B i b l e S t u d y
Lesson: The New Heavens and The New Earth
SCRIPTURE READING: Revelation 21-22.
GOLDEN TEXT: Revelation 21:1
1. Will the wicked whose names are not written in the "book of life"
be cast into the coming "lake of fire" only after the coming judgment?
(Revelation 20:11-15.) What is this "lake of fire"? (2 Peter 3:10.)
Note: The timing of this "lake of fire" follows the first resurrection of the saints and the White Throne Judgment. This "lake of fire" will be our earth’s surface burning up and all things will be burned up except those who have been given the gift of eternal life, converted to spirit beings into the Kingdom of God.
2. Now that all of God's children are born into His spiritual family, what is His new plan? (Isaiah 65:17-19.)
Note: The Hebrew word "bara" used in Isaiah 65:17 and translated "create" is actually the participial form of the verb, and should therefore be properly translated, "creating."
With the immersion of the earth in the cleansing Lake of Fire, as a type of baptism, the cycle of creation is complete. Rising from the Lake of Fire, a spiritual new heavens and a new earth will appear. This is the site of God's new project. Notice that verse 17 should read, "For, behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth . . . ." Let's get a glimpse of this new project God has promised to begin.
3. Isn't this same new project described in the New Testament? (Revelation 21:1,5 compared with II Peter 3:13.) Will the heaven above the earth where the birds fly and also the universe in which our planet earth is a part of, grow old and perish? (Isaiah 51:6, Hebrews 1:10-12.) Will God, who is spirit, remain and endure forever? (Same verses and Psalms 102:12.)
4. Is this the time when the New Jerusalem will descend out of heaven to the earth, and become the capital of the universe? (Revelation 21:2 and Isaiah 52:1.) Will New Jerusalem be a city that has foundations and whose builder and maker is God? (Hebrew 11:10.) Will this be a time of no more death, sorrow or crying? (Revelation 21:4, 20:14, 1 Corinthians 15:26, Isaiah 25:8.)
5. Isn't this the first time in history that God the Father will join Jesus Christ on the earth with His newly born spiritual sons? (Revelation 22:3-5.)
Note: Prior to the cleansing of the world in the Lake of Fire, God the Father would not come to the earth because it was polluted by the sins of mankind. When it is purified He will establish His personal headquarters and throne in this Holy City.
6. Is Jesus the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End? (Revelation 21:6.) Is He is also the Author and Finisher of our faith? (Hebrews 12:2.)
7. Doesn't God intend to share this new project with His spiritual sons? (Revelation 21:7, Isaiah 66:22.) Will the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars be allowed to live in the New Jerusalem or will they be consumed in the "lake of fire" which is the second death? (Revelation 21:8.)
8. Who is the Lamb? (Revelation 21:9, John 1:29,36.) Who is the Lamb’s wife? (Revelation 19:7-10, Ephesians 5:25, Revelation 3:12.) One of the angels told John: "I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife." What did the angel show John? (Revelation 21:10.) Do you think the New Jerusalem will be beautiful? (Revelation 21:11-14.) Who is it that will live in the Holy City, and have a part with God and Jesus Christ in the refurbishing of the universe? (Revelation 22:14.)
Note: The Lamb is Jesus Christ and His wife will be the Saints in the Church. The New Jerusalem will be the permanent home for the Saints, the bride of Christ and we will be part of the family of God.
9. How will the Holy City be built? (Revelation 21:10-25.) What is the size of the city? (Verses 21:15-17.)
Note: A furlong in the days of Jesus Christ and the apostle John was approximately 582 feet. This would make a city nearly 11,500 miles in each direction! Also notice that in verse 16, it says that its length, breadth and height are equal. This may be in the shape of a cube or a pyramid. It would probably be in the shape of a cube due to the fact that the Holy of Holies was in the shape of a cube being 20 cubits in all three directions (1 Kings 6:20.)
10. Is there a Temple in the New Jerusalem? (Revelation 21:22.) Is there any need of the sun or the moon to shine in the New Jerusalem? (Verse 21:23, Isaiah 60:19-20.) Who will provide the light? (Same verses.) Who are the nations and kings that will walk in the New Jerusalem? (Revelation 21:24.) Will anything that can defile or cause abomination be allowed in the New Jerusalem? (Verse 27.) Who will live in the New Jerusalem? (Same verse.)
Note: God and Jesus will be the Temple and they will provide the light. The nations and the kings that will be living in the New Jerusalem will be the Saints who will have lived and reigned with Jesus during the millennium as kings and priests. (Revelation 20:4, 6, 5:10, 2:26-27, 1 Peter 2:9.) Those also living in the New Jerusalem will be those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life which would include those who will be born during the millennium and those who overcome during the White Throne Judgment.
11. Are rivers of living waters to be available in this New Heavens and New Earth? (Revelation 22:1-2.) Doesn't Luke in writing Acts describe this as the restitution of all things? (Acts 3:21.) Aren't all reborn Christians to receive spiritual refreshment from God at this time? (Acts 3:19.)
12. Is the "tree of life" in the New Jerusalem and does it provide health to the nations of Saints? (Revelation 22:2.)
13. Will the Saints serve God? (Revelation 22:3-5.) Will the Saints see God’s face and will His name be written on their foreheads? (Verse 4.) Does Jesus give us a warning that He will come quickly? (Verses 6-7.) Will we be blessed if we keep the words of the prophecy of this book? (Same verses.)
14. Are we to worship angels or only God? (Revelation 22:8-9.) Are there "works" associated with our reward? (Verse 12.) Are we to keep God’s commandments? (Verse 14.) Are we to add or subtract from what is written in the Bible? (Verses 18-19.) Should we keep the world’s pagan holidays or keep the Holy Days of God ?
In conclusion: Only those who love God, overcome, keep His commandments, have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17), obey Him and do His works will inherit the Kingdom of God and ultimately be a part of the New Heavens and the New Earth and live in the Holy City of New Jerusalem.
Scriptures
Scripture Reading:
(Revelation 21 NKJV) Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. {2} Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. {3} And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. {4} "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." {5} Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." {6} And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. {7} "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. {8} "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." {9} Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." {10} And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, {11} having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. {12} Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: {13} three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. {14} Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. {15} And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. {16} The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. {17} Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. {18} The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. {19} The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, {20} the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. {21} The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. {22} But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. {23} The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. {24} And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. {25} Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). {26} And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. {27} But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.The River of Life
(Revelation 22 NKJV) And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. {2} In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. {3} And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. {4} They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. {5} There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. {6} Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. {7} "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." {8} Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. {9} Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." {10} And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. {11} "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." {12} "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. {13} "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." {14} Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. {15} But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. {16} "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." {17} And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. {18} For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; {19} and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. {20} He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! {21} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Golden Text: (Revelation 21:1 KJV) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
1.)
(Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV) Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. {12} And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. {13} The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. {14} Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. {15} And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.(2 Peter 3:10 NKJV) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which 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.) Isa 65:17-19 NKJV) "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. {18} But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. {19} I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying.
3. (Rev 21:1 NKJV) Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
(Rev 21:5 NKJV) Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
(2 Pet 3:13 NKJV) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
(Isaiah 51:6 NKJV) Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished.
(Hebrews 1:10-12 NKJV) And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. {11} They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; {12} Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail."
(Psalms 102:12 NKJV) But You, O LORD, shall endure forever, And the remembrance of Your name to all generations.
4. (Rev 21:2 NKJV) Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
(Isa 52:1 NKJV) Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean Shall no longer come to you.
(Hebrews 11:10 NKJV) for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
(Revelation 21:4 NKJV) "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
(Isaiah 25:8 NKJV) He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.
(Revelation 20:14 NKJV) Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
(1 Corinthians 15:26 NKJV) The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
5. (Rev 22:3-5 NKJV) And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. {4} They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. {5} There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
6. (Revelation 21:6 NKJV) And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
(Hebrews 12:2 NKJV) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
7. (Revelation 21:7 NKJV) "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
(Isa 66:22 NKJV) "For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain.
(Revelation 21:8 NKJV) "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
8.(Revelation 21:9 NKJV) Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
(John 1:29 NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
(John 1:36 NKJV) And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"
(Revelation 19:7-10 NKJV) "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." {8} And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. {9} Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." {10} And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
(Ephesians 5:25 NKJV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
(Revelation 3:12 NKJV) "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
(Revelation 21:10 NKJV) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
(Rev 22:14 NKJV) Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
9. (Rev 21:10-25 NKJV) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, {11} having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. {12} Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: {13} three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. {14} Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. {15} And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. {16} The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. {17} Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. {18} The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. {19} The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, {20} the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. {21} The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
The Glory of the New Jerusalem
{22} But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. {23} The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. {24} And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. {25} Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
(Rev 21:15-17 NKJV) And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. {16} The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. {17} Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
(1 Kings 6:20 NKJV) The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold, and overlaid the altar of cedar.
10. (Revelation 21:22-27 NKJV) But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. {23} The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. {24} And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. {25} Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). {26} And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. {27} But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
(Isaiah 60:19-20 NKJV) "The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory. {20} Your sun shall no longer go down, Nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the LORD will be your everlasting light, And the days of your mourning shall be ended.
(Revelation 20:4 NKJV) And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
(Revelation 20:6 NKJV) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
(Revelation 5:10 NKJV) And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
(Revelation 2:26-27 NKJV) "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations; {27} 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'; as I also have received from My Father;
(1 Peter 2:9 NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
11. (Rev 22:1-2 NKJV) And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. {2} In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
(Acts 3:21 NKJV) "whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
(Acts 3:19 NKJV) "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
12. (Revelation 22:2 NKJV) In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
13. (Revelation 22:3-5 NKJV) And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. {4} They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. {5} There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
(Revelation 22:6-7 NKJV) Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. {7} "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
14. (Revelation 22:8-19 NKJV) Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. {9} Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." {10} And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. {11} "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." {12} "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. {13} "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." {14} Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. {15} But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. {16} "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." {17} And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. {18} For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; {19} and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.