We are continuing with our brief look at how God's promises come to reality in the last book in the Bible. Today's blog looks at how the eternal state which is described in Revelation chapter 21 is a sin-free environment. This is not just saying that there is no evil in 'heaven' (Revelation 21:27), but is going further and saying that, in God's future plans, the very source of evil is destroyed.
There is a key verse I want to point to as we seek to grasp this vitally important subject.
[15] Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” [Revelation 11:15 ESV]
Satan was defeated at the cross but he still holds sway over the kingdom of this world. The message of Revelation is that Jesus Christ completely destroys Satan's power and sets up 'the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ (or Messiah). So Revelation describes the total destruction of Satan and the forces of evil. That's why I find it such an exciting book.
There is a very interesting expression in the verse we considered in the last blog 'and the sea was no more.'
[1] 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. [Revelation 21:1 ESV]
One commentator suggests that this suggests that in the eternal state there will be a totally different physical environment: Currently, three fourths of the earth’s surface is water; but the new environment will no longer be water-based and will have completely different climatic conditions. [John MacArthur: The MacArthur Bible Commentary]
With all respect to this very distinguished Bible scholar, I want to suggest that this statement has far deeper significance than just to limit it to the type of environment in the New Heaven and the New Earth. If we go back to the first book of the Bible, we discover that the sea is associated with evil forces.
[2] The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters [Genesis 1:2 ESV]
I have compiled a diagram to seek to interpret this truth and I am indebted to the Bible scholar Ian Paul and a very interesting book called the Infographic Bible.
Sadly, the website does not allow me to share this in its live form. On my computer, as you click on these references, you are able to read each verse in the context of the diagram. If you want to use these diagrams for your own study, please get in touch with me. You need to have PowerPoint installed on your computer.
However, Ian Paul points out that the 'abyss' in Revelation refers to the waters from which God formed the seas. He traces this throughout the Bible. Here is one example.
When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid: indeed, the deep trembled [Psalm 77:16 NIV]
This evil is linked with chaos and destructive forces as well as the source of rebellion against God. In the book of Revelation, the abyss is the source of evil.
[2] He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the air was darkened with the smoke from the shaft. [3] Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given the power of scorpions of the earth. [Revelation 9:2-3]
The word translated 'bottomless' is the Greek word abussos from which we get the English word, "abyss." It is often translated as the 'deep.'
But the good news is that, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can look forward to a future where rebellion against the LORD will be forever ended. Think of the evil forces at work in this world. As I am writing this blog, a brutal war is being fought in Ukraine. We are living in a country where there is domestic violence, prostitution, exploitation of women, substance abuse and so on. Politicians have been disgraced by their association with a number of scandals. All that will be a thing of the past. Have you started on the journey? Have you made Jesus your Saviour and Lord of your life?
[1] 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. [Revelation 21: 1 ESV]
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