Useful Bible Studies > Revelation Commentary > chapter 21
Only God has the power to create things; that is, to make what is truly new.
People like to make things, and they even become proud of their skill. However, even with their best efforts, they can only use things that already exist (Isaiah 40:18-20). Even with their greatest skills, they only copy what is already there. Nothing that people make is truly new (Ecclesiastes 1:10).
When God promises to do a new thing, he is declaring the greatness of his power (for example, Isaiah 43:19). By that means, he shows that he alone is God. The grateful reaction of his people will be to praise him with new songs (Psalm 40:3; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 14:3).
It did not surprise Christ when people began to argue with him. God was doing something new which they could not accept (Mark 2:21-22). God had promised to save his people, and he was now doing it, by means of Christ (Luke 1:68-75).
When a person receives a right relationship with God, by means of Christ, that is very wonderful. God changes that person completely. The life that God gives to that person’s spirit is completely new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christ said that such a person has passed from death to life (John 5:24).
God’s work to make all things new begins in the lives of those people. We consider it wonderful that God can create something new; however, God has promised to do a much greater thing than we can imagine. He declares that he will make all things new. He will make a new heaven and a new earth; and everything that happens there will be completely right and good (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13).
Next part: The time when God will complete all his promises to his people (Revelation 21:6)
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© 2016, Keith Simons.