Revelation 21:1-4. The Dwelling Place of God & Man “I’m not looking for the sunset as the swift years come and go; I am looking for the sunrise and

Revelation 21:1-4

The Dwelling Place ofGod & Man

“I’m not looking for the sunset as the swift years come and go; I am looking for the sunrise and the golden morning glow.

“I’m not going down, but upward and the path is never dim, for the day proves ever brighter as I journey on with him.

“So my eyes are on the hilltops, waiting for the sun to rise, Waiting for my invitation to my home beyond the skies.”


What a glorious day when we see the eternal sunrise!


What a glorious day when we see the eternal sunrise!• In tonight’s text, the Apostle John sees a glimpse

of that eternal sunrise.


What a glorious day when we see the eternal sunrise!• In tonight’s text, the Apostle John sees a glimpse

of that eternal sunrise.• Revelation 21:1-4.



“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (vv 1-2, ESV).


The image of a new heaven & a new earth comes from Isaiah.


The image of a new heaven & a new earth comes from Isaiah.• “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth,

and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind” (Is 65:17, ESV).


The image of a new heaven & a new earth comes from Isaiah.• “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth,

and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind” (Is 65:17, ESV).

• “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I makeshall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain” (Is 66:22, ESV).


“New” here likely means a completely new universe.


“New” here likely means a completely new universe.• It is made out of completely new materials.


“New” here likely means a completely new universe.• It is made out of completely new materials.• This new heaven & new earth doesn’t even

resemble the old one.



The new heavens & earth are necessary because the old heavens & earth have been destroyed.



The new heavens & earth are necessary because the old heavens & earth have been destroyed.• When the Lord returns, this universe shall be

destroyed.



The new heavens & earth are necessary because the old heavens & earth have been destroyed.• When the Lord returns, this universe shall be

destroyed.• “The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and

then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (2 Pt 3:10, ESV).


The sea was no more.


The sea was no more.• Earlier in Revelation, the sea separated God &

man.



man. “Before the throne there was as it were a sea of

glass, like crystal” (Rev 4:6, ESV).




glass, like crystal” (Rev 4:6, ESV). The sea’s being no more could mean that the

barriers between God & man have been removed.





barriers between God & man have been removed.• In Revelation, the sea also represents evil.






“I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads” (Rev 13:1, ESV).






“I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads” (Rev 13:1, ESV).

Thus, this could also mean that evil is no more.


John sees the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.


John sees the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.• Again, this image comes from Isaiah.


John sees the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.• Again, this image comes from Isaiah.• “For behold, I create new heavens and a new

earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress” (Is 65:17-19, ESV).


John sees the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.• Again, this image comes from Isaiah (Is 65:17-

19).• This must be the “new Jerusalem,” for the old

Jerusalem was destroyed along with the old earth.


John sees the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.• Again, this image comes from Isaiah (Is 65:17-

19).• This must be the “new Jerusalem,” for the old

Jerusalem was destroyed along with the old earth.

• Jerusalem was often referred to as “the holy city.”


The new Jerusalem comes down from God—it is a divine city.


The new Jerusalem comes down from God—it is a divine city.• “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come

again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (Jn 14:3, ESV).




• Abraham “was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Heb 11:10, ESV).




• Abraham “was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Heb 11:10, ESV).

• “As it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city” (Heb 11:16, ESV).


The new Jerusalem was prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.


The new Jerusalem was prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.• The church is often depicted as the bride of

Christ.



Christ. “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who

took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom” (Mt 25:1, ESV).





About the roles of husbands & wives, Paul says, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (Eph 5:32, ESV).





About the roles of husbands & wives, Paul says, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (Eph 5:32, ESV).

“My brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God” (Rom 7:4, NKJV).



There is a sense in which this is a picture of the church glorified.



But, this is also a mixing of the church glorified & the place she shall inhabit.



But, this is also a mixing of the church glorified & the place she shall inhabit.• “Charleston” can refer both to the place & the

inhabitants.




inhabitants. “Charleston is 15 minutes away” refers to the

place.




inhabitants. “Charleston is 15 minutes away” refers to the

place. “Charleston just elected a new mayor” refers to the

inhabitants.




inhabitants.• Thus, “the new Jerusalem” refers both to the

church & the place she shall inhabit.



“I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away’ ” (vv 3-4, ESV).


This is the only time in Revelation that God speaks.


This is the only time in Revelation that God speaks.

That is significant, for what we hear is important.


The dwelling of God is with man.


The dwelling of God is with man. This is the fulfillment of an Old Testament

promise.



promise: “I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people” (Lev 26:11-12, ESV).



promise: (Lev 26:11-12). The Greek word “dwell” here is closely related

to the term “tabernacle.”




to the term “tabernacle.”• The idea behind the tabernacle was that God

dwelt with his people.




to the term “tabernacle.”• The idea behind the tabernacle was that God

dwelt with his people.• After the consummation of the ages, God will

dwell with his people.


The voice from the throne enumerates the blessings of the coming age.


The voice from the throne enumerates the blessings of the coming age.• This is a passage to which we often turn when we

need comfort.



need comfort. We should!



need comfort. We should! These words were inspired to give us great

comfort!


The voice from the throne enumerates the blessings of the coming age.• God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.



This must be tears of sorrow, for we have been told that mourning shall be no more.




Not only will God do away with sorrow, but he will personally wipe every tear from our eyes.




Not only will God do away with sorrow, but he will personally wipe every tear from our eyes.• Wiping the tears from someone’s eyes is an

expression of love.




Not only will God do away with sorrow, but he will personally wipe every tear from our eyes.• Wiping the tears from someone’s eyes is an

expression of love.• God demonstrates his love to us by wiping away our

tears.


The voice from the throne enumerates the blessings of the coming age.• God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.• Death shall be no more.



It only stands to reason that death shall be no more.



It only stands to reason that death shall be no more.• Death & Hades were thrown into the lake of fire

after the final judgment (Rev 20:14).



It only stands to reason that death shall be no more.• Death & Hades were thrown into the lake of fire

after the final judgment (Rev 20:14).• John also saw “on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month” (Rev 22:2, ESV).




This must have been a great comfort to the Christians who first read these words.




This must have been a great comfort to the Christians who first read these words.• They might be forced—in this life—to die for their

faith, but they would never die in the next life.




This must have been a great comfort to the Christians who first read these words.• They might be forced—in this life—to die for their

faith, but they would never die in the next life.• Their friends & loved ones would never have to give

up their lives.


The voice from the throne enumerates the blessings of the coming age.• God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.• Death shall be no more.• Pain shall be no more.



No more would there be the threat of being torn apart by wild animals or of being burned alive or of being crucified.



No more would there be the threat of being torn apart by wild animals or of being burned alive or of being crucified.

No more shall there be cancer or broken bones or car accidents.


John tells us how these things shall be.


John tells us how these things shall be.• “The former things have passed away” (v 4, ESV).


John tells us how these things shall be.• “The former things have passed away” (v 4, ESV).• The old world order with its pain & sorrow will

have vanished.


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Revelation 21:1-4. The Dwelling Place of God & Man “I’m not looking for the sunset as the swift years come and go; I am looking for the sunrise and