The last words of anyone are of critical importance. The closing verses of the revealed Word of God are of paramount importance and uniquely bring to our attention consummation realities. We live in a world which is too often taken up with the insignificant and superficial, and even believers are often taken up with the petty and the transient. The final chapters of the Word would transport us to a place of wonder, love and praise as we are led to consider the closure of this age and the arrival of the new day dawning. It is in the understanding of final and ultimate realities that the Christian finds a present comfort in trial. We are called to fix our eyes on those unseen things.

As we turn to Revelation 21, we need to recognise a major shift of emphasis from chapter 20 to 21. At the end of chapter 20 we are brought starkly to the throne of judgement. The Judgement is God’s final, fixed and righteous execution of his justice, both in pouring out eternal wrath upon sin and the sinner, and also in the giving out positive reward for those who by grace, clothed in Christ, are truly worthy of it.

The fixed and righteous paying back and giving out is just and deserved. Just as hell is deserved, so also heaven is deserved by the merit of Another.

Those who are purchased by Christ are given rights. Heaven is a gift of God to those who turn from sin to Christ. This is a glorious thing, and it is ours! It is graced, but it is ours! There is a right to the tree of life. There is a right to this inheritance. There is a right to glory.

Now we know that this right is only by the grace and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only by that divine gift of faith in him that we are saved. But if we truly come to him in faith, if we truly believe on him for salvation, if we truly rely on his finished work on Calvary, then by the fruit of his work he has earned for us, his beloved Bride, the right of entry.

Now this is an important concept for the saint to know assuredly, and it is also a glorious gospel truth for the unsaved sinner to contemplate. It is because He became sin for us that in him we become the righteous of God; it is because of this gospel truth that we solemnly persuade men, we passionately call you to trust in Christ, we urge you, we implore you, to be reconciled to God.

Hell and eternal punishment is a deserved reward. But the gospel gloriously speaks of another “deserved” reward, as the impotent sinner is graced to believe and be saved, to believe and enjoy eternal life.

Remember that High Priestly Prayer of our Lord – “Father I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory” (John 17:24). Will the Father answer that prayer of the Son? – most assuredly, and here is the revelation of that answer in Revelation 21. We have before us the positive results of that work of Christ, the work the Father had given him to do. He also is to see and be satisfied.

So in one sense this passage simply speaks of the declaration of justice, namely acquittal for the saved; but it is so much more. It tells us of a reward for obedience. The Lord’s great purposes are being unfolded as he presents to us, in symbol form and with the limits of our finite language, the wonders of eternal blessedness and bliss.

Well let us endeavour to make some progress of thought. I want us first to consider what John saw, then what he heard, and move to some final brief application.

1. What did John see?⤒🔗

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Rev.21:1

a. A New Heaven and a New Earth←↰⤒🔗

The book of Haggai prophesies a shaking of the heavens and the earth. 2 Peter speaks of the destruction by fire, and the melting of the elements. The book of Hebrews takes up the prophecy of Haggai and elaborates by speaking of created things being shaken to leave that unshakeable kingdom.

It would appear then that there is a burning up, but not a complete annihilation. Earth and sky have fled from his presence. We read of earth in its present form passing away. There is no sea, which in scripture is a symbol of restless unceasing wickedness and a barrier of separation.

Hendriksen writes, “Out of the great conflagration a new universe has been born”.

So in this new creation, it is not as the first, ex nihilo, out of nothing, but rather a purifying, by burning up of all the results of the Fall. All aspects of the curse, of sin, of unrighteousness, of suffering, of pain, every trace of sin and its consequences, and its wages, this is all shaken and burned, to the leaving of something gloriously new.

In previous chapters of Revelation the harlot has been dealt with, the dragon, the beast, the raging sea, and the nations, out of which came the beast. Now all this is past, and there is peace, a new divine peace, and centre stage enjoying this peace is the City of God.

There are two different words for new. Something can be brand new, as with the first creation out of nothing. But here the word means new in quality; gloriously, radically changed. To illustrate this, remember that Jesus was placed in a “new” tomb. That did not mean that it had just been cut, but that it had not yet been used as a resting-place. It was a new tomb. The new heavens and the new earth are not entirely alien, but radically, through burning, changed to be a home of righteousness.

Then I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev. 21:2

b. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, a Dressed Bride←↰⤒🔗

Do we need to say that these all represent the same thing? It is not a physical city, but the object of divine affection and grace. It is his holy people. It is his church of both Old and New Testament times. It is the Bride of Christ.

In chapter 20:9 we are shown the enemies of God marching against that little camp of God’s people. While it was referred to as a city he loves, yet there was a sense of smallness when described as a camp. But here there is no opposition. Here is a glorious sight of a descending city shining with the glory of God.

The origin of this city is heaven. It comes from heaven. Our new birth is of heavenly origin. Our life here is lived as a stranger and a pilgrim. Our home is heaven. Our descent in this revelation is as a heavenly creation, God’s re-creation. Our dress is perfectly beautiful, and appropriate, as the Bride of Christ. She has made herself ready for that time of perfect communion.

2. What did John Hear?←⤒🔗

And I heard a loud voice from 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. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away'. Rev 21:3, 4

Because of that perfection of the saints, and that shaking, and that purifying, and since all things foul have been dealt with, there is that readiness for man to be with his God in perfect harmonious communion.

Now we know in part, and see in part, and commune in part. But here in this glorious revealed truth from the One whose words are trustworthy and true, God tabernacles, and dwells eternally. He will live with them. They will be his people. He will be with them. He will wipe every tear. Notice that there is a progression of intimacy in each of those sentences.

This perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and so there will be no more death or mourning. The fruit of the Fall has been dealt with in the shaking of the heavens and earth, and so there is no more crying or pain. Though weeping has endured for a night, yet joy has come in the morning.

This Winter life will give way to eternal Springtime, not by our normal gradual seasonal change, but by that creative word of God making all things new.

Then he who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold I make all things new’. Rev. 21:5

a. Our Eternal Home is Pure and Unshakeable←↰⤒🔗

With God’s execution of justice there is a home for his saved people. Peter writes of it as a home of righteousness. Our Lord speaks of it as a house of many mansions or dwelling places.

Hebrews, as we have said, speaks of it as unshakeable. All these things are wonderful to contemplate, and greatly comforting to the suffering pilgrim believer.

In the midst of much wickedness and unrighteousness and impurity here is something to truly look forward to – a home without impurity, without anything wicked. Furthermore, our sinning lives are ended, and our whole being will be perfectly pure and holy. That is a difficult thing to comprehend, but something great to look forward to; that is, never again to sin against God, never again to think, say or do something that is a transgression of the divine and perfect law of God; never again to sin against your neighbour; never again to be sinned against.

Those shakeable things are gone forever, and refined in divine fire, purity remains. Such is our new home. There is no sea of unrest or any form of turbulence. There is nothing which presently causes stress and anxiety. Peace, perfect peace is our eternal reward, and a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

b. Communion with God will be Perfect←↰⤒🔗

The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, (that is, al sinners saved by grace to be the Bride of Christ), is now ready for the Wedding and for that consummation of communion with God.

While each phrase is wonderful, there is an increasing intimacy culminating in the phrase “God himself shall be with them”. We are told of his living with us, his being with us, and furthermore, his wiping away the tears. Dwelling, or tabernacling, brings to mind the wilderness years. Living is much more permanent. But that third phrase is so close – simply God being with us. This is more than Paradise regained. This is more than the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day. This is God Himself being with us.

But how wonderful is that fourth phrase concerning wiping the tears! Think of a parent wiping a child’s tears. Something has happened to cause a child to cry. The cause of the tears is now over but the wetness remains, and so a parent will wipe the tear, and why? – to show that it is at an end. The father or mother will say, “No more tears now, I’m here”.

When we are changed to glory our eyes may yet be symbolically wet from our weary pilgrimage, but now the pain is ended, and our heavenly Father shows us this by wiping our tears, and saying “No more ... I’m here ... The former things have passed away”.

c. Sin and Suffering is Ended Forever←↰⤒🔗

How much grief we live with. How much pain and crying, whether by mourning the loss of a loved one, the pain of disease and sickness, or the crying with a broken heart and mind. This is all at an end. No more!

The Fall brought so many negatives to us, but now they are overturned.

d. He Makes All Things New←↰⤒🔗

When he looked on his creation he saw that it was good. With the Fall there was the onset of wickedness, and in Genesis 6 we read that the Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth. Yet his purpose in Christ was ever to crush the serpent, and make all things new in Christ.

It is again something wonderful to contemplate that while nothing is beyond the Lord’s comprehension, yet this work is not yet done. What he is to do is known to him, and yet not done by him. If he looked upon his first work and saw it as good, it will be the same with this new creation. While God’s glory is beyond any increase, yet the revelation of that glory to his creation is yet to be, and is yet to be met with the Hallelujahs of praise to his mercy and grace. This too will meet his approving eye.

Believer, is this not a stimulus to wholesome thinking? Does this not fill you with an inexpressible and glorious joy? Are you not given grace to rejoice though for a little while you have to suffer grief?

And he said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful' Rev. 21:5