Chapter 21v1-8

This chapter reveals to us the final change that G-d is going to make to His creation. 

v1: In Isaiah 2v3 Isaiah, writing about the last days, speaks of the Torah/law of G-d going forth from Jerusalem. The constitution of the millennial Kingdom is the Torah or the laws of G-d. Matt 5v17 tells us that Yeshua did not come to abolish the law and the prophets. 

When the new heavens and the new earth are created there will no longer be any need for the Torah (Matt 5v18). 

• We have learnt two things concerning the sea:

1. It represents instability. In the new Jerusalem there will be no instability. 
2. It is also a reference to fear – that which is unknown. In the New Jerusalem there will no longer be any reason/cause for fear, because the Kingdom of G-d has come in its fullness. 

v2: The Kingdom of G-d, in its final state, is called the New Jerusalem (Jerusalem comes from two Hebrew words that mean ‘to inherit’ and ‘peace’ i.e. the fulfilment of G-d’s will). 

• New is related to the Kingdom; it tells of a new reality – all things will become new. (Isaiah 42v9) James tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from above – and that is what the New Jerusalem is – a gift coming from G-d (James 1v17). 

There is an inherent relationship between the New Jerusalem and the people of G-d (bride). Yeshua said that He was going away to prepare a place for us (Jn 14v2-3). The Kingdom has been prepared for us, and we have been prepared for G-d – prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

v3: What is redemption? Intimacy with G-d. G-d desires to dwell with us. 

A tabernacle is the dwelling place of G-d. How can G-d dwell with a sinful people? Only because of redemption; the price that was paid for sinful man. Yeshua purchased for us eternal redemption (Heb 9v12). 

v4: Sin leads to death and sorrow. There is no more sin, so no more death or sorrow.

v5: This Kingdom is different from everything we can perceive in this world (1 Cor 2v9). 

v6: Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. He is associating Himself with the Word of G-d in its entirety 

• Water satisfies thirst. There will be eternal satisfaction in the Kingdom of G-d. (Isaiah 55v1) We get it for free, because of the sufficiency of the work of the Lamb. 

v7:He who overcomes was a phrase used extensively in Revelation 2 and 3 when G-d was speaking to the exiled churches. They were outside of where G-d wanted them to be and G-d called them to overcome. This verse is speaking to believers. 

• One of the definitions for son, from a Biblical standpoint, is that of an heir. In the Kingdom we will have a new status – not just servants but that of sons. 

v8: They live with physical agony but also with emotional agony, as they live absent of G-d for all of eternity. We were created to be in fellowship with G-d.