John 21:1-14, Revelation 21, Job 41:12-34, Zechariah 10-14

Revelation 21:

Now in Revelation 21 and 22 we come to the great culmination of John’s vision. This chapter 21 presents the new heaven and the new earth, and the great marriage of God with his people, and the fulfillment of all the promises of God in the great new city. There is no temple for now the whole of creation is a temple of praise and worship to God, as we as God’s people take up our rightful place to serve him and rule according to his Word and power. There will be no more crying. For the old order of things has passed away.

It is an astonishing vision, filled with hope and echoes of Old Testament promises and language, that points us to this great culmination and inspires within us a sense of meaning and purpose for all that God is going to do and achieve in the future for those who love and serve him.

Let its Word today give you hope. We are expecting this day that is to come. This bride. This city. This place where there is no mourning or crying. This place where there is no night. For the Lamb of God is its lamp. And the nations, all nations, now brought into the presence of God in the new heaven and the new earth, a place of joy and light and love forever.

It is also a word of warning. The unbelieving are cast out from this place and have no home with God and are cast into the lake of fire. This vision should cause us to hope with great joy, to flee to God for salvation, and to do all we can to proclaim the gospel as we look forward with eager anticipation to Christ’s second coming and the new heaven and the new earth.