When God Makes All Things New

Well, happy eighth day, everybody! That was too good! Did they know I was speaking about that?

Truly, you just heard it.

End of sermon. Now, don't cheer!

That was great. I've got this no-solution scenario. Every summer, when the ministries assign assignments, you start thinking about your topic. Then you go to sleep, and your brain starts to process. I have this same no-win scenario every summer in a dream. It's a nightmare.

Last summer, I was in this auditorium.

Twenty-fifteen minutes before churches begin, when I was going to give a sermon, and I was wearing what I usually wear when I mow the lawn.

Or go to Walmart. It's always this way. Your brain is never allowing you to make a solution. It's like Captain Kirk. Don't believe in a no-win scenario. My brain does.

There was this huge auditorium, and it had multi-levels behind the stage.

I remember the festival coordinator talking about the announcements, and he's introducing special music. I said, Steve, it's time to get your suit on.

Really? And I said, oh, by the way, I don't have my notes. Where are my sermon notes?

So, your mind is going through this in this nightmare. Then he's introducing special music, and I'm saying, okay, I'm not dressed, and I don't have my sermon notes. This is going to really be interesting. Anyway, to share some of the things I think we all go... Boy, this has been a wonderful feast, brother. The children here are delightful. The teens... It's great to see young people. A lot of our areas don't have a lot of children, a lot of young adults and teens. It's just great to see all of you. It's about half the church, it seems like, here in Stingbo, has young adults and teens and youth. So, it's been delightful. We've heard a lot of wonderful messages, and it's certainly been great to be here the last seven and a half, eight days. You know, one thing we've learned, brother, and so far in the feast, one thing that we've certainly been reminded about, and that is God as a planner. God as a planner. You know, there's been a book years ago written by an individual talking about the future. Actually, God is the best future mankind could ever dream about. He is a futurist. God invented that concept.

Because with God, brother, He invented the future from the very beginning. Now, go figure. How can you do that? How can you invent, create the end from the beginning? And that's exactly what God has done. See, everything is programmed by God. It's like a computer, except better.

Actually, we're just living out what God already dreamed about and put together a long time ago, eons ago. So, that's what I want to talk about. You heard it already in the special music. But actually, what I'm going to talk about today, brother, has no topic in terms of being a feast day. Now, we are on the eighth day. This is a feast day, a wonderful feast day, as we heard in the very wonderful sermon this morning. But what I'm going to talk about, which I actually heard in special music, there is no feast day for what I'm going to talk about. There actually is no festival for what we also heard a little bit about this morning, and that is the third resurrection. God isn't going to have a feast day for the third resurrection. You know, the festivals do end with what we heard this morning in terms of the second resurrection. That's the end of all the seven festivals. Now, we know that Passover is not a holy day, but it's one of the seven feast days, one of the seven festivals, as is the weekly Sabbath. Now, you think, well, we know the weekly Sabbath pictures, don't we? The act of creation. And we know what all the festivals picture. We relive that, as God says, in a cycle every year as we go through from Passover to the Days of the Lord of Bread to Pentecost to the Feast of Trumpets to the Day of Atonement, the Feast of the Tabernacles, and, yes, the eighth day. We are very familiar with that because God never wants us to forget it. You know, when you forget the festivals, you forget the plan of God. That's exactly what happens. And that's happened actually in the history of mankind and even in the history of the church. When you lose sight of what these festivals are or say they're not commanded, you lose sight of the very plan of God. But what happens, brethren, after the seventh festival today?

What happens after the second resurrection? Well, we know the third resurrection occurs. There's no festival commemorating that. But what happens after the third resurrection? Really, as we heard in the special music, and, Ray Jo, I've got to talk to you. You never saw my notes, did you?

I was very inspired. But God says there's a lot more to happen after the second and third resurrections. So today, brethren, we're going to actually, as we saw in the special music just now, we're going to talk about today in the sermon when God makes all things new. When God makes all things new. So really, the beginning of eternity is after the third resurrection. That's the beginning of eternity. We often end today and say, well, that's the second resurrection, mankind being resurrected. That's an awesome, inspiring concept. But then what happens? Well, turn with me to Revelation 21. We'll start in verse 1, and then we'll come back to Revelation 21 a little bit later in the sermon. So Revelation 21, God, again in the context here, follows the second resurrection and the third resurrection, which are both found in the previous chapter. And this is a very valid chapter break. Some of the chapter breaks we know, brethren, the Bible do not make sense. This is one that makes sense because certainly God concludes this former era after the third resurrection. Now, today in the sermon, we're going to go forward into what God says here beginning in verse 1. I saw a new heaven and a new earth. And again, we'll come back here in a little bit later in the sermon, but we're going to read the first three verses. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no more sea. And then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Brethren, this is the Father's first coming. Jesus Christ sat a first coming. This is the Father's first coming. He introduces us with a brand new existence. You could say it's a heavenly existence. You could say that because God says a new heaven and a new place to live in, New Jerusalem.

And then in verse 3, I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle, or the dwelling of God, is with men, the Father that is. And he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. See, that's no longer, brethren, that's not possible the other side of the third resurrection. Because the third resurrection is populated 100% with people who do not want God to be their God. There's no exception. Now, that's hard to understand and contemplate where you and I are coming from. But it's certainly not only possible it's going to happen. There are some who don't want to exist with God. And God says, I'm not going to force happiness on you. That doesn't work anyway. So you're invited to not live in my family, and I don't want anyone polluting the nest for all eternity in your bad attitude. What will that accomplish? Why litter the kingdom of God, the family of God, with more Satan's and demons? God is ostracizing them because they're spirit, and God chooses not to destroy them. But he does choose, brethren, because that's an act of mercy to destroy those who have acted against God time and time again. So those in this era, in the whole plan of God, the family of God, will truly have God as their God. He says in verse 4, God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. And then he who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me, Right, for these words are true and faithful. I make all things new. Now, how new does God make things? Really, completely. Because the universe, brethren, as we know it, and the earth as we know it, and physical life as we know it, is all gone.

There is going to be a spirit foundation, or the spirit essence of God, rather, to be the foundation for the new heaven and the new earth. The foundation for this heaven, and I talk about this first heaven, the clouds in the second heaven, the universe in this earth, is a matter of physics, physical physics. And God is not physical. He is spirit. So let's take this journey together when God makes all things new. Now, God says, You're going to have to understand me, and I'm spirit, and yet you're flesh. How can that be, brethren? How can you, as a corporal human life, God in you, His Holy Spirit in you, but how can you understand God through His Spirit? You've never seen God.

God has not talked to you in terms of a verbal words. At least, I don't think He has.

So how can you understand God? Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 4 and verse 18.

Paul writes about this challenge as being physical people, and yet we're to understand this unseen, eternal God. 2 Corinthians 4 and verse 18. Please turn with me there.

And Paul writes, While we do not look at the things which are seen, but of the things that are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, and the things which are not seen are eternal.

And, brethren, that is our challenge to see God and His way of life instead of focusing which is so natural on the physical. Because we are physical. Don't we often teach our children, look at the principle of the matter. And their eyes roll and say, what do you mean the principle of the matter? God is saying, look at the big picture. I am Spirit in your flesh, but my Holy Spirit in you changes your concept, your thinking, and you begin to think spiritually instead of physically or carnally. Now the NIV, and you can follow along again in your translation, says, So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, and for what is seen is temporary, and what is unseen is eternal. So, brethren, everything you see, everything you've ever seen in your life is physical and temporary, and it'll be gone. Gone in a flesh. Do you know how the physical universe and the physical earth will be done away with and shall pass away from existence? I've got a guess, and I'm going to share it with you a little bit later in the sermon, but I've got a guess of how all that will happen. It's only a guess.

Because God doesn't really say. Let's go back to Isaiah 57, verse 15, please.

Isaiah 57, verse 15, we do know again, God is a futurist. He plans the end, brethren, the end from the very beginning. And the end is, I don't say there's an end as we understand an end, but I'm saying his future goals and purposes and desire and his kingdom and eternity, he has that in mind. He has that in mind, and that has been from the very beginning.

Isaiah 57, verse 15, let's read this together. For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity. So where is the home of God the Father and Jesus Christ? Their home is located under the zip code eternity. That's where they've always lived. Brother, I ask you a question. What has God the Father and Jesus Christ been doing throughout eternity?

Okay, Genesis 1.1, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Remember, that's the physical heavens and the physical earth.

What has God been doing for all eternity?

I am clueless, other than saying it has been wonderful. Have you ever thought about that question? He inhabits the zip code eternity.

That's home. It's always been a home. That's where he's always been. What has he done for eternity? What we understand, brethren, is Genesis 1.1 forward, or Ezekiel, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, and Satan's rebellion forward. Remember, Satan's rebellion predates the earth.

We understand some of the past, but that's the near past. Today, we want to talk about the future.

But I just do an interlude. What has God been doing throughout all eternity?

Because he inhabits that, as Isaiah wrote, whose name is holy. I dwell in the high and holy place with him who has a contrite and humble spirit. So God says, you know what? Here I am, eternity, and I can dwell with you. Really? God is inviting us to dwell with him as the God of eternity? Yeah, he said that. Those that are contrite and humble, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Now, the Hebrew word eternal here doesn't mean just continuity or continuous existence. The emphasis is quality of life.

You know, brethren, there's no need to live for eternity if there's no quality.

All right? Oh, what's the point? Satan and the demons are going to be doing that, and God doesn't want that for any future spirit being in his family. Again, more to fowl thanest? No. So he has a plan, and he had it from the beginning, and Satan actually is a part of that plan. Hasn't that driven Satan crazy for a long time?

The thing that Satan thinks that Satan too is a part of God's plan?

God always, rather, has a plan, and that is always the perfect plan, and it has a goal and a purpose.

It's not just eternity. It's living in joy and peace and tranquility, and you use any adjectives you want to hear, but it's quality of existence that God is after. Not just eternal life. That's easy for him to give. It's the mindset, the character, the holy character. That's what God chooses for us to develop. And that's, of course, something God wants us to have, and he does give that to us as we yield. So God discloses here that eternity is his home. It's always been. You know, the day for a year, I mean a day for a thousand years, a thousand years is a day. That's what it means. There's no time clock in eternity. There's no reason for it. There's no sunsets, and there's no moon sets in eternity. But for our sake, brethren, God has put those elements in place, so we have time. We can acknowledge time. But with God, eternity really, you chop it up, I think, in terms of what God has accomplished in the next phase of the plan. That's how God maybe counts fine. You know, but there's no real purpose for it like you and I would have a purpose.

Let's go back to Titus chapter 1 and verse 1. Titus 1 and verse 1, please. So God clearly shows, again, he is the God of eternity. He inhabits eternity, and yet, yes, he's going to share eternity with us. Titus 1 and verse 1. Well, Paul, the bondservant of God and the apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth, which accords with godliness. And verse 2, in hope of eternal life, which God who cannot lie promised before time began. You know, brethren, if we were a computer right now, I'd be shutting down.

There'd be a little smoke coming out. Let's notice that again. Verse 2, in hope of eternal life, which God who cannot lie promised before time began. God promised eternity to his family before time began. But, verse 3, but has in due time manifested his word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior.

You know, just to throw these things out, brethren, to give us a little bit of food for thought as we travel home and say, wow, there's no festival for eternity because maybe we're going to be living the festival, you think? So there isn't an eighth festival or a ninth festival, and yet there's eternity on and on and on. We heard this morning, Ecclesiastes 3, verse 11, God has made everything beautiful in its time, and he also has put eternity in their hearts.

And then it says, we really don't understand, though, that what God does from the beginning. Yeah, man does have kind of a sense, well, there's a life hereafter, but we have no clue to really what that life hereafter will be other than going in darkness right now for some reason. But it's okay. You know, I had... There was a sermon back in the day. We had a big thunderstorm there in Indiana, and boom, it hit the power line outside, and we just went in total darkness just like now. You know, I can talk in light or dark. It doesn't matter. But we don't understand the purpose of life, much less the purpose of eternal life. And I'm not talking again. That was not in the church. Do you understand the purpose for eternity?

Let me give you a clue as we end the sermon today. Do you know your job description?

It's kind of there in Revelation, the last chapter. So we'll get to that a little bit later.

Let's go back to the book of John, John 17. Actually, not back to the book, but we'll get to the book of John, chapter 17, verse 1. In John 17, verse 1, we read that Jesus spoke these words, lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, and that your Son may also glorify you. So what was on Jesus' mind? Well, numerous things, but one of them was eternity. Verse 2, as you have given him authority over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, that Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. And I have glorified you on the earth. I finish the work which you have given me to do. And now, Father, glorify me together with yourself and with the glory that I had with you before the world was. Before the world was. He could have said, before I came to this earth as the incarnate one, but he says before the world was. He's kind of reminding the Father how they've always been together, and then reminding the reader, hmm, that's right. It didn't just begin in Genesis 1. They've been together all eternity. But verse 3, that this is eternal life. Now that's what the Father's after in us.

So, the God of eternity began a plan with an end in mind. And God is fulfilling that plan as the months and the years ago by. But you know what it says to know you. Let's go back here in John. It's in verse 3. This is eternal life that they may know you. Now that really should be underlined. If you're an underlining kind of guy or gal, this is the place to do it. Because, brethren, we won't be in eternity unless we know God. End of story. That just isn't going to work if we don't know God. Well, there's going to be a shorter lifespan, we could say. And if we want a long lifespan, we've got to get to know God deeply. That's what really life is about, isn't it?

So that's a key. That's the source. That's the ground zero, we might say, of being in the kingdom of God. Turn to me over to John chapter 12 and verse 23. John 12 and verse 23. Now Jesus Christ earlier here in this account also talks about eternal life. John 12 and verse 23. Jesus answered them, saying, The hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified. Most assuredly I say to you that unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain. So Christ, of course, the Creator, he understood how seed does die, or at least changes. It has to change to give life. Notice verse 25. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Now that's an economy of human nature because human nature says for me to enjoy life, I've got to get, get, get, get. It's all about me. And God says, no, it isn't. It's about me.

It is about us. We could qualify that and say that's really what God's plan is, is to graft in all of these dozens of billions of people. But if it's about me and only about me, then, like I say, it's going to be a lot shorter lifespan than what God would want for us.

So, brother, it's an interesting dichotomy. For us to live means we have to die.

Every day. It doesn't mean, oh, I did that before baptism, and the day I was baptized, and, yeah, a few weeks later, it means every day because we have human nature. And Christ died, so we have life. Well, He's the first fruit, the firstborn, yes, but we have to die. That's an interesting change or difference to what human nature would like to think.

So, Jesus Christ died to give eternal life. Eternity could not come without the Son of God dying for everyone. That was also planned before eternity. So, Peter mentions that, other places, talks about how ancient that plan of salvation was to God the Father and Jesus Christ. Same principle about us. Our nature has to die. We can't go in the kingdom this way. It has to change process. Now, specifically, let's go to Psalm 119 and verse 37. Not getting really off the track here, but we talk about this change. Let's get specific in this one way. Psalm 119 verse 37.

Now, the psalmist is reminding us about that daily battle. It's not just, well, we understand the plan, as I mentioned some days ago, the knowledge versus the obedience. You know, as I said, brethren, the church has challenges. Maybe the biggest challenge in God's church is closing a gap between knowledge, the knowledge, and the doing. That's tough. We can know what to do, but we may not always do it. Psalm 119 verse 37, please. The psalmist says, turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and revive me in your way. Now, I'm not anti-technology, but you do think of the Internet when you think of worthless things today in our culture. Now, there's a lot of good things on the Internet. I'm on it probably six days, seven days a week, but you have to be very careful. You have to be very careful. Movies, TV, Internet, life. Looking at worthless things. We have to fill in the blank there. What is a worthless thing to you? You have to fill in the blank. He goes on in verse 59. Let's turn over to verse 59. And I thought about my ways. Again, the change, putting to death. I thought about what I was doing, and I turned my feet to your testimonies. I made haste, and I did not delay to keep your commandments. You know, you kind of like to say burning rubber. Boy, you just said, you know, I thought of what I was doing. Boom! I'm going to change. That isn't right. Instead of, well, you know, I'll think about that. And then six years later, now this psalmist was right on. And notice in Psalm 133, we'll end there with Psalm 133 in terms of this section. Psalm 133 says, direct my steps by your word. So God's word does direct our steps. It really does show us what to do, what not to do. Direct my steps by your word and let no iniquity have dominion over me.

Yeah, it is a death, a gradual death of self. I want to tell you a story a half a long time ago. It was in the state of Illinois. I met somebody the other day from this very region where this situation with my family and I occurred. It was in eastern Illinois. It was a Sunday night. We were at brethren's home that night and having a nice dinner. So we left. And I knew on the way to the house that my gas gauge was getting toward the E mark, whatever E stands for, you know. And I said, I thought, well, you know, there'll be plenty of time on the way home to get gas. We had a nice dinner. We got in the car and we started to go on the highway up toward the interstate, which is some miles off. And you know how it is, brethren. That gas gauge is kind of like, pfft! How did that happen? And it's bouncing on E. Whatever E stands for, again, I don't remember, but I do. But anyway, we ran out of gas. And this is dark at night, rural Illinois, hardly anything around. Gotta love Illinois because you can see. We can't see forever, but you know, there's nothing out there. There's a few farm places. So I said, don't worry, dear wife. I'm going to coast to a farmhouse. And I did. I got to right to the little path. And I said, there's a light on. And I got out there, and I looked through the curtains. There was this older lady, and I was knocking on the door. Hey, I run out of gas and I had my three kids and my wife in the car. I was telling my life story.

And I need some gasoline. And you know, all farmhouses by law always have a gasoline tank in the back. I don't know what law that is, but I looked around the house and there it was. It was just picture perfect. And I thought, hmm, I'm going to get some gas. Of course, it was locked. We all know how that is, too. And there was a big guard dog right there, too. So I said, please, I need some gasoline. I'll be happy to pay for it. And I saw this shadowy figure, a little older lady, and I was just trying to tell her anything I could. I said, you know, I'm a minister. I'm a minister.

And she went upstairs, and that's the last I saw her. I said, that's it. That's going to do that.

So I went back to the car and told my wife, I said, oh, I can't believe it. This lady, she's got gas. She's afraid of me. I think I'm going to break in the house. And I said, Melania, what can I do? What can we do? She said, you can pray. Oh!

We prayed. Probably one minute, two minutes. I said, well, okay, we prayed. We asked God to help us. And I got out of the car, and I went around the car. And in 30 seconds to a minute, oh, what did I hear coming around the bend? I saw the car. I saw the headlights. I saw another pair of headlights come around the bend, and they stopped. And they were two Illinois State Troopers, two cruisers, you know, sirens, badges, everything. A minute after the prayer, I asked the one trooper, I said, boy, you don't know how you're going to answer the prayer. He says, what do you want? And I confess my sins. So he tells the other trooper, go on. And the other trooper just, he's gone. I get in the cruiser. He takes me up to the interstate, gets some gas. He takes him back. Of course, we're off. And I thought, do angels wear revolvers? That's not a big question, but a minor one for me in the kingdom. Because he didn't talk. You know, he's dressed immaculate. He's got the radios, the badges, all the stuff, you know. And I thought, did God just answer that prayer for a couple of angels in the mix? I don't know. So God does a lot of things for us. 1 John 2 and verse 15. Now, God says here through this, of course, John writing. He says, do not love. 1 John 2 verse 15. Don't love the world or the things in the world. Why? Because, he says, if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them. This world is not God's world. It's not the kingdom. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world. Now, this world, brethren, as the next verse says, is passing away. And the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever.

So those who just love the world, the ways of the world, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, brethren, they're going to have this world. They're going to satiate their senses big time.

Okay. But if we're called and chosen as we are, we have to leave that behind. And yes, all those in the kingdom will have to do it. And yes, all those in the second resurrection will have to do it. But I think those in the second resurrection, brethren, will be very tempted to say, let's just do it all over again. Yeah. Let's go build our fun in the sun and let's just do business the same way and everything else. And they're going to be stopped cold because that's not the world. God, Jesus Christ, is the King of Kings. We'll allow them. But he says, verse 17 again, this world is passing away and the lust of it and he who does the will of God abides forever.

What a contrast. A temporary life, a temporary world versus eternity. We've got a choice.

You know where the world's greatest battle is taking place right now?

It's not in the Middle East. It's right between our ears. I don't know about for you, but the Middle East has problems. They have war. We have a cultural war. See, we have a kind of a not a military shooting war in our country. It's a cultural war going on, which is just as deadly as a military war. But our real war is right up here. And that's what Christ, rather, is helping us to do, to change and grow. Well, let's move on to passing away this physical creation. 2 Peter 3 and 2 Peter 3 verse 7. God is very specific here. Certainly, we don't know every detail, but God has the overview for us very clearly in mind. In 2 Peter chapter 3 and starting in verse 7, this is one of the several places where this is found in terms of the passing away of this physical creation.

But the heavens and the earth, which are now preserved by the same word, well, we could say a lot about that, but Jesus Christ, rather than the Creator, is sustaining the entire universe right now. I'm not worried about a comet coming to earth and blowing us up, because Christ is on the job. Makes no sense. You don't believe in God if you believe in that scenario. He's preserving all of this and are reserved for fire. Notice why, brethren, we're not going to blow ourselves up. We would do it without Christ's intervention, but He'll come and save us. But we're reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. And that occurs at the end of chapter 20, doesn't it, the third resurrection.

So I would assume here, brethren, as verse 10 mentions, the day of the Lord comes as the thief of night, and I'll finish that in a second, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise.

Now, I can only imagine, brethren, can you conceive of how loud the end of this physical universe on earth will be? Not even louder. I'm sorry. No, I'm really not. It's okay.

It's a comedic relief. That's all right.

But very loud. It says, with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Why doesn't God want to preserve this beautiful earth after over a thousand years? This earth is going to be flat-out gorgeous.

Flat-out beautiful. Because it's temporary, it's physical, and God is spirit, and he has a far better home for his family. So, brethren, the second resurrection is only a beginning, and the third resurrection is an end. And then there's eternity. All right. So, I forgot my parathetical expression earlier. I said I'd get back to it, but I've lost it. Let's find. So, it does say in verse 10, heavens, plural. All right. So, that would be the first heavens, this atmospheric cloud around us, and then the second heaven, the universe. A lot of people say, well, I think the universe out there is so beautiful, why would God destroy that? Because, brethren, the new heavens is going to be so much more brilliant and gorgeous, and for the family, than this physical one out there. That's why. God has so much more in store. What will that new heaven out there be like? Brethren, you and I can talk until we get home from the face of the Tabernacles, and I don't know. But just think of the possibilities.

And we can't really do that because we're flesh. So, God the Father is going to save us a lot of surprises, isn't he? I'm so glad he doesn't tell us everything here. Revelation 23 and chapter 24 and chapter 25, and then just fills in all the blanks. Because, you know, stick around as we heard earlier. This is quoting from our United Church of God booklet, What Happens After Death. Peter wrote of the culmination of God's plan. He prophesied of the time during which everything physical will be burned up and replaced by new heavens and a new earth.

That's exactly what Peter was inspired to write. Verse 13, please. Verse 11. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, notice a conclusion here. Alright, we understand this change. What is the point? What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire and the elements will melt with fervent heat? He says, what kind of persons will you be knowing this? So, rather, it's one thing to understand a little bit about the beginning of eternity. It's a whole other thing to say, you know what? Because I know that, I'm going to change.

Do we all hear that? Because I know a little bit of the beginning of eternity, that means I'm going to change. Because if you don't, you won't be there. God wants us to be there, but we can't be there with the change, unless a change happens, right? Indeed. Now, we think, at least a lot of us think, and it may be somewhat speculative, but I think it's based on the fact that, of course, God burns up in the Third Resurrection the incorrigibly wicked, right?

We know that from Scripture. But we assume, then, that fire that burns them up continues to increase, increase, increase to the point that the whole world is engulfed in flames. And the elements melt, as we had read. The elements actually melt. Because the earth, rather, is still filled with garbage and a reminder of our human condition. Why would we want that around for all eternity? No, it's not necessary for that. So that's what we assume, that that fire will continue to grow until the entire worth is destroyed.

And the earth becomes a molten mass, taking all evidence of human life and wickedness, and it's gone. Well, there's another parallel Scripture. It's in Hebrews 1, please, in verse 10. And Hebrews 1 and verse 10 says, And you, Lord, in the beginning lay the foundation of the earth and the heavens and the works of your hands. In verse 11, they will perish. They will perish, but you remain, and they will all grow old like a garment, like a cloak. You will fold them up, and they will be changed, but you are the same, and your years will not fail.

So it's the same God. He just simply says, I've got a whole better phase right now for my family. And that's gone. That phase is over. You know what Jesus Christ said in one of the Gospels? Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. You know, we often use that in terms of a doctrinal statement about the law of God will not pass away. You're absolutely right.

But then, of course, it notes the heaven and the earth will pass away as well. All right. I've got speculation here, as I said earlier. How, brethren, is this physical universe going to melt and be destroyed with this great noise? Speculation. Let's go back to Dr. Albert Einstein, who formulated the Heretofore Unknown equation E equals mc2. This stands for energy equals mass times the speed of light squared, right? God invented this. He invented all mass, all matter, all atoms.

There exists right now a critical balance within atoms, a balance between energy and mass. If an imbalance is created, energy results with spectacular results. It's called nuclear fission. And we know how to do that. We've done it a number of times since World War II. What if God disturbed all atoms in the entire universe at the same time? Brethren, it would be nuclear fission throughout. It would be like all these suns, except everything gone. It's a speculation. But, brethren, as we heard earlier, God does all things. He resurrects, resurrects, He puts life in, and He can destroy what He created.

We don't know how He'll do it, but it could be He just simply shakes up some atoms. That simple for God. And you talk about a noise. You talk about brilliant light and dissolving the elements, super-heated, nuclear fission. Just throw that out there for what it's worth. Well, we're going to read now about the new threshold, brethren, that the Bible ends with. And that's over Revelation 21. Again, let's turn back there. Revelation 21. We read earlier about the new heaven, new earth. The first heaven, the first earth, had passed away. There was no more sea. And the Father's first coming. He comes to this earth.

In verse 4, brethren, there's no reason for tears. There's no reason for sorrow. There's no sin. There's no sinners. There's no broken laws. All are spirit beings, eternal joy and happiness forever. And then he says, for the former things, the end of verse 4, are passed away. The former things are passed away. Now verse 5, And then he who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

And he said to me, Right, these are the words that are true and faithful. And he said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. And I will give of the foundation of the water, of life freely, to him who thirsts. And then verse 7, He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son. Again, there's a hint here, brethren. Even at this point, in the beginning of eternity, that it's going to be the overcomers that inherit eternal life.

We've got to be an overcomer, because that's the key. Yet, yielding to God, his Spirit in us, and changing. Notice the contrast in verse 8. Notice those that don't change.

The cowardly. Now, it's a very interesting Bible study unto itself.

But those, brethren, unwilling to charge ahead and let God change them could be a definition.

Not yielding. Unbelieving the abominable. Murders, sexually immortal. Sorcerer's, a lot to that as well. Idolaters. And all liars shall not have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is a second death. Lying is a very important part, brethren, that we make sure our character is always telling the truth and not exaggerating. We were fishing the other day. One of my sons, we had separated fly fishing on the river, hadn't seen him in an hour or two. So we were walking toward each other. One of my sons, had his arms up like this. Now, what does that portray? And the closer he got to me, it was like this. Actually, mine was like that. But exaggeration, hyperbole, actually can be a lie too. It's so hard, always, brethren, to be accurate.

But that's a part, much less where we're actually trying to bestow a fantasy.

So liars are not going to be there. Some contrast, isn't it? Well, let's move on, though.

Verse 10, He carried me away into the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, the new city, descending out of heaven from God. Again, the Father brings this. Having glory of God, her light was the most precious stone, and like a jasper, clearest crystal. And also she had a great and high wall with seven gates, and seven angels of the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. Three gates on the east and three on the other sides. In verse 14, now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And then they're measuring this. Verse 16 talks about twelve thousand furlongs, and the length and the breadth and the height are equal. They actually even measured the wall in verse 17. 144 cubits. Now, there's been a lot of speculation. You can go online or books, and you can, you know, is it a cube or a square of this new Jerusalem? Is it literal or is it figurative?

Brethren, it really doesn't matter. You know, when I look, brethren, at the size of this immense new home for the family, it's not that it's 144,000 miles this way or that way. You know what the point to me is? God has a lot of family members, and you've got to have a big city for all the family. That's good news. It's not going to be a small little town like Steamboat. Well, all the kingdom of God can be in here. No, this isn't a met city of gargantuan proportions, and of course, it can't be inhabited by flesh and blood because you can't certainly, I said 144,000, at 12,000 miles squared or cubed. You can't have a city 12,000 miles cubed or squared. So, God's plan is going to work. It has worked. It will continue to work all through that millennial rule of Christ, and yes, through the Second Resurrection Era. That's what I think God is communicating here. And then he talks here about, verse 18, the construction of the smalls was of Jasper, the city of pure gold, like clear glass. Now, during the Apostle John's era, rather, they have no clear glass in existence. Clear glass is a modern invention. Remember the cowboy days out here in the West? If you go to these old towns and they have some of these leftover glass bottles from that era in the 1800s, it's not clear glass, is it? Or the windows are not clear. That's basically a 20th century invention. So John was amazed, and he's saying, you know, this is, this glass is really, really, really clear. It's just luminescent. It's so clear. It's so brilliant.

And we can read here in verse 21 about the 12 gates, the 12 pearls, each individual gate was of one pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. I saw no temple.

John writes, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple, and the city had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it. For the glory of Lord illuminated it, the Lamb is its light. Notice in verse 24, the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor to it, and its gates shall not shut at all by day. There shall be no night there, and there shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. And there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. And yes, of course, because all had been changed to spirit life, rather, either in the first resurrection or during that millennial or during the second resurrection era. So there will be all saints of God, spirit in the family of God, and throughout all eternity. Now, chapter 22 adds to this. There are more details. Let's notice in verse 1. He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God into the Lamb. And again, showing, brethren, that God is the generator of life and purity and beauty. In the middle of the street, verse 2, and on either side of the river, there was a tree of life which bore twelve fruits, and each tree yielding its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Now, this, of course, is symbolic, rather, and parallel to the original two trees of life. And, of course, that's where the story begins, doesn't it? The two trees. And God wants everyone to have that tree of eternal life. I think this would be, it's not just symbolic, it is literal. But I always think of orange trees or pear trees or apple trees. You know, I'm physical, and I just always think of the physical. And remember, brethren, this is not a physical essence. This is of the spirit essence.

I know it's hard because I don't get it. I'm just saying, don't think of pear trees and apple trees and, oh, that would be delightful and all that. God is just giving us a little outline here, a little figure of an outline of the future. But there'll be beauty, there'll be life, there'll be glory, there'll be harmony. Verse 3, now I mentioned earlier, what shall be our job description? Well, part of it is here in verse 3, and there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it. And notice, brethren, one of the job descriptions, His servant shall serve him. And I think, is that all? Is that what you've been building up to for an hour? Brethren, God doesn't give us every detail. We know God is saying, you're going to be kings and priests, you're going to be servants of the Most High. And this verse confirms that. You're going to serve wherever God gives you that opportunity, that blessing.

Now, remember, there is a new universe. There's not only new Jerusalem, but a new heavens.

Now, what will be there? We don't know. But that may be part, brethren, of what you're going to be doing for all eternity, at least partially. You know, what is the purpose of the new heavens?

Well, stay tuned, as we heard earlier in the face, because God has a lot of surprises for His family. But that is an apt job description. His servant shall serve God. However God wants them to serve, verse 4, they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. And there shall be no light there, there is no lamp or light of the sun, for the Lord God gives light. Notice this as well, and they shall reign forever and ever. That's two, part of the job description. What are you going to be reigning over? Forever and ever. Forever is a long time.

Brethren, what shall we be reigning over?

I don't know.

It's okay to say, brother, we don't know. Because, you know, Deuteronomy does say the hidden things, or God does hide things, my paraphrase here. But God does not reveal everything. But we shall be reigning forever and ever. So there's so much here.

Verse 6, then He said to me, these words are faithful and true. It's going to happen. And Lord God of the holy prophets shall send His angels, or angel, to show His servants the things which must shortly come to pass. And then verse 7, Behold, I am coming quickly, blessed is He who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. And that is so true. Those are blessed who keep the words of the prophecy of this book. They will inherit eternal life.

So our job for all eternity, brethren, is to be serving God, the Father and the Son.

And however parts of the new heavens they choose to dwell in and to bless us in and allow us to be a part of, that'll be a part of the future for all of those in the kingdom of God. The secret things do belong to our Lord, our God. Indeed. And there's a lot of secret things. There's a lot of things to look forward to. But we do know an outline. That's very, very clear from the Scriptures. So how do you describe existence as a God in the kingdom of God?

I find myself, brethren, grasping for words. But we could say spiritually, socially, and emotionally, as best as we can describe it, may be pure joy forevermore, without any inkling of a problem, a challenge, any struggle at all. Just absolutely unencumbered joy.

But again, that isn't even reaching, I'm sure, close to how God and the Father and Jesus of Christ live right now. But that's part of what we could look to and have as our future.

Well, God desires to surprise His family with more and more of the new spirit reality as eternity unfolds. Let's leave the face, brethren, really inspired and renewed. And we've heard about when God makes all things new. And God is making us new as His spiritual creation today. So we serve an awesome God. Let's continue to be faithful into eternity.