“The Former Things...”

       In John 16:33, the Lord said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” In this world the Bible says that there will be trouble, even for the church. The church will suffer in a world that consists of the, “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and/or the pride of life,” (1 John 2:16-17). The Christians hope lies in the knowledge that these things are, “passing away.”  

 In Revelation 21:1-8, John wrote: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ²Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴And God will\wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” ⁶And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ⁷He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

       What John saw in this context was the glorified, resurrected, bride of Christ as it will exist in heaven. The “former” things that framed the world the church had to live in and overcome will no longer be a factor. These things will have, “passed away.” This is the time that every Christian longs for.