Lesson 67

Revelation  - Study of Things to Come

New Heavens and the New Earth  - Chapter 21

Review:

 

 

20:14-15   The Consequence of this last judgment.

* It is final and it is eternal. 

 

- The second death;  seen in vs:14  This is the eternal state for UB.

 

* All of man's works, have been trotted out, all those things that mankind figured were sufficient to get them to heaven, that would satisfy God; but when it is all said and done it comes down to one thing;

 

It is not the presence or absence of works that ultimately dooms them; its the absence of their name in the book of life, and in the Lamb's book of life that dooms them to the LOF for eternity.

 

 

21:1 - 22:5 gives us some details of the Eternal State

Introduction:

1. Human history begins in a garden and ends in a city that is like a garden paradise.

 

What began in Genesis is brought to completion in Revelation!

                     Genesis                                      Revelation

a. Heavens and earth created          New heavens and a new earth

1:1                                            21:1

b. Sun is created  1:16 (moon)        No need of the sun. 21:23

c. The night is established  1:5        No night there! 22:5                     

d. The seas are created; 1:10          No more seas;  21:1

e. The curse announced, realized     No more curse; 22:3

3:19

f. Death enters human history         No more death;  21:4

g. Sorrow and pain begin; 3:17       No more tears and pain; 21:4

 

2. There are 3 things that we can put behind us or rule out as being a part of our Eternal future!

a. The administration of human government; no more bureaucracies.

 

b. Presence of Satan and his demons; now in LOF.

 

c. The very existence of sin and evil has ceased, sin nature is gone.

 

3. Our Eternal destiny is taught 2 ways:

a. In terms of a place; primarily in Rev 21.

b. In terms of an association; that is with our Savior.

c. In terms of association: Jn 14:2-3 [actually a blend of both];

2 Cor 5:6-8; Col 3:4; 1 Ths 4:17;  John 17:24

 

4. Outline:

a. 21:1-8  The Passing of the Old or First things;  All things are new!

b. 21:9-27 The description of the New Jerusalem; Eternal dwelling.

c. 22:1-5  The Blessings of Living in the New Eternal City.

 

21:1  Passing of the Old!  The Arrival of the New!

1. The New Order is the eternal order!

- "new" kainoj  = new in quality and character; not a remaking of the old but an all new creation.

 

 

2. Notice a major change in the new earth.  "and there is no longer any sea."

- There is a river flowing out of the New Jerusalem. 22:1

- "made ready"  (perf. pass. ptc. e`toima,zw)  to make or to prepare; but in the perfect tense it indicates "to have been prepared and to stand ready."

 

21:2 The New Jerusalem!

- Its source: coming down, descending, out of heaven; from God,  avpo,  from the ultimate source of God;

 

- "made ready"  (perf. pass. ptc. e`toima,zw)  to make or to prepare; but in the perfect tense it indicates "to have been prepared and to stand ready."

 

21:3  The presence of God is in this city! 

The most important aspect of this city is what we find in vs:3

 

The fact that it is a mega voice, connotes that the subsequent revelation is important and authoritative.

 

 

* The Bible record of the dwelling with or tabernacling of God with men down thru history is an interesting one.

1. In the Garden, daily God walked with Adam and Eve, in the cool of the day.

2. Then He dwelt with Israel in the tabernacle, and then later in the Temple.

When Israel sinned, God departed from the dwelling, separated from them.

3. Jesus in the first advent is said to "dwell among us." Jn 1:14

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us."

4. Today, in the Church age, God does not dwell in man-made temples but in the bodies of believers, His people, 1 Cor 6:19-20; and        corporately in the Church, Eph 2:21-22.

 

* In both the Tabernacle and the Temple, there was a veil that stood between God and men.

 

* This confirms the work of Christ as mediator; He has successfully brought God and man together.

 

   * What is it going to be like there? What are the conditions?