Revelation 21:1-7
1Then
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.
2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out
of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully
dressed for her husband.
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the
dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.
They will be his people, and God himself will be with
them and be their God.
ICEL
4He
will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no
more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old
order of things has passed away." 5He 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."
6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will
give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of
life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be
his God and he will be my son.
ICEL
Heaven is a wonderful place!
Always tough subjects
Lectionary – preaching rota
This time I get to choose my own text! 
Introduction
In our Home Group Bible Study we are studying
Revelation. So far we haven’t gotten beyond the 7
Letters to the 7 Churches (chs. 2 & 3), but it’s always a
temptation to jump to the end of the book because it’s
always encouraging
ICEL
Heaven is a wonderful place!
Three things John sees (21:1 – 22:6)
I.
A New Heavens & A New Earth
II. The New Jerusalem
III. The Throne of God
ICEL
Heaven is a wonderful place!
I. A New Heavens & a New Earth
Three things peculiar about the New Heavens & New
Earth:
A. They are a totally new creation (not recycled material).
(21:5 I make all things new!)
B. The old heavens and the old earth are destroyed. (2
Peter 3:7 The present heavens and earth are reserved
for fire, being kept for the day of judgment…)
C. There are no more seas on the earth (only dry land)
ICEL
Heaven is a wonderful place!
II. The New Jerusalem
A. Holy City
B. The NEW Jerusalem
C. Coming down from heaven
D. A Beautiful Bride
A. Why a HOLY City?
The previous Jerusalem was not.
It will be filled with the redeemed.
ICEL
Heaven is a wonderful place!
II. The New Jerusalem
B. The NEW Jerusalem
Again not a “recycled” Jerusalem,
but a totally new one
C. Coming down from heaven
Coming FROM GOD down from heaven
The focus is one it’s divine origin
ICEL
Heaven is a wonderful place!
II. The New Jerusalem
D. A Beautiful Bride
It’s odd that a city is a bride?!?
A physical city or the Redeemed of God?
Elsewhere in Scripture the Bride of Christ is
the Church
ICEL
Heaven is a wonderful place!
II. The New Jerusalem
D. A Beautiful Bride
ICEL
Heaven is a wonderful place!
III. The Throne of God
A. There is NO temple in the New Jerusalem
B. God and the Lamb are its temple
C. The dwelling of God is with men
D. They will be worshiped
E. God will provide all the redeemed need
ICEL
Heaven is a wonderful place!
Conclusion
Whether we take these passages literally or figuratively
we learn some things which are of great interest to us:
1. Heaven will be a wonderful place, beyond description
2. All who have accepted Christ will dwell in God’s
presence. Are you ready to go?
3. He will provide all our needs
ICEL