Sunday, December 20, 2009

Rev 21 is about the new heaven and earth and the new Jerusalem. John saw Jerusalem coming down out of heaven , "made ready as a bride adorned for her husband". And he heard a voice from the throne , "Look, God's home is now among His people! He will live with them and they will be His people." He says there will be no more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, and no more pain, for "these things are gone forever". The voice from the throne also says, "I am making everything new... It is finished...all who are thirsty will I give freely from the springs of life", and they will be "victorious and will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God". John describes the new Jerusalem, which descended out of heaven, and will "shine with the glory of God" and will "sparkle like a precious stone". There will be no temple in the city, "for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple". There will also be no sun or moon, "for the glory of God will illuminate the city" and the "nations will walk in its light... and all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city". Only "those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" will be allowed to enter the city.