Making All Things New-Rev 21-22

New Testament, Revelation, Sermons

Revelation 21-22

Key Verse: Rev 21:5

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

What is heaven like? An agony of life is that all things get old. Therefore, all people as they age have a mental image of their youthful selves–NOT of their current age! Leonardo DiCaprio looked dashing in the Great Gatsby (2013). But he looked better in Titanic (1998) declaring “I am the king of the world!” This past week I visited my wife’s brother and sister in Palm Springs, the place where countless celebrities lived. In the museums, almost every Hollywood star in their prime looked captivatingly, stunningly and mesmerizingly gorgeous, from Frank Sinatra to Marilyn Monroe, the Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift of their day. But the painful reality is that they became old and lost their beauty. But God declares, “I am making everything new!” The ESV says, “I am making all things new!”

Heaven is where everything is made new. Last month, 10 couples at West Loop UBF Church renewed our wedding vows. After 32 years of marriage, Christy said to me, “I look old.” She expected me to say, “You look as young as the day I met you.” Instead, I said, “It doesn’t bother me.” She said, “You’re fortunate that I don’t beat you up!” She is right. But I spoke the truth. I believe I even spoke biblically…even if it is not romantic! In my heart and mind, my wife NEVER looks old. After 32 years of marriage she still looks like my gorgeous bride on our glorious wedding day in 1981. The word “old” does not compute in my mind. It is because Christ is my Bridegroom, in whom all things and everything is new (Rev 21:5). Presently it is new in my mind’s eye because of the glorious hope planted in me by the Holy Spirit. But when Jesus appears, we will all become new in stunning mesmerizing reality. In Christ and by his grace alone, we all become superstars and supermodels! “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20).

All I need is 5 C’s: Christ, Christy, the Church (beginning with our Christian community at West Loop), my three cats and Chicago sports when they win. Mysteriously, they plant in me the glorious hope of heaven, which is the glorious hope of a new heaven and the new earth (Rev 21:1). One day I will see Jesus face to face (Rev 22:4). On that day my wife who is always young will be made new (Rev 21:5). The church is the bride of the Lamb (Rev 21:2, 9) and it is the place where I always want to be now and forever. Even my three aging cats will be renewed…perhaps. In the new heaven and the new earth, the Chicago Cubs will finally win the World Series!

Do we even suffer? The Christians John wrote to suffered much. Many suffered martyrdom (Rev 2:10). There have also been more Christian martyrs over the last century than over the past 19 centuries. But in an affluent society like the U.S. it is embarrassing for any Christian to say or think that we suffer. Many “suffer” because they do not get their own way, or they do not get what they want. Or they cannot control their spending habits or their desires and appetite for pleasures or addictions, all of which can become idolatries. We are akin to spoiled kids of rich parents. Others might feel that their present life in the U.S. is not bad, even if they are in debt or under the influence of various idolatries. Being deluded by the comforts of life, we might not appreciate Revelation. But those who truly suffer as Christians grasp the glorious hope and vision of the new heaven and the new earth that Revelation presents.

Restored to a better state. “Let there be this difference between the servants of Christ and the worshippers of idols, that the latter weep for their friends, whom they suppose to have perished forever… But from us, for whom death is the end not of our nature but of this life only, since our nature itself is restored to a better state, let the advent of death wipe away all tears.” Saint Ambrose (340-397 AD), Bishop of Milan.

Revelation 21-22 “depict the consummation of the purposes of God in the gospel. Picking up the whole-Bible motif of marriage, the people of God (Rev 21:2) [represented in the new Jerusalem] are wedded to the Lamb (Rev 21:3) [symbolizing our eternal reconciliation, union and presence with Christ]. In these final two chapters of the Bible, then, we see the final restoration and advancement of the creation introduced in the first two chapters of the Bible–only this time without any possibility of sin or its effects entering in, for Satan has been destroyed once and for all (Rev 20:7-10).” (Gospel Transformation Bible, 2013.)

Revelation concludes with a vision of heaven. It is a vision that is too glorious for the human mind to conceive and imagine, or for words to describe and elaborate. D.A. Carson (N.T. professor at Trinity) considers what heaven is like in four parts:

  1. What is new
  2. What is symbol laden
  3. What is missing
  4. What is central
  1. What Is New(21:1-8)
  1. A new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21:1).
  2. A new Jerusalem (Rev 21:2a, 10).
  3. A bride (Rev 21:2b, 9).
  4. God dwells with his people (Rev 21:3-4, 6-8).
  5. Everything (Rev 21:5).
  1. What Is Symbol Laden(21:9-21)
  1. A cube (Rev 21:16). 12,000 stadia (~1,500 miles). Chicago to NY is 712 miles, to LA is 1,746 miles.

 III. What Is Missing (21:22-27)

  1. A temple (Rev 21:22).
  2. The sun and moon (Rev 21:23-26).
  3. Impurity (Rev 21:27, 8).
  4. Seven evils: sea (Rev 21:1b), death, mourning, weeping, pain (Rev 21:4), curse (Rev 22:3) and night (Rev 22:5).
  1. What Is Central(22:1-5)
  1. River of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Rev 22:1-3).
  2. We will see God’s face (Rev 22:4-5).

 What is most important to you? Where is your treasure? Your heart will follow. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:19-21). Yes, Prov 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart” (Prov 4:23), for it will shape who we are and all that we do. But in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is saying, “Choose your treasure.” What then is your treasure? Your pride and ego? Your ideology? Your church? Your family? Your spouse? Your children? Your career? Your ambition for financial success? Or is it the new heaven and the new earth? Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:21).

The gospel in Revelation. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is a gospel message of God’s saving grace in Jesus (Jn 5:39; Lk 24:27, 44; Ac 10:43; 20:24), whose final glory is yet to come. This saving grace is a free gift (Rev 22:17). It is not because God is lenient toward sin, or that fallen human beings deserve such grace. Rather the Lamb paid the costly price on our behalf by shedding his blood (Rev 22:14; 7:14).

The greatest words in all of Scripture. All that is unclean and impure is outside the new Jerusalem (Rev 21:27; 22:3). In fact and actuality and without a doubt, I should be cast outside with the dogs and idolators (Rev 22:15). But I am inside! How is that ever possible?? It is possible only because of the gospel. There was One Clean Person to ever walk the face of the earth. He loved God with all his heart. He loved his neighbor and even his enemies as himself. But he went to a cross. The God he loved turned His face away as he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34) Martin Luther regarded Jesus’ cry of dereliction (abandonment) from the cross as “the greatest words in all of Scripture.” On that cross he became “unclean” [he became me] so that we unclean sinners can be fully and finally cleansed, all by grace (2 Cor 5:21).

 References:

  1. Carson, D.A. The God Who Is There: Finding Your Place in God’s Story. Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group. 2010. Chap. 14: The God Who Triumps. 213-224.
  2. Johnson, Dennis E. Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation. Pillipsburg: P&R Publishing Company. 2001.
  3. Morris, Leon, The Book of Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries). Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1987.
  4. Kim Riddlebarger. 32 sermons on Revelation. Riddlebarger is the Sr. Pastor of Christ Reformed Church. Anaheim.
  5. D.A. Carson. 26 lectures on Revelation given to seminary students at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1995.
  6. What is heaven like? (Rev 21-22). Sermon given in Manila UBF in Aug 2012.
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