It’s hard to find a depiction of a greater contrast than the end of Revelation 20, sinful men being thrown into the lake of fire, and the first part of Revelation 21, redeemed men inheriting a new heaven and new earth. When contemplating such truths, Martin Luther could only say, “For this reason our Lord teaches us to become as little children.”
In Revelation 21:1, John sees a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. The sea being no more emphasizes the end of all opposition to God’s people. The sea was where the beast, who persecuted Christians, came from. The sea was also connected to ungodliness and idolatry in chapter 18.
In the new heaven and the new earth, the redeemed will be united in their love for God. In Isaiah 49, the heavens and earth are encouraged to rejoice and sing because the Lord has comforted his people. The Lord would have his creation and his people happy because of his faithfulness in keeping his promises.
The new earth is the inheritance of all who believe in Christ. The Lord Jesus said that the meek shall inherit the earth. He didn’t mean the earth as it is now, full of corruption, but a new earth where righteousness dwells. All people have a civil right to their own land and property on the present earth, but only believers will have a place on the new earth.
The meekness our Lord speaks of is not from natural personality. It is formed in us by God’s grace. It is the fruit of conviction of sin and the knowledge that Christ was crucified for my sin. If you don’t have meekness before Christ and because of Christ, you won’t practice meekness. This meekness is related to what one thinks of Christ.
In Revelation 21:2-4, John sees the blessedness of the redeemed of God. The church is the New Jerusalem, made up of Jews and Gentiles from all over the earth and made holy as the bride of Christ, who loved her and gave himself for her. The relationship between Christ and his people is described to us in terms of marriage, the closest relationship we know, so that we understand how intimate his love is.
We see that on the new earth, the dwelling place of God is with men (verse 3). We are never out of the presence of the Lord now and a believer knows how blessed it is when the Lord smiles on him in this world, but to be able to stand in the glorious presence of the Lord points to immeasurable communion and the highest privilege. How can we conceive of it? A blessed day!
This communion is strikingly conveyed in verse 4 with the living God himself wiping all tears out of the believer’s eyes. The meaning here is not just that the believer experienced pain and sorrow in the world, but that when he experienced it, he bore it with faith and waited on this day. Are you tried and tempted? This day isn’t far off. Let the nearness of joy unspeakable strengthen you.
In verse 5, the Lord says, “Behold, I am making all things new.” The “I am” identifies the Good Shepherd and the Bread of Life whose promises never fail. He will finish what he has begun in the church, and in you if you know him. He declares, “It is done,” as if it is already completed because he is “the Alpha and Omega” (verse 6). Committing your body and soul unto him is a good investment, yea, a certain investment.
Our Lord promises to give without payment the water of life to those who are thirsty. This is a precious thirst, to thirst for the living God. We must not forget these promises of bliss-nor how unworthy we are to receive them. In fact, the more we know how great our sin is, the more we understand the depths of Christ’s love to suffer and die for us.
In verses 7 and 8 we are reminded of the great divide again. Those who conquer, who persevere in faith, will have this heritage; those who have not true faith will have no place in the new heaven and the new earth. If you are not sure, make sure. If you need to repent, repent; turn to Christ, call upon him. He has promised not to refuse you; he came to save sinners.
