The New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:1-8)
This sermon invites listeners to contemplate humanity's deepest longing for eternal life. It explores the Bible's ultimate vision of hope, freedom from suffering, and direct fellowship with God in a renewed creation.
This sermon explores the eternal state described in Revelation 21:1-8 and 2 Peter 3. It contrasts the world's destruction with heaven's unending joy for believers and warns of exclusion for the unrepentant.
Overview
The sermon begins by setting the stage for the eternal state described in the final chapters of Revelation, highlighting humanity's innate longing for eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11). It emphasizes that the present universe will be totally destroyed, or 'uncreated,' a concept reinforced by comparing Revelation 21:1 with 2 Peter 3:7, 10-13, which speaks of a coming firestorm that dissolves the elements.
The preacher then details the vision of the new heaven and new earth, with the New Jerusalem descending as its capital, signifying the supreme reality of God dwelling among His people. A significant portion of the sermon focuses on the dramatic 'changes' in this new creation, particularly a series of 'no mores'—no tears, death, mourning, crying, or pain—signifying the complete absence of human suffering and the passing away of 'the first things.'
God's declarations, "I am making all things new" and "It is done," mark the end of redemptive history, emphasizing God's sovereignty as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. This signifies an eternal state of unmitigated, unrestricted joy and perfection, where everything is eternally fresh and new.
Finally, the sermon clarifies who will reside in this glorious state: "the one who thirsts" for salvation and "he who overcomes" through faith in Jesus Christ, as defined by 1 John 5:4-5. In contrast, it warns about those who will be cast out—the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, immoral persons, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—whose end is the 'second death' in the lake of fire.
Key points
- The sermon introduces the eternal state from Revelation 21:1-8, paralleling the world's destruction in 2 Peter 3.
- A new heaven and new earth will replace the old, featuring the New Jerusalem as its capital, where God will dwell among men.
- The eternal state is characterized by the absence of all negative human experiences, including tears, death, mourning, crying, and pain.
- God declares, "I am making all things new" and "It is done," signifying the completion of redemptive history and the beginning of eternal perfection.
- Residents of heaven are identified as those who "thirst" for spiritual satisfaction and "overcome" through faith in Jesus Christ.
- Heaven will bring perfection of soul and a glorified body, marked by unmixed and unending joy.
- Those excluded from the new heaven and new earth include the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, immoral persons, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, whose destination is the lake of fire.
In John MacArthur's words
“The anticipation of heaven is the only reality that can make life here and now have any lasting meaning.”
“What it means is there never will be a tear in heaven, not one single tear.”
“The last enemy that will be abolished is death.”
Outline
- I. Introduction to the Eternal State (Revelation 21:1-8)
- A. The Destruction of the Present Universe (Revelation 21:1; 2 Peter 3)
- 1. The first heaven and earth pass away, becoming "uncreated."
- 2. Comparison with 2 Peter 3:7, 10-13 on the world's destruction by fire.
- 3. The "Day of the Lord" encompasses events before and after the Millennium.
- B. The Appearance of the New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:1)
- 1. A new kind/quality of creation without a sea.
- C. The Capital of the New Creation: New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2)
- 1. The holy city coming down from God, the dwelling place for the Father and all believers.
- D. The Supreme Reality: God Among Men (Revelation 21:3)
- 1. Fellowship with God as the central truth: "the tabernacle of God is among men."
- E. The Changes (Revelation 21:4-6)
- 1. A series of "no mores" or "no longers."
- a. No more tears.
- b. No more death.
- c. No more mourning or crying.
- d. No more pain.
- 2. "The first things have passed away."
- 3. "Behold, I am making all things new."
- 4. Divine affirmation: "Write, for these words are faithful and true."
- 5. "It is done": The end of redemptive history.
- 6. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end."
- F. The Residents (Revelation 21:6-7)
- 1. "The one who thirsts": Those who recognize their need for salvation (Isaiah 55:1, Matthew 5, John 4, John 7, Revelation 22:17).
- 2. "He who overcomes": Those who exercise faith in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:4-5, Revelation 2, 3, 7).
- 3. Perfection of soul and glorified body: freedom from evil and limits, new spiritual body like Christ's (Hebrews 12, Philippians 3:21, 1 John 3), characterized by unmixed and unending joy.
- G. The Outcasts (Revelation 21:8)
- 1. Those characterized by: cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, immoral persons, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars.
- 2. Their part: "the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
Scripture references
- Revelation 21:1-8
- Ecclesiastes 3:11
- Revelation 21:9
- 2 Peter 3:7
- 2 Peter 3:10-13
- Revelation 20
- 2 Peter 3:8
- Psalm 90:4
- 2 Peter 3:4-7
- Revelation 20:11
- Luke 21:33
- Revelation 3:14
- Revelation 19:11
- 1 Corinthians 15:24-27
- Revelation 1:8
- Revelation 22:13
- Isaiah 55:1-2
- Psalm 42:1-2
- John 4
- John 7
- Revelation 22:17
- Revelation 17:4
- Revelation 18:3
- 1 John 5:4-5
- Revelation 2:7
- Revelation 2:11
- Revelation 2:26
- Revelation 2:28
- Revelation 3:5
- Revelation 3:12
- Revelation 3:21
- 1 Peter 1:4
- Hebrews 12
- Revelation 21:27
- Revelation 22:14-15
- Revelation 7:15-17
- Matthew 25
- John 5:28-29
- Revelation 20:6
- Romans 8:23
- 2 Corinthians 5
- Philippians 3:21
- 1 Corinthians 15:35-37
- 1 John 3
- Genesis 17
- John 1:12
- John 8
- Romans 1:24-32
- Deuteronomy 18
- 1 Corinthians 6
- Galatians 5:19
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.
2 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.
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.
+ 4 more verses — Read Revelation of John 21 in full context →
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
9 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.
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
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.
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
+ 13 more verses — Read Revelation of John 20 in full context →
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 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:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
1 The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and his inheritance.
2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the Lord is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Insights
Life's ultimate meaning is found in the hope of future eternity.
God's final word includes a dramatic presentation of heaven's reality.
The absence of sorrow defines our future in a new creation.
Questions & answers
What is the 'eternal state' described in this sermon?
The eternal state is the final reality for believers, depicted in Revelation 21 and 22. It involves a new heaven and new earth, the New Jerusalem, and direct fellowship with God, free from all suffering.
What will not be present in the new heaven and new earth?
The new creation will be free from tears, death, mourning, crying, and pain. All 'first things' associated with this current fallen world will have passed away, ensuring absolute and eternal bliss.
Who are 'the one who thirsts' mentioned as residents of heaven?
These are people who recognize their spiritual need, who are not satisfied with worldly things, and who crave God's satisfaction with every part of their being, longing for the water of life.
Who are 'the overcomers' and what does it mean to overcome?
The sermon, referencing 1 John 5:4-5, explains that 'overcomers' are those who are born of God and believe that Jesus is the Son of God. This faith in Christ and His gospel enables them to overcome the world.
What will our bodies and souls be like in heaven?
In heaven, our souls will be perfected, free from all evil, limits, and imperfections. We will also receive a glorified, spiritual body, unique and incorruptible, like Christ's resurrection body, fit for eternal joy.
Who is excluded from the new heaven and new earth?
Those excluded are characterized by lives of persistent unrighteousness, including the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, immoral persons, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars. Their ultimate destination is the lake of fire, which is the second death.
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