“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. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”
- Revelation 21:1-2 -

Key to understanding this vision is noticing the direction of travel: the New Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God with his people, comes down from heaven to earth. Thus the realms that were separated at creation are finally reunited. It is apt that the city-people of God are described as the bride of Jesus, the Lamb, who is the groom. God came to his people in the incarnation of Jesus and his presence, continued with the gift of the Spirit, but now the fullness of God’s presence dwells in intimate relationship with his people. The first words spoken in this book by the one seated on the throne come right at the end, as there is no more need of intermediaries – and his words are words of comfort and love.

Yet the city is holy, which means that all sin is excluded; the decision to drink is the decision to leave sin behind. The new thing that God is doing is in continuity with all that has gone before: the city gates carry the names of the tribes of the first covenant, while the foundations carry the names of the apostles of the second.

Prayer: Lord God, I marvel that with you working in me and through me, I can make a difference. Never let me forget that.

(A summary from Encounter with God)