One of the most comforting verses, in all the Bible. Perhaps one of the most quoted, as well. Today’s Text: “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.” Revelation 21:4
Oh, the untold suffering Christians have endured through the centuries. Climaxing during the Tribulation, I suspect, martyrs and martyrs, multitudes. But when God comes to earth, when His new Heavenly City (New Jerusalem) descends … what a dramatic change will occur!
The Millennium has ended.
The Devil’s final revolt has been extinguished. (“The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 21:10)
The wicked have all been judged at God’s great White Throne.
And God’s “new things” have been instituted, a perfect (sinless) way of life!
All sadness is now to be dispelled! Again, our thought for today: “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.”
What a list!
No more tears!
No more death!
No more sorrow (from Greek “pascho,” sorrow due to suffering)!
Past tears gone, future tears impossible! No more crying! This includes the idea of “clamor,” Loud screams, wails of grief!
No more pain (hinting that “poverty” which causes so much suffering has now been obliterated)!
Think of the industries that will exist no more!
The Kleenex, tissue manufacturers!
All funeral professionals!
No more paid counsellors!
No analgesics, pain-killers, pharmacies!
No doctors or hospitals!
All the “wages” of sin … gone!
Those “former things” (in Greek “protos” … that which too long has occupied human time and attention and resources) have “passed away.” Have departed!
No wonder the Bible anticipates the Lord’s Return!
Again I close this way, for today. With the Bible’s last prayer: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Amen.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell