Wednesday: A New Earth for the Redeemed
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Isa. 65:17, NKJV). Both Isaiah and John (Rev. 21:1) saw in vision the promised new earth.
Consider John’s description of the fabulous city of the redeemed, the New Jerusalem, in Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:9-27. What do these verses imply about the unity and harmony that will exist in this city?
Read Revelation 22:1-5. The river of life that flows from the throne of God with the tree of life that spans it are two other important features of the new city. What will be their purpose on the new earth?
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
The tree of life, which Adam lost access to through his transgression (Gen. 3:22-24), will be restored by Christ in the New Jerusalem. Access to this tree is one of the promises to those who overcome (Rev. 2:7). Its bearing twelve kinds of fruit, a new kind each month, may suggest a reason that in the new earth “from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me, says the LORD” (Isa. 66:23, NKJV). The reference to the “healing of the nations” also underscores God’s intent to remove all barriers between people and to restore humanity to its original purpose: to restore all people, tribes, and nations into one undivided family, living in harmony and peace, united to give glory to God.
“The healing of the nations’ refers figuratively to the removal of all national and linguistic barriers and separation. … The leaves of the tree of life heal the breaches between nations. The nations are no longer ‘gentiles’ but are united into one family as the true people of God ([compare] Rev. 21:24-26). What Micah anticipated centuries earlier is now being fulfilled: ‘Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war. Each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid’ (Mic. 4:3-4; [compare] Isa. 2:4). There on the banks of the river of life the redeemed will ‘invite his neighbor to sit’ (Zech. 3:10) with him under the tree of life. The curing quality of the leaves of the tree will heal all wounds – racial, ethnic, tribal, or linguistic – that have torn and divided humanity for ages.” – Ranko Stefanovic, Revelation of Jesus Christ: Commentary on the Book of Revelation, p. 593.
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I once heard a Pacific Islander describe heaven and the new earth as a place where he could grow good taro and be guaranteed of catching enough fish in the lagoon next to his thatch-roofed hut to feed his family every day. That sounds pretty good to me, after a mad scramble to the local supermarket though the holiday traffic to buy enough food to feed the family over the holiday season!
I often hear cargo-cultic descriptions of what heaven and/or the new earth are going to be like and sometimes wonder if such views are still carrying the seeds of selfishness that we nurture so often. Perhaps our focus should not be on materialistic views of heaven but more on the relationships. And what better way to prepare for heaven than to repair relationships now. After all, what would be like to find ourselves in heaven with people we don't get on with?
Consistent with what Maurice has written above, it would appear there has been a convergence of ideas that have shaped a dominant view regarding entrance to a New Earth:
* the focus on material rewards of the New Earth
* the view that our greatest need is to have our sins covered and therefore a corresponding focus on ensuring our sins are forgiven
* a 'passive' view that God will magically fix everything once we get there (eg, the healing of the nations via the leaves of the tree)
* the mistaken view that any effort we put in equals 'works' and must therefore be avoided.
Contrary to these 'myths' and consistent with what you have written Maurice, how we actually live in the course of the growth and development of our abiding connection with The Vine (Jn 15:5) is the 'training ground' for how we will actually live in the New Earth. This is a very much more active rather than passive approach and is relationally motivated rather than material-rewards motivated. It is not ‘works-based’ because it is works of necessity as opposed to works of merit. We are not doing this in our own strength, but we are collaboratively putting the strength that God gives us into action.
This is restoration back to the way things were before sin entered. A redeemed and re-newed humanity in a re-newed/re-stored Earth.
Yes, I believe that just as at the beginning the LORD will keep us occupied studying the mystery of the plan of salvation and flying to other worlds to help them understand. The Principles of the LORD are selflessness and service so let's contemplate how we will be able to serve others in the new earth.
I cannot wait for Christ's return. Today is one day closer to the coming of our Lord and Saviour. May I help others to see that they need to be ready for that day as well. Come Lord Jesus.
Cafille Turner
We could spend a lot of time speculating on the anticipated “joys” of heaven and the new earth. However, our focus should be on our personal relationship with Jesus, living as He lived, by daily being filled by the Holy Spirit, that our character will be changed to be like Him.
“But as it is written, Eye 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. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:9-11 KJV