John sees a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away. He sees the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he'll dwell with them. They'll be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. There's no more death, mourning, crying, or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
The one seated on the throne says 'I'm making everything new!' and 'It is done. I'm the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To those who are thirsty I'll give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.'
Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I'll be their God, and they'll be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice sorcery, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.
The promise and the warning stand together. Redemption is offered. Judgment is real.
No comments yet. Be the first.