Revelation 21:1-5, Promise To Make All Things New

Revelation 21:1-5, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of 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 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. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

This is one of my favorite passages of Scriptures and promises from God in the Bible. This time will happen after the 1,000 year Millennium. In Revelation chapter 19 and 20 we read about the final overthrow and imprisonment of the Beast and the False Prophet. We read about The Great White Throne Of Judgment of all unsaved people throughout human civilization. And now in chapter 21 we read about the New Jerusalem descending down from Heaven upon the earth. This can only mean that the New Jerusalem is presently up in Heaven. This makes perfect sense, because that is where the Tabernacle of God is. 

In the Old Testament, God originally dwelt among men in a tent. The Israelites would literally move the Tabernacle from one place to another, setting it up and taking it down. One of the best books I have ever read on the subject, if you'd like to buy the book online, is by Pastor M.R. DeHaan (1891-1965) called: “The Tabernacle.” It is a beautiful book that explains all about the Tabernacle and it's rich symbolic meaning. If you have struggled with the assurance of your salvation, I strongly recommend that you read this book, because it will lay a solid foundation of the entire meaning and reason for salvation. In short, the book is all about THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. We are saved by the blood (1st John 1:7; Hebrews 9:12, 22-24; 12:24; Revelation 1:5).

The Old Testament Tabernacle was symbolic of the Tabernacle in Heaven. The Bible makes this very clear. Hebrews 8:5, “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” I love the book of Hebrews! Everything that happened in the Old Testament concerning the work of the high priest and the holy place, were a prototype (a pattern) of the heavenly ones. Heaven is presently a physical place. There is a physical Holy Place, and a Holy of Holies, where Jesus' physical liquid blood is sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat. This is all located in the Tabernacle where God dwelleth. This Tabernacle will someday descend upon the earth after the Millennium, and God will dwell with men forever upon the earth.

The Bible says there will be “no more sea” in Revelation 21:1. The Jehovah's Witnesses errantly teach that “sea” refers to masses of people. It is always wrong to spiritualize the Scriptures to say what they don't say. Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses alike crunch a bunch of numbers in the Bible to fabricate some strange doctrines. By crunching numbers and torturing the Scriptures, SDA's came up with the year 1844. They claim that this is the year Jesus entered into the heavenly Holy Place. Why would Jesus wait nearly 2,000 years to enter into the Holy Place? It makes no sense at all. It amazes me that SDA has a worldwide membership of 21,000,000 people. Satan is a beautiful liar! SDA's adhere to a Lordship Salvation type of redemption, which is another gospel, not what the Bible teaches.

In Revelation 21:1-5 we have God's RPOMISE that all former things shall be wiped away. The pain, loss and misery caused by our sins and failures on earth will be taken away by God forever. What a day that will be. But this means that believers will suffer tears, regret and sadness during the 1,000 year Millennium. Now we know that no believer is condemned. The Bible makes this very clear in John 3:18 and Romans 8:34. Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” A Calvinist man tried to use this passage of Scripture to justify Lordship Salvation. He said that there is no condemnation only for those believers who walk not after the flesh. 

As a rule we ought never use an obscure passage of Scripture to contradict a clear one. Romans 8:1 is obscure, since it can be taken different ways. But that is not what this passage means. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. We must include verse 2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 clearly speaks about the Holy Spirit's eternal life given through faith in Jesus Christ, versus the wages of sin which is death. If you are saved, you have eternal life because of the indwelling Holy Spirit; but that doesn't mean you always walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit. 

Galatians 5:25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” To say that there is no condemnation only to those who walk in the Spirit is self-righteousness! I am saved because of the Holy Spirit, Who came to live inside my body, soul and spirit by faith alone. Please don't miss that dear friend, because it is very important. Romans 8:1 is simply saying that we have eternal life in Jesus Christ, not by the works of the flesh which cannot cleanse us from sin, but by the blessed Holy Spirit Who indwells and seals every believer by faith alone.

In Revelation 21:4-5 we are promised, “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. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” I am overwhelmed with comfort in my soul every time I read this beautiful promise from God. So much can be taken away from this passage. There will be NO MORE TEARS. There will be NO MORE SORROW. There will be NO MORE DEATH. There will be NO MORE CRYING. Dear reader, that logically must mean that Christians will cry tears during the Millennium. We will feel sorrow and regret in our resurrected bodies, for our failures to preach the Gospel on earth. 2nd Corinthians 5:10-11 says we will face “THE TERROR OF THE LORD.” Therefore, “WE PERSUAGE MEN.” That is exactly what the Bible teaches.

Now, we won't die in our resurrected bodies, but other Christians who were saved during the Tribulation period, and went into the Millennium in their mortal bodies WILL DIE. Their children born during the Millennium will die. We will weep when our friends die. Have you ever thought about this? During the Millennial period, when Christ reigns from Jerusalem over the entire earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, every believer who was saved prior to the Rapture will have our glorified resurrected immortal bodies; but all of the people saved during the Tribulation (who endured physically to survive it), and their offspring, will have their mortal bodies during the Millennium. 

This will be an interesting situation. We will be immortal, but many of our loved ones and friends will be mortal. Revelation 20:6 says we will help reign with Jesus, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” There will be TWO great resurrections in the Bible. The first resurrection is comprised of 5 different resurrections for believers. I learned this great truth from Pastor Max D. Younce, my friend whom I love dearly in the faith. I have learned so much truth from him. Dr. Younce is in my humble opinion the Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) of our generation. The second great resurrection will be at The Great White Throne Of Judgment for all unbelievers (Revelation 20:11-15).

In Revelation 21:4-5, the Bible PROMISES that God will make all things new. That sounds real good to me. The former things shall be passed away. In order for our tears to be gone forever, God will need to somehow remove the memories of the past. Dear friend, if you have a criminal record here on earth, it will be burned up someday with all things in this world. 2nd Peter 3:7, “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” God will not destroy the earth with fire; but rather, He is going to PURGE the earth of all the sin, everything manmade and all therein. If you are a redeemed child of God, according to Romans 8:34 NO ONE can condemn you. You are as clean and pure in God's eyes as Jesus Christ Himself. This is called in theology, the Imputed Righteousness of Jesus Christ.

In 2019, it was big news that a fire at Universal Studios in California destroyed 100,000 original music recordings by the Eagles, Elton John, Aerosmith, The Police, Nirvana, Gun N' Roses, Yoko Ono, Eminem, Steely Dan and other famous musical artists. But dear friend, as I just quoted to you from the Bible, EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD WILL BURN ONE DAY!!! What does that say to us? It clearly says that living for this life is ultimately a waste of time! 

I was driving home last night from doing some exercise. I had my music blasting (I love loud music). I saw a funeral procession turn the corner, as police cars directed the traffic. I turned my radio down, as I always do, showing respect for the dead. But I noticed something very interesting as the long hearse turned the corner, while I was waiting at the red traffic light—THERE WAS NO U-HAUL BEHIND THE HEARSE!!! Huh, what do ya know about that, you can't take it with you after all! Yes, that is right dear friend, when this life is over you won't be able to take even $1 with you. You won't be able to take your favorite toys, clothing, jewelry, et cetera. 

When Playboy founder Hugh Hefner (1926-2017) died, he left behind an exotic mansion worth $113,000,000. When Apple computer guru Steve Jobs (1955-2011) died, he left behind a staggering estate worth $10,200,000,000. Wow, that's a lot of cheddar! Sadly, neither of these men died IN THE LORD (Revelation 14:13). Steve Jobs was a devout Buddhist, which rejects Jesus as the Christ. Hugh Hefner was an agnostic, not sure what he believes, but he knew in his own heart that whatever he did was right in his own eyes, just so long as it didn't hurt anybody. That was his Satanic philosophy on life. I am soooooo glad and thankful to be a born-again Christian!!! I am so fortunate and blessed to be ONE OF THE FEW people who ever get saved. 

It is not that I am special, or chosen by God, or anything like that; but rather, it is simply because I trusted Jesus as a 13 year old boy as my Savior. John 5:40, “Joh:5:40: And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” Steve Jobs and Hugh Hefner refused to come to Jesus, because of their love for sin (John 3:20). And by the way, everybody thinks that the opposite of John 3:20 is turning away from your sin to be saved, but that is wrong. If we simply read the next verse in John 3:21b we find the answer... “BUT HE THAT DOETH TRUTH cometh to the light...” Repentance is not from sin, but “to the acknowledging of the truth;” (2nd Timothy 2:25). Repentance is a change of mind, acknowledging THE TRUTH that you are a guilty sinner (Romans 3:19-20), believing the Gospel to be saved (1st Corinthians 15:1-5). 

The wonderful time is coming dear reader, after the Millennium, when God shall wipe away all tears, and there will be no more pain, no more night, no more sin, no more evil, no more Devil to hurt people, no more sickness or death, no more sorrow or suffering. I cannot even imagine such a beautiful time, but we have God's solemn PROMISE in the Scriptures. Someday all the FORMER THINGS shall be passed away. We have a bright future in Jesus Christ, so bright in fact that someone said we need to wear sunglasses... lol. I like that. I don't know about you, but I rejoice to know that I am on the winning side in my God and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for reading this. Have a good day. Jesus is precious!!!!