Answer
Revelation 21:4 offers a promise of renewal, envisioning a future where the current world fades away, and God establishes a new existence. The verse proclaims, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” While some may view these words as mere wishful thinking, believers draw comfort from this assurance in the midst of present brokenness. The assurance that God will one day wipe away every tear provides us with hope.
The pledge that God will wipe away every tear is coupled with the elimination of other aspects of our current world in the future realm: “There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” «And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. », (Revelation 21:4, NLT). Additionally, there will be “no more sea” (verse 1, NKJV) and “no more curse” «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: », (Revelation 22:3, NKJV). In place of these six elements, the new earth will feature the New Jerusalem, the presence and glory of God, and the eternal joy of the saints. As God wipes away all tears, everything that caused those tears will also be eradicated.
Life on this earth involves a blend of good and evil, leading us to confront various tragedies. There are tears, sorrow, pain, suffering, sickness, death, accidents, and natural disasters. All of creation eagerly awaits God’s ultimate deliverance «For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. »
, (Romans 8:22). The fallen nature of our world is evident, and everyone has experienced some form of suffering. Indeed, many believers and skeptics consider the problem of evil to be the primary objection to God’s existence or His benevolence.
Nevertheless, Christians have hope, as Revelation 21:4 declares. Just as God subjected creation to a curse due to Adam’s sin, He will renew all things and establish a new order of life through Jesus. As the late Timothy Keller expressed, “The Biblical perspective is resurrection— not merely a future consolation for the life we missed, but a restoration of the life we always desired. This means that every tragic event will not only be reversed and repaired but will somehow contribute to the ultimate glory and joy” (The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Dutton, 2008, p. 32).
Moreover, we can trust that God’s character remains unblemished despite suffering and tears because He willingly bore our suffering for our sake. Once again, Timothy Keller provides valuable insight:
When we ask, “Why does God permit evil and suffering to persist?” and we gaze upon Jesus’ sacrifice, we may not know the answer. However, we do know what the answer is not. It cannot be that He does not love us. It cannot be that He is indifferent or disconnected from our plight. God takes our pain and suffering so seriously that He was willing to bear it Himself. (Ibid., p. 30)
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