The Lord Himself is speaking. He speaks from the throne. He promises: ‘I will make all things new.’ Put that in black and white, John, for these words are faithful and true. Indeed, as they have been spoken by Him, they can be considered to have already taken place. It is only a question of time before it really will take place as well, but it is one hundred percent certain, as if it has already happened. It has happened, because our ‘liberation’ has already happened, almost two thousand years ago, on the cross of Golgotha.1 That is why the outcome is certain; the end of world history is irrevocably sure—both the judgments and verdicts on the godless, and the reconciliation, redemption and the renewal of all those who are His. And, as Creation once heard God say that He saw that it was very good,2 we may likewise know that the re-creation will be very good too. ‘For see, I make all things new.’ Jesus’ finished work has not only reconciled and redeemed people, but ‘all things’ as well.3 He was before all things, He, who is there now, and He, who will always be there, afterwards with all things of Creation. He Who is speaking calls Himself the Alpha and the Omega, the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet. This is how He introduces Himself at the beginning of the Book of Revelation,4 the revelation/unveiling of the Glory of Christ, and this is how He is here at the end as well. There is no beginning and no end outside of God. He Himself is the beginning and the end. He is the origin, the only reason for and the basic principle of Creation, and He is its final goal too. To that end, to that goal, to Himself everything that exists will be changed, renewed and brought back to Himself by reconciliation and redemption, in perfect order and harmony. He will make ‘all things’ forever new.
What was there before ‘In the beginning’ in Genesis 1:1? Nothing? No, there was God, and the worlds He had already Created, the angels and the Heavens, the Heavenly realms, where these ‘celestial beings’ live, for all the ‘morning stars’ and ‘sons of God’ rejoiced and exulted5 when God brought about the great work of the Creation of our earth and the Universe! They were already there, but what was there before the ‘world of angels’ and their Heavenly dimensions were created? Nothing? No, there was God! He is also present outside the dimensions of the Heavens, of the realm of the angels, for they were also brought forth by His creative power. So He was there already, before anything else. It is this eternal, Almighty, ever-existing God Who speaks these words also: “To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.” ‘Those who are ‘thirsty’ are the ones who are unable to live without feeling God’s Presence, His reconciliation and redemption and glory and renewal. They thirst for holiness, for justice, and, above all, for God’s love. Psalm 42:1-2 “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” They will be satisfied6 freely. It cannot be bought by money or anything else. It is by pure Grace. He Himself is that spring of water. In the Word was life,7 the water of life. The Lord Jesus says: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink.”8 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”9 “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”10 This question is answered here. Are you thirsty? Just go to Him, and He will fill you abundantly.
• What a contrast with the ‘satisfaction’ of lusts and urges and egoistic desires the whore offers in her cup.11 Wine makes people senseless.
• The ‘fullness of God’ in people on the other hand sharpens all their brains, feelings and emotions and fulfils them completely. Believers sometimes get ‘a little foretaste’ of that. It will soon be, and remain to be, perfect without hindrance and forever.
Bible References:
1.John 19:30 2.Genesis 1:13, 18, 25, 31 3.Colossians 1:20 4.Revelation 1:8 5.Job 38:7 6.Matthew 5:6 7.John 1:4; 1 John 1:2 8.John7:37–38 NIV 9.Isaiah 55:1 NIV 10.Psalm 42:1–2, 36:9–10, 63:2–4 NIV 11.Revelation 17:4, 18:3
