16/08/2023 Wednesday
The Revelation
Study of John’s Revelation
Chapter 21
Chapter 21 – New Heaven & Earth
In Eternity We will be in a New Creation (v.1)
The present earth and atmospheric heaven will be gone.
In the opening statement of this chapter, John confirms for us the reality of the
destruction of the earth and atmospheric heavens (2 Peter 3:10-11, Revelation 20:11). This
destruction will be powerful and complete. It will evidently take place right after the final
battle (Revelation 20:9). This new heaven and earth are not “the old heaven and earth
renovated, but an act of new creation.” (Walvoord, Revelation 311)
God will create an entirely new heaven and earth (with no sea???).
This new earth will be our eternal home with God.
Chapter 21 – New Heaven & Earth
In Eternity We will have a New City (v.2)
John called this place “the holy city, new Jerusalem
It will come down from God out of heaven.*
It will be beautiful beyond compare.
Will this be heaven?
Believers will be with God in the new earth and holy city. Evidently this will be our eternal
heaven.
God’s saints looked for a better heavenly country (He 11:16)
Jesus went to prepare us a place in his Father’s house (Jn 14:1-3)
A Christian’s citizenship is in heaven (Php 3:20)
God has reserved believers an inheritance in heaven (1Pe 1:3-5)
Chapter 21 – New Heaven & Earth
In Eternity We will have a New Intimacy (v.3-5)
At this point, God will begin dwelling with His immortal people.
He will be with them and be their God.
He will utterly wipe away all the present things that trouble us (v.4). God will wipe away
EVERY tear from EVERY eye.
He will make all things new (v.5).
New in contrast with the former troubling things.
Perhaps new feelings, new emotions, new joys, new memories, etc.
Any other ideas? …
Chapter 21 – New Heaven & Earth
In Eternity We will have a New Future (v.6-8)
God, who is speaking, is the eternal Alpha and Omega.
We will never thirst for anything again, John 4:10, 13-14.
Because we overcame sin by the blood of the Lamb, we will inherit all the new things God
has for us.
As a convicting challenge, God reminds us of the destiny of all who do not overcome by the
blood of the Lamb (v.8).
Their description is sinners of all degrees, beginning with the fearful (afraid to trust Christ)
and unbelieving (faithless).
Their destination is the eternal Lake of Fire.
Chapter 21 – New Heaven & Earth
New Jerusalem will be Marvellous (v.9-27)
An angel invites John to see the bride, the Lamb’s wife (v.9)
Some think the bride is the New Jerusalem (city and a woman)
Others think the bride is in the New Jerusalem (city for a woman)
The city will shine like a precious clear jasper stone (v.11)
The city wall is high with 12 gates each named after Israel’s tribes. If the city is the Bride, is
Israel part of the Bride???
Three gates are on each of the city’s four sides (v.13)
The wall has 12 foundations named after the apostles (v.14)
The wall is 144 cubits high (i.e., about 65m) (v.17)
Chapter 21 – New Heaven & Earth
The city is 12,000 furlongs long, wide, and high (i.e., 2236 km) (v.16)
If the furlong was 185 m x 1200 = 2,220,000 / 1000 = 2,220 km, then New Jerusalem is
4,928,400 km2.
WA has 2,529,880 km2. All of Australia has 7,692,024 km2.
Will it be a cube, or a pyramid, or a 12 sided pyramid?
The building materials of the city are also precious.
The wall is of jasper (v.18)
The city is of pure gold (v.18)
The foundations are garnished with precious stones (v.19-20)
Chapter 21 – New Heaven & Earth
The 12 gates are made from one pearl each (v.21)
The street is of pure gold (v.21)
The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple (v.22)
The glory of God and the Lamb are the light (v.23)
The gates of New Jerusalem will always be open (v.25)
There will be no dangers in our new home.
Eternity will be one continuous day!
Nothing defiled will ever enter this city (v.27)
Personal Application
All those saved by Christ have a bright future!
We will live on a new perfect earth and in a new beautiful city.
We will have constant interaction with God himself.
We will have new feelings, new minds, constant joy, total satisfaction
Our new dwelling place will be beautiful beyond description.
Eternity will be one never-ending day with no night.
All sin and temptation will be gone forever! Amen!
If you have not yet been saved by Christ, you can be. Trust Christ without delay!