In today’s episode of ‘Hope for Today,’ we dive into a profound discussion on the nature of daily troubles and the promises that lie beyond them. David Hawking shares insights from Revelation 21, verses 1 through 8, painting a vivid picture of a future where the current world is replaced by a new heaven and a new earth. Join us as we explore the joys of being heavenly minded and how this perspective can radically transform our earthly existence.
Is not life every day filled with a little trouble? Sometimes much trouble. Aren’t you glad when you have a day where you can look back over it and say, you know, nothing really bad happened today. It’s sort of like hitting your head against the wall, life. It feels so good when you stop. Like sometimes you wonder, is it ever going to stop? It’s like every day is one giant hassle. Is anybody else having this problem? Let not your heart be troubled. His answer to all that I’m going through is to think about what’s coming. You believe in God, you believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions.
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But what if God didn’t just promise relief from trouble? What if he promised the end of it? Jesus said, believe in God, believe also in me, because what’s coming is bigger than anything you or I are going through right now. A place prepared, a future secure. And in Revelation 21, verses 1 through 8, we discover it’s not just comfort, it’s completion. A new heaven, a new earth, and a final word on who enters. This is Hope for Today with David Hawking. And today we’re bringing you day two of a message called New Heaven and New Earth. Are you ready for what’s coming next? Let’s find out. First, well, Matt, during the holiday season, what a blessing it is to hear from our listening friends and family who send their Christmas greetings and tell us how God is working in their lives as they study the Word of God with us. You got a note there from Fran.
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What does she have to say? She says, thank you for the information you give us. We need God’s truth preached to everyone that would listen. You have a very blessed day, month, year until Jesus calls us home. Thank you, Fran. I love that.
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Wouldn’t it be great if Jesus came today?
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Right. Amen.
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Fran, thank you so much for that blessing. Folks, we’d love to hear from you if you haven’t been in touch with us recently or perhaps ever. Stay tuned. We’re going to tell you just a bit later in the program how to contact Hope for Today. Amen. And now here’s David with day two of his message, New Heaven and New Earth, taken from Revelation 21, 1 through 8. David?
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There is nothing more joyous for we Christians to talk about than heaven. There isn’t anything better. A lot of people say, well, he’s so heavenly minded, he’s of no earthly good. That is not in the Bible. That came from the devil. That philosophy is from the devil himself. It’s actually reversed of that. The Bible teaches us to be heavenly minded, and then we will be of some earthly good. If we set our affection on things above, if we lay up treasure in heaven and not on the earth, we’re doing right. So don’t anybody tell you that, that, hey, you talk too much about heaven. No, I believe we don’t talk enough about heaven. I think we’re too consumed with what’s going on down here. Well, I love to talk about the new heaven and the new earth, and it’s kind of exciting. Revelation 21, and let’s begin at verse 1 down to verse 8. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write, for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. I want you to notice six things about the future from these eight verses. Just six things. And I hope will be a blessing and encouragement to you. Number one is in verse one, and that is that the pattern of things in the universe is is going to be changed. Boy, do we need a change or what? The pattern of things in the universe is going to be changed. Verse 1, I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven, the first earth, were passed away, and there was no more sea. Three things to bring your attention. Number one, our physical surroundings, according to the Bible, will be brand new. new our physical surroundings will be brand new i saw a new heaven and a new earth in the book of isaiah chapter 65 and verse 17 it says for behold i create new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembered nor come into mind what’s coming is so fantastic you won’t be thinking about anything down here It’s all going to be wiped away. You won’t be remembering any of that, and it won’t come into your mind. God’s going to make new heavens and a new earth. This is going to be something far more beautiful than anything we’ve ever seen. The physical surroundings are going to be brand new. In chapter 66 of Isaiah, verse 22, he said, In 2 Peter chapter 3, And verse 13, we looked at that in our last study together about how the whole earth is going to be dissolved and blown up. But in 2 Peter 3, 13, it says, Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which dwelleth righteousness. And I just ask you as a believer, do you really look for that? Or are you so wrapped up in what’s going on down here you can’t see anything beyond your nose? A lot of us are just totally obsessed with what’s going on here. We don’t see anything else. It dominates our mind. Hey, we’re all the same. We’re human, and I know it’s a burden, and I know it’s a pain. But according to God’s word, we who are believers should be looking for what’s coming, not what’s here. We have a new heaven, a new earth. Everything will be changed. Our physical surroundings will be brand new. The second thing I bring to your attention is that our present physical environment will pass away. The Bible says in Matthew 24, 35, heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. And we read about that in 2 Peter 3, 10 to 12. It will pass away. It’s going to be blown sky high, all dissolved. It’s going to be gone. There’ll be a brand new heavens and a brand new earth. our present physical environment will pass away. Number three, our future environment will be different than what we know now. At least at this one point, according to verse 1, there’ll be no more sea. Oh, there will be a river. Beautiful river. But there’s not going to be any more sea. That’s what the Bible says. Some of you are saying, man, I’m a fisherman. I… I’m not sure I’m going to enjoy myself. Well, remember, the former things will not be remembered. You won’t be taking your pole with you to heaven. Amen? The first thing we learn about what’s coming is that the pattern of things in the universe is going to be changed. Number two, in Revelation 21-2, the presence of a new city will be the main attraction in eternity. The presence of a new city. It’s fascinating the way God presents that. I want you to see in verse 2 at least four things about that city. The presence of a new city will be the main attraction in eternity. Revelation 21.2 says, I, John, saw. Can you imagine living in the first century and seeing this? I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. We know it’s the third heaven because it’s coming from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. This spectacular thing we call the new city, the New Jerusalem, the holy city is traveling through space. John watched it. The light of that city is the glory of God. It’s got jewels so spectacular you can imagine the spectrum of beauty that this thing is creating as it’s coming all the way through the heavens, the stellar heavens, all the way down to the earth. John said, I saw it. I saw it. Notice four things. One, the character of that city. God calls it the holy city. The holy city. city. Verse 8 tells us the fearful, unbelieving, abominable murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will be in the lake of fire. We read in verse 27 of chapter 21 that there will no wise enter into anything that defileth, neither he that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they are written in the Lamb’s book of life. So God’s going to keep out of it everything that is evil. In chapter 22 verse 3, there shall be no more curse. Thank God no more weeds. But the thorn of God and of the lamb shall be in it, his servants shall serve him. We read in verse 15, outside of the city, outside of it, without, are dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. It’s a holy city. Isaiah chapter 52, verse 1. Isaiah 52, verse 1, has a great statement. It says, awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion. Put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city. For henceforth there shall no more come unto thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. That apparently is the verse that leads to what John is writing in Revelation 21 and 22. That that new holy city, that new Jerusalem, will not have anything that defiles or that corrupts. It’s a holy city. The second thing I notice about that city in verse 2 of chapter 21 is the contrast of that city with the Jerusalem on earth. It says it’s a new Jerusalem, and the point to be taken is it’s not the old one. You know, some of the greatest pickpockets in the world live in the old city of Jerusalem, you know, the city where our Lord was crucified. I had a tour group. We were walking through the old city, and as you know, there’s real narrow streets, and we were coming through on a crowded market day, and it’s easy to lose people in there, and you can get lost in the old city. Easy. But anyway, I told the whole group, now stay together, and I said, watch your purses, everything else. I mean, these guys are pros. Watch it. You’re going to lose your stuff if you don’t watch it. And I’m leading the group. Come on, everybody. We go through the old city and I come out and I think, hey, everybody stop, I’m gonna take a picture. My camera was gone. And I had it around my shoulder, it was gone. So what happened to my camera? I never saw it. Oh man, I reached in my pocket to get my wallet, my wallet was gone. You know what really griped me? They even took the coins out of my pocket and I never felt it. I mean, everything, the wallet, everything, I had nothing anywhere. I thought, thank God I didn’t take my clothes. You know, it’s unbelievable. Those guys are masters. They are the pickpockets of the world. Boy, I’m sure glad there’s a new Jerusalem, aren’t you? Hey, the old one is not that attractive. Turn to Galatians chapter four. Galatians chapter four. The new Jerusalem is a contrast with the old. In Galatians 4, it becomes an interesting allegory, the difference between the old and the new Jerusalem. Verse 21, tell me ye that desire to be under the law. Do you not hear the law? For it’s written that Abraham had two sons, one by a bondmaid, that was Hagar the Egyptian, and by which he had Ishmael, the other by a free woman, Sarah, who had Isaac. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh, but he of the free woman was by promise. So we’re spiritualizing this now. Which things are an allegory? For these are the two covenants, the one from Mount Sinai, which of course is where the law was given. bearing children for bondage, or which gendereth to bondage, who is Hagar. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem, which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem, which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not. Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not. For the desolate hath many more children than she who hath a husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. We can say amen to that. Nevertheless, what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. So he takes that story and allegorizes it and shows the contrast between the old and the new. There’s a Jerusalem below that is still in bondage, bondage to sin, slaves to sin. slaves to a law that could never save, a law that simply exposed their sin and showed them that they needed a savior. The Jerusalem that above is of the free children who by faith have come to believe in the Messiah. So it’s an allegory. And go back to Revelation 21. So that is what’s striking if you’re thinking from a Jewish point of view, you’re seeing a city coming out of heaven from God that’s called New Jerusalem, not the old one. You read in Hebrews 11 earlier that Abraham was not looking for an earthly city. He was looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. A heavenly country, not an earthly country. People say, oh, the land of Canaan was what Abraham was dreaming about. No. No, he was looking for a heavenly city and a heavenly country. The third thing about that new city is the coming of that city. It says it comes down from God out of heaven. Turn to Revelation chapter 3 and look at verse 12. Revelation 3, verse 12. I just referred to Hebrews 11. Verse 10 says he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. And in Revelation 3.12, it says, This is a message to the church of Philadelphia. will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out, and I’ll write upon him the name of my God, the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, and here it is, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I’ll write upon him my new name. Now the fourth thing is the comparison of that city. When God tries to tell us what it’s going to be like when that heavenly city comes out of heaven, It’s interesting what comparison he makes. Verse 2, last phrase, prepared as a what? A bride adorned for her husband. He is our husband, and we are the bride. A bride adorned, beautified for her husband. In 2 Corinthians 11, verse 2, 2 Corinthians 11, verse 2. We read, For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy, for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. In Ephesians chapter 5, we read in verse 32 concerning marriage, that this is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Jesus is the bridegroom. The church is the bride. That wonderful new city is described as a bride adorned for her husband. Now, you’re talking about a city that would be attractive to our Lord. Now, he made the heavens and earth in six days. And this new city is just glorious in appearance. I just wonder… How beautiful it’s really going to be because it’s adorned for the husband, which is Christ. So the city is going to be attractive to our Lord Jesus Christ. He’s going to have this city as his own. It’s just fascinating to me. What is this city going to look like? Incredible. It would please the heart of our Savior to look at it. Man, I love to think about that.
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That’s Bible teacher and author David Hawking, and this is Hope for Today. Our teacher will be back in a few moments to put the finishing touches on today’s study, so do stay right there. First, Matt’s here, and together we’re going to tell you about this year’s special Christmastime study resource. Matt, this is perfect for this Christmas and for everyone’s Christmases in the years to come.
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Let’s talk about it. John tells us that the infinite, all-powerful God who made the universe became a man. God himself became flesh and lived for a while among us. Most of the world, though, refuses to believe that he is God.
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And even some who call themselves Christians are struggling with that. You may have heard a preacher proclaiming that Jesus is a sinner and needs to be saved. Yeah, and your dad in his book, Jesus Christ, The Reason, he recalls another example of one preacher who claims to be proclaiming the word of God by stating that Jesus needs to be born again. He’s claiming that that is in scripture.
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And of course it’s not. And there is a not so subtle undermining in this country right now and in our Christian culture of the basic tenet of the gospel that Jesus is God.
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And the divinity of Jesus Christ is central to the true meaning of Christmas. Emmanuel, a name for Jesus Christ, foretold in the book of Isaiah.
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and fulfilled in the Gospel of Matthew. Signifying God’s presence with his people. Exactly, exactly. Well, bring the Christ of Christmas, Emmanuel, the greatest gift of all time, powerfully into your holiday this season with the Hope for Today Christmas Package.
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The Hope for Today Christmas Package includes David’s 87-page booklet. It’s a beautiful booklet, Matt. Jesus Christ, the Reason. Plus a three-message miniseries by David. It also carries that title, Jesus Christ, the Reason. And with this package, David will take you into God’s Word to discover afresh the wonder of our Savior, whose birth brought the greatest gift of all time to our lost world. Order the Hope for Today Christmas package for just $20. And prayerfully consider adding a donation to help us finish the year strong and ready for the new year. And please do pray for us whenever you hear or remember Hope for Today. Amen. That’s the Hope for Today 2025 Christmas package, Jesus Christ, the Reason. Matt, I also want to mention to folks that we have your dad’s daily devotional called Learning to Praise in the Psalms. This is a one-year devotional through the Psalms. It’s perfect for the new year, just $20, and you can get it in time to start on January 1st. Learning to Praise in the Psalms, a daily devotional for each day of 2026. Order either of these resources or both by calling 800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada, Bible by the numbers 24253. Or you can order online securely at DavidHawking.org. And as we near the end of the year, can you believe it? Wow, 2026 is coming real close here. But can I ask you something simple? If these teachings on Hope for Today have strengthened your walk, if God has used this ministry to speak into your life, what would it mean for you to help make sure this daily broadcast continues reaching others and even more in 2026? You might have thought that your support isn’t vital and wouldn’t really help, or maybe that someone else would take care of it. But what if you were the reason someone hears the truth of God’s Word right when they need it most? Would you prayerfully consider a special year-end gift right now to Hope for Today? You can give securely at davidhocking.org. That’s davidhocking.org. Or call us at 800-75-BIBLE. That’s in the U.S. Or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada to give. You can also mail your gift to Hope for Today, Box 3927, Tustin, California. That’s in the U.S. If you’re listening in Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO 7 Oaks, Abbotsford, B.C., V2S 8P1. Your gift right now helps us finish the year strong and carry the unfiltered truth of God’s Word into a brand new year. Let’s join David now as he wraps up today’s lesson.
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Thanks for listening to Hope for Today, friends. Wow, what a study, huh? One of the sweet things we read in Revelation 21, verse 4, as we’re looking at this new heaven and new earth, it says, “…God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying.” neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. You know, over the many years that I’ve been ministering for the Lord and teaching His Word, I have visited a lot of people who are in times of deep sorrow and suffering, whether they’ve lost a loved one or They’re about to die themselves in a hospital. And you know, I’ve never found anyone who doesn’t like Revelation 21, verse 4. Just to hear those words, God shall wipe away all tears. Yes, sorrow does endure for the night, but joy will come in the morning. That’s the Lord’s wonderful promise to us. And I don’t know what you’re going through, but that pain is going to be gone forever in the new heaven and new earth. New Jerusalem, the holy city. Wow, what a day that’s going to be. And I hope you’re ready. I hope you have a personal trust and total dependency upon the Messiah himself for your salvation. Thanks for listening. Stay tuned to Hope for Today. We’ll be back at it soon.
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Well, thank you, David. And next time on the broadcast, there are things in our past that we wish had never, never happened, right? Memories we can’t seem to shake. But Revelation 21 verses 1 through 8 tells us that the day is coming when the past will be removed entirely. No more pain, no more sadness, no more regret, no more shadows. David Hawking is going to explain what that really means on our next broadcast, so make sure to invite a friend to listen along with you when we get together again for Hope for Today.
