TEACHING NOTES Part 21: The New Creation & New Jerusalem Introduction In this session, we come to the final vision of Revelation 21-22:5. This vision describes the new creation and new Jerusalem. This vision is difficult to interpret and is deeply rooted in many Old Testament passages. Anyone studying Rev. 21 should remain open-minded and realize that our interpretations will likely be unresolved. Therefore, this session will present a robust attempt but is in no way final. Our understanding of these passages will certainly grow and change with further study. The Old Testament on New Creation Isa. 65:17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” Isa. 66:22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain.” Ezek. 40-48 describes a massive, city-like temple. Ezekiel’s Vision of A City-Like Temple: Ezek. 40-48 describes the prophet’s vision from “a very high mountain” (Rev. 21:10). While most people focus on the temple in Ezekiel’s vision, he clearly states that he was shown “a structure like a city” (Ezek. 40:2). Ezek. 48:35 tells us that the city will be named Yahweh Shammah “Yahweh is Here” Ezekiel’s city or “holy district” was significantly larger than the first temple complex. It was approx. 7-8 miles long by 5.7-6.6 miles wide. John’s vision of the new Jerusalem is 1,400 miles long and wide. While Jerusalem and the temple was rebuilt after Ezekiel’s time, by Ezra and Nehemiah, Ezekiel’s city-temple was never built to the vision’s specifications. Ezekiel’s vision declares that God will inhabit this city/temple forever and His people will never again be defiled or turn away to other gods. In Rev. 21, John sees a new Jerusalem in which there is no temple and God’s presence fills the entire city. A Guiding Principle: Already and Not Yet There are several concepts in the study of end times (eschatology) which are both already true and not yet fully finished: Jesus already reigns in heaven, but all enemies are not yet defeated. Jesus already defeated sin, but sin is not yet removed. Jesus already defeated Satan, but he is not yet destroyed. We are already a new creation, but we are not yet in the new creation. New Creation Intro (Rev. 21:1-8) ​ Revelation 21:1 ESV 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. New Heaven and New Earth = There are two Greek words for “new” used in the New Testament. These two words for “new” have different meanings, the third Greek word listed below is what Jesus called the new creation: Neos = new/young, as in never existed before (Mark 2:22; Heb. 12:24) Kainos = made new or renewed (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:15; 4:24; 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1) Palingenesia = the regeneration, renewal, rebirth (Matt. 19:28) In the Greek version of Isaiah 65:17, called The Septuagint (LXX), the new heaven and new earth uses kainos as well. Therefore, even in the Greek Old Testament the new creation is not totally new, but a renewed creation. The first heaven and earth had passed away = The previous creation, with its corruption and patterns of failure, have passed away. Does this mean that our current creation will be physically destroyed? No, the previous creation will be purified and renewed. The sea was no more = Remember, this is a vision of symbols and signs. This is a metaphor for “no more evil” in the Jewish mind. Since the sea was the ultimate symbol of chaos and evil, this renewed creation will be free of chaos and evil. How will creation be renewed? By purifying fire. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” The “heavenly bodies” (Grk. stoicheion - heavenly spirits) refers to spiritual beings who are enemies of God. This purifying fire will destroy God’s spiritual enemies and expose the works of God’s human enemies. Rev. 20:7-10 tells us that when Satan is released to stir the nations against the saints, fire will come from heaven and destroy Satan and all who follow him. Fire from heaven will purify the earth of all evil to make way for the new creation. Heaven, Heavens, Earth, Under the Earth: Cosmic Spaces The Bible describes different spaces where specific beings exist: Heaven (singular): God’s space, also called “the third heaven” Heavens (plural): Space for lower spiritual beings, also called “the air” or “skies” Earth: Space for human beings, and also other physical life Under the Earth: Space of the dead, human and spiritual (Sheol/Hades & Abyss) In 2 Cor. 12:2, Paul calls God’s space the “third heaven.” So, Paul describes the heavens as having three levels: (3) God’s space—we call that heaven (2) The Skies: where stars are seen—we call this outer-space (1) The Air: the space between the land and skies—spiritual beings were believed to inhabit this space and Satan is called “the prince of the power of the air.” ​ Revelation 21:2 ESV 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The holy city = In Revelation, the old Jerusalem is called “the holy city” only in Rev. 11:2 where John is told that it will be destroyed. All other references to Jerusalem until Rev. 21 call it “the great city” or “the great prostitute.” Here in Rev. 21:2, Jerusalem has been renewed or reborn. New Jerusalem = This renewed (kainos) Jerusalem is reborn from heaven. This is exactly how Jesus described being reborn to Nicodemus in John 3:3. Usually, translated “born again” the Greek word anothen means “born from above.” Whatever John is seeing is being reborn from above. The story of Revelation is the passing away of the old Jerusalem to make way for the new Jerusalem. Prepared as a bride = This renewed Jerusalem is described as a bride being prepared to marry her husband. This is very important because in Rev. 21:9-10 we will find out that the new Jerusalem is a symbol/vision of the Bride. ​ Revelation 21:3 ESV 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. The dwelling place of God is with man = The Greek word translated “dwelling place” is skene, which is the word for tabernacle or tent. John used the same word in John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt [skenoo] among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Ezek. 37:26-28 “26 I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”” Zech. 2:10-11 “10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. 11 And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.” God already dwells with man by His Spirit, but not yet face-to-face. ​ Revelation 21:4 ESV 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” He will wipe away every tear = Sadness and suffering will cease. This was already mentioned in Rev. 7:17 and this describes the fulfilment. Death shall be no more = We have already been told in Rev. 20:14 that Death and Hades will thrown into the lake of fire at the end. Paul also tells us in 1 Cor. 15:26 that “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” Neither shall there be mourning, crying, pain = All of these are consequences of sin’s presence in creation. Sin brought death and death brought suffering. If sin and death is no more, then physical and emotional pain is no more. Paul describes this in 1 Cor. 15:54-57. OT Connections: see Isa. 35:10; 51:11; 65:19. ​ Revelation 21:5–6 ESV 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. I am making all things new = This speaks of a process. “I am making” is in the present, active tense—meaning it is in process. The word for “new” here is again kainos, which speaks of renewal. God is not making all new things, God is making all things new. God is renewing things that already existed. It is done! = It’s important to know that this is not the exact same phrase Jesus said on the cross, but it is similar in Greek. Jesus said tetelestai or “It is finished” which means something is complete or brought to an end. Here in Revelation, God says ginomai or “It has come” or “It has become.” In Greek this verb ginomai is in the perfect tense, which is something completed in the past but has produced a new state of being. This new creation has already begun, but is not yet finished. Alpha and Omega = Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and Omega is the last letter. If God is the beginning and the end, then He exists outside of time and is eternal in nature. Only an eternal being is able to create time. The spring of the water of life = Rev. 22:1-2 is going to describe the river of life and the tree of life. John’s Gospel repeatedly connects Jesus and the Holy Spirit with the water of life (see John 1:26-34; 3:5; 4:7-15; 5:1-17; 7:37-39; 11:35; 13:1-20; 19:28, 34). ​ Revelation 21:7–8 ESV 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” The one who conquers will have this heritage/inheritance = Throughout Revelation the repeated message is to overcome, endure, and conquer. To those who remain faithful to Jesus alone, they will inherit the new creation. Their portion will be the lake of fire = Those who overcome evil by trusting in Christ will inherit the new creation. But those who practiced unrepentant evil will inherit the lake of fire, where they will die a second death. The New Jerusalem—John’s 4th Vision (Rev. 21:9-22:5) ​ Revelation 21:9 ESV 9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” Come, I will show you the Bride = Don’t miss this explicit clue! The angel tells John that what he is about to see is a vision of the Bride (the church). The city that John is about to see is NOT the point of the vision. The city is a symbol meant to show John the nature of the Bride. ​ Revelation 21:10–11 ESV 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. He carried me away in the Spirit = This indicates that the 4th and final vision has begun. This vision describes the new Jerusalem as a symbol of God’s people. To a great, high mountain = This is exactly what Ezekiel says when he is being shown a vision of a new temple—Ezek. 40:2 “In visions of God he brought me to the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south.” Notice that Ezekiel’s temple is “a structure like a city.” He showed me the holy city Jerusalem = Remember, the angel told John, “Come, I will show you the Bride” and John is shown a new Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is a symbolic description of the Bride (the church). ​ Revelation 21:12–13 ESV 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. It had a great, high wall = Ezekiel’s vision included a wall, but it measured at only 10.5 feet thick and 10.5 feet high. John’s vision describes the wall as 144 cubits, which is 216 feet high in Rev. 21:17. 12 gates with 12 angels = Ancient cities placed “watchmen” at the gates of the city. In the Old Testament, angels are called “watchers” (Dan. 4:13, 17, 23) who were tasked with watching over people and nations on earth. Gates named with the 12 tribes of Israel = It was the nation of Israel that brought about the Messiah, born of the tribe of Judah. The only reason that all the nations have been blessed by the Gospel is because God chose Abraham to create Israel. Ezekiel’s vision ends with a description of the city gates being named after the 12 tribes of Israel (Ezek. 48:30-34). God has changed the name of His people: Under the old covenant, God’s people were Israel, who’s name means “one who struggles with/against God.” In Revelation, God’s people are not referred to as Israel but is called Jerusalem, which means “to be complete, made ready, peaceful, unharmed.” ​ Revelation 21:14 ESV 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 12 foundations named for the 12 apostles = The best way to understand this imagery is by Eph. 2:19-20 “19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,” Therefore, the apostles are the foundation of the church. ​ Revelation 21:15–16 ESV 15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. Measuring rod of gold = In the Old Testament, measuring can refer to judgment or protection—depending on the context. The last time something was measured in Revelation was in Rev. 11, where John is told to measure the temple that would be destroyed. John was told not to measure the sanctuary (where God’s Spirit dwelt). Here in Rev. 21:15 John is told to measure the entire city as if God’s Spirit will dwell in the entire city—indicating that a temple is no longer needed. The city measures 12,000 stadia square = This equates to approx. 1,400 miles. Obviously, this is an enormous city. Actually, if you placed on the map a 1,400 mile square centered on Patmos, the square would cover the entire Roman empire. After the old Jerusalem was destroyed, the church (the new Jerusalem) covered the entire Roman empire in less than 100 years. The cube shape of the city = The holy of holies in the temple, where God’s presence/Spirit would dwell, was also cube shaped. Later we find out that there is no temple in this new Jerusalem. The entire city is is the new holy of holies. ​ Revelation 21:17–20 ESV 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The wall measured 144 cubits = This equates to 216 feet tall. Walls and foundations of jewels = There are interesting features about these jewels: These jewels are twelve variations of the colors of the rainbow. Some of these jewels were on the breastplate of the high priest. Some of these jewels were in the Garden of Eden. The city was pure gold, like clear glass = This is a symbol of complete purity. It also sounds like what Moses and the elders of Israel saw on Mt. Sinai. The 70 elders of Israel looked up and saw a clear “pavement” under Yahweh’s feet. This clear pavement was the barrier between heaven and earth. However, in John’s vision this clear gold is on earth. This image communicates that heaven and earth are now one—just like it was in the Garden of Eden. ​ Revelation 21:21 ESV 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. ​ Revelation 21:22–24 ESV 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is God and the Lamb = In the Old Testament, God inhabited one room in the tabernacle/temple. In the New Testament, God first inhabits Jesus as His temple, and then His people as His temple. A physical temple building is no longer needed in this new creation. This reality is already true, but not yet finished. The city has no need of sun or moon = In Genesis, the sun and moon are called “lesser lamps” in Hebrew. God is eternal light and the sun and moon are merely lesser lights that are temporary. In the new creation, God’s glory gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb—an extension of God’s glory. Isaiah used this same language in his descriptions of the new creation—Isa. 60:19 “The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” The nations = In the renewed creation, all nations benefit and are blessed by the new Jerusalem (the church). Even kings “bring their glory into it” meaning that their glory is lesser than the glory of the city. ​ Revelation 21:25–27 ESV 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. The gates will never be shut by day = The gates of the new Jerusalem (the church) are always open. People enter by faith and faithfulness to the Lamb. There will be no night there = No more darkness. Jesus told the apostles in John 9:4 “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” Jesus used “while it is day” to refer to the time that He was on earth with the apostles. See John 9:5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” In John’s vision, God and the Lamb is in the city. Therefore, there is no more darkness. Nothing unclean will ever enter it = Only hose who have trusted in Christ are considered clean and righteous in God’s sight. Only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life = Only those who have trusted in Christ are considered to be the new Jerusalem (Bride of Christ). Unbelievers do not belong to Christ now and won’t in the future either. ​ Revelation 22:1–2 ESV 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. River of the water of life = Ezekiel also saw a river of life flowing from a temple throughout the city (Ezek. 47:1-9). Psalm 46:4 says, “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.” Zechariah prophesied about the Day of the LORD and “On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem” continually (Zech. 14:8). Joel 3:18 “...a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord...” The river of life in Revelation flows from the Lamb, which Jesus said He would provide (John 4:14). The Bible repeatedly associates water with the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2; John 7:37-39). John 7:38-39 “38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John clearly tells us in Jn. 7:38-39 that the river of life is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit. The tree of life = In Ezekiel’s vision there are trees bearing fruit every month (Ezek. 47:12). In John’s vision, the tree of life is on both sides of the river of life and bears fruit every month. Leaves for the healing of the nations = Ezek. 47:12 “...Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” The next verses further explain what kind of “healing” there will be for the nations—no more curses or living in darkness. ​ Revelation 22:3 ESV 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. No longer will there be anything accursed = This comes from Zech. 14:11 “And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security.” Because there will be no more evil, there will no longer be a need for curse and destruction. ​ Revelation 22:4–5 ESV 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. They will see his face = This is a stark contrast from the rest of Scripture where we’re repeatedly told that humans cannot see the face of God and live. In the new creation there is absolutely no barrier spiritually nor physically between God and His people. They will reign forever and ever = Earlier we read that the martyrs would reign with Christ for a thousand years (Rev. 20:4-6). While that 1,000-year period is a symbol for a very long time, it still has an end point. However, in the new creation God’s people will reign forever—no end point. Conclusion The kingdom is already here, but not yet completed. The new creation is already here, but not yet completed.