywhere at all times and that we are living in His presence daily, this verse shows us that it will be a more intimate relationship. We will be able to see the very face of God as the angels do.
We also know that God dwelt in the Old Testament tabernacle by His Shekinah glory. But no man with the possible exception of Moses saw His face, and probably not him as well. We will experience all the joy, love and satisfaction that comes with this new intimate relationship. We today do experience a level of joy, satisfaction and love but it will not compare with what is to come.
Verse 4
“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.
(a) God will do away with all tears, sorrow, crying, death and pain. There will be no sorrow there. We will be a happy, rejoiceful and satisfied people.
(b) There will be no pain. In our glorified bodies there will be no physical pain such as arthritis, no emotional pain like losing a loved one to death or divorce. There will be no disappointment due to loved ones failing expectations. There will be no pain of Spiritual failures. No more missing the mark or falling short of God’s plan for our lives. In eternity saints will enjoy a new intimacy with God which is impossible in a world where sin and death are still present.
(c). Former things have passed away. All of those things are of a past life and will no longer exist. All of these came into the world through sin (Genesis 3), but now the curse is removed.
A new people for a new creation and a new eternal life. “Behold, I make all things new.”
Some have wondered if grief and sorrow will exist for a while in heaven and then be done away with here at the establishing of the new order. It is better to understand this passage as saying that heaven will have none of the features that so characterize the present earth. We experience much pain, suffering, and tears in this life; we understand that in the heaven as we know it now, there is no pain, suffering or tears, the question is why would God bring us back to what He had delivered us from?
(d) Verse 5
“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”.
How dare people, especially those that profess to be Christian doubt or dismiss the written word
They are true. This means that there is no error, or room for mistake or misunderstanding. They are true, final, without doubt or controversy.
They are faithful. They can be completely relied on. They are faithful to us, so we must be faithful to them.
In our society today, we do not often take men at their word, we want it in writing. We now have the written word of God to evidence our faith in Jesus. We do not have “pie in the sky,” we have it in writing. God has set His seal and attests to it. It will be a secure, safe and free from anything that would defile it.
(e) Verse 6.
“And he said unto me, It is done; God has completed His plan for mankind forever. He guaranteed this by His own power, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” He is the eternal God, that spoke into existence everything that has been created. He is all power, all knowledge, all justice and mercy, everywhere present, sinless perfection. I believe that when God says “It is done” He is not saying that there will be no more work to do; He is saying that the new heaven and the new earth are completed. The same Greek word as in Revelation 16:17. “It is come to pass.” All is as sure as if it actually had been fulfilled for it rests on the word of the unchanging God. When the consummation shall be, God shall rejoice over the work of His own hands, as at the completion of the first creation God saw everything that He had made, and behold it was very good (Genesis 1:31).
(f) . I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” This verse does not imply that in our glorified bodies we will thirst, but rather that people today and down through the ages into the future, anyone that wants to drink of the water of life and receive eternal life, will have their thirst satisfied.
John 4:10 “Jesus answered and said unto her, if thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water.”
Those who are thirsty are promised that they will be able to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. Apparently, this refers not to physical thirst but to a desire for spiritual blessings. Our glorified bodies will not need water so it will not get thirsty, but there will always be a spiritual thirst among God’s people. Every need shall be met.
Verse 7
He that overcometh shall inherit all things: and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Christ explained that he who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be My son. This expresses the intimate relationship between the saints and God in the eternal state. We who are saved enjoy the privilege of sons and daughters and do have the promise of being children of God and joint heirs with Christ; Romans.8:17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” But this is a promise, when we reach the promised city, the promise will be realized fully.
The question often arises, Who, will be the overcomers? This is a fair question, seeing that the scriptures make a clear distinction between the overcomers and those that are not. Their character is altogether different. So, for the answer we again look to the scriptures.
Jesus said in John. 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” So, we know from this that Jesus has overcome the world. We also see in 1John.2:13 “I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.” That those that know and have known Jesus have overcome the wicked one, the devil. This means that the devil has no authority over the one who knows Jesus as Savior.
Then we see in 1 John.4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” The child of God is an over-comer because he or she possesses the Holy Spirit. John goes on to nail down all of this in 1 John.5:4-5 where we read, “ For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.”
So, we can see from scripture that all saved people are overcomers in Christ.
(g) We will inherit all things. Heaven itself will be our inheritance. All the glory that God crowns heaven with will be ours as well.
There is also a promise in a warning to those who are rejecting Christ and His salvation.
Verse 8 gives us a short list of those who reject Christ. It is not a full list because it isn’t their sins that condemn them, it is their rejection and indifference to the gospel. All who do so are doomed to the lake of fire that burns with brimstone. What a solemn warning!
The “fearful: The fearful stands in contrast to those who possess boldness at the appearing of Christ on the earth.1 John 2:28 says; “And now little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
Faithless; these are they that did not respond to the gospel message when it was given to them so that they are of no faith.
Abominable: those who have drank of the harlot’s cup of abominations.
Sorcerers: The Greek word used here is “pharmakea” and it means druggies. They would not repent of their drug usage or dealings; Revelation 9:21 “Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” Now they have all eternity to regret their foolish decision.
All liars: This is probably referring to those in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.
This is speaking specifically of those that are knowingly preaching and teaching a false doctrine of salvation.
The New Jerusalem and its glory verses 9-27.
This same angel who had shown John Babylon the harlot, is appropriately allowed to show him in contrast new Jerusalem, the Bride. The angel so employed is the one that had the last seven plagues, to show that the ultimate blessedness of the Church is one end of the divine judgments on her foes.
Next, we get a grand tour of our new heavenly home that Jesus went back to prepare for us.
If this doesn’t make you yearn for heaven, and make you desire to live a life that is most pleasing to the Lord, nothing will. Every soul that has lived since Jesus has been given a choice on whether they want to live in the Devils Lake of Fire forever or live in the New Jerusalem with Jesus forever. However, not everyone is aware of that choice. That is the purpose of the church, to present them with the gospel of salvation and the consequences of their choice.
In verses 9-11 we get an overall glimpse of the New Jerusalem.
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Human minds cannot grasp the glory and magnificence of what the Apostle John was privileged to see. I know we have the words here in this portion of scripture, but they do not do justice to what will be seen.
Many people have a hard time understanding if this is a city or a group of people. It is best to understand these verses in the context of both. It is a literal city but also adorned as a bride, the Lamb’s wife. A city is more than its structures, it is also the citizens. The picture here is that this city is glowing with the Shekinah Glory of God (having the glory of God).
The overall impression of the city as a gigantic brilliant jewel compared to jasper, clear as crystal indicates its great beauty. John was trying to describe what he saw and to relate it to what might be familiar to his readers. However, it is evident that his revelation transcends anything that can be experienced in this life.
The jasper stone known today is opaque and not clear. It is found in various colors, and John apparently was referring to the beauty of the stone rather than to its particular characteristics. Today one might describe that city as a beautifully cut diamond, a stone not known as a jewel in the first century.
When we think of walls in the Bible, we often think of protection. However, these walls are not for protection or separation. There will not be anything that will threaten the security or safety of any of the inhabitants. They are not for keeping anyone in or out, the gates will be open eternally (verse 25).
The walls are there for a twofold purpose:
1. The walls are for a memorial, and honoring considerations. It will be built on twelve foundations and have twelve gates. Each gate will be named in honor and in memorial for the twelve sons of Jacob (verses 12-13).
Verses 12-13
And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and the names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
For some people, this verse is an enigma. There are some commentators that believe that the New Jerusalem is for the church age saints only. However, if there are no Old Testament saints present in the New Jerusalem why name a gate after someone that is not entitled to enter?
No, the Old Testament saints will be there rejoicing with us for eternity.
Listen to what the writer of the book of Hebrews says in verses 7-16 of chapter 11 (have people turn there in their bibles and follow along). Notice particularly verse 16 “But now they desire a better country, that is an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
We know from this chapter in Hebrews that all of these named, and many more came by faith, the same way we came. They came by faith in the future promises of God, we came by faith in the past promises of the same God.
2. They are for boundaries. The city itself will sit on an area 1,500 miles square and 1,500 miles high (Google search).
Verses 15-17 The measuring of the city and the wall surrounding it.
“And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof.
And the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, and hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that, is of the angel.”
That would mean a city that would stretch from Maine to Florida. It would be that big of a square. It would also be the same height. Sound impossible? We have read many things in this book of Revelation that sounds impossible, but we need to remember that we are doubting the very God that called everything into existence. If we had been there we would have thought it impossible to make something out of nothing. The Lord God created the earth with a diameter of nearly 8,000 miles, along with all the universe as well. We need to stop thinking in terms of our own understanding and knowledge and just take God’s word. If He said it, He can perform it.
More about this in later verses.
But now we are looking at the wall surrounding this magnificent city.
Verses 14
“And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” The foundations or floors as we refer to them will be to honor and memorialize the twelve apostles.
The measuring of the walls, verse 17
“And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is of the angel. That would be to a height of 216 feet.
The walls are made of a substance like jasper, and the entire city was pure gold, like clear glass verse 18
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
Each foundation or floor is made of a different precious stone.
Verses 19 and 20
“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Each gate was a giant pearl
Verse 21
“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”
Each gate had an angel that was posted there, again not for protection or to make sure no one entered that didn’t belong, but for the glory of God. There are angels in heaven at this moment before the throne only for His glory (verse 12).
The street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass (verse 21)
There are some things that this new city will be without:
No temple: The Lord Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it
Verse 22
“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.”
It will be the Lord God and the Lamb that we will worship, not a place like a temple.
No sun or the moon;
Verse 23
“And the city had no need of the sun neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
The Shekinah Glory will be the light of the city in the person of Jesus.
Allow me to try to engage your minds for a moment or two. Think of what the Apostle John must have felt when he saw this magnificent city coming down from heaven; reaching twelve hundred miles in the sky; twelve hundred miles square; a wall around it 216 feet high with twelve foundations each made of a different gem. He saw that there were twelve gates and each one was made of one giant pearl. The whole city was constructed of pure gold refined to be clear as glass. It shined with the glory of God. It could be seen throughout the universe. There was no light to shine on it, but there was a magnificent light shining through it from the inside. No doubt John marveled and was humbled at the fact that this was going to be his home forever. We should have the same feelings in our soul as we read these verses. We are so unworthy, we owe it all to Jesus and what He provided for us on the cross. “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.”
Who will have access to this new city
Verses 24 thru 26
“And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. 25 “And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26 “And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.”
These are the sheep nations that have come through the tribulation and millennial time periods and have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The word “nations” is the word simply means any person that is not Jewish; and all of those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (verse 27).
Verse 27
“And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth; neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lambs’ book of life.”
This verse is not posing the possibility that there could be an invasion of evil, quite the opposite, all evil doers will be gone and confined to the Lake of Fire, that is the reason for their absence.