The New Jerusalem
Discover Jesus as: I AM Revelation 21 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)
Lesson
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Teaching Notes
INTRO
We have two days to finish up the book of Revelation and to finish up all 66 books of the Bible. Revive School has become so much more than we ever expected! One of the things we didn’t think about was how the Word would impact us! Our team had grown so much. We are going to be talking about a new heaven and a new earth, and it makes sense. No, I can’t picture everything. But when you go back and start studying in Genesis, it all builds to these final chapters. It feels right. At the end of chapter 20, everyone who doesn’t know Christ was thrown into the lake of fire. Everyone includes Satan, the beast, and the false prophet, who will all be tortured night and day forever.
TEACHING
Revelation 21:1-2: John saw a vision of a new start. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. There will no sea, no water. Praise God, because anytime I think of water used in Revelation, it is always used in judgment and torture. This new heaven and new earth are the fulfillment of Old Testament and New Testament prophecy (Psalm 102:25-26; Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Luke 21:33; Hebrews 1:10-12). I want to show you that this is not a new revelation. John presents us with a unique picture of the New Jerusalem, which has already been established. It is literally coming down from heaven, the capital city and the perfect place of holiness. MacArthur wrote, “It is seen ‘coming down out of heaven’ indicating it already existed; but it descends into the new heavens and new earth from its place on high. This is the city where the saints will live (John 14:1-3).”1 When I look at this picture, it becomes surreal.
Revelation 21:3-5: Christ coming to earth to die on the cross is a foreshadowing of the new heaven and new earth. Revelation 7:15 is the fulfillment of verse three. We are going to be invited to see the heavenly throne. Psalm 132 references God’s dwelling place over and over. This imagery happens after the 1,000 year millennium. This is the picture of heaven we talk about—no more grief, pain, or tears (Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58; 2 Corinthians 5:17). This becomes a complete fulfillment of the Word of God. To me, this is a picture of the comparison from Genesis to Revelation. Tom Constable gave us the following chart to look at.2
Genesis | Revelation | ||
Heaven and Earth Created | (1:1) | New Heaven and New Earth | (21:1) |
Sun Created | (1:16) | No Need for Sun | (21:23) |
Night Established | (1:5) | No Night | (21:25/22:5) |
Seas Created | (1:10) | No Seas | (21:1) |
Curse Commenced | (3:14–17) | No Curse | (22:3) |
Death Enters | (3:19) | No Death | (21:4) |
Man Driven from Paradise | (3:24) | Man Restored to Paradise | (22:14) |
Sorrow and Pain Begin | (3:17) | No More Mourning, Crying, or Pain | (21:4) |
I want us to be able to see the original creation and then how God restores it. It is a pretty powerful image. Verse 5 reminds us of Revelation 19:11, where we see Jesus coming back on a white horse and His words were faithful and true.
Revelation 21:6-8: It is done! What a picture! What is it that is done? It is the task of wrath. Jesus is in the beginning and the end. From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is there. The water Jesus will give is the water of life. His water will never dry up; thus, there is no need for the sea. Those who overcome and those who believe in Christ are the victors (1 John 5:4-5). The victors will be the sons of God who have a spiritual inheritance. The unbelievers will find their inheritance in the lake of fire—the second death. The first death is the physical death, and the second death is for unbelievers who will spend their eternity in the lake of fire.
Verse 8 lists cowards, unbelievers, those who are vile, murderers, those who are sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars. All of these lifestyles will send you to hell. I am pretty sure everyone has probably told a lie. At some point, many might deal with cowardice in regards to sexual immorality. The judgment is on a lifestyle, not a sin. This serves as a warning to not give in to these toxic types of lifestyles. Paul even warns us against these things in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
The message is pretty clear— these lifestyles are unacceptable. The good part is when you put your trust in Christ, He will change all of that?
Revelation 21:9-14: In these verses, we begin to see characteristics of the new Jerusalem. MacArthur wrote, “The new Jerusalem takes on the character of its inhabitants, the redeemed” (Revelation 19:7-9, 21:2).3 Constable explains, “Verses 11–22 [describe] physical features of the city.”4 The city had 12 high walls that are guarded by 12 angels. The gates are named after the sons of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ezekiel 48:30–35). We know there will be three gates on each side of the city—the south, east, north, and west. There will be 12 foundations that will have the name of the 12 apostles (Luke 6:13-16; Ephesians 2:20). Remember in Matthew 19:28, Jesus told the apostles that they would have a prominent place in heaven with Him.
Revelation 21:15-16: A gold rod (reed) was used to measure the city. MacArthur wrote, “The reed was about ten feet long, which was for a standard of measure.”5 The 12,000 stadia, or furlongs, is a symbol of perfection. MacArthur explains, “12,000 furlongs would be nearly 1,400 miles cubed or about two million square miles, offering plenty of room for all the glorified saints to live . . . The city has the symmetrical dimensions of a perfect cube.”6 It’s really big. The closet parallel on earth would be the inner sanctuary of the temple.
Revelation 21:17–21: The width of the wall measures 144 cubits, which is 73 yards or 216 feet. The wall is made of jasper. Jasper is probably like the material of a diamond. The city is made of pure gold. The gold will be clear so the radiance of God can reflect and shine. The foundations will have a precious stone adorned to it, probably having something to do with the apostles. There are 12 different, unique stones, eight of which were on the breastplate of the high priest. Each gate is made of a single pearl. The street is also made of transparent gold.
Revelation 21:22–27: There will be no sanctuary or temple because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are the sanctuary. The glory of God will illuminate the heavens. The nations will walk in light and bring their glory and honor into it. The gates will never close and there will never be night. There is no more sin, there are no more unbelievers. The Jews and the Gentiles can come together before the throne. This is the same picture as Revelation 3:5.
CLOSING
Why would we stay quiet about this new heaven and this new earth? We have a chance every day to share the truth of the new heaven and the new earth. God has offered His love and redemption to all; He just asks us to share His words. We have one more chapter until we bring the canon of Scripture to a close. See you tomorrow.
John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2005), p. 2036.
Thomas Constable, Dr. Constable’s Expository Bible Study Notes: Revelation, p. 339; available at https://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/revelation.pdf.
MacArthur, p. 2037.
Constable, p. 349.
MacArthur, p. 2038.
MacArthur, p. 2038.
Questions
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According to Revelation 21:1, why will there no longer be any sea in the new heaven and new earth?
Daily Word
Laura Martin Revelation 21:5b–7
“‘Write, because these words are faithful and true.’ 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. The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.’”
The marriage previously announced between the Bride and the Lamb finally occurs. John witnesses the holy New Jerusalem radiantly coming down out of heaven, ready for God like a bride meeting her husband. John sees the new heaven and new earth, where God will dwell with humanity. Death, grief, pain, and crying will no longer exist. The One seated on the throne instructs John to write these words because they are beautiful and true: “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. The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.”
Who is the victor to inherit these things? If you simply have faith to believe Jesus is the Son of God, then you can reign victorious in heaven forever with the Alpha and the Omega and drink from the spring of life forever. You will experience no more tears and no more pain, you will walk on golden streets in the light of God’s glory, and your name will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Jesus gave you the power and authority to share this good, life-changing message. Why stay quiet? Today, go and share the beauty and hope inherited by the victors who have faith in Jesus.
“‘Write, because these words are faithful and true.’ 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. The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.’”
— Revelation 21:5b–7
FURTHER SCRIPTURE
- 1 John 5:4–5 — “Because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
- Revelation 21:3–4 — “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. 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.”
- Revelation 21:9b–11 — “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” He then carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a very precious stone, like a jasper stone, bright as crystal.”
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