--Now that the old has been done away, John is given understanding of the new--

-THE conclusion-
-REV. 21:1-8-

-The Scriptures-

Revelation 21

-The Scriptures with our comments-
(Because of its length, we've divided the conclusion into two parts—simply so that it will download faster.)

Revelation 21:
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.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away... This agrees with the prophecies given to the Apostle Peter.

2 Peter 3:
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.

It is easy to understand how that God will want to destroy the old earth which had been so devastated by sin, but what is meant by the term(s) "heaven" and "heavens" in these two passages just read? Are they referring to heaven—the home of the angels, or to heaven—the galaxies of the universe? [Neither the Vines N. T. Expository Dictionary nor the Strong's Lexicon give us help—stating that it could apply to either of the heavens.] Prior to 1969, the home of the angels, which had obviously been tainted by Lucifer / Satan’s presence, was probably the first choice. After all, as far as we know, the galaxies have been free of sin. So, why should God destroy the galaxies unless He just wanted new ones? [He did "speak" the first ones into existence; therefore, it would be no big thing for Him to speak up another bunch.] However, since man’s walk on the moon in 1969, mankind looks at the Galaxies differently. Now, as we've heard so often in the popular Star Trek series, space is our final frontier; and as any Sci-fi addict can tell you, man has definitely "imagined" traveling in and conquering the galaxies of space. (cf. Genesis 11:6 "And the LORD said, Behold, the people [is] one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.) Consequently, if Jesus delays His coming long enough, man will go into space; and wherever he goes, he has no choice but to take his fallen nature with him. And once again, he will do his "taint" thing. However, I don’t feel that the Lord’s Return is that far off. Nevertheless, the thought does come that during the Kingdom Age, when longevity will be reinstalled and people will live for centuries, perhaps one of man's goals during the 1,000 years of that age might very well be to conquer the galaxies. After all, God made us so that we need challenges to thrive on and it probably won’t take long for the inhabitants of the Kingdom Age to meet all the challenges that remain on this earth. Furthermore, if the things of space follow the pattern established on the earth, we’ll explore until we find the unknown and then explore further until we understand and use them. Moreover, if it is the Lord’s will for man to explore and conquer the heavens that He has created, then He has laid out for mankind a tremendous task. But remember, He will be here during the next age as the Ruler of the earth to assist them in that task.

But that's enough speculation. For sure we are told that the first heaven / heavens (whatever they are) and the first earth will have been destroyed with fire and that all those who had made and loved a lie will have been cast into the lake of fire to burn forever and ever. We are also given some particulars of the "new beginnings." In the new heaven and the new earth there will be no curses, no deterioration set in motion, and no need to make our living by the sweat of our brow—if we feel up to it or not. We'll encounter none of the works of the flesh, only the fruit of the Spirit. And our fellowship with God and with our brethren will be uninterrupted and without frustration.

...and there was no more sea. In the prophetic language of the Bible, the sea is the multitude of people who are lost to God but who still have opportunity to accept Him in His Son. However, because everyone will have already made their decision as to where they will spend eternity, there will be no such lost masses.

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.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem... The antitype (the fulfilling of  these terms as types) is the Church, the "true" of both Israel and the Grace-Age church which at this time will be one.

Eph. 2:15
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

The spiritual application here is the Body of Christ (each piece fitly joined [Eph. 4:16]): i.e., His Bride, the Church. We read of this city in Hebrews:

(Heb. 11:8-10)
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God"

...coming down from God out of heaven... This city is coming down from where? to what? This verse blows the cover off of one of Satan's biggest lies— and he has a bunch of them. (One of his favorite and most successful lies of the present age has been the image of himself as a cute little figure in red pajamas with horns and a pitchfork, when in truth he is the father of lies, thievery, and murder — who wants as many of Adam's posterity as possible in the flames of torment with himself and his fellow, fallen angels. More of his successful lies have to do with the image he has painted of the Church. Rather than a body of believers who experience the joy and wonder of the Lord, he wants the world to see the Church as a stagnant thing full of the doldrums and pitiful piety, associated with ancient, moldy buildings, or as a bunch of silly acting, unstable individuals, or as a crowd of strict hypocrites without love and mercy who do worse than what they condemn others of doing. AND OF LATE, THE CHURCH HASN'T DONE MUCH TO REFUTE THESE LIES!) But the lie that this verse brings to light is the devil's image of the eternal lot of the believer. Satan has twisted the Scriptures to say that the Church will spend an eternity of boredom in heaven, doing nothing but singing boring songs and bowing up and down in front of some big throne on which sits an egotistical God that has to be told how great He is. BUT NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! In this verse, we see the Church coming down from heaven (the third heaven, the home of God [II Cor 12:2]) to the new heaven and new earth. (Granted, for us to visualize this is impossible in our present state, but to me the new earth will be more like a new Garden of Eden— not one of innocence to be tested, but one of perfection wherein God will come and fellowship with us in the cool of the evening— rather than some place in the clouds where a multitude of robot-like beings dressed in white, with vacant eyes and empty minds, endlessly repeat empty chants.)

...prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Remember, one day with the Lord is as a thousand years; so, the Lamb and His Bride will still be newly weds. In fact, there will be no time continuum in heaven; so, the "bride state" will remain forever.

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.

A great voice heralding good news. In this life, the Church had been given the presence of the Holy Spirit as a foretaste of what awaits it in the life to come, being the temple of the Holy Ghost (I Cor. 6:19). But at this point in time (Whoops! Excuse the slip—for time will be no more!), the believers will "know" the Holy Spirit in His fullness; and they will be occupying their individual mansions in their Father's house (cf. John 17:11-26).

John 14:
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 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.
3 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.

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.

That is, all that Adam set in motion with his disobedience shall be undone. Our "walk with God" will be perfect. Adam's walk in the Garden was only in innocence, but because of what Christ did for us on the cross, ours will be in perfection. When this comes about, we will know as we are known — having complete understanding. We will no longer have a devil to tempt us; and even if we did, we would not be enticed for we will no longer have a fallen nature within us. In addition, we will no longer have mortal bodies that are subject to frailties, pain, the "lusts of the flesh," destruction, and the like—all of which bring the tears—but we will have put on our immortality and be clothed with indestructible bodies that will not be of flesh and blood, but spirit.

I Cor. 15:
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

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.

The speaker changes—Christ is now talking. And note that He doesn't say that He will make all things different, but all things new. Undoubtedly there will be many things unlike the things with which we're familiar in this life, but does that mean that on the new earth, there will be nothing similar to the old? We say we have a new coat—that our old one was worn out. Does that mean that our new coat is no longer a coat? hmmm! (I know that there is a teaching that, like at the time of the flood, the earth will have been cleansed by fire so that it can have a new start; but I reject this teaching since it doesn't have any explanation of the "new heaven." Remember, Jesus "spoke" the first existence into being, so it will be no big deal for Him to speak up another one.) By the way, except for this reference to making "all things new," there is no reference to the new earth or the new heavens in chapters 21 and 22. For the most part, these two chapters are talking about the two churches and the Christ that dwells in their midst.

6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end... Lest there be any doubt as to Who is talking, Christ identifies Himself with some titles that apply to Him as the Creator: i.e., "Alpha and Omega" and "the Beginning and the End." In this passage dealing with the new heaven and new earth, these title are appropriate; for not only did He create and destroy the first heaven and earth (Eph. 2:10; Col. 1:16), but He will have just finished creating the new heaven and the new earth.

I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. This statement alludes to one of His titles that had to do with His death on the cross: i.e., —the "Rock" of the ages that was smitten (Isa. 53:4) so that a fountain (Deut. 8:15; Psa 105:41) might be opened where living waters (cf. Zec 14:8) can flow to believers. Also, if we couple the wording of this statement with our Lord's "it is done," right above it, we're reminded of a similar statement that He uttered while hanging between heaven and earth on the cross.

John 19:
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put [it] upon hyssop, and put [it] to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

When Jesus said "It is finished" as He hung on the cross, He was referring to the work that only He could do; i.e., the sacrificial death of One without sin that would make forgiveness of sin possible and that would make eternal life available to all who believe John 3:16.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Cf.
John 7:38
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

When Jesus says "it is done" as per our study of Revelation, He will be speaking of his finished work of the new heaven and the new earth..

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

He that overcometh...

I Jn. 2:
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
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.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

...shall inherit all things

Rom 8:
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
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.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

...and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. This verse can mean many things to many people, depending upon their understanding of just Who God is. Is He their Creator? Is He the awesome power that sustains the universe? Is He the Judge of men and angels?--or is He their Father? A story comes to mind at this time.

A young lawbreaker stood fearfully in front of the austere, frowning magistrate--knowing that he was guilty as accused and that the judge would give him the maximum sentence of the law--when all of a sudden, a young boy who had slipped from his mother, came bursting into the court room.

"Daddy! Daddy!" He cried as he came running up to the Judge.

A smile split the judge's face. "What are you doing here, son?" he said as he put his arm around the boy.

At that moment, a flustered, embarrassed woman came into the courtroom looking for her son. She muttered her apologies and took him out the back way.

The point of the story?--to the young lawbreaker, this man was a dreaded authority of the law, one to be feared and respected lest his wrath be incurred. To the other youngster, he was a dad who provided all of his needs, who tutored him in those things that are needful, and one who found time to play and fellowship with his pride and joy.

How is the Christian (a son of God [Rom 8:14; Rom. 8:19; Heb. 2:10] ) to relate to his God / Father? Well, again, this will vary; but we do have some Scripture dealing with the relationship.

Gal. 4:6
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Luke 15:
3 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed `him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Mt. 6:
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Of course, if a son has made a mess or torn up something he shouldn't have, he won't run to his father with joy, expecting joy in return. He knows that he has messed up and that he will have to "fess up" to what he has done. But this doesn't mean that he expects his father to sentence him to jail or to death by hanging. He knows that after his father has chastised him, their fellowship will be restored. However, even in the natural, if a son is persistent in disobedience, the father is grieved and has no joy in what his son does. The Scripture for the believer who makes a mess at times (and that includes us all) is given to us by the beloved Apostle John.

I John 1:
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The Scripture concerning the believer who is persistent in his folly, however, is found in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. Note also that the local body is given the prayer power to deal with his obstinacy.

I Co. 5:
1 It is reported commonly [that there is] fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, [concerning] him that hath so done this deed,
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

All of these adjectives describe those who are not sons of God. And this verse reiterates their end: i.e, eternal torment with the devil and his angels. Their final plight is also called the "second death," the "first death," of course, being the death of the body which holds sway over all of the seed of Adam.

Heb. 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

As the Bible stresses in several places, the judgments of the unbelievers and the believer are totally different. The judgment of the believers of our age (?and  all ages up to ours?) will be at the Judgment Seat of Christ and it will have to do with rewards or lack of rewards for those who have inherited eternal life. Obviously, the judgment for believers after our age will take place at another time(s), but probably with a similar criteria. The judgment for the unbelievers of all the ages, however, will be at the end of time as we know it, at the Great White Throne Judgment. It will be for those who steadfastly rejected their God in this life and thereby choose an eternity of separation from Him in the Lake of Fire. (For a thorough study of the judgments of the Bible, go the authors' book CLOCK OF THE AGES.)