Revelation 21:1-8

In the text before, John shares with us a picture of the future that shall follow Christ’s millennial reign and the great white throne judgment (Rev. 20). There shall be a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth have passed away (v. 1).

The first heaven of which John speaks is the physical heaven which extends further than the eye can see — further than can be seen with the most powerful telescopes that exist or will ever exist. Knowledge of the physical universe has multiplied beyond bounds thought possible in the last one hundred years. Perhaps, the greatest revelation in man’s study of God’s creation is the realization of how little we understand. We cannot observe that which is beyond the constraints that God has placed upon His creation. John was shown that which is beyond understanding.

There will be no sea in the new heaven and new earth. The lack of a sea means there will be no need of a sea. The sea in the first earth which shall be no more served as a habitat for living things and a depository of the dead (see Rev. 20:13). There shall be no dead in the new heaven and the new earth. The new heaven and new earth is the habitat of life everlasting.

John saw the new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven. John saw the new Jerusalem being delivered from the presence of God to a new location (the new heaven and the new earth). The new Jerusalem radiates the holiness of God. The new Jerusalem shall not be like the old Jerusalem. The old Jerusalem is described in Revelation 11:8. The old Jerusalem was both a spiritual Sodom (a place of rebellion against God) and a spiritual Egypt (a place of enslavement). The old Jerusalem manifested darkness and discord. The new Jerusalem manifests spiritual harmony with God. The new Jerusalem is likened to a bride adorned for her husband.

While John was watching the delivery, he heard a great voice out of heaven say, “Behold the tabernacle of God is with men.” This announcement, made using the present tense, is followed by use of the future tense. God shall dwell in the midst of His people. His people shall enjoy a closeness to Him that was unknown in the former heaven and former earth. Men shall know God as their God and He shall be with His people and be their God. There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor pain; former things are (present tense) passed away (v. 4).

God made all former things (things that we now see) with a plan that there should be pain, sorrow and death. This plan is stated in I Peter 1:19-21. It was God’s plan from before the foundation of the world that Christ should suffer pain, sorrow and death. There is no need for a like plan in the new heaven and new earth. Death, sorrow, and pain shall not exist in the new heaven and new earth. These are words spoken by the great voice out of heaven.

In verse 5, John hears the words of a different voice. The voice of He that sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” The maker of all things new instructed John to “Write: for these words are true and faithful.” God sits on the throne of God. God is God. God true and faithful. He is the maker of the new heaven and new earth.

The new heaven and new earth is beyond human comprehension. No more death, sorrow, crying, or pain is God’s promise and provision for the new heaven and the new earth. God states that His promise is faithful and true and then affixes His signature, Alpha and Omega, to this promise. God uses the title Alpha and Omega in Revelation 1 in regard to the contents of this book. The promise signed at the beginning and at the end signifies the completion of all God’s promises to man. It is the last word. After all that will happen has happened and there is no more to happen, this promise is fulfilled. It is the final reality of all reality, eternal realty.

This promise, however, is not made to all men. The promise belongs to them who thirst for water from “the fountain of the water of life” (v. 6). God gives the water of that fountain to all who thirst—no charge.

Verse 7 states that “He that overcometh shall inherit all things.” In chapter 2 and 3, John recorded messages directed to each of the seven churches of Asia. Each message held a promise of reward to all who overcometh. Collectively, the seven churches faced every possible challenge to the faith that there is to be had. Individually, the churches faced different challenges. No church was without a test of faith which it was called to overcome. Who is he that overcometh? It is he who has stood fast and donned the armor of salvation. It is he who has clung to the cross while storms have raged around him. The overcomers are those who placed their trust in the Lord God.

To the overcomers is the promise of inheriting all things and of being recognized and being called “my son” by God.

Opposed to the overcomers are the fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, sorcerers, idolaters, murders, whoremongers, and liars. There is no inheritance promised to this second group. They all shall dwell in the lake of fire which is the second death.

Why has God revealed these things to us? It is His will that every individual should become an overcomer.

Let us be the overcomers which He would have us be. Let us reach out to others, revealing the One who saves men from eternity in the lake of fire. Let us reach out knowing that it His will that none should perish but that all should repent of their unbelief.