Rev. 21:1-5, “New” Things in Kind/Time (1)

In Rev. 21:1,2,5 we read of a new heavens and new earth.  In what sense are they new?  Is it the old heavens and earth restored?  Or is it a complete new creation?  A comparison of the two Greek words “new” in the NT is helpful.  The two words are “neos” and “kainos.”  Let me also tell you that Richard Trench in Synonyms of the New Testament distinguishes them as “neos” (new in time) and “kainos” (new in kind, substance).  I mention this in advance, not to color your minds, but so that as we list all the uses of each word, you can consider his thoughts as to their validity. and so you can meditate on things God makes new.

kainos (adj): new, as in recently made, unworn, as in a new kind, uncommon.

·       Mt. 9:17; Mk. 2:21-22; Lk. 5:36abc,38: Put new (neos) wine in new wineskins. The new piece of cloth on the old wineskin won’t work.  2:22 same (neos/kainos) as 9:17.

·       Mt. 13:52: K. of heaven like a scribe who brings from his treasures old things and new.  Interesting.  The scribes are the meticulous students of Scripture.  Jesus says the scribes teachings must now include new treasures.

·       Mt. 26:28-29; Mk. 14:24,25; Lk. 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25: At the Lord’s table, the juice is the blood of the new covenant.  Jesus will not drink it again until He drinks it new in His Father’s kingdom.

·       Mt. 27:60; Lk. 19:41: Jesus’ body laid in a new tomb, hewn out of the rock, in which no one had ever been lain.

·       Mk. 1:27: People ask of Jesus’ teaching, what new doctrine is this?

·       Mk. 16:17: Believers will speak with new tongues.

·       Jn. 13:34: A new command, to love one another.

·       Ac. 17:19,21: Paul asked by Greeks in Athens about his new teaching. All they did was talk about things new.

·       2 Cor. 3:6: Paul a minister of the new covenant.

·       2 Cor. 5:17: Believers are a new creation; all things have become new.

·       Gal. 6:15: What works is not circ. or uncirc. but a new creation.

·       Eph. 2:15: Christ has created one new man from the two, making peace.

·       Eph. 4:24: Put on new man, created acc. to God in true righteousness & holiness.

·       Heb. 8:8,13; 9:15: A new covenant promised, new meaning the old would vanish away; Christ is Mediator of a new covenant.

·       2 Peter 3:13ab; Rev. 21:1ab: We look for a new heavens and new earth.

·       1 Jn. 2:7-8; 2 Jn. 1:5: First, not a new command but an old one, to believe; then a new command, to love one another. To love one another is not new in the sense that it had been around since the start of Christianity.

·       Rev. 2:17: A white stone with a new name given to overcomers.

·       Rev. 3:12; 21:2: The New Jerusalem is the “City of My God.” Overcomer receives “My new name.”

·       Rev. 5:9; 14:3: A new song sung to the Lamb. A voice from heaven sings a new song before the throne.

·       Rev. 21:5: Behold, I make all things new.

kainotes (n):

·       Rom. 6:4; 7:6: Through our death and resurrection we are designed to walk in newness of life and serve in newness of Spirit.