A New Heaven and a New Earth
21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. (Revelation 21: 1- 7, New International Version)
Goede morgen. (خودى مورخان)
Dear beloved brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ,
I’m very happy and grateful to God for being with you this morning, and to be guests in your beautiful country Netherlands. I’m sending warm greetings from your brothers and sisters in Christ in Egypt.
My name is Joseph Louis, I’m an Egyptian pastor from the Presbyterian Evangelical Church of Egypt. I’m a minister in Garf Sarhan Presbyterian Church which is in upper Egypt. It’s far away about 4 hundred kilometers from the capital Cairo. I’m here with my friend pastor Emad Isaac, he’s from upper Egypt also, he’s the pastor of Tawa Presbyterian Church.
Two years ago, in January 2017 I was honored to have in my church pastor Christiaan Olie from your church here in Genemuiden (خينمادن) and pastor Bert Weerd from Papendrecht (باب إن دريخت) church, we enjoyed their presence with us, it was an amazing time, me and my church members can’t forget it. I’m very thankful that God gave us this second opportunity to meet again.
I’m married, my wife name is Enas, God blessed us with our first child on Christmas Day last December 25th, we named her Holly, her age is about a month now, and we are grateful to God for his wonderful gift to us.
I was little confused about choosing the sermon subject, because I don’t know so much about your situation here in Netherlands, which is a different new culture for me than my country Egypt. I prayed to God, ‘what would I speak about’? After a while He guided me, ‘Joseph, preach like you preach each time in your church, you don’t need to worry.’ The gospel message of salvation and grace of our lord Jesus Christ is one anywhere. So, I decided to preach about a topic we all look forward to, at the end of our journey here on earth. Our faith and hope in the eternal life with God in heaven. Let’s listen to the word of God about a man who saw heaven and described it for us in the book of Revelation 21: 1- 7.
Have you ever thought about what eternity will be like? Is heaven a real place? What it’ll be like to live with God forever? John had a vision about a new heaven and earth which describes what heaven will be like. And answers our questions. This morning I will share with you some of what John saw which describes the new earth and heaven for us.
First, It’s God’s new creation.
John says he saw a new heaven and a new earth, new Jerusalem, and in verse 5 God says “Behold, I make all things new”. This is our lord’s promise for us he will bring us in a new creation different than our current corrupted world and creation. Because of our own sins which corrupted the creation, God prepared a plan for our redemption, and to recover His glory again. God’s plan is the redemption of our lord Jesus Christ for all our sins on the Cross. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5: 17 “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature”. So, you can’t live in the new earth and heaven, the new God’s creation, unless you’ve been created again through our lord Jesus Christ, because any one whose name isn’t written in the Lamb’s book of life, he can’t enter this heavenly city. You must be born spiritually in order to suit the nature of the spiritual life of the new creation of God. Moreover, God’s plan is to redeem, not mankind, but our world, which was corrupted because of sin. In Romans 8: 21, Paul says that “the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” We have confidence and hope in God’s fulfillment of His promise, in the new creation that we are all waiting for, but this time without sin or anything that could destroy the creation of God again. It is God’s final plan to destroy evil and sin forever.
Secondly, it’s a perfect beautiful eternal city.
I want to take your opinion in this advertisement for a house for sale. Very beautiful house for sale, it’s free for anyone who wants it. It’s located in a golden city, it always shining, no darkness, very warm sunny weather not cold like here in Netherlands. There’s no sadness, you’ll be always happy, singing joyfully. No one could harm you or bother you in this city, zero crime rate. Very pure water, you’ll never be thirsty. You don’t have to pay for your water or electricity bills any more. I don’t know how much taxes you pay here in Netherlands, but the good news is that you don’t have to pay taxes or any expenses any more. Anyone interested to have this house?
There are many reasons why John describes this city, a perfect beautiful city forever. First, It’s beautiful because of its residents. Could we listen to Revelation 21: verse 12 and 14.
“12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel”
“14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
This city has 12 gates which are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and has twelve foundations, in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. John want to tell us that this city includes all believers throughout history of the twelve tribes of Israel, which symbolizes the Old Testament Church. And the Twelve Apostles of Christ, which symbolizes the New Testament Church. The Bible says in Psalms 133: 1 “how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” How wonderful and beautiful that the whole church united, all brothers and sisters of every race, nation, and color since the dawn of history to the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ again, all of us gathering together in the presence of the lamb.
What makes this heavenly city also perfect, in verse 1 John mentioned “there was no more sea”. Sea in the ancient writings was a symbol of evil, chaos. Johns want to tell us that evil is over. The cause of the misery and suffering of all human beings will not be again. In verse 4 John says “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Every suffering is over, sorrow is over, darkness is over, no more crying, every injustice we have in life is over, every abuse has occurred in our lives is over. Every sense of insecurity and fear is over, the suffering of all humanity is over, it’s gone, all gone. Because God himself will wipe away all tears from our eyes. The bible says in Isaiah 65: 17- 19:
“17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.”
Because there is no existence of sin anymore, nothing will hurt us again. Even death will no longer have power over us, Through the hope of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ which He gave to us to live eternal life with Him.
Thirdly, it’s God’s dwelling with people.
This is the most important part I like in the heavenly city. Listen to verse 3: “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”
The most beautiful thing in heaven is the presence of God himself with us, He will dwell with us, He will be our God, and we will be His people. Do you know what is the worst thing in hell? Not only the human torment, but to live in eternal isolation from being with God forever. The most amazing thing about heaven is that God Himself will be with us. He will wipe away all tears from our eyes, comfort us from all the suffering, pain, and grief we have experienced in our lives.
John says in verse 22 “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” The temple symbolizes the presence of God, and as you know, we are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwelleth in us. This is God’s spiritual presence within us in our present life, but John says in heaven there will be no temple, because God Himself and the Lamb are the temple of this heavenly city. Here on earth we witness the presence of God within us or in our worship spiritually, but in heaven we will see God face to face. Enjoying a real relationship with God, sometimes in our busy life we can’t enjoy and live the relationship with God all the time, but in heaven, nothing could prevent us from enjoying the relationship with God forever.
Finally, dear brothers and sisters,
I have a warning and encouragement at the same time for you. A warning for every one of us, if his name isn’t written yet in the Lamb’s book of life, living away from God, anyone who has not been redeemed yet and saved by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ can’t enter this heavenly city, only those who lived and overcomes with Christ. An encouragement for every one of us, is that God’s promises and words are true and faithful. ‘He who overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.’ Thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
God zegene je (خود زيخينياه)
Dank u wel (دان كيو فيل)
