Read More Than Conquerors, pp. 236–242
THE REDEEMED UNIVERSE
The universe in which the dragon, the beast, the false prophet, and the harlot were carrying out their program of iniquity has vanished. John, accordingly, sees a new universe, the ideal product of God’s redeeming grace and power, wisdom and goodness. It has the following characteristics. It is:
A. NEW, verse 1
A fourfold divine process has made it new. It was purged completely by a great conflagration (II Peter 3:7, 11,12). Yet, it was not destroyed. Rather, it received from God a complete rejuvenation. It is still the same heaven and earth, but gloriously renewed (II Peter 3:13). Moreover, there has been a mighty change whereby the organic realm has attained to self-expression and liberty, in other words, to self-realization. Study carefully in this connection Rom. 8:18–22. The old universe -that is, the universe as it was before Christ’s second coming—was subject to futility. Its potentialities were cribbed, cabined, and confined by the curse which rested upon it. It was ever subject to arrested development. It was like a world-champion wrestler, chained so that he cannot make use of his tremendous strength. But now (that is, on and after the day of Christ’s return) all the restraints have been removed. The universe has come into its own, and has attained to the glorious liberty of the children of God. Finally, and in agreement with the preceding, there has been a glorious harmonization, so that now the universe is no longer “raw in tooth and claw.” Its various components are no longer working at cross purposes. All Nature is singing a symphony. There is concord everywhere. There is variation, to be sure, but a delightful blending of sounds so that the total effect is unity. The prophecy of Isaiah 11:6–9 has reached its ultimate fulfillment: “And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them,” etc. The description is, of course, highly symbolical, and one must not begin to press the details.
B. ADORABLE, verse 2
It is filled with ravishing beauty, and resembles a bride adorned for her husband. Into this universe descends Jerusalem the golden, to be discussed in our next Lesson.
C. GOD-INDWELT, verse 3
All good things are always coming down from above. When Christ came down to earth and when the Holy Spirit was poured out from above, the new universe, in principle, descended upon men. Nevertheless, the full realization is now, that is, at Christ’s glorious return. Now, in the most sublime sense of all, God dwells with men, and they are his own.
D. CURSE-PROOF, verse 4
See under A. above. Not only is there no curse, it also shall be no more. This universe is curse-proof. The curse cannot enter there. In that respect Paradise Regained is different from Paradise Created in the beginning, the one which became Paradise Lost. All the effects of sin have been destroyed now. Hence, every tear has been wiped out. God himself has done this (cf. Rev. 7:17). And because death has vanished, there is also no more mourning and no more crying. “Nor (is there) pain any more.” That little clause, all by itself, is deserving of a sermon!
E. HEAVEN-BORN, verses 5, 6a
Only God can make things new. People may vainly imagine that by means of better education, a better environment, better legislation, and share-the-wealth programs they can usher in their Utopia. The dream remains a dream. Not that there is no value whatsoever in some of these efforts. There is such a thing as common grace, call it by whatever name you wish. But common grace cannot renew the heart. Only God can do that. “And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold I make all things new. And he said, Write, for these words are faithful and true.” One important reason why man cannot create a perfect universe or even a perfect kingdom is that he never finishes what he begins. But God is the Alpha and the Omega.
F. FREE, verse 6b
“I will give... freely.” One need not agree with the theology of Lowell, the moralist, in order, nevertheless, to admit that there is truth in his famous lines:
“For a cap and bells our lives we pay, Bubbles we buy with a whole soul’s tasking, ‘Tis heaven alone that is given away, ‘Tis only God may be had for the asking.”
G. RESERVED, verses 7 and 8
The dictionary defines the adjective “reserved” as meaning, “kept by special arrangement for some person or persons.” Well, in this case the terms of the arrangement or agreement were laid down by God himself. He kept the new heaven and earth in store for overcomers, valiant fighters for his cause, and not for the fearful and unbelieving, etc. Though the new universe is a gift which cannot be earned, nevertheless, receiving it requires work, bard work, work dependent from beginning to end on divine grace. The lake of fire is reserved for shirkers.
Questions
1. Explain, “And the sea is no more,” verse 1.
2. Do the blessings of verses 1–8 pertain to the future only?
3. How is the love of God revealed in this entire section?
4. Are there going to be plants and animals in the new universe?
5. In connection with verse 4, will not the redeemed shed tears when they become aware of the absence of some of those who were their friends—and perhaps even their children—on earth?
6. In verse 6 what is meant by “the fountain of the water life”?
7. What does INHERITING these things (verse 7) imply?