From Revelation 20-22

Satan will be bound for a thousand years while Christ and his people reign for a thousand years. Following this period there will be a battle and Satan will lose (Rev 20.1-6). Then it will be judgment day.

This post is part of my bible in a year series.

Passage and Comments

All people will be judged according to what they had done. Everyone whose names are not written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire. Death and Hades are also thrown into the lake of fire. They are destroyed, consequently there is no death and Hades (the place for the dead) any longer (Rev 20.11-15).

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,2 and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev 21.1-4)

John records an amazing picture of what is in store of God’s people. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. I’m reminded of some things Peter says. ‘But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly’. (2 Pet 3:7)  ‘But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed’. (2 Pet 3:10) There has to be  new heaven and a new earth because the old heaven and earth will be destroyed. John prefers to use the expression ‘passed away’. Things which are not eternal will be irrevocably changed.

God will now dwell with his people. He already does by the Holy Spirit, so I suspect this is something better. We will see him face to face. This is something to look forward to.

There will be no mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. In particular for John’s listeners this would be important and a relief. Because they are being persecuted. They are mourning for loved ones, they are crying and they are in pain. John does not ignore the issues they are dealing with. He implies that God cares for them and has something much better planned for them.

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! oI am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and she will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Rev 21.5-8)

God does not require payment for drinking the water of life. Its free. But not for everyone. Only for the one who conquers. This requires perseverance and endurance on the part of John’s listeners and ourselves. John contrasts the one(s) who conquers with the people outside in the lake of fire (Rev 21.8). The implication is that the people inside are not like this. This requires perseverance and endurance on the part of John’s listeners and ourselves.

For Believers

Probably one of the most well known bible passages it is always a comfort to be reminded of what God has in store for us. New creation. A new city. Closer relationship with God. No more suffering. Free access to life. These are all good things to hope and persevere for.

Last post of the year. Congratulations! And thank you for reading the bible through with me.

Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2014. All Rights Reserved.