Useful Bible Studies > Revelation Commentary > chapter 21
This present world cannot last. In the future, Christ will rule it, because he must rule all things (Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Corinthians 15:25-27). However, even that is not God’s permanent plan. He is creating a new heaven and a new earth which will be perfect in every way. They will be completely holy and good, beautiful and wonderful.
Several other Bible books also mention the new heaven and earth. In Isaiah 65:17, God promises to create new heavens and a new earth. Isaiah 65:17-25 describes what it will be like to live there. There will be perfect peace there; even the animals will not attack each other. People will not waste their efforts and they will not work in vain. They will live as God intended them to live. This will never end (Isaiah 66:22).
The apostles (first Christian leaders) were also aware of God’s wonderful promise. 2 Peter 3:13 says that everything will be completely right and good in the new heaven and earth. Hebrews 11:16 and 13:14 mention the wonderful city that God is preparing for his people.
2 Corinthians 5:17 explains that God is beginning his work to create the new world in the lives of his people. God’s people, therefore, are not separate from his plan, but an essential part of it (Romans 8:19-21; 1 John 3:1-2).
Revelation 21:1 mentions an important difference between the new world and the present world. On the new earth, there is no sea.
In the Bible, the sea is a word-picture for powerful evil forces that only God can control (Psalm 93:3-4; Isaiah 27:1). For example, in Revelation 13:1, the antichrist (Christ’s great enemy) comes from the sea. God allows those powerful forces in the present world, but he puts a limit on their activities (Job 38:8-11). In the new world that God will create, there will be no place for them.
Next part: The New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2)
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© 2016, Keith Simons.