Of course we do not understand all we’d like to know about that eternal city. Yet the Bible dedicates two whole chapters describing that amazing Place! Those chapters being Revelation 21 and 22. During a Revival Meeting several years ago in a little Church not far from Chattanooga, Tennessee (Ooltewah to be exact) … I preached a whole week on this Text, those two closing chapters of the Bible. The Apostle John is such a descriptive writer, plus he was being inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit!

But to the “point” of today’s Lesson … our Text … REVELATION 21:4 … and the calming peace it brings!

“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.”

Part of the verse I can try to explain, part I can’t.

Why, after us being with Jesus for so many years (7 years while the Tribulation runs its course then 1,000 more during the Millennium) … are we still crying?

Is it over lost opportunities?

Regret at not loving Jesus more?

Or … are these tears of joy?

Or does this help? The verb “wipe away” can mean “to erase,” suggesting that all tears, all crying, all heartache have been removed from the realm of possibility! This very fact is immediately taught in our Verse, “and there shall be no more crying.”

Anyway, the first Line of Revelation 21:4 does tell us that Jesus cares! That He did not ascent to Heaven (after His Resurrection) to retire! To quit serving, working for His people! He is still our Comforter, our Advocate!

Now … to the part of the verse I do understand, though in a limited sense I imagine.

“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.” The list speaks for itself!

A City with no funerals!

A City with no medicine for emotional distress, no sorrow!

A City where a wail (any kind of weeping) will never be heard!

A City with no aspirin, not to mention other analgesics! No pan!

A City with other hint of sin either, other than the wounds in Jesus’ Hands and Feet and Side! Nail “prints” John 20:25 calls them! All “former things” ae passed away!

Whatever you are fearing today … it will be gone in Glory, in the New Jerusalem!

Gone forever, I might add!

Let this verse further endear Heaven to your hearts.

But for this main reason … the Tear-Dryer is there, our precious Lord Jesus Christ!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Just as one day God “spoke” the worlds into existence (Hebrews 11:3), some day God will “speak” out of existence “death, sorrow, crying, pain,” and that long list has just begun, “all former things!”

Gone!

Hallelujah!

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