1. The New Heaven and New Earth
Revelation 21:1-8

2. Timeline of Events for Premillennial Eschatology
Second Coming, Armageddon,
sheep and goats judgment, binding of Satan,
resurrection of tribulation and OT saints
Rapture
Release of Satan,
final rebellion
Church Age
Church age lasts until
the fullness of the
Gentiles comes in
7 year tribulation
on earth (Daniel’s
70th week)
1000 year reign of Christ
on the present earth
New heaven
& earth

3. Closing Visions of John (Rev 19:11 – 22:5)
The Coming of the King of Kings (19:11-16)
Invitation to the Birds of Prey (19:17-18)
The Defeat of the Beasts (19:19-21)
The Binding of Satan (20:1-3)
The Thousand-Year Kingdom (20:4-10)
The White-Throne Judgment (20:11)
The Judgment of the Dead (20:12-15)
The New Heaven and New Earth (21:1-8)

4. The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21:1-8)
This is the eighth and final scene of the 7th bowl judgment.
Even though this scene describes the future bliss of the saints, it is still part of the seven last plagues.
This is confirmed by verse 8, which describes the exclusion of those in the lake of fire from the promised blessings of the new creation.
Revelation 21:1-8 is the final action scene of the 7th bowl judgment, with 21:9-22:5 providing an elaboration of 21:1-8.

5. The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21:1-8)
The idea of a new heavens and a new earth has its roots in the OT (Isa 65:17; 66:22; Psa 102:25-26).
The entrance of sin and death spoiled the original creation and brought God’s curse upon it (Gen 3). After God has allowed evil to run its course, He will purge His creation and bring in a new one.
Notice that the new earth has no sea, an element which not only has served as a barrier between peoples in the first creation but also represents a principle of disorder, violence, and unrest (Isa 57:20; Psa 107:25-28; Ezek 28:8).
John is separated from the churches in Asia by the sea as he writes this.

6. The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21:1-8)
The permanent quality of the New Jerusalem is holiness. This provides a tie with the old Jerusalem, which the Bible also calls “holy” (Isa 52:1; Matt 4:5; 27:53).
Like the old creation, the old Jerusalem suffered from the taint of sin and disobedience, but there was always hope for a renewed Jerusalem.
The overcomer in the church at Philadelphia had the promise of possessing the name of “the new Jerusalem” written on him in proof of his right to live in that city (Rev 3:12).
“Holy” meaning set apart to God. This is and always has been God’s city. It is one of those few places on the earth that has a history which goes back thousands of years and which has been preserved for us in God’s own Word. You have to go there if you get a chance.

7. The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21:1-8)
The figure of a bride-city captures two characteristics of the New Jerusalem:
God’s personal relationship with His people (i.e. the bride).
The life of the people in communion with Him (i.e., the city, with its social connections).
The name of the material city stands for the community made up by its inhabitants.
Did you catch the contrast between the Harlot (the vile, immoral city of Babylon), and the New Jerusalem, pure and prepared as a bride for her husband? This is a tale of two cities, and two very opposing systems that flow out of those cities.

8. The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21:1-8)
In the new creation, God’s dwelling place will once again be with men, as it was before the fall.
This the prominent theme throughout this section.
There is a 5-fold repetition of this truth in v. 3 alone. (Literally, “God shall be with them”).
The same theme is repeated verse 7 (relationship between God and His people) and again in 22:3-4 (direct access to God for His slaves).
“People” in the Greek is actually plural, “peoples.”
In the OT the singular term was used to refer to Israel as God’s own people, but here it is expanded to represent the many peoples among the redeemed.

9. The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21:1-8)
Verse 4 describes the future conditions from a negative perspective. Why?
This is easier for us to understand, as we are accustomed to a world ravaged by sin and not one that is an ideal environment as the new creation will be.
The things that will not be in the new creation include death, sorrow, crying, and pain, all of which entered the world when the first man sinned. In place of these four things will be peace and bliss.

10. The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21:1-8)
God the Father speaks in verse 5, declaring that He makes all things new in the New Creation and commanding John again to write the things he sees, for they are “faithful and true” and “They are done” (v. 6) i.e. certain to come to pass.
God’s self-description as Alpha and Omega, emphasizes His sovereign control over everything as well as His eternal nature.
Both of these qualities serve to guarantee the trustworthiness, faithfulness, and truthfulness of the words He has just spoken.
The metaphor of thirst to express an earnest sense of spiritual need again comes from the OT (Isa 55:1; Pss 42:1-2; 63:1; Isa 12:3; 44:3). God alone is the one who can satisfy this need.
Christ told the woman at the well that He provided living water.

11. The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21:1-8)
Verse 7 contains an eighth promise to the overcomer that completes and fulfills the earlier seven.
The inheritance consists of the “all things” mentioned earlier, the new creation and the glories of the New Jerusalem about to go on display.
There will also be the consummation of the relationship between God and His people. This promise of sonship was first made to David and his seed as God’s Messiah. Here it is transferred from Christ to Christ’s bride.
By contrast, verse 8 describes those who will not enjoy these things. These will undergo eternal torment in the lake of fire, where Satan, the false Christ, and the false prophet are.

12. The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21:1-8)
Those excluded from the Holy City:
“cowardly” or “fearful,” referring to those who repudiate their faith in Christ when faced with persecution and opposition.
“unfaithful” or “untrustworthy;” applies to professing Christians who by act or word deny their faith in Christ.
“abominable,” referring to those who have been defiled, particularly through the worship of the beast.
“murderers,” particularly those who choose the beast instead of the Lamb and put to death the saints.
“fornicators;” Fornication often accompanies idolatry, and will no doubt be a prominent feature in the kingdom of the beast.
“sorcerers;” This noun occurs frequently in the Greek version of the OT, each time in connection with a religion that worships something other than the true God. Sorcery or magic will also play a part in the future delusion created by the beast.
“idolaters,” those who worship the beast and his image.
“Liars,” primarily those who lie in their denial of Christ, but can also include lying of other types.
The kinds of sins are eight in number, but are all governed by one article, thus uniting them into one group.

13. Next Time: The New Jerusalem
Read Rev 21:9 – 22:5