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Revelation 21:1-6
Fifth Sunday of Easter C (Second Lesson) May 10, 1998
Rev. 21:1-6
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had
passed away, and there was no longer any sea. [2] I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her
husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of
God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will
be with them and be their God. [4] He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be
no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed
away."
[5] He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he
said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
[6] He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the
End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water
of life.
(NIV)
Rev. 21:1-8 (A new heaven, and new earth: the new Jerusalem where God dwells, and banishes all sorrow from his people)
The new heaven and the new earth will not be separate from each other; the earth of the saints, their glorified, bodies, will be heavenly. The old world, with all its troubles and tumults, will have passed away. There will be no sea; this aptly represents freedom from conflicting passions, temptations, troubles, changes, and alarms; from whatever can divide or interrupt the communion of saints. This new Jerusalem is the church of God in its new and perfect state, the church triumphant. Its blessedness came wholly from God, and depends on him. The presence of God with his people in heaven, will not be interrupt as it is on earth, he will dwell with them continually. All effects of former trouble shall be done away. They have often been in tears, by reason of sin, of affliction, of the calamities of the church; but no signs, no remembrance of former sorrows shall remain. Christ makes all things new. If we are willing and desirous that the gracious Redeemer should make all things new in order hearts and nature, he will make all things new in respect of our situation, till he has brought us to enjoy complete happiness. See the certainty of the promise. God gives his titles, Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, as a pledge for the full performance. Sensual and sinful pleasures are muddy and poisoned waters; and the best earthly comforts are like the scanty supplies of a cistern; when idolized, they become broken cisterns, and yield only vexation. But the joys which Christ imparts are like waters springing from a fountain, pure, refreshing, abundant, and eternal. The sanctifying consolations of the Holy Spirit prepare for heavenly happiness; they are streams which flow for us in the wilderness. The fearful durst not meet the difficulties of religion, their slavish fear came from their unbelief; but those who were so dastardly as not to dare to take up the cross of Christ, were yet so desperate as to run into abominable wickedness. The agonies and terrors of the first death will lead to the far greater terrors and agonies of eternal death.
(Matthew Henry Concise Commentary)