"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
(Revelation 21:4)
In this new creation, God's people will no longer experience any of the forms of suffering characteristic of the old creation. When this occurs in the future, it will be a fulfillment of prophecy from (Isaiah 25:8) "the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces."
Both (Isaiah 35:10 and 51:11) predict that at the time of Israel's full restoration to God the people will experience "everlasting joy" and "gladness" because they will be protected from their former sufferings of "sorrow and sighing"" which will have fled away.
The conclusion of verse 4 that "the first things have passed away" again fulfills Isaiah's prophetic utterances, "Do not call to mind the former things....Behold, I will do something new" (Isa. 43:18-19). "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind" (Isa. 65:17).
(G.K. Beale)
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