Sermon Notes - Revelation 21:1-22:5 - New Creation - Littleby Baptist Church - 2/27/2022

 1.     We have spent a lot of time talking about the coming judgement.

a.      A lot of good things, like our Lord returning.

b.     Our ability to spend forever with Him.

c.      But a lot of people suffering forever.

d.     Today our focus is on something a bit more positive.

2.     After all of humankind is judged, a new creation is revealed.

3.     Revelation 21:1

a.      Reminds me of 2 Corinthians 5:17.

b.     The old has been washed away and the new has come.

c.      When we are made new, we are still in this flawed and sinful form until we die.

d.     When it comes to the new heaven and new earth that is not the case.

e.      They will be completely redeemed!

f.      The old will be gone and the new will come!

4.     Revelation 21:2

a.      A New Jerusalem comes down from heaven.

b.     A beautiful place an awe-inspiring site, nothing on earth today could compare.

5.     Revelation 21:3-4

a.      Finally, God’s creation, us, will be able to exist with Him.

b.     We will exist as we were originally created to be before sin entered this earth.

c.      Their will be no more pain, death, grief, and crying.

d.     These things will pass away with the old heavens and earth.

e.      They are not part of the future.

f.      Once we reach this point in time, sin will be no more.

g.     It will truly be amazing!

6.     Revelation 21:5-6

a.      Jesus will make all things new.

b.     He will FREELY give the water of life to everyone.

c.      Samaritan woman

                                                    i.     John 4:13-14

                                                  ii.     This water is what Jesus is giving.

                                                iii.     A promise of eternal life in the presence of God.

d.     The ultimate gift is fulfilled once and for all.

7.     Revelation 21:7

a.      Those who overcome, those who are saved by their faith in Jesus will be God’s children.

b.     He will not be some far-off distant God that is hard to comprehend.

c.      He will be right there.

d.     We will be family with Him.

8.     Revelation 21:8

a.      A reminder that those who are not of Christ will have no part of the glorious new creation.

9.     Revelation 21:9-11

a.      John is invited to see New Jerusalem up close.

b.     A beautiful sight to see.

c.      And one that is likely more magnificent than we can imagine.

10.  Revelation 21:12-14

a.      In John’s day the importance of a city could be seen in the size of its walls and gates.

b.     I would guess that John had never seen any city with walls and gates as magnificent as he is seeing here.

c.      The names of the tribes of Israel on the gates and the names of the Apostles on the foundations, tell us this is home for Israel and the Church.

                                                    i.     Home to all who believe.

11.  Revelation 21:15-18

a.      12,000 stadia is 1,400 miles.

b.     144 cubits is 216 feet thick.

c.      Pure gold clear as glass.

                                                    i.     Completely refined without any imperfection.

                                                  ii.     Crystal clear to let the light of Christ shine through.

12.  Revelation 21:19-21

a.      An amazing structure beyond our comprehension.

b.     The stones used in the foundation, may correlate to the stones of the high priest garments, but that would be pure speculation.

13.  Revelation 21:22-27

a.      In the Old Testament the temple was the focal point for worshipping God.

b.     In the New Testament the temple was replaced with a gathering of believers. A building was not the focus, God’s children gathering in worship is.

c.      In our glorious future, the temple and the gathering of God’s people are replaced with God himself.

                                                    i.     He is the focal point, and we will be with Him always.

d.     There will be no need for the sun or the moon, as the glory of God will be our light and the Lamb is the lamp.

                                                    i.     Hard to even imagine.

e.      Gates that will never be shut as their will never again be conflict like we see in this world.

f.      The New Jerusalem will be home to all whose name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.

14.  Revelation 22:1-2

a.      The river of life flows from the throne of God.

                                                    i.     Symbolizes the holiness and purity of our God and His new city.

                                                  ii.     A holiness and purity that will flow down the main street of New Jerusalem.

                                                iii.     Down the street that likely connects to every part of the city.

                                                iv.     Think of a small town with the local grocery store, drug store, and post office on main street. Everyone ends up there at some point.

                                                  v.     Everyone will venture down the main street and be blessed by the water of life.

b.     The tree of life.

                                                    i.     Both sides of the river of life… The river is flowing through the street, so it is not likely the Missouri or Mississippi rivers, probably closer to Littleby creek.

                                                  ii.     A large tree that bears a significant amount of fruit with the river running through the middle of it.

                                                iii.     This is the same tree that was in the Garden of Eden and the same tree that the saints were told they would be able to eat from it.

                                                iv.     A tree that bares fruit that give eternal life.

15.  Revelation 22:3-4

a.      There is no more curse, illness will be gone. But as promised the tree of life is there with its healing leaves and life given fruit.

b.     Servants will worship – We cannot begin to understand what life will be like in the Lord’s presence, but we will be worshipping the King of Kings.

c.      With the curse removed, their will no longer be a barrier that keeps us from seeing the face of our God.

d.     We will be marked as God’s children. We will be rewarded for our faith. We will be under His protection.

16.  Revelation 22:5

a.      No more night. No more darkness. No more sin.

b.     All the darkness, as in the absence of light and the sinful world we live in, will be wiped away.

c.      The presence of the Lord is all we will need to light our way.

d.     He is all we will need to reign with him forever and ever.

17.  The new heavens, the new earth, and the new holy city are created.

a.      As we read these verses, we can easily come up with lots of questions.

b.     What will worship look like?

c.      How will we all reside in a city that is 1,400 square miles?

d.     How can gold be so clear that you can see through it?

e.      There are things we will not know until we are standing their ourselves.

f.      But what we do know is that the only way to get there is by having faith in Jesus.

g.     A faith that has brought us here this morning.

h.     And a faith that the Holy Spirit uses to change our lives.

18.  When we are faced with obstacles that we do not understand or comprehend.

a.      When we are struggling to get through the day.

b.     When the uncertainty of the future overwhelms us.

c.      Remember… as a follower of Jesus you are guaranteed a dwelling place in the most beautiful city that will ever be created.

                                                    i.     You will be able to eat from the tree of life and drink from the river of life.  

                                                  ii.     But even better than that is that you will be in the presence of Jesus, and you will see His face.

                                                iii.     There is nothing better than the promise of spending an eternity with Jesus in His city.

                            iv.     What a glorious day it will be!