“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, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He 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.” Revelation 21:2-4
“The holy city, the new Jerusalem” is best taken as representing the collective people of God, since this city is explicitly identified with the “bride”.
Scripture repeatedly underscores that one of the greatest blessings of the new heavens and new earth is that restored mankind will again behold God face-to-face and live in His immediate presence.
Note that John describes heaven in terms of what will not be there … no tears, death, crying, or pain. Such a description seems fitting, given that we have no experience of anything as fantastic as the new heavens and new earth.
The believer’s rebirth through faith in Christ brings newness to that person’s life, but it is only in the eternal state that God will make all things new.
The climax of this Book and indeed all of history is the restored heaven and earth presented to God’s resurrected people. Such a magnificent future and hope call us to rise above the ugliness and sin of this fallen world, because impenitence and a lack of vigilance can still lead to the loss of our souls. At the same time, God is faithful and so will unfailingly fulfill the purposes for which His Son became man; He will remove the curse of sin that so sorely afflicts us.
God’s blessings on your day…