The Promise of Joy in Eternity

December 28, 2015 Year C

Revelation 21:1-7

The Bible is full of promises about eternity. Jesus promises that we will spend eternity with Him (John 14:1-6, John 3:16). In this visual explanation, John explains what that change from the present world to the afterlife will look like.

The strange newness of this is explained in the first verse. There will be a heaven and an earth (Revelation 21:1). The reason I believe that there will be no more sea is two-fold. First, we live on Earth, but humans cannot breather underwater. Second, I think that the world will need more room to fit all of God’s people on the earth.

God will replace Jerusalem with a New Jerusalem. The new city is presented like a bride coming on her wedding day down the aisle (Revelation 21:2).

The newness in this Jerusalem is the that fact this will be a place of joy (Revelation 21:4). The source of this joy is God Himself (Revelation 21:3). God Himself promises to make all things new (Revelation 21:5).

This section ends with a reminder of the nature of Jesus. This identification is similar to how Jesus ends each of the letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3.

Jesus reminds us that we will be a victor over death, just as He was (Revelation 21:7). We will soon finally receive what the Bible has promised us.

Prayer: God, I look forward to the day of the New Jerusalem. I look forward to being a victor over death. Thank You for your joy that I will receive in eternity.