Participate in God’s new creation work.

[The Four Stages Storytelling Sermon: Proposition-Problem analysis-Gospel presentation-Consequence]

Revelation 21:1-8 (Summary)

Participate in God’s new creation work.

 

A. New heaven and new earth have been prepared(Verse 1-2).

In the text, a new heaven and a earth, the holy city, and new Jerusalem all represent the heaven we anticipate. Apostle John saw the heaven coming down from above. That heaven is beautiful like the bride to prepare her husband. The destination of our spiritual journey is heaven. God is preparing us for eternal rest heaven.

 

B. The first heaven and the first earth are not all(Verse 1).

We believers must anticipate the heaven which our God is preparing for us. However, many people say that they want to believe what they can see. But we should remember the first heaven and the first earth will disappear someday. What is seen is not all. Apostle Paul said, “for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal”(2 Corinthians 4:18). It is time to prepare heaven that we are living on this world. Our permanent residence is heaven.

 

C. We must participate in a new creation ministry(Verse 5).

So, how should we live who wishes to enter the heaven? God, the ruler of history, is still in charge of creation. Jesus participated in God’s new creation work(Matthew chapter 5-7). Paul also participated in God's new creation mission, spreading the hope of heaven(Philippians 3:20). We must also follow the example of the Lord and Paul. To be concrete, we should live to avoid evil and to do good. This is a life oriented toward heaven. It is a different level than life in Babylon.

 

D. All who are victorious will inherit the heaven’s blessings(Verse 7)

We believers must live in this world hoping for heaven. And we also must participate in the new creation of God. The Lord who will come again would be the comforter. Blessed are those who wish for heaven and win the spiritual war. Fundamentally heaven is a matter of relationship rather than place and time. We are looking forward to the new heaven and new earth God has promised, in which righteousness dwells(2 Peter 3:13).

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Revelation 21:1-8 (NASB)

1.  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

2.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

3.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

4.  and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

5.  And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

6.  Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

7.  He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

8.  But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”