Revelation 21:1-8

Big Idea: God's ultimate plan is not destruction, but re-creation—making all things new and beautiful.

This is a key insight that changes everything: God's plan is renewal, not replacement. He's not looking to scrap everything and start over. He's looking to take what exists—what he declared "very good" in Genesis—and make it new again.

Revelation 21:1-8

Big Idea: God's ultimate plan is not destruction, but re-creation—making all things new and beautiful.

This is a key insight that changes everything: God's plan is renewal, not replacement. He's not looking to scrap everything and start over. He's looking to take what exists—what he declared "very good" in Genesis—and make it new again.

Point #1: God renovates creation rather than replacing it.

Revelation 21:1 NIV

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.What does this mean for us today?

Several things:

• First, the physical world matters to God.

• Second, our bodies matter

.• Third, social justice matters.

Point #2: The goal of all history is God dwelling with his people.

Revelation 21:2 NIV

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.Revelation 21:3 NIVAnd I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.Revelation 21:4 NIV‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Point #3: God renews what exists rather than creating something entirely different.

Revelation 21:5 NIV

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Point #4: God offers renewal as a gift, but the choice is ours.

Revelation 21:6 NIV

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Revelation 21:7 NIV

Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Revelation 21:8 NIV

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

Point #5: The new creation vision transforms present living.

• Our Suffering Has Meaning
• Our Work Has Purpose
• Our Hope Is Certain

Final Challenge: What broken area of your life do you need to entrust to God's promise to make all things new?

Sermon Notes

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Central Idea Today: The church is called to be faithful witnesses even when it leads to suffering—and God’s glory will be known. We live in a time of increasing cultural tensions around Christian witness. Our beliefs about truth, morality, and the gospel are increasingly at odds with the prevailing cultural narrative. Speaking biblical truth about marriage, sexuality, the sanctity of life, or the exclusivity of Christ can cost us relationships, opportunities, even employment. Many Christians are asking: How do we remain faithful witnesses in such an environment? This morning we turn to Revelation 11, which gives us perhaps the most vivid picture in all of Scripture of witness, suffering, and vindication. In this passage, John describes two witnesses who prophesy, suffer persecution, are killed, and then are vindicated by God through resurrection and ascension.

I. The Calling: Prophetic Witness (Revelation 11:1-6)

Let's begin by looking at verses 1-6, where we see that the church is called to prophetic witness in a hostile world.

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But excludethe outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

II. The Cost: Suffering and Death (Revelation 11:7-10)

Looking at verses 7-10, we see that faithful witness often leads to rejection and persecution.

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

III. The Vindication: Resurrection and Ascension (Revelation 11:11-13)

Verses 11-13 show us that God will vindicate his faithful witnesses for His glory.

But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The Hope for Today

Here is the hope: God has ultimate victory From this passage, we learn four crucial truths for faithful witnesses:

1. Faithful Witness Will Be Costly

Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave isnot greater than the master.’ Since theypersecuted me, naturally they will persecuteyou. And if they had listened to me, theywould listen to you.

2. God's Protection Has Limits and Purposes

3. Truth May Be Rejected But Won't Be Defeated

4. Vindication May Be Delayed But Is Certain

What truth is God calling you to speakfaithfully, regardless of the cost?

Follow Along with the Message

Theodicy- the vindication of divine goodness and providence in view of the existence of evil

“Theology cannot always deliver. It cannot answer where the revelation does not.”- Marty, Martin E. “Introduction.” in A Little Exercise for Young Theologians. Thielicke, Helmut. 1959, 1962. Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing

Clarifying Evil in Scripture

1. Sin- falling short of the glory of God

Luke 6:45

2. Satan- the literal enemy of our souls

Genesis 3:1&5

Isaiah 14:12-15

John 8:44

3. Babylon- the literal and figurative anti-Christ kingdom

Systematic approach to the existence of evil

Since humanity sins in their hearts and minds, our enemy attempts to persuade us in rebellion against God’s reign. As more are persuaded, wickedness grows into a kingdom that is anti-Christ.

God and Evil

Ezekiel 36:26-27

Romans 8:2

Luke 10:18-19

1 John 4:4

Matthew 16:18

John 16:33

Evil still exists because:

1. People return to it

1 Peter 2:20

2. Satan is persistent

1 Peter 5:8

Evil Submits to God’s will

1. Evil is given boundaries

Job 1:12

Luke 22:31-32

Revelation 20:2-3

2. Evil advances the Will of God

Jeremiah 32:28-29

John 13:26-27

3. Evil reveals what is in the hearts of mankind

God’s edict against evil

Revelation 5

I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. 4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; 5 and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”

6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. 7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped

The “Problem” with Evil isn’t a problem for God

Evil is an ant at God’s picnic

Takeaways:

Don’t play with the anthill

Make ready the table