What is Revelation 21:1-4 talking about?

Question

Suzette you always try so hard to help everyone. May God bless you

And Blu Skye you have very correct, nice answers. You get right to the point. Jah be with you.

Answer 1

THIS glorious vision continues to unfold as the angel takes John back to the beginning of the Thousand Year Reign. What does he describe? “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more.” (Revelation 21:1) A captivating panorama comes to view!

Hundreds of years before John’s day, Jehovah had said to Isaiah: “For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart.” (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22) This prophecy was initially fulfilled when faithful Jews returned to Jerusalem in 537 B.C.E. after their 70-year exile in Babylon. In that restoration, they formed a cleansed society, “a new earth,” under a new governmental system, “new heavens.” The apostle Peter, however, pointed to a further application of the prophecy, saying: “But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.” (2 Peter 3:13) John now shows that this promise is fulfilled during the Lord’s day. “The former heaven and the former earth,” Satan’s organized system of things with its governmental structure influenced by Satan and his demons, will pass away. The turbulent “sea” of wicked, rebellious mankind will cease to exist. In its place will be “a new heaven and a new earth”—a new earthly society under a new government, God’s Kingdom.—Compare Revelation 20:11.

John continues: “I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2) New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ, made up of the anointed Christians who remain faithful to death and who are raised to become kings and priests with the glorified Jesus. (Revelation 3:12; 20:6) Just as earthly Jerusalem became the seat of government in ancient Israel, the magnificent New Jerusalem and her Bridegroom make up the government of the new system of things. This is the new heaven. The ‘bride comes down out of heaven,’ not literally, but in the sense of directing attention to the earth. The Lamb’s bride is to be his loyal helpmeet in operating a righteous government over all mankind. A blessing indeed for the new earth!

John tells us further: “With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: ‘Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them.’” (Revelation 21:3) When Jehovah made the Law covenant with the then new nation of Israel, he promised: “I shall certainly put my tabernacle in the midst of you, and my soul will not abhor you. And I shall indeed walk in the midst of you and prove myself your God, and you, on your part, will prove yourselves my people.” (Leviticus 26:11, 12) Now Jehovah is making a similar promise to faithful humans. During the thousand-year Judgment Day, they will become a very special people to him.

During the Millennial Reign, Jehovah will “reside” among mankind in a temporary arrangement, he being represented by his royal Son, Jesus Christ. At the end of the Thousand Year Reign, however, when Jesus hands the Kingdom over to his Father, no royal representative or intercessor will be needed. Jehovah will reside spiritually with “his peoples” in a permanent and direct way. (Compare John 4:23, 24.) What a lofty privilege for restored humanity!

John goes on to say: “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) Once again, we are reminded of earlier inspired promises. Isaiah also looked forward to the time when death and mourning would be no more and grief would be replaced by exultation. (Isaiah 25:8; 35:10; 51:11; 65:19) John now confirms that these promises have a wonderful fulfillment during the thousand-year Judgment Day. First the great crowd will enjoy the blessings. “The Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne,” continuing to shepherd them, “will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:9, 17) But eventually all those who are resurrected and exercise faith in Jehovah’s provisions will be there with them, enjoying a paradise that is both spiritual and physical.

“At that time,” says Isaiah, “the eyes of the blind ones will be opened, and the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped.” Yes, “at that time the lame one will climb up just as a stag does, and the tongue of the speechless one will cry out in gladness.” (Isaiah 35:5, 6) At that time, too, “they will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating. For like the days of a tree will the days of my people be; and the work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full.” (Isaiah 65:21, 22) So they will not be uprooted from the earth.

Thank you for these questions, Debbie. They help build up all who have faith in the things unseen. We know what Jehovah purposes will all happen, and this is one of the most wonderful promises of all. I hope too that because of your questions a seed may have been planted somewhere.

Answer 2

Hi Debbie,
Ever since I first "saw" you on this forum, I noticed that you were a very nice person, and although I don't agree with your particular religion, I do have alot of respect for you, and I enjoy reading your answers, which are always full of common sense (which is hard to find, ya know!)
Anyway -
Rev 21, 1-4: When Christ returns, he ushers in a 1000 yr period of teaching and of disipline (badly needed). After that period, Satan is loosed a short while to deceive those stragglers who just cannot be taught, and then the Great Judgement comes.
All those who are condemned to perish, go into the Lake of Fire, which is an all-consuming fire that kills both the spiritual body and the soul. They do not remain in a pit where they fry like bacon forever. They are "turned to ashes from within". Gone, done, kaput.
This is when God will do away with this flesh age; not the earth, not the terrafirma, only the AGE will change. We will go into the final of the Earth Ages, which people call the "eternity". This change of Age is what you are reading of when you read those passages. The Earth will be rejuvinated back to its original state, and Jesus Christ will be King and rule everything.
The reason there will be no tears or crying or sorrow for those who didn't make it, is because when those walk into that Lake of Fire, all memory of them is gone also; it is as if they never existed. Nothing that offends will be in existance anymore. All of this in the flesh age will be gone; all passed away.
The manuscripts (I teach from them in the original languages)tell of three Earth Ages.
One that was, one that is now, and then the third and final one called Eternity.
You can read of the three Earth Ages in 2peter, chapter 3, although the fuller thought and deeper message doesn't come thru very well in the English - it blaringly obvious in the Greek. But if you study it closely you will see it; I think in the regular Bible it even states that the World that then was, being out of the water, and then in the water, perished. This was not Noahs flood, as we know there were people, animals, etc who lived thru the flood, not everything perished.
But when God destroyed that first earth age, which this is a description of, every single thing perished; nothing was left.
I hope this was helpful and not confusing!!

Have a great day,

rt

Answer 3

God has created a new heaven and a new earth. He is waiting until after the tribulation to bring this new world into existence. The world we live in will be no more. This new world is called the New Jerusalem. This is where followers of Jesus Christ will live for eternity. The city is "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" because the city is made of precious gems and gold. In this city, God will dwell among us. WE will have direct access to Him and will live eternally with God and other followers of JEsus. In Heaven, there will be no tears, loneliness, sadness,pain, hurt, etc. Those that live there will be eternally joyful and happy.

If you read further in Revelation, you will get a better description of what this city will look like. Doesn't it sound beautiful?

Answer 4

The earth as we know it will not last forever, but after God's great judgment, he will create a new earth. God also promised Isaiah he would create a new and eternal earth(Isaiah 65:17;66:22). The sea in John's time was viewed as dangerous and changeable and also the source of the beast(Rev. 13:1). The new Jerusalem is where God dwells among his people. Instead of our going up to meet him, he comes down to be with us, just as God became man in Jesus Christ and lived among us(John 1:14). The "holy city, new Jerusalem" is described as the place where God will "wipe away all tears". There will be no death, pain, sorrow, or crying.

Answer 5

Here is the text that you refer to:

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Personally, I think it speaks for itself. God will remake the Earth. The heavenly hosts, those who died in Christ and who were caught up when Jesus returned, will live on this new Earth that will have Jerusalem as its center, and Jesus as its King. Since sin will have been put in captivity for all time, there will be no more death (physical or eternal), pain or tears.

Answer 6

And I saw a new heaven & a new earth: for th first heaven & the first earth were passed away: and their was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with man, and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them & be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

It means that God makes all things new.

Answer 7

This is the New Heaven and New Earth after this earth and the rest of the universe etc., is totally destroyed. Nothing else. Jesus told his followers, which include all the saved down through the ages, now, and the future, that he was going to prepare a place for them. This is the place.

I hope this has helped.

Answer 8

Which translation of the Bible do you utilize? do you be responsive to that Mark sixteen:9-20 grew to become into bumped off via the RSV? There are footnotes on different translations that '2 maximum solid early manuscripts' have not got it. So there's a debate on what the orginal version pronounced. So till now you think approximately books that don't even declare to be an element of the Bible are unbiblical, you may desire to circulate with if the verses that have been there for hundreds of years are splendid. Revelation itself states there is yet another e book which would be revealed at yet over returned. Why could John curse the fulfillment of Revelation? Revelation 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me returned, and pronounced, bypass and take the little e book it is open interior the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9 and that i went unto the angel, and pronounced unto him, provide me the little e book. And he pronounced unto me, Take it, and consume it up; and it shall make thy abdomen bitter, besides the undeniable fact that it is going to be in thy mouth candy as honey. 10 and that i took the little e book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it grew to become into in my mouth candy as honey: and as quickly as I had eaten it, my abdomen grew to become into bitter. eleven And he pronounced unto me, Thou could desire to prophesy aagain till now many peoples, and international locations, and tongues, and kings.

Answer 9

He is speaking about the total destruction of this earth which is under bondage along with all people and the new earth and spiritual earth where all the children of God and His angels will dwell together forever.

Answer 10

This earth will be completely destroyed and when Christ descends he will bring with him the new heaven he promised, the New Jerusalem and it will be placed on the new earth. The new Jerusalem will be the one prepared as a bride