We are now entering what is known as "eternity".

We’ve been through the tribulation, the Second Coming, the millenium, and the Great White Throne judgment.

Often, when we refer to "heaven" in generic terms, we are referring to this "new heaven and new earth".

We know that there won't be a removal of all water, since there is a river flowing in the New Jerusalem (Rev.22:1).

But there seems to be no mention of "seas" in the eternal state, only in the millennium.

Some have suggested that the purpose of the oceans is for it’s cleansing action.

We'll get more in depth next week. Briefly, this is a huge city, 1500 miles cubed. A wonderful place...

prepared – hetoimazo – to make ready, prepare

adorned – kosmeo – ("cosmetics") to put in order; to ornament, adore

It doesn’t say that it actually touches the earth.

tabernacle – skene - "a tent, booth, tabernacle".

God will set up His tent among men.

dwell – skenoo – based upon skene, meaning "to have one's tabernacle, to dwell".

In a sense, this has already happened –

wipe away – eksaleipho –"to wipe off, wipe out". It is also translated several places as "blotting out", or "erased" (Col.2:14; Rev.3:5; Acts 3:19).

And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (Rev.20:14)

(1 Cor 15:26 KJV) The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

sorrow - penthos - mourning, lamenting, sorrow as a widow.

crying – krauge – "crying, outcry, clamour (noisy shouting)". Whereas "mourning" (penthos) seems to refer to the emotion, krauge seems to refer to the vocalization, the noise of crying out.

pain – ponos – "labor, toil"; the consequence of toil, "distress, suffering, pain"

God the Father.

When we accepted Jesus Christ, the process began. Our spirit man became brand new.

But in the new heavens and new earth, everything else will become new also.

Translation..."You can bet these things are going to happen..."

The wording here is a little different from what Jesus cried on the cross, "It is finished" (John 19:30). The Greek words are different.

God the Father is speaking here, as well as in Rev.1:8, calling Himself the Alpha and Omega.

beginning – arche – "beginning, origin". God is the origin of all things.

end – telos – "end". There is nothing beyond an "end", Jesus is the end of all things, there is nothing beyond Him.

Isaiah 55:1-2 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Earlier to the church, God made lots of promises for those who "overcame"

How do we "overcome"?

(Rom 4:18-21 KJV) Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. {19} And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: {20} He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; {21} And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

The promise to us here is that we will inherit these things the things of the New Jerusalem.

God now gives John a generalized description of those who are going to be in the lake of fire...

Fearful – deilois – cowardly, fearful. Interestingly, this is the word Jesus used to describe His disciples when they were scared because of the storm while they were in the boat. (Mat.8:26; Mark 4:40)

Unbelieving – apistois - of persons, "without faith or trust, unbelieving"

Abominable – ebdelugmenois - from bdeo ("to stink"); to make foul.

mongers – immoral persons – is - immorality, sex outside of marriage.

Sorcerers – pharmakois - using drugs to "elevate the consciousness", to"reach God". Pharmacy...

Idolaters –

all liars –