After Satan, Death and Hades have been cast into the Lake of Fire and everyone small and great have been judged by the things written in the books, God will make all things new. The last two chapters of Revelation describe the eternal kingdom of God and His saints on the new earth. God’s eternal program will be completed when He makes all things new. There will be a new heaven and new earth that will remain in perfect harmony with God.
Revelation 21:1 NKJV Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
This is the third and ultimate time the earth is made new.
The first was at the creation before Satan and Adam sinned and brought the curse. The second was a result of the sin of Noah’s generation when God destroyed the earth with a flood, and only Noah and his family were saved and the earth was cleansed of the evil. This third time the earth will be made perfect.
In the first four verses of 2 Peter 3, we are told that in the last days some will say, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
They will walk according to their own lust and desires, having a form of godliness, (2 Timothy 3:1-5, James 5:3; Jude 18). Then Peter tells about God’s ultimate sovereign power over creation.
2 Peter 3:5-6 NKJV For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
The word for heaven is ouranos. Ouranos means: the expanse of the sky, the universe, all of the region where the clouds and tempests gather, the region above, and the dwelling of God. It is unclear if the removal of the heavens includes the throne dwelling of God. The word for “earth” means the world opposed to the heavens, the surface of the world.
2 Peter 3:7 NKJV But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2 Peter 3:10 NKJV But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
In Isaiah 34:4, God revealed that after the judgments on the nations, “the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; and their hosts shall fall down as the leaf falls from the vine and fruit from a tree.” Jesus supplemented this in Matthew 24:29 where He said, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
2 Peter 3:11-12 NKJV Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
These cataclysmic events will precede the creation of a new heaven and earth.
Hebrews 1:10-12 NKJV You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”
2 Peter 3:13 NKJV Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
What John was shown was in harmony with what was shown throughout the Bible. God is going to make all things new. In order to make them new, the old must be removed. From the prophecies we determine that the present heavens and earth will be burned up and dissolve. Some commentators believe the heavens and earth will be renovated by fire and others believe it will completely dissolve and melt away. Various scriptures indicate that the elements of heaven and earth shall be dissolved and melt. After this great removal of what now exists, God will create a new heaven and earth wherein dwells righteousness. The new heavens and new earth are not described in detail, but when John saw that there was no more sea. The removal of the old heavens and earth will be so complete that they will not be remembered.
Isaiah 65:17 NKJV For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
Many of the prophecies regarding the return of Christ combine the rapture, tribulation, second coming, millennium and the new heavens and earth.
Isaiah 65 shows the new heavens and new earth and then refers to the millennium. There is a definite distinction between the millennium and the perfect age. During the millennium, it is possible to age, sin, and die. In the perfect eternal age those former things will be no more. There will be no more dying, death, or Hades and everything that defiles and corrupts will be removed. The absence of things that hurt, kill, destroy and fail is hard to imagine. The former things, the things we contend with and strive against, will pass away. Nothing in the new heavens and new earth will wear out or waste away. It is impossible to imagine a perfect universe that is filled with the glory and splendor of God. These infinite changes are beyond comprehension and for that reason some view them as only spiritual events or imagery of the blessings that are in Christ. The new earth will flourish and be productive and fruitful.
Revelation 21:2 NKJV Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
After the creation of the new heaven and earth, the holy city New Jerusalem will come down out of heaven from God. Jerusalem is the city of God from the time of David, throughout this current time, in the millennium, in heaven, and in the new earth, (Galatians 4:23; 1 Chronicles 11:4-9). The New Jerusalem will not be built on earth. It has been built in heaven and God sends it down to earth. Its glory and splendor is compared to a bride prepared for her husband. In John 14:2-3, Jesus said He was going away to prepare a place for them.
Revelation 21:3 NKJV And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”
When God establishes the New Jerusalem on the new earth, His tabernacle will be with them. “Tabernacle” indicates God’s abode or dwelling place. In the wilderness, Moses’ Tabernacle and in Jerusalem, Solomon’s Temple were patterns of the true abode of God, (Hebrews 9:23-24; Hebrews 8:5). God’s presence will dwell with them on earth.
Revelation 21:4 NKJV And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Everything will be perfected on the new earth. There will be no more crying, dying, sorrow or pain. This is different from the Millennium when people will experience longer life spans but will be subject to death. By the end of the Millennial Reign of Christ, Satan, Death and Hades will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Everything that is evil, bad, or has brought grief and sorrow will be gone. “God will wipe away every tear.” This is the time when everything will be perfected.
- No more sorrow — brokenness, disappointment, regret, failure, weakness, inferiority. Everything that has brought sorrow will be removed eternally.
- No more crying — disappointment, striving, evil, immorality, separation, bitterness, burdens, or anything that breaks the heart. Everyone will live in perfect love, joy and peace.
- No more pain — disease, accidents, distress, fighting, afflictions, agony. Everything that has brought pain will be removed.
“For the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:5 NKJV Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
“I make all things new” is spoken in the present tense.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Salvation will be made complete and full in the New Earth and New Heavens. He who sits on the throne of heaven will make all things new. All things includes “all things.” This is not like we experienced with something new in this life. We get something new and very soon moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. Nothing remains new in this present life. God is making all things new and they will remain in the state and condition of “NEW.” Everything that brings decay, destruction, and death will be removed. This is certified by God as absolutely true and faithful.
Revelation 21:6-7 NKJV And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
“It is done” refers to God’s eternal program and plan that is accomplished by His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The fullness of what God has planned and provided in Christ is now accomplished. “It is done!” God wants us to know that He has the authority to do this. He says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” There is none before or after Him and has all authority and power to achieve His plan.
“I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.”
All of our thirsts shall be satisfied by the fountain of the water of life. In John 7:37Jesus said, “If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink.” The water of life is freely and fully available from the fountain.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
If you want to inherit His blessings, you must persevere in this life and overcome. We are made overcomers by the blood of Christ. This promise is for everyone who is in Christ Jesus and do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, (Romans 8:1-4). This is the culmination of the adoption of sons and realization of the life, privileges and inheritance that is in Christ.
1 John 3:2 NKJV Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
After giving the promise of this inheritance that is in Christ, the Lord gives a severe warning.
Revelation 21:8 NKJV But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
- Cowardly or fearful — those who have not put their trust in God so as to overcome.
- Unbelieving — the faithless sinners who have not trusted Christ for salvation.
- Abominable — have given themselves to immorality
- Murderers
- Sexually immoral — those who practice any form of sexual sin
- Sorcerers — those who practice magical arts and profess to have power with evil spirits
- Idolaters — worshipper of false gods and idols
- Liars — those who practice deceit and falsehood
Revelation 20:15 says, “All whose names are not written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire.” They “shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
The Apostle Paul offered hope in 1 Corinthians 6.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
There is hope for eternal life in Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
