Revelation 21 - 3.14.25

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-4

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Observation

This is the beginning of Eternity. John the disciple is getting a preview of the believer’s new home.  We would love to get a sneak peek at our new home, but the surprise will be worth the wait. Jesus is not only preparing our new place, he is coming back to get us and show us his work. 

Jesus said in John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Truly all our needs will be met. We will not look back to bring anything from our old life. Everything will be made new.

Now our hope is a reality. We will be with God face-to-face.  God’s dwelling place will be among his people, the redeemed, the saved.  We will not lose any of our loved ones in heaven to death again. There will be no more crying or pain.  We will get to see the New Holy City Jerusalem coming down from heaven. The meaning of the word Jerusalem is “the Lord will provide peace”.

Application

This is our hope. This is part of the Lord’s Prayer we frequently pray in Matthew 6:9-10: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done.” Your “kingdom come” is in the future tense. We want Jesus to come soon but we also want our loved ones as well as others to come to Jesus. This is also why our mission here at DSC to love God, love people and make disciples is so important. We want to give people a chance to have a saving relationship with Jesus so they have a chance to spend eternity with Jesus and all us believers.

Prayer

Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done. Jesus, you have been gone for a couple thousand years to prepare a place for us. It will be perfect. Help us to be bold so we can tell others to come and join us in meeting our Savior. Thank you for your promise of no more death, pain and tears. Thank you for making everything new. Thank you that we will have fellowship with God face to face.   In Jesus name Amen.

- Robert Oberg