Let us read Revelation 22:1-5, and see where we are headed:
"And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 22:1-5, King James Version).
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, anxiety and depression increased among people of all ages. The isolation and instability, the constant news reports, and the conflicting information all increased our feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. People struggled not only with the threat of illness, but also with fear of an unknown future. Thoughts of life after we cross over would be paramount in our minds.
The first thought that comes to mind when one is required to move house, whether on account of a transfer, a change of job, or any other reason, is about the house we are moving into. There will be many expectations about it. We may eventually make some compromises once we begin to live in the house we have moved into. But it is not so when we are in the Kingdom of Jesus.
Most people will point to the statement of our Lord Jesus Christ, reported in John 14:2: "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2, King James Version). Many have taken this very literally, imagining that Jesus is promising physical palaces for all Christians in Heaven. While that is not entirely impossible — for no one has returned from the dead to tell us otherwise — there is a more important meaning here. Jesus says these mansions are in His Father's house. My own understanding of what Christ must have meant is that in the family of God there is room for all.
This statement was Christ's reassurance to His followers that faith in Him is faith in God. To know Christ is to know "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6, King James Version). The words, actions, and miracles of Jesus should give Christians confidence to trust that He will make good on His promises.
Among these is His guarantee that He is preparing to come for us, so that we may be where He is. Jesus also foretells the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, available only to believers, this Helper acting to guide, teach, and remind us. Both for the disciples then, and for all Christians since, these words are meant to be a comfort in hard times. Since Christ knew in advance what would happen, we can be all the more confident to trust Him.
The New Creation of Christ will be perfectly ruled from the throne of the Lamb. The Good Shepherd will have established shalom — peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquillity — for His entire flock. Worship and service will be our normal mode of existence. God will dwell with His people continuously and directly, and we will see His face. His presence will light the city always.
Human history will be healed of the consequences of sin and death. Believers from around the globe, with His name upon their foreheads, identifying them as His, will sing praise to the Lamb.