Sabbath: Rebirth of Planet Earth
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Isa: 65:17-25, Isa: 66:1-19, Isa: 66:19-21, Isa: 66:21, Isa: 66:22-24.
Memory Text: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17).
One day, a 12-year-old boy, having just read a book on astronomy, refused to go to school. His mother took the child to the family doctor, who asked, “Billy, what’s the matter? Why don’t you want to study or go to school anymore?”
“Because, Doctor,” he said, “I read in this astronomy book that one day the sun is going to burn out and all life on earth will vanish. I don’t see any reason to do anything if, in the end, everything will die out.”
The mother, hysterical, shouted, “It’s not your business! It’s not your business!”
The doctor smiled and said, “But, Billy, you don’t need to worry, because by the time this happens, we’ll all be long dead, anyway.”
Of course, that’s part of the problem: In the end, we’re all dead, anyway.
Fortunately, our existence doesn’t have to end in death. On the contrary, we have been offered life, eternal life, in a world made new.
*Please study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 27.
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I don't suppose too many readers of this blog admit to watching futuristic SciFi movies or TV programs. So, I will admit it. I have watched some Startrek. It is interesting to see the portrayal of the future. We have spread throughout the universe, and the "heroes" have a lifestyle that is kind and generous. They have overcome poverty, disease, and suffering. Even their alcohol is no longer intoxicating! One sometimes wonders whether their writers have been reading the descriptions of heaven found in the Bible. The problem is that most of us who have watched such movies recognise it for what it is - fantasy. It is what we would like to happen.
And secular people look at those of us who believe in heaven think of our ideas of heaven in the same way - fantasy. Some of them use the expression, "Pie in the Sky, bye and bye!" to describe the unrealistic thoughts of a supernatural heaven. And some of the descriptions we give of heaven have become standing jokes for the secular mind. How many of us have seen cartoons of stereotypical white-robed individuals with halos above their heads, harps in their hands, standing around among the clouds?
Christianity has to be much more than being real estate sales personnel selling plots of heavenly land with a mansion and a vineyard attached. Read the Gospels. How often do they say, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like ..." and then go on to describe something about the way saved Christians should think and behave now? The supernatural heaven only makes sense if we understand the significance of the Kingdom of heaven in our physical world now. When Jesus answered Pilate with "My Kingdom is not of this world!" he was referring to the way his subjects live in the present. If we get that right, then the supernatural kingdom makes sense.
What is different in the new earth compared to the old earth? Isa.65:23-24KJ - ”They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. (24) And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
As I understand it, the new earth is promised to be as the Creator had originally intended for it to be. In the second Adam – Christ Jesus -, mankind will be born in the new Giver's spiritual seed. He has ended the curse which brought about the iniquity of mankind and the sin born from it.
Born a man and also Son of God, His spiritual seed embodied as man will inhabit this new world. As all faithful believers are now living in the spiritual Kingdom of God, so will they again in the New Earth - God's true Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
Can it be that those who lived and died in Christ are to become His new seed to start again the race of man on the New Earth? Isa.65:25KJV “…They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD”. Earth’s creator is fulfilling His promise to Abraham and brings forth: a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah, an inheritor of my mountains; and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
He promises to keep Zion as the center of His Glory also in the New Earth – Rev.21:21KJV.
His new people Israel will not have gone through their times of trouble and travail in vain; God keeps His promises! It was His Son who came to bring Heaven’s Light for faithful man to live by. In the New Earth, His Light will be the brightly shining Light of the Father’s Glory, His Righteousness in man, to guide all mankind to live peaceably with each other and all creation.
Isa.66:5KJV - ”Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at His word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, “Let the LORD be glorified”, but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
Eyes hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. 1 Cor 2:9
Qu-Who are the people who will live/dwell in the new earth?
Ans- Those who love their Lord with all their capabilities and their neighbors as themselves.
Qu- What does it meant to love the Lord and our neighbors as ourselves. Ex 20:3-17. Deuteronomy 6:5. Matt 22:37-40.
See Patriarchs and Prophets. Chapter 27: The law given to Israel, gave us a description of the Ten Commandments and all its entails.
There is a gap in our study, dont know if it is because of time or structure but nothing is mentioned about the millennium. We are now studying the 'new heaven and a new earth' where dwelleth righteousness. We are now looking at new everything, everything in totality.
Qu is- why a 'new heaven and a new earth'. Is there something wrong with the heaven where the Holy, righteous and perfect is dwelling presently?
Hi Lyn, This is how I view it. After Jesus' second coming the righteous will be spending 1000 years in heaven we God is. God has a mansion with rooms for all. But after 1000 years God will destroy this old earth with Satan and sinners. God will be replacing this old earth with a New Earth for us to dwell in, a place where Isaiah says we will build our own houses and plant our own vineyards.
The recompense is certainly worth surrendering our life to Christ for. But giving ourselves to Christ doesn't end there. It's a daily experience of asking for forgiveness, meditating with prayer, and listening to, watching, and reading the Bible. Reading others thoughts on the Bible and vetting them, if you prefer comparing them carefully with the Bible. Asking for and listening to the Holy Spirit is also an integral part of our enjoyment in a relationship that gives us a recompense that we don't deserve and one we do not earn. Isaiah 35:4-10.
A miracle yes, the Love of God yes is at work in our live if we consent.