Revelation 21:1-8
A New Heaven and New Earth
Read the passage
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.
4‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”
6And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.
7The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.
8But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
John sees a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. The holy city, New Jerusalem, comes down from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
A loud voice announces that God's dwelling is with humanity. He will live with His people and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death, mourning, crying, and pain will be gone. The former things have passed away.
The One on the throne declares that He makes all things new and tells John to write these faithful and true words. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He will give the thirsty water freely from the spring of life. The one who overcomes will inherit these things; God will be his God, and he will be God's son.
The promise comes with a warning. The cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars have their place in the lake of fire and sulfur, the second death. The new creation is God's holy dwelling, where evil will not continue its work.
Life is freely given, and belonging to God is the heart of the inheritance. His people will know His presence without the death and sorrow that now make them weep. We can trust this promise because the One seated on the throne calls His words faithful and true.
Questions
1 What does John see first?
AnswerHe sees heaven and earth made new, with the holy city coming down from God. Renewal comes to creation rather than treating creation as disposable.
2 Where will God dwell?
AnswerGod's dwelling will be with humanity. God will be with His people, and the separation that marked the former order will be gone.
3 What will God remove?
AnswerHe will wipe away every tear, and death, mourning, crying, and pain will be no more. The promise addresses embodied and communal grief, not only private sadness.
4 Who receives the water of life?
AnswerThe thirsty receive it from the spring of the water of life. The promise is offered freely to the person who recognizes need.
What This Means for Us
Come to God with the need you cannot satisfy yourself. The water of life is His free gift; you do not have to make yourself impressive before asking. Thank Him for the promise of belonging to Him. When present grief is heavy, return to His words about tears and death with someone who can pray beside you.
Prayer
God who makes all things new, thank You for freely giving life and making Your people Your own. Sustain us in grief and turn us from sin as we wait to dwell with You. Amen.