In Revelation 21, we find a glorious picture of the church and of Heaven.
There are many theories about the phrase, new heaven and earth but probably the most common one is that the phrase means that the present Earth is going to undergo some kind of renovation, some kind of cleaning process using fire, so that it becomes like it was in the beginning when God created it, and so, it will become our new heaven. This theory doesn’t correspond with what the Scriptures actually teach.
Notice the following Scriptures: this present earth is to pass away, Matthew 24:35 / Hebrews 1:10-12 / 2 Peter 3:10-12. Our eternal dwelling place is heaven, 1 Peter 1:3-4. When it comes to understanding any Scripture, we must always keep the text in its context, and so with this in mind, let’s go to the Scriptures where we first find the phrase, ‘new heavens and a new earth’, Isaiah 65:17.
The apostle Peter declared by inspiration that all the Old Testament prophecies pertaining to Christ are fulfilled in the present age, Acts 3:19-26, which is the last days, Acts 2:16-17, or last age, 1 Corinthians 10:11, that is, the age when God speaks through His Son, Hebrews 1:1-2.
Now, some people object to these truths by pointing to Isaiah’s prophecy of ‘new heavens and a new earth’ and argue that these prophecies haven’t been fulfilled. So, I guess we need to ask the question, what is this ‘new heavens and a new earth’? Has this prophecy of Isaiah been fulfilled or not?
I want you to notice that Isaiah twice foretold ‘new heavens and a new earth’. Isaiah 65:17 / Isaiah 66:22, the apostle Peter did so too, 2 Peter 3:13, and so did the apostle John, Revelation 21:1. But what do they mean when they use this phrase?
The apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 65:1-2, the beginning of the context, and applies them to the present age, Romans 10:20-21. Notice how Isaiah’s prophecy ends. The words, ‘my holy mountain’, are a clue that identifies the time and nature of the fulfilment, Isaiah 65:25.
The prophecy of the Lord’s ‘holy mountain’ relates to the first coming of Christ, Isaiah 11:1-2 / Isaiah 11:9 / Isaiah 61:1-2 / Luke 4:16-21, and is a figurative term for the rule of Christ in His church, His kingdom, Isaiah 2:1-4 / Hebrews 12:22-23 / Hebrews 12:28.
And the nature of this kingdom is spiritual rather than material, John 18:36 / Romans 14:17. In other words, ‘the new heavens and new earth’ of Isaiah 65:17 is the present divine order under the rule of Christ and the spiritual dwelling place for the people of God, the church.
Isaiah 66:22 refers to this same ‘new heavens and the new earth’. The context here is a prophecy of Christ coming into the world and establishing His church, Isaiah 66:7-9 / Micah 5:2-3 / Revelation 12:1-11. In other words, Isaiah 66:22 is a continuation of the promise of Isaiah 65:17 and likewise relates to the present rule of Christ over His kingdom, the church.
2 Peter 3:13 is in a totally different context; Peter is warning against scoffers who deny that Christ will come again, 2 Peter 3:1-4. And so, he assures us that the promise of the Lord’s return will be fulfilled, 2 Peter 3:5-9, at which time ‘the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up,’ 2 Peter 3:10.
But notice there is nothing in the passage or even the context, for that matter, which indicates Peter is speaking figuratively; we should take the warning literally.
This present universe is destined for sudden, fiery, divine destruction. This shouldn’t worry the Christians because Peter says, ‘we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells’, 2 Peter 3:13.
In other words, in harmony with the meaning of the phrase ‘new heavens and a new earth,’ we await a new order of things and a new dwelling place. This is a home in heaven, 1 Peter 1:3-5, in which we will have glorious, immortal, spiritual bodies like that of the Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 / 1 John 3:2.
John, in Revelation 21:1, likewise, saw in a vision this new order of things after the return of the Lord, in which the death, sickness, pain, suffering, and sorrow of this present age shall have passed away, and God once more dwells with His people and this for all eternity.
Common sense tells us that if the Christian is promised ‘heaven’, which is our final dwelling place, and yet we’re also promised a ‘new heavens and a new earth,’ common sense tells us that the new heavens and earth represent the same state as heaven.
All the Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ, most of which were both figurative and spiritual, are indeed fulfilled in the New Testament age. The ‘new heavens and a new earth’ of Isaiah are the rule of Christ over His spiritual kingdom, His church.
So, what does the phrase mean in the New Testament? It simply means it’s symbolic of heaven itself, nothing more, nothing less. There are yet ‘new heavens and a new earth’ in store for Christians at the Lord’s return; it will be a wonderful home in heaven where everlasting joy awaits. No wonder John writes, ‘Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.’ Revelation 22:20.
McGuiggan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘It is a new environment, a new state of affairs. In that new heaven and earth, the oppressor doesn’t exist. He’s been dealt with, and his world has been destroyed. It’s a new beginning for the people of the Lord. It deals specifically with the removal of a specific oppressor or a radical change of circumstances.’
Notice John says there was no sea, Revelation 21:1. The crystal sea mentioned in Revelation 15:2 was a figure for the barrier between God and His people, and it appears that because there is no sea, the barrier has been removed. As Christians, we have full access to God.
In contrast to the old Jerusalem, John now sees the Holy city, the new Jerusalem, Revelation 21:2, which obviously isn’t literal, Revelation 20:9. Notice he sees it coming down out of heaven, Revelation 21:2, which signifies its divine nature and origin.
It’s clear that it is speaking about the church, because they are described as a bride, dressed for her husband, Revelation 21:2 / Revelation 19:7-9 / Ephesians 5:27.
The voice from the throne says, God’s dwelling place is now among the people and He will dwell in them, Revelation 21:3. The church, is the dwelling place of God, He dwells within each of us, 1 Corinthians 3:16 / Ephesians 2:20-22 / 2 Timothy 1:14 / 1 Peter 2:5. In this new Jerusalem, God Himself will be with the saved. Revelation 21:3.
With Rome and her rulers destroyed, there will be no more sorrow, death, because it has been defeated, Revelation 21:4 / Revelation 14:3 / Revelation 20:12-15. With Rome and her rulers destroyed, there will be no more crying, tears, or pain, Revelation 21:4.
The one sitting on the throne is making everything new, which Implies the future is certain.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘For the first time God himself speaks; he is the God who is able to make all things new. Again, we are back among the dreams of the ancient prophets. Isaiah heard God say: ‘Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing,’ Isaiah 43:18-19. This is the witness of Paul: ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,’ 2 Corinthians 5:17. God can take a man and re-create him, and will someday create a new universe for the saints whose lives he has renewed.’
John is then told to write down words which are trustworthy and true, Revelation 21:5. Who is it who is trustworthy and true? It is Jesus, the Faithful and True; it is Jesus who is reliable and genuine, Revelation 19:11.
As is often the case in Revelation, future happenings are described in past tense terms. Notice the words, It is done’, Revelation 21:6, the destruction of the enemies and salvation of the saints has been accomplished. Notice how Christ identifies Himself in Revelation 21:6.
How anyone can deny the deity of Christ is beyond me, especially in light of what John declares about Jesus here. Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last letter in the Greek alphabet.
Jesus is the first and the last, Isaiah 44:6, the beginning and the end, and everything in between, Revelation 1:17 / Revelation 2:8 / Revelation 21:6 / Revelation 22:13. Jesus is ruling. Jesus is in control. He is the ‘I AM.’ He is and was and is to come, Revelation 1:4. He truly is the Almighty, Isaiah 9:6-7 / Revelation 19:6.
The promise is to give to the thirsty freely from the spring of living water as a gift, Revelation 21:6 / Isaiah 55:1-2 / John 7:37-39. It is those who are victorious who will inherit all these blessings, Revelation 22:7. He will be their God, and they will be His children, Revelation 21:6 / 1 John 3:2.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The bliss is not to everyone but only to him who remains faithful when everything seeks to seduce him from his loyalty.’
The second death has already been mentioned a few times in Revelation, Revelation 21:8 / Revelation 2:10-11 / Revelation 20:6 / Revelation 20:14. Here we read that the second death awaits those who choose not to follow Christ, Revelation 21:8.
The Bible mentions many sins which will stop a person from inheriting the kingdom of God: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 / Galatians 5:19-21 / Ephesians 5:3-5 / Revelation 22:15. Notice they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulphur, Revelation 21:8 / Revelation 20:14.
J.H. Thayer defined the ‘second death’ as ‘the miserable state of the wicked dead in hell’. This condition is characterised as the second death because it follows physical death. It is designated as death because it is the terminal separation from the Lord, Matthew 25:41 / 2 Thessalonians 1:9. What is the second death? The second death is the ultimate and eternal separation from God.
Please note this isn’t speaking about total annihilation, but separation forever from God and everything which is good, 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10. The second death is permanent; from that death, there will be no resurrection, 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
One of the angels who had the seven bowls of the seven last plagues appear again, Revelation 17:1, and speaks to John, Revelation 21:9. Although many people see these verses and the following verses as a picture of heaven, John isn’t shown heaven.
Notice what he is shown, he is shown the bride and the wife of the Lamb, Revelation 21:9 / Ephesians 5:22-23 / Ephesians 5:27 / Revelation 18:23 / Revelation 19:27 / Revelation 21:2. This is God’s people; these are those who were washed clean by the blood of the lamb and, because of their perseverance and faithfulness, gained the victory over Satan.
Notice that John was carried away in the Spirit, Revelation 1:10 / Revelation 4:2, to a mountain great and high and was shown the Holy City, Jerusalem, Revelation 21:10. This is what happened to Ezekiel, Ezekiel 40:2-4. Once again, we see the divine nature and origin of the new Jerusalem, it comes down out of heaven, Revelation 21:10 / Revelation 21:2.
Just as Jesus Himself came down from heaven to manifest the Father’s glory, John 1:14, so now the church, the Lamb’s wife, manifests the glory of the Father, Revelation 21:11. The people of God are symbolised as a great city coming down from heaven, shining with the glory of God, Revelation 21:11.
The reference to the three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west, Revelation 21:13, is a reference to the tabernacle, where God’s people surrounded it, Ezekiel 48:31-35. Notice the number twelve, twelve gates, twelve angels, twelve tribes, twelve foundations, twelve apostles, Revelation 21:12-14.
The number twelve represents God’s people. In the Old Testament, there were twelve patriarchs, and thus the twelve tribes of Israel constituted God’s nation, and in the New Testament, the twelve apostles were the ambassadors of Christ. This whole scene is about the people of God.
Earlier, John was asked to measure the temple of God, the church in Revelation 11:1. Here, the angel does the measuring with a gold rod; he is to measure the city, its gates and its walls, Revelation 21:15.
The city was laid out like a square, Revelation 21:16; the holy of holies in Solomon’s temple was perfectly square, 1 Kings 6:20. God dwelt within the holy of holies, and so here, we see God dwelling within His people, John 14:23 / Ephesians 2:20 / Colossians 1:27 / 1 Corinthians 3:16 / 2 Timothy 1:14.
This clearly isn’t a literal city because the literal size of it is staggering. A stadia is an eighth of a mile; therefore, the city in the vision is about 1500 miles long by width with buildings 1500 miles tall, Revelation 21:16-17.
The mention of jasper, sapphire, emerald, onyx, ruby, chrysolite, beryl, agate, topaz, gold, etc., all relate to something which is precious, and take our minds back to Isaiah 54:11-12. God’s people are precious. All in all, what the angel is measuring is the holiness and glory of God’s people, Revelation 21:16-21, just as Ezekiel did in Ezekiel 42:20 / Ezekiel 43:10-12.
The physical temple was God’s dwelling place but now because the Lord God Almighty and His Lamb dwell in His people, there is no need for a temple, they dwell in their people, His people are their temple, Revelation 21:22 / John 14:23 / Romans 8:9 / 1 Corinthians 3:16 / 1 Corinthians 6:19 / 2 Corinthians 6:16 / 1 John 2:24 / Revelation 21:3. He is the protection, the sanctuary, the security and the home of the righteous.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The city of God needed no created light because God, the uncreated light, was in the midst of her. ‘The Lord,’ said Isaiah, ‘will be your everlasting light’, Isaiah 60:19-20.’
The glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. Just as Moses reflected the glory of God after being in His presence, Exodus 33:20-23. Christians reflect the glory of God and the Lamb in their lives; there is no need for the sun and moon to give light, because God’s glory gives light, and the Lamb is the light, Revelation 21:23 / Isaiah 60:19. The world will stumble around in the darkness, but Christians walk in the light because He is light, John 8:12 / 1 John 1:5 / 1 John 1:7.
The nations, that is, the glorified saints, Revelation 5:9 / Revelation 7:9, walk in His light, Revelation 21:24. Since there is no night there but constant light, there is no need to close the gates, Revelation 21:25 / Isaiah 60:20.
In other words, there is no threat from our enemies. In contrast to those who opposed the Lamb and were destroyed, those kings who gave their allegiance to the Lamb now bring their glory and honour into the city, Revelation 21:26 / Isaiah 60:3 / Isaiah 60:5 / Isaiah 60:11-12.
Note the emphasis on the holiness of the city, nothing impure, anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, will not have entrance into the city, only those whose name are written in the Lamb’s book of life, that is, only those who are saved, Revelation 21:27 / Revelation 3:5 / Revelation 20:15. All the ungodly will be outside of the city, Revelation 22:15 / Isaiah 52:1-2.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The chapter ends with a threat. Those who will not lay aside the evil of their ways are barred from the city of God. There is a sinner who sins against his will; there is a sinner who deliberately sins. It is not the repentant sinner, but the defiant sinner, who is barred from the city of God.’