Stand Strong: The LAST Promise – A New Home
2016-02-21
Matt Willmington
REVELATION 21:1 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. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 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. 4 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.” 5 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.” 6 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. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 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.”
“PASSED AWAY”
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us… For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Romans 8:18, 22
1. 1ST heaven, earth – “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10
2. SEA [divide, darkness, death]
3. tears, grief, pain, death
4. THE LAKE = sinners, torment, God absent, death, purge, fire
“ALL THINGS NEW”
– Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor.5:17
– Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13
THE CITY = holy, comfort, God dwells, purified, life, inherit, fountain
– for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God… But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:10, 16
– But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem… Hebrews 12:22
– For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Hebrews 13:14
The REAL promise is not a place but a presence
– “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them”
“Dwelling”
– For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 2 Cor.6:16
– “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many “dwellings”; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” John 14:1-4