III. THE FUTURE (“THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER"), PART
2b--6:1-22:21
E. The Eternal State--21:1--22:21, Part 1
1. The new Jerusalem--21:1-22:5
a. The new heavens
and earth--vv. 1-5a
(I)
The time--v. 1
(A) After the millennium
(B) After the great white throne judgment
(C) After the dissolution of the present heavens and earth
(II)
The nature--vv. 1-5a
(A) The Scriptural record
(1) Isaiah 65:17; 66:22
(2) Hebrews 12:26-28
(3) 2 Peter 3:10-13
(4) Revelation 20:11 and this text
(B) Not.merely a cleansing by fire
(1) Note the passages given
(2) Govett (Newell, 336, Footnote; italics are
his.)--"Many will not accept the scripture doctrine of
utter destruction of the
old globe. What the reason is, is perhaps hard to say, but most will
with
earnestness contend that
the fire will only purge the world, not destroy it. Perhaps this is
owing to
the felt connection between
the entire destruction of man's abode and the eternal suffering of
the
wicked. With some it
arises from fancied scientific reasons: 'matter cannot be annihilated.'
True,
man cannot annihilate it,
but cannot God? Did He not bring it into existence out of nothing?
Can
He not hurl it again into
nothingness? This answer often brings out into view the fact that many
d
not believe in creation;
they believe that God did not make all things out of nought. He
only
'framed them out of
pre-existent matter.' Such are indeed consistent; but they are
opposed to the
glory of God and to
the testimony of His Word. Moreover, the apostle argues that
the prophecy
of Haggai foretells
the final shaking of heaven and earth preparatory to their entire
removal; in
order that the new creation
may supersede them" (refers to Hebrews 12). After mentioning
Revelation 20:11, he states,
"How this can consist with their atoms being remolded and constituting
the place in which the redeemer
shall live, would puzzle the acutest to discover."
(C) A completely new thing
(1) Verse 5 clearly states, "I make all things
new."
(2) Not changed, or purified, but new
(3) Newell (336-337)--"To one of the simplicity
of a child, all these Scriptures convey nothing else
than the complete disappearance
of a former creation and the appearing by the Word of God of
a
material creation absolutely
new."
(4) In no way does the bodily resurrection prove
that the presently created matter eternally exists.--cf.
1 Corinthians 15:35-38
(D) The new Jerusalem is related to the new heavens and earth.
(1) Evident from the immediate context of
verse 2
(2) Will be examined further in connection with
verses 9-27
(E) God dwelling with men
(1) Connected with the new heavens and earth
as seen from the context of verses 3, 4
(2) Also associated with the new Jerusalem
(3) This relationship certainly will have to
do with the Jews.
(a) Required by the covenants
of God to Israel guaranteeing them in perpetuity
((I)) A kingdom
((II)) A King
((III)) Spiritual
blessings
(b) Doubtlessly the remnant
of Israel will be translated from the old earth to the new.
(4) Would include the sheep nations as seen in
verse 24
(5) Then God shall wipe away all tears, etc.--v.4
(a) These words would primarily
refer to the .Jews.
(b) Would be applicable to
all redeemed people
(c) Possible because all
former things are passed away
b. The two classes
in eternity--vv. 5b-8
(I)
"These words are faithful and true."--v. 5b
(A) Certainly apply to the preceding verses
(B) Apply to the verses to follow: Whenever God commands
to write, important truth is to be presented.
(II)
The One Who commands to write--v. 6a
(A) The Alpha and Omega--The A and Z
(1) Identified with God the Father in Revelation
1:8
(2) Identified with God the Son in Revelation
1:11
(3) Probably God the Father is here in view--cf.
v. 7b
(B) The Beginning and the End
(1) Newell, 19, on Revelation 1:8--"Not a beginning
and an end, but the only One."
(2) Genesis 1:1
(3) God is the beginning and the end of
everything.
(4) Note Hebrews 12:2 (Author--beginner or origin;
Finisher--end)
(III)
The class of saved--vv. 6b-7
(A) The unconditional promise of the water of life
to those athirst
(1) Undoubtedly refers to redeemed Israel translated
to the new earth.
(2) Would include the sheep nations
(3) Here is an invitation in the midst of the
statement of eternal state.
(B) Overcomers inherit all things--v. 7
(1) Who?
(a) Again, refers to redeemed
Israel, and possibly the saved nations (sheep)
(b) What about the church?
((I)) Though
applicable to the church, not primarily a reference to them. They are
seen later in
this chapter.
((II)) Keep
in mind that the church is the Bride of Christ having that unique relation
with Him.
(See below.)
(2) God will be the overcomers' God.
(3) The overcomer will be God's sons.
(4) Inherit all things--could be rendered "Inherit
these things"
(a) Would refer to the fountain
of life
(b) Would refer to the new
earth
(c) Would refer to sonship
(5) Sonship here
(a) Certainly the church,
someone is bound to say, for the believers in the church are sons of God.
(b) But the church is more
than Sons of God; it is the bride of Christ, the Lamb's wife
(c) As such, the church sustains
a closer and more intimate relationship than mere sonship. Oh
the
wonderful
glory of being part of the church, the bride of Christ!
(d) The difficulty arises
out of the fact that no longer is there a wide separation between saints
of
various ages,
but rather all those who have part in the first resurrection (whether Old
Testament
saints, church
saints, tribulation saints, or millennial saints) are brought together in
one place in
fellowship
with one another, although keeping their distinct character.
(C) Whatever group a saved person is in, one thing is certain
and paramount from this passage: ALL
SAVED PERSONS WILL BE FOREVER IN THE PRESENCE
OF OR DWELLING
WITH GOD--FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT!
(IV)
The class of unsaved--v. 8
(A) Who they are
(1) The fearful
(a) You may have fears now,
but when you are perfected in love, fear will be gone--cf. 1 John
4:18.
(b) There is no fear in the
sense of foreboding or cringing; only reverential trust.
(2) Unbelieving--self-explanatory
(3) Abominable
(a) All false gods
(b) Anyone, like Satan and
the antichrist, who tries to set himself as God
(4) Murderers
(a) There is a difference
between killing and murder
(b) Killing can be accidental
or in self-defense
(c) Murder is always
deliberate.
(5) Whoremongers--all sex deviates
(6) Sorcerers--those who by means of various
tricks deceive someone to depart from God (Would
includes witches)
(7) Idolaters--those who make and worship any
image
(8) Liars--all
(a) White lie tellers
(b) Black lie tellers
(c) God does not make a
distinction-:between white and black lies.
(B) Such were we who are saved.
(1) Keep in mind that this list is of those
who are still unrepentant.
(2) Cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
(C) Where they are
(1) Their part is in the lake of fire burning
with brimstone.
(2) This is the second death.
(3) Newell, 339--"While those who chose darkness
and evil deeds are indeed seen in this final state, it
is as eternally separated
from holy beings, and under divine indignation (Revelation 21:8). There
is
no longer any danger of
invasion, either from former evil, or from temptation or trial in any
sense
whatever to God's holy
ones."
(4) NOTE: This second death has no authority
over those who partake of the first
resurrection--cf. Revelation
20:6. You either believe on Christ, thus being born twice and dying
once (unless raptured); or
you disbelieve, thus being born once and dying twice.