It would be helpful if you could read this in the context of the whole of the book of Revelation in order to get the whole context of what this is saying:
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4 NASB)
Now, by the grace of God, I am going to do my best to relay
what I understand of this, in the sequence of events as they happen. For the
book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ which he gave through His
bond-servant (the apostle) John, to show to his bond-servants – the body of
believers in Jesus Christ who love and who serve the Lord Jesus with their
lives – in order for them to heed the things written in it, for the time is
near.
In chapters 2 and 3 we have seven letters from Jesus Christ
written to seven churches, which evidently were real church congregations of
that time period (the collective body of
Christ in an entire city), but which symbolize where much of the church
throughout church history has been and is today in these last days before Christ’s
return, and accordingly as these descriptions apply to each congregation, or to
the church in one specific location today.
Four of the seven letters had words of approval and of
criticism. And along with the words of criticism and correction came warnings
to repent of their sins or to face God’s judgments of some kind. Two of the
seven letters were approval and encouragement only for those who were being
persecuted for their walks of obedience to the Lord. The seventh church got a disapproval,
a warning of judgment (being cut off), and a call to repent and to obey God.
Following these letters to the seven churches we then have
chapter after chapter describing the judgments of God on the people of the
earth, which are also judgments against the apostate church and all who profess
the name of Jesus but who are still making sin their practice and not obedience
to God. Hence the seven letters with the warnings prior to the declarations of
judgments. The adulterous and idolatrous church will be judged by God.
Then, after this time of great tribulation, God will bring
with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus, and then all who are alive and
remaining of those who are of God-provided faith in Jesus, i.e. the bride of
Christ, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, and so we shall
always be with the Lord. And then there will be the marriage supper of The
Lamb, and our marriage to Christ and our salvation will be consummated
(completed).
Following this there is to be a thousand year period of time
in which Satan is bound. And the saints of God will reign with Christ for a
thousand years. And once the thousand years are completed, Satan is to be let
loose for a short period of time, and he will deceive the nations, but at the
end the devil will be in torment forever, never to rise again. And I confess
that my understanding of this is not complete, for I find this a bit confusing.
Then there will be a new heaven and a new earth. And the
holy city, the new Jerusalem, comprised of all who are of genuine faith in
Jesus Christ, who collectively are the bride of Christ, will come down from
heaven. But please know that the holy city today, the new Jerusalem, the
Jerusalem from above, is the bride of Christ in our present day, and that the
old city of Jerusalem is of Hagar, the slave woman, and not of God (Galatians
4:22-31).
Same with the tabernacle of God in our present age. Once
Jesus gave his life up for us on that cross, and he rose from the dead, by God-persuaded
faith in him we now become the tabernacle (the temple) of God in whom God
dwells by his Spirit. We are now the body of Christ, his church. So Jesus
Christ is that tabernacle of God who will live among us in this new heaven and
new earth. And he will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Amen!
For there will be no more suffering, no pain, no sorrow, no
sin, no hate, nor death. All the suffering that we have endured in this life,
some or much of it at the hands of people of hate who deliberately and
habitually sin against others for their own lust and pleasure and selfish and
sinful desires, it will all be done away with, and we will be at peace and at
rest. And I look forward to that day when I will be with my Lord for eternity
and no longer suffering.
But please know that if you deny Christ by your actions, and
if you do not obey him and his commands, in practice, but if sin continues to
be your practice, you will not have salvation from sin and eternal life with
God.
[Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; 1 John 3:4-10]
Based off
Various Scriptures
An Original
Work / December 7, 2013
Christ’s
Free Servant, Sue J Love
Blessed are
you when you’re persecuted
Because of
your faith in Jesus Christ.
Blessed are
you when people insult you,
And falsely
say what leads folks to doubt.
Rejoice and
be glad, for your reward is
Great in the
heavens. You’re not alone.
When you are
persecuted in one place,
Flee to
another. God will be there.
You will be
hated by all the nations
Because you
testify of God’s grace.
Many will
seize you and persecute you,
And put to
death the foll’wers of Christ.
Yet do not
fear what humans may do to you,
For I’m with
you all through the night.
I tell you,
love your enemies with my love,
And forgive
as I forgave you.
Pray for
those who do evil against you.
Rest in my
love and grace from above.
He Will Wipe Away Every Tear
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