The Book of Revelation | No More Tears

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”

5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 21:4-5 (NRSVUE)

This is one of the most beloved promises in all of Scripture, and for good reason. It speaks to the deepest longing of the human heart: the desire for an end to suffering and loss, pain and tears.

But notice the progression in this verse. It doesn't start with God eliminating the sources of our tears; it starts with God wiping away the tears themselves. There's something profoundly personal and intimate about this image.

When a parent comforts a crying child, they don't usually begin by explaining why the child shouldn't be crying or immediately fixing whatever caused the tears. They start by wiping away the tears, by offering comfort and presence. Only then do they address the underlying problem.

God's approach to our suffering follows this same pattern. He doesn't dismiss our pain or minimize our losses. He enters into our experience of grief and provides comfort in the midst of it. Then, ultimately, he promises to address the root causes.

The phrase "former things have passed away" is crucial here. John isn't describing a return to Eden, a restoration of some previous golden age. He's describing something entirely new, a reality where the very categories of death, mourning, crying, and pain no longer exist.

This hope sustains believers through present suffering. When you're walking through grief, when you're facing loss, when pain seems overwhelming, this promise reminds you that your current experience isn't the final word.

F.F. Bruce noted that this promise would have been especially meaningful to John's first readers, who were experiencing intense persecution. Many had already lost loved ones to martyrdom. Others lived in constant fear of loss. This vision reminded them that their suffering had meaning and that it would not last forever.

The same promise speaks to us today. Whatever tears you're shedding, whatever loss you're mourning, whatever pain you're enduring—it's real, it matters, and it won't last forever.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for seeing my tears and caring about my pain. Help me to trust in your promise that suffering is temporary but your love is eternal.