The world today is filled with problems of every sort. Disease, viruses, storms, earthquakes, fires, and rioters are with us daily.  Anger and hatred are everywhere, folks! Why? Because people are dissatisfied with their leaders, and there seems to be two sets of rules for justice.  One for the rich, and one for the poor. People are tired of being suppressed by those in authority, with one law for them, and one law for the people.

Although times are truly worse than I have ever seen in all my years, this type of “unrest” let us call it, is nothing new. Injustice has been going on all over this ole world since sin entered in with its cruel effects. People taking advantage of other people.  Respect for others ignored, even though the Holy Scripture says in Matthew 22:39 ... Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  

THE SUFFERING

Everywhere we look today people are being mistreated. Hospitals, nursing homes and, even our own homes are filled with suffering and dying people.  Job said long ago in Job 14:1 … Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

Surely what God told Adam in the beginning has come to pass.

Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.  Genesis 3:17-19

This present world is going to pass-away, we are told.  Even Isaiah long ago wrote of the day when a new heaven and a new earth would come into existence for the people of God to enjoy when life would be different from what it is today.  It has been 2,700 years since Isaiah wrote this promise.

THE PROMISE

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.   Isaiah 65:17

Today, we are still looking, and waiting for this promise to be fulfilled.  Oh, the tears that have been cried as we wait.  How our weary eyes have looked with hope for the coming of our great God and Savior to deliver us from this present evil world.  Still, we wait.  For our God cannot lie.  Though long delayed, it does not mean it will not come to pass, for it surely will when God’s plan has been completed.

What God has in store for all who were wise enough to believe in Jesus will surely be worth the wait.  Words will never describe the beauty and the glory of that land where we will never grow old.

1Corinthian 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Although our world today has many beautiful places with scenic mountains, lakes, forests, animals, birds and rolling oceans, there is a land far grander than we can even imagine. It is a land being prepared right now for those who believe in Jesus as their savior.  Yes, we admit there is much about this life that is wonderful, but as we grow older and our tired feeble bodies become so weary, we begin to think more and more of that place where the flowers will never fade.

Remember, the promise of Jesus in the gospel of John chapter fourteen.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  John 14:1-3

The Lord knows what we are going through in this life and he gives us great encouragement in this passage of scripture.  It is one of the sweetest promises in all the Holy Scriptures.  Jesus has gone back to heaven after securing salvation for us by dying upon the cross and then conquering death.

Some sixty years after Jesus had gone back to heaven the Apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation more information about our new home.  Revelation twenty- one describes more fully our new home and the new earth.  First, let me mention that the Apostle Peter has much to say about this present earth.

HEAVEN AND EARTH MELTED

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  1 Peter 3:10-12

One day at the end of the one-thousand-year reign of Christ this present earth and heaven is going to be melted down, and all the pollution of sin will be removed. It is after this a new heaven and earth will emerge.  What a pristine world it will be, even more beautiful than the original before Adam sinned. 

The new earth will not have any oceans.  A vast change in the landscape will occur when the oceans are changed into a place for people to live.  This will make room for a huge number of people.  All the saved people of the Old Testament, it appears, will make up the nations of people serving the eternal God on this new earth.  

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. .... And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.  Revelation 21:24, 26  

We have limited information about what all will be going on when the new earth appears.  In fact, this is about all I can find, but we know it will be far different from what we are currently familiar with.  I am sure we will not be out in the hot fields like we used to be to work.  No, everyone will be enjoying whatever has been assigned to them as we rejoice, serving our wonderful Savior.

OUR NEW HOME

Nearly all of Revelation chapter 21 is describing our new home.  It is the home of the Bride of Christ. The Bride of Christ is made up of all born again believers in Jesus Christ from the Day of Pentecost until the rapture of the church.  It will be Jews and Gentiles who make up the body of Christ in the world who were redeemed by the blood of the lamb of God.

Words cannot describe our new home.  It is going to be so glorious.  The most beautiful homes in this ole world will look like “dumps” compared to our eternal residence.  What makes it even more wonderful is it will be a free home.  It will be an eternal home.  It will never need any maintenance or repairs. 

Another feature of our new home and residence is we will not have any irritating neighbors who play loud music or allow their dogs and cats to live without care.

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;  Revelation 21:10-11 

It is going to be breathtaking to see our new home. It is really going to be out of this world!

And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  Revelation 21:12-14

My friends, can you even imagine a home like this! With a wall that has twelve foundations with the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb, and twelve gates each made of one pearl with the names of the tribes of Israel on them. This home will also have twelve holy angels standing guard. 

This New Jerusalem is a city that is four square measuring about 1,400 miles wide, deep, and high.  That is half the size of the United States. Oh! what a city! 

And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.  And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. Revelation 21:18-19 

These stones are the purest, most radiant, and reflect the glory of God.

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.   Revelation 21:22-23

This heavenly city that our Lord Jesus has prepared for us has only one street mentioned, so everyone can live on main street.

.... and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.  Revelation 21:21b

In this city where we find the streets of gold there will not be any potholes, or repair crews redirecting traffic. But most wonderful of all in this city is we will not find the people who desire the unrest, violence and hatred that has been in our world since the beginning of time! They will not be there! Folks, I like that don’t you?

Listen to what Apostle John tells us about this city:

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.  Revelation 21:22-2

It is here where our God will reside, and our Lord Jesus Christ as we have been promised, and we shall all see the face of God. Praise God! 

Why would anyone want to miss this?  Why would anyone risk going to hell forever?  Why doesn’t everyone accept the love of God in Jesus Christ? My reader friends… if you have not accepted Him into your life, won’t you ask Him to come in today?

Heavenly Father, how I praise you and thank you for the grace of God that would save me, and all who believe in Jesus as their own savior.  Bless all our readers and give us souls for your kingdom. Amen!

Loving the Savior,

Preacher