“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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. 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.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
We do not have to wait for death to be evacuated from earth to heaven. Nor to dwelling with God. Nor to seeing Jesus
Jesus reveals Himself to us now on earth. Kingdom values and living are for us now on earth. We are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, God, Christ.
Also at the end of the book of Revelation there is a beautiful vision of a New Jerusalem descending from heaven to earth.
“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, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 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. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.”
This new city doesn’t need a temple because God’s presence is felt everywhere.
It doesn’t need sun or moon because the light of Christ illuminates it from within.
Its gates are never shut, and it welcomes people from around the world to receive the treasures it offers and bring the treasures they can offer.
From the centre of the city, from God’s own throne, a river flows—a river of life or aliveness.
Along its banks grows the Tree of Life.
All of this, reminds us of the original creation story and echoes God’s own words in Revelation:
“Behold! I’m making all things new!”
God’s work in history has never been about escaping Earth and going up to heaven.
It has always been about God descending to dwell among us. Within us.
God wasn’t a distant, vengeful, monster waiting for the end of the universe to take control.
He is ever present and close and bringing life and freedom always. Here, now and in eternity.
God puts us in a world of passing things where everything changes and nothing remains the same.
The only thing that doesn’t change is change itself.
We learn to appreciate that everything in life is a gift. We didn’t create it. Good or bad life experiences have a purpose in God’s moments. Nothing is wasted.
Whatever chaos is breaking out, whatever danger threatens, the river of life is flowing now. The Tree of Life is bearing fruit now. True aliveness is available now.
There is no wait, not yet, someday, it is all now and in every moment.
The word is always be and come.
Jesus is always revealing more and the door we go through.
He fills the earth with His glory by filling us with His Holy Spirit.
History is not moving towards a baby in a manger or a lamb. It is moving towards the realm of the roaring Lion of Judah.
The illustration shows heaven held by the Trinity emanating light as the new earth pushing back darkness.
Two Scriptures that come to mind:
“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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. 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.” 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.””Revelation 21:1-5 ESV
“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, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 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. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.” Revelation 21:10-11, 22-26 ESV
The song Worthy. John Wilds
Lessisgreater 