Lord Jesus and Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for this day you've blessed us with, so much you've given us, and now the blessed opportunity to once again dig into your word, to study a little bit of the last day's prophecies. Please help us as we get into this to understand it so we can be ready for what's next, and we can be ready to answer the questions when folks out there wonder what's going on and what's next. We thank you so much. We direct all of it as we pray in Jesus' precious holy name. Amen. On last day's prophecy series, if you will turn over to Revelation chapter 21. It reads, And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride, adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write, for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Let's stop right there for now and look back at some of what we just read. The first part of this is what we're going to really focus on and that is, I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. and there was no more sea. Some have taken this verse and misunderstood it. When they see the last part of it where it says, and there was no more sea, they attach that to the eternal state thinking that there's not going to be a sea in the future. That there's not going to be any oceans or large body of water on the new earth. And that is incorrect. There will be all The creation made anew, because it says I create all things new, and that the former things are passed away. The former things, you attach that to no more sea. The current sea that we have will be destroyed, because everything is going to be melted away with a fervent heat. Everything. But in the new creation, it's going to be like it was prior to the fall back in Genesis, where He created everything in six literal days. He's going to create all that anew, with all the creatures from the beginning, with all those in their wondrous original state, without any corruption, without any disease, without any evil in them. They will not be devouring each other. And we're going to have vast oceans. It's going to be all the ocean creatures, all down in the deeps and up on the shallows, whatever it is. All that's going to be created new. It's not just going to scorch this earth and remodel it like others have said as well. It's another incorrect teaching that's out there that he's going to just scorch this earth and start anew as being remodeled. Well, that's not what's going to happen either. Because you would still have the core of it, the bones of it would still be built upon all the sin of all past. All that's going to be gone. It's going to be melted away into fervent heat. by fervent heat, even the elements. If we'll turn over to 2 Peter chapter 3, we'll see a description that Peter gives of this event where all this is going to be melted away. And he addresses the issue that we have where we have these skeptics that don't believe the future of this planet and of all the universe. But over in 2 Peter chapter 3, pick it up right here, there is this second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you, in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. Remembrance. Remember what the Lord has said. The Lord said He's going to come back and get us again. He's going to receive us to Himself. Where He is, we will be for eternity. That's something to really look forward to. And verse 2, that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts." These scoffers are those that are so prevalent in the world today that do not believe in the Word of God, have not trusted Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior, and are more like those Epicureans and the Stoics and the Athenians and so forth that we were reading about earlier, the old Greek philosophers. They combine everything together like this new movement, well it ain't very new, but the movement of the coexist. It can have its roots all the way back to those people there on Mars Hill, the Greeks that were so So superstitious that they wanted to bring all the religions together under one. Those are the scoffers that he is speaking of. Those are those that don't believe the truth. They plug their ears. They don't want to hear it. as he continues, and saying, where is the promise of His coming? That's what these skeptics, these scoffers, these that do not believe and trust in Jesus Christ, they don't believe the prophecies, they look back and they might see or hear the prophecy of the Lord coming back and receive us again, and they're saying, it's been 2,000 years, if He's come to get you, wouldn't He come and get you already? That's the way they do. But we've got to understand that Jesus Christ is outside of time. He spoke time into existence, after all, as He explains. Speaking of these scoffers once again, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the world of... Excuse me. that by the word of God the heavens were of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water." It's one of the big things that discoffers those that do not believe in the word of God stand on and that is they do not believe that there was a worldwide judgment of the flood. Any of these that are out there that do not trust Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior, I dare say there's not a one of them that believes in the event of the flood, the judgment of God. Because if they could look around and see and realize the harsh, severe judgment that the Lord is capable of to kill every man, woman, child, air-breathing animal on the planet, except for those eight that we saved in the ark and those animals that He called into that. If they do not believe that, then they have an alright time not believing that there is going to be a judgment later. So that's why they doubt it. That's why they try to come up with different ideas, different schemes, schisms, plans, thoughts, man's thoughts, man's wisdom, that goes against the Word of God, that tells us. And we can clearly see it all over the creation. But yet they doubt it. and they are willingly ignorant. Verse 5 again, for this they willingly are ignorant of that by the word of God the heavens were of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water whereby the world that then was being overflowed with water perished. But the heavens and the earth which are now by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. Now that's some global warming you can really believe. He's going to warm this place up so much he's going to melt it away completely as he describes. But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. It's meaningless. A thousand years to Him is nothing. It doesn't affect Him. Because He spoke time into existence. He is outside of time. We can't get our heads around that one. We can't really comprehend being outside of time because we are confined in it and controlled by it. We see it. We feel it. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to usward. not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. This is why He is waiting. Verse 9 is the reason He is waiting. Why He has waited so long is because He doesn't want folks to wind up in hell for eternity. That's why He come down, took on flesh, lived amongst us, suffered so severely for all the sins of all mankind, past, present, and future. Because He cares that much for us. And He's patiently waiting, as it says, long-suffering toward us. And not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. And that's why He's holding out. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, into which the heavens shall pass away with great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. And the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." That's everything. All of it. It says, with a great noise there's a big bang that you can believe also. So you can believe in global warming because yes, the Lord's going to warm this place up so severely it's going to melt everything away. The big bang, yeah, it's going to be a big bang when He destroys all of it completely all. Verse 11, seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved. That's everything in existence. What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat." That's the very particles we're made up of. And this is not just talking about this planet, it's talking about the heavens. That means all of the universe, all the cosmos, everything is going to be melted away completely, gone. Like it was prior to the creation. It's going to melt it all away and all going to be created new for us. Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new heavens And a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." It doesn't say a new heaven, new heavens. Multiple there. And new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. People have estimated that this earth is too small for all the people that are going to be here for eternity. Well, this earth ain't going to be here for eternity. It's going to be dissolved into nothingness. We don't know how big the new earth is going to be. Compare us to Jupiter, it's like comparing, what, a BB to a basketball or to a beach ball. Maybe it'll be as big as Jupiter. Maybe it'll be a hundred times as big as Jupiter. We don't know how many people are going to be there. We don't know how big it's going to be anyway because how many animals is he going to want to have on there? They've got to have room for them animals to enjoy their life as well that he's going to speak into existence. So it's going to be beyond what we can imagine and he's in control of it. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." Knowing what the future holds for a Christian, knowing what the future holds for all humanity, knowing what the future holds for the entire cosmos, we need to be, as it says, diligent. We need to be hard-working at it, knowing what is to come, and helping others realize that as well. and look around and see the signs, know the times, know what's going on, and we hear so much of it that is happening and being fulfilled right before our eyes. Paul taught about the world in Romans chapter 1, 18 through 32 there, about how the world is, and it sure fits us today. We look around and we see it. We hear the scoffers. We know the people that deny Jesus Christ. We know they deny the creation. all the things that are all around them that are easily seen, because they are willingly ignorant, as he says there, willfully not believing what is right before them. So what's going to happen to those folks in the eternal state? Back over in Revelation chapter 21, you'll see what's going to happen to them. Pick it up in verse 8. But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and the murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. That's what they have for eternity. If they do not yield to Jesus Christ, receive the free gift that He has laid out for them and be looking forward to all that beautiful things that we're reading about with no more pain or sorrow, no suffering, no tears, none of that. And a brand new heaven and a brand new earth, a brand new dwelling place for God is going to be right here, well not on this planet, but it'll be right among us on the brand new planet for eternity. Now that's awesome to look forward to as a Christian. Tune in to verse 9 of chapter 21. And there came unto me one of the seven angels, which had the seven vows, full of the seven last plagues, and talketh with me, saying, Come hither, I show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God." This is a vision given to John about the eternal state. He's now being given a vision of being able to be on a high mountain on the new earth. Some have said there's not going to be any mountains. But they're wrong. They haven't read the Word of God. Verse 11, "...having the glory of God, and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." Speaking of the New Jerusalem. "...and had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and the names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel." The 12 gates of that city, to be able to go into that city from amongst the creation that is going to be beyond the gates of that city. There's even going to be kingdoms in that area beyond the city. On the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talketh with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth four square, and the length is as large as the breadth, And he measured the city with the reed, 12,000 furlongs, the length and the breadth of the height, and the height of it are equal, a huge cube in other words. And he measured the wall thereof, 140 and 4 cubits, according to the measure of a man that is of the angel. A cubit is a measurement from the elbow to the fingertip, roughly 18 to 20 inches. But this is of the angel, so I was referenced to the angel. How big was the angel? We don't know exactly. Those minute details aren't really that important. But back on up there, about how big that city is, that's about 1,500 miles square roughly. That's how big the city is. Some have even taught and believed that that's where we're going to spend eternity, inside that city. It's just going to be this huge cube out in the middle of nothingness, floating around in space for eternity. We're going to go into this big huge cube, sing songs to God for eternity, and that's it. That don't sound like heaven to me. The city is there for a dwelling place, a focal point, a place for God to be, for us to approach Him and to praise Him and worship and to sing as we come into that city from outside where the kingdoms are, as we continue to see how this unfolds. And he goes and he describes this beautiful city in details about the precious stones and so forth. And on down in 21, and the twelve gates were twelve pearls. Twelve gates. Why is there a gate? So you go in and out. It's not just a big wall that's closed up and sealed, there's a gate. Why build a gate if you're not going to be able to go in and out of it? Verse 22. Well, let's continue at 21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, every several gate was one pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. That's how pure it was, it was actually transparent. And I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. They are the place to come. Come in there and walk hand in hand with Jesus Christ up and down that beautiful city. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it. For the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Verse 23 here is another one where people get sidetracked and into some false teaching, and that is that in the eternal state and in the eternal condition that there's not going to be a sun or a moon. It does not say there's not going to be a sun or a moon. They distort this. They look at the condition that is within the city. Within the city there is no need for the sun to shine into that city because the light of God is going to glow into that 24 hours a day. You're going to be able to see because of that glory, that glow, the light of Jesus Christ shining in that city. Therefore, within the city, you don't have to worry about whether it's day or night. You can go in there at any time, 24 hours a day, to visit, to see, to praise, to sing, to walk hand in hand with Jesus Christ in the city. So don't go off on that misguided teaching of that there's not going to be a sun or a moon. Because it doesn't say there's not going to be a sun or a moon. It says the city has no need of the sun and the moon. There's a difference there. Verse 24, And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it, and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. There you go. You have nations, and nations have kings, will bring their glory into the city, Therefore, they can go out of the city back to the kingdoms, to the nations where their ruling and reigning has been given to them their reward, their positions for eternity based on their works during the present realm as well as during the millennial time. The rewards that they will earn will determine what they have for eternity. Their position and their abilities to do the things that the Lord wants them to do for eternity will be based upon what you do with your time that you've been given in this realm and during the millennial period. And there will be, as it says, nations, kingdoms outside of that gate, being able to come into that gate. Verse 25, And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day, for there shall be no night there at the city. There's no night. Come in any time, in and out. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. That's part of our blessing that we have, to be able to come into that wondrous city and praise the Lord as many times as often as we want, 24 hours a day, day or night, it doesn't matter, because inside the city it's going to be lit up by the glory of God all the time. There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." They're going to be the only ones that are going to have access to that. They're going to be the only ones that are going to be on that brand new earth, amongst that beautiful new heaven. which is going to be the whole new cosmos, because it says heavens, multiple, which is the atmosphere of the planet, which is the solar system, which is the galaxy, which is the entire universe, which is the entire cosmos. The heavens, multiple. and the one that is most important, the dwelling place of God. And that will be right there in the midst of that new city, holy Jerusalem, that will come down from God. And you'll be able to witness that, like John there saw that beautiful vision of it coming down, resting upon the brand new earth. That's what we have to look forward to, new heavens, new earth, new great big city, where we can spend eternity. Let's continue some more description of this beautiful city in chapter 22. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bared twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. It's interesting when you see these clues throughout the scriptures. We know from creation on day four that he gave us the sun and the moon, and in that sun and the moon are our time clock to determine the seasons, and to determine a date, and determine as time goes by. What a month is, what a day is, what a year is, is based upon the sun and the moon. And he gives us these clues throughout this that there will be a sun and a moon because it says her fruit every month. a month. Those cycles will be in place during the eternal state as well. Even though we will not be affected by age or by time, because we will have a glorified body and be able to enjoy it for eternity, there will still be the time clock, there will still be the seasons, there will still be the changing of the fruits on the trees, the seasons. And this is so wonderful when you think about that. And these little clues that he puts in there, it's amazing. Verse 3, And there shall be no more curse. That curse that was put upon this planet as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve there in the garden, there will be no curse. But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, in what? In the new city. And his servants shall serve him, and they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there. Once again, talking about the city. And they need no candle, neither light of the sun. For the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign for ever and ever. Once again, speaking of inside that city, because that's where he's going to be. Inside that city, there's no need of the sun, the light of the sun to shine in there, because it's going to be light all the time anyway. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true, and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. I think, well wait a minute, now here he says shortly be done. Why haven't they already been done? It's been almost two thousand years since John wrote all this down. So why hadn't it happened already? There again, he is outside of time. A day to him is nothing. A thousand years is nothing. to Him. We're confined by it, but surely here it can be fulfilled quickly. When these things are initiated, they're going to come to be very quickly in our eyes as well, what time flies by when it starts to occur. And he says in verse 7, Behold, I come quickly, or suddenly. Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. If we really and truly believe in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, dig deep into the Scriptures and find out what we have to look forward to for eternity, that is an awesome thing. And we know these things are prophesied. We know that everything that has ever been prophesied throughout all the entire Word of God has come true in intricate detail exactly like it was prophesied. So we know what we have to look forward to for eternity in that beautiful brand new heaven and beautiful brand new earth. Let's wrap it up with Revelation 21, 1-7. again because this is so beautiful. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of the heavens, prepared as a bride, adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, And he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. And God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. For the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write, for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." That is so awesome. We ought to memorize that and read that multiple times a day and share it with others as well so they have that to look forward to as well. And that's the best part of the prophecies of knowing that that is what we have to look forward to for eternity. And we can stand so firmly upon that because everything He ever told us would happen has happened in intricate detail. So look forward to it. Be found blameless. Share it with others. Let's pray. Lord Jesus and Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your word. It is so encouraging. It is so awesome when we read about things that are to come and have the confidence in knowing that there are going to be exactly like you say it. And we have so much work to do still. As long as you have us here, we have work to do. Help us all open our eyes and see what you want us to do and do it to the fullest of our might to bring honor and glory to you We thank you so much as we pray in Jesus' precious holy name. Amen.