Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
Revelation 21:5 NKJV
Let’s review. Looking back to Revelation 20, we see that Satan, his angels, and everyone who rejected Jesus Christ no longer exist on the earth. They will live in eternal torment in the lake of fire and brimstone (read about it HERE).
As we enter a time when wickedness and sin don’t exist, we see a remaking of the heavens and the earth. John describes what heaven will be like–and we can get truly excited about this wonderful place where there are no more tears, no death, no sorrow, no pain. Let’s see how John describes God’s new creation.
A New Heaven and a New Earth
Is this a new creation or just a renewed heaven and earth? Matthew 24:35 tells us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (NKJV). We also read about a new heaven and earth in Isaiah.
‘For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
Isaiah 65:17-19 NKJV
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing,
And her people a joy.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
And joy in My people;
The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her,
Nor the voice of crying.‘
Peter refers to a time when the heavens and the earth will be destroyed by fire, and God will create a new heaven and earth. So, there’s no doubt that our current world and heaven will be burnt up, not just renewed.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:10-13 NKJV
At the Great White Throne Judgment mentioned in Revelation 20, earth and heaven fled away (v.11). Since there is no earth, could we saints be suspended with God in another dimension until the new heaven and earth arrive? It’s an interesting speculation.
Now 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. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. God Himself will 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. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.‘
Revelation 21:1-4 NKJV
What will life be like on the new earth?
First, a new Jerusalem will descend from heaven like a bride walking down the aisle to meet her groom. Here God and His people will dwell together for eternity. Our compassionate God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more crying, sorrow, pain, or death. We will drink freely from the fountain of the water of life. As overcomers, we will be heirs with Christ and always belong to God.
John also tells us in Revelation 21:8 about the missing people who will not be there: ‘But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.‘ This will certainly be heaven on earth!
The New Jerusalem
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.
Revelation 21:9-11a NKJV
Although we know that the church is the bride of Christ, here the angel shows John that the bride is the new Jerusalem. How could that be? This city is a metaphor for the pure woman who is the bride of Christ, just as the immoral woman on the scarlet beast was a metaphor for Babylon (Revelation 17:1-17). Israel and the church–the wife of God and the wife of the Lamb respectively–will dwell together in perfect harmony in New Jerusalem. Thus, the New Jerusalem and the bride of Christ represent the same thing.
New Jerusalem’s Appearance
What will New Jerusalem be like? Nothing short of glorious, and to think we saints will live there forever with God and Christ. Here are some of its characteristics:
- Its light comes from the glory of God, and the Lamb is its light. There is now no sun, moon, or sea.
- Her light is clear as crystal, like a precious jasper stone.
- She has a high wall with twelve gates with twelve angels at the gates, and on them are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
- There are twelve foundations with the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
- The city is in the shape of a square.
- The wall is pure jasper and the streets are pure gold.
- The foundation has twelve layers of precious stones.
- Each of the twelve gates is a single pearl.
- No temple exists because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
- Its gates are always open, and there is no night.
- The kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
- Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life are allowed inside.
- (Read the entire description HERE.)
Eye has not seen nor ear heard…
However we may have pictured heaven in our imaginations, the Word tells us exactly what it will look like. We won’t be floating on clouds and playing harps for eternity. We will inhabit a new earth under a new heaven, and New Jerusalem will be where God dwells in all His glory. So much more awaits us, and it will surpass anything we can imagine or think.
But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Let’s prepare to enter into this new heaven and earth by making sure our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. We can be sure of our eternal destination today by repenting of our sins and inviting Jesus into our hearts as Savior and Lord. Here is a prayer we can pray together.
Dear Lord God, I confess my sins and ask You to forgive me. Thank you for dying on the cross and shedding Your blood for me. Wash my sins away in Your holy blood, and write my name in Your Book of Life. Thank You for making me into a new person, free from sin and shame. Clothe me in Your robes of righteousness and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for the assurance that when I die, I will be with You in heaven. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
All Things Made New by Karen Jurgens Copyright ©2024 All rights reserved.