the second day, and called raqia, 'an expansion' (firmament A.V.).  The

'former heaven and earth' must be the reconstituted realm prepared, during

the time covered by Genesis 1:3 to 2:3 for Adam.  As we have seen, Isaiah

describes this 'heaven' as having been stretched out as a curtain, and 'as a

tent to dwell in' (Isa. 40:22).  If Revelation 21:1-3 stood alone, we might

wonder whether John had retraced his steps and after speaking of the new

heavens and earth, left that, the ultimate goal of the ages, to return to the

Millennial Jerusalem.  This, however, cannot be allowed, as John is but

echoing in connection with the heavenly city, that which Isaiah long before

had written concerning the earthly city.  Isaiah 56, 65 and Revelation 21

form a threefold cord not easily broken, and not wished to be broken by any

believer who holds the Scriptures in reverence.

Isaiah 65:17,18 place the newly created heavens and earth over against

the newly created Jerusalem, thus:

A

For, behold I create.

B

New heavens and a new earth.

C

Former not remembered.

D

Glad news at mention of.

A

That which I create.

B

C

A rejoicing.

D

Her people a joy.

Both the new heavens and earth, and Jerusalem are 'created', and so John

speaks of the holy city as 'New Jerusalem', but only when it is seen or

spoken of as 'descending out of heaven from God' (Rev. 3:12 and 21:2).

The second reference by Isaiah to the new heavens and the new earth is

in Isaiah 66:22:

'For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall

remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name

It is indubitable, and not open to question, that Scripture purposely

associates Jerusalem, earthly and heavenly, with the new heavens and new

earth.  By admitting this, however, we admit much more.  We return to these

passages by Isaiah and John to establish the next point.  Both Isaiah 65 and

Revelation 21 assure us that:

'The voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of

crying' (Isa. 65:19).

'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' (Rev. 21:4).

'The former troubles are forgotten' (Isa. 65:16).

'The former shall not be remembered' (Isa. 65:17).

'For the former things are passed away' (Rev. 21:4).

Once again no further argument is necessary to establish this second feature,

'no more' death, sorrow, crying or pain.  By admitting this, however, we must

admit very much more.  Upon continuing our reading of the passages in Isaiah,

we discover the presence of 'death' and 'sin' and 'curse' is still