阅读经文 

神没有确切地告诉我们那即将到来的国度会是什么样子，但神确实在圣经中给了我们一些图画，帮助我们在盼望中向前瞻望。

在《启示录》第二十一章中，约翰描述了一个新天新地的景象。他看到耶路撒冷城从天而降。在约翰所认识的世界里，人们可以去耶路撒冷的圣殿与神亲近。但在这个异象中，圣城从天而降，与人们同在。

约翰描述这座城就像“新妇妆饰整齐，等候丈夫”。这座城光芒四射，为庆祝和爱的缘故而显得美丽。

这一切听起来都很好，但最棒的消息是，约翰听到了这一切意味着什么。一个声音告诉他，这个美丽城市的到来意味着神将与祂的子民同住。因着神的同在，在新天新地里，将“不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀，哭号，疼痛”。（参启21:4）神将更新祂的造物，使其彻底回归整全与平安。

当你今天在生活中面临死亡、悲哀、哭号或疼痛时，请鼓起勇气。虽然这些事非常艰难，但它们不是永远的。神将使万物焕然一新。

God doesn't tell us exactly what his coming kingdom will be like. But God does give us some pictures in the Bible to help us look forward in hope.

In Revelation 21, John describes a vision of the new heaven and new earth. He sees the city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. In the world as John knew it, the people could go to the temple in Jerusalem to be with God. But in this vision, the city comes down out of heaven to be with the people.

John describes the city as "a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." The city was radiant, looking beautiful for the sake of celebration and love.

All of this sounds nice, but the best news comes when John hears what this means. A voice tells him that the coming of this beautiful city means that God will now live with his people. Because of the presence of God, in the new heaven and earth there will be "no more death or mourning or crying or pain." God will restore his creation to complete wholeness and peace.

When you face death or mourning or crying or pain in your life today, take courage. Though these things are very difficult, they are not forever. God will make all things new.