What is your feeling heading towards 2024?
- We usually look forward to the future with one of two ways:
- Optimism or pessimism
Neither of these is helpful for Christ followers. At the end of Revelation we see the third way to face the future.
In Revelation 21-22, John sees a New Heaven and a New Earth and God’s people symbolized as the city of Jerusalem.
What does John see? There are a few important things that John didn’t see and there are a few things that he saw.
What is not there in the New Heaven and New Earth?
- The Sea - forces of chaos that disrupt and destroy humanity (21:1)
- Characters that are inconsistent with God - People who do evil and cause chaos (21:8)
- Closed Gates - there are no divisions and discrimination between the people (21:24)
- Night - there is no darkness (21:25)
- There is no death, mourning, crying, pain (21:4)
What is there in New Heaven and New Earth?
- Creation and “things” (21:9-21; 22:1-5)
- Heaven is a physical place that is transformed and renewed
- People, Culture, Civilization, Creativity (21:9-14, 22-27)
- God (22:4-5)
New Heaven and New Earth provides Christ followers with the third option to face the future - HOPE.
We are called to live with HOPE for the future, knowing that our future is not in 2024, but in the New Heaven and New Earth.
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