REVELATION 21

Genesis begins with Creation. Revelation ends with a new Creation, a new heaven and earth. In between, God creates new life in the believer (“if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” 2 Cor. 5:17). The center of focus in the new creation is the “New Jerusalem”. The church, the bride, has been made ready, sanctified, and now the place that Christ went to prepare for her (see John 14) is ready.

At some point in the wilderness, God ordered the tabernacle to be moved outside the main camp, as God no longer would dwell among His people, based on their refusal to fully trust and obey. Later, His glory left the temple, when Israel’s idolatry could not be tolerated. Here, as we read in Revelation, God will again dwell among His people, all those who chose to believe. Here they will no longer experience any more tears, death, mourning, crying, or pain.

Emphatically, John is told to write it down, “I will make all things new.” God will make good on such promises. And in the same way, His holiness demands justice, and again John is told of those unbelieving, and their doom in the Lake of Fire. Hell is real, and we Christians should not be afraid to say so.

From a great and high mountain, John sees this great city, the New Jerusalem, from above, and he records its measurements, its dimensions, and how beautifully adorned Christ’s capital city will be. Here, there is no temple, as God will be (is) the center of worship.

These city gates will never close (OT city gates needed to do so for protection), there is no need for these doors to close. The saved in Christ will be there, it will never be dark, illumined by God, the source of glorious light.

SO WHAT...?

So, I can’t wait to see this city. OK, I still have work to do for Christ here and now, and no, I am not eager to die just yet. But if this chapter does not excite me as a Christian, I need a reality check for sure.

So, I mentioned Hell is a real, eternal place, just as this new creation, this new heaven and earth. If you’ve never trusted Christ personally, won’t you consider doing so? Or if you have done so, and just haven’t quite surrendered your life to Him completely, what better life could there be, than to follow and live for the eternal King?