“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.” (Revelation 21:1-4)
The scene here moves to eternity, after the end of time, when all the enemies of God have been vanquished, following the final judgment of all men, and when the long drama of human struggles and temptations SHALL HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED. We must not be perplexed or confused by the remarkable language of these chapters. Language itself, as a vehicle for the conveyance of thought, IS INCAPABLE OF ANY ADEQUATE PORTRAYAL OF THE REALITIES SYMBOLIZED. It is impossible to describe heaven. No metaphor, regardless of how powerful, can really carry the full weight of what the holy apostle sought to reveal in this sparkling portrayal of THE FINAL HOME OF THE SOUL. The beauty, riches, joy, and glory of heaven are EXCEEDINGLY BEYOND ALL THAT PEOPLE MAY THINK OR IMAGINE; and the very best description of them can be nothing but a FEEBLE SUGGESTION OF THEIR FULLNESS. Nevertheless, we HUMBLY THANK GOD FOR WHAT IS WRITTEN, and we shall strive to catch a little glance of what it will be to be there when the Lord comes to CLAIM HIS OWN (that’s we who are saved).
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham