Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth - The Ones Conquering - Conclusion

 Christendom, though she claims to be the bride of Christ, is characterized by the disgusting practices that John here describes. So she goes down to eternal destruction with the rest of Babylon the Great.(Revelation18:8, 21) Likewise, any of the anointed of the great crowd who take up the practice of such evildoing or start encouraging it face everlasting destruction. If they persist in these actions, they will not inherit the promises in the new earth, any who try to introduce such practices will be destroyed speedily, going into the second death without hope of a resurrection. - ISAIAH 65:20. 

Outstanding as conquerors are the Lamb, Jesus Christ, and his bride of 144,000, New Jerusalem. How fitting, then, that Revelation should be brought to a sublime climax by a final transcendent view of New Jerusalem! John now describes one last vision. 

Next time: Chapter Forty-Three/The Resplendent City

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Chapter Forty-Two/A New Heaven and a New Earth - The Ones Conquering - Continue

 With this grand prospect in view, how important it is that Jehovah's Witnesses now remain clean from the defiling things of Satan's world! We need to be strong, resolute, and determined that the Devil will never drag us down into the company that Jehovah himself here describes: "But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and fornications, and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This means the second death." (Revelation 21:8) Yes, the would-be inheritor has to avoid the practices that have befouled this old system of things. He has to conquer by remaining faithful in the face of all pressures and temptations. - ROMANS 8:35-39. 

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

 Those who are drink of the refreshing "water" must also conquer, as Jehovah goes on to say: "Anyone conquering will inherit these things, and I shall be his God and he will be my son." (Revelation 21:7) This promise is similar to the promises found in the messages to the seven congregations; hence, these words must apply in the first place to anointed disciples. (Revelation 2:7, 11,17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21) Christ's spiritual brothers throughout the ages have eagerly anticipated the privilege of being part of New Jerusalem. If they conquer, as Jesus conquered, their hopes will be realized. - JOHN 16:33.

The great crowd out of all nations also look to this promise. They too must conquer, loyally serving God until they come out of the great tribulation. Then they will enter into their earthly inheritance, 'the kingdom prepared for them from the founding of the world.'  (Matthew 25:34) These and others of the Lord's earthly sheep who pass the test at the end of the thousand years are called 'holy ones." (Revelation 20:9) They will enjoy a sacred and filial relationship with their Creator, Jehovah God, as members of his universal organization. - ISAIAH 66:22; JOHN 20:31; ROMANS 8:21.

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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. 

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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?' 

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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. 

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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

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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! 

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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!

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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 

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