Episode 29 Revelation Study – God Will Dwell With Us, Chapter 21

 

You can watch the video of this study at 8pm AEST time on YouTube here.

Introduction

Tonight, we are going to be looking at what should be one of the most encouraging chapters in the whole Bible, let alone in the book of Revelation. Chapter 21 shows the culmination of God’s plan for redemption history. This is not merely an epilogue. This passage gives us a window into our future state, but also, when looked at in light of 22 which we will address next time, a window into how our destiny impacts our current experience of this world.

In chapter 20 we saw the most terrifying vision of all visions in the Bible: God exposing all before his throne of judgement day. There will come a day when no one can run, hide or obfuscate about who they really are. All will be exposed. But we see in this chapter that there will also come a day when those who have trusted in God will be vindicated.

In this chapter we will see the culmination of themes that have been weaved through the book of Revelation, the New Testament and the Old Testament. And so we should, this chapter brings us to the end goal of God’s plan for us, his people, his Church.

Let’s analyse the passage first in light of its Old Testament back ground, then the New, and then we will do the study for tonight.  

Old Testament Background:
The imagery in Revelation 21 is deeply rooted in the Old Testament prophets, who foretold a future restoration.

• New Heaven and New Earth: The concept originates in Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22, where God promises to create a new order of existence that will endure forever.
• God Dwelling with His People: This is the fulfilment of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8) and temple, where God's presence dwelt symbolically. The prophets, particularly Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37:27), looked forward to a permanent, unmediated dwelling of God with His people.
• The City - New Jerusalem: The prophets often spoke of a restored and glorified Jerusalem (Isaiah 52:1, 54:11-12; Ezekiel 40-48). Ezekiel’s detailed vision of a new temple and a restored city is a direct precursor to John's vision, though John’s description transcends it significantly.
• The Reversal of the Curse: The wiping away of tears and the end of death, mourning, and pain (Revelation 21:4) directly fulfils Isaiah 25:8 and 35:10, reversing the curses of Genesis 3.

New Testament Fulfilment and the Unity of the Church and Israel:
The New Testament reveals that the promises made to Israel are fulfilled and expanded in Jesus Christ and His people, the Church.

• One People of God: The description of the New Jerusalem powerfully exemplifies this unity. The city has "twelve gates" inscribed with the "names of the twelve tribes of Israel" (v.12), and "twelve foundations" bearing the "names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (v.14). This architecture is profoundly symbolic: the people of God are built upon the foundation of the apostolic testimony (the New Covenant) and encompass the faithful of the Old Covenant. The one city, with its gates and foundations from both covenants, represents the single, united people of God—the true Israel of faith (Galatians 6:16) and the Church, the body of Christ.
• The Bride: The city is explicitly called "the Bride, the wife of the Lamb" (v.9). Throughout the New Testament, the Church is identified as the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25-27). This imagery shows that the holy city is not a literal metropolis but the glorified, collective people of God in perfect union with Him.
• The Temple Fulfilled: A stunning departure from Ezekiel's vision is the statement, "I saw no temple in the city" (v.22). In the New Covenant, God’s presence is not confined to a building. The entire city is sanctified by the direct presence of "the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb." This fulfils Jesus' words about worshipping in spirit and truth (John 4:21-24) and Paul's teaching that believers are now the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Study Questions

1. What happens to old heaven and the old earth? If heaven includes a new heaven and a new earth, what does this teach us about heaven?
2. What is the significance of the "sea" being no more (v.1) in biblical symbolism?
3. How does the description of God dwelling with His people (v.3) contrast with the Old Testament experience of God’s presence?
4. Compare and contrast the list of those who inherit life (v.7) with those condemned to the second death (v.8). What do these lists teach us about God's character and the nature of sin?
5. In what ways does the New Jerusalem differ from the old, earthly Jerusalem, both in its physical description and its spiritual reality? (cg. V.2, 9-20).
6. Why is there such a focus on precious jewels and stones?
7. Why do we have the mention of the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles? What is this pointing to?
8. What is the symbolic meaning of the city's perfect cubic shape (v.16), reminiscent of the Holy of Holies in the Old Testament tabernacle? Is this a literal city, or a symbolic city?
9. Why is the absence of a sun, moon, and temple (v.22-23) so theologically significant for understanding the new creation?
10. How does the vision of the kings of the earth bringing their glory into the city (v.24-26) fulfil Old Testament prophecies about the nations?
11. What is the practical implication for our lives today, knowing that the ultimate destiny of God’s people is to be a holy and united "Bride" for Christ?
12. The gates are never shut (v.25), yet nothing unclean can enter (v.27). How do these two truths coexist, and what does this say about the security and purity of the new creation?
13. How does this vision of a hope-filled future provide comfort and motivation for enduring faith and perseverance in the present?