Hello Saints,
Today, let’s take some time to be encouraged by the promises of things to come:
“…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
— Revelation 21:4
In this revelation to the apostle John about the end times, we find encouraging words of hope for believers.
In this vision, we see the new heaven and the new earth, with believers dwelling in the presence of God Himself:
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.”
— Revelation 21:1“And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.’”
— Revelation 21:3
It is after this scene that we see these great and encouraging events that take place in the new earth when God dwells with men.
Wiping Tears from Their Eyes
Firstly, we see that in this vision, God will wipe away the tears of the believers. This calls back to a vision the prophet Isaiah had regarding the end times:
“He will swallow up death for all time,
And Lord Yahweh will wipe tears away from all faces,
And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;
For Yahweh has spoken.”
— Isaiah 25:8
This act of wiping away tears signifies that the journey on earth was full of grief and sorrow, causing believers to shed many tears as they lived in a fallen world. Believers were grieved by various trials, as addressed in the New Testament:
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,”
— 1 Peter 1:6
As believers, this is meant to help us focus on the hope of future glory—a future where our loving God will wipe away our tears, endured during our earthly lives. This is the kind of hope the apostle Paul addressed to the believers in Rome:
“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we eagerly wait for it.”
— Romans 8:24-25
No More Death
Another encouraging promise we see in the new heavens and new earth is that there will be no more death.
Death, especially in the New Testament, is a fundamental concept. We know that death is what the enemy uses to enslave men, specifically through the fear of death:
“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”
— Hebrews 2:14-15
One of the greatest struggles we face as human beings is the fear of death. At the core of our enslavement to sin is this fear. Some sins are directly connected to it, while others are indirectly related.
The New Testament also addresses death as an enemy to Christ Himself:
“The last enemy to be abolished is death.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:26
The Bible tells us that it is through Adam that death came into the world, as a result of sin. Jesus’ death on the cross is significant because it was an attack against death itself. Jesus’ resurrection highlights His victory over death:
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
— 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
In John’s vision, when we see the statement regarding no more death, we witness the ultimate victory. The new heavens and new earth will resemble how things were before the fall. Without death, caused by sin, the new heaven and new earth will be free from the sting of sin.
This is good news because it reminds us that our lifelong battle against sin will end in the new heavens and new earth.
No Mourning, Crying, or Pain
Speaking of the battle against sin, another characteristic of the new heavens and new earth is the absence of mourning, crying, and pain. These are all consequences of the fall.
Isaiah also shared his vision on the things to come:
“I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be joyful in My people;
And there will no longer be heard in her
The voice of weeping and the voice of crying.”
— Isaiah 65:19
At the end of this verse, we see a reference to the new creation:
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
This concept of the old being done away with and the new coming begins when we place our faith in Christ and are justified by faith. However, the full realization of our salvation will be revealed at the last time, eternally. In John’s vision, we will see that truly all the old things have passed, and new things have come to fruition:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, having been kept in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
— 1 Peter 1:3-5
I hope this word helps us focus on the things to come, despite the trials of this present age.
May the goodness and mercy of God follow you all the days of your life.
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