Rev 21:1 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.

Revelation 21 opens like a grand finale. In Revelation 21, we see the dawning of a new day. It presents a beautiful picture of good things to come: “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” (v.1).

“Sea” symbolizes turmoil. The “first heaven and first earth” is the earth that we now lived. Peter in his epistle says this earth shall pass away (2 Peter 3:10). And he says we have a better home waiting for us: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).

The full preterists interpret all end-time prophecies in the New Testament are fulfilled in AD 70 when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. According to them, the “new heavens and new earth” spoken of in Revelation 21:1 is a description of the world under the New Covenant. I find it hard to accept their interpretation from Revelation chapter 20 to 22.

In Revelation 20:12, we see the judgment of God before the great white throne. We see the wicked cast into the lake of fire. It is hard to read that passage and say it is not the final judgment. Chapter 20 ends with these words: “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” It is doom’s day for the wicked.

Chapter 21 continues where chapter 20 ends. While chapter 20 spells damnation, chapter 21 is glory. The wicked are in the lake of fire. But the saved are in the eternal abode with God. It spells victory for those who keep their faith. John sees the church in its glorious state as the bride of Christ, the Lamb’s wife (v.9). The hope of the martyred saints lies in heaven and not on the church in this earth. Only in heaven do these words apply: “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” (v.4).

Our hope is in heaven. Revelation 21 paints a beautiful picture of what heaven is like. It is the climax of the journey of faith: Heaven is surely worth it all. Here for the first time, after the close of the seven epistles of chapters 2 and 3, do we have the promise to him who overcomes: “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” (v.7).

He that overcometh - The promises are to him that overcomes. He overcomes temptations, trials, tribulations, lusts, worldliness, and even self. He understands fully what it means to deny self and take up the cross and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23). He fights to win. Therefore, he knows he must put down anything that could hinder his journey to heaven (Hebrews 12:1, 2).

Shall inherit all things - Not only is the inheritance bountiful beyond measure, it is also incorruptible, that is, imperishable (1 Peter 1:4). Our inheritance lasts forever. In this world we may lose our job, our savings, our home, our health, and our loved ones, but our inheritance in God is beyond the reach of disaster and loss.

I will be his God – God is pleased to be the God of the Christian who fights to win.

He shall be my son – John wrote: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). The most wonderful part of the inheritance is when we become children of God. And because we are sons of God, we become heirs of the eternal inheritance (Romans 8:17).

Brethren, heaven is real. Our “sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Heaven will surely be worth it all. Let us fight to win. We can overcome the world.