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character of Israel's history be remembered, a great difficulty will be experienced in
placing these passages. They are Isa. 65: 17 and 66: 22:--
"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be
remembered nor come upon the heart. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I
create; for I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy . . . . . and the voice of
weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying" (Isa. 65: 7).
Yet this cannot be the same as Rev. 21:, for the next verse speaks of a sinner dying
an hundred years old and being accursed, whereas in the new earth of Rev. 21: there is
no more death, and in Rev. 22: no more curse.
Israel's blessings are foreshadowings.
In Isa. 66: the new heavens and earth are connected with Israel, and the carcasses of
men shall be seen in Gehenna, and be an abhorring unto all flesh.
There is one more item given in Rev. 21: upon the nature of the new creation, which
though briefly stated is infinitely precious:--
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death"
(Rev. 21: 4).
When God wipes away all tears, it indicates that death has been vanquished:--
"He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off
all faces" (Isa. 25: 8).
There shall not enter into the new heavens or earth any who do not stand in new life in
Christ.
We must now pass on to the more detailed description of the new Jerusalem, which
commences at Rev. 21: 9. The intervening verses (4-8) form a transition:--
"And He said (the One that sitteth upon the throne), Behold, I make all things new.
And He said, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And He said, it is done."
Some authorities read "they have been accomplished", but the sense of fulfillment
remains unaltered. The word gegone, "it is done", is the word that was uttered as the last
vial of wrath was poured out "and great Babylon came into remembrance before God".
At this utterance "every island fled away, and (certain) mountains were not found; and
there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven" (Rev. 16: 17-21). Here we see the great
contrast.