All Things New
“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful” (Revelation 21:5).
Introduction
New Year have just arrived. Everywhere in the world from the riches country to the poorest, celebrated the end of year 2014, and the arrival of year 2015. Fireworks which cost millions of dollars was spent just to entertain the people for few minutes instead of I would say giving it to the poor, the sick, and the needy to alleviate their sufferings. People prepared their New Year’s resolution while others spent the night partying, drinking, dancing, carousing, and all forms of fleshy enjoyment without even praying and thanking God for all He hast done. The Lord says He will make all things new so let’s open our bible and our hearts and see what the Lord wants us to know today.
The word “new” is found in 150 matches in 131 verses. The word of God has a lot to tell about the word “new” and for me “new things” are always exciting.
1. New Heavens and New Earth – Rev. 21:1
a. The first two chapters of the Bible described the first heaven and the first earth, which is termed as “good”.
b. The last two chapters of the Bible describe the new heaven and new earth once again made “good” by God.
c. In Greek the word “new” here is “Kainos” which means “renewed”.
d. The meaning in simple English is that the old heaven and earth are completely “renovated” by fire, not annihilated (2 Pet. 3:10, Rev. 20:11)
e. The new earth will still be the old earth made new again by purging out all the age long evidences of sin, and curse, decay and death.
f. The new heaven does not refer to God’s dwelling place, which is the third heaven, but rather to the first heaven which is the earth’s atmosphere, and probably to the second heaven which is the realm of the stars and other heavenly bodies.
g. The renovation includes the elimination of the oceans which is necessary now but not in the eternal state.
Indeed heaven and earth will pass away, a prophecy made by our Lord Jesus Christ long ago and this will be the fulfilment (Mat. 24:35). However, there is one thing that will never pass away, the eternal Word of God (Ps. 119:160).
2. New City – Rev. 21:9-23
a. This is the New Jerusalem which is a Holy place – Rev. 21:2
b. The New Jerusalem is a place where God will dwell with his people – Rev. 21:3
c. It is a place where no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain will exist. Our tears of sorrow will in that day will be turned into tears of joy and thanksgiving – Rev. 21:4-5.
d. It is a place where the water of life is freely available – Rev. 21:6
e. It is a place where saints shall inherit all things – Rev. 21:7.
f. It is a place where no unregenerate sinners will enter. Those sinners are: the fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, the whoremongers, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and the liars – Rev. 21: 7-8, 27; 22:15.
g. It is a place of glory (kingly splendour and wealth, characterized brilliant colours and breath taking beauty) – Rev. 21:11, 23.
h. It would be a city of Gold – Rev. 21:18, 21
i. It has a high wall, 216 feet high and are made of jasper (Rev. 21:12, 17, 18). The wall has
12 gates, and the foundations of these walls has 12 types of precious stones. It has also
has the names of the 12 apostles (Rev. 21:14). This proves that there are only 12
apostles for all eternity and disproves any doctrine of apostolic succession.
I cannot tell you all the details here, but the New Jerusalem will be the capital city of heaven. It is
seen “coming down from heaven” indicating it has already existed, but it descends into the new
heavens and new earth from its place on high. This is the city where the redeemed will live, the
“Father’s house with many mansions (Jn. 14:1-3). The dazzling city’s measurement reveals a solid
cube of golden construction 12,000 furlongs (1500 miles), length, width, and height. This would be
2,250,000 square miles on each tier of a cube extending 1500 miles upward, like a huge skyscraper
with innumerable floors. If placed in the US it would reach from New York City to Denver, Colorado,
and from Canada to Florida. Very huge land area.
3. Other important New Things
a. There, in the “New Jerusalem,” we shall each have “a new name” (Rev. 2:17)
b. We will sing “a new song” (Rev. 5:9; 5:9; 14:3; 15:3).
c. We shall have new bodies, “fashioned like unto His glorious body” (Philippians 3:21),
d. The tree of life (Rev. 22:2). After Adam and Eve sinned and was driven from Eden, the
tree of life was not mentioned anymore. In the New Jerusalem the tree of life reappears
to bloom and blossom as never before.
e. No night in the New Jerusalem. The night stands for such things as darkness, sin, hiding,
suffering, fear, anxiety, and mystery. The sun and the moon will never be needed for the
radiant glory of God will illuminate the city. All will be bright with His light. No need to
sleep.
The coming of a new year is a good time to consider that glorious time to come when Christ will
make everything new again. In the present age, all things “shall wax old as doth a garment”
(Hebrews 1:11) under the bondage of the universal law of decay and death; indeed “the whole
creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). “Nevertheless we,
according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (II
Peter 3:13).
And all the old and dying things will be completely and forever gone. “There shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed
away” (Revelation 21:4). “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs
and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall
flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).
What a “Happy New Year” that will be! In the meantime, we have His “new covenant” and have each
been made “a new creature” in Christ (Hebrews 12:24; Galatians 6:14). Since all His words “are true
and faithful,” we know His promises are sure. Therefore, already, “old things are passed away;
behold all things are become new” through faith in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17).
