Our Great Hope: to Live in New Jerusalem Forever

This world has been called a “veil of tears” by Christian song-writers, and they have spoken well. This world is a sorrowful realm of broken dreams, idolatry, and war. The beauty and goodness we see in the world and among humanity is definitely in spite of the reign of sin among humankind. God’s grace actively restrains the outbreaking of sin and destruction in our world, and He does so in pity and love.

I pray that you would be drawn nearer to Him, our Creator, through my blog. I am writing in order to entice you with the love and grace of Jesus Christ – God in the flesh – the One who became man to die in the place of sinners – who rose from the dead 3 days later – and who is going to return to earth to judge the living and the dead. He calls you right now to turn from your sin and to trust Him, that He is able to forgive you and raise you to life again on the final day. Sound good?

The unspeakable joy, and the unspeakable terror which will be revealed on the Day of Judgment:

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, 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 heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things,and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:1-8 NASB)

As the excellent Dr. Michael Horton said it:

[New Jerusalem] is descending from heaven (Rev 21:2) as those who are spiritually dead are raised and receive a new birth from above that makes them citizens of the new age (Jn 3:3-6; Eph 2:1-10). The writer to the Hebrews reminds us in chapter 12 that the whole system of world powers and kingdoms will be shaken when Christ returns. At the same time, the kingdom of Christ is a present reality: “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:27-28).[1]

Sweet.

Are you looking forward to that Day? I am.

Grace to all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ,

-Justin

[1] Michael Horton, The Christian Life (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011), 955-6.