Revelation 21: 1-8 21Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. 2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. 5 Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life. 7 The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. 8 But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” When Jesus was talking to the teacher of Israel, Nicodemus, He said very clearly, "I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 Jesus was stating 2 things with absolute clarity in his language at that time. We may read the word "see" as meaning "one day see" or "enter" but Jesus was saying that unless a man is (present tense, NOT something he has to become) he could not perceive or understand (with a positive response). So it is, that all who are born again will hear of the kingdom of God and respond positively.
John the Apostle sees and hears about the fulfillment of all that Jesus was either speaking of or eluding to through the prophets, Himself or the Apostles after Him. There are few things that matter more this side of glory than how we respond to the truth of God’s word. For the unbeliever it would mean heaven or hell. For the believer it could mean a life a misery despite what Jesus said clearly, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10 The Apostles knew that this didn't mean they would live a life void of struggle. They knew real persecution but saw it in light of eternity and actually said they were blessed to be counted worthy to suffer for Jesus' sake. In our passage today John sees the new heaven and the new earth, the bride of Christ as Jesus said presented with spot or wrinkle and he hears the proclamation that God has made His dwelling with us. What a comfort it must have been for him to be reassured of things to come, things promised by a faithful God that loved him and knew right where he was at. He was working in and through him that the world for generations to come would know exactly how His-Story ends, as God had in his minds eye even before there was a beginning. As amazing as what he saw was, what he heard is the best reality anyone could hope for and this will be the Eternal State. The Eternal State is exactly what it says it is, the way things will be forever! What a glorious future for those have who have trusted in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sin. Have a great day Loved Ones and God bless you real good!
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