21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. ² And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

³ I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. ⁴ He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

⁵ And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” ⁶ And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. ⁷ All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

⁸ “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Revelation 21:1-8

Dear God, as I read this passage this morning (verse 2-4 were the verses of the day for Bible Gateway), I thought about all of the teaching that has been done on the afterlife, the second coming, and even the rapture. Some of it has been based on this very passage. Some of it out of Thessalonians. Some from Peter. Some from what Jesus said in the gospels. Then I wondered, what would our theology be without this book? What if you hadn’t given John this “revelation,” and what if it hadn’t been preserved for us today? How much does our anticipation of an unknown future depend on all of this?

I also noted the “second death” mentioned in verse 8. I’ve learned in recent years about “annihilationism” or “conditional immortality.” They are basically the idea that it is possible to kill a soul. Eternal life in worship and service of you and a second death in the lake of fire. I honestly hope that’s true.

But I’m incredibly ignorant. There is so much I don’t understand. I was teaching the Sunday school class yesterday and Manoah and his wife (Samson’s parents) out of Judges 13, and one of the things the angel tells them is that his name is too beautiful for them to understand. Just his name is too beautiful for them to understand! How much more ignorant am I beyond that?

Father, Thank you that you are in charge. Thank you that, one day, I have serving and worshipping you n a more pure way to look forward to. I pray that you would have mercy on those I love, heal their hearts, and draw those who are running from you to you. As I teach Christian Men’s Life Skills tonight, help me to do it in a way that will draw the men to you. Prepare their hearts today for what they will hear from Jay, Larry, Joe, and me tonight. Prepare our hearts to share with them and love them.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen