FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2025

THE IMMUTABLE PROMISE OF REVELATION

Author: Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc

RBT Passage: Romans 15-16

MEMORY VERSE: “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 21:5, NIV)

TEXT: Revelation 21:1-7 (NIV)

[1] 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. [2] I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. [4] ‘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.” [5] 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.” [6] He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. [7] Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

I. THE CRISIS OF EARTHLY HOPE

For many people, the grip of despair is strong, and holding onto a sense of lasting hope can be incredibly difficult. Life relentlessly presents trials that erode human resilience:

Relational Devastation: A relationship might have fallen apart, leaving behind the ache of betrayal or loss.
Financial Burden: Bills could be piling up, creating a crushing weight of debt and uncertainty.
Physical Deterioration: Health could be faltering, bringing the fear of pain, dependency, and the grave.

When life is hitting hard—when the visible circumstances are dire—it is hard to keep hope alive. The world’s definition of hope is fragile; it is often merely a wish or an optimistic gamble on future circumstances. If the circumstances change, the hope collapses.

But the hope that is placed in God—the hope that is tethered to eternity—is a completely different entity. It is an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:19). Our hope is not based on a possibility, but on a promise—the immutable word of God. The entire book of Revelation, especially our passage today, is designed to lift the gaze of the believer above the crumbling walls of this present world to the glorious, guaranteed reality of God’s ultimate redemption.

II. THE PROMISE: COSMIC RENEWAL (REVELATION 21:1)

The Apostle John, in his vision on Patmos, received the final, powerful promise of God’s redemptive plan: the creation of a New Heaven and a New Earth.

“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.” (Revelation 21:1)

This vision confirms that God’s response to the devastation wrought by sin is not simple abandonment, but cosmic renewal. He is not merely taking us out of a world He hates; He is creating a perfect environment in which we can dwell with Him forever.

A. The Passing of the Old Order

The first heaven and the first earth “had passed away.” This signifies a total, definitive cessation of the old order, which was stained and corrupted by the rebellion of sin (2 Peter 3:10-13).

Crucially, John notes: “there was no longer any sea.” In biblical prophecy, the sea often symbolizes chaos, instability, Gentile nations in upheaval, and separation (Revelation 17:15). In the New Earth, there will be no more chaos, no more restless separation, and no more unstable, unpredictable elements that characterize this age of flux. Everything will be fixed, settled, and perfectly ordered under the reign of Christ.

B. The Trustworthiness of the Promise (Revelation 21:5)

The intensity of this promise is underscored by the declaration from the One seated on the throne: “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

God doesn’t want there to be any ambiguity or doubt. He commands the promise to be recorded because the very existence of the New Heaven and New Earth is as certain as God’s own sovereignty. When God says, “I am making everything new,” it implies an active, immediate, and all-encompassing act of creative power. This promise is the foundation of our hope.

III. THE FOCUS: DIVINE INTIMACY (REVELATION 21:2-3)

The true hope of God’s new creation is not the landscape, beautiful as it will be; it is the resumption of perfect, uninterrupted communion with God. The pinnacle of the vision is the descent of the Holy City.

“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, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’” (Revelation 21:2-3)

A. The Significance of the New Jerusalem

The New Jerusalem is described as a “bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” The church—the redeemed people of God—is often depicted as the Bride of Christ. The city represents the place, the environment, and the community where perfect relationship is established.

The movement of the city is crucial: it is coming down out of heaven from God. This emphasizes that our inheritance is not earned by human effort, but is a divine gift, descending from the Father. It is perfect, prepared, and pristine.

B. The Restoration of Eden’s Purpose

The loud voice from the throne makes the meaning of the New Jerusalem explicit: “God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.”

This is the ultimate reversal of the Fall.

In Eden: God walked with man in the cool of the day, but sin introduced separation.
On Calvary: Jesus’ death tore the veil, restoring access to God’s presence.
In the New Creation: God removes all barriers and takes up permanent, tangible residence among His people.

The purpose of redemption is realized: They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. No longer will we rely on temporary sanctuaries, earthly priests, or limited experiences. We will experience the fullness of the Shekinah glory without hindrance, forever. This personal, intimate communion is the core of our eternal hope.

IV. THE BENEFITS: THE END OF THE OLD ORDER (REVELATION 21:4)

If the presence of God is the greatest benefit, the removal of the curse is the glorious result. The old order is defined by suffering; the new order is defined by its absolute absence.

“‘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.’” (Revelation 21:4)

This verse gives us a precise list of the things that will be eternally absent from the New Earth:

Tears: God Himself, the ultimate comforting Father, will wipe every tear. This signifies not only the end of future sorrows but the complete healing of past wounds. The memory of earthly suffering will be overshadowed and fully compensated by divine glory.

Death: The last enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26) is permanently vanquished. The fear of mortality, the separation of the grave, and the finality of physical decay are gone forever.

Mourning: The deep sorrow of loss, separation, and grief will be eradicated.

Crying: The emotional distress that leads to outward expression of anguish ceases.

Pain: All physical and emotional pain—the result of the curse—is removed.

The final phrase confirms the reason: “for the old order of things has passed away.” Every form of suffering is inextricably linked to the sinful, fallen world. When the environment is remade, the symptoms of the curse disappear completely. This is the certainty of our hope: a future guaranteed to be flawless, painless, and eternal.

V. THE REQUIREMENT: FAITH AND VICTORY

While the gift of the New Creation is free, its inheritance is reserved for those who satisfy the divine condition of faith and endurance.

A. The Source of Life (Revelation 21:6)

God concludes His declaration by affirming His divine sovereignty and offering immediate provision:

“He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.’” (Revelation 21:6)

The affirmation “It is done” emphasizes the certainty of the promise. It is already accomplished in God’s plan, even though we await its physical manifestation. He is the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end—meaning He controls the entirety of history and eternity, making His promise unbreakable.

He then offers the solution to the world’s deep spiritual need: To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. The “water of life” is the Holy Spirit and the eternal salvation offered through Christ (John 4:14). This life is offered without cost—it is free grace, available now to all who are spiritually thirsty. This immediate provision ensures that believers have the life and strength to persevere until the end.

B. The Victory Requirement (Revelation 21:7)

The inheritance, however, is reserved for a specific group:

“Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.” (Revelation 21:7)

The King James Version uses the word “overcomes.” The Bible makes it clear that the Christian life is a battle. Victory is not automatic; it requires endurance, faith, and adherence to the Word. Who are the victorious ones?

Those who overcome the world: By placing their faith in Jesus (1 John 5:4-5).
Those who overcome the flesh: By walking in the Spirit and refusing to yield to sinful desires (Galatians 5:16).
Those who overcome the devil: By standing firm in the faith and resisting his attacks (James 4:7).

Our memory verse from the RBT Passage, Romans 15:4, reminds us: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” The patience required in this life is the very process by which we secure our victory. We must live in anticipation and preparation for this new heaven and earth, knowing our inheritance is conditioned upon our faithfulness until the end.

VI. HOW TO LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEW CREATION

The hope of Revelation 21 is not an abstract future reward; it is a powerful motive for present godly living. What we need to do is to be godly to have it and enjoy it without any hindrance.

A. Fix Your Gaze (Colossians 3:1-2)

We should not fix our gaze on things we can see, earthly things, but things that cannot be seen, the heavenly things. The visible world—with its fleeting pleasures, material wealth, and temporal worries—is passing away. The New Jerusalem is eternal.

The Apostle Paul instructed us: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Our daily choices—where we spend our time, energy, and resources—must reflect the glorious reality of our coming inheritance. We are citizens of the New Jerusalem, passing through this temporary domain.

B. Avoid Hindrances (The Works of the Flesh)

We must avoid whatever will prevent us from gaining access to this hope. The wicked, the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, idolaters, and all liars “will have their place in the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (Revelation 21:8).

The works of the flesh—sinful habits, unrepentant attitudes, and compromises with the world—are the only things that can disqualify a person from their inheritance. The present condition of the world is not giving us any hope, but one with God is more than the majority. Our inheritance is certain in the Lord, but only for those who maintain their spiritual garments spotless (Revelation 22:14).

CONCLUSION

The promise is signed and sealed: “I am making everything new!” This is the ultimate hope for God’s New Creation—a hope so sure that God commanded it to be written down as trustworthy and true. A new place awaits you, the New Jerusalem.

Let this hope invigorate your service, empower your obedience, and comfort your sorrow. The troubles of this life are temporary and light compared to the eternal weight of glory that awaits you. Stand firm, be victorious, and wait patiently for the fulfilment of His promise, for our inheritance is certain in the Lord!

INSIGHT:

A new place awaits you, the New Jerusalem, where the presence of God eradicates all sorrow, death, and pain.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for the certain hope of the New Creation. Help me to live a life worthy of this glorious inheritance. Strengthen me to be victorious over the world, the flesh, and the devil, so that I may dwell with You eternally in the New Jerusalem. Amen.

DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN:

1 Year Plan: 1 Chronicles 30-32 & Romans 7
2 Year Plan: John 18:1-27 & 2 Chronicles 8

HYMN : 60 – MOST ANCIENT OF ALL MYSTERIES

(Sing the hymn to reinforce the mystery and glory of the Trinity, the foundation of our hope.)

1 Most ancient of all mysteries,

Before Thy throne we lie;

Have mercy now, most merciful,

Most holy Trinity.

2 When heav’n and earth were yet unmade,

When time was yet unknown,

Thou in Thy bliss and majesty

Didst live and love alone.

3 Thou wert not born; there was no fount

From which Thy Being flowed;

There is no end which Thou canst reach;

But ThoU art simply God.

4 How wonderful creation is,

The work which Thou didst bless,

And O what then must Thou be like,

Eternal loveliness!

5 O listen then, most pitiful,

To Thy poor creature’s heart:

It blesses Thee that Thou art God,

That Thou art what ThoU art.

6 Most ancient of all mysteries,

Still at thy throne we lie;

Have mercy now, most merciful,

Most holy Trinity.