New Heaven, New Earth

The sermon was delivered on the first Sunday of the lunar year Nhat Dan, beginning with the theme of the necessity of hope. The preacher explains that the Book of Revelation, despite containing many mysterious images difficult to understand, was written by the apostle John primarily to encourage believers suffering persecution and terror from the Roman Empire. The teaching about new heaven and new earth helped the ancient believers patiently wait and accept the difficulties they faced. Similarly, this hope will help modern believers overcome trials in the coming year.

The second section focuses on explaining the profound meaning of Revelation 21:1, "and the sea is no more." Rather than accepting a literal interpretation, the preacher interprets the sea as a symbol of danger, upheaval, tempestuous waves, and opposing forces—all things humanity wishes to avoid. When compared with other absent elements in heaven such as death, weeping, pain, sin, and curses, the sermon clarifies that happiness is actually the absence of these negative things. This section cites Isaiah 65:19-20 to illustrate the prophet's vision of a place with no more weeping and infant mortality.

The third section develops the theme through two concrete examples of hope's role in present life: the prisoner awaiting his loving family and the laborer enduring tedious work for high wages. The sermon emphasizes that humans cannot live without hope, as faith in the future completely affects how people act in the present. The preacher poses philosophical questions: if life on earth is all there is, how will justice be served against the wicked when they die? And if the material world eventually ceases to exist, what value do human deeds have?

The fourth section is the theological centerpiece of the sermon, explaining the Greek word kainos (new in quality) as distinct from neos (new in time). The preacher illustrates that objects such as gold, diamonds, and paintings by da Vinci, though ancient, still possess kainos value—their quality and worth never diminish but increase over time. Applied to heaven, the sermon shows that the blessings there will never fade or lose value; rather, they will become increasingly precious. A husband and wife married 50 or 70 years with deepening love and devotion exhibit kainos—newness in the quality of affection even though they are no longer neos.

The final section connects theological teaching with practical encouragement for believers. The sermon emphasizes that Christians should value the unseen—eternal values—more than grasping at things temporarily visible that will grow old and decay. The eternal spring in heaven will have no more death, weeping, pain, striving, or war. Christ Himself promises to wipe every tear and renew all things. The sermon concludes by citing 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 to encourage believers not to lose heart, for the inner person is being renewed (kainos) daily, and present tribulations will produce eternal glory.