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21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神。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”。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。
赐人盼望的神，求你在我们的挣扎中靠近我们。赐给我们勇气去面对未知的将来。赐给我们信靠的心，让我们知道你会使万物更新。阿们。
启示录 21:1-5
1我又看见一个新天新地，因为先前的天地已经过去了，海也不再有了。
2我又看见圣城新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降，预备好了，就如新妇装饰整齐等候丈夫。
3我听见有大声音从宝座出来说：“看哪，神的帐幕在人间！他要与人同住，他们要做他的子民，神要亲自与他们同在，做他们的神。
4神要擦去他们一切的眼泪，不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛，因为以前的事都过去了。”
5坐宝座的说：“看哪，我将一切都更新了！”又说：“你要写上，因这些话是可信的，是真实的。”
"I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." - Revelation 21:2
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.
God of hope, be near to us in our struggles. Give us courage to face the unknown future. Give us trust that we can know that you will make all things new. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
