Everything New

The apostle John also states that "the first earth had passed away". (Rev.21:1) This truth is confirmed by the apostle Peter who says, that the present world, both this heaven and earth "will disappear with a roar". (2 Peter 3:10) About 800 years before John received his revelation, God declared through his prophet, that one day He will create everything new. He says: "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind." (Isaiah 65:17) Let us be sincere, dear friends, if we believe that at the beginning God out of nothing created everything - the whole universe, (Genesis 1) why could He not be able again to create the new heaven and the new earth? Remember that "all things are possible with God." (Mark 10:27b)

The new heaven and the new earth is not only our wishful thinking or dreaming. This is a reality which God has promised to His children. He also says, that "As the new heavens and the new earth that I will make, will endure before me...so wil your name and descendants endure." (Isaiah 66:22) The new earth will be even more beautiful than was paradise before Adam's sin. (Genesis 3) All the believers have something to look forward to with excitement and with joyous anticipation.

Our generation is mobile. Quite often people move from one place to another. Sometimes they are transferred by the company they work for, at other times they might move because they simply are looking for a better place to live. For whatever reasons people move, we know that people do it all the time. In many cases, the husband goes ahead to another city or town, (sometimes his wife joins him) to see if he likes this new place of employment. Then he looks for suitable accommodation where his family may live. When he finds such a place, he telephones his family and asks them to get ready, because on a certain day, he will come to get them. Of course, in most cases he first brings his wife and family to see new location. But this is not always possible, because the transfer might be to another province, another state or even to another country. Jesus is doing the very same things, as He went to prepare a place for His church. (John 14:1-3)

In one occasion somebody stated that "if believers would fully comprehend the beauty, glory and the blessings, that God has for them in heaven, they would not want to stay on this earth any longer." The apostle Paul confirms this meaningful statement, when he writes: "What no one ever saw or heard, what no one ever thought could happen, is the very thing God prepared for those who love Him." (1 Cor.2:9) He adds in Prilippians 1:21-23 that for him to live is Christ and death is gain, and that he has the desire to depart from his body and be with Christ. In another place Paul talks about the indescribable beauty of heaven, when he says: "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven ... whether in body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows ... He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell." (2 Cor. 12:2-4) I feel that the only reason why the apostle Paul says that he could not talk about heavenly glory is the fact that nobody would understand or believe him. I remember when my wife Rose and I, during our visit to Czechoslovakia, were talking to our relatives and friends about Canada, about our lifestyle, comfort and freedom, they were not able to comprehend it. Some of them thought that we were spreding capitalistic propaganda in their (at that time) socialistic state. Yet we were only, briefly and very carefully, telling them about our country and about those things we have, and many times take for granted.

1. In the new heaven and new earth, everything will be pure, beautiful and perfect. There will no longer be sickness, suffering, sadness, sorrow, disappointment or separation from loved ones because sin, satan and death will no longer exist. Praise the Lord for this glorious promise! We are witnesses today to the fact that so often sickness, accidents and other tragedies, cause death and separate happy families. Death comes unexpectedly and claims so many lives at their prime. Young and old, men, women and even children must leave everything and go. But this great enemy of mankind - DEATH - will not be in heaven, because God "... will wipe every tear" from believer's eyes, and "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4)

We may state after Christ's return to our earth, the history of this present world will end. (Rev.20:10) From this time on, a new era will start, because everything will be new. Otherwise old sins would be repeated and old systems reinstated, and with it old horrors, terrors, suffering, agony and sorrow, which plagued this earth for so many millennials, would reappear. Now a new era will start. New chronology will begin and with it will be a new calendar. Finally, truth and righteousness will prevail! Christ the King will rule with love and justice. Everyone will enjoy His blessings, peace, joy and blissfulness.

One of God's gifts and great mysteries is this glorious city called the New Jerusalem. It is designed by God and prepared by Jesus. (John 14:1-3) According to Revelation 21:10-27 it is called "the Holy City" (v.10) which will come down from heaven. God will dwell in it with all His saints, and with all the people Jesus redeemed by His precious blood. We read that Abraham was also looking forward to being in that city, "whose architect and builder is God." (Hebrew 11:10) We can see that Abraham also believed in this wonderful place and in a home prepared for those people who follow Jesus Christ.

The New Jerusalem will be a real city, with gates, walls and foundations. It will be big and beautiful. It will come down from outer space. (Rev.21:1-2) And perhaps it is on its way right now as you are reading about it. This Mysterious city will be like a large square, about 2,200 kilometers wide, 2,200 kilometers high and 2,200 kilometers long. It will be like a huge cube. (Rev.21:16) Most likely it will be placed by God somewhere in this universe even as today they place different satelites in space, because if such a gigantic city were to be placed anywhere on this planet, it would cause an abnormality in the earth's rotation. Our earth would wobble, because of its weight, even as unbalanced tires do on an automobile.

However, we may rest assured of this, that whatever our God does, will be right, good and helpful. Two thousand years ago He sent us His dear Son, Jesus, to be our Savior. On the day of Pentecost He sent us His Holy Spirit to be our Helper and Conforter. Now He will send from heaven this marvellous and mysterious city, the New Jerusalem, to be the eternal abode of His redeemed people. Even if today we cannot adequately describe it and sufficiently explain it, we know that it will be most beautiful city where there will dwell peace, purity, loveliness and blessings. Blessed are all those pure in heart who will not only see God (Matt.5:8) but will dwell with Him eternally in that foursquare city. Today God dwells somewhere in the highest heaven, although through His Holy Spirit, He is in every believer. (1 Cor.6:19) But one day all His redeemed people and all those that He has chosen in Jesus Christ, will dwell with Him in this New Jerusalem. John R. Clements talks about this in his hymn, called "No Night There".

This beautiful hymn is based on Revelation 22:5, which also declares that the Lord God will dwell with His servants in that city for ever and ever. These believers will see His original glory even as Adam and Eve saw Him before the fall (Genesis 3). They will also enjoy all the blessings He will bestow upon them as they continue to serve Him in humility with joy and with thankful hearts. Their joy and service will be sincere because in the New and Holy City there will not be any curse nor sin. They will all dwell in light, purity and holiness as it was in paradise before the fall. Mankind lost this privilege because of sin, as Romans 5:17 tells us: "For if, by the trespass of the one man, Adam (Genesis 3) death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." All that which was lost through Adam will be returned unto God's children through Jesus Christ. God's grace, mercy and blessings will be reinstated to all His followers in that glorious city, called the New Jerusalem. Those who will enjoy these blessings of the Lord will be "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language ..." (Revelation 7:9)

3. But let us never forget the fact however, that heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. We always prepare ourselves adequqtely for each special occasion, especially when we are invited to a special dinner or banquet with famous people. We wear our best clothes and groom our hair. On one occasion it was my privilege to meet the Prime Minister of Canada and at another time to meet the Queen's representative, the Lieutenant Governor. Both, Rose and I wore our best clothing, and we tried to be presentable for the occasion. Therefore, let us be properly prepared for the meeting of the King of Kings and the most Holy God. Be dressed in the robe of His righteousness which He has provided. Don't be like that indifferent guest who came to the king's banquet without the wedding clothes which he provided for him. Because of this disrespect the king ordered him to be thrown into the place of darkness where is "weeping and gnashing of teeth". (Matthew 22:11-13)

4. Gold and precious jewels point to the great glory and purity of this mysterious city rather than riches. What is more important than the treasures and riches of New Jerusalem, however, is the fact that the twelve gates in it are named after the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev.21:12), and the twelve foundations on which the city is build, are named after the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Rev.21:14) This proves to us that here we have the whole church. Believers from the Old and new Testament period will be in that great city. Together they will praise, worship and serve the same God for ever and ever. The Lord Jesus Christ will unite them into one body. In His heart there is always enough room and love to include everybody. He loves the whole world. (John 3:16) This word "world" in Greek "cosmos" means all nations, all races ans all languages of the whole planet earth. He is not willing that "anyone should parish". (2 Peter 3:10) He wants everybody to live with Him eternally in that glorious city - the New Jerusalem.

God's Holy Word plainly reveales those who will be in heaven as well those who will not be there. We read the following statements: "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - thir place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death." (Rev.21:8) The apostle John also states in Revelation 22:15, that outside of the New Jerusalem, will be "... the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood," because "nothing impure will ever enter heaven." (Rev.21:27)

6. It is very interesting to notice that in the New Jerusalem there will not be any temple, (Rev.21:22) and there is no need for the sun. "The glory of God" will give sufficient light. Neither will there be any night, Jesus will be the source of all light. (Rev.21:23 and 22:5) In the old era and in the Old Testament times, the Temple was the centre of life of the people of Israel. Somehow everything revolved around God's Temple, around sacrifices, regular services and special festivals. During that time the people of Israel would read the law and the prophets, sing Psalms, sacrifice their many offerings and worship the Lord God. Even today we meet in different churches or in private homes, for regular and special services, where we, through prayers, hymns, worship, reading and expounding the Holy Scriptures, praise our living God. This will all end. In the New Jerusalem believers will only need the Lamb of God. They will forever and ever worship, praise and honour the Almighty God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

7. I must draw your attention to one more very interesting point, namely, that in heaven all the people will again speak the same and only one language as they did before their tongues were confused as they tried to build the Tower of Babel. (Gen.11:1-9) God says through the prophet Zephaniah 3:9: "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that thay may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent." Now all these people who were changed by God's Holy Spirit will speak the same language as together they will worship, praise and honour the Lord with one language and with the same desire, to please and praise only Him. This indeed will be an era of grateful service, joy, thanksgiving, contentment and of eternal bliss.

Dear friend, you might not understand much about theology nor know everything about eschatology, but if you want to escape the judgment to come, and get to heaven, just trust Jesus for Salvation. Do what the Philippians jail keeper did many years ago. When he asked: "Men, what must I do to be saved?", notice that the apostle Paul did not tell him, to join a church or depend on his good deeds. He told him with great emphesis: "Believe in the Lord jesus, and you will be saved ..." (Acts 16:30-31)

In 1989 Rose and I were privileged to visit Vienna, Austria where at one time the famous and powerful Hapsburgs ruled. It is said that before the Emperor Franz Josef was buried in the royal tomb, there was an impressive ceremony. Before the expensive casket of the Emperor was brought in, the royal chaplain asked the keeper of the cemetery where the royal tomb was, to admit the body of the monarch. During this time the keeper asked: "Who is there?" To which the chaplain answered: "I ask the admittance of the body of Franz Josef, Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, King of the Romans ..." and he went on and on with many titles. But the keeper answered: "I don't know Franz Josef, Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary ... " After a short period of waiting, the chaplain knocked again on the cemetery's door. When asked this time by the keeper of the royal cemetery. "Who is there?" He simply answered and said: "I ask admission for Franz Josef, a poor sinner saved by God's grace." At that time the keeper opened the big steel door and said: "Enter Franz Josef, poor sinner.."

Dear reader, do not plan to stand before God on the day of judgment hoping to claim any of the titles, Achievements and good works you might have. God will not accept them. With the tax collector of old, ask God to have mercy on you, a sinner. (Luke 18:13b) Only God's mercy is your sure pass into the New Jerusalem.