John is given a clear vision of
God recreating all things. Why? The answer is because the old creation had
passed away (21:1). However, there are some changes to the new world which
potentially make it look relatively similar to its state before the flood.
Verse one says that “…the sea was no more.” Yes, there are still bodies of
water (22:1), though much smaller than they are today, but John is using
imagery to show us that there is unity among the nations — they are no longer
divided or separated geographically by a massive ocean in between them. Also,
there is a New Jerusalem which John saw coming down out of Heaven from God and
resting upon the Earth.
This latter holy city is in stark
contrast with the former wicked city (18:1-24). Again, the city is beautiful
and marvelous to look at [as John goes into much detail in describing], but the
glory of the city is its inhabitants — for it is the dwelling place of God and
His people (21:3). This is the central focus of the passage — that Immanuel
[which means “God with us” (Matt. 1:23)] is finally and for all eternity to be
fully experienced and reveled in. There will never again come a day when God or
His people suffer the separation which sin has caused because the very presence
of sin will be no more. Holiness and holiness alone will dominate every area of
our lives in the new world.
Continue on to read about chapter 22.
*Click here to read the purpose of this blog series.
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