Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth -"Water" for the Thirsty Ones

 It is Jehovah himself who declares :"To anyone thirsting I will will give from the fountain of the water of life free." (Revelation 216b) to quench that thirst, a person has to be conscious of his spiritual need and be willing to accept "the water" that Jehovah provides. (Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 5:3) What "water"? Jesus himself answered that question when witnessing to a woman beside a well in Samari. He told her "Whoever drinks the water that I will give him will get thirsty at all, but the water I will give him will become a fountain of water bubbling up to impart everlasting life." That fountain of water of life" flows from God through Christ as his provision for restoring mankind to perfection of life. Like the Samaritan woman, how eager we should be to drink deep from that fountain! and like that woman, how ready we should be to drop mundane interests in favor of telling other the good news! -JOHN 4:14, 15, 28, 29. 

Next time: Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth-The Ones Conquering

From the jw.org publications

 

Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth

 It is as though Jehovah himself were signing for faithful mankind a guarantee, or title deed, to these future blessings. Who would dare to question such a Guarantor?  Why so certain are these promises of Jehovah that he speaks as if they were already fulfilled: "They have to pass!" Is not Jehovah" the Alpha and the Omega . . . , the  One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty"? (Revelation 1:8) Indeed he is! He himself declares: "I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6) As such he can inspire prophecies and fulfill them in every detail. How faith strengthening! So he promises: "Look! I am making all things new"!  Rather than questioning whether these marvels will really happen, surely we should be wondering: 'What do I have to do to inherit such blessings?' 

Next time: Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth - "Water" for the Thirsty Ones

From the jw.org publications 

Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth

 "At that time," says Isaiah, "the eyes of the blind ones will be opened, and the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped." Yes, "at that time the lamb one will climb up just as a stag does, and the tongue of the speechless one will cry out in gladness." (Isaiah 35:5, 6) At that time, too, "they will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage.  They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating. For like the days of a tree will the days of my people be; and the work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full." (Isaiah 65:21, 22) So they will not be uprooted from the earth.

What magnificent foregleams fill our minds as we meditate on these promises!  Wondrous provisions are in store for faithful mankind under heaven's loving government. Are such promises too good be true? Are they just the dreams of an old man exiled on the island of Patmos? Jehovah himself answers: "And the One seated on the throne said: 'Look!  I am making all things new.' Also, he says: 'Write, because these words are faithful and true.'  And he said to me: They have come to pass! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.' " - REVELATION 21:5, 6a. 

Next time: Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth 

From the jw.org publications 

Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth

 John goes to say: "And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning, nor outcry, nor pain be any more. The former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4) Once again, we are reminded of earlier inspired promises. Isaiah also looked forward to the time when death and mourning would be no more and grief would be replaced by exultation. (Isaiah 25:8; 35:10; 51:11; 65:19) John now confirms that these promises have a wonderful fulfillment during the thousand-year Judgment Day. First the great crowd will enjoy the blessings. 'The Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne," continuing to shepherd them, "will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out ever tear from their eyes." (Revelation 7:9, 17) But eventually all those who are resurrected and exercise faith in Jehovah's provisions will be there with them, enjoying a paradise that is both spiritual and physical. 

Next time: Chapter Forty-Two/A Heaven and a New Earth

From the jw.org publications

Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth

 John tells us further: "With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: 'Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them.' " (Revelation 21:3) When Jehovah made the Law Covenant with the new nation of Israel, he promised: "I shall certainly put my tabernacle in the midst of you, and my soul will not abhor you. And I shall indeed walk in the midst of you and prove myself your God, and you, on your part, will prove yourselves my people." (Leviticus 26:11, 12) Now Jehovah is making a similar promise to faithful humans. During the thousand-year Judgment Day, they will become a very special people to him.

During the Millennial Reign, Jehovah will "reside"
 among mankind in a temporary arrangement, he being represented by his royal Son, Jesus Christ. At the end of the Thousand Year Reign, however, when Jesus hands the Kingdom over to his Father, no royal representative or intercessor will be needed. Jehovah will reside spiritually with "his peoples" in a permanent and direct way. (Compare John 42:23, 24) What a lofty privilege for restored humanity! 

Next time: Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth

From the jw.org publications

Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth

 John continues: "And I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelations 21:2) New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ, made up of the anointed Christians who remain faithful to death and who are raised to become kings and priests with the glorified Jesus. (Revelation 3:12; 20:6) Just as earthly Jerusalem became the seat of government in ancient Israel, the magnificent New Jerusalem and her Bridegroom make u[ the government of the new system of things. This is the new heaven. The 'bride comes down out of heaven' not literally, but in the sense of directing attention to the earth. The Lamb's bride is to be his loyal helpmeet in operating a righteous government over all mankind. A blessing indeed for the new earth!

Next time: Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth  

From the jw.org publications

Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth

 THIS glorious vision continues to unfold as the angel takes John back to the beginning of the Thousand Year Reign. What does he describe? "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, the sea in no more." (Revelation 21:1) A captivating panorama comes to view!

Hundreds of years before John's day, Jehovah had said to Isaiah: "For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart." (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22) This prophecy was initially fulfilled when faithful Jews returned to exile in Babylon. In that restoration, they formed a cleansed society, "a new earth," under a new governmental system, "new heavens." The apostle Peter, however, pointed to a further application of the prophecy, saying: "But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell." (2 Peter 3:13) John now shows that the promise is fulfilled during the Lord's day. The former heaven and the former earth, "Satan's organized system of things with its governmental structure influenced by Satan and his demons will pass away. The turbulent "sea" of wicked rebellious mankind will cease to exist"- a new earthly society under a new government, God's Kingdom. - Compare REVELATION 20:11. 

Next time: Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth 

From the jw.org publications 

Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome -The End of Death and Hades - Concusion

 Thus, the program that the apostle Paul describe3s in his letter to the Corinthians will come to completion: "For [Jesus] must rule as king until God has put all his enemies under his feet. As the last enemy, [Adamic] death is to be brought to nothing." What happens next? "When all things will have been subjected to him, the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him." In other words, Jesus "hands over the kingdom to the God and Father." (1 Corinthians 15:24-28) Yes, Jesus, having conquered Adamic death through the merit of his ransom sacrifice, will hand over a perfected human family to his Father," Jehovah is evidently at this point, at the end of the thousand years, that Satan is released and the final test takes place to determine whose names will remain permanently recorded in the scroll of life. "Exert yourselves vigorously" so that your name may be among them! - LUKE13:24; REVELATION 20:5. 

Next time: Chapter Forty-Two/A Heaven and a New Earth

From the jw.org publications 

Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome - The End of Death and Hades

 Next, John describes something truly wonderful! "And death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire. Furthermore, whoever was not found written in the book of life was hurled into the lake of fire." (Revelation20:14, 15) By the end of the millennial Judgment Day, "death and Hades' are completely removed.  Why does this involve a thousand years? Hades, the common grave of all mankind, is emptied when the last one in God's memory is resurrected. But as long as humans are tainted by inherited sin, Adamic is still with them. All those resurrected on earth, as well as the great crowd that survives Armageddon, will need to obey what is written in the scrolls until Jesus' ransom merit has been applied in fully removing sickness, old age, and other inherited disabilities. Then Adamic death, along with Hades, is "hurled into the lake of fire." They will be gone forever!

Next time: Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome - The End of Death and Hades - Conclusion 

From the jw.org publications

Chapter Fort-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome - Opening Other Scrolls - Conclusion

 With regard to the earthly resurrection, Jesus said that 'those who did good things come out to resurrection of life, those who practice vile things to a resurrection of judgment.' Here "life" and "judgment" contrast with each other, showing that those resurrected ones who "practiced vile things" after being instructed in the inspired Scriptures and scrolls are judged to be unworthy of life. Their names will not be written in the scroll, or book of life. (John 5:29)  This would be true of any who previously followed a faithful course but, who for some reason, turn aside during the Thousand Year Reign. Names can be erased. (Exodus 32:32, 33) On the other hand, those who obediently follow the things written in the scrolls will keep their names on the written record, the scroll of life, and continue living. For them, the resurrection will have proved to be one "of life." 

Next time: Chapter Forty-One/God's Day of Judgment-It's Joyful Outcome - The End of Death and Hades

From the jw.org publications