Kingdom Consummated Part 2

At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Consummated,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.

Our series is called Kingdom Consummated. Last week, we discussed how we can start anew by following Jesus. Today I want to talk about our hope for the future. Our focus is often on what we have been saved from instead of what we are saved to. What we are saved to is so much more than what we currently think.

Matthew 19:28-30 (NIV)
28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

When Jesus spoke of “the renewal of all things” in Matthew 19:28–30, He was not introducing a brand new idea. Instead, He was drawing on a rich tapestry of Old Testament hope that His disciples already knew by heart. The prophets had long painted a picture of restoration, where God Himself would step in to undo the damage of sin and bring about peace, righteousness, and joy. Isaiah’s visions, such as in Isaiah 60 and Isaiah 65, show us glimpses of this promised renewal.

Isaiah 60:17-20 (NIV)
17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler. 18 No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. 19 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 20 Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.

Isaiah 65:17-19 (NIV)
17 “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. 19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.

They describe a world where sorrow is ended, where God’s light replaces sun and moon, and where His people live in unbroken fellowship with Him. Jesus’ words are a continuation of that hope, reminding His followers that this story of restoration will come to its fullness when He reigns on His glorious throne.

For many of us, these promises stir something deep inside. We live in a world marked by brokenness and disappointment, so when we hear of a coming day when every tear will be wiped away and peace will reign, we long for it. At the same time, we may wonder when and how these promises will unfold. Are they only distant dreams, or can we taste them here and now? Scripture gives us the answer: we do experience glimpses of renewal today, through Christ’s work in our lives and communities, but the complete picture awaits His return. The language of “new heavens and a new earth” in Isaiah 65 and Revelation 21 confirms that God’s plan is not to discard creation but to restore it.

Revelation 21:1-5 (NIV)
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 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.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation ties all of this together in its grand finale. John sees the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, not humanity escaping earth to go somewhere else. God’s dwelling comes to us. This is renewal, not replacement. The promise, “I am making everything new,” assures us that nothing is wasted. Every broken thing will be mended, every loss restored, every wound healed. Even the earth itself will share in this transformation.

Jesus also added a personal challenge in Matthew 19. He reminded His disciples that those who have sacrificed much for His sake will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life. But He also cautioned them with a reversal: the first will be last, and the last first. In other words, God’s renewal is not just about creation; it is also about reordering values and priorities. The kingdom belongs to those who trust Him, even at great cost, and who live with the hope that everything will one day be made new.

This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.

Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.