What does the Bible mean by former things?

There are several Bible texts using the words former things, however, I will begin by quoting the following one:

Quote:

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Rev. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

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What are the former things referring to in this particular text?

I think most of the tears to be wiped away will tears caused by realizing, from the judgement during the 1,000 years, that we could have done more for Christ, and see that some could have been saved who will be lost because of our actions.

I would say that all of our sinful actions of our former life being repented of and forgiven will also be forgotten ans remembered no more, not only by God, but by us as well. That's what for the former things are passed away is all about.

Tom, we will be unable to recall our specific sins after Jesus blots them out during the investigative judgment of the living, which occurs during the MOB crisis, before probation closes. So, why do you think we will be able to recall them again in heaven? I believe once blotted out they are gone forever.

3SG 134, 135
Those who have delayed a preparation for the day of God cannot obtain it in the time of trouble, or at any future period. The righteous will not cease their earnest agonizing cries for deliverance. They cannot bring to mind any particular sins, but in their whole life they can see but little good. Their sins had gone beforehand to judgment, and pardon had been written. Their sins had been borne away into the land of forgetfulness, and they could not bring them to remembrance. {3SG 134.2}

It's obvious we will not remember the sins we had committed, but what about remembering other former things, such as our loved ones?

When it says God won't remember our sins, it doesn't mean that He literally can't remember them, as if His memory is bad. Similarly in the time of probation, God doesn't destroy our minds so that we lose our memory. We can't remember any sins to confess because all known sin has been brought to the mind by the Holy Spirit and confessed. There aren't any more sins to remember. It doesn't mean we can't remember what we did.

In the executive judgment, we will be examining the "books" (I put "books" in quotes because if we have Hi-def videos, surely heaven can do as well as we can) which will include our lost loved ones. Let's suppose our mother is lost. We see a woman in the books. Do you really suppose we'll say, "Who was that?"

how about those things that bring us pain will no longer do so..... or that as we look back over our experience it does not elict the same response... example.... when matriculating through school we often complain how difficult it is.... after we graduate though, we tend to remember in tranquility and the years spent in school don't seem to be as difficult... or how older folks speak of the "good ole days" but when you read about the times in which they lived, there wasn't much good there at all...

EGW: They cannot bring to mind any particular sins, but in their whole life they can see but little good. Their sins had gone beforehand to judgment, and pardon had been written. Their sins had been borne away into the land of forgetfulness, and they could not bring them to remembrance.

TE: It doesn't mean we can't remember what we did.

MM: Tom, what is about Sister White’s insight that leads you to believe we will be able to remember our specific sins during JTOT or in heaven?