Victory - God’s new world

to Genesis. Well, actually, we'll read Revelation 21 first. So if you've got your Bibles there,

Revelation 21. It's the very, very end of the Bible. As we come to the end of the story,

God's big story, the last two chapters give us a wonderful vision of what lies ahead.

So let us read Revelation chapter 21 verses 1 to 5.

Revelation 21:1–5

This is John. He writes the vision that he has been given from the risen Lord Jesus.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed

away and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down

out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband. And I

heard a loud voice from the throne saying, now the dwelling of God is with men and women,

and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God.

And he will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.

For the old order of things has passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said,

I am making everything new. Then he said, write this down.

For these words are trustworthy and true.

Well, keep your finger there in Revelation and turn back to Genesis chapter 1 and verse 1.

Genesis 1 · chapter mention

Genesis chapter 1 and verse 1.

Genesis 1 · chapter mention

Thank you, Sarah. Yeah, there's pens and sheets there. I forgot about that. Thank you.

If you'd like to take notes, please put your hand up.

Well, let's pray together.

Father, we thank you for your word, the Bible.

We thank you for your word, the Bible.

We thank you for your word, the Bible.

We thank you for your word, the Bible.

We thank you that it is your story of the world from creation to new creation.

It is trustworthy and it is true.

And so we pray, Father God, that you would take these words,

these words spoken by the written Lord Jesus,

that they would be words that speak to us afresh today,

lifting us from looking down at the darkness of this world

and looking up to the light of a new world to come.

may this vision change us and transform us.

And may it fill us with hope.

And may it cause us to wonder

and fill our hearts with worship

of an awesome and amazing God.

Please help us, we pray.

Amen.

Well, the story that we began,

it all began so well.

Look at Genesis 1 and verse 1.

In the beginning,

God created the heavens and the earth.

It was a good and beautiful world

and everything was as God intended.

And into this world,

God created and placed the first man and woman

and in his love,

he provided them with all that they needed.

Look at chapter 2, verse 8.

Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east,

in Eden,

and there he put the man he had formed.

And the Lord God made all kinds of trees

grow out of the ground,

trees that were pleasing to the eye

and good for food.

Eden is a beautiful, pleasing,

and plentiful garden.

No wonder it means delight.

Everything is there for them to enjoy.

Nothing going wrong.

No sadness or hurt.

No pains or struggles.

And above all,

there is no death.

In fact, it's in this garden

that the first man and woman,

Adam and Eve,

enjoy a perfect and intimate relationship

with God, their Creator.

There is nothing to hide.

There is nothing to fear.

Without shame,

living with their loving Creator

in perfect relationship,

this is pure delight.

It's the kind of world

we all long for.

But in one act of rebellion,

Adam and Eve turned against God.

They rejected him,

pushed him out of the centre,

and placed themselves at the centre,

acting as if they were God.

That first sin

was like the very first tremor

that would start a tsunami of destruction

that would sweep through the course

of human history,

a wave of chaos and disorder

that has left untold suffering.

And what Adam and Eve started,

the human race has continued

by our persistent rebellion.

The once good world that God had made

is now broken.

Paradise has been lost.

where once life flourished,

there is now the stench of death.

But despite

our ongoing rebellion,

let us never forget

that this is still God's world.

He made it.

He owns it.

He rules over it.

And in His immense

love,

God has promised

to renew

and restore

this disordered world.

Have a look at Isaiah

Isaiah 65 · chapter mention

chapter 65.

Isaiah chapter 65

Isaiah 65:17

verse 17.

Here the prophet Isaiah

reminds us

of what God

will do.

Isaiah chapter 65

Isaiah 65:17

verse 17.

It's a wonderful chapter

to read

as it looks forward.

The language

is just grasping for words

to try and picture

what it will be like.

Verse 17.

Behold,

I will create

new heavens

and a new earth,

the former things

will not be remembered

nor will they come to mind

but be glad

and rejoice

forever

in what

I will create.

All those

painful memories

that we relive

over and over again,

all our regrets

and struggles

caused by our

selfish desires,

all the physical

suffering

and the mental

torment

will not

be remembered.

All the violence,

the greed,

the wars,

the terrorism,

the earthquakes,

the hurricanes

that break and destroy,

never

to be experienced

again.

God's plan

and promise

to take

what has been

broken

and to make it

gloriously new

and to help us

grasp

even more

than the promise

of Isaiah.

We are given

this wonderful vision

if you turn

to Revelation

Revelation 21 · chapter mention

chapter 21.

Revelation

Revelation 21 · chapter mention

chapter 21.

These last

two chapters

of the Bible

are a fitting

conclusion.

They open

up a door

to this

beautiful picture

of what we

as God's

children

can look

forward to.

In a way,

what is

pictured before

us is like

an eternal

celebration

of God's

victory

over sin

and Satan?

Look at

Revelation

Revelation 21:1

chapter 21

verse 1.

Then

I saw

a new

heaven

and a new

earth.

For the

first heaven

and the

first earth

had passed

away.

Just as

God

in the

beginning

created

the heavens

and the

earth,

so God

will create

new

heavens

and a

new

earth.

It's not

that God

is going

to be

doing up

this world

like we

get out

our tin

of paint

and repaint

and redo

our sitting

room.

No,

God is

going to

make this

world that

we live

in

absolutely

new.

It's like

God is

going to

take this

world in

his hands

like you

or I

would take

a ball

of Play-Doh

and he's

going to

shape it

and he's

going to

form it

into a

world that

is radically

new.

In some

ways it's

going to

be the

same world.

There's

going to

be rivers

and mountains

and seas

and forests

but it's

all going

to be

new.

And what

makes it

so new,

look at the

rest of

verse 1.

Do you

see what it

says there

at the end

of verse 1?

and there

was no

longer

any sea.

Sea in

the Bible

is often

used as

a metaphor

for chaos

and disorder.

So in

Isaiah 17

we read

this,

Oh the

raging of

many nations,

they rage

like the

raging sea.

Oh the

uproar of

the peoples,

they roar

like the

roaring of

great waters.

So in

this vision,

in this

new world,

it's not

that we

will have

no sea

to play

in or

that there

will be

no dolphins

to swim

with.

It means

that this

new world

is going

to be

new because

there's

going to

be no

more

destruction,

no more

chaos,

no more

raging.

Verse 5,

He who

was seated

on the

throne said,

I am

making

everything

new.

The

creator

God

who

has

existed

from

eternity

past,

who

spoke

this

universe

into

existence,

who

rules

with

absolute

power

and

supreme

authority,

will

one day

take

this

old,

decaying,

broken

world

and make

it new.

So what

will it be

like?

Well,

we are

given two

further

metaphors

to explain

what God's

people can

look forward

to.

First,

it will

be like

a new

city.

Look at

verse 2.

I saw

the holy

city,

the new

Jerusalem,

coming down

out of

heaven from

God.

you see

the city,

Jerusalem,

as we've

been reading

through the

story,

is the

place where

God's

people would

be gathered

and where

God's

people would

live.

And with

its huge

walls,

the city

provided a

place of

peace and

security and

provision.

Of course,

the story of

the Bible has

told us that

Jerusalem

enjoyed very

little peace.

a bit like

the great

cities of

the world

today.

Cities are

not a

safe place

to live

in.

They are

racially

divided,

socially

broken,

with the

constant

threat of

terror.

But here,

in this

vision,

is the

new city,

a holy

city,

a place

of purity,

peace,

prosperity,

the absence

of evil,

no one

lonely,

no one

afraid.

But then,

this city,

the image

changes into

this marriage

celebration.

This city

becomes a

great celebration

of a wedding

feast.

Let's read

verse 2

again.

I saw

the holy

city,

the new

Jerusalem,

coming down

out of heaven

from God,

prepared as

a bride,

beautifully

dressed for

her husband,

and I

heard a loud

voice from

the throne

saying,

now the

dwelling of

God is

with men,

and he

will live

with them,

and they

will be

his people,

and God

himself will

be with

them,

and be

their God.

you see,

the separation

from God

that has

cursed humanity

will finally

be over.

Just as a

wedding marks

the moving

in together

of husband

and wife,

so God

is going

to move

into the

city with

his people.

The joy

and the

intimacy

that Adam

and Eve

had at the

very beginning

will be

ours.

And when

we see

him,

we will

not hide

or run,

but we

will talk,

for all

our guilt

and shame

will be

completely

gone.

Nothing

and no

one will

be able

to separate

us from

our eternal

marriage

with God.

And as

we move

from this

great city

to a

marriage

celebration,

the

newness

of this

city

is going

to be

marked

by laughter

and no

more

tears.

Look at

verse 4.

He

that is

God

will wipe

every tear

from their

eyes

and there

will be

no more

death

or mourning

or crying

or pain

for the

old order

of things

has passed

away.

Can you

picture that

city?

In this

city there

will be no

more hospitals

for the

blind will

see

and the

deaf

will hear.

No need

of wheelchairs

for the

lame will

run and the

sick will

dance with

joy.

in this

city there

will be no

more goodbyes,

no more

funerals,

no memorials

to attend,

no more

sad memories,

no more

heartache for

loved ones.

In this

city where

minds have

been broken,

suffering,

inexpressible

torture,

their minds

will be set

free to

write and

dream and

paint and

play.

can you

see that

city?

How can

we be so

sure?

Look at

the end of

verse 4.

For the

old order

of things

has passed

away.

The

sufferings

of this

life,

the tears

of pain

that we

face,

the agonies,

the internal

struggles

will all

be gone,

never to

be remembered

forever.

So we

are given

a picture

of a new

city.

The second

great picture

we are given

is it's

going to be

like a new

garden.

Have a look

at Revelation

Revelation 22 · chapter mention

chapter 22.

Revelation

Revelation 22 · chapter mention

chapter 22

chapter 22.

And verse

1.

Then the

angel showed

me the

river of

the water

of life,

as clear

as crystal,

flowing from

the throne

of God

and of

the Lamb

down the

middle of

the great

street of

the city.

On each

side of

the river

stood the

tree of

life,

bearing

twelve

crops of

fruit,

yielding

his fruits

every

month,

and the

leaves of

the tree

are for

the healing

of the

nations.

Do you

see that

picture?

It's an

echo of

the Garden

of Eden.

Do you

remember how

God made

a garden

for Adam

and Eve,

right back

at the

beginning?

Let me

remind us

of that

garden again

and listen

out for the

similarities.

Now the

Lord God

had planted

a garden

in the

east in

Eden,

and there

he put

the man

he had

formed,

and the

Lord God

made all

kinds of

trees to

grow out

to the

ground,

trees that

were pleasing

to the eye

and good

for food.

And in

the middle

of the

garden

were the

tree of

life,

and the

tree of

knowledge

of good

and evil,

and a

river watering

the garden

flowed

from Eden.

Now,

in Revelation,

we have this

picture of

this new

garden,

if you like,

the new

Eden,

from the

throne of

God,

who is the

source of

all life,

a river,

the water

of life,

flows down

from the

garden and

through into

the city,

nourishing and

sustaining and

providing.

But what

else do we

see in this

garden?

It's not

just the

water of

life,

but we

see on

each side

of the

river stood

the tree

of life.

Do you

remember when

Adam and

Eve rebelled

against God?

Remember what

happened?

They were

removed from

the garden

and they

were not

allowed access

to the

tree of

life.

Listen again

to what God

said to

Adam and

Eve when

they rebelled.

And the

Lord God

said,

the man

has now

become like

one of us,

knowing good

and evil.

He must

not be

allowed to

reach out

his hand

and take

also from

the tree

of life

and eat

and live

forever.

So the

Lord God

banished him

from the

garden of

Eden.

And after

he drove

the man

out,

he placed

on the

east side

of the

garden of

Eden

cherubim

and a

flaming sword

flashing back

and forth

to guard

the way

to the

tree

of life.

But now

in this

new vision,

in this

new garden,

we have

access to

the tree

of life.

A tree

of endless

provision,

a tree

of healing

for the

nations.

And what

makes this

garden so

utterly new?

Look at

verse 3.

No longer

will there

be any

curse.

curse.

The

history of

this world

is one

long story

of disorder,

disease and

decay and

ultimately

death.

It's a

story of

conflict and

evil as we

too have

rejected God

and listened

to the lies

of Satan.

But in the

new garden,

the curse

is gone.

No more

temptations.

No more

sin.

failure.

Satan

banished.

Where once

death reigned,

there is

now life

in all

its fullness.

But even

greater,

even greater

than a new

garden and

no more

curse,

what makes

this garden

so spectacular

spectacular is

the one who

is walking

in the

garden.

Look at

verse 4.

They,

the people

of God,

will see

his face

and his

name will

be on their

foreheads.

The children

of God

will see

God.

time and

time again

through the

story of

the Bible,

we've been

reminded of

the seriousness

of our

sin.

Because of

our sin,

we cannot

see God.

The unholy

cannot be

with the

holy.

What is

unclean

cannot be

with that

which is

pure.

Yes,

of course,

through our

faith in

Christ,

we can be

forgiven

today and

we can

talk with

God as

our Father,

but we

cannot see

him in

person.

We cannot

be with

him.

But in

the new

garden,

we will

see our

creator God

face to

face.

Every trace

of sin

gone.

Every sinful

desire

banished.

We will

see God.

we will

be with

God in

person.

For we

too will

be utterly

pure and

holy.

This is

the new

garden.

The

garden of

pure

delight for

all

eternity.

can you

grasp this

vision?

The new

city and

the new

garden and

all that is

to come.

But how

can we be

sure this

is ours?

How do

you,

how do

I get

into this

garden city?

how can

we make

sure this

is going

to be

our

experience?

Well,

the risen

Jesus goes

on to

tell us,

look at

chapter 22

verse 14.

Blessed

are those

who wash

their robes

that they

may have

the rights

to the

tree of

life

and may

go through

the gates

into the

city.

Can you

see?

Access

is given

to those

who have

washed

their robes.

Again,

it's this

picture language

describing

all those

who have

come to

Jesus,

repented

of their

sin,

and are

trusting in

him for

the forgiveness

of all

of their

sin,

submitting

to him.

You see,

it's sin

that makes

us unclean.

It's our

rebellion

against God

that makes

us unacceptable.

It separates

us from God

and from his

new heaven

and his

new earth.

If

unrepentant,

rebellious

sinners were

allowed into

this garden

city,

then we

would only

do what

Adam and

Eve did,

and it

would just

go into

chaos once

again.

But God

will not

allow that.

Look at

verse 15.

Outside,

outside

of this

garden

city

are the

dogs.

Those

who have

been

intent

on

turning

against

God,

rejecting

him,

refusing

him.

Those

who

practice

magic

arts,

who look

to other

things and

other people.

The sexually

immoral,

those who

live purely

for their

fulfillment of

their own

desires.

The murderers,

those who

are intent

of doing

whatever they

like,

no matter

the cost.

The

idolaters,

those who

place themselves

love,

those who

love,

and

everyone who

loves and

practices

falsehood.

These are the

unrepentant,

those who do

not love

Jesus and do

not submit to

his authority.

There is no

place in the

garden city

for those who

reject Jesus.

they are

outside.

They are

separated from

God and all

that is good

for all

eternity.

They are in

hell,

a place where

evil and

suffering reign

and from

which there

is no

escape.

This is not

make-believe.

This is the

true story of

God.

His

incredible plan

for the world

from creation

to new

creation.

And if we

are God's

people who

have come

admitting who

we are and

have been

washed by

Jesus and

made clean,

then as

God's

children,

we can look

forward to

that day when

we will stand

before him

and in his

love and

in his grace

he will

welcome his

children in

to that

garden city

for all

eternity.

What a

conclusion.

Except for

it's not

the end.

It's just

the beginning.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

God with

God.