BIBLE
DOCTRINE 21
THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW
EARTH
God’s Word
teaches:
That the New
Heaven and the New Earth “wherein dwells righteousness” will be made by God
and the redeemed shall dwell therein with God forever. This present earth which
has been polluted by sin will pass away after the Great White Throne Judgement
- Psalm 102:25,26; Isaiah 51:6; 65:17; Matthew 5:18; 24:35; 2 Peter 3:10-13;
Revelation 21:1. No unclean thing will be there. There, we shall know each
other, our knowledge having been perfected. There will be no more curses upon
anything. There will be no more night; the glory of the Lord will be the light
thereof - Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:12, 13; I Corinthians 13:12; I John 3:2, 3;
Revelation 21:1-7; 22:1-5.
The
present age in which we live is referred to in scriptures as the “last days”
(Hebrews 1:1, 2). This age is very significant in the plan of God as it ushers
us into another important series of events often called in theology as
"eschatology". Also called the church age, our present age is marked
by evil, the dominion of Satan, darkness, ungodliness, lust, murder, lying and
all manner of sin (Ephesians 6:12; Galatians 1:4). The church is not left out.
There is, and there will be a denial of God, Christ, faith, sound doctrine and
Christian living (1 Timothy 4:1-4; 2 Timothy 4:3,4; 3:1-8). The land is under a
curse (Genesis 3:17). The devil and all his fallen angels walk to and fro the
whole earth. The atmospheric heavens are polluted by the activities of Satan.
The believers today groan under the harsh and hard conditions of the earth.
They look forward to a change - a new heaven and new earth wherein righteousness
and holiness dwells. God has the ultimate plan to judge sinners who remain
obstinate to the call of God to repentance. “And whosoever was not found
written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” Revelation
20:15. With the final judgement of sinners, God’s divine plan is to replace
this polluted evil earth and atmospheric heavens with a new earth and a new
heaven that will match His glory, holiness and righteousness (Revelation
21:1-7). “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former
shall not be remembered, nor come in to mind” (Isaiah 65; 17). This gives a
good picture of what shall become of the present earth and heavens. All what we
may call beautiful edifices and empires today will melt away in fervent heat
because “... the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are
kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of
ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7,10-14). The glories of men and all the so-called
“wonders” of the world shall not stand this fervent heat. Herein is wisdom:
believers should lay up their treasures in heaven, not on earth “where moth and
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal” (Matthew 6:19).
This
new creation is entirely free from any taint of sin and therefore the
consequences and effect of sin are absent. Here, there is neither death,
sorrow, pain, tears, nor separation from God (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:4).
As God created the present heavens and earth, so will He create the new heavens
and a new earth - NEW in quality and in TIME. The great, holy and eternal
heaven will have New Jerusalem as its capital. This is the capital of the
eternal state called the “Bride” because of its virgin beauty, unstained with
sin. Here, Christ and all the saints, from all ages will reside forevermore.
Indeed, all things will be new. “Behold, I make all things new”. This is
the eternal destiny of the saints from all ages. This is the place Jesus spoke
about, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John
14:3). It is certain that all believers with current experience of salvation
shall appear with Him in glory and be like Him (Revelation 21:3; Colossians
3:4).
The
Holy City, New Jerusalem, is a material city not a mystical one. Its beauty is
beyond human description. About 15,000 miles in length and a breadth and height
of about 15,000 miles, the streets are made of pure gold, as clear as glass.
With walls of jasper and its twelve foundations garnished with all manner of
precious stones, it has twelve gates of twelve pearls. The entire city wall is
pure gold, as clear as glass. This is a city without any temple. The Lord God
Almighty and the Lamb is the temple of it. “And the city has no need of the
sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it,
and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23). The redeemed of all
the earth shall bring their glory and honor into the city. This is a city whose
gates are never shut (Revelation 21:16-26). The pure river of the water of
life, clear as crystal, proceeds out of the throne of God and the Lamb. The
tree of life by the sides of this river bears twelve manners of fruits monthly.
The fruits and leaves are for the healing of the nations. “And there shall
be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the
Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever”
(Revelation 22:5). Words are insufficient to describe this new creation. But
what will it take to partake in this inheritance?
In
order to partake in this new inheritance, sinners must repent and believers
must overcome. “He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be
his God, and he shall be my son” (Revelation 21:7). We must overcome the
world (1 John 5:4,5; 2:15-17) and Satan (Revelation 12:11). False prophets, sin
and evil must not have dominion over us. We must flee from all appearances of
evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22; Romans 12:17-21). Whether there be persecutions or
temptations, we must overcome to be part of this great inheritance (Revelation
2:10,26-28). The overcomer is the one that prevails and triumphs over all the
works of the devil.
The sinner
must be thirsty for righteousness and salvation because it will be costly to
miss this glorious experience in the new heavens and the new earth. Christ
promises to... "Give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of water of
life freely” (Revelation 21:6). Sinners must repent today. Backsliders must
return to the Savior immediately!
The
life of the redeemed in this eternal city will be glorious. It will be a life
of fellowship (1 Corinthians 13:12), rest (Revelation 14:13), full knowledge (1
Corinthians 13:12), holiness (Revelation 21:27), joy (Revelation 21:4), service (Revelation
22:3), abundance (Revelation 21:6), glory (2 Corinthians 4:17) and worship
(Revelation 19:1; 7:9-12).
“But
the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death” (Revelation 21:8). There is punishment for the unrepentant and
coward who would rather chose to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. They
will suffer torment eternally in the lake of fire. We have only one life to
live (Hebrews 9:27), therefore the believer must remain faithful and steadfast
in the Lord, the sinner must repent and be saved and the backslider must come
back home and be restored. Negligence of this "so great salvation"
will be unfortunate. We should not miss the glories of the New Heaven and the
New Earth. "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the
temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the
name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem,
which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”
(Revelation 3:11-13).
