Month of Thanksgiving - Day 27

啟示錄 21:1-5

21 我又看見一個新天新地，因為先前的天地已經過去了，海也不再有了。 2 我又看見聖城新耶路撒冷由神那裡從天而降，預備好了，就如新婦裝飾整齊等候丈夫。3 我聽見有大聲音從寶座出來說：「看哪，神的帳幕在人間！他要與人同住，他們要做他的子民，神要親自與他們同在，做他們的神。 4 神要擦去他們一切的眼淚，不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭號、疼痛，因為以前的事都過去了。」 5 坐寶座的說：「看哪，我將一切都更新了！」又說：「你要寫上，因這些話是可信的，是真實的。」

“新天新地”和“天堂”大約在聖經裏提到了五百次，可見這是基督信仰的重要部分，它讓我們看見了神祂那永遠的愛，為此我們向神獻上感謝。

雖然今天我們的生活可能有難處，常常使我們腿發酸，手下垂。甚至聖經告訴我們在末日民要攻打民，國要攻打國，地要大大震動，多處有饑荒，瘟疫，並且人要起來逼迫基督徒。但是感謝耶穌，祂為我們死，為我們活，並且預備了地方，不久我們便到更美的天城，永遠與祂同住。在那裡沒眼淚，悲哀，哭號，疼痛和死亡！這是何等大的恩典。

啟示錄“新天新地”的信息已經安慰了當時落在極大難處的聖徒，盼望今天它也安慰著我們中間的每一個人。讓我們一同歡呼，在感恩和讚美中預備自己，等候新耶路撒冷。

Revelation 21:1-5

1 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. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And 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. 4 And 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.” 5 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.”

"New heaven and new earth" and "heaven" are mentioned in the Bible for about 500 times. As is seen, heaven is an essential part of Christian faith, and the fact that the Lord has prepared a new heaven and a new earth for us reveals His everlasting love for us which we should all be grateful for.

Indeed, the difficulties we face in life can make our arms feeble and knees weak. Moreover, the Bible clearly tells us that in the last days nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes; and people shall rise against Christians for persecution. But thanks be to Jesus: not only did He die and resurrect for us, but also He prepares the new heaven for us to arrive and stay with Him forever. In the new heaven there shall be no more tears, nor death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. How great is His grace!

The message of "new heaven and new earth" have greatly comforted the saints who suffered from great difficulties at that time. Hopefully the same message will also bring comfort to all of us today. Let's all prepare ourselves for the New Jerusalem to come with joyful praises, and thanksgiving hearts!