Revelation
21:1-5 KJV 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.
(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. (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. (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. (5) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
REVELATION is not always about the end of the world in all it's chapters.
Notice that the following verse puts the lake of fire in a future tense. Rev 21:8 KJV But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Notice it says SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE OF FIRE.
Rev 20:13-15 KJV And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. So this indicates that information in Rev 21 is not chronologically AFTER the events of the white throne judgment in Revelation 20.
Rev 22:1 KJV And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. Rev 22:17 KJV And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Jesus used these same words in speaking of the new covenant blessings. Joh 7:37-39 KJV In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Rev 22:17 speaks of a blessing we have in the church age, and refers to the first verse of Revelation 21 where we read of a river of water of life.
So let us begin this explanation by turning to Hebrews 8. Heb 8:1-2 KJV Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (2) A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. In Hebrews, one of the deepest books of the entire bible, if not the deepest, we read where there are TWO TABERNACLES.
Heb 9:1-2 KJV Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. (2) For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. I am going to say that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews since Heb 8 through 10 is so similar to Romans 6 through 8, showing a pattern of style of teaching is common to both.
Paul said that the first covenant had fault.
Heb 8:9 CEV It won't be like the agreement that I made with their ancestors, when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. They broke their agreement with me, and I stopped caring about them! Heb 8:9 BBE Not like the agreement which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand, to be their guide out of the land of Egypt; for they did not keep the agreement with me, and I gave them up, says the Lord. Heb 8:9 GNB It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. They were not faithful to the covenant I made with them, and so I paid no attention to them. But the new covenant would solve that problem. Heb 8:10 KJV For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: Notice that instead of seeing people unable to continue in the covenant and not being regarded by God, the new covenant solves that by writing the law in our hearts.
God gives REGARD to New Covenant people so much because this covenant enables us to CONTINUE successfully for God. When the bible says, "I WILL BE TO THEM A GOD AND THEY WILL BE TO ME A PEOPLE," it is saying that GOD GIVES REGARD to such people!
Paul then compares the new covenant even further with the old by saying ... 8 (11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. Back in the old covenant, not every could know God.
The high priest could only enter the holiest a few minutes a year.
Hebrews 9 even mentions this. Heb 9:2-9 KJV For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. (3) And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; (4) Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; (5) And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. (6) Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. (7) But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: (8) The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (9) Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; The fact that priests alone could enter the tabernacle to do service, and only the high priest ALONE could enter the most holy place, tells us a message.
So a discussion about a TABERNACLE helps Paul explain to us how inferior the Old Covenant was to our new one today. This is very important to keep in mind in this message.
But in our covenant .... 8 (11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. And what was the reason the people could not enter the most holy place, and only one man could a few moments a year?
8 (12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. God wipes out our sins!
There is an entirely BETTER SYSTEM in place now.
But you have it better than the very HIGH PRIEST of that era! Heb 9:20-22 KJV Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. (21) Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. (22) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. ALMOST ALL THINGS are purged with blood by the law.
Heb 9:14 KJV How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 2Co 5:16-17 KJV Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Notice that KNOWING CHRIST is associated with old things passing away and all becoming new. Nobody could LIVE or DWELL WITH GOD, or really KNOW HIM.
Israel -- specifically JERUSALEM -- was also known as a BRIDE of God in the Old Covenant. But notice how he mentions her abominations before describing her as a bride whom he married. Eze 16:1-15 KJV Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, (3) And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. (4) And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. (5) None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. (6) And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. (7) I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. (8) Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. (9) Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. (10) I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. (11) I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. (12) And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. (13) Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. (14) And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD. (15) But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was. He went onto to talk about her ornaments that He adorned her with as His bride.
Eze 16:26 KJV Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger. Eze 16:28 KJV Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied. Eze 16:31-32 KJV In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire; (32) But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband! And so the Church is a bride. Eph 5:25 KJV Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Paul even stated that the church situation is like Adam and Eve in Genesis, when God made her from his rib. Eph 5:30-32 KJV For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (31) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (32) This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Notice that Paul spoke of our ability to succeed in our covenant, while Israel could not in their own, because God puts His laws into our hearts, and wipes out our sins.
ALL OF WHAT I HAVE SAID TONIGHT is found in a beautiful vision near the very end of the Bible. Rev 21:1-5 KJV 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. (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. Instead of old Jerusalem in Ezekiel 16 who was God's bride and became a prostitute, we see a NEW JERUSALEM.
And using the language of Hebrews, speaking about the SYSTEMS OF TABERNACLES where Israel could not dwell with God to know Him, but have only one man visit Him, we read... (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. He will REGARD THEM!
(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. As in 2 Cor 5, the former things PASS AWAY.
(5) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. People have misconstrued what Rev 21 is speaking about, but we have shown you that it is speaking about everything to do with the NEW COVENANT accomplishments in having us succeed where the Old Covenant failed.
And we CAN continue!
Heb 10:16-23 KJV This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (18) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) God will DWELL with us, instead of enjoying VISITS with us.
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