All Things New: The Hope of Revelation 21

This morning, we reflected on the profound hope and certainty that God offers to His people: the promise of all things being made new. The songs we sang echoed the truths found in Revelation 21, where God assures us that His promises are as good as done—His word is trustworthy and true. We are reminded that God is both just and loving, and through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, He has made a way for us to enter His presence, not by our merit, but by His grace.

The vision given to John in Revelation is not just about the end times, but about the revelation of Jesus as King. History is not a meaningless cycle, but a purposeful journey toward a definite conclusion: the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom. Unlike the world’s fleeting attempts at “new and improved,” what God promises is a new creation of an entirely different order—a new heaven, a new earth, and a new city, the New Jerusalem, where God Himself will dwell with His people.

This newness is not superficial. Everything we know—the beauty of creation, the pain and loss of this life—will be transformed. There will be no more tears, death, mourning, or pain. Our bodies, now perishable and weak, will be raised imperishable and glorious, like Christ’s own resurrected body. We will be heirs with Christ, glorified with Him, and dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The New Jerusalem is a holy city, free from corruption, crime, and sorrow. Its beauty and perfection reflect the holiness of God Himself. There will be no need for a temple, for God and the Lamb will be present with us—no more separation, only unbroken fellowship. This is the fulfillment of the deepest longings of God’s people throughout history, a better country, a city prepared by God Himself.

Yet, there is a sobering reality: not all will enter this city. The passage warns that those who persist in rebellion and unbelief will face eternal separation. We are all guilty, but through Christ, we are offered forgiveness and a place in this new creation. The call is to believe Him, trust Him, and live as if He truly is King—allowing His kingship to shape every part of our lives.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Promises Are Certain and Unchanging When God declares something about the future, it is as good as done. His faithfulness is not subject to the shifting sands of human experience or history. This certainty anchors our hope, especially when life feels uncertain or when we face loss. We can rest in the assurance that what He has promised—new creation, eternal life, His presence—will come to pass. [04:31]
• 2. The New Creation Surpasses All Imagination God’s promise is not just a better version of what we know, but a reality of a different order: a new heaven, a new earth, and a new city. The things we cherish and the things we mourn in this life will be transformed or replaced. Our future is not a return to the old, but a participation in something wholly new, where every longing is fulfilled and every sorrow erased. [21:59]
• 3. The Presence of God Is Our Ultimate Joy In the new creation, there is no temple because God Himself dwells with His people. The separation caused by sin is gone, and we will experience unbroken fellowship with Him. This is the heart of our hope—not just a perfect place, but perfect communion with the One who made us and redeemed us. [40:43]
• 4. The Call to Live as Kingdom People Believing that Jesus is King means living as if His reign is real now. This shapes our values, our relationships, our stewardship, and our mission. Sanctification is not just about personal improvement, but about aligning every part of our lives with the reality of God’s kingdom—anticipating the day when all things are made new. [45:52]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [03:45] - God’s Promises and Faithfulness
• [05:27] - The Hope of a New Creation
• [06:10] - God’s Justice and Lovingkindness
• [07:39] - All Things Made New
• [09:11] - The Kingdom Story of Scripture
• [12:07] - The Bible’s Big Picture
• [14:39] - Defining God’s Kingdom
• [16:32] - John’s Vision and Encouragement
• [17:49] - The Human Longing for Newness
• [21:59] - The Magnitude of God’s Newness
• [23:19] - Jesus: King on the Throne
• [28:12] - The Passing Away of the Old
• [31:59] - Resurrection and Glorification
• [34:02] - The Old and New Jerusalem
• [39:51] - The Temple and God’s Presence
• [43:11] - The Sobering Reality of Judgment
• [45:52] - Living as Kingdom People

Bible Reading

Revelation 21:1-8 (ESV) — > Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 50-57 (ESV) — > So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body... I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation Questions

1. In Revelation 21, what are some of the specific things that will be “no more” in the new creation? (tears, death, mourning, crying, pain) [07:39]
2. According to the sermon, what is unique about the New Jerusalem compared to cities we know today? (Think about what is missing and what is present.) [35:05]
3. In 1 Corinthians 15, what are the differences between our current bodies and the resurrection bodies described? [30:01]
4. What does God say about His promises in Revelation 21:5-6, and how does the sermon describe the certainty of God’s word? [04:31]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that God’s promise of “all things new” is not just a better version of what we know, but something of a different order. What does this mean for how we view our current lives and struggles? [21:59]
2. The New Jerusalem is described as a place where God Himself dwells with His people, with no temple needed. Why is this significant, and how does it fulfill the deepest longings of God’s people? [39:51]
3. The passage warns that not everyone will enter the new city. According to the sermon, what is the only way to be included in this new creation, and why is this both sobering and hopeful? [43:11]
4. The sermon mentions that believing Jesus is King should shape every part of our lives. What might it look like for someone to live as if Jesus truly is King right now? [45:52]

Application Questions

1. When life feels uncertain or you experience loss, how does the certainty of God’s promises in Revelation 21 encourage you? Can you think of a recent situation where you needed to remember that God’s word is “as good as done”? [04:31]
2. The sermon contrasts the world’s “new and improved” with God’s “all things new.” Are there areas in your life where you are settling for superficial change instead of seeking the deeper transformation God promises? What would it look like to pursue God’s kind of newness? [21:59]
3. The New Jerusalem is described as a place of unbroken fellowship with God. What are some things in your life right now that create distance between you and God? What practical steps could you take this week to move toward closer fellowship with Him? [40:43]
4. The sermon says that not all will enter the new city, and that we are all guilty apart from Christ. How does this truth affect the way you view people who don’t yet know Jesus? Is there someone you feel prompted to pray for or reach out to? [43:11]
5. Living as “kingdom people” means letting Jesus’ kingship shape our values, relationships, and mission. Is there a specific area of your life (work, family, finances, time, etc.) where you struggle to let Jesus be King? What is one step you could take to surrender that area to Him? [45:52]
6. The sermon describes our future as “always new, never old.” How does this vision of eternity affect your perspective on aging, loss, or the temporary nature of things in this world? [47:44]
7. The hope of resurrection means our bodies will be raised imperishable and glorious. How does this promise change the way you think about your own body, health, or the suffering you experience now? [30:01]