[5] For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God, the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

    [6] Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

[7] But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

[8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

[10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  II Peter 3:5-10

  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 21:1

In the previous verses of Scripture we see the destruction or renovation of the heavens and the earth.

Man has so polluted and corrupted this planet that it is easy to see why it will take fire to get rid of the corruption. Only fire can burn up all the damage we have done.

    Then begins the wonderful unfolding of what God has planned for His people.

The large oceans covering almost three-fourths of the earth will be no more.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2

This is not the Jerusalem that is now on the earth, but it is the new Jerusalem, the holy city.

As in other areas of prophecy, there are different opinions as to the new Jerusalem. Some believe it will come all the way down to the earth, or on the earth.        

Some believe it will hover just above the Jerusalem that is now on the earth, and that the highway of holiness spoken of in Isaiah 35:8 will lead slightly upwards into a hovering new Jerusalem.

I will leave that for God to reveal, and you the reader to ponder.

What we do know beyond the shadow of a doubt is that this will be a marvelous occasion when a part of Heaven comes down to earth.

[3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

[4] And God 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.Revelation 21:3, 4

Think about it. Everything will be made new. No more death. No more sorrow, crying, or pain.  No more curse to live under. We will have the strength and energy we have often longed for.

Again, as in chapters two and three of Revelation, the promise is to the overcomer.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my people.  Revelation 21:7

Then in verse eight we are reminded of the class of people who are not overcomers, who will not inherit the things of God.

For the remainder of chapter twenty-one, verses nine through twenty-seven, then into chapter twenty-two, we are given the description of the great things God has prepared for His people. What a glorious reward for those who have been faithful and true.

And yet there are those who are careless and slothful about the things of God. Some believe they can pray a last minute prayer and cover up a lifetime of self and sin.

    He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Revelation 22:11

If you have read this book, and for some reason you do not know you have been saved and redeemed by the blood of Jesus, open your heart to Jesus Christ right now. Pray and repent (turn away) from your sins. Ask Christ to forgive you and come into your heart and life. Be baptized in water by immersion.    Faithfully attend a Bible believing, Bible preaching church that believes in inward and outward holiness.

Study the Word of God and live expecting Jesus to come at any time.

Look again at Revelation 20:15, then read Luke 10:17-20.

Many times at the conclusion of a service where I have preached, then given an invitation for people to get saved, watched many come forward to pray for salvation, or be prayed for to be healed, I have gone off by myself and with tears flowing, rejoiced because I am saved, and my name is written in Heaven.

Let me say again, if there were no Hell, and there is, I would still want to live for God and be part of His great plan.

I have not gone into my interpretation of the description of the new Jerusalem. The description God gives in His Word is exciting enough.

Many believe the city will be 1,500 miles square. That's long, wide and high. We do know there will be plenty of room for all God has planned. He makes no mistakes. I hope to see you there.