One of the greatest facts in all the Bible! Revelation 21:5 tells us, with God Himself delivering the Message: “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 first verb in the sentence (in English) is “sat,” revealing God’s “posture” as He rules the world. This word is expressed in the present tense in Greek, God is constantly sitting on His Throne! There will NEVER be a second when He is not “in control!”

Then the word “behold” is a verb, too, a command (imperative mood). Meaning something like: “Look, don’t miss this!” Be alert, be aware!

God then claims to “make” (in Greek “poieo” with an emphasis on order and beauty) “all things new!” This again is a present tense verb, active voice. God is RIGHT NOW in the process of making things “new.” Perhaps “New Jerusalem” in under construction, this very second! (As in the six days of creation.)

And the adjective “new” translates “kainos,” used 44 times in the New Testament. Each of those times the word is expressed (in the King James Version) as “new.” But in the sense of being “fresh, unused, unworn, recent!”

This subtly implies the scientific law of “atrophy,” that things in this old sin-cursed world are “wearing out,” aging, being depleted.

So eternity for us not only includes a new earth. And a New Heaven. Plus a New Jerusalem! There’s even more! God is making all things “new!” No doubt cleansing His creation from the “taint” of sin.

But not only is God busy doing this … He too wants us to know! To be aware what’s “planned” for the Believer in Christ! ” The Lord to John:  ““And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5b, today’s text.

“Write” is (obviously) an imperative verb, another command. (Once the Prophet Daniel was told NOT TO WRITE! (Daniel 12:4 … “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end ….”) In Revelation 10:4 John himself was given this unusual order concerning “seven thunders!”

BUT NOW GOD WANTS US TO BE AWARE! To encourage us, I suspect. “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.”

God’s Speeches are always “true” and faithful.” After all, He can not lie (Titus 1:2). These two adjectives are somewhat parallel in meaning. “True” (in Greek “alethinos” meaning “unable to forget”) and “faithful” (“pistos” meaning “trustworthy”) are attributes (traits, characteristics) of God’s very Essence, His very Being.

I close our study today CONFIDENTLY. Believing with all my heart what Revelation 21:5 has promised. One day, all things will be made new!

That’s God!

He is awesome, but beautiful!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

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

 

Future events are being described.

John the Apostle (and Prophet) has been telling us about a time when God will reveal, create a new earth! And a new Heaven as well! “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 John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:1-2

Then in today’s verse John adds: “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.” Revelation 21:3

The expression “great voice” is “megas phone” in Greek, our word “megaphone,” an obviously amplified sound. It (this term) is used (“great voice”) six times in Revelation, and no where else in the New Testament. Although twice in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 5:22 (giving of the Ten Commandments) and Jeremiah 51:55 (the voice of great Babylon, the world’s most wicked metropolis of that time).

“Behold” means “look” in Greek, the verb being “idou,” an imperative in our text here. “Don’t miss this, watch carefully!”

The noun “tabernacle” is “skene,” the word for “tent” literally. God Himself will “pitch a tent” and live on earth, in Jerusalem! This is the word often used of the Old Testament “tabernacle,” forerunner to the great Temple that King Solomon built.

By the way, this is the same verb John used when He described the Virgin Birth, the Incarnation of Jesus! “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (“skenoo”) among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Wow!

Then … “He (God) will dwell (“skenoo” again) with them (men and women), and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

The preposition “with” is spelled “meta,” literally meaning “among” them! Very intimate, personal, loving! Pure, as well. Mankind … God’s people! God, the Bible God, worshipped by the inhabitants of earth! Psalm 89:6 prophesied: “All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.”

Yes!

This is a Presence of God that seems to even outstrip the Garden of Eden! “And they (Adam and Eve) heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” Amazing!

The very Shekinah Glory of God come to earth … permanently!

“And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, A CLOUD AND SMOKE by day, and the SHINING OF FLAMING FIRE by night: for upon all THE GLORY shall be a defence.” Isaiah 4:5

What a Day that will be!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20, what a prayer! Is it ours?

 

Yes, according to the Bible not only does the future hold place for a “new heaven” and a “new earth” … but also a new and holy City, one called “Jerusalem!” Let me prove the point: “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 John saw the holy city, NEW JERUSALEM, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:1-2

Today we focus on verse 2, having spoken of verse 1 yesterday. “And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

The Book of Revelation once earlier mentioned this unique Place. The Church at Philadelphia is promised: “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is NEW JERUSALEM, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” Revelation 3:12, the City of God!

I believe this is a “holy” city (spelled “agios” but pronounced “hag-ee-os” with the accent on the first syllable) because God is there! Way back in Ezekiel 48:35 we get a preview: “And the name of the CITY from that day shall be, THE LORD IS THERE.” A translation of the Hebrew words “Jehovah Shammah.”

Furthermore, looks to me like this City is real, literal, one of God’s new creations! The Greek noun for “city” is “polis,” which may be derived from “polus,” their word for “many.” Indicating a populated place, not a lonely off-the-road single unit house.

We will be TOGETEHR as Believers in Jesus, for all eternity!

Why not just call this place “Heaven?”

The Name/Title God has given it reveals His love for the City of Jerusalem proper. The Old Testament is replete with hints of God’s delight in the City. Like His promise in Psalm 122:6. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Not to mention Jesus’ New Testament Lament over the City, because of her sins. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matthew 23:37

The verb “prepared” is “etoimazo.” meaning “made ready!” Its construction now complete! God apparently is still a Builder, folks.

The City being compared to a “Bride” (in Greek “numphe,” taken from “nupto,” meaning “to marry”) hints at her future inhabitants. The Bride of Christ, the Church, the family of God! Technically, the New Testament Church! All who are Blood-washed since Calvary, Jew or Gentile. Yet I do suspect there will be Jews (recently Born-again, at Jesus’ Second Coming) living on the New Earth.

The “Bride” connotation suggests love and peace and harmony and respect continually.

The verb “adorned” is “kosmeo,” meaning “arranged, put in order, garnished, trimmed!” Its noun, “kosmos,” means “world” in the new Testament. And its root verb is probably “komizo,” suggesting “love, care, provision.”

Sort of a “Heaven come to earth” kind of picture here!

Now later in the chapter (Revelation 21) a fuller description of this City will be given. More about it then, of course.

Should I die today, I will immediately be “taken” to the Heaven I’ve heard about all my life. “Absent from the body … present with the Lord” (Second Corinthians 5:8) Also called the “Third Heaven” by Paul in Second Corinthians 12:12. But after the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus to earth … I believe we will be residents/citizens of this “New Jerusalem.”

Eternally so.

Again, we will “stick” with our chapter, a new verse each day, and watch Truth unfold before our very eyes!

Heaven, what a Place!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Let’s begin a study of the Bible’s next-to-last Chapter. Revelation 21 (with maybe a glance at the opening few verses of Revelation 22 as well) … which depicts the “New Heaven” and the “New Earth.”

Apparently God plans to eventually replace both!

Here’s proof: “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.” Revelation 21:1

John, as as a Prophet, recorded these words.

Isaiah, another great Prophet, also wrote long ago (700 years before Jesus’ Virgin Birth) about the “New Heavens” and the “New Earth.” For example: “For, behold, I (the Lord speaking) create NEW HEAVENS and a NEW EARTH: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Isaiah 65:17

And again: “For as the NEW HEAVENS and the NEW EARTH , which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name (Israel) remain.” Isaiah 66:22

The Greek verb “were passed away” (back in Revelation 21:1) means “gone aside.” They (heaven and earth) are “past” now. Once in the New Testament (King James Version) this verb, “parerchomai,” is translated “to pass over.”

Wow, “to pass over!”

Because of the original PASSOVER (picturing Jesus’ shed Blood on the Cross) … this old sin tainted earth where will live will some day “pass over” and pass out of existence! Simon Peter put it this way in his Epistle: “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. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. 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?” Second Peter 3:10-12

Hence, the need for a new earth!

The “heavens” also have been sin soiled in like fashion. The devil being the “prince of the power of the air.” He being the leader of the forces of “spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Alluding to both Ephesians 2:2 and Ephesians 6:12.)

Our Text again: “And I (John on the Isle of Patmos) 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.”

The “no more sea” (Israel has never loved the Ocean, always being a “people of the land”) phrase could be a reference to such passages as: “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” Isaiah again, 57:20 this time.

All evil is GONE … in the “New Heaven.”

Sounds like a wonderful environment!

More tomorrow, the Lord willing, we’ve just begun!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell