"Sermon Manuscript for Sunday, May 18"

Revelation 21:1–6 / “Everything Has Changed”

1. “Last week, we explored the theme of ‘transformed people’ through the Book of Revelation. These were people who, even amid persecution, were able to envision hope—those who turned their direction and embraced prophetic imagination. Today, we shift our focus to the ‘transformed world’ that these changed people now behold. Not just changed individuals, but a church that dreams of a renewed world—this is the vision of the new heaven and new earth.”

2. Let us look together at the power that enabled these individuals to face suffering and still dream of the new world God had prepared.

3. No matter how much we dream, it’s not fun if the dream doesn’t come true. There’s nothing more astonishing than seeing the things you hoped for and believed in unfold right before your eyes.

4. Of course, imagination doesn’t guarantee results—but dreams and futures birthed from sincere hope do come true, I believe.

5. In that sense, Revelation is not just a set of words—it is an expectation of fulfillment. The influence of Revelation on the church today lies in this expectation and fulfillment, which inform the church’s direction and posture of ministry.

6. The “new heaven and new earth” in today’s text represents the most radical and hopeful vision of a new world presented by John. As I mentioned before, this hope arose during intense persecution—at a time when such imagination seemed impossible. Dreaming of a new heaven and earth during such a time was unimaginable.

7. From this perspective, the attitude that the church, influenced by Revelation, must adopt is one of expectation for the new heaven and new earth.

8. Traditionally, when many people interpret the end times through Revelation, they focus on verse 1: “the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” This is often understood as the world being consumed in flames. That destructive interpretation comes from a misreading based on an overly simplistic approach.

9. However, the Greek words used here—aperchomai and apelthan—do not mean “destroy” or “die,” but rather “depart” or “withdraw.” So, this is not about destruction or death, but about something stepping aside or vacating its place.

10. John’s phrasing is highly literary. The existing heaven, earth, and sea—the structures that made up the old world—step aside to make room for the new heaven and new earth.

11. This is a crucial concept: as the old heaven and earth depart, the new heaven and earth come down from God.

12. Most of us imagine ourselves going up to heaven, but Revelation flips that: it says heaven is coming down into our lives. That means God chose to dwell with us—and did.

13. In verse 3, the Greek preposition “meta” appears repeatedly. This word means “among” or “with.”

14. “Behold, the dwelling of God is among the people,” and “God will be with them,” and “God himself will be with them.”

15. This repetition of “meta” emphasizes intimacy—a close relationship between God and humanity: “God is with us, God dwells among us, and God will remain with us.”

16. It underlines that we cannot escape from God, and how deeply our lives are intertwined with God.

17. The phrase “the dwelling of God is with people” is more accurately translated from Greek as “God’s tent” rather than “house.” This recalls the tent God pitched among the Israelites in the wilderness after the Exodus.

18. Just as God pitched a tent among the people in the wilderness, God is pitching a tent among us today.

19. Revelation clearly reveals God as the one who is with us. When we proclaim today, “God is with us,” that confession originates in the vision of Revelation.

20. The new heaven and new earth do not emerge by destroying the old. Instead, the old systems and rulers retreat, and their place is filled by God’s new creation.

21. In other words, God comes directly among us and fills that space with something new.

22. This confession of faith invites us into a renewed understanding of God.

23. In the midst of suffering, it's natural to long for peace and stability. But John tells us in Revelation that the old things are emptied out, making room for the new heaven and earth.

24. Here, there are no images of destruction or burning—contrary to common misinterpretations.

25. Above all, in that place, God is with us, just as He was with the Israelites in the wilderness.

26. Verse 4 presents a particularly moving image: “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

27. God is not just someone who removes danger or persecution, but One who stays with us in compassion and care—wiping our tears.

28. Rather than just focusing on the absence of sorrow or pain, I believe we should emphasize the phrase, “God will wipe away every tear.”

29. More than hoping for relief or renewal, it’s more important to know and live in the truth that “God wipes away our tears and comforts us.”

30. While seeing the world change or enemies fall might feel satisfying, the more powerful truth is that God comforts us and wipes our tears. This means that when we grieve, God grieves with us.

31. Personally, I believe remembering this truth is very important.

32. The true meaning of the new heaven and new earth is that God is with us and personally wipes away our tears. This means we are not people who strive to ascend to heaven, but those who live with the reality that heaven has come to us. In other words, we must live with the conviction that God is in our midst.

33. Revelation may seem filled with fantasy, miracles, and end-times themes, but its central message is that God is with us.

34. Even in the midst of suffering, John says, God is still with us.

35. Despite pain, God does not pass by indifferently—He wipes away our tears.

36. To be “changed,” “transformed,” or “made new” is a blessing given to those who remember that God is always with them.

37. Do you now see why we are confident that what we dream and hope for will come true? Because God is with us. Because He wipes away our tears. Then what is there to fear?

38. Revelation is not about the end times. If anyone says it’s all about judgment, sin, repentance, and fear of wrath, tell them confidently: they have misunderstood Revelation!

39. John's Revelation is not centered on suffering, nor on persecution—or even judgment. It tells us that God is with us and wipes our tears.

40. It is not about destruction or ruin. It is about the old, painful world fading away and the new heaven and earth coming down in its place.

41. Having this correct understanding helps us remain steadfast.

42. These days, one of my little joys is watching sports. Since the Warriors lost last week, I’ve stopped watching basketball—but baseball has been fun. I enjoy seeing Lee Jung-hoo on the Giants, Hyesung Kim on the Dodgers, and of course, Ohtani.

43. Baseball can be boring. It’s gotten faster with the pitch timer, but if Lee or Kim don’t perform, there’s not much reason to watch.

44. In fact, sometimes I keep watching just to see the Korean players shine. One day, Lee Jung-hoo, who hadn’t hit much earlier, hit a dramatic 3-run homer late in the game. On another day, I stopped watching, only to hear he hit a homer afterward.

45. Perhaps it’s not a perfect comparison, but Revelation’s depiction of suffering and persecution is like watching a long stretch of boring, hitless baseball. It’s already happening, it can’t be undone. But John says—don’t stop watching. If you wait, you’ll see a home run. Something exciting will break through in life.

46. So we keep waiting and hoping.

47. And we must never forget: our hope is not just about someday ascending into heaven, but about a God who chooses to come down, to be with us, to wipe away our tears. This is what Revelation says about God’s day—about the end times.

48. Soon, I’ll be boarding a flight to Türkiye. From our church, I’ll be traveling with Elder Choi Young-hwa, Elder Choi Jung-hee, Elder Park Yeon-ok, Elder Choi Young-joo, and Elder Kim Yoon-kyung. As I mentioned last week, preparing for this journey wasn’t easy. But now that the time has come, we depart tonight. One thing is sure—it will be a journey of great grace.

49. Last week, we received an email from the lawyer regarding the Oakland building. The other party sent a message proposing reconciliation—offering to purchase at a higher price than originally discussed. The terms haven’t changed. They remain untrustworthy, presenting the deal to their own advantage, so it’s not exactly appealing. Still, they seem to realize they are legally separate now and are asking for settlement.

50. After all the unnecessary conflict, they now want to return to where we began.

51. It’s a puzzling situation, but while it brought us burden and difficulty, it seems to be resolving now.

52. Beloved, we are not merely waiting for a “changed world.” We are already living in the world where God is with us. The new heaven and new earth are not some distant, mysterious realm—but a present reality where God dwells with us and wipes away our tears.

53. And we who believe this—we are the “changed people.” So whenever you weep, whenever you feel alone, hold on to the faith that God has pitched His tent among us.

54. And may that faith transform your life, renew our church, and make this world new again.