The New Heaven and New Earth Revelation 21:1-8. Timeline of Events for Premillennial Eschatology...

The New Heaven and New The New Heaven and New EarthEarth

Revelation 21:1-8Revelation 21:1-8

Timeline of Events for Timeline of Events for Premillennial EschatologyPremillennial Eschatology

Rapture

7 year tribulationon earth (Daniel’s70th week)

1000 year reign of Christon the present earth

New heaven& earth

Church Age

Church age lasts untilthe fullness of theGentiles comes in

Second Coming, Armageddon,sheep and goats judgment, binding of Satan,resurrection of tribulation and OT saints

Release of Satan,final rebellion

Closing Visions of JohnClosing Visions of John(Rev 19:11 – 22:5)(Rev 19:11 – 22:5)

The Coming of the King of Kings (19:11-16)The Coming of the King of Kings (19:11-16) Invitation to the Birds of Prey (19:17-18)Invitation to the Birds of Prey (19:17-18) The Defeat of the Beasts (19:19-21)The Defeat of the Beasts (19:19-21) The Binding of Satan (20:1-3)The Binding of Satan (20:1-3) The Thousand-Year Kingdom (20:4-10)The Thousand-Year Kingdom (20:4-10) The White-Throne Judgment (20:11)The White-Throne Judgment (20:11) The Judgment of the Dead (20:12-15)The Judgment of the Dead (20:12-15) The New Heaven and New Earth (21:1-8)The New Heaven and New Earth (21:1-8)

The New Heaven and New The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21:1-8)Earth (Rev 21:1-8)

This is the eighth and final scene of the 7This is the eighth and final scene of the 7thth bowl judgment.bowl judgment.

Even though this scene describes the Even though this scene describes the future bliss of the saints, it is still part of future bliss of the saints, it is still part of the seven last plagues.the seven last plagues. This is confirmed by verse 8, which describes This is confirmed by verse 8, which describes

the exclusion of those in the lake of fire from the exclusion of those in the lake of fire from the promised blessings of the new creation.the promised blessings of the new creation.

Revelation 21:1-8 is the final action scene Revelation 21:1-8 is the final action scene of the 7of the 7thth bowl judgment, with 21:9-22:5 bowl judgment, with 21:9-22:5 providing an elaboration of 21:1-8. providing an elaboration of 21:1-8.


The idea of a new heavens and a new The idea of a new heavens and a new earth has its roots in the OT (Isa 65:17; earth has its roots in the OT (Isa 65:17; 66:22; Psa 102:25-26).66:22; Psa 102:25-26).

The entrance of sin and death spoiled the The entrance of sin and death spoiled the original creation and brought God’s curse original creation and brought God’s curse upon it (Gen 3). After God has allowed evil upon it (Gen 3). After God has allowed evil to run its course, He will purge His creation to run its course, He will purge His creation and bring in a new one.and bring in a new one.

Notice that the new earth has no sea, an Notice that the new earth has no sea, an element which not only has served as a element which not only has served as a barrier between peoples in the first barrier between peoples in the first creation but also represents a principle of creation but also represents a principle of disorder, violence, and unrest (Isa 57:20; disorder, violence, and unrest (Isa 57:20; Psa 107:25-28; Ezek 28:8). Psa 107:25-28; Ezek 28:8).


The permanent quality of The permanent quality of the New Jerusalem is the New Jerusalem is holiness. This provides a holiness. This provides a tie with the old Jerusalem, tie with the old Jerusalem, which the Bible also calls which the Bible also calls “holy” (Isa 52:1; Matt 4:5; “holy” (Isa 52:1; Matt 4:5; 27:53).27:53).

Like the old creation, the Like the old creation, the old Jerusalem suffered from old Jerusalem suffered from the taint of sin and the taint of sin and disobedience, but there disobedience, but there was always hope for a was always hope for a renewed Jerusalem.renewed Jerusalem. The overcomer in the The overcomer in the

church at Philadelphia had church at Philadelphia had the promise of possessing the promise of possessing the name of “the new the name of “the new Jerusalem” written on him Jerusalem” written on him in proof of his right to live in proof of his right to live in that city (Rev 3:12). in that city (Rev 3:12).


The figure of a bride-city captures two The figure of a bride-city captures two characteristics of the New Jerusalem:characteristics of the New Jerusalem: God’s personal relationship with His people God’s personal relationship with His people

(i.e. the bride).(i.e. the bride). The life of the people in communion with Him The life of the people in communion with Him

(i.e., the city, with its social connections).(i.e., the city, with its social connections). The name of the material city stands for The name of the material city stands for

the community made up by its the community made up by its inhabitants.inhabitants.


In the new creation, God’s dwelling place will In the new creation, God’s dwelling place will once again be with men, as it was before the once again be with men, as it was before the fall.fall. This the prominent theme throughout this section. This the prominent theme throughout this section.

There is a 5-fold repetition of this truth in v. 3 alone. There is a 5-fold repetition of this truth in v. 3 alone.

(Literally, “God shall be (Literally, “God shall be withwith them”). them”). The same theme is repeated verse 7 (relationship The same theme is repeated verse 7 (relationship

between God and His people) and again in 22:3-4 (direct between God and His people) and again in 22:3-4 (direct access to God for His slaves).access to God for His slaves).

““People” in the Greek is actually plural, People” in the Greek is actually plural, “peoples.” “peoples.” In the OT the singular term was used to refer to In the OT the singular term was used to refer to

Israel as God’s own people, but here it is Israel as God’s own people, but here it is expanded to represent the many peoples among expanded to represent the many peoples among the redeemed. the redeemed.


Verse 4 describes the future conditions Verse 4 describes the future conditions from a negative perspective. Why? from a negative perspective. Why?

This is easier for us to understand, as we are This is easier for us to understand, as we are accustomed to a world ravaged by sin and accustomed to a world ravaged by sin and not one that is an ideal environment as the not one that is an ideal environment as the new creation will be. new creation will be.

The things that will The things that will notnot be in the new creation be in the new creation include death, sorrow, crying, and pain, all of include death, sorrow, crying, and pain, all of which entered the world when the first man which entered the world when the first man sinned. In place of these four things will be sinned. In place of these four things will be peace and bliss.peace and bliss.


God the Father speaks in verse 5, declaring that God the Father speaks in verse 5, declaring that He makes all things new in the New Creation and He makes all things new in the New Creation and commanding John again to write the things he commanding John again to write the things he sees, for they are “faithful and true” and “They sees, for they are “faithful and true” and “They are done” (v. 6) i.e. certain to come to pass.are done” (v. 6) i.e. certain to come to pass.

God’s self-description as Alpha and Omega, God’s self-description as Alpha and Omega, emphasizes His sovereign control over everything emphasizes His sovereign control over everything as well as His eternal nature.as well as His eternal nature. Both of these qualities serve to guarantee the Both of these qualities serve to guarantee the

trustworthiness, faithfulness, and truthfulness of the trustworthiness, faithfulness, and truthfulness of the words He has just spoken. words He has just spoken.

The metaphor of thirst to express an earnest The metaphor of thirst to express an earnest sense of spiritual need again comes from the OT sense of spiritual need again comes from the OT (Isa 55:1; Pss 42:1-2; 63:1; Isa 12:3; 44:3). God (Isa 55:1; Pss 42:1-2; 63:1; Isa 12:3; 44:3). God alone is the one who can satisfy this need. alone is the one who can satisfy this need.


Verse 7 contains an eighth promise to the Verse 7 contains an eighth promise to the overcomer that completes and fulfills the earlier overcomer that completes and fulfills the earlier seven. seven. The inheritance consists of the “all things” mentioned The inheritance consists of the “all things” mentioned

earlier, the new creation and the glories of the New earlier, the new creation and the glories of the New Jerusalem about to go on display. Jerusalem about to go on display.

There will also be the consummation of the relationship There will also be the consummation of the relationship between God and His people. This promise of sonship between God and His people. This promise of sonship was first made to David and his seed as God’s Messiah. was first made to David and his seed as God’s Messiah. Here it is transferred from Christ to Christ’s bride.Here it is transferred from Christ to Christ’s bride.

By contrast, verse 8 describes those who will not By contrast, verse 8 describes those who will not enjoy these things. These will undergo eternal enjoy these things. These will undergo eternal torment in the lake of fire, where Satan, the false torment in the lake of fire, where Satan, the false Christ, and the false prophet are. Christ, and the false prophet are.


Those excluded from the Holy City:Those excluded from the Holy City: ““cowardly” or “fearful,” referring to those who repudiate cowardly” or “fearful,” referring to those who repudiate

their faith in Christ when faced with persecution and their faith in Christ when faced with persecution and opposition.opposition.

““unfaithful” or “untrustworthy;” applies to professing unfaithful” or “untrustworthy;” applies to professing Christians who by act or word deny their faith in Christ.Christians who by act or word deny their faith in Christ.

““abominable,” referring to those who have been defiled, abominable,” referring to those who have been defiled, particularly through the worship of the beast.particularly through the worship of the beast.

““murderers,” particularly those who choose the beast murderers,” particularly those who choose the beast instead of the Lamb and put to death the saints.instead of the Lamb and put to death the saints.

““fornicators;” Fornication often accompanies idolatry, and fornicators;” Fornication often accompanies idolatry, and will no doubt be a prominent feature in the kingdom of the will no doubt be a prominent feature in the kingdom of the beast.beast.

““sorcerers;” This noun occurs frequently in the Greek sorcerers;” This noun occurs frequently in the Greek version of the OT, each time in connection with a religion version of the OT, each time in connection with a religion that worships something other than the true God. Sorcery that worships something other than the true God. Sorcery or magic will also play a part in the future delusion created or magic will also play a part in the future delusion created by the beast.by the beast.

““idolaters,” those who worship the beast and his image.idolaters,” those who worship the beast and his image. ““Liars,” primarily those who lie in their denial of Christ, but Liars,” primarily those who lie in their denial of Christ, but

can also include lying of other types. can also include lying of other types.

Next Time: The New Next Time: The New JerusalemJerusalem

Read Rev 21:9 – 22:5Read Rev 21:9 – 22:5

The New Heaven and New Earth Revelation 21:1-8. Timeline of Events for Premillennial Eschatology...

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