All Things New

“And the One seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’” — Revelation 21:5

At the end of the book of Revelation, Jesus showed John the most wonderful thing of all.

“I saw a new heaven and a new earth,” John wrote. “The first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”

Then John saw a beautiful city, the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It was shining with the glory of God, like a precious jewel, clear as crystal. Its gates were made of pearls, each gate a single huge pearl. And its main street was made of pure gold, so pure it was like clear glass.

And John heard a loud voice from the throne: “Look! God’s home is now with people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. 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 sadness, or crying, or pain. All the old things have passed away.”

Then the One sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making all things new!”

There was no temple in the city, because God Himself and Jesus, the Lamb, are its temple. There was no need for the sun or the moon, because the glory of God gives it light, and Jesus, the Lamb, is its lamp. Its gates will never be shut, because there will be no night there.

Then the angel showed John a river, the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal. It flowed from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the city’s great street.

And on each side of the river stood the tree of life, with twelve kinds of fruit, a new crop every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Do you remember? The tree of life was in the very first garden, in the very first book of the Bible. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they had to leave the garden, and the way to the tree of life was closed. But now here it is again! The way is open. Everything that was lost in the garden has been given back, and much, much more.

“No longer will there be any curse,” John wrote. Everything that went wrong on that sad day in the garden has been put right.

And God’s people will see His face.

That is how the story ends. It began in a garden, with God and His people together. It ends in a garden city, with God and His people together for ever. Everything in between, all the promises, all the rescues, Abraham and Moses and David and the prophets, the baby in the manger, the cross and the empty tomb, the church going out to the ends of the earth, has been leading here.

The very last words of the Bible are a promise and a prayer. Jesus says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” And John answers, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

That is the best story of all. And it’s true. And it’s for you.

The promise kept: “No longer will there be any curse” (Revelation 22:3). In the first book, God promised that a child of Eve would crush the snake’s head. In the last book of the Bible, the snake is defeated, the curse is gone, and the tree of life is open to everyone. God kept every promise.

Read it in your Bible: Revelation 21:1–7, 22–27; 22:1–5, 20–21

Dear God, thank you that you are making all things new. Thank you that one day there will be no more tears or sadness or death. Thank you for the best story of all, and that it is true. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.