Revelation Now :
Daily Devotional Bible Studies in Revelation
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What's it like to Live in Eternity? : Day 77 
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. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 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." 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." (Revelation 21.1-5.)
A New Heaven and a New Earth
The dream of a new heaven and a new earth was deep in Jewish thought. "Behold," said God to Isaiah, "I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, or come into mind" (Isaiah 65:17).
The picture is always there and its elements are always the same. Sorrow is to be forgotten; sin is to be vanquished; darkness is to be at an end; the temporariness of time is to turn into the everlastingness of eternity. This continuing belief is a witness to three things-to the unquenchable immortal longings in a person's soul, to our inherent sense of sin and faith in God.
The Sea was No More
In this vision of the future bliss, we come on one of the most famous phrases in the Revelation "And the sea was no more." This phrase has an important background. The ancient peoples hated the sea, even though, by the time of John, they were voyaging long and far. They did not possess the compass; and, therefore, as far as possible, they coasted along the shores. It is not until modern times that we encounter people who rejoice in being sea-faring.
There is an old story of a man who was weary of battling with the sea. He put an oar on his shoulder and set out with the intention of journeying inland until he reached people who knew so little of the sea that they asked him what strange thing he carried on his shoulder. In Jewish dreams the end of the sea is the end of a force hostile to God and to human beings.
The Holy City, the New Jerusalem
Have you ever wondered what eternity will be like? The Holy City, the new Jerusalem is described as the place where God will "wipe every tear from their eyes." Forevermore, there will be no death, pain, sorrow, or crying. What a wonderful truth! No matter what you are going through, it's not the last word God has written the final chapter, and it is about true fulfillment and eternal joy for those who love him. We do not know as much as we would like, but it is enough to know that eternity with God will be more wonderful than we could ever imagine.
Unlimited Physical Properties
Eternity is a place prepared for us unlimited by physical properties. We will be like Jesus and have new bodies. Our experience will be wonderful. A new environment A new experience of God's presence. New emotions. No more death.
Hints of Eternity
Most of the brief descriptions of eternity can be more accurately described as hints. They use terms and ideas from present experience to describe what we cannot fully grasp until we are there ourselves. People who persevere will stand firm to the end. They will receive the promised blessings of God including eating from the tree of life escaping from the lake of fire receiving a special name and having authority over the nations. They will be included in the Book of Life and sit near Christ on his throne.
Words to meditate on
"And all eternity's too short to utter all his praise"
Words to pray
"Holy, holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty Merciful and mighty.
All thy works shall praise thy name, In earth and sky and sea."
Notes
(1) Rev 2:14 (2) Rev 2:20 (3) see http://cantuar.blogspot.com/2008/04/who-were-nicolaitans-and-balaamists-of.html (4) Proverbs 3.18 (5) Proverbs 13.12. (6) Altered to modern convention
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place."
