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Revelation 21 & 22  

The apostle Peter writes that the present skies above and earth beneath are "reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men."  The lake of fire, written of in Revelation 20, will burn for a time until all sin and sinners are destroyed.  In that inexpressible time of global fire, all of God's children will be safe within the fortified City of God.  The universe above as we know it will "disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare . . . that day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness," (2 Peter 3:7, 10-13).

Once the fire burns out, the Spirit of God will move across the parched and empty landscape.  The earth and atmosphere will be changed into a lovely habitation of Eden's beauty.  No sea will separate peoples and races.  Fascinating animals of all designs and species will be brought into existence at the voice of God, each with a pleasant friendly temperament.

Luscious green grass, trees and foliage will blossom fresh and will remain so throughout the generations.  All the redeemed will agree, for God has written His Law in their hearts, to live by God's commandments-- to love God first, and their neighbors as themselves.  Mankind's natural tendency will then be to always do what is right, and the temptation to sin will be gone.  No graves will ever be dug again.  Sin will not rise up a second time.

With joy the prophet John saw in future vision a total restructure of the skies above and Planet Earth renewed, for the first heaven and earth had passed away before his eyes (Revelation 21:1-2). 

1. What does John next see coming down out of Heaven?

The New Jerusalem, for the old city has long since been destroyed (Luke 21:20).

2. She is identified as "a Bride beautifully dressed for her Husband [Christ]."  When will the wedding--the coming together in union of Bride and Groom--take place in Heaven (Revelation 19:1-8)?

Just after the "prostitute", the great city and people that is symbolically Messiah's wayward wife (Jeremiah 3:14, 20), is destroyed at the end for having followed after Antichrist and idolatry.  

Although prophecy clearly warns Jerusalem, she will still join in celebration with the whole world at the death of the last two witnesses who will warn of Antichrist's deadly abomination about to be set up in the Jerusalem Temple (Revelation 11:7-10).  No one will lift a hand to even bury their bodies.  

As most men who indulge in intimate companionship of prostitutes, the nations will literally despise the woman, Jerusalem, after having used her.  Once they get what they want (Antichrist's access to the Temple), the nations will line up in hatred to ruin the "great city" as great calamities fall upon them in God's wrath.  After the two witnesses are killed and the "Anointed One is cut off and will have no one" (f26, N.I.V.) left to warn of coming destruction, the nations will attack her and leave her desolate and naked (Daniel 9:26; Revelation 17:16-18).

Once the prostitute is destroyed, the wedding which will take place in Heaven shortly before Messiah comes visibly in the clouds to destroy all sinners.  The gates of the City of God will be opened up for the first time and Jesus Christ will walk in with the redeemed who have just previously been raised to life at the trumpet blast and His loud voice--the voice of the Archangel.  In the symbolism of marriage, this intimate connection will last for all the ages to come between the New Jerusalem--the Bride inhabited by star-bright citizens who adorn her dressed in white linen (Revelation 19:7-8; Daniel 12:3; Matthew 13:43) and the Groom-- Messiah in His dazzling glory (Matthew 17:2; Revelation 1:16).  On the earth made new and in the New Jerusalem God will abide forever; and for this reason, this planet and the saints purchased by the blood of the Most High will always maintain a special relationship no matter how many worlds are created in the vast universe throughout the ceaseless ages.  

3. What is the proclamation given in Revelation 21:3-4?

God's dwelling is going to be with mankind on Planet Earth.  He will transfer His throne from the skies above to this location in the universe.  Almighty will also wipe away all sadness and tears.  There will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain, for the old order of things will pass away.  Once sin and sinners are destroyed from existence along with all traces of sin, the former will not be remember again.  In God's grace He will wipe the pain from our hearts and replace it with joy.

In Revelation 21:5-8 God proclaims He is making all things new!  You can count on it, God declares, so "write this down" as an eternal record that I said so.  The "Alpha and the Omega"--from the first to the last alphabet of all speech and communication, the "Beginning and the End"--the One who has always existed and will always exist, is in complete control.  These drastic universal alterations not only affect mankind and this planet, but millions upon millions of loyal angels. Their lives will also be altered forever as God moves His home to the new world.  

4. God proclaims, "It is done," then comes peace and rest.  What four times in Holy Writ does God's finished work bring respite?  

Genesis 2:1-3    After His creative work, so He added an extra day--the seventh day Sabbath--that mankind might join in the weekly rest 

John 19:30-31    After His redemptive work, so He rested in the grave during the Sabbath hours in honor of His creative labor

Revelation 16:17    After His investigative judgment work and blotting out of sin from the courts of Heaven, so He will add on the seventh millennial (1,000 year) Sabbath day before final judgment

Revelation 21:6    After His judgment and re-creation of the heavens and earth, so that man with God might rest in an eternal Sabbath of peace and joy 

5. What three promises are given to the saints in verses 6-7?

Access to the springs of living water at no cost (eternal life); inheritance (as though deserved) of all that God will create for our enjoyment; and the official adoption as sons and daughters of God (to live in intimate companionship in God's home as though the great White House is all ours).

The saints are first chosen, predestined and then adopted as the very sons of the Most High (Ephesians 1:4-5). For this reason, they will receive the privileges of protection, provision of daily needs, guidance, audience with their Father, and the heavenly inheritance--a place to call home, which no one can take away.

In contrast, Revelation 21:8 identifies eight types of people who will be destroyed in the lake of fire--the second death.  They represent some of the sins that God hates most, and behavior which cannot be tolerated.  They are 1) cowardly individuals who deny Christ before others; 2) those who waver in their faith; 3) the vile person who practices known sins; 4) individuals who destroy without just cause; 5) the sexually immoral; 6) those who practice astrology and magic arts; 7) those who worship stone images and man-made creations 8) and the deliberately deceptive.