Welcome! So glad you’re here.

In The Last Battle, seventh and last book of the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis writes, “And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

Today is the last part in our Revelation series. I’m so excited to talk about the New Creation! Jesus saves the best for last.

What is Revelation? Revelation is a series of visions from God. It’s the last book in our Bible that’s three genres in one! (apocalypse, prophecy, letter, cf. Rev 1:1-4) 1] Revelation is an apocalypse of Jesus (Greek word = to unveil). Apocalyptic literature communicates through symbolic images, colors, and numbers. We take the images seriously, but not necessarily literally. Revelation is meant to engage our imagination, and there are lots of allusions to the Old Testament scriptures. 2] Revelation is a prophecy, a word from God spoken through a person to God’s people (usually to challenge or comfort them in crisis). 3] Revelation is a letter, written in Greek by John around 95 AD to seven churches (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea) in Asia (modern Türkiye), followers of Jesus who lived under the Roman Empire in the first century. Remember, the end times (or last days) began at the resurrection of Jesus and outpouring of the Spirit (Hebrews 1:2, Acts 2:17).

What’s a brief outline of the book? Revelation 1-3 describes the opening vision of Jesus and his messages to the seven churches. Revelation 4-5 describes the key vision of worship in heaven. Revelation 6-20 describes visions of God’s justice with interludes. Revelation 21-22 describes the final vision of the New Creation.

What’s the purpose and message of the book? The purpose of Revelation is to confront us with a challenge and to comfort us with hope. Revelation invites us to see, worship, and follow Jesus into the New Creation as faithful disciples. We read Revelation not to be informed, but transformed.

Revelation 21-22 | New Creation

Has there ever been a moment in your life when you thought, “Well, this is new!” It’s a sense of “everything is going to be different now”. It might be the birth of a child, the beginning of a marriage, recovering from a long illness, or the experience of someone new coming to live with you. John says, It’s like this, but so much more!

For the last time in Revelation, John writes, “Then I saw…” He sees three images all describing the same wonderful future reality for those who faithfully follow Jesus. It’s a kaleidoscope of God’s promises. He’s trying to describe the indescribable. “(It’s like…”) Can you describe to a blind person the way sunlight illuminates the leaves of a tree changing colors in the fall? Can you tell me about the wonderful intricacies of the way a human develops in the womb from a single cell to a breathing 7 lb. baby? Words and images can only communicate a part of what it’ll be like!

NEW HEAVEN & NEW EARTH (Revelation 21:1-8)

John says, Then I saw a new heaven and new earth (Isaiah 65:17). The old had disappeared, and the sea was gone. And I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a voice from the throne, “Look! God has moved into the neighborhood.” God will live with them, and they will be God’s people. God himself will be with them. God will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things will be gone forever.

And the One sitting on the throne said, “Look! See! Behold! I am making everything new. (Isaiah 43:19) It is finished. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will by my children.”

Who thirsts for God? (Psalm 42:1-2) To be fully known and fully loved, intimate, unending relationship with God! Jesus said, Whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst. It will become a fresh spring within them, welling up to eternal life. (John 4:14)

Here’s the truth: Heaven and earth are joined together in Jesus, and will one day be joined fully and forever! (Ephesians 1:10) Right now, those who belong to God go to be with Jesus when they die (Philippians 1:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Luke 23:43). Then at last, Jesus will appear as heaven and earth come together in the new creation (Colossians 3:3).

This means the present heavens and earth, and our bodies are good, but will be transformed into something much better! (Jesus’ resurrected body is the prototype.) The new creation that started in Jesus Christ will be completed (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:18-21). When Jesus heals people and does miracles, they’re little signs of the inbreaking new creation.

Like a gentle parent, God will wipe away the tears from our eyes. (Isaiah 25:6-9) All the death and grief, disease and pain…gone, swallowed up forever! And in its place a feast — food and song, laughter and joy! N.T. Wright says, “God is coming to live with us forever, a healing, comforting, celebrating presence.”

NEW JERUSALEM (Revelation 21:9-27)

Then an angel says, “Come with me. I’ll show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” John is taken to a great, high mountain and he sees the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It’s not the work of politicians, or human progress, but it’s an act of God.

The city shines with God’s glory, sparkling and shimmering like a precious gem. The city walls were 200 feet thick! (i.e. completely safe and secure). The angel measured the city. It was a perfect cube, 1400 miles in length, width, and height. (Like the holy of holies in the temple, but what was 30 feet cube is now 1400 miles! Infinitely spacious)

There were three gates on each side, east, north, south, west, guarded by twelve angels. The 12 tribes of Israel were inscribed on the gates, and the city had 12 foundation stones engraved with the names of the 12 disciples of the Lamb. They were embellished with every precious stone imaginable: jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, amethyst (Exodus 28:15-20, Isaiah 54:11–12). It’s breathtaking beauty! The 12 gates were made of pearls, each gate a giant pearl. The city and its main street were made of pure gold.

John said, I saw no temple in the city for God and the Lamb are its temple. In other words, we have the reality, we don’t need the symbol any more. The city doesn’t need sun or moon for light. The Lamb is its light. God’s glory illuminates the city. That doesn’t just mean it’s a wonderful thing to look at, though that’s true. It means the city is lit up by the radiance of God’s glorious presence, gleaming from every jewel and stone.

All the nations will walk in its light, and here come the kings of the world in procession, bringing their splendor into the city. It’s overflowing with life, activity, interest, and people! God’s rule and human freedom will coincide. It will have all the good things of culture, and the closeness of God’s presence to everything.

Imagine meeting diverse followers of Jesus from all over the world (Serbia, Kenya, Ireland, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Ukraine, etc) without any language or cultural barriers, enjoying being together, eating and laughing…that’s what’s coming in the new creation. We’ll enjoy life in the fullest sense, out of reach from all that threatens life here and now!

There’ll be no night there, and the gates will never be closed. I can just hear it, “Gates? Oh those? We don't use ‘em anymore. They're for decoration, not for defense.” Nothing evil, shameful, idolatrous, dirty, or dishonest will get in God’s city. Only those who are in the Lamb’s book of life.

Notice what will NOT be in the New Creation!
No sorrow, suffering, pain, tears, or death.
No curse: sin’s effects gone.
No sea (symbol of chaos, danger, flood, death, and source of the evil monster): all threat and harm is removed.
Nothing evil or impure: perfectly good and holy.
No closed gates: absent of crime, fear of invasion.
No night: complete security.
No sun or moon: God provides light.
No temple: perfect closeness and friendship with God.

Imagine all of creation, safe, healthy, loved, at peace!

Put simply, the New Creation will be God’s presence with God’s people in God’s place.

Have you ever experienced a time or place where God’s presence was palpable, or you enjoyed wonderful connection in relationships with people, or the stunning majestic beauty of God’s creation, and you didn't want it to end? It’s like that, but all the time!

Every time we experience the presence of God in Christ though the Spirit we glimpse the new creation.

NEW EDEN (Revelation 22:1-5)

Then John sees in the city, a garden — like Eden, but better! There’s a river streaming down from the throne of God and the Lamb, right down the street.(Genesis 2:10, Ezekiel 47) Life, liquid life, is flowing from the city center to the world around. (“Shall We Gather at the River?”) God’s love is meant to flow! The Tree of Life was planted on each side of the river, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a fresh, ripe, abundant crop every month! The leaves of the tree are medicinal, for healing the nations.

Remember, in the Garden of Eden, humans ate from the tree and brought a curse and death because of disobedience (Genesis 3). So Jesus died outside the city on a tree and became a curse for us (Galatians 3:3, Hebrews 13:12). In the New Creation there is a healing tree. God’s life will always be available for our wellbeing. Never again will anything be cursed! The curse of sin and death has been reversed in Jesus, and in the New Creation the curse is removed.

“The hands of the king are healing hands.”

The future is bright! Imagine conflicts, divisions, broken relationships, heartbreak…healed! All the horrible, tragic effects and memories of sin are healed. All the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, cultural, political problems we have will be healed. The world will be renewed, whole, healed of pain and the evil of human history! This is not a comforting fantasy. It’s a rewarding reality for those who loyally follow the Lamb.

Notice, the New Creation is both a garden and a city, integrating together the city and country, buildings and gardens, rich in all the things we long for, while all the things we lament will be rooted out forever. People from every nation will be united, diverse cultures working together for God’s glory, worshipping God in complete freedom. At the center, God is reigning and blessing. And they will see God’s face. We will perfectly know and love God, the source of life and joy. There will be no darkness, for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

Ben Witherington writes, “God has put in the heart of every human a homesickness that can be cured only when one enters the New Creation. John describes this place, this home, this final destination as a beautiful garden like Eden, and a grand city like Jerusalem, untainted by sin, sorrow, and suffering, free from disease, decay, and death. It will be the ultimate family reunion, the ultimate marriage celebration, the ultimate triumph of all that is good and true and beautiful and loving, over all that is wicked and false and ugly and hateful.”

CONCLUSION: COME LORD JESUS! (Revelation 22:6-21)

Finally, Jesus speaks. “Look! I am coming soon. I’m bringing my reward and payroll with me. I am the Beginning and the End. I am the One who shines above all (bright morning star).”

Blessed are those who hear and obey Christ’s words. Blessed are those who wash their robes, who saturate themselves in God’s life and truth. They will walk through the gates into God’s City. All are freely invited into this community, but those who continue to practice evil, who love to live a lie are outside the city, away from God presence.

Today, anyone who is not yet a follower of Jesus is invited. Come! Are you thirsty? Come! Drink freely from the water of life.

Jesus is calling, “Look! I am coming soon.”

The Holy Spirit and the Bride (God’s people) say, “Yes! Come Lord Jesus!”

Jesus says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

It’s like in the Return of the King, where Samwise wakes up after the destruction of the One Ring and the fall of the dark lord Sauron, and he sees Gandalf, whom he thought was dead. Sam is overwhelmed with joy and asks, “Is everything sad going to come untrue?” Gandalf replies, “A great Shadow has departed.” And then he laughed and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land.

In God’s grand story, all wrongs will be righted, and the pain, brokenness, and sorrow are redeemed, and somehow transformed into something more glorious and full of joy.

Application: I encourage you this week to read, study, meditate on Revelation 21-22.

Today’s Challenge: Jesus is coming soon. Let’s be ready. Let’s remember our identity and practice living now with the values and mindset of the New Creation already begun in Jesus, and coming one day. Let’s follow the Lamb into the New Creation.

Today’s Comfort: To those who love God, we don’t have to say “Goodbye.” Because of our sure and certain hope in Christ’s resurrection and the coming new creation, I have learned to say, “I’ll see you at home.”

Resources
Richard Bauckham, Theology of Revelation
James Efird, Revelation for Today
Michael Gorman, Reading Revelation Responsibly
Alan Johnson, Revelation Expositor’s Commentary
Craig Keener, Revelation Audio Lectures
Tremper Longman, Revelation through Old Testament Eyes
Tim Mackie, Bible Project Guide to Revelation
Scot McKnight, Revelation for the Rest of Us
N.T. Wright, Revelation for Everyone
Ben Witherington, Revelation and the End Times