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If you find the truth, will you believe it?

If any man desires to do God's will, he will have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from myself and on my own accord.  John 7:17 

Chapter 21

Revelation Chapter 21.

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“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:  for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from Elohim out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev. 21:1-2, emphasis added)

What happened to all that water that covers the earth that we see today in the oceans of the earth?  When the sun and the moon are restored to their original brightness (Isa. 30:26), the water, which was above the firmament prior to the flood, will be restored to its original place in order to shield the earth from the brightness and the heat of the sun and the moon that will be conducted evenly throughout the earth made new.  No polar ice caps!  

“And Elohim said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.  And Elohim made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so” (Gen. 1:6-7). 

Elohim’s automatic sprinkling system will once again water the earth as it was in the beginning.  “But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground” (Gen. 2:6).

We read in the previous chapter the New Jerusalem had come down before the wicked were resurrected, and once the wicked are resurrected, Satan convinces them to attack it, but they are destroyed in the "lake of fire."

Elohim has chosen to place the New Jerusalem coming to the earth, which is mentioned in this chapter, with the more pleasant scenes pictured in Revelation chapter twenty-one. Once sin and sinners are destroyed along with all the "debris" that has accumulated from the seven thousand years of this earth's history, Elohim will restore this earth to what it was like when it was first created and maybe even more beautiful than it was then.

The root word of salvation is salvage. That is what Elohim will have done with the redeemed of this earth. He will have restored the wrecks of humanity into His Own likeness.  “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of Yahuwah, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of Yahuwah” (2 Cor. 3:18).  He is not only the Creator but is also the Re-Creator!

And now we have pictured for us the re-creation of the earth into a most glorious place to be inhabited for eternity. Elohim will fix all that has been affected by sin. "Blessed are the meek [patient and gentle under wrong]: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5). Earth is to be our eternal home. "For thus saith Yahuwah that created the heavens; Elohim Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am Yahuwah; and there is none else" (Isa. 45:18).

Even more glorious still is the fact Elohim and His only begotten Son, along with all Their angels will live on planet Earth with us throughout eternity after the one thousand year stay in what is now heaven. Planet Earth will become the permanent abode of Elohim!  Heaven will have a change of address!

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and Elohim Himself shall be with them, and be their Elohim" (Rev. 21:3, emphasis added). We have seen the joy of adopted children who have been separated from their biological parents when they are reunited with their parents once again. We can only imagine what it will be like when we meet our Creator, our heavenly Father, face-to-face for the first time. The joy of the parents of those separated children is pretty intense also, as will be the joy of our Heavenly Father when we are united with Him for all eternity.  “Yahuwah thy Elohim in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in his love, He will joy over thee with singing” (Zeph. 3:17).

We, who have had to live apart from the visible presence of our Creator for six thousand years, will never be separated from Him again. "Whom having not seen, you love; in Whom, though now you see Him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Pet. 1:8). Oh, how hard it is to be separated from Someone you dearly love! How hard it is to be separated from the One you love, Whom you have not even seen! Heaven will be moved to this earth, and we will never be alone again! Our Father will always be here with us along with His only begotten Son and the heavenly angels who have been our invisible companions and protectors as we have lived our lives on the earth! Oh, to hear the stories they will have to tell us while they watched over us during our lifetime.

Revelation 21:4-5 reads, "Elohim shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."

Only in our imaginations can we picture the scenes before us. Words are inadequate to describe it, but John is told to "write: for these words are true and faithful" (Rev. 21:5). They are like seeds planted in our minds upon which to contemplate and expand. The new earth will be our home throughout eternity. The earth made new, without tears, death, sorrow, disease, sickness, fear, pain, evil, war, crime, and sin that have made this life less than what Elohim had intended for His children, is to be restored to what Elohim had initially planned for humanity in the first place!

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country" (Heb. 11:13-14, emphasis added).

We are but pilgrims here; heaven is our home, and eventually, the earth made new! We will contemplate with unending delight the wonders of creation, delve into the mysteries of redeeming love, enjoy the companionship of heavenly beings, and have the privilege of visiting worlds afar (space travel). We will meet those loved ones who have fallen asleep before us; meet those heroes and heroines of the past. We will be restored physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and sit at the feet of our Savior and gaze into His face beaming with unutterable love for the objects of His sacrifice. To be with the One who made that infinite sacrifice for us in giving His Son to humanity. Yahuwah Elohim did not “loan” Yahushua to the human race.  He gave Him to humanity.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16, emphasis added).  While Yahushua walked this earth, He always referred to Himself as the “Son of man.”  We do not understand how great a sacrifice was made for the salvation of humanity.  That sacrifice Yahushua went through is best described in Isaiah chapter fifty-three.

We will never be limited again by time or space. As the song goes, "When by His grace, I shall look on His face, that will be glory, be glory for me." When Yahushua looks upon the redeemed, "He shall see of the travail of His soul [The intense mental anguish and physical pain He endured.] and shall be satisfied" (Isa. 53:11).

Many read 1 Corinthians 2:9 and never go on to verse ten for the complete thought, so let us look at those two verses. "But it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which Elohim hath prepared for them that love Him. But Elohim hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of Elohim" (1 Cor. 2:9, 10, emphasis added).

Elohim gave other portions of Scripture to other prophets that give us some idea of what the new earth will be like and what we will be doing throughout eternity. "And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat" (Isa. 65:21-22).

"And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith Yahuwah" (Isa. 66:23). You may have been visiting some far-off galaxy, but you will return to worship Elohim at the times He has set apart for you to be with Him. "But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace" (Ps. 37:11).

This renewed earth will be a very beautiful place to dwell on forever. As I write this book, I think of what a lovely place in which Elohim has placed my wife and me. We live amid the hills and hollers of Greene County, Indiana, with woods, hills, streams, creeks, meadows, and wildlife. It is so peaceful and beautiful, but it is not our home. The earth, made new and free from sin and its effects on creation and humanity, has been promised to us, if we are faithful.

"But they that wait upon Yahuwah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isa. 40:31, emphasis added). When you get old, it does not take running to be weary! We will be able to fly as the eagle because we will be given wings. Yahushua said, "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of Elohim in heaven" (Matt. 22:30), and the angels have wings. Read the verse carefully and prayerfully and see what you think.  If we are to take the Bible literally, it certainly seems like this verse is saying we will be given wings to fly like the eagle. The thing man has always dreamed about will become a reality!

"And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his Elohim, and he shall be My son" (Rev. 21:6-7, emphasis added). This is the third time we find the words "It is done" pertaining to the plan of salvation. The first time was at the cross when Yahushua cried out, "it is finished"; that also could have been translated as "it is done." The sacrifice for the salvation of humanity was completed at that time.

The second time we saw these words was in Revelation 16:17, when the seventh plague will be poured out. We saw how the probation of humanity will have come to an end at that time when it will be declared "it is done."

And now, the third and final time when those words, "it is done," will be spoken by Elohim, indicating that everything for the restoration of humanity, the earth, and the Universe will have been completed. Elohim will have made "all things new" (Rev. 21:5). Sin will never enter the Universe again. Praise Yahuwah; HalleluYah!

What will it mean to be considered a son or daughter of the Creator?  We, who have been enemies of Yahuwah and at some point in our lives have been reconciled to Elohim, have been "born again," have been changed from a sinner into a saint, have been adopted into the family of Elohim will have all the privileges and opportunities of the sons and daughters of the Almighty Eternal Yahuwah Elohim. Yahushua, Who is our elder Brother, told Mary after He was resurrected, "I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My Elohim and your Elohim" (John 20:17). Yahuwah Elohim is the Father of Yahushua and those of us whom He has adopted when He gave to each of us His Spirit to live within us (John 14:17).

There is an actual "fountain of the water of life" from which we will drink, and our thirst will be quenched. Today, most of the water of the earth is not fit to be consumed unless it is purified, but in the earth made new, we will be able to drink freely "of the water of life." No pollution! No contamination! No comparison! 

"He that overcomes shall inherit all things" (Rev. 21:7, emphasis added). Nothing is promised to the sinner. It is in this life that we are to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil; no promise is made to those who continue sinning except the second death.

Read these words of hope in Revelation: "To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of Elohim" (Rev. 2:7). "He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death" (Rev. 2:11). "To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it" (Rev. 2:17). "And he that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations . . . and I will give him the morning star" (Rev. 2:26, 28).

"He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels" (Rev. 3:5). This promise is especially precious to those living at the end of time who need to be clothed in “the righteousness of saints" to be ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-8).

"Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My Elohim, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of My Elohim (Yahuwah), and the name of the city of My Elohim, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My Elohim: and I will write upon him My new name" (Rev. 3:12, 19:12). Those three names will be written in the foreheads of the overcomers as we were first told in Revelation 14:1. Many will have refused the name or number of the beast and shall wear the name of Yahuwah and the new name of His Son in their foreheads throughout eternity as a testimony to their faithfulness and loyalty.

"To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am sat down with My Father in His throne" (Rev. 3:21). Yahushua overcame just as you and I must overcome. The strength and power to overcome were given to Him by His Father through the indwelling presence of the Spirit of Elohim. That same grace (power) is available to each of us for the asking: "Ask, and [the promise is] it shall be given you" (Matt. 7:7). "If you being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him" (Luke 11:13). Nothing is promised to him that continues sinning but the second death.  If you are still sinning, then you are being overcome!

Jude 24 states a most precious promise of Elohim: "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling [sinning], and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." It is Elohim that keeps us from sinning by giving us His Spirit to dwell within us. The power that was available to His Son, Yahushua, is available to each of us for the asking.

Some of us do not get very emotional over things. We are cautioned to "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). For now, we are in our enemy's territory, and we do not dare let our guard down for a moment. If the Devil could lead a third of the angels in heaven astray while in the presence of Elohim, should not we be "sober?"

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8).

The "fearful and unbelieving" are placed with the open sinners and share their fate.

How does one become "unafraid and believing?" At one time, I was "fearful and unbelieving," but as I became acquainted with Elohim and His love and power, fear and unbelief left me. "Acquaint now thyself with Him [Elohim], and be at peace" (Job 22:21). As we become acquainted with Yahuwah and His character and power, we find peace of mind.

Yahushua said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). We never believe in people we do not know personally. The better we know someone, and they prove themselves honest and real, we can then put our confidence in them. Faith in people takes time, and so it does with Yahuwah.

"Elohim is love" (1 John 4:8). "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). When a mile-wide tornado was tearing my house apart above me, overwheming peace came to me when the words of Psalm 56:3 came into my mind, and Elohim's indescribable presence flooded my entire being. "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee." Yahuwah will give us perfect peace as we daily sit at His feet and learn of Him, Who "only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved" (Ps. 63:2).

In times of trouble, we experience the truth of His Word if we have taken the time to "acquaint" ourselves with our Elohim during times of peace. The best way to acquaint ourselves with Elohim is by taking the time to read the four gospels, which reveal to us what Elohim is like through His Son. "Thomas said unto Him, Master, we know not whither Thou goest; how can we know the way? Yahushua said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father but by Me. If you had known Me, you should have known the Father also: and from henceforth you know Him, and have seen Him. Philip said unto Him, Master, show us the Father, and it suffices us. Yahushua said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" (John 14:5-9, emphasis added). The Father, our Creator, Elohim, is just like His Son.

No excuse can be given for being "fearful and unbelieving." "I can do all things through Messiah which strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13, emphasis added).

"And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come, hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from Elohim, having the glory of Elohim: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal" (Rev. 21:9-11, emphasis added). The bride is the New Jerusalem, and we are the guests, as shown in the parable Yahushua told us in Matthew 22:1-14.

There is no crime, poverty, violence, or homelessness in this city. Verses twelve through twenty-one describe the New Jerusalem, the bride, the Lamb's wife. The city's walls are approximately two hundred sixteen feet high if we go by the measurement of a man’s cubit, but if it is by the measurement of an angel’s cubit, it may be four hundred thirty-two feet tall and have three gates, each gate being a single pearl, on each of the four sides – twelve gates in all. “And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel” (Rev. 21:17). 

From what I have been told, the colors of the stones of the wall in the order they are given are those of the rainbow. The streets of the city are of pure gold that look like glass. Imagine walking on streets of pure gold. What men have all their lifetime sought and fought for will be the substance from which streets are made.

The city is enormous; to the best of my understanding, it is three hundred seventy-five miles wide, three hundred seventy-five miles long, and three hundred seventy-five miles high.

Yahushua has been renovating mansions for the redeemed (John 14:3). The former occupants were the angels who were cast out of heaven over six thousand years ago. The homes built by the redeemed (Isa. 65:21-22) are their country estates.

"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of Elohim did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" (Rev. 21:23). Throughout the Bible, "light" is associated with Elohim. "This is the message that we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that Elohim is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (Jam. 1:17). There is nothing dark or hidden or shadowy with Elohim. Everything He does is done openly and in the light of day, and not in the darkness. Total transparency!

When Yahushua was being questioned before the High Priest, we read, "The high priest then asked Yahushua of His disciples, and of His doctrine. Yahushua answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret I said nothing" (John 18:19-20, emphasis added).

Complete transparency! All of this world's secret societies with their secret conspiracies will come to light before Yahushua returns. Yahushua hid nothing from humanity in His efforts to win us back to loyalty to His Father. Such transparency will be seen in the city of Elohim. Even the streets which are made of gold are transparent. "The street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass" (Rev. 21:21, emphasis added). Yahushua could not get caught in a lie because there was none. In His mouth was no guile (deceit) (1 Pet 2:22).

"And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Rev. 21:24-27) shall dwell there. Eternal security and safety!  No locking the door at night to keep the bad people out because there will be no bad people on the earth made new.

Even though there is no need for the sun in the New Jerusalem, Isaiah 30:26 tells us, "Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that Yahuwah binds up the breach of His people, and heals the stroke of their wound." Outside the New Jerusalem, it appears there will be night and day. Not only is the earth made new, but the heavens will be made new also. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away" (Rev. 21:1).

When Elohim created the earth, He "made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night" (Gen. 1:16). He did not make just a single light; He created two lights. And when He recreates this earth, the moon will once again shine forth on its own, and the sun will be seven times brighter than it is today (Isaiah 30:26). Evidence brought back from the moon shows at some time in the past, it was on fire because the rocks are igneous.

We know from what is written in Isaiah 66:23 that "it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith Yahuwah." The moon, initially placed in the heavens to mark the "seasons" (mow’ed – appointed times) of worship, will continue to function in the earth made new as Elohim designed it to do in the beginning (Gen. 1:14, Ps. 104:19) as Yahuwah's timepiece.

It is my prayer that each one reading this book will have their name written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and one day, we will meet in that beautiful city of Elohim as we gather around the throne of Yahuwah and the Lamb!

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      1. Will there be a Temple in the earth made new?

      2. Will there be any more death, sorrow, or crying in the earth made new?

      3. Of what are the streets of the New Jerusalem made?