Revelations 21:1-2

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” vs. 1

On this day in 1517 Martin Luther hammered on the church doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg of Electoral Saxony in Germany and posted the 95 Theses, a document that sparked the Reformation and literally changed the face of Europe. On this day in 2024, 504 years later, it’s likely the only door hammering that we’ll hear will come from the fists of little goblins and witches threatening mayhem and demanding treats. Times certainly have changed! But the holiday is the same, it’s All-Hallows Eve, a time to remember the dead and acknowledge the saints. In our text for today the writer continues his description of the new creation, a hope that enables us to move toward the future with confidence, knowing that death is not the end and beasts and monsters will never have any power over us. To some extent our conspiracy fixated times have bred deep feelings of uneasiness around the world. Many are very worried about the future and some are convinced that the end is near. The writer of Revelation lived in such times too, but was convinced that the One who had brought all things into existence, could be counted on at the end of time as well. Not even our enemy death will have the last word.

Thought for the Day: Why might we need a new heaven and a new earth?