He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." Revelation 21:4
Right now, we are seeing just how broken, messed up, and full of pain this world is. Sickness and death seem to be all around us. Loneliness and fear are rampant. Perhaps today, you need a break from the news and a reminder that there is hope. Let me offer you some hope. You see, throughout the pain and sorrow that we are facing today, I cannot help but think about the promise of heaven, where all of the death, sickness, and pain we are facing will be no more.
In Revelation 21, John, the writer of the book of Revelation, writes about a vision he had of what he called "a new heaven and a new earth" (verse 1). In his vision, he saw a completely new heaven and earth. In this new heaven and earth, God dwells with His people (verse 3). Next, one of the most beautiful verses in all of Scripture was written down. John writes, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever" (verse 4). You see, in this new heaven and earth, there is no imperfection. There is no sickness. There is no death. There is no crying. There is no pain. Jesus will wipe away every tear from your eyes. What a promise to cling to!
Jesus’ death on the cross assured that we could spend forever with Him if we believe. This eternity is an eternity without pain, sadness, crying, disease, and death. Can you imagine such a place? One day destructive viruses, diseases, and any other sickness will no longer exist. Have you found yourself weary, crying more tears than you have in a long time? One day Jesus will wipe those tears away, and your sadness and tears will be no more. Are you devastated by the loss of lives surrounding us right now? My friend, one day, death will not even exist anymore because Jesus has conquered it. Until that day, find hope in this promise in Revelation 21. It’s okay to morn while living on this earth but do not morn without hope. Oh, how great that day will be when all of the devastating effects of sin on the earth will be no more!
Spend some extra time meditating on God's word today. Read Revelation 21:4 at least three times very slowly. As you read, spend time thinking about the day when all of these truths will become a reality. After reading, pray. Thank God that one day disease, sorrow, tears, and death will not exist anymore.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel).
The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.
I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
