Revelation 21:1-8 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.… These words refer especially to the future. We all live in the future more or less; it is so full of possibilities of improvement that we are strongly disposed to dwell upon it. God has not allowed the future state to be wrapped entirely in mystery; enough has been revealed to inspire us to inquire into its glorious realities. I. THAT THERE IS A GREAT CHANGE TO TAKE PLACE IN THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH. 1. The new heaven implies that the future state will be suited to the soul in the fullest possible sense. There will be no night there — i.e., there will be no ignorance there. The "god of this world" will not have any power in "the new heaven," nor will any evil men or false teachers be found there to blind or delude the minds of the inhabitants. The state will be perfectly adapted to the redeemed soul. There will be no doubt there. Certitude will be the mental state of all in the future life; nor will there be any fear in that state. The deep mysteries of the future will not create any fear in the minds of the redeemed. There will be no falsehood in that state either; no one who loveth or doeth a lie shall enter into it: truth will be the very atmosphere of the place. There will be no such thing as a selfish emotion experienced by any soul in the "new heaven." Righteous principle will be the governing power in all. Neither will there be any hatred in the "new heaven." All will be sweet and harmonious reasonableness. 2. It will be suited to the body. It will be a state of established health and vigour. The "new earth" will abound in all the elements of true and pure strength. So perfect will the body, which we shall then possess, be in all its parts, that we shall never be conscious of any evil passions whatsoever. There will be no want in the "new earth." The "new earth" will be richly supplied with all that the new body will require; the new earth and the resurrection body will be most thoroughly fitted the one for the other. 3. The society of the future state will be of the purest and the best. The character of the inhabitants will be such that defection will be impossible. There will be great progression to fuller knowledge, larger views, and more comprehensive understanding of things spiritual and eternal. The very thought of it is an inspiration; what must an experience of it be? II. THAT THE FUTURE STATE WILL BE ONE OF VERY INTIMATE SPIRITUAL ASSOCIATION BETWEEN GOD AND HIS PEOPLE. "The tabernacle of God will be with men." III. THAT THE FUTURE STATE WILL BE ENTIRELY FREE FROM ALL TRIAL (D. Rhys Jenkins.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. |
    |