Wednesday: “A New Heaven and a New Earth”
After the eradication of sin, the earth will be transformed into the home of the redeemed. What will it be like?
In Revelation 21:1, John saw “a new heaven and a new earth”.
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The Bible refers to three heavens: the sky, the starry universe, and the place where God dwells (2 Cor. 12:2). In Revelation 21:1, the earth’s atmosphere is in view. The contaminated earth and the sky cannot endure God’s presence (Rev. 20:11). The word “new” in Greek (kainos) refers to something new in quality, not in origin and time. This planet will be purged by fire and restored to its original state (2 Pet. 3:10-13).
Particularly interesting is the fact that the first thing John observes on the new earth is that there is no sea. John’s reference to “thesea” (with the definite article) shows that he probably had in mind the sea that surrounded him on Patmos, which had become a symbol of separation and suffering. For him, the absence of that sea on the new earth meant absence from the pain caused by his separation from those whom he loved.
Read Revelation 21:2-8 and Revelation 7:15-17. What parallels exist in the description of the new earth and the Garden of Eden, in Genesis chapter 2?
A life free of suffering and death on the restored earth is guaranteed by God’s presence among His people. This presence is manifested in the New Jerusalem and “the tabernacle of God” (Rev. 21:3), where God will dwell among His people. The presence of God makes life truly a paradise in the restored earth.
God’s presence guarantees freedom from suffering: no death, sorrow, crying, or pain, which are all the consequences of sin. With the eradication of sin, “the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4, NKJV).
This idea was well articulated by Mary and Martha at the death of their brother Lazarus: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21, NKJV). The sisters knew that death could not exist in the presence of Christ. In the same way, the abiding presence of God on the new earth will secure freedom from the pain and suffering that we now experience in this life. This freedom is the great hope that is promised to us in Christ, a hope sealed in His blood.
| Why is this promise of a new existence in a new world so central to all that we believe? What good would our faith be without it? |
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This was my favorite memory gem as a kid when tears were often from a lack of understanding, and it is still my favorite quote as I see my friends and older family members slipping into the rigors of old age. It is one of the great promises of the Bible. What more can one say?.
Edenic innocence is what all of us are created for, but it was sabotaged at the tree in the Garden. How wonderful it will be to experience that original innocence in the New Heaven and New Earth. It will be perfect setting in which the value of it will be exponential in nature, for Christ gave all to establish the certainty of it for each of us.
This world is full of suffering. We basically get used to feel pain! News are all about negative things, I think that 98% when not 100%. We see suffering and misery everywhere! And what do we do about it? What do all of this do with our own hearts? Have we become cold and hard in order to survive or keep ourselves (thinking) lucid?
How is our faith built whitin us? Are we ready to leave comfort here for the promise of perfection in the future? Are we ready to fully be involved with Christ in this work, denying peace and getting ourselves "durty" at work? May we all get 'fueld' by the Holy Spirit and get this News all over. May Jesus soon come back because this world is falling apart!
I believe our faith is substantiated with evidence. Our IT guy recently installed windows 10 on all our computers at work. As we log on the new edge pops up the screen background possibilities of the most beautiful nature pictures, to me a touch of heaven. Evidence of God’s love for us, and hope of wounderful things to come. “Nature and revelation alike testify of God's love. Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature. Think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures. The sunshine and the rain, that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the Creator's love. It is God who supplies the daily needs of all His creatures. Steps to Christ page 9.1. “How is our faith is built with in us?” “Christ has made the way by dying our Sacrifice, by living our Example, by becoming our great High Priest. He declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). If by any effort of our own we could advance one step toward the ladder, the words of Christ would not be true. But when we accept Christ, good works will appear as fruitful evidence that we are in the way of life, that Christ is our way, and that we are treading the true path that leads to heaven. Faith and Works page 102.1. “Are we ready?” Yes I accept Christ I am ready.
Why the need for a new heaven if the ''heaven is pure or without sin?''
Fair question.
The word “heaven” has more than one meaning in scripture. It is used to refer to the place where God dwells and it is also used to refer to the space above our earth and throughout our solar system. It is the space above our earth and throughout our solar system that needs purifying. This is what is being referred to.
I look at it this way Nnaedozie. Heaven for a thousand years, without ever again sin, and pure, for a thousand years will be new for us. John says, “They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4. Paul says, “Then we, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall be always with the Lord. So encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18. To complete the the series of pictures, let’s turn back to Revelation again. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea exists no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of the heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice out of the heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall tabernacle with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, their God. And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall not exist any more, nor grief, nor cry, nor distress shall exist any more, for the former things have passed away. And he that sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he says to me, Write, for these words are true and faithful. And he said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that thirsts of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be to him God, and he shall be to me son.”
Revelation 21:1-7
Wow, we will inherit all things, and Christ shall be to us God, and we will be to Christ a son(or daughter). Awesome, I can live with that forever. Pure and without sin, totally dependent upon God forever. I do believe that is why the little time we have on earth we need to realize that, when we accept Christ, good works will appear as fruitful evidence that we are in the way of life, that Christ is our way, and that we are treading the true path that leads to heaven, getting accustomed to forever depending on Christ.
Happy Sabbath,
John
That is a good question. I look at this way. Because God has given his creation the freedom to love him or not, he is impacted by his creation. When the Adversary (Satan) chose to exalt himself above the Lord, the Lord was affected greatly by that choice. When mankind chose to put themselves before God, God was greatly affected by that choice as well. Through his Christ, God has irrevocably linked himself with mankind for their salvation.
What we see through the history of the great controversy is the changing order God’s kingdom, that is, heaven, for heaven is where God is. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we see the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ restored, but with a great and significant difference: the scars of sin have marked God forever. The rebellion of his creation has made a lasting and visible impact on God.
The new heaven and the new earth are new in the sense that the they differ from the what existed before. God’s character has not changed – it is not new – but God and his creation have been forever changed by the rebellion that occurred.
I hope this helps.
“A new heaven.” The Bible sometimes uses the word “heaven” to represent rulership or governments. (Isaiah 14:12-14; Daniel 4:25, 26) Thus, one reference work states that in prophetic visions, “heaven signifies symbolically the ruling power or government.” In Revelation 21:1, “new heaven” evidently refers to God’s Kingdom. This heavenly government, sometimes called “the Kingdom of the heavens,” is mentioned throughout Revelation and in other books of the Bible. (Matthew 4:17; Acts 19:8; 2 Timothy 4:18; Revelation 1:9; 5:10; 11:15; 12:10) God’s Kingdom, with Jesus as King, will eventually replace “the former heaven,” that is, all imperfect governments set up by humans.—Daniel 2:44; Luke 1:31-33; Revelation 19:11-18.
“A new earth.” The Bible states that the literal earth will never be destroyed or replaced. (Psalm 104:5; Ecclesiastes 1:4) What, then, is the symbolic earth? The Bible often uses the term “earth” to refer to humankind. (Genesis 11:1; 1 Chronicles 16:31; Psalm 66:4; 96:1) “A new earth,” therefore, must refer to a new society of people who willingly submit to God’s heavenly government. The “former earth,” or human society in opposition to God’s Kingdom, will pass away.
“The sea is no more.” In harmony with the rest of Revelation 21:1, “the sea” is also symbolic. Easily agitated and often stormy, the sea represents the turbulent masses of mankind alienated from God. (Isaiah 17:12, 13; 57:20; Revelation 17:1, 15) They too will be gone. Says Psalm 37:10:
John’s vision refers to the passing away of “the former heaven and the former earth.” (Re 21:1; compare 20:11.) In the Christian Greek Scriptures, earthly governments and their peoples are shown to be subject to Satanic rule. (Mt 4:8, 9; Joh 12:31; 2Co 4:3, 4; Re 12:9; 16:13, 14) The apostle Paul referred to “the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places,” with their governments, authorities, and world rulers. (Eph 6:12) So the passing away of “the former heaven” indicates the end of political governments influenced by Satan and his demons. This harmonizes with what is recorded at 2 Peter 3:7-12 regarding the destruction as by fire of “the heavens . . . that are now.”
Can you tell me for sure that when the Bible says no dog in heaven does it really mean the animals or bad people
I think that is one of the mysteries of God. But; we do know this: In Psalm 36.6, it says God preserves man and beast, and in
Isaiah 11:6 it says
Heaven was the original intent for mankind in the Garden of Eden. The Bible says the earth will be restored. We know there will be animals in heaven, as there were animals in the garden, and we know that God will satisfy the desires of his children in a way that far exceeds our dreams. 1 Corinthians 2:9
Here is a nice article on it:
https://bibleask.org/will-animals-heaven/
There are many references to the Bible regarding Heaven and the Garden of Eden... in fact, the word "Gan Eden" actually means "Heaven" in the original Hebrew language, and we know the tree of life will be located "in the paradise of God". Isaiah 51:3, Ezekiel 28:12-13, 31:9, 36:35, and Joel 2:3. Revelation 22:1-3